Trollkin

Description

A trollkin is some type of cousin to the mountain trolls. At first this diminutive creature might be mistaken for an young troll, but that is mearly a method the creature uses to frighten off its enemies. Trollkin are more intelligent than most animals and able to use simple tools, but most of this is simply copying and not really effective.

While it is not as fierce as the oldest trolls, trollkin packs are very dangerous to those that move into their territory. Their skin is like stone and while they don't use weapons their fists are as good as any warhammer. For all of their weight they are more dexterous than they appear and when confronted with archers restort to running attacks with thrown stones. If they are pressed or their leader killed the remaining trollkin will retreat unless they are defending their nests where they will fight to the death.

Habitat

Trollkin inhabit the highest peaks of the Iron Mountains. The males stand about four foot and weigh just under three-hundred pound. The female are nearly a foot taller an almost eighty pounds heavier. Female trollkin give birth to a litter or six to ten and jealously raise them and protect them from the male trollkin. The male trollkin see the young as potential rivals and will take any opportunity to kill the young, especially the young males.

Trollkin females will build their nest is groups for mutual protection and hunting. The females will then take turns caring for and protecting the young while other are out hunting. The male trollkin live a solitary life around the nests guarding their territory from outsiders as well as other trollkin seeking their lands. The dominant male trollkin will be in the best hunting territory, which will give them strength to defeat their rivals and thereby earn the right to mate with the females.

During the deep winter trollkin will partially hibernate, keeping themselves only active enough to watch over their territory. This allows them to conserve their food during the months when few prey animals can be found. If an area is hunted out the females will move the nests and the males will follow in their wake. Food

Trollkin are true carnivors that will eat nearly anything that moves, including other trollkin. They are very efficient hunters eating everything they kill, bones and all. Occasionally trollkin will eat several stones, which stay in their stomachs and aid their digestion.

Encounter

Away from the nesting grounds someone is likely to encounter a rogue male that lost their territory to a rival and has not regained another. These males are very aggressive and will likely attack anything that makes a threatening gesture to them. They fight with unmatched ferocity that trollkin only display during mating fights. A rogue male is not sucidal and will retreat from the fight if they are too wounded.

Encountering trollkin near their nests is especially dangerous. The males will regard any intruders as hostile rivals and those that survive the males will find the females fight with no regards for their own safety. While the older females will fight to the death to protect their nesting grounds, the younger females will gather up the children and flee from the attackers. They will not fight anyone unless cornered. The screeching of the fighting females has been known to drive the males made with battle lust.

Magical Materials

1-4 quantities of magical stone (MR2; Earth, Wards) can be made from the body. Also 1-3 stones will be found in the stomach (MR4; Earth, Fire) partially digested.