SECRET OF THE GREATER TROLLS PART FOUR

SCALED TROLL

FREQUENCY: Uncommon

NO. APPEARING: 10-100

ARMOR CLASS: 0

MOVE: 9”

HIT DICE: 5 +5 (females by class)

% IN LAIR: 20%

TREASURE TYPE: Individuals N; Q, B, Sx2 in lair/

(females Jx100, Kx90, Lx80, Mx70, Nx60, S, T)

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 or by weapon

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-12 or by weapon

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Horned skin

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Low (females are highly intelligent)

ALIGNMENT: Lawful evil (females are neutral evil)

SIZE: L (9' + tall)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: V/225+6

Troll sargent: 350 + 8

Troll lieutenant 7 HD: 350 + 8

Troll lieutenant 8 HD: 550 +10

Troll captain: 900+ 12

Lesser Hag: By class

The scaled troll is the unsung "anti-hero" of the dark armies of legend. They are the backbone of any standing evil army especially those in need of cheap help that aren't as loose nightmares as trolls or ogres. Some say they might even have some hobgoblin in their blood but know this they are not considered true trolls by trolls of all kinds. They prefer the company of kobolds, goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, fire giants, cloud giants, other scaled trolls and evil humans in that descending order with goblins, kobolds and orcs preferable to bully over. They are extremely prejudiced (hatred) against "trolls" of any kind and have no kinship with them except in name. They have antipathy against chaotic evils in general. Scaled trolls have no racial religion of their own and choose to worship the dark gods of humankind often trusting people of evil nature even over their own kind.

If 10 or more scaled trolls are encountered their will be a "troll sargent" (6 HD) for every ten, 50 or more scaled trolls their will be "troll lieutenant" (7-8 HD) with a "troll sargent" (6 HD) (for every 10) and if over a 100 there will be a "troll captain" (9HD) at least two "troll lieutenants" (8 HD) and "troll sargents" (6 HD) (for every10). Their weapons are halberds and large swords treat as two-handed. They will do mercenary work for pay at the same rate as a human but will also expect pillage of locals and troll captains demand 5% of all castle/town plunder guaranteed or automatic mutiny.

As an aside, female scaled trolls are separate from the militaristic social structure of the male-oriented scaled trolls and are mostly unknown compared with other humanoids. Those that have seen them say they resemble night hags but with scaled troll coloration giving them the name lesser hags. They live far in the North in isolated cliff caves where they form "sororitas" of all female trolls and have an annual mating festival "the March of Trolls". This is a 3 month long migration of the males and is where children are conceived with random partners. Those male offspring that were conceived the year before are taken away by the male young which is a slave culture of drovers, suppliers and general soldier servants until they come of soldier age (20 years old. They live 200 years.) Treat females as equals but their preferred weapons are tridents and they will usually be witches of some kind or another treat as cleric/magic-users of max 7/7 level (if the witch class is unavailable.).

GREATER SCALED TROLL "Giant Goblin Troll/Mottled Giant"

FREQUENCY: Very rare

NO. APPEARING: 2-4

ARMOR CLASS: -1

MOVE: 15”

HIT DICE: 13

% IN LAIR: 40%

TREASURE TYPE: E

NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 or by weapon

DAMAGE/ATTACK: 5-30 or by weapon

SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprises on 1-2; females see below

SPECIAL DEFENSES: Horned & chameleon skin

MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard

INTELLIGENCE: Average to exceptional

ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil

SIZE: L (18' + tall)

PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil

Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: VIII/

Males: 4900 + 18

Females: 6100 +18

The greater scaled troll AKA giant goblin troll AKA mottled giant some say are not even related to the scaled troll. Whatever the case they have little to do with one another. They sleep standing up in thick forests and sometimes are mistaken for trees. This is because, even though their scaled hide seems similar to the lesser scaled trolls this is where the resemblance ends, their hide is far more effective and is reflective of what is in back of them giving them surprise on a roll of 1-2.

In combat, they use massive halberds (20-40 damage) and no armor (Or clothing for that matter; Perhaps a loincloth in the more venereal prudent of worlds!). They reside in isolated mountain forest valleys where they have their dank and tree-covered strongholds. They will have numerous megafauna centipedes of the various types as pets (30-50 giant centipedes; 20-40 huge centipedes; 4-8 megalo-centipedes; sometimes either 1 stego-centipede or 1 tunnel worm). Most intelligent species they consider food however they get along well with cloud giants of the evil sort. Females are equally formidable but the only sexual dimorphism is their horrid usually unclothed breasts which makes them a deadlier opponent. On a hit of 18 or better will press opponent into a hug taking 20-30 damage from the razor sharp scales. Even though they are similar to giants in many ways they are not considered true giants although they, like their lesser namesake, are both of the "giant class".

COPYRIGHT GENE WEIGEL 2016