Rohling von Mons Montis- A Guide to Trolls

Rohling von Mons Montis- A Guide to Trolls

Physiology
The average adult bull's height can span between 6'10 to 7'5, and can weigh up to three hundred pounds. An adult heifer can reach up to 7'4 to 8'0 and at most weighs three hundred and ten pounds.

Colors are as follow: Light gray, gray, dark gray, light black, rust red, dark brown, brown.

The average troll lives to see two hundred years. Childhood starts at twelve years, teenhood at twenty, and tribe maturity at thirty four. Although recognized as an adult in aspects in hunting, fighting, and tribe activities, a bull does not reach sexual maturity until forty, a heifer at forty three.

Muscle build is highly noticeable in males; although heifers are not as muscle bound they make up for it in height, their arms and legs are also longer in proportion to a bull's.

The lower jaw of a bull protrudes, along with two canines that come up like tusks. The opposite of a bull, it's the upper jaw which protrudes on a heifer, two canines are sharp, but do not stick below the lip. On both the nose is large but flattened, almost squarish at the bottom. Another shared trait, a troll's eyes are small compared to their height; a protruding brow is seen of both genders, but it's more rounded on a female.

The hands on a troll are large and contain four fingers, including thumb. Unlike most creatures, the amount of toes are different to fingers, three, with the middle toe smaller then the side ones.

Culture
Although seemingly unintelligent brutes, trolls are perfectly cultured brutes. One dominant example on this is the role a tribe's chieftain fills. The tribe's chieftain is both the political head and the spiritual head, who runs all the tribe's ceremonies. Most of these are dedicated to the hunt and the animal spirits which serve as aids to their life. While all trolls wear mantles and roughly made pants, loincloths, and kilts, a chieftain's are often given more decoration, tapering frills and the heads of large animals for a hat are common features.

Under most circumstances the two genders keep to them selves in separate tribes, although still considered of the same clan. Only for special ceremonies do bulls and heifers meet, and even then there is no ceremony dedicated to mating. It would seem that if such action is wanted, they make plans latter.

Trolls hold animal spirits in high honor, but discriminatory. Above all others mammalian spirits are favored, fish being second, but to a very small degree. Reptilian spirits are considered in much the same way as most do demons; special trinkets and crafts are made to repel them, as they are considered bad omens, and just nasty. Birds and amphibians are not disrespected, but never honored and more or less shunned.

Any other member of the tribe my try to dethrone the current chieftain at any time, be he/she prepared for what it entitles. When the other troll calls out the chieftain, all other members of the tribe stop what they are doing and gather around in a circle. Both trolls askew their head gear, weapons, and trinkets. At that point the two start a brawl, fighting fist, tusk, and horn. The fight goes on until either one troll gives, or dies. No other troll may be allowed to interrupt the fight, if one does, they're kicked out of the tribe and the fight is scheduled to restart the next day when the sun is in the same position.

Trolls are no stranger to crafts, but they often have some point to them besides decoration. Most clans have a symbol, which is etched in every thing from wood medallions to their clubs. Simple totem poles are also among their arts, though it's more like a log with some carvings in it; their use is to mark off territory, as they most prominently feature clan markings. A chieftain's war club is also considered a work of art, though this will be covered later.

Music is also a feature to trollish life; every instrument is a form of drum, however. The most common drum is merely a hollowed out log, more advanced drums have animal stretched over a log with a hole straight through. Any other drum is a resize of the two stated.

Ceremonies
Due to the number, ceremonies are cataloged separately for reader convenience.

Ceremony of Whole Moon
During a full moon the tribe comes together for a bonfire feast. Each troll hunts their own beast and prepares it themselves to put the meat in a large, stone pot. When each troll has filled the pot water is pored in and it's put over a roaring fire to cook. While the stew prepares there is much drumming and roaring in. This is an event were brother and sister tribes meet, they meet at the heifers' tribe.

Ceremony of No Moon
Much like the Ceremony of Whole Moon, although it's a group hunt that takes place for the gathering of the food. On the bonfire, the hunted animals are put on a spit, and dances take place around the fire. This ceremony, unlike the Whole Moon, has no drumming of roaring, meant to be more or less quiet. This is also a ceremony that the two genders meet, and the bull's tribe.

Hunt of the Dragon/ Ceremony of the Dead Dragon
The killing of a dragon is a great feat to trolls, it takes at at least three trolls, one being a chieftain.

Before the hunt the members who are going to go out and fight the dragon are treated to a meal hunted and prepared by the others in the tribe. At the meal the trolls chant and beat drums, the chanting and drumming is continued as the warriors take there leave by those who stay behind. It is considered bad luck to clean up until the fighters return.

When the warriors return the trolls who stayed behind great their comrades with enthusiasm, and whip up a meal as the warriors rest. At the meal the trolls share the story of their fight with the dragon, showing off any trophies they cut off from the creature. If anyone has died, a Ceremony of Passing takes place. If the Chieftain has died, the next day the survivors go through a Competition of Decision. If all have sadly died, there is no large meal. They clean up and move on to a Ceremony of Passing; the next day the whole tribe participates in a Competition of Decision.

Ceremony of Passing
The members of the tribe come together for a somber meal consisting of scraps. The bodies of the dead are cremated to the bones, which are gathered and buried at the foot of the mountain by the whole tribe.

Competition of Decision
If the chieftain has died before one could successfully up him from his position, then a Competition of Decision is under taken by all individuals who are to participate. In the case of a large group, the fight is organized in a similar style to a tournament. In the case of an odd number, one must stand down before the competition can begin. When the new chieftain has been named, the tribe spends time making the ceremonial garments from the new chieftain. It's considered wrong to wear the same garments as a former chieftain.

Making of the War Club
All chieftains wield a trollish war club, and only chieftains may use it. Each chieftain must make their own, passing one on is forbidden.

When a chieftain is ready to make his/her club he/ she says goodbye to the tribe and heads off the mountain and to the nearest woods. Down here the chieftain is unarmed and is forbidden to eat during their time there. The chieftain breaks their own wood, and carves the shape. They then gather the rocks to be used on the side. After jamming them in the sides the chieftain carves designs on to the broad side of the club. Now completed the chieftain is to meditate for twenty-four hours, war club in lap. After meditation he or she goes and kills a large animal, and returns to the tribe with it.

When they return to the tribe the members prepare a male with the animal their chieftain has killed. The chieftain is actually forbidden to partake in this meal, and instead partakes in a large sum of berries, which it was the tribe's job to gather while their chieftain was away. The day after the chieftain may eat as normal, the occasion now over.

Dislikes
Trolls are known to hate many things. They are given their own category as to not clog up the others.

Deception
Trolls deal with their problems up front, being sneaky is simply not in their nature. Stealing, poisoning, and trickery are highly frowned apon. If you have the mind to kill someone then at least give the other person a right to fight back.

Edge Weaponry
A troll may use a rock knife for crafts and a stone edged axe for cutting down a tree for wood, but never, ever will a troll use such tools as weapons. Bluntly, and edged weapon is considered cheating. If you're going to kill something then there needs more fight.

Metal
Metal is considered a short-cut to trolls, a way to make something without any ceremony.

Dragons
The relationship between dragons and trolls is far from friendly. Dragons need a lot to eat, and trolls are big chunks of muscle that also eat a lot. A dragon is either a competitor or a predator, often both. Dragons are what a troll's dislike of reptiles are based on.

It should be noted that it is forbidden to eat of dragon meat, or reptilian meat at that. It is considered a “poison” to the spirit to do so.