Rock Troll

Rock trolls are the most common of the evil, dreaded troll race, and the smallest and smartest, though by human standards still thick-witted brutes. Most stand six to seven feet tall, heavily over-muscled and hideous, with gray, hairless skin, flat faces, low brows, wide noses, long ears and broad mouths full of long, sharp teeth.

Their wits let them make weapons, shields, armor and even huge siege engines, all very crude but serviceable. They gather in big, warlike clans ruled by a troll king, usually the strongest member. Less driven by hunger than other trolls, they keep prisoners as slaves in their underground mines. They lust after every kind of mineral wealth and pour effort into mining, yet they would much rather take treasure from someone else. That puts them in constant conflict with dwarves, their worst enemies, and in the frequent underground wars between the two races the trolls show real skill at siegecraft. Rock trolls see by infra-vision, but sunlight pains them, dealing 1-6 damage for every minute of exposure. A rare few rise above 6th level as Warriors or Shamans.

Kullervo the Wanderer fought in one such siege. On its fifth day the trolls broke through an upper level via a mine dug long before, and Kullervo's reserve company faced trolls wielding captured dwarven hammers and axes until their general lured the best of them into a trap and drove the attack back. Rock trolls sometimes ally with goblins or tame cave trolls, and will join anyone useful to them, but make treacherous, cruel partners.