Darkspear Trolls

The trolls are one of the oldest races on Azeroth. While there are many different groups of Trolls, only the **Darkspear Trolls** have aligned themselves with the Horde. The Darkspear Trolls are lead by Chieftan Vol'jin.

## Appearance

Trolls are typically tall, lanky, and muscular. While their full height averages around seven to eight feet, they appear slightly shorter due to their slouched posture. Trolls have three fingers on each hand, and three toes on each foot, with one toe protruding from the heel. Most trolls do not wear shoes or other foot coverings.

Trolls have large tusks protruding from their mouths along with long, pointed ears. Their skin can appear green, purple, blue, or grey. Trolls often wear their hair in mohawks or similar spikey styles.

## History

The trolls can trace their history back to the Zandalari Empire, which once ruled all of Azeroth. At this time, the world was all one continent. The superiority of Zandalar could not last forever, and they were eventually struck down by the Night Elves. In the aftermath of this, the fleeing trolls became part of the Gurabashi Empire. It is unknown how long the trolls were a part of the Gurabashi or when the now splintered factions of trolls left to their respective homes.

Some trolls journeyed to what is now Quel'thalas, calling themselves the Amani Trolls. The Amani Trolls lived on this land alone until the arrival of the High Elves from Kalimdor. The Amani have warred with the elves over the land for hundred of years since, a conflict that continues to this day. Another group known as the Farraki instead made their home in the endless deserts of Tanaris. There, they founded Zul'farrak. The Farraki are isolationist and have had little to no contact with the outside world, including other trolls. They are known to practice ~~human~~ troll sacrifice and worship the old god of death before Bwonsamdi.

The Darkspear Trolls, as reflected in their names, settled on the Darkspear Islands. This group of multiple small islands includes Zul'dara, the birth place of Ga'an, and First Home, a place sacred to the Loa. The islands existed as largely autonomous entities from each other, save in times of grave danger. The Darkspear Trolls were isolated like their Farraki breathren until the arrival of the Orcs. The Orcs enountered the trolls as they fled the Eastern Kingdoms, and were welcomed with open arms. This paved the way for the later entry of the Darkspear Trolls into the Horde. A week after this encounter, human ships flying the flag of Kul'Tiras attacked the isles. The trolls successfully fended them off, only to be met with a challenge they could not face: the arrival of the "sea witch". The sea witch sank the islands, forcing the trolls to flee to the Echo Isles.

The Echo Isles served as an idyllic home for the displaced trolls, though it could not fill the void of First Home. With the Darkspear Islands beneath the waves, no Witch Doctor or Shadow Hunter could undertake the rite of passage that had been their tradition for so long. The last Witch Doctor to brave First Home was the best friend of Chieftan Vol'jin, Zalazane. Zalazane seized control of the isles, taking prisoner many of the trolls living on them.

Just a few short years after the destruction of Darkspear, the trolls were forced to flee once more, this time onto the mainland of Kalimdor. There, they founded Sen'jin Village, where Ga'an's community still resides today. Sen'jin is far from a safe haven, however, as the trolls still must endure frequent raids from Zalazane and his mind-controlled and undead army.

## Religion

The trolls worship spirits known as Loa. The world is full of loa, some named but most nameless. The head of all Loa is the Loa of the Hunt, Gonk, who once appeared to Ga'an as the witch doctor Mozo're. The Witch Doctors are tasked with maintaining the balance between all loa and serving as spiritual leaders for their communities. Alongside the Shadow Hunters, they are the only trolls capable of directly interacting with the Loa. To become a full-fledged witch doctor or shadow hunter, young trolls would journey to First Home where they entered a mysterious realm full of many trials and challenges. Many never returned, and those who did returned changed. The last to take these trials (before the Gaytekeepërs) were Vol'jin and Zalazane.

The loa of death is the trickster god, Bwonsamdi. Bwonsamdi was once a mortal who made a deal to overthrow the previous god of death, Ueetay No Muez'hala. Muez'hala preferred to tip the scales in favor of life, while Bwonsamdi strives for balance. Bwonsamdi has a propensity for striking deals, which allowed the resurrection of Ga'an in Ragefire Chasm. Bwonsamdi now tasks Ga'an with the destruction of the Farraki worshippers of Muez'hala.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Session 38, discussion between Ga'an and the Witch Doctor X'yera
2. ↑ Session 44, Ga'an visits his childhood home
3. ↑ Session 27, Bwonsamdi tasks Ga'an with journeying to First Home and undertaking the Witch Doctor trials
4. ↑ Session 46, Ga'an recalls the last week of the Darkspear Isles
5. ↑ Session 7, Ga'an opens up about his history to the rest of the party