Trolls

Physical Description: Humanoid in shape (2 legs, 2 arms, 1 head), and made of what appears to be stone, Earthen range in size depending on their age. Inverse of most species, Earthen are larger when they are younger, around 10 feet tall, and decrease in size as they age. This is because of the unique way that the Earthen come into being (See Lore below). This quirk of Earthen aging has led to many misunderstandings about their geology and have led most other races to believe there are two distinct subspecies of Trolls. Trolls will decorate their bodies with moss, lichen, and other growing plants in imitation of clothing and take particular pride in their mossy (or other decorative or useful material) beards. A typical Earthen lifespan is measured in centuries, and they usually become more intelligent and wise as they age and become smaller. They are extremely strong and tough throughout their lifespan due to being made of stone. This also leads to an almost supernatural ability to recover from injuries that would kill mere flesh and blood.

Lore: The Earthen Folk, or Trolls as most other peoples know them, are old. Their oral history extends back thousands of years, but it takes so long to speak their language that lore keepers spend decades learning just the important bits. Most Trolls don’t care much for the lore of their people outside of the knowledge of stone crafting. They learned long ago that their affinity for stone working could lead to riches. Unfortunately the other races also learned that the Earthen Folk are easily addicted to alcohol, and so riches ultimately lead to alcohol.

Alcohol has an interesting effect on Earthen geology. The intoxicating effects are extremely strong in its abilities to break down inhibitions and increase the feeling of calm and contentment most Earthen Folk long for. Unlike other races drunkenness usually results in calm acceptance of the world as it is. If you want to make friends with a Troll, give them a drink!

To this end, most Earthen ‘families’ will find a place to build a useful bridge or sell their services as builders. It is often said that Trolls will extort those who want to cross their bridges, but in truth they are looking for coins for alcohol, or the substance itself. Tragic ends that come to those who won’t pay are usually accidental and caused by angry Trolls searching a person for one or the other.

An Earthen ‘family’ does not conform to other races' concepts of families as an individual Earthen doesn’t usually have or recognize gender (that being said, some Earthen take to the concept once introduced and develop along those lines). A family typically consists of several Earthen, of various ages, that have banded together for safety and convenience. Usually at least one child is being raised by the family, a process that takes several years.

The Earthen are literally born from the stone of the world imbued with life from the care and love of their family. When it is time to raise a child an Earthen will choose a stone and begin to care for it like a child. They will sing to it, bathe it, and pour Earthen Sand upon it. Earthen Sand is created as Trolls age and begin to break down, and thus grow smaller. It is collected after sleep and used to imbue a new child with life. As the Earthen Sand accumulates, the stone grows until it gains the ability to move on its own. At that point the family protects the growing child as it accumulates more stone into its body and grows. Actual sentience is not achieved until they are full grown, until then, they are at the mercy of instinctual urges. Though rare, sometimes a child will reach the point of movement and get away from their family. They grow to be wild Trolls and are the basis of most horror stories involving Trolls. Eventually an Earthen reaches a point where they can no longer maintain active mobility and they will find a final resting place where they can spend their last few years in peace.