Stoneback Troll
Stoneback trolls are one of the many faery races that live in the Emerald Woodland and other forested parts of Altairus. They take the form of squat, green-skinned creatures with frizzy hair and, as the name implies, backs that are covered in hard stone.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Stoneback trolls are squat creatures with long noses and wild hair. Their name comes from their iconic stony backs, which might be dotted with crystals or other unique stones.
Genetics and Reproduction
Stoneback trolls give live birth to 1-2 young at a time. These young take 20 years to fully mature, much like many other faeries.
Ecology and Habitats
Stoneback trolls tend to live in heavily forested areas. They originate from the Emerald Woodland, but they can live in any wooded area in Altairus. They may also live in the mountains or in other areas that have an abundance of Earth magic.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Stoneback trolls are omnivorous, but their diet tends to skew plant-based. They live mainly off of fruits and vegetables found in the forest and occasionally fish from the streams. Only very rarely will they resort to eating the flesh of other animals, and even then it is usually because they are starving and have no other option.
Biological Cycle
As stoneback trolls age, their stony backs start to grow colorful crystals. The more crystals a troll has, the older they tend to be. Trolls that have achieved Ancient status have backs covered entirely in crystal.
As stonebacks age, more of their body becomes encased in stone. Older stoneback trolls spend most of their days asleep, preparing for the next stage in their lives. They can become incredibly irritable when woken, leading to the stereotype of "the grumpy old troll." Eventually, when they become Ancients, their entire body becomes encased in stone, effectively turning them into a giant boulder or mountain. While this sounds incredibly unpleasant, trolls in this state are actually the most comfortable they will ever be. Their magic becomes enough to sustain them without food or drink, and it permeates into the world around them, nourishing it in turn. Trolls who have undergone this kind of petrification spend their lives in a blissful dreamlike state, unable to hear, see, or move, but aware of what is going on around them and more than willing to share their gifts with visitors.
Behaviour
Stoneback trolls are surprisingly calm and solitary creatures. They usually prefer to avoid confrontation, hiding in the deepest, darkest parts of the woods to avoid being spotted. When they do interact with other beings, their demeanor is either overly polite or incredibly gruff. They tend to get along much better with nonsapient animals and magical beasts than they do with other faeries.
That being said, stonebacks can still be driven to violence if they are pushed. Adamant Ironjaw, one of the six Champions of Altairus, was driven to fight the wendigoes in order to save his home from destruction. He wielded Terra, a broad axe forged from Ygdrassil's branches that could create massive earthquakes in its wake.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
If dryads have a unique connection to plants, stoneback trolls have an affinity for animals. Their diets mostly being vegetarian, they can directly communicate with most animals without the use of an animal speech potion. This keeps them aware of what is going on in their immediate territory without seeing much for themselves. Dairy farming and beekeeping are common professions amongst these Earth faeries.
Despite their small size, stoneback trolls are incredibly strong. Their forms resemble those of power lifters, and their strength is ideal for handling heavy farming tasks without the aid of beasts of burden. They are commonly called upon for strenuous physical labor, such as plowing fields.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Stoneback trolls live in temperate forests all across Altairus, though they are most concentrated in the Emerald Woodland. Older trolls are found mostly in the mountains, though you may not recognize them as they blend in with the world around them.
Average Intelligence
While intelligent, stoneback trolls are not as "civilized" as some other faery races. They tend to live alone, their social lives mainly consisting of interactions with plants, animals, and magical beasts.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Stoneback trolls have a superior sense of smell, and they have a unique ability to feel the power of the Earth element in their bodies to gauge the health of the land they are in.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Stoneback trolls can grow lichen or moss on their stony backs. This does not cause them significant harm, though it can be irritating if its roots start to penetrate the soft tissue layer underneath.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Stoneback trolls are commonly named after stones. Names such as Quartz, Granite, and Sandstone are ubiquitous. Other times, they might be named after trees or other things found in nature.
Common Dress Code
Stoneback trolls don't usually wear shoes. The rocks on their backs develop on the soles of their feet as well, making them unnecessary. Adamant Ironjaw is actually looked at strangely for his insistence on wearing shoes.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Trolls rely primarily on fish for their protein. They will usually go down to a body of water in a relatively secluded area to fish. The common stereotype of trolls hiding out under bridges may very well come from humans observing stoneback trolls hiding out near the streams underneath bridges to catch fish.
Common Taboos
Stonebacks tend to avoid killing animals for food if they can. They do not want to damage their relations with any of the animals they talk to just so they can eat meat, so they do not do so. The only exception to this is fish; they are not particularly connected to fish, so they have no issues with eating them.
Furthermore, trolls can't digest meat, particularly fatty meat, very well. So even if they do eat it, they do so knowing they're risking an upset stomach. It is much easier and better for them to rely on plant foods in the forest if they can.
Historical Figures
Adamant Ironjaw is the original wielder of the Earth Fragment Terra and the Earth Champion of Altairus who banished the Heart of Darkness alongside the other five heroes.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Trolls do not interact much with other races of Altairus. They mostly just stick to interacting with animals and beasts. Those interactions tend to be fairly positive, though some trolls can come off as standoffish and rude.
Earth
Both male and female trolls have short, stocky forms. They have wild, frizzy hair that can be any color.
Stoneback trolls typically have green or brown skin. The stones on their backs can range from sandy brown to slate gray to deep black. Their hair can be any color, though most often it is yellow, blue, or purple.
Comments