The red outline marks the borders of Trollwood proper.

Inhabitants of Trollwood

Trollwood is known for its incredibly large population of giants. Adventurers would do well to remember, however, that in colloquial Russk, the average peasant doesn't have the knowledge to distinguish between actual giants, ogres, and trolls, so the term is used interchangeably. By far, however, the majority of the giants in Trollwood are the fearsome regenerating trolls, who can only be slain with large quantities of fire.

Just behind the trolls in population are the hill giants and ogres, which one will tend to find in about equal numbers. A number of ettins have also been reported, and there are persistant but uncomfirmed rumors that on occasion ettins have interbred with trolls, creating fearsome two-headed regenerating behemoths of remarkable strength and ferocity.

Troll Taxonomy

When confronted with trolls, the first order of business is to examine your opponent and try to keep in mind strengths, weaknesses, and a good escape route. Even the most stalwart fighter stands little chance against a pack of trolls! For this purpose, we have attempted to catalog known troll species living in Trollwood.

All trolls are ancient and cunning creatures, and it is only the lower breeds that can be so easily categorized. There exist in Trollwood and abroad trolls unique in appearance and craft. These creatures can be powerful in the sorcerous arts, and mortal men are advised to avoid them if possible.

Moss Trolls

These creatures are the dumbest of all trolls, but they are instinctually clever and malicious in their hunting habits. They wear camoflage of sorts, and have been known to drape themselves in rotting moss, stitched into large blankets or tunics with sinew and leather. They stand perhaps nine or ten feet in height, and fight with nails and teeth.

These trolls are stupid, and most of them can barely speak the Giantish tongue. Physically, they stand apart by their beady eyes and ruddy brown skin. Nearly always they have dark green or black hair and a hooked nose.

Moss Trolls love large game. Deer, bears, wild boar, worgs, and wolves are their favorite prey. They have also been known to feast on neighboring goblinoid tribes. A persistant peasant rumor says that moss trolls (indeed, all giants) prefer goat flesh over any other food, but this has not been proven to be the case.

Hill Trolls

These are named because of their similarities to the hill giant (see below). They are large, bulky figures, standing around ten feet tall and ordinarily dressed in animal hides. They have a somewhat paler complexion than the moss troll, and this researcher would say it compares in tone to the Visany. Their hair ranges from stark white to dark brown, and they also fight with their razor-sharp nails and strong teeth.

These trolls are much more cunning than Moss Trolls. All of them speak Giant, and many are known to have passing proficiency with an additional language, often Goblin or Russk. Like moss trolls, they prefer large game, but seem to delight in the flavor of human flesh. For this reason, they can never be trusted.

The most fearsome thing about hill trolls is that some of their females become sorcerors or gain the ability to cast divine spells. One should be wary of all female hill trolls for this very reason, although these troll witches are known to possess certain ancient secrets and wisdom which can be useful to adventurers at times.

Hill Giants

Not to be confused with the hill troll, the hill giant is a massive beast of questionable moral character, incredible brute strength, and surly temper. They stand at least twelve feet tall and can run as fast as a horse. Unlike their more brutish regenerating cousins, hill giants fight with weapons, prefering giant clubs and heavy stones, which they hurl with the force of a large catepult!

While they do not regenerate, their hide is incredibly tough. Even the sharpest of blades often has trouble piercing the hill giant's leathery flesh, and arrows are often no more than an annoyance to these behemoths.

They take delight in combat and carnage, and they love nothing more than to wade into a fray. They are also very cunning, and prefer to lay sophisticated traps or leap on travelers from clever hiding spots. They eat anything they can catch, but in addition to a healthy diet of meat, feast on plenty of vegitation as well.

Ettins

Towering at least as tall as the hill giant, these two-headed giants have been the subject of so many folk tales and legends that one would expect them to be running rampant in Trollwood. On the contrary, they seem to be thankfully rare and seldom encountered. They vary quite widely in appearance. The only feature one can expect from an ettin is that it shall have two heads.

They are as varied in countenance as they are in appearance. One can never know if an ettin will be civilized and polite, or savage and brutal, although it is safe to err towards the latter. In combat they can fight off two opponents with ease, each head controlling one arm. They use massive clubs or gigantic hurled spears, but on occasion have been known to chuck boulders like their hill giant kin.

Ettins are known to keep large bears as pets. These bears are as loyal as well-trained guard-dogs, but ten times as vicious.

Ogres

The weakest of the giants found in Trollwood, the ogre is still not a creature to be taken lightly. They stand perhaps six inches shorter than the moss troll and have a stooped back and arms so long that their knuckles often drag on the ground. However, what they lack in stature they make up for in wits and cunning. Ogres run in large packs, although small groups of ogres are often found living among goblinoid tribes as muscle, mercenaries, or leaders.

The most fearsome aspect of the ogre is their ability to learn and adapt. They weild weapons with a martial prowess equal to many Russk or Visany adventurers, and quite a few have taken up the sorcerous arts. According to legend, ogres live for thousands of years, and many are said to have been alive during the time of the Raskim.

Goblinoids in Trollwood

In all of the darkest corners of Trollwood live the goblins. Anciently attributed with magical power over the woods, in recent times the advent of civilization and the prominance of the troll threat has caused goblinoids to be considered little more than a nuisance.

These creatures vary widely in appearance, but little in mannerism. The largest, bugbears, are covered in a thick shaggy hide and have very distinct, pointed ears. They stand just a few inches taller than your average Russk, but possess great strength and incredible stealth, allowing them to creep practically unseen through the thick foliage of the forest. Their smaller cousins are called gremlins, nisse, bogeymen, goblins, and pucks by common folk. All of these tend to be small, funny-looking humanoids who scamper in packs through the forest, prefering to steal than fight for their food.

Reports of sorcery and strange magical powers abound in goblin stories, so one would be wary when encountering these mischeivous and dangerous creatures! All of them speak dialects of a language we call Goblin, which seems to be a dilution of a much more ancient and powerful tongue.

Explorers and adventurers have claimed that these creatures organize into packs and tribes, and on occasion even build villages and towns in the midst of the forest. Indeed, ancient stories tell of goblin armies that once ravaged the southern regions. In those days, the larger warrior goblins were called hobgoblins and were feared for their martial prowess.

Lizardfolk, Bullywugs, and the Swamps

The northwestern parts of Trollwood are too swampy and treacherous for the large, clumsy giants. Likewise, there is too little dry ground for the sneaky goblinoids. Because of this, it has become haven to two strange and alien races, the lizardfolk, and the froglike bullywugs.

The lizardfolk consider themselves to be a sovereign nation, although the Russkland Crown says differently. They are lead by a king, have their own priesthood, and apparently are on very good terms with the druids watching over Trollwood. Apparently they are of such a demeanor that inhabitants of Gallbridge and Cherry Knoll have even conducted business with them on occasion.

Lizardfolk appear to be upright, walking lizards. Often they have colorful scaled patterns. Many of them seem to keep crocodiles or vipers as companions and pets. They are expert trackers and woodsmen, and few enter their territory without their knowledge.

The bullywugs, on the other hand, are an entirely different story. Before the Anfalas War, these creatures were unheard of. Many sages (this author included) believe that they were created by some terrible magical experiment gone awry, and they have simply hidden away in Trollwood and bred unchecked for the past century.

They appear to be man-sized bipedal frogs, and have all of the disgusting characteristics and habits that go along with this. They are powerful jumpers and can breath as easily in the water as on the land. In addition, they have the ferocity and temperment of a mad Kvell. Many report them entering into a berserk fury during combat, and continuing to fight long after they should have dropped dead from their wounds.

Other Inhabitants

One should not get the idea that this brief synopsis of Trollwood covers every single creature which resides within its murky depths. Creatures both mundane and fantastical roam the forest, from fearsome worgs to noble treants. There is even a Visany tribe rumored to be living somewhere within Trollwood, and several powerful druids call the region home.