Troll

## Trolls

**Trolls**, otherwise simply called **Giants**, are a species of monsters that resides within the Midgard Ironwoods of Norse Mythology. They came into existences after the death of Angrboða, where Loki had devoured her heart and the blood pooled into the ground, birthing the first trolls who lived within the Ironwoods. The name troll is often used as an insult towards the Jotnar and individuals to describe ugly or barbaric peoples.

## History

Originating from the Ironwoods, the first generation of the Trolls were born when the Jotunn Loki devoured the heart of a Jotunn Witch, Angrboða, and her blood dripped onto the ground where the trolls soon emerged. Their numbers soon swelled as they had no true natural predators and were the apex species, superior to even humans in most regards. They pillaged and destroyed human settlements across Midgard unabated by any means they had at their disposal, only with Loki and a few others intervening to assist their human worshippers.

The Trolls were soon turned away when they made the mistake to ransack a settlement that was deeply devoted to the Aesir God Baldur. In his revenge, the Aesir crafted Divine Light which turned all those who defiled his sacred shrines into stone while still conscious. Seeing his opening and opportunity to vent some anger out on others, the Thunder God Thor joined with his eldest brother in repelling the trolls from human lands, hunting them mercilessly. The troll hunts only ceased when the Aesir reached the boundary of the Ironwoods, forcing them to stop their pursuits as they knew what lived within the mystical forest.

It was soon declared that those that lived within the Ironwoods would be allowed to remain alive, but as soon as they stepped outside and into Aesir lands their lives were forfeit.

## Characteristics

Like many other enemies of the Aesir, trolls live within relative isolation with very little contact with those who do not dwell within the Ironwoods. Trolls have bad relations with other species (Humans, Gods, etc) due to past history being sorted in violent conflicts that left many dead. As they have no been able to expand their civilization past a certain boundary, the trolls are overall a relatively primitive species when compared to humans as they do not have complex social structures.

Troll society is predominantly centred around their tribes, each led by a Chieftain who has proved themselves capable of leading their underlings. Troll Chieftains carry with them great magical power that has given them enhanced capabilities that can allow them to stand a slim chance against low-level gods.

### Appearance

Trolls commonly have a height that towers them above that of an average human or god, with large limbs that match their height. Their rough, weathered skin are covered in tribal markings that has been scratched across their bodies, usually used to depict their name and any notable achievements they accomplished. Those troll warrior and chieftains who have channelled their local environment will adopted certain physical traits according to their preferred element.

## Powers & Abilities

* **Superhuman Physiology**: Trolls have the strength, stamina, and durability that is vastly superior to that of humans. Their skin prevents non-magically enhanced weapons from truly piercing or damaging it at all, requiring some level of enchantment to wound them.

* **Magic**: Intelligent enough trolls can practice the use of magic, they are often those who hold high enough positions within tribes, or travel the Nine Worlds on their own. The forms of magic that trolls use are primarily offensive elemental based, or are used to protect themselves from gods, such as cloaking that prevents their detection.

### Weaknesses

* **Baldur's Divine Light**: As to counter the trolls effectively, Baldur created his own form of Divine Light that would immediately turn them into stone statues. It has become so effective against them that Midgard residents have since began to post torches lit with the Divine Light to keep away any unwanted trolls.

* **Divine Weapons**: The weapons of any god are capable of piercing the skin of a troll easily. Gods like Thor who utilize a divine weapon have shown themselves capable of easily killing trolls in large numbers.