Trolls are a horrible race of carnivorous humanoids that dwell in the wild and rugged places of Mystara. Although the common troll is well-known to many adventurers, there are other variations that are only rarely encountered. Note that the social structure and reproduction put forward here are my own ideas about trolls and may not fit with other folks ideas about how trolls breed or congregate.
Common Troll
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| Art by David Sutherland III, from AD&D 1st Edition Monster Manual |
Common Trolls are the trolls so often encountered by adventurers. They attack with tooth and claw, and regenerate from most wounds, though not from acid or fire damage. All common trolls are male and are birthed by troll-hags (see above).
Troll Leader
Troll Leaders are common trolls that have survived long enough to become bigger and tougher than most of their tribe, and as such have bullied their way into a position of leadership. This is typically over a tribe of common trolls that may include one or two troll-hags.
Troll-Hag
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| Art by Marta Duda-Żarczyńska, source |
Troll-Hags are female trolls and are prolific breeders, producing litters of troll pups, the vast majority of which are male common trolls though perhaps 1 in 20 will be troll-hag pup. They have between 4-10 hit dice and also can cast spells as a magic-user of level equal to their hit dice. Troll-hags are typically a lot smarter than most trolls, and are often the power behind the throne in troll tribes. Like other trolls they can regenerate at 3hp/round, even after they have been supposedly killed (regenerating even when below 0hp). However, they also share the vulnerability to fire and acid, which they cannot regenerate from.
They are known to work with other hags such as annis, sea and night hags and if they cannot join with a troll tribe , troll-hags have been known to join with other hags to form a coven. Their spell use seems to be innate rather than learned and tend towards enchantment and illusion, and their selection can seem rather eclectic to human mages who might prefer direct damage spells.
Troll Pups and Juveniles
These immature trolls are rarely found without parents, either normal trolls or troll-hags. A troll pup can regenerate as long as it is not below -10hp. If reduced below that it is permanently dead. Troll juveniles regenerate in the same way as adult trolls, recovering from any amount of damage as long as it was not by fire or acid.
Cave Troll
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| image from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) |
Cave trolls look like a cross between hill giants and common trolls. They commonly use clubs or crude axes or spears as their teeth and claws are not as pronounced as those of common trolls. They are petrified (i.e. turned to stone) if exposed to sunlight (like the trolls in the Hobbit which are based on Norwegian mythology). They are a lot rarer because of this, but they are larger and stronger than common trolls. Because of their vulnerability to sunlight they are mostly subterranean, only emerging at night onto the surface if hungry or otherwise urgently needing something. Nobody knows where they come from - some say they are only rarely born by troll-hags, perhaps one in a hundred pups produced. Others say they are not part of any natural cycle but are manifestations of malevolent and hungry spirits of the earth.
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| Art by Dan Frazier, source |
Trollkin are an apparent crossbreed of humans and trolls, and appear as ugly humanoids, about 7ft tall. Some sages have suggested they are the product of polymorphed troll-hags seducing unwitting human males, though others sages say it is not through normal biology but through some form of dark sorcery. Troll-hags are happy to have trollkin as their servants and minions, though common trolls despise trollkin and will only tolerate their presence in the tribe if a troll-hag insists. Some trollkin have formed their own bands, sometimes under the command of a troll-hag.
Although not as tall or strong as trolls, trollkin are typically smarter, almost as smart as humans, and can use many human items and weapons, typically swords. Their trollish strength gives them +1 to damage with any weapon used. If unarmoured their tough skin gives them an AC 7, but they can wear armour and will use the better AC. They can still regenerate slowly (1hp/rnd) as long as they are not reduced to -10hp or below (at which point they are killed outright). As with other trolls they cannot regenerate from fire or acid damage.
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