Troll
Honor. Duty. Strength. Vigilance. These are the cornerstones of the life of every troll. Born of the dreams of warriors and guardians, trolls are the dauntless and dedicated stalwarts of the fae courts. Honest to a fault, trolls dedicate their lives to the service and protection of other fae. Once she takes an oath to support someone, a troll will go to any lengths to protect her charge. That dedication is the most fundamental part of a troll’s being, so much that if a troll breaks that word she begins to sicken until she has redeemed herself from dishonor. Patient, chivalrous, and dependable, many see these “giants” as naive and too trusting. Yet anyone who betrays a troll discovers the violence and rage that lurks beneath that restrained exterior.
Powerful, impressive, and handsome in their mortal forms, the bravery of Seelie trolls is legendary. Trolls are also dedicated to chivalry and courtesy, using formal titles and following courtly rules as a matter of course. Legend says that trolls were once the first nobles until they lost a great war to the sidhe and bowed a knee in fealty. Now they uphold the courtly life, preferring simple living and recognition for their fidelity as reward enough for their service.
Still, even the stoicism of a troll has a limit. Trolls are stubborn and resist change, and though they are slow to anger, their tempers can explode if their honor is impugned. Push a troll long enough, and she may begin to descend into her Unseelie side. Trolls resist this slide into their darker nature, as Unseelie trolls, known as ogres, are largely mistrusted and avoided by other changelings. Knowing all this is what makes other kiths look at the trolls and their dedication to honor with admiration. In resisting their darker halves, trolls are the bedrock of a freehold, staunch defenders of fae society and its often uncertain future.
| Troll | |
|---|---|
| |
| Name | Troll |
| Plural | Trolls |
| Pronounced | TROLL |
| Dream of... | Honorable Guardians |
| Affinity | Fae |
| Birthrights | Titan's Power, Strong of Will and Body |
| Frailties | Bond of Duty |
Kith Notes[edit]
Appearance[edit]
Though trolls range in appearance, they have one thing in common: they’re large. Ranging from seven to nine feet tall, these Seelie giants have thick hair, slate-gray skin and pale blue or green eyes. Every troll sports a pair of ridged horns that sprout from their foreheads, and prefer warrior garb, often in Nordic styles. Unseelie trolls are terrifying dark shadows of their Seelie brethren, sporting greenish skin, thicker, more brutish features, and a generally wild, unkempt appearance.
Lifestyles[edit]
The natural athleticism and strength of a troll gives them plenty of opportunities for employment in their mortal lives. Seelie trolls choose Spartan lifestyles and enjoy hard work in professions that allow them to serve. Police work, professional sports, or even private security are perfect opportunities for a troll. Unseelie trolls often find employment in criminal enterprises as ruthless knee breakers, corrupt police officials, or uncaring bodyguards.
Seemings[edit]
Childlings[edit]
Trolls at this stage of life are just learning the building blocks of what chivalry and honor mean. A troll’s innate sense of fairness makes her earnest, if not sometimes stubborn, as a pupil. These childlings are often fostered to older trolls or nobles to learn more about their future place in the courtly system. Other childlings must be wary of violent outbursts as the young troll learns to control her temper.
Wilders[edit]
Once her feet are set upon the honorable path, a wilder troll goes out into the world to search for her purpose. A trolls at this stage will throw everything she has into a cause, sometimes even to the detriment of herself. It often falls to others to pull the troll back, or risk seeing the noblest of warriors fall to their Unseelie side.
Grumps[edit]
A grump troll has weathered many storms and served as the rock upon which many endeavors were built. Trolls at this stage may become reclusive, focused on a single task they may serve while becoming more stubborn and set in their ways. These trolls recede back into their lairs, lured out only to complete their sworn tasks or else to impart the wisdom of an experienced warrior to those they deem worthy.
Revelry[edit]
Trolls gain Glamour from tending to their oaths, but also from protecting and maintaining what they have. A troll might achieve Revelry in some very boggan-like ways: painting a house, tending a garden, or teaching her children. Trolls also find Revelry in feats of athleticism and battle. A troll in need of Glamour might challenge her motley to a game of football — her against the lot of them.
Unleashing[edit]
Cantrips cast by a troll come with a blast of cold arctic chill, a byproduct of her ancestry as a warrior of the northern places. Should one listen hard enough, one might hear the ring of steel on steel, or the cries of battle engaged by valorous trolls long dead.
Kith Mechanics[edit]
Affinity[edit]
Fae
Birthrights[edit]
Titan's Power[edit]
A troll grows most in power when they’re out fulfilling their duties. A troll gains an additional Bruised health level and dot of Strength when they take up their first oath, even if that takes the Trait above 5. Upon their second oath, the troll gains two extra dots of strength and two additional Bruised health levels (with a maximum total of nine health levels).[1]
Strong of Will and Body[edit]
When a troll is at her duty, nothing can stand in her way. A troll gets an extra two dice to rolls to resist being seduced, persuaded, or even magically commanded away from her cause. Trolls also cannot botch Athletics or Alertness rolls.
Frailty[edit]
Bond of Duty[edit]
A troll’s integrity is as much a part of her as her strength of arms. Should a troll break an oath or sworn contract, she loses her Titan’s Power Birthright and begins to sicken. The only way to regain her strength and vitality is to atone for her broken promise, which can involve fulfilling a new oath or making restitution to the aggrieved party. Because of how integral a troll’s word is to her very being, a troll chooses her oaths — and those to whom she becomes oathbound — very carefully. Should a troll be betrayed, the player must roll Willpower (difficulty 8) to restrain the troll’s rage. Should she fail, the troll attacks the betrayers until restrained by others or the player succeeds at another Willpower roll (difficulty 8); she can attempt this roll after a number of turns equal to the troll’s Glamour.
References[edit]
- Changeling: The Dreaming 20th Anniversary Edition, pp. 112-113
Notes[edit]
- ↑ We need to clarify what oaths people can start with at character creation.