Homebrew Arcadian Troll Species Details

“Destiny is a gift. Some go their entire lives, living existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth that what feels as though a burden pushing down upon their shoulders is really a sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights. Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor, that to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be a hero. Don’t think. Become.”

— Blinkous Galadrigal, Becoming, Pt II

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the ideas associated with this species! That credit goes to the Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia franchise and the author of the book that inspired the show. (I heavily recommend the show, especially for all you ATLA lovers. It’s got the same  kind of funny, action-based story with a compelling plot and some seriously good twists!)

Trolls are a species of magical creatures known for having one of the largest form of societies and communities, all while living underground from the surface lands above and keeping their existence secret from mankind to prevent chaos and panic.

Trollish Appearance

Trolls are characterized by their different-colored, hard, rock-like skin covered with carving-like tattoos and a recognizable koala-like nose. Some trolls have four arms and six eyes, and most other trolls have either one or two eyes.

Male trolls are bigger with large horns on their heads and have visible lower fangs. Female trolls are either big or slender, have no horns, and have smaller fangs similar to piranhas.

Civilization

Trolls live in a society characterized by underground metropolises and the culture is composed primarily of trollish magic, charms, totems, and spells. Trolls are born of magic, from a chip of the mother and father's Heartstone into a small crystal which takes almost three decades (average length of time for troll development) for the birthstone to crack and for the baby Troll to be born.

Trolls originated from another plane that was corrupted by dark magical and invasive predatory creatures called the Darklands. 

Troll Names

Troll names fall into three broad categories. Trolls born underneath another culture typically have names reflective of that culture. Some have names derived from the Trollish language, passed down through generations, that reflect their Darklands heritage. And some younger trolls, striving to find a place in the world, adopt a name that signifies a virtue or other concept. For some, the chosen name is a reminder of the future. For others, it’s a warning of the past.

Male Trollish Names: Blinkous, Vendel, Draal, Kanjigar, Bular, Angor Rot

Female Trollish Names: Callista, Bagdwella, Deya, Gladysgrow, Usurna

Chosen Names: AARRRGGHH!, NotEnrique, Strickler, Nomura

MET WITH FEAR

Ignorant people tend to be afraid of trolls, assuming that their monstrous shape has left its mark on their personality and morality, not just their appearance. The reality is that a troll’s deadly body doesn’t affect their personality. They are gifted with resilience from their stone heritage but chart their own course in life.

Arcadian Troll Traits

Trolls share certain traits as a result of their nature as living stone.

Ability Score Increase

Your Strength score increases by 1, and your Constitution score increases by 2.

Age

Trolls possess supernatural longevity, meaning they can live for hundreds of years (the oldest known troll was 5,352 years old), but are still capable of being killed, like when they turn to stone.

Size

Trolls are Medium in size, but vary drastically in shape. Many trolls grow to be nearly three meters tall, but most others are a head taller than the average human. 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision

Thanks to living out of the way of deadly sunlight, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Stonelike Skin

You have resistance to slashing damage.

Fist of Rock

Your trollish heritage gives you great strength. All unarmed strikes or attacks made with an improvised weapon deal 1d8 plus your Strength modifier Bludgeoning damage.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and Undercommon.