Troll

Trolls are humanoid creatures made of stone, with crystals growing out of their elbows and knees, and composing their eyes, teeth, and horns. These crystals are the valuable Trillicite, which they can grow out of the ground and their own flesh at will. Despite their large stature, Trolls are very gentle creatures that monitor their environment for changes, and aid the varying creatures that live there. Do not let their gentle nature fool you, however. Anyone or anything that threatens the natural balance of their home can expect nothing less than their full undivided attention at pummeling them into a fine dust. They have a keen awareness of a person's attitudes and intent, and are ranked with children and dogs as judges of character. For this reason, trolls are considered guardians of nature, and attempting to poach in an area guarded by a troll, or attempting to poach the troll themselves, is considered its own punishment.
In addition to their impressive physical strength, trolls are said to be the only species that can access the true power of Trillicite. This is evident by their ability to grow Trillicite crystals at will, both from the ground and on their bodies. They most often use this power to form weapons that cover their fists, generate massive horns for ramming, or simply making a Trillicite spike suddenly launch a foe into the air. They can also direct the energy inherent in Trillicite at foes, often with explosive results.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Trolls are similar in anatomy to apes, having feet that can be used for gripping things, although not as well as their hands. Their eyes, teeth, and horns are all made of Trillicite, and they have Trillicite spikes growing out of their elbows and knees.

Biological Traits

Many trolls vary in the rock they are made from, and the exact position of their naturally growing Trillicite crystals. Some trolls have moss covering most of their bodies; this is a sign that they prefer to monitor their chosen area in silence and peace.

Genetics and Reproduction

Trolls reproduce asexually by generating a Trillicite seed, which looks like a cluster of off-color Trillicite crystals, and placing it in an area of extreme heat, such as in a volcano or lava flow. After about a year, during which the seed becomes coated in rocks and forms a kind of egg, it hatches into a baby troll, who then proceeds to find out all it can about the world, eating every rock it can find.

Growth Rate & Stages

Trolls begin life by eating every rock they can in their infancy, a period that lasts around 3 years. During this time, a young troll learns through trial and error about the world around it, especially about living things, while it develops its sensory capabilities. Once they reach maturity, usually at around 4-5 years old, they look for a place that does not already have a troll guarding it to take care of. Sometimes, though, they will aid another troll that is struggling to care for its area, or it will stumble upon an old troll, and learn from it before it passes away, essentially inheriting the area.

Ecology and Habitats

Trolls live just about anywhere there is a large amount of vegetation and animal life, usually forests or jungles, but plains and savannas are not unheard of.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Trolls subsist on a diet of granite, limestone, obsidian, coal, and several other common rocks. They convert their food into energy that they need to maintain their crystal growths and make more. They never actually get "full," but if fed a large amount of rocks, they usually generate a large Trillicite crystal as a way of saying thanks. They can choose to store this energy for later, however.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Trolls do not often interact with other trolls, as they tend to be rather spread out. Only 3 goups of trolls, called a "quarry," have been identified, and one of them is domesticated in the largest Trillicite farm in the system.

Domestication

Fairies were the first to discover how to farm Trillicite in a renewable fashion by providing a troll, or group of trolls, with a large area of vegetation and animals to care for, aiding the trolls in their work and, most importantly, making sure they are well-fed. The grateful trolls occasionally willingly generate spikes of Trillicite for harvest.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Trolls' ability to generate Trillicate makes them valuable prizes, although attempting to harvest the crystals directly through methods other than the one described above tends to make the trolls extremely violent, and few survive such a foolish attempt. Although poaching in this manner is illegal, violators are very seldom prosecuted because, as one DA put it, "It's very difficult to get a testimony out of a pile of mush." Only three cases of troll poaching have ever come to trial, and each one ended with the defendant pleading guilty.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Trolls live just about anywhere there is life, either flora or fauna. Some have been transported to other worlds, increasing their presence on those worlds.

Average Intelligence

Trolls are about as smart as an ape, able to understand most words of spoken language and adjust their tactics during combat. When a troll can sense an opponent coming that it knows is stronger than it, it will set up makeshift traps to lure it into a weakened state before attacking.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Trolls can sense the energies around them, both magical and mundane in nature. The see the world around them through groupings of elements and energies, and can detect illusions, but are rarely fooled by them.

More Information about the ruleset:

Lifespan

60 Years

Conservation Status

Trolls are under the Environmental Safety Act of 1208, which states that no one may approach a troll or enter an area where a troll is known to guard with the intent of harming it. This act is widely believed to be more for the violater's safety than the trolls'.

Average Height

8 Ft.

Average Weight

200 - 250 lbs.