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<The Shadowdrum Tribe>
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<The Shadowtusk Tribe>
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1) History
2) Tribe
3) Valuable Terms
4) Appearances
5) Naming Your Troll
6) Choosing a Class
7) Race Relations
8) Tips and Tricks
9) The Loa
10) Troll Biology
11) Trolls and Professions

1) The Rise and Fall of the Troll Empires

The Trolls are among the most ancient of races on the face of Azeroth, standing alongside the insect-like Aqir in terms of their presence on the continent, and even outdating the Titans’ arrival to this world. The progenitor tribe was known as the Zandalari Tribe, and every tribe formed afterward can trace their ancestry back to this single group of Trolls. As time passed, two important empires broke off from the Zandalari; the Amani, who settled in the middle of the continent, and the Gurubashi, who settled in the south-western portion. While these two groups had rivalries amongst each other, they often found themselves putting their differences aside to combat the aggressive Aqir Empire to the west. For thousands of years the two races warred until the Trolls managed to proclaim victory, effectively splitting the Aqir Empire into two. Traces of this broken empire can be found today in the southwestern portions of Kalimdor, as well as in Northrend. Relative peace followed, and though neither tribe expanded their empires greatly, one distinct group did break apart and settled near the Well of Eternity, where they would become the first Night Elves.

The Trolls-turned-Elves soon began their meteoric rise to dominance through the magical power granted by the Well of Eternity. The Twin Empires of Gurubashi and Amani were quickly and systematically fractured, unable to defend themselves from this newfound power. Overuse of this magic led to the Great Sundering, splitting the continent in two, but keeping many of the still held Trollish lands intact. Still, like much of life on Azeroth, the Trolls suffered. The disaster of the Great Sundering only amplified the broken states of the Troll Empires, where many died from famine and war. In a desperate attempt to regain order, Gurubashi priests called upon a Loa known as Hakkar the Soulflayer. A being of great power, Hakkar helped the Gurubashi expand their empire and return some of the former greatness to the Trolls, but not without a price. Hakkar demanded sacrifice after sacrifice for his deeds with his ultimate goal being to enter the mortal realm and consume all life. The Zandalar Tribe, realizing what power the Gurubashi had unlocked, convinced many to revolt against Hakkar and his priests, eventually banishing Hakkar from the mortal world. A power vacuum followed, leading to the development of many smaller, splinter tribes.

The Gurubashi were not the only ones encountering conflict post-Sundering. The Amani to the north had been forced off their sacred lands by the high elves, forcing the Trolls to flee. For thousands of years the Trolls built up their forces to retake their ancestral lands, and sparked what is now known as The Troll Wars. The conflict was intense, and though the Trolls held the upper hand, they soon fell when the high elves brought in new allies, the humans. Many Amani Trolls did not survive this ordeal, for they died in battle, or as they tried to flee from enemy forces.

As the Orcish Horde arrived in Azeroth, Trolls were proven to be a vital asset when fighting against the Humans and High Elves. Orgrim Doomhammer soon found himself allied with the Troll war hero Zul’jin, but was abandoned after he had decided not to send his forces to Quel’thalas as Zul’jin had wished. The Orcs would not have much contact with the Trolls until the time of Thrall as he fled to Kalimdor, where he would meet the Darkspear Tribe. The Orcs helped to fight off the invading Alliance forces alongside the Darkspear, but both Thrall and Sen’jin, the Darkspear chieftain, found themselves captured by a sea witch and her army of murlocs. Sen’jin swore his tribe’s loyalty to the Horde before his death, and that oath is still carried by the current chieftain, Vol’jin.

As power consolidated into the two major factions known as the Horde and the Alliance, the last shards of the Trollish Empires have either fallen, such as the Amani, Gurubashi, and Sandfury, or allied with the Horde, such as the Shatterspear and Revantusk.

2) Tribe

The Tribe your Troll belongs to, or used to belong to, will have great impact on what characteristics he or she will have and how your character lived before joining the Horde.

Zandalar Tribe: Oldest tribe of Trolls, and often see themselves as the peacekeepers of all the Troll tribes. They are often found in areas of historical relevance, recording events important to Troll history. Most tribes respect the Zandalari authority, and many recognize King Rastakhan, the leader of the Zandalar, as the King of the Trolls.

Amani Tribe: One of the Twin Empires, this Forest Troll tribe has an intense hatred for the High Elves and Blood Elves, as well as their allies, and have repeatedly tried to rise to their former glory.

Firetree/Smolderthorn Tribe: After Rend Blackhand split from the Orcish Horde, several Trolls followed him to Blackrock Mountain. Two of these groups of Forest Trolls are known as the Firetree and Smolderthorn, and both are a part of the Dark Horde. They view anyone outside the dark Horde with hatred, especially other Forest Trolls, who are seen as deserters.

Revantusk Tribe: While not officially part of the Horde, the Revantusk stand apart from their Forest Troll kin as they have a degree of respect for Thrall and the Horde, and their alliance is one of friendship.

Vilebranch Tribe: A splinter group from the actions of Zul’jin during the second war, the Vilebranch find themselves at constant war with their neighbors, the Revantusk, and their allies. This Forest Troll tribe is also believed to be one that sacrifices to the Blood God Hakkar.

Shadowpine Tribe: A small tribe of Forest Trolls found near Blood Elf lands who use necromancy to raise corpses in order to wage war against their neighbors.

Mossflayer Tribe: A Forest Troll tribe that can be found in northern Lordaeron who have made it their goal to slow the spread of humanity. Many of the Tribe found themselves turned into undead, not by the plague, but by an evil lich.

Witherbark Tribe: These Forest Trolls have found themselves allying with the local Ogres in order to strike out at the nearby Horde base of Hammerfall in the Arathi Highlands. Originally found in the Hinterlands as well, the Witherbark have been driven out after the Shattering.

Shadowglen Tribe: Almost no traces remain of this tribe, and it is believed that they were wiped out by the Naga under the command of Illidan.

Gurubashi Tribe: One of the great Twin Empires, this Jungle Troll tribe has a bloody past, and memories of Hakkar echo in its history. It is also the source of all splinter tribes, found mainly in the southern portion of the Eastern Kingdoms.

Bloodscalp Tribe: A hostile Jungle Troll tribe that find themselves fighting off any threats, including their neighbor, the Skullsplitter Tribe.

Darkspear Tribe: The default tribe given to you, as well as the only tribe that is formally allied with the Horde. Many have given up the ancient Troll practices and assimilated into the Orc influenced Horde.

Skullsplitter Tribe: Dedicated to expanding their Tribe, these Jungle Trolls will strike against any who stand in their way, even the nearby Bloodscalp Tribe.

Shatterspear Tribe: A Jungle Troll tribe that migrated to Darkshore after the splitting of the Gurubashi Empire. Living in isolation for many years, this tribe has been almost completely annihilated by the Shattering, as well as from attacks by the Night Elves after the Trolls allied themselves with the Horde.

Hakkari/Atal’ai: The Hakkari arose with the appearance of Hakkar, and this tribe became his most loyal of priests. However, as Hakkar revealed his plans to enter the mortal realm and drink the blood of every living thing, the Hakkari protested and found themselves among those revolting against the Loa. The Atal’ai were the extremists of the Hakkari, and wished to fulfill Hakkar’s wishes. After the wars, both the Hakkari and Atal’ai fled to the Swamp of Sorrows, or were slaughtered by the remaining Gurubashi Trolls.

Drakkari Tribe: A large tribe of Ice Trolls that reside in their nation of Zul’Drak in Northrend. As the Lich King began to move his undead armies into Northrend, the Drakkari began sacrificing their Loa in order to gain the power needed to repel the Scourge forces.

Frostmane Tribe: An Ice Troll tribe found in Dun Morogh, they fight a constant guerrilla war against the Dwarves of the Alliance after their lands were overrun by the dwarven armies.

Winterax Tribe: Like the Frostmane, the Winterax are also a small splinter Tribe of the Drakkari who decided to settle in the Eastern Kingdoms instead of the frigid north lands.

Shadowtooth Clan: The only know tribe of Dark Trolls, this Tribe is notable for fighting alongside the Horde, Night Elves, and Alliance during the Battle of Mount Hyjal. It is unknown if this reclusive group still exists, or has been wiped out by the Twilight Cult.

Sandfury Tribe: Believed to be a deviation of Jungle Trolls, the Sandfury Trolls defend their last bastion, Zul’Farrak, with undying fury. They practice necromancy on their own dead, and drink blood to unlock great voodoo strength.


3) Some Terms You Ought To Know

Voodoo- A type of magic practice by trolls. It is divine in nature, and originates from the Loa.

Loa- One of the Pantheon of Troll Gods. Tribes often have different types of these incredibly powerful spirits that are worshipped and feared. If a Troll is to do anything in life, it is to please the Loa.

Zandalari- The native language of all Trolls, a word originating with the Zandalar Tribe. No, Trolls don’t speak “Trollish”. They speak Zandalari.

Jin- The Zanalari word for “chief” or “leader”. This suffix is usually applied to a Troll’s name after he becomes chieftain, or can be used to describe a Troll. Example: The jin of the Darkspear Tribe is Vol’jin.

Cannibalism- The practice of eating the flesh of ones own kind. This is ritually practiced in almost every Troll tribe, and it has been only recently that the Darkspear themselves have given up the practice.


4) Appearances

Unlike most of the races of Azeroth, the Trolls are quite varied in their outward appearances. The smallest of Trolls are the Jungle Trolls, who are often a variety of blues and greens in coloration and are covered with a light coat of fur. The males usually stand somewhere between 7 and 7 ½ feet tall, with the females about a foot shorter. The Sand Trolls, believed to be a type of Jungle Troll, have adapted to their environment, their skin now a brownish hue, cracked and dry like their desert home.

The Forest Trolls are the next largest group of Trolls, and although they are close to the same height as the Jungle Trolls, with the females, again, being significantly smaller. They tend to be much more muscularly built than their Jungle Troll cousins, and instead of fur, these Trolls are coated in a type of moss. How this symbiotic relationship began is unknown.

The Ice Trolls are an exception to the size charts, as environment seems to play a part in how big a Troll can get. In the Drakkari nation of Zul’Drak, Ice Trolls tower over most of their cousins, averaging between 8 and 9 feet tall. However, the ice trolls found in places like Dun Morogh can cause difficulties. While their in game size puts them around the size of a Jungle Troll, Ice Trolls tend to be much larger. Assumptions can only be made, but it is likely that these Frost Trolls, realistically, resemble the Drakkari in size.

The final and rarest group of Trolls, the Dark Trolls, are larger than the Drakkari Ice Trolls, with most peaking at around 10 feet in height. Their skin is typically a deep purple, though some are dark enough to have a black coloration.

5) Naming Your Troll

Most adult Troll names consist of contractions, or two words combined into a single name. The name given to a Troll will often be a defining factor in what that Troll seeks in life. For example, Sen’jin and Vol’jin were both leaders of the Darkspear Tribe, and the term Jin means chieftain.

Common Male Names: Vol, Gal, Vis, Doth, Mag

Common Female names: Shi, Mith, Darn, Mak

Unlike most races, Trolls do not have surnames (last names). They may have a title, however, such as Vol’kuza “Thunderthighs”, but in Troll culture, no surname is given.



6) Choosing Your Class

While your Troll can certainly be a simple roaming warrior or a mage trained by the Kirin Tor, there are some specialty classes that arise out of Troll cultures. Be aware that for the Trolls within the Horde, necromancy is frowned upon, so your Death Knight might not receive the warmest welcome, even amongst his own people. Of course, there are far more class options available to a Troll, but I am simply listing a few of the more common choices. Note that although classes are listed for each specialty class, the specialty class is not limited by your in game class. They are only recommendations.

Headhunter (Warrior/Rogue/Hunter): These trolls specialize at projectiles, especially throwing weapons like spears and axes. They are capable hunters and survivalists, as well as ferocious warriors on the battlefield.

Shadow Hunter (Hunter/Priest/Rogue): These Trolls are widely regarded as Voodoo masters, and are blessed by the Loa to both heal their allies and curse their enemies. Shadow Hunters are typically chosen from the Headhunter group, so they excel at ranged combat and hunting. These Trolls are the elite of society, and only those who have large experience with the races should attempt to play as a Shadow Hunter

Berserker (Warrior/Death Knight/Rogue): Trolls that can channel their anger and hatred into fury to use against their enemies are known as Berserkers. Much stronger than your average Troll, they do not fear death as they charge into the fray, weapons whirling.

Hexer (Warlock, Shaman, Mage): Utilizing wild dances and chants, these Trolls invoke the power of the spirits to smite and curse their enemies. They know how to bind the essence of enemies to items, creating effective voodoo dolls, giving them control over their opponent.

Witch Doctor (Priest/Shaman): A master of potions, a witch doctor is able to infuse his creations with the power of the spirits. This type of Troll also has great mastery of the mind, able to see into, and even control, the minds of his or her enemies.

Primal (Hunter/Druid/Warrior): These Trolls have embraced their inner beast, and have gained the powerful abilities that come along with it. They fight savagely, and the longer they fight, the more they seem to take on the attributes of the beast they are mimicking.

7) Race Relations

For simplicities sake, I will be sticking to the average Horde-aligned Troll and their relations towards the other races of Azeroth. However, different tribes will have varying reactions towards these races.

Orcs: Trolls view the Orc's honorable ways with respect, and many are loyal to the Warchief. Both the Orcs and the Trolls have a long history of inner conflict and war, and battle is one aspect they can bond over. Older Trolls might view the Orcs with disdain, as it was the Orcs who made the Trolls who joined the Horde give up some of their more taboo practices.

Tauren: Like the Tauren, many Trolls seek to live alongside nature, rather than master it. Shamanism, like with Orcs, are strong between the Trolls and the Tauren, and both groups hold high respect for the spirit world.

Undead: An average Troll would look upon the undead with pity to a point of disgust. The Forsaken are creatures that have been denied the afterlife, and have become abominations of nature. While there might not be any hatred between the two groups, Trolls are notoriously untrustworthy of unnatural magics.

Blood Elves: Out of all members of the Horde, the Trolls would find most conflict between themselves and the Blood Elves. For many years, bloody battles were fought between the High Elves, who later became the Blood Elves, and the Trolls, almost driving the Forest Trolls to extinction. While the Trolls of the Horde may hold grudges towards the elves, their respect for allegiances is strong enough to keep them in check.

Goblin: Many Jungle Trolls have come into contact with Goblins throughout the years, and some have even found their way into the Trade Cartels. They offer as much trust as anyone can to a Goblin, which isn't very much.

Humans: Only second to the Night Elves on the "To Kill" list. Humans have taken the place of many once strong Troll territories as the race of humanity expanded, and have come into conflict with Trolls throughout the Eastern Kingdoms. Their strong allegiance to the elves only makes the hatred towards the humans stronger.

Dwarves: Seen as short Humans, for the most part. The expanse of the Dwarven empire, much like the Humans, have forced many Trolls out of their ancestral lands, and into bloody conflict with the Dwarves.

Gnomes: The Trolls don't often find themselves in conflict with the fairly reclusive Gnomes. Their races have been seperate long enough for no true tension to arise, not including the respective ties to the Horde and Alliance.

Night Elves: Public Enemy #1. The Night Elves obliterated the great Troll Empires of the past with the newfound power of the Well of Eternity, and that memory has been etched into the mind of every Troll. While a few groups, like the Cenarion Circle, have the two races working together, it is very rare to see a Night Elf and a Troll sitting together having tea.

Draenei: These strange creatures are viewed similarly to the Gnomes, as the Draenei are fairly recent visitors to Azeroth.

Worgen: Humans in wolf pelts.


8) Tips and Tricks
-Watch the Troll accent. I see so many people trying to make a believable accent and end up making the entire statement impossible to read. Read what you are typing aloud if you have to. And if you just can't get the hang of your accent down, you don't even need to type it. Just type normally. It's way better than something that looks like it was said with a mouthful of ice.
-Troll looks too boring? Try adding a tattoo. Inking the skin is a very common practice among the Trolls, as is jewelry. Wild necklaces made of the knuckles of your enemies are very fashionable.
-For Trolls of tribes not aligned with the Horde: You are no longer a part of your tribe if you wish to stay with the Horde. You are seen as a deserter, or even a traitor by your tribe, and you probably will never get to go back.

Oohh. A troll Rping guide, how wonderful. Book marking this and I can't wait till its finished.

An amazing Guide, Vol! Very useful :D

Looks good to me, as well. Only thing I would possibly revise is the bit where you say that the trolls fought the 'blood elves' for thousands of years. They were fighting the high elves, who later -became- blood elves.

Sorry if I'm being nitpicky.

Looks good to me, as well. Only thing I would possibly revise is the bit where you say that the trolls fought the 'blood elves' for thousands of years. They were fighting the high elves, who later -became- blood elves.

Sorry if I'm being nitpicky.

Corrected.

Amazing guide.

I belong to the moonwell tribe.

This should be a sticky. This is amazing.

Any constructive criticism would be great. I left space available on each page for that purpose.

02/22/2012 04:20 PMPosted by Volkuza

Loa- One of the Pantheon of Troll Gods. Tribes often have different types of these incredibly powerful spirits that are worshipped and feared. If a Troll is to do anything in life, it is to please the Loa.

So glad you added in terms to know! This part especially; I always wanted to know what these Loa I read about are. Fantastic work, enjoyed the read!

But are the Trolls trolling trolling trolls who are trolling other trolling trolls?

Been itching to make a troll drood, and didn't want to go lore digging, will read this later!

Luckily, I've had the pleasure of leading the Shadowdrum Tribe, and I happened to have Kiyandori with me, a virtual scholar on Troll lore who, along with Kazulin, dug up and recorded this information to be used by Troll Roleplayers. The credit for the following sections goes to them. Please note that some of these Loa and spirits are not found in actual lore, but can prove to be examples of the kinds of spirits your Troll might worship.

9) The Loa

We include two kinds of spirits in our pantheon: Loa and Elawi.

The Loa are for the most part official WoW lore, coming either from in-game sources or from the tabletop gaming book "Warcraft RPG: Magic and Mayhem." The Loa have been broken down into three subsets, following the Voodoo traditions on which Troll faith is based. These are Rada, Petro and Ghede.

The Rada Loa, known collectively as the World-Smiths, are generally older and more benevolent spirits.

The Petro Loa are more fiery, occasionally aggressive and warlike. They represent particular aspects of life.

The Ghede are the spirits of our ancestors and have been developed to help ourselves role-play. As a family, they are loud, crude, sexual and usually a lot of fun. Because they have lived already, they have nothing to fear, and act accordingly. It would make sense that different Troll subraces and tribes might have their own Ghede, though we only have the Zandalari Ghede at this time.

The Elawi are not official lore. We know that besides Voodoo, Trolls also practice Shamanism, and that belief system includes other kinds of spirits. The Elawi are modeled after the conventional elemental lords found in many ancient religions.


The Loa

Rada Loa

• Hir'eek
"Bat"
The Wisefather of the Pantheon who guards the ages and the path of fate. Stoic and honorable, he leads the Rada Loa and guides their works. His totemic avatar is the bat.

• Shadra
"Spider"
The matron of life, known as the Heartweaver. She works to safeguard all living creatures within the world. Due to her wisdom and compassion for all life she is greatly honored. Her totemic avatar is the spider.

• Bethekk
"Panther"
The Lorekeeper and guardian of knowledge, the guardian of Trollic history and traditional rituals. Some say she is also the guardian of magic. Her totemic avatar is the panther.

• Shirvallah
"Tiger"
The Forger who shaped Terr'ah (Azeroth). He embodies the strength of the world and all non-living things. His totemic avatar is the tiger.

• Hethiss
"Serpent"
The god of blood and of secrets, known as the Spiritblade. He rose to godhood after the fall of Hakkar, taking the former god's place among the World-Smiths. His totemic avatar is the snake.

Petro Loa

• Legba
"Monkey"
He is master of speed and swift motion, so fast that he can deliver messages of the gods and interpret their will. He is the lord of destiny and is also the intermediary between mortals and the Loa.

• Mueh'zala
"Jackal"
The Tablet of Theka calls her The Night’s Friend. He is the god of death and also fertility, alluding to the close symbolic link between death and life.

• Ogoun
"Raptor"
He is the god of war, a crafty spirit capable of defeating his enemies with hexes and curses. Sometimes Ogoun comes to the help of his followers, but he is not a very reliable Loa.

• Dambala
"Viper"
He is the lord of trickery and treachery, and behaves in a truly devilish way. Possessions induced by him are so violent that spectators are advised to keep their distance.

• Lukou
"Dog"
The goddess of healing and respite, she is benevolent and innocent. Lukou does not communicate exact messages. Instead she seems to radiate a comforting presence that sends a general spirit of optimism.

• Samedi- aka The Baron
"Vulture"
God of cemeteries and restful sleep. The undead are an abomination in his eyes. Though frightening in appearance, he is actually a gentle soul.

• Shango
"Thunderhawk"
He controls the realm of storms, and guards the secrets of lightning and mayhem. One of the oldest Petro Loa, he is so sacred that he does not speak, but expresses himself through hissing and rumbling sounds.

• Kimbul
"Lion"
The Tablet of Theka calls him The Prey’s Doom. He is lord of the jungle and hunting. He is fierce and uncompromising, feared as much as he is admired.

• Ezili
"Dove"
The goddess of love, beauty and ideal dreams, she is the most attractive and sensuous Troll in the pantheon. She is the ability to conceptualize, the artistic ability to create.

• Geres'tek
"Tortoise"
Guardian and keeper of time and the cycle of life, he assists Hir'eek. One of the oldest Loas, he moves slowly and carefully, but steels himself against opposition. He is also said to be the Loa of aging.

Ghede Loa

• Zanza
The great father. His concern is for his family's prosperity. Zanza was a Zandalar Troll, great in life, passed up a chance to become a Petro Loa in favor of a more direct influence on his descendents. He appears in Zul'Gurub as an ethereal form within one of the many temples. The Zandalar respect and venerate Zanza, and pray to him to grant power to their heroes. He acts as the chief of the Ghede Loa. He knows all secrets. He is strongly dedicated to the welfare of his people, and uses his hidden knowledge and influences to protect them. His strength is surpassed only by his secrecy, such that no one really knows how strong he is. Rogues often pray to him above all others.

• Ibli
Mama Ibli is Zanza's wife. She is the ground that hides his secrets, the trees that throw his shadows, the wind that brings him news. She is the Great Serpent, the eldest of the Ghede Loa. She is the heart of Stranglethorn Vale, and mother to all Trolls. She can bring a good harvest, lush fruits and warm nights, or barreness, floods and catastrophe. She uses her influence to help her children or to punish them, and Shamans are her hands. Some say she is also the mother of the Elwai.

• Kwiicho
With his twin, Choki, the youngest of Ibli and Zanza's six children. Quite the little scamp, he loves making trouble for those around him. He's too adorable to punish, though. Kwiicho runs rings around Tonga, outsmarting and taking advantage of him. Most everybody, especially Rachi, find his antics hilarious — until he shifts his attention to them.

• Choki
Kwiicho's twin brother. When Kwiicho was born, Choki rose out of the birthing blood. He likes to follow Kwiicho around, sometimes impersonating him to Kwiicho's supplicants. No one likes Choki. His family keeps him as far away as possible. His sense of humor is brutal and destructive, his methods sociopathic. He loves making trouble as much as Kwiicho, but unlike Kwiicho's light-hearted mischief, his pranks bring pain, misfortune and anguish. Tribute is paid to appease and fend him off more often than to ask favors. It's tricky, though: By ignoring him, you risk angering him, but by paying tribute you attract his attention.

• Tash
Another of Kwiicho's siblings, Tash gets along well with his mother. He spends all of his time in the wild places. He never comes into the village, but he often sits in the branches of trees nearby and watches the activities. He loves to bring meat to his family, to feed and protect them, but he rarely speaks to them. If he raises his one hand, he is so strong and fierce that no animal can defeat him. If he raises his other hand, he is so young and brave that animals come and lay their heads in his lap. They are always honored to die for him. Tash represents the balance of eating and being eaten. Pray to Tash for success in hunting.

• Rachi
Her father's baby. Her reach is secret and strong, and her will is great. She possesses much secret knowledge, and dispenses it to those she deems worthy. She has tremendous arcane power and uses it to protect her family. She's pretty sure she knows better than anyone except her father what's good for the family, and she's not afraid to manipulate her tribe to further those ends. Patron of mages.

• Tonga
Brother Tonga delights in the physical. He loves fighting in all its forms, eating and drinking. He spends all his time at war games, or on the warpath. He is strongest of the Ghede Loa, although not necessarily the most puissant. Tonga doesn't have much use for complex thinking, but his battles are masterpieces. The only tribute he accepts is the blood of an enemy and the joyous war cry of the berserk.


The Min'loth Myth: Min'loth was a priest, most likely to the serpent god Hethiss, who, through rituals that would lead to conquest or to some other, mysterious goal, summoned the wrath of Neptulon, who sent a mighty Krakken to destroy Min'loth's city of I'lalai, and a tremendous blow to the entirety of the Gurubashi Empire. The drowned city of I'lalai is commonly believed to be what is known as the Vile Reef, of the coast of Stranglethorn.

Ghede Loa cont.

• Onaba
The oldest of the siblings. Onaba was gone by the time the others were born. She travels ceaselessly around the world, seeking adventure and new sights. Onaba has no fixed body. He can be old or young, male or female, short or tall, and of any description. Her siblings always know him, though, by her feet. Onaba’s feet are on backwards. You can follow her trail to see where he's going to be. Next to Zanza, Onaba is first among heroes, as she represents the urge to leave the home place and test oneself abroad. He often acts as a messenger among the Ghede Loa.

• Uaban
Uaban, like Zanza, says that he forsook a place in Petro Loa. Kwiicho says he just got lost. Either way, he now spends his time wandering the world, healing people. He feels very holy and humble about the whole thing. He wears a white robe and carries a begging bowl as he wanders the paths. If you treat him well, he responds in kind, but if you refuse him, he lectures you endlessly on the virtues of generosity. The other Ghede Loa, especially Kwiicho, think he's kind of a stuffed shirt, but that doesn't stop them from going to him for help. Uaban can heal any wound, if you can get him to shut up long enough to do it.

• Azalo
Azalo is an adoptee into the tribe. Unlike Uaban, who is still essentially an outsider, Azalo has been accepted into the system of life-and-death protections a Ghede Loa maintains. She is the most beautiful of the Ghede Loa, with long, sharp tusks and eyes like heart's blood. Beauty follows her, and she drops grace like flower petals in her path. Azalo is a great listener.


The Fallen Loa

• Hakkar
The former god of blood and of war, known as the Soulflayer. It is said that at one time Hakkar worked alongside the other World-Smiths, but that he became corrupted in his search for power and is now the enemy of the Pantheon. His totemic avatar was the snake, and though the Atal'ai claim that it still is, the Zandalar grant him no avatar.


The Elawi

• Agwe
"Tidehunter"
The elemental spirit lord who rules over the domain of water. A favorite of the Gurubashi, whose empire was surrounded on three sides by ocean. The Tidehunter's power waxes and wanes as the fortunes of the Trolls themselves.

• Agni
"Firelord"
The elemental spirit lord who rules over the domain of fire. He is rash and passionate. Quick to love and quick to hate, his primal essence is change.

• Terrea
"Stonemother"
The elemental spirit lord who rules over the domain of Terr'ah. She is steady and true. Ever constant, the Stonemother loves the land itself above all and works to preserve the way the world was.

• Ik'uh
"Windmaster"
The elemental spirit lord who rules over the domain of wind. He cares little for the fortunes of living creatures but has the most power to affect them. When the Windmaster's attention can be gained, great power may be granted to he or she who earns it.

10) Troll Biology

Physical Features

Size
Trolls average seven feet in height and two hundred pounds in weight, save for two tribes, the Drakkari and the Zandalari, who tend to be somewhat larger than their kindred. As with other races, there are also scattered trolls who far exceed the normal size range. For further discussion of these outliers, consult the below section on these so-called "monstrous" trolls.

Health
All trolls possess astonishing physical resilience: they can heal grievous physical injuries and regenerate lost limbs. This accelerated rate of healing makes trolls formidable adversaries on the field of battle. The regeneration may be halted by fire, certain poisons, and possibly old age.



Specific Issues

Cannibalism
Most trolls seem to practice cannibalism. Several specific troll tribes have been confirmed as cannibalistic, including the Mossflayer and Vilebranch tribes. Furthermore, all the currently known tribes of ice trolls practice cannibalism. Sand trolls, forest trolls, and jungle trolls are also frequently cannibalistic, though not always. Even the mysterious dark trolls are believed to be cannibals for the most part. Yet there are several notable exceptions. For example, the Zandalar and Revantusk tribes do not consume troll flesh. The Darkspear tribe, too, was cannibalistic until it joined the Horde, at which point the Darkspears officially gave up cannibalism.


Voodoo
Not all trolls practice voodoo, but it is certainly at least as widespread as cannibalism. Little is known about the emergence of voodoo among the trolls, for most tribes that possess such knowledge are unwilling to share it with outsiders. However, with the recent advent of Zandalari trolls to Yojamba Isle, several notable researchers have come to speculate that voodoo may have originated with the Zandalari.

Dire trolls
A small number of trolls are strikingly larger and more heavily muscled than the rest of their brethren. There is no racial distinction between them and the rest of the troll race. A variety of reasons might be behind this unusual size and musculature. For example, dire trolls might have been altered alchemically or magically. They might also simply have been born larger than average. Regardless of the day-to-day prejudices that these trolls must contend with from other races, dire trolls are not regarded as monstrous by other trolls.

Reproduction/Pregnancy
Troll females go into heat every 2-3 months, which apparently makes them insatiable. One would also assume this also makes them highly attractive to unattached males since they seem to follow the norm in other mammals.

Based on previous discussion on this matter, the average duration of a Troll pregnancy is about 6 months due to their enhanced regeneration. That means 2 months of real life time spent RPing the pregnancy. (1 RL day = 3 IG days)

Beyond that, Trolls would very likely carry and birth similarly to other races. With few exceptions. Two things stand out, to me, that would differ for Trolls:

Trolls will miscarry easily. This isn't much of an issue considering the woman will bounce back and be in heat again quickly. However, such a loss is still devastating. This may lead to "house arrest" by tribemates/midwives/mates in order to try and keep the baby where it needs to be.

The other is for actual birthing process. Trolls are very physical, and spent a lot of time squating. It is unlikely that the woman would birth on her back, or for it to take anywhere near as long as it does for modern day women. Expect about a 3 hour labour and delivery. She would also be likely hold onto a wall, over hanging branch, or the midwife for balance. Child birth is not a pretty process, and men would do well to keep their distance until called for.

Otherwise, pregnancy and child birth remain similar to what a human might experience. Morning sickness in the first trimester, along with short bursts of energy. Second trimester she'll begin to show, be frequently tired, and start having food cravings. Third, she can no longer hide the pregnancy. Her movements will be slow and ackward, and she'll be in a regularly foul mood from being uncomfortable.

11) Troll Rituals

The process of preparing the deceased for the afterlife is a very important tradition amongst the Trolls, and is carried out in a very ritualistic fashion

-preparing the body. A relative or mate cleanses the body of all blood or other such things, likely using incense and perfumes to help preserve it as long as possible. The preparation also includes wrapping the body in linens, as all troll "mummies" are seen in the game.

-the body is taken to its patron Loa's altar if possible.

-A group prayer is held, as a sending off. More offerings made both of incense and items.

-the body is burned. This is not always true, as many times we see bodies simply buried in game, but with all the rising undeadmons I would imagine the trolls would start being a bit more circumspect. But again it would be personal preference.

-A shrine may be erected in a place of prayer, in order for the living to make offering to the deceased and perhaps even communicate with them. There is likely a cauldron there, where certain tonics and herbs would be used in order to cross the veil.


Head Shrinking

Supposedly, upon his death, an enemy’s spirit lingers in his body for a short time. Then the spirit flees the corpse and is free to wreak havoc and revenge on its killer. Troll witch doctors believe that a fallen enemy’s spirit lairs in the corpse’s head before fleeing the body. Trolls who wish to trap enemy spirits often turn to head-shrinking.

To shrink a head, a troll first decapitates his fallen enemy. Then he makes a slit up the back of the head and carefully removes the skull (which he saves or discards). The troll then sews up the incision and boils the head for two hours to shrink. The troll uses scalding hot rocks and sand to fill the head cavity and shrink the head further.

When the head is fistsized and rubbery, the troll sews up the eyes, mouth, and neck with elaborate stitching. The enemy spirit now remains trapped inside the head forever. Most members of the Horde look askance at the practice of head-shrinking, but consider it a step up from ritual sacrifice and cannibalism.

Some trolls have techniques to shrink skulls as well, which involve removing key pieces and reconstructing the skull as a smaller version using animal parts and resins to hold it together.