Troll

A pair of Trolls and an Ogre prospecting over a recently deceased Menarma.

Kar: 5’2

Kar: 100 lbs

The Kiv’lar peoples were as mighty as they were exotic, a people uncorrupted by the taintedness of strife through hatred. A simple and kind people. Through the plight of enslavement they were taken in droves from their maiden islands, made to work in filth and bondage, and suffered incalculable pains. This tortuous life broke the Kiv’lar- but not without resistance. All the Kiv’lar resisted in some shape or form but none were as successful and as irritating as the forgotten Kiv’lar. The cousin ethnicity of Goblin and Orc rallied against their Silvic masters and began to beat them off their backs. Such insolence was inconceivable in the eyes of the Spirit King, so he hatched a most insidious plot. The Kiv’lar rebels were lulled into a false-peace, tricked and cursed into a permanent state of bondage through the untamed whims of Wild Magic. Their minds became caged within their own bodies, retained in their physiology by their masks- an unseen form of shackle. Since the dissolvement of the slavery in Silvadomus, these creatures have been left as little more than animals- though some retain a forced sense of subservience.

#### Physiology and Anatomy

The Trolls are a contorted set of creatures corrupted by a cursed mask upon their face. This mask is physically attached to their skeletal systems, effectively functioning in the same vein as antler or horn. All Trolls are born with it and it cannot be removed- any attempt to wrench it off proves fruitless or fatal. These masks are inscribed meaning and purpose which contorts the prescription of the beast wearing it. They see what the mask wants them to see. Their original morphology is not understood, though it is evident that the mask has twisted their flesh in service of specific purposes. They’re as far removed from humanoid as one can get while retaining its general shape; their arms have become elongated so that they may walk upon all four of their appendages, a long twisted tail snakes out from behind their hips as a balancing tool, and they lack the appropriate dexterity within their thumbs and wrists seen in sapient species. They are indeed capable of holding objects but are incapable of performing tasks that require complex hand coordination or precision.

The mask of a Troll is designed to appropriately accommodate it during all its life functions. It splits at the jaw so that the Troll may eat, which it does with a relatively omnivorous diet. All Trolls are born with masks which emerge as soft before hardening after birth to not injure the mother. Generally, newborn Trolls exhibit the same command markings as their parents though may occasionally alter these through random mutation wherein it may become an entirely different **variant**. There are *three* recognized **variants** of Troll and each was created to serve a distinct purpose. Only one of them remains subservient, the other two descended to little more than animals.

##### Kaarybi-Dyndi Trolls

Intended to serve as labourers and waste disposers, the Kaarybi-Dyndi Trolls were designed to be both brutal and dim. Their masks are composed of an identical substance to their skeletons, the surface of which appears smooth like marble. They also possess a small exposed slit on either of their arms, exposing the same smooth bone to the surface. Kaarybi-Dyndi Trolls can manipulate the structure of these smooth bone parts into tools, weapons, and cosmetic dermal structures. These structures can extend to lengths of two feet and can be as sharp as the horns and antlers of other animals, able to puncture chainmail at their sharpest. Old Kaarybi-Dyndi Trolls are capable of more delicate structures which enable them to mimic certain refined tools like chisels or keys when prompted. As the largest of the Trolls, Kaarybi-Dyndi Trolls are capable of immense physical strength, able to crush wood with a strike of their fists, but are comparatively slower than other Trolls; only able to keep up with Dwarves.  As they are no longer bound by their enchainment, Kaarybi-Dyndi Trolls typically take up the role of mobile generalists.

##### Kaarybi-Derati Trolls

Created to serve as guardians of private properties or enforcers to keep others in check, Kaarybi-Derati Trolls were designed to be adaptable instruments. Their masks are composed of an inner layer of bone and a symbiotic tree akin to the Pine Stag attached to its dermis. A Kaarybi-Derati Troll’s mask often appears rough and lopsided as a result of the sporadic growth of the vegetation attached. The mask grants this particular Troll's usual ability as the magic that contorts its body alters its morphology. A Kaarybi-Derati Troll can undergo a state of dormancy wherein their bodies thicken outwardly with a barky texture, protecting them from the elements and allowing them to go without food for prolonged periods. They can lie in wait before rapidly emerging from this dormant state to hunt prey; their skin, while not as thick as their dormant form, acts as a form of rudimentary armour akin to studded leather. Their dormancy grants them the ability of great physical strength and athletics for brief periods, able to keep pace with a human sprint and deliver strikes with their bark-coated claws to pierce maille like a rondel. As they are no longer bound by their enchainment, Kaarybi-Derati Trolls typically take up the role of sedentary ambush predators.

##### Kar Trolls

Crafted initially in service to the aristocratic upper class, Kar Trolls were designed to be the most serviceable of house servants. Their masks are composed of an inner layer of bone with an extension layer of either porcelain or fabric- often resembling masks of manmade variety. Their masks are imbued with a cursed energy which stricken them with the ability to feel agency when commanded. All Kar Trolls are bound to a service through which they cannot escape;

* **They MUST never allow a sapient race to come to harm nor harm one themselves.**
* **They MUST obey commands presented by any sapient master provided they do not intrude upon the first rule.**
* **They MUST ensure their function and longevity provided that such doesn’t intrude upon the first or second rule.**

Kar Trolls are feeble creatures, as frail as children. They’re however nimbler than most and can rival dogs in momentum as well as move arboreally at a similar speed- making them the fastest of the Trolls.

#### Psychology

Whatever greater aspirations or ideals existed before their enchainment have been eroded in the following generations under the cursed masks. Their humanity degraded to the point of mere animalism. Inklings of a bygone understanding resurface on occasion where trolls construct nests or fashion crude weapons from sticks and flint- locked to a primitive state akin to modern corvids. **The magic and metal that binds them is completely incomprehensible to them and thus they’re unable to replicate such things-** though may make use of them if provided them by an outside source. Naturally they horde these items in hopes that they may someday provide use.

Those freed from their servitude to command behave much like other social animals, congregating in groups of up to fifteen adults. These groups are usually disorganized masses though may grant leadership to one who is typically the eldest. Trolls may work together to fashion shelters or hunt/forage for potential food. Trolls can form intimate social bonds with one another and may come to each other's aid should one be attacked. They can communicate through grunts and arm gestures but may also pass direct information by pressing their masks together; the practice is generally accepted socially as a mixture of a whisper and kiss.

Non-Kar Trolls are distrusting and potentially aggressive toward sapient species due to the prolonged generational trauma endured by their creed. They’re naturally avoidant of areas where they’re frequent or numerous such as villages and cities though may enter rural areas. Trolls of the freed varieties do not mind the company of other non-sapient hominids like Ogres and Giants- though the extent of their collaboration is often vague and at times tenuous.

#### FAQ

##### **Q:** What technological capacity do Trolls have?

> **A:** Trolls are capable of crafting crude instruments and tools to service their communities. Spears, nets, rafts, nests, tweezers, and other such tools are all within a Troll’s capacity to make. Trolls are indeed capable of making fire if they have observed its creation by an auxiliary source and often use repurposed forest fire to scare prey from their dens in a similar vein to Australian Hawks. **Trolls are INCAPABLE of crafting metal** though they may repurpose debris they find.
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##### **Q:** Are Trolls capable of animal husbandry?

> **A:** No, but they can exhibit symbiotic relationships with other animals. They often collect around Giants and Ogres who, in exchange for their compliance to not harm them, grant them services like cleaning parasites.
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##### **Q:** What are Trolls' language limitations?

> **A:** Trolls have no distinct language but individual communities may have distinct vocalizations for different things. These ‘Dialects’ are unique to each community and help different Trolls distinguish troop members. **(These CANNOT resemble spoken language seen in sapient species.)**
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##### Q: Are Trolls able to ‘Raid’ sapient species’ locations?

> **A:** It depends on the area. Trolls are naturally avoidant of cities, large towns, and capital forts. That said, Trolls can move into rural areas (e.g. The Tavern, The Aridian Ruins, The Taiga Barnhouse, The Amaran Ruins)  that are sparsely or seasonally inhabited by sapient species. Propbuilt locations that are distanced from faction capitals and are not listed as forts may also be entered with just reason. **It is recommended that if a player is concerned they consult a member of Staff for clarification.**
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