The Trolls
Physiology
Trolls are tall humanoids with tough grey skin that some liken to stone. From a distance, it is difficult to distinguish males from females, for they are of similar height and build.
They are considered mentally mature at the age of twelve but will continue to grow in size their entire lives, some reaching over eight feet. Very little is known about their lifespan, but it has been speculated that they are similar to Humans.
Female Trolls wait until their thirties to bear children to increase their mass sufficiently to avoid damage in childbirth as newborn Trolls are much larger than Human babies. There is no record of any multiple births in Troll society, but over their entire lifespan, a Troll will often bear more than one child.
Psychology
Outsiders think of Trolls as dull and unimaginative due to their quiet and reflective manner. Because very little can threaten a Troll, they are not guided by fear, which makes them inquisitive. They prefer to live in swamps, where the damp conditions prevent their tough skin from drying out and cracking.
Education
There is no formal education in Troll society. Parents look after the raising of the young and are often helped by other members of their village.
Family
Family is very important to Trolls, and they will go to great lengths to protect their young. Troll children remain in their parent’s hut until they reach six feet tall, at which time they move into their own hut.
Government
Troll villages are ruled by an elder or chief. This is often the largest Troll, which also means one of the oldest, being chosen not for their strength but for their life experience. Little is known about how they choose their leaders, but the prevailing belief is that the senior family members of the village choose their next leader.
Religion
Unlike other races, Trolls have no religion. To their way of thinking, they simply exist. The distant past is considered unimportant to them, so they do not keep a written or oral history past one or two generations.
Magic
Trolls are not known for using magic, though they understand what it is. Trollden, the only Troll village known to Humans, has no mages or shamans, but they have no issues allowing the use of magic in their presence, especially that of Life Magic.
Military
Trolls wear no armour, relying on their thick skin to protect them. As such, they are impervious to all but the strongest bows, with swords and axes doing little damage. This makes them fearless on the battlefield, where they wield massive clubs or throw large stones over vast distances, rivalling smaller siege engines.
Trolls serve in the Mercerian Army but are organized into their own companies, though they have, on occasion, worked with the Queen’s Rangers, carrying the archers into battle on their shoulders.
