Troll

Trolls are known in some capacity throughout Kadagard. These baboon-like primates are known as beasts and monsters for their voraciousness and aggression, as well as generally being considered ugly and, at least seemingly, dumb or slow-witted. With a legacy of screeching and savagery, it’s understandable why many look down upon them, but they are not to be underestimated: while they seem to appear just dumb and loud, they are still large predators and as such they have a certain cunning that only those types of animals can have.

Basic Information

Anatomy

As a primate, trolls have two arms and legs, both of which they walk on. While they may look spindly, the arms of a troll have far more strength than the average human, being packed with strong muscles. Their tail is short, and lined with coarse, shaggy hair. Their buttocks have rough, nerveless, hairless pads of skin that provide comfort when sitting and a bright display. They are covered in a dense coat of fur, except for the face, and males have a thick mane. Trolls also have a large throat pouch that acts as a resonating chamber to amplify their calls and roars.

Biological Traits

Trolls have strong dimorphism between the different sexes: males are larger, stronger, have thicker and darker manes, poses “sideburns” on their cheeks, strongly exaggerated cheek pouches, similar to those of a male orangutan, and larger, more noticeable buttocks for display. Notably, trolls in Hadorstadir tend to be smaller, limiting competition with the endemic Vargr.

Genetics and Reproduction

Trolls reproduce as most mammals do, via intercourse of a male and female. As primates, trolls only give birth to one young after a 8-9 month gestation period. Trolls have no specific breeding season, meaning they just breed whenever they feel ready, and it is not uncommon to see a female troll nursing one offspring while pregnant with another.

Growth Rate & Stages

When trolls are born, they are about the only weighing between 1.5-2 pounds, and are almost entirely dependent on their mother for survival, nursing until they are a year old in which they are weaned. Trolls generally reach maturity at ages 6-8 and at which point their spot within the troop hierarchy is established, or they leave to join a new troop.

Ecology and Habitats

Trolls live anywhere short of permafrosted tundra, but prefer open steppes and prairies that have access to areas of elevation such as forests or cliffs. These areas of elevated spaces are where the troop rests and raises their young, away from the access of most predators.
When a troop of trolls takes to a new place, they quickly make themselves known by culling a few of the local predators, eliminating threats to young and future competition. With the new spaces in the ecosystem open, the trolls quickly rise to top predator statis, normally. Being large predators, unlike their baboon relatives, trolls aren’t normally prey items for predators, but eagles and big cats have been known to prey on young. Bears have also been known to come into conflict with trolls, as the caves they use for hibernation a troll troop would use for permanent habitation.

Dietary Needs and Habits

While technically omnivorous and less choosey than the average cold weather predator, much of a troll’s diet consist of meat, in some form. Trolls tend to hunt large animals, like deer or elk, but mountain goats and rams are also common prey items. Trolls prefer to hunt in forays of at least 5 and the tactics they use are what can only be described as skirmishing: the group surrounds the prey, gets as close as possible, and charges toward them all at once. While this may seem foolish and a waste of the element of surprise, what the trolls are doing is separating the individuals from the group, as the sudden appearance of the foray creates a panic. Usually the young, old, or otherwise unable to defend themselves are wreslted to the ground and ended with a swift bite to the throat, severing the windpipe and killing them in seconds. Troll forays tend to kill more than the foray needs: they eat some of them and the rest are taken back for the troop.
Trolls are also known to consume fish, insects, and shellfish, should such opportunities present themselves. Trolls due enjoy berries, and forage around their territories for nuts, seeds, roots, tubers, and cereals. Nuts and inner tree bark are gathered, but not eaten always. Instead, a lot of those are stored so the troop can have a supply of easy food for the winter.

Biological Cycle

The coat of a troll grows dense as winter approaches and they go through hibernation during the winter. As they are social, however, there are always a few trolls that are awake at any given time, to protect the rest of the troop while they rest. These guards rotate their shifts, waking up other trolls to take their place when they get tired. These guards also gather any food that is still available should their food reserves be low or otherwise under threat.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Troops are primates, which makes them social animals by default, living large groups, called “troops,” of up to 40 individuals. Troll troops are strictly hierarchal, with a male's status in the troop being determined by maternal line. Males can breed with whatever females they choose, but some males are particularly protective of certain females within the troop and will fight viciously to protect them.
When males fight for dominance, the other members of the troop tend to show more interest as these fights effect the entire troop with the change in the hierarchy. Before the fight begins, males flip their lips back over their nostrils, displaying their gums and teeth in a threatening manner. If neither male back down, they begin to hit and bite each other until their opponent backs down in defeat. These fights have been known to be deadly, but most males prefer to cut their losses and submit to the superior male.
Despite their reputation for cruelty, trolls are not completely horrible to anyone they do not mate with. As primates, they require deep and long-lasting social bonds with other individuals of their species and individuals of the same age range will happily engage in play and other social activates, such as grooming. Shocking to many, trolls are known to provide food for individual members of the troop that fail to meet their needs, either due to injury, sickness, or even just poor luck that day. This is not completely out of kindness however, as the nature of this altruism is also quite reciprocal in nature: if a troll provides resources such as food for a member of the troop who has not done as well as the rest, often done with the expectation that the favor will be returned when they fall on hard times themselves.

Facial characteristics

Trolls have largely hairless faces, except for small hairs around the mouth and nose that appear to act as whiskers, with a long, dog-like muzzle. The chin of a troll are flanged and support a pouch that holds their large, saber canine teeth.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Trolls once inhabited all of Kadagard to a certain degree, but modern trolls are largely confined to the cold lands north of the Allfire Peaks. They are particularly populace in Brainey, with its many large animals and dense forest habitats. This and the region’s proximity to the mountains make Brianey the perfect region to house trolls in a healthy population. Trolls do inhabit the other regions in close proximity to the Allfire, so long as there large animals for them to prey on, but nowhere is the population density at its densest than in Brianey.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Trolls are known for having an excellent sense of smell, being comparable to some of the finest hounds in sensory capabilities. Sight is also important for finding prey, but smell is the primary tool a troll uses to find food and their large eyes give them excellent night vision.

Origin/Ancestry

Papionini‌

Lifespan

68 years

Average Height

Male-6 feet, 8 inches at the head.
Female-4 feet, 1 inch at the head.

Average Weight

Male-250-348 lbs.
Female-98-140 lbs.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Trolls are earthy colors, mostly being darkly colored shades of brown and having dark colored skin. The exception to the dark colors that adorn their bodies are their rumps, which are various red shades, and the ridges of the males’ muzzles, which are generally a mixture of pukee greens, molted blues, and faded reds, which all together produce an ugly, unpleasant display, at least by human standers.

Geographic Distribution

• Brianey
• Hadorstadir