Dark Troll

Zandali (For those in Zandalar)

87,000 (In Zandalar)

**The dark trolls**, or **shadow trolls**, are denizens of the enchanted forests of northern Kalimdor. They are the tallest and most physically powerful of the trolls, but have long lived in seclusion from most of the other tribes.

Since ancient times, the dark trolls have been close friends and allies of the night elves with whom they share their forests, and their profound bond with the land. They have grown to view their elven friends with a deep respect and an unbreakable trust, feeling them to be part of their own kindred more than any troll they know. Through the many hurdles of time they have stood together, and died together, and have vowed to be together forevermore.

The dark trolls in Zandalar believe instead to be the last of the dark trolls anywhere on the world, a belief still shared by most troll tribes. They are loyal subjects of the Zandalari Empire and have served many God-Kings since Dazar the Great as formidable soldiers and dedicated labourers and craftsmen.

## History

### Ancient History

The earliest known records of dark trolls hail from nearly thirty-thousand years ago, dating to their first encounters with the ancient night elves. Many things are unclear about how advanced these trolls were, or how their societies were organised. Some seem to believe they were no more than primitive cave-dwellers who harried any intruder found trespassing in their territories, others believe that even in that age, the dark trolls ruled over vast, subterranean cities and possessed an intricate governing structure rivalling that of the other troll empires.

What is certain is that these dark trolls had a complicated relationship with the other races of the world. Most detailed are their interactions with the elves, which vary from wars and border skirmishes, to plots and manipulations between the kingdoms of the two races, and even trades and alliances. Those trolls who lived within the mountains, eventually came into contact with the dwarves as well, perhaps even being the ones who first woke them from their slumber, according to certain myths. But just as with the elves, bonds with the dwarves were as amicable as often as they were violent. Some shared their mountain-homes in kinship, others fought for dominance over one another.

## Appearance and Traits

### Common Features

Dark trolls share a certain resemblance with all other troll kindreds, having three digits for each limb, long tusks jutting out from the corners of their mouths and a thin layer of fur covering their bodies. They have an imposing and strong dentature, so strong that dark trolls are able to chew even stone with ease. Like all other trolls, dark trolls also possess the gift of regeneration, allowing them to heal surface wounds in mere seconds, while deeper injuries may take minutes, hours or days, while the full regrowth of limbs or organs may take weeks or months.

Their skin pigmentation is very dark, taking to hues of deep violet, black or grey, a colouration that at times extends to their tusks and bones, having them darkened instead of white.

Their hair is most often black, further aiding their natural camouflaging in the darkness, though dark hues of green are not unheard of. As they age, these colours still fade into grey and eventually, white.

### Dimorphism

Unlike all other trolls, the women of the dark trolls, grow tusks as large as those of their men and develop to a similar stature and musculature. Their voices are of a tremendously deep baritone, with women sounding nearly as deep as their men.

Their faces are also very broad, and often squared, for both men and women, though a woman will tend to have smoother features and cheekbones than their male counterparts.

### Lifespan

Dark trolls are surprisingly long lived, in Zandalar but especially in Kalimdor, many of them reach the ninety years of age in good health, and a sizeable minority makes it past the one-hundred years and beyond. The oldest of the dark trolls, a woman known as Talaish, passed at two-hundred and twenty-seven years.

Many also find that the dark trolls develop very few wrinkles and very late in their lives, making them seem even younger than their true age. Some go as far as to whisper that this uncanny trait of the dark trolls is due to their close bond with the eternal night elves, that in sharing so much of their fate, they also share in their blessings.

### Eyes

The eyes of the dark trolls are noticeably wider than those of their cousins, much rounder and bigger, with deep pupils that can stretch to cover nearly the whole eye. This is believed to have been a result of their subterranean and nocturnal living; a lack of light caused their eyes to grow impressively large to be able to absorb what little light they could. Indeed, a dark troll is able to see with clarity even in the total absence of light, although this has some drawbacks: dark trolls are particularly colour blind, beholding the world under rather dull lenses, as they find difficulty in telling colours apart. They are also very susceptible to bright lights and will shirk away to avoid being blinded. If they have no choice but to tread under sunlight, they will do so with eyes closed and trusting to their other keen senses.

Their irises can be grey, yellow, or green.

### Ears

Another difference from the rest of the trolls is that while the ears of the shadow trolls are still pointed and broad, they're much shorter and hang lower; furthermore instead of extending parallel to the skull they grow perpendicular to it.

Nonetheless, the hearing of a dark troll is strikingly refined, able to perceive the slightest reverberation within the ground or the walls of a cavern, by simply placing their ears against it. In such a way, dark trolls are able to track prey or incoming threats many miles before they even come into view.

### Nose

Pointed and long with ample nostrils, the nose of a dark troll is slightly larger than that of their cousins. Instead of pointing forward, a dark troll's nose bends on the bridge and has the pointed tip point downwards, giving the nose the appearance of a hooked beak.

The sense of smell of a dark troll is also sharp, and exceptionally good at perceiving moisture in the air they breathe, a trait that becomes useful in seeking out aquifers within the caverns dark trolls often inhabit.

## Culture

### In Kalimdor

The shadow trolls of Kalimdor are a duly just and noble people, but if roused to wrath are no less fierce than their brethren elsewhere in the world. Having spent many years in close companionship with the denizens of the enchanted forests, they have developed a great reverence for the woods they call their home, adopting similarly ascetic customs to those of the furbolgs and the night elves. They are most often furtive with outlanders, but will not hesitate to come to the aid of those they do not consider a threat.

#### Gender Roles

Among the dark trolls, men and women are held in equal standing in all aspects and are free to pursue any walk of life the tribe has to offer. From warriors, to seamsters, to shamans and healers and carvers and potters. Nonetheless, fewer are the women who elect to be warriors, and fewer the men who strive to be seamsters.

#### Unions

Marriages in the dark troll tribes are momentous events celebrated by all its members. The happy couples to be often meet in a richly decorated grotto, painted with elaborate illustrations of troll tales and myths, memorable events and achievements from the lives of the wedded-to-be, or wondrous scenery of their homeland. These may also take place in groves or glades, where decorations would take the form of carven totems and ornate effigies.

The betrothed will stand before the chieftain of their tribe and their tribesfolk, their arms intertwined as they profess their love to one another. Earth and dust is then poured over them, and wet clay is smeared on their arms, sticking them together as they walk in a row of ceremonial bowls where sacred *Palya* herbs are placed and burned, and their tribesfolk waft the cleansing smoke upon the wedded who are then pointed towards the pure waters of an aquifer, a stream or a lake, where they are left to clean one another until ready to rejoin the tribe for a grand feast.

In the tribes, it is common for many marriages to happen all on the same day and to be performed and celebrated together.

Shadow trolls are furthermore monogamous, they strive to find one mate for life. Unions with night elves, or between members of the same gender, are also not unheard of.