If folk tales are to be believed, trolls are solitary brutes who empty the wildlands of prey, then rampage through border villages and far-flung homesteads, eating livestock and defenders alike and moving on only when the food runs out or defenders chase them off with flame. But rangers, druids, and other seasoned adventurers know that these isolated trolls are not the whole story. Deep in the wilderness, trolls live in traveling families led by ruthlessly pragmatic females, hunting the forests and fens in carefully managed patterns to avoid exhausting the land's bounty.
While it's true that trolls are generally dangerous, selfish, and wicked monsters, troll culture and society are a strange and complicated jumble of contradictions. Trolls care for their young, and viciously kill or exile any who threaten the tribe's survival. Those who are exiled tend to become even more dangerous to both the tribal unit and creatures outside the tribe, as they grow more daring and ravenous, treating any creature as prey, including other trolls. When such exiles make their way into more populated areas, their destructive exploits give rise to the tales commonly told about trolls. Trolls who work together are more cautious and likely to avoid civilization, but can still be an organized storm of carnage in unified hunts and raids. And when many tribes can unify under a troll monarch, the ground shakes with thundering troll feet and every scrap of edible material is torn up and gulped down to fill their bellies. Fortunately, such gatherings of trolls are rare affairs that often burn themselves out through infighting, the passing of the threat that united them, or eventual over-hunting.
Trolls average 14 feet tall when standing upright, but seem no more than 8 feet tall because they hunch forward, perpetually on the verge of knuckle-walking. They generally have greenish skin, matted hair, large tusks protruding from their lower jaws, and inky-black eyes. Several kinds of troll variants also possess adaptations to different environments (such as wintry lands, deep caves, and oceans). Trolls of different types typically do not feel any close kinship to one another.
A troll's greatest motivation is its constant, gnawing hunger. An adult troll needs to eat the equivalent of a large pig every day just to fuel its demanding metabolism. This constant consumption powers the ability that sets trolls apart from other giants: the effortless regeneration of damaged tissue. A troll can reattach its severed limbs or grow new ones within minutes, and even a hacked-apart troll can restore itself, given enough time. Since under ordinary circumstances trolls cannot die from injury, they are fearless in battle, aggressively attacking without fearing loss of life or limb. Trolls are well aware of the few ways in which they can be killed, but even when confronted by the possibility of death, they have a hard time comprehending that it could really happen to them.
It is extremely difficult to kill a troll as long as its regeneration is in effect, but there are several ways to temporarily impede the regeneration long enough for a troll to die, or to kill it via means other than direct physical damage. A troll who doesn't get enough to eat over the course of a few days loses its regeneration and becomes vulnerable, though a single adequate meal will bring it back into fighting trim, and starvation itself is a common cause of death for trolls. Drowning a troll is also effective. The two most common ways to negate a troll's regeneration, however, are fire and acid, both of which create horrible wounds that damage the flesh beyond the power of regeneration to repair. Burning the stumps and corpse of an unconscious troll is the best way to permanently kill the creature.
Female trolls are significantly larger than males and slightly more intelligent. Male trolls are usually solitary; female trolls are much more social, banding together into nomadic groups of two to four plus younglings. Female trolls are highly protective of their young and run off any male trolls who overstay their welcome as well as any other creatures that might pose a threat. However, female trolls turn a blind eye to the vicious fighting between young trolls, viewing it as a necessary part of toughening them up for adult life.
Sometimes an elder female troll who has mastered the magic arts will temporarily join a group to observe and test the female young for magical aptitude, often staying with the group until a promising juvenile reaches maturity, protecting her from the worst of the fighting if her strengths don't lie in that direction. Once the juvenile is mature enough to leave her group, she is trained in the ways of magic.
Unlike females, most male trolls spend much of their lives alone. At maturity they either leave on their own or are run off by the adult females. A solitary male usually finds a large territory that it uses as a hunting ground, building a lair in the center and driving off any other trolls or other monsters. Males usually leave their territory only to mate, and often woo by attempting to best other suitors in combat.
Trolls have simple religious beliefs; they usually revere a demon lord of storms and natural disasters. Priests of this faith use acid and fire to intentionally burn and mutilate themselves, leaving them with horrific disfiguring scars.
Trolls generally live in wilderness regions with heavy forests or rocky terrain where it's easier for them to surprise their prey. They try to maintain a distance between themselves and other major predators and intelligent creatures. Troll druids, known as troll furies, mind the health of an entire region and are always the first to realize emerging dangers from encroaching ogres, humans, or other outside forces.
Full statistics for trolls can be found in their Bestiary entry.
New Rules
Trolls are known primarily for their dangerous natural attacks and regenerative abilities. Most of the new troll options presented here complement these racial abilities.
Troll Archetype
The following archetype is available to trolls.
Troll Fury (Druid)
Troll furies combine a druid's love of natural balance with a single-minded devotion to the welfare of the troll tribe. Trolls require a lot of prey to keep fed, and if their hunting grounds are upset by incursions of other monsters, civilized deforestation, or careless trolls who eat more than they need, a troll tribe can find itself without a sustainable food source.
Troll furies take the long view on sustainability, protecting the trolls' territory from gluttonous trolls and outsiders alike, and even hunting down tribal enemies when necessary. Holding themselves aloof from the rest of troll society, troll furies command great respect and can rally a region's trolls quickly to deal with threats to their existence and the health of their environment.
Inspire Fervor (Ex): At 1st level, once per day as a standard action, a troll fury can chant over another troll within 30 feet, bolstering it against fear and improving its combat abilities. This works like the inspire courage bard ability, but affects only one troll and lasts 1 minute. The troll fury uses her druid level as her bard level to determine the effects of this ability. This ability replaces wild empathy.
Chosen Prey (Ex): At 4th level, a troll fury can select one creature type from the ranger's favored enemy list and gains a favored enemy bonus against that creature type with an effective ranger level equal to her druid level. This ability never grants the troll fury favored enemy bonuses against a second favored enemy creature type. A troll fury can change her favored enemy type once per week by performing a ritual that takes 1 hour to perform. If a troll fury already has a favored enemy from another class, the levels from the classes that grant favored enemies stack with this one to determine the favored enemy bonuses, and in this case she can gain other favored enemy creature types. This ability replaces resist nature's lure.
Troll Fury's Mark (Su): At 9th level, each time a troll fury or her animal companion damages a creature with a natural attack, the troll fury gains a +10 insight bonus on Survival checks to track that creature for 24 hours. The duration of this ability does not stack with itself. Each time the troll fury or her animal companion hits the target, this ability lasts for the next 24 hours. This ability replaces venom immunity.
Troll Feats
The following feats are available to trolls.
Cooperative Rend (Combat, Teamwork)
You and an ally each sink a claw into your foe—then all you have to do is pull.
Prerequisites: Rend, troll.
Benefit: Whenever you and an ally who has this feat are both threatening the same creature, you must hit the target with at least one of your claw attacks to use your rend ability.
Normal: You must hit with two of your claw attacks to use your rend ability.
Great Rend (Combat)
You use your teeth and claws to rip your foes to shreds.
Prerequisites: Bite attack, rend, troll.
Benefit: If you are able to use your rend ability on the same turn that you also succeed at a bite attack, your rend deals an amount of additional damage equal to half your Strength modifier.
Mighty Bite (Combat)
Your rending claws expose your opponent's vital organs to your teeth.
Prerequisites: Base attack bonus +6, bite attack, rend, troll.
Benefit: If you deal damage to a creature with your rend ability, the critical threat range of your bite attack becomes 18–20 until the start of your next turn. This increase does not stack with other effects that increase your bite's critical threat range (such as the keen weapon special ability or the Improved Critical feat).
Raging Regeneration (Combat)
Your rage pushes your ability to regenerate beyond its normal limits.
Prerequisites: Rage class ability, regeneration, troll.
Benefit: While you are raging, fire and acid damage don't make your regeneration stop functioning on the round following the attack, and instead reduce the number of hit points regained by regeneration each round by 2 until the end of your next turn.
Normal: Acid and fire damage cause your regeneration to stop functioning on the round following the attack.
Regenerate Muscles
You use your powerful metabolism to temporarily increase the strength of your muscles, but doing so costs you your regeneration powers.
Prerequisites: Power Attack, regeneration, troll.
Benefit: As a free action, you can make your regeneration stop working for 1 minute and gain a +2 enhancement bonus to your Strength. You lose your regeneration ability while you benefit from this bonus to Strength and for 1 minute afterward. You can end this ability early as a free action. You can activate this ability only if your regeneration is functioning.
Sprinting Troll
You use your powerful metabolism to hunt swiftly, starving your regenerative powers in the interest of granting yourself greater speed.
Prerequisites: Fleet, regeneration, troll.
Benefit: As a free action, you can increase your land speed by 10 feet for 1 minute. You lose your regeneration ability while you benefit from this enhancement bonus to your land speed and for 1 minute afterward. You can end this ability early as a free action. You can activate this ability only if your regeneration is functioning.
Troll Equipment
The following piece of equipment is intended for trolls, but similar items can be crafted for other clawed creatures with only minor alterations.
Barbed Troll Claws
Price 20 gp; Weight 4 lbs.
These metal sheaths slide onto the claws of a troll. When a troll hits with a claw attack while wearing the sheaths, it can either keep the sheaths on its hand (in which case the claw attack deals 1 extra point of damage) or allow the four sheaths on that hand to slide off and become embedded in the wound (in which case the claw attack deals 1 point of bleed damage). The listed price is for a set of 8 sheaths (one for each claw on both of a troll's four-fingered hands).
Troll Spells
The following spells are used almost exclusively by trolls.
Transfer Regeneration
School transmutation; Level cleric 3, druid 3, shaman 3, witch 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target 1 willing living creature
Duration 1 minute
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
You bestow your regenerative abilities on the target. Your regeneration stops functioning for the duration of the spell, and the target gains your regeneration. For example, if you have regeneration 5 (acid or fire), your target gains regeneration 5 (acid or fire). This regeneration overlaps (does not stack) with any regeneration the creature already has, including other castings of this spell. This spell has no effect if you don't have the regeneration ability or your regeneration isn't functioning when you cast the spell.
Trial of Fire and Acid
School evocation [acid, fire]; Level bloodrager 3, cleric 3, magus 3, shaman 3, sorcerer/wizard 3, witch 3
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range touch
Target creature touched
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw Fortitude half (see text); Spell Resistance no
The target creature is covered in burning acid that deals 1d6 points of acid damage and 1d6 points of fire damage each round. The subject can attempt a Fortitude saving throw each round to reduce the damage by half. Dousing the target in water ends the effect (both the acid and the fire), but rolling on the ground does not extinguish the fire or affect the acid.
Troll Magic Items
Rarely does a troll spellcaster take an interest in crafting magic items, but when it does, it usually creates an item that enhances trolls' natural attacks.
Cloak of the Troll King
Price 9,000 gp; Slot shoulders; CL 5th; Weight 2 lbs.; Aura faint evocation
This long cloak is a patchwork of beast and humanoid hides roughly stitched together. A crude, crown-shaped patch of yellow-dyed fabric is sewn on the back, and a length of knotted hemp rope secures the cloak around the wearer's neck. The wearer gains a +5 competence bonus on Intimidate checks and the ability to use burning hands as a spell-like ability three times per day.
Construction Requirements
Cost 4,500 gp
Craft Wondrous Item, burning hands, cause fear
Gauntlets of Rending
Price 8,000 gp; Slot hands; CL 5th; Weight 4 lbs.; Aura faint evocation
These Large gauntlets are bulky, and the palms and fingers are studded with wickedly serrated spikes. The wearer gains a +2 bonus on damage rolls with its claw attacks; the wearer adds this bonus damage once for each claw attack used in a rend. The crude construction and thick metal used in the gauntlets make it difficult for the wearer to perform fine manipulation. Consequently, the wearer takes a –4 penalty on all Dexterity-based checks involving her hands.
Construction Requirements
Cost 4,000 gp
Craft Magic Arms and Armor, magic weapon
Example Trolls
Troll Defenders
In small troll groups, one member is singled out to safeguard the tribe members and the wilderness they call home. Such a troll might have magical power or simply knowledge of the natural world.
Troll Acolyte CR 6
XP 2,400
Troll cleric 2
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +7
Defense
AC 17, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (+1 deflection, +1 Dex, +6 natural, –1 size)
hp 92 (8d8+56); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +15, Ref +3, Will +8
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +9 (1d8+5), 2 claws +10 (1d6+5)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks channel negative energy 3/day (DC 11, 1d6), destructive smite (+1, 4/day), rend (2 claws, 1d6+7)
Domain Spell-Like Abilities (CL 2nd; concentration +3)
4/day—storm burst (1d6+1 nonlethal)
Cleric Spells Prepared (CL 2nd; concentration +3)
1st—bless, divine favor, obscuring mist D, sun metal
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 11), detect magic, resistance, spark
D domain spell; Domains Destruction, Weather
Tactics
Before Combat The troll acolyte casts bless on herself and her allies.
During Combat The troll acolyte casts divine favor or sun metal, then attacks.
Statistics
Str 21, Dex 12, Con 25, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 10
Base Atk +5; CMB +11; CMD 23
Feats Channel Smite, Improved Iron Will, Iron Will, Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Intimidate +4, Perception +7
Languages Giant
Combat Gear potion of bull's strength, potion of invisibility ; Other Gear amulet of natural armor +1, ring of protection +1, 50 gp
A troll acolyte has tested her devotion to a demon lord by searing her flesh with acid and fire so it must heal naturally, without regeneration.
Troll Warden CR 6
XP 2,400
Troll ranger 2
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +15
Defense
AC 24, touch 14, flat-footed 20 (+5 armor, +1 deflection, +4 Dex, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 102 (8 HD; 6d8+2d10+64); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +17, Ref +10, Will +3
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +12 (1d8+6), 2 claws +12 (1d6+6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks combat style (natural weapon), favored enemy (humans +2), rend (2 claws, 1d6+9)
Statistics
Str 23, Dex 18, Con 27, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 4
Base Atk +6; CMB +13; CMD 28
Feats Rending Claws, Skill Focus (Perception), Sprinting Troll*, Weapon Focus (claw), Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Intimidate +4, Perception +15, Survival +6
Languages Giant
SQ track +1, wild empathy –1
Combat Gear potion of invisibility ; Other Gear +1 chain shirt, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, 100 gp
Troll wardens are hunters, messengers, and scouts, tasked with exploring new lands, finding food, and relaying news.
Troll Ragers
More feral than typical trolls, ragers are bloodthirsty maniacs in battle, known for tearing off and swallowing pieces of living opponents. These trolls are the most likely to overeat and devastate the food supply in an area.
Troll Brute CR 7
XP 3,200
Troll barbarian 2
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +11
Defense
AC 21, touch 11, flat-footed 18 (+4 armor, +1 deflection, +3 Dex, +6 natural, –2 rage, –1 size)
hp 125 (8 HD; 6d8+2d12+80); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +19, Ref +6, Will +5; +2 vs. magic
Defensive Abilities uncanny dodge
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +14 (1d8+9), 2 claws +15 (1d6+9)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rage (14 rounds/day), rage powers (superstition +2), rend (2 claws, 1d6+13)
Tactics
Before Combat The brute drinks her potion and rages.
Base Statistics When she's not raging, the barbarian's statistics are AC 23, touch 13, flat-footed 20; hp 109; Fort +17, Will +3; bite +12 (1d8+7), 2 claws +13 (1d6+7); rend (2 claws, 1d6+10); Str 25, Con 27; CMB +14, CMD 28; Skills Intimidate +11.
Statistics
Str 29, Dex 16, Con 31, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 4
Base Atk +6; CMB +16; CMD 28
Feats Intimidating Prowess, Mighty Bite*, Raging Regeneration*, Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Intimidate +13, Perception +11
Languages Giant
SQ fast movement
Combat Gear potion of bull's strength ; Other Gear chain shirt, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, barbed troll claws*, 130 gp
Troll Berserker CR 9
XP 6,400
Troll barbarian 4
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +12
Defense
AC 20, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +5 natural, –2 rage, –1 size)
hp 168 (10 HD; 6d8+4d12+110); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +20, Ref +6, Will +5; +3 vs. magic
Defensive Abilities trap sense +1, uncanny dodge
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +16 (1d8+9), 2 claws +17 (1d6+11)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rage (19 rounds/day), rage powers (increased damage reduction, superstition +3), rend (2 claws, 1d6+17)
Tactics
Base Statistics When he's not raging, the barbarian's statistics are AC 22, touch 12, flat-footed 19; hp 148; Fort +18, Will +3; bite +14 (1d8+7), 2 claws +15 (1d6+9); rend (2 claws, 1d6+14); Str 25, Con 28; CMB +16, CMD 29; Skills Intimidate +16.
Statistics
Str 29, Dex 16, Con 32, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 4
Base Atk +8; CMB +18; CMD 29
Feats Great Rend*, Intimidating Prowess, Mighty Bite*, Raging Regeneration*, Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Intimidate +18, Perception +12
Languages Giant
SQ fast movement
Combat Gear potion of protection from energy (fire); Other Gear +1 chain shirt, gauntlets of rending *, 50 gp
Troll Fighters
These trolls are a cut above a common troll in terms of combat ability, but even less intelligent. They wear armor made from the hides of creatures they hunted and killed.
Troll Ripper CR 8
XP 4,800
Troll fighter 3
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +5
Defense
AC 23, touch 13, flat-footed 19 (+5 armor, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 118 (9 HD; 6d8+3d10+75); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +17, Ref +7, Will +4 (+1 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities bravery +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +15 (1d8+8), 2 claws +15 (1d6+8)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d6+10)
Statistics
Str 25, Dex 16, Con 27, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 6
Base Atk +7; CMB +15; CMD 29
Feats Combat Reflexes, Cooperative Rend*, Dodge, Great Rend*, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Intimidate +5, Perception +5
Languages Giant
SQ armor training 1
Combat Gear potion of barkskin, potions of bull's strength (2), potion of protection from energy (fire); Other Gear +1 hide armor, amulet of mighty fists +1, cloak of resistance +1, barbed troll claws*, 265 gp
Troll Render CR 10
XP 9,600
Troll fighter 5
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +6
Defense
AC 24, touch 14, flat-footed 20 (+5 armor, +1 deflection, +3 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 147 (11 HD; 6d8+5d10+93); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +17, Ref +6, Will +3 (+1 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities bravery +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +19 (1d8+10), 2 claws +19 (1d6+10)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d6+12), weapon training (natural +1)
Tactics
Before Combat The render drinks his potions.
Statistics
Str 26, Dex 16, Con 27, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 6
Base Atk +9; CMB +18; CMD 33
Feats Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Cooperative Rend*, Dodge, Great Cleave, Great Rend*, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Acrobatics +0 (+5 when jumping), Intimidate +6, Perception +6
Languages Giant
SQ armor training 1
Combat Gear potion of barkskin, potions of bull's strength (2), potion of protection from energy (fire); Other Gear +1 hide armor, amulet of mighty fists +1, elixir of fire breath, ring of jumping, ring of protection +1, barbed troll claws*, 315 gp
Troll fury
The troll fury is an experienced steward of nature, watching over nearby troll individuals and tribes to make sure they don't consume too much game.
Troll fury CR 8
XP 4,800
Troll druid (troll fury) 6
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +24
Defense
AC 21, touch 11, flat-footed 19 (+5 armor, +2 Dex, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 156 (12d8+102); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +19, Ref +7, Will +13
Resist fire 10
Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Melee bite +13 (1d8+6), 2 claws +13 (1d6+6)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks chosen prey (humans +2), fire bolt (1d6+3 fire, 6/day), rend (2 claws, 1d6+7), wild shape 2/day
Druid Spells Prepared (CL 6th; concentration +9)
3rd—call lightning (DC 18), fireball (DC 18), poison (2, DC 16)
2nd—barkskin, bull's strength, flaming sphere (DC 17), hold animal (DC 15), produce flame D
1st—burning hands D (DC 16), entangle (DC 14), magic fang, obscuring mist, pass without trace,
0 (at will)—detect magic, guidance, read magic, resistance
Tactics
During Combat The fury attacks her foes with fire and electricity spells, typically starting with fireball . She avoids melee combat until her offensive spells are exhausted. She then casts bull's strength on herself and starts attacking.
Statistics
Str 23, Dex 14, Con 27, Int 8, Wis 16, Cha 4
Base Atk +8; CMB +15; CMD 27
Feats Combat Casting, Greater Spell Focus (evocation), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Perception), Spell Focus (evocation)
Skills Intimidate +5, Knowledge (nature) +6, Perception +24, Survival +10
Languages Druidic, Giant
SQ inspire fervor +2, nature bond (Fire domain), nature sense, trackless step, woodland stride
Combat Gear pearl of power (1st), scroll of fog cloud, scroll of protection from energy (fire); Other Gear +1 hide armor, cloak of resistance +1, headband of inspired wisdom +2, 110 gp
A troll fury's first duty is to see to the welfare of her tribe, and to ensure its prosperity in the long term. Watching the lands around her carefully, monitoring the migration of game, and minding the lessons of her predecessors all let a troll fury anticipate times of plenty and times of need, and to stockpile or conserve as necessary. Though a troll fury never rushes into a decision that could endanger the tribe, she commands her own tribe or newcomers to their territory to move on if there's a risk that the hunting grounds will be overhunted. Wise tribes leave the area when she tells them to, but sometimes she must drive them away with fire and poison so the animals have time to repopulate.
To a troll fury's mind, it's wiser to risk traveling to another land in the short term so exhausted lands can recover. This attitude, combined with her knowledge of natural environments, means she's the member of the tribe most likely to lead a migration. In larger tribes, a triumvirate or larger group of furies works together. Each concentrates on a particular area of expertise, but they all back one another up once one of them makes a decision that affects the tribe. This solidarity lets them cow even the most autocratic tribal leaders.
Troll Elder Matron
Mysterious and learned, the elder matron examines all troll younglings for the potential to learn magic.
Troll Elder Matron CR 10
XP 9,600
Troll witch 10
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +16
Defense
AC 18, touch 11, flat-footed 16 (+2 armor, +2 Dex, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 200 (16 HD; 6d8+10d6+138); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +17, Ref +8, Will +12
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +12 (1d8+4), 2 claws +12 (1d6+4)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks hexes (agony [10 rounds], cackle, evil eye [–4, 6 rounds], misfortune [2 rounds], slumber [10 rounds], water lung), rend (2 claws, 1d6+7)
Witch Spells Prepared (CL 10th; concentration +13)
5th—flame strike (DC 20), mass pain strike (DC 18)
4th—confusion (DC 17), enervation, wall of ice (DC 17)
3rd—fireball (2, DC 18), ray of exhaustion (DC 16), screech (DC 16)
2nd—bull's strength, burning gaze (DC 17), enthrall (DC 15), flaming sphere (DC 17), touch of idiocy
1st—burning hands (DC 16), cause fear (DC 14), ray of enfeeblement (DC 14), reduce person (DC 14)
0 (at will)—bleed (DC 13), detect magic, purify food and drink, touch of fatigue (DC 13)
Patron elements
Tactics
During Combat The troll elder matron attacks with flame strike or mass pain strike . She then adjusts her strategy to suit her opponents, usually choosing the misfortune or evil eye hex and using Split Hex to apply it to the two enemies who would be most hindered by it.
Statistics
Str 19, Dex 14, Con 27, Int 16, Wis 11, Cha 8
Base Atk +9; CMB +14; CMD 26
Feats Combat Casting, Craft Wondrous Item, Elemental Focus (fire), Greater Elemental Focus (fire), Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Iron Will, Split Hex
Skills Bluff +7, Intimidate +14, Knowledge (arcana) +14, Knowledge (nature) +11, Perception +16, Sense Motive +8, Spellcraft +11, Stealth +8, Survival +8, Swim +9
Languages Abyssal, Giant, Goblin, Orc
SQ witch's familiar (bat)
Combat Gear dust of disappearance ; Other Gear bracers of armor +2, cloak of resistance +1, headband of vast intelligence +4, 500 gp
A troll elder matron serves her tribe as the fount of all magical knowledge. She is both her tribemates' fiercest protector and their harshest critic, doling out punishments to those who fail to achieve the (sometimes cryptic) goals she sets for them. Female trolls benefit from a matron's teachings almost exclusively, though she might set a promising young male on the path toward becoming a ranger. The matron often lives or travels with females nearing adulthood who are struggling with their studies; those she rejects as unworthy rejoin their sisters and never speak of the strange things they experienced while apprenticed to the matron. Even a troll monarch listens to an elder matron's counsel, for she has outlived many monarchs and watched generations of trolls be born, grow, and die.
Troll Monarch
Only the mightiest of trolls hope to become kings or queens among their kind. Becoming a monarch requires a combination of luck, skill, brute strength, intelligence (at least compared to other trolls), and perhaps a helpful magic item to give an advantage compared to others.
Troll Monarch CR 15
XP 51,200
Troll fighter 10
CE Large humanoid (giant)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +9
Defense
AC 26, touch 11, flat-footed 25 (+10 armor, +1 deflection, +1 Dex, +5 natural, –1 size)
hp 220 (16 HD; 6d8+10d10+138); regeneration 5 (acid or fire)
Fort +20, Ref +8, Will +6 (+3 vs. fear)
Defensive Abilities bravery +3
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +25 (1d8+11), 2 claws +25 (1d6+13/19–20)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d6+17), weapon training (natural +2, thrown +1)
Tactics
Before Combat The troll monarch drinks his potion of bear's endurance only if he expects a truly worthy challenge to his rule.
During Combat The troll monarch closes with his opponents as soon as possible, attacking the strongest-looking melee combatant. He uses burning hands from his cloak to disperse and damage groups of enemies, but otherwise uses melee attacks and rend.
Statistics
Str 29, Dex 12, Con 27, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 10
Base Atk +14; CMB +24; CMD 36
Feats Bleeding Critical, Cooperative Rend*, Critical Focus, Great Rend* Improved Critical (claws), Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Intimidating Prowess, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Mighty Bite*, Throw Anything, Weapon Focus (bite), Weapon Focus (claw)
Skills Intimidate +18, Perception +9
Languages Giant
SQ armor training 2
Combat Gear potion of bear's endurance, potion of cure serious wounds, potion of haste, potion of invisibility ; Other Gear +1 full plate, bag of holding (type I), belt of giant strength +2, cloak of the troll king *, gauntlets of rending *, headband of alluring charisma +2, ring of minor energy resistance (fire), ring of protection +1, 750 gp
Most monarchs claim large territories and dominion over a dozen troll tribes within that area, but only rarely do they call these minions together into a single place, for they know that too many hungry troll bellies in close proximity means over-hunting and starvation.
Though female trolls control troll groups in most cases, troll monarchs may be male or female—female trolls have more access to training and more political savvy as a result of their communal upbringing, but male trolls sometimes benefit from unusual experiences gained during their years of relative isolation. Either way, would-be monarchs tell audacious lies and exaggerate their accomplishments to win followers, drawing their gullible fellows in.
Word spreads quickly once one becomes dominant. Wild tales make the monarch sound far more powerful than he truly is, exaggerating his size and appetite, and often claiming he is impervious to acid and fire. Troll monarchs typically add an epithet to their names, such as "the Firewalker," "the Green," or "the Many-Fanged."
Sewer Troll
This creature looks like a lanky, underfed troll. Its oversized claws drag along the ground, and its large eyes glow with inner light.
Sewer Troll CR 2
XP 600
CE Medium humanoid (giant)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +4
Defense
AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 19 (3d8+6); regeneration 2 (acid or fire)
Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +0
Weaknesses light blindness
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +3 (1d6+1), 2 claws +3 (1d4+1)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with claws)
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d6+1), sneak attack +1d6
Statistics
Str 13, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 6
Base Atk +2; CMB +3; CMD 15
Feats Improved Initiative, Stealthy
Skills Climb +9, Escape Artist +4, Perception +4, Stealth +5 (+9 underground); Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, +4 Stealth underground
Languages Giant
SQ compression
Ecology
Environment any underground
Organization solitary or gang (2–5)
Treasure standard
Sewer trolls are close relations to both common trolls and scrags. They are much smaller, however, only weighing around 200 pounds and reaching up to 6 feet tall. Like normal trolls, sewer trolls possess regenerative powers that allow them to recover from almost any wound and even regrow limbs, though these powers can be thwarted by fire or acid. Their regeneration is significantly slower than a normal troll's, however.
Unlike the eyes of normal trolls, sewer trolls' eyes are so sensitive to light that they are momentarily blinded by bright lights. Their eyes absorb ambient light, which damages the slimy membrane that covers them. As the membrane regenerates, a strange reaction causes the eyes to glow orange.
In addition to being smaller than normal trolls, sewer trolls are incredibly flexible and can squeeze through small spaces with ease. When the terrain is favorable, they hunt by ambushing prey from small spaces that don't appear capable of harboring a threat.
Sewer trolls can eat almost anything, but prefer fresh meat, and like normal trolls they need a lot of food to power their regenerative abilities. Though they can subsist on subterranean fish, they prefer the warm blood and flesh of mammals.
Sewer trolls tend to lair underground in areas with a large prey population or ample sources of other nutrients. While sewer trolls are common in some of the immense caves deep underground, their name derives from their lairs under the cities of the surface world. A major city often hosts dozens of the creatures, living in small family groups or lairing on their own. They rarely leave the sewers because of their light blindness, but they have been known to hide just below sewer grates and snatch children who walk too close. In times of desperate hunger, sewer trolls may leave the sewers, invariably at night. They stick to the shadows and ambush lone walkers, or sneak through windows to snatch babies from their cribs. Sewer trolls outside of their native environment are easily scared, but woe to the unprepared foe who follows them back into the sewers.
Sewer trolls sometimes join groups of normal trolls or, being semiaquatic, groups of scrags, to benefit from safety in numbers. Their smaller size and weakness mean they're often bullied by their more dangerous cousins, but many sewer trolls accept this as inevitable. They typically have to do menial chores, like collecting rodents to eat if bigger game is scarce, or being the first to venture into unexplored caves, in exchange for protection.
Encounters
Encounters with trolls are usually with hungry creatures in search of food, ready to snack on livestock or people.
Troll Shrine (CR 8)
A typical troll shrine consists of a pyramid of bones topped by a metal symbol of the trolls' demon-god.
Troll Acolyte CR 6
XP 2,400
hp 92
Trolls (2) CR 5
XP 1,600 each
hp 63 each
Troll Matron's Lair (CR 11)
A troll elder matron has established a lair with several female followers hoping to be trained in witchcraft.
Troll Elder Matron CR 10
XP 9,600
hp 200
Trolls (3) CR 5
XP 1,600 each
hp 63 each
Troll Fury Hunting Party (CR 12)
These troll furies have banded together to deal with a major threat to the region's troll population.
Troll Furies (3) CR 8
XP 4,800 each
hp 156 each
Troll Wardens (2) CR 6
XP 2,400 each
hp 102 each
Troll Raiders (CR 13)
Troll raiding parties come in many sizes and compositions, but are always vicious.
Troll Brutes (2) CR 7
XP 3,200 each
hp 125 each
Troll Rippers (3) CR 8
XP 4,800 each
hp 118 each
Trolls (3) CR 5
XP 1,600 each
hp 63 each
Throne Room (CR 16)
Too important for all but the biggest raids, the troll monarch lives in his secluded lair, surrounded by his inner circle of bodyguards and advisors.
Troll Elder Matron CR 10
XP 9,600
hp 200
Troll Monarch CR 15
XP 51,200
hp 220
Troll Renders (2) CR 10
XP 9,600 each
hp 147 each
