Kresteneg Breeding Grounds

The Kresteneg Breeding Grounds refer to the Trolltooth peninsula and the areas that surround it, due to the presence of the Kresteneg, a semi-aquatic sentient species. No human settlement is present in these lands, with only a few trolls living in the most mountainous area of the peninsula.

## History

The Trolltooth Peninsula has been inhabited by many tribes throughout history. These tribes are grouped under the name of "the Galman tribes" by Lorientois historians conducted in trade with their northern neighbors, the predecessors of the Kingdom of Lorient and Limonaint.

Not much is known about these tribes, apart from the fact that their presence in the Trolltooth peninsula lasted until a thousand years ago, when they vanished from historical records. This was further proven by archaeological findings of scholars around that area. Where they migrated is unknown, although it's speculated that most migrated to the north, where they intergrated with the humans living there.

The reason for this migration is clearer to us. It is no coincidence that the first mentions of the dreaded "Kresteneg" surfaced around that time. Where they came from is unknown, although many scholars believe that they fled to the east after their home island, Lesandros, was gone after a giant wave sunk it. Tihs opinion is not held by all, however, with many scholars doubting that the Kresteneg, who prefer shallow, warm waters, would be able to swim such great distances, while others don't even believe that Lesandros existed at all.

This strange carcinoid race quickly made the Trolltooth their home, and barely wandered out of it since then. Their highly territorial behavior has made the Trolltooth an undesirable area for human and orcish settlers alike. The nature of their life-cycle meant that the Kresteneg would only be able to spend less than a month on land. Initially, the few humans that were left in the area took advantage of this, building their settlements once the Kresteneg went back to the water. Their efforts were for naught, however, with the Kresteneg destroying their villages and chasing them out once they re-surfaced, again and again.

The final nail in the coffin for the human population of the Trolltooth came less than a hundred years after the Kresteneg's initial arrival. A human sorcerer was shipwrecked in the southern ends of the Trolltooth, and in order to survive he used a spell that made him able to understand the Kresteneg language. Before he left, he taught the Kresteneg some spells, allowing them to manipulate their own life cycle, allowing them to spend more time on land than usually. This -as speculated- led to the wiping out of the human settlements.

## The Kresteneg

The Kresteneg are a semi-aquatic species that have the lower body of an octopus, and the upper body of a crustacean. Their exoskeleton is extremely resistant, and forms a structure around their head not too different from a helmet, with a human-like face hiding under it.

### Habitat

The Kresteneg prefer the shallow, warm waters of the Great Morgull's Sea, although will sometimes delve deeper in search of prey. They are able to live in both saline and sweet water, since some Kresteneg have been encountered in the rivers that run through the Trolltooth peninsula, although no real difference has been noted between them and their sea counterpart. While on land, they favor shoreline marshes and rivers close to the open water, although it's not rare to spot a Kresteneg further inland.

### Diet

The Kresteneg are ominovores, eating fish, molluscs and seaweed while on the water, and fruit, deer and other big mammals while on land. Sometimes, they'll cut the nets of fishermen, stealing their catch. The Kresteneg don't have any qualms about eating human, orcish or troll flesh, as many skeletons bearing their bite marks have been found.

### Life Cycle

Once a year, the Kresteneg undergo a metamorphosis and emerge onto land as aggressive crustaceans to breed. They get become more aggressive (and some might say, less intelligent) than usual and even the most skilled warrior would struggle to take one out, given their hard chitin and nimble claws and pincers. They lay their eggs in mud, and the females guard them at all times, while the males venture out to seek prey. This metamorphosis lasts for around 4 to 6 months at a time, where the Kresteneg venture back to the sea, alongside their newly hatched offspring.

### Societies

The Kresteneg are sentient, displaying higher intelligence than the average troll or ogre, and form large communities. While terrestial, these communities are led by a single female matriarch, called the Broodmother, and while aquatic they are usually led by a male. The Kresteneg communicate using their own spoken language, although it's only understood by humans using complicated spells. They are sometimes hunted for their eggs, chitin and wax which fetch for a good price. However, this extremely perilous task means that those hunters are far and few between.

## Geography

The Kresteneg Breeding grounds are found in the Trolltooth peninsula, which consists of lush lowlands, forests, plains and endless rivers. The climate is temperate and comfortable, with moderate rainfall. The center of the peninsula is home to a number of hills, where most of the region's trolls live. A number of ruins, abandoned roads as well as mass graveyards still dot the land, a reminder of an era long gone by.