Equatorial Trolls

Equatorial trolls, also known as jungle trolls, are a hedonistic subrace of trolls, content to grow fat and lazy off of the spoils of others yet unwilling to work for their own gains- usually. Just as large, superstitious, and violent as the stereotypes of their foes, they hold sway over a large section of jungles on both Ærellion and Ifyrial, mostly near where the two continents are closest together. Their primary habitat being close to the equator led to them being dubbed as such, since they also live in the savannas and the name jungle troll is not fully accurate in all cases. Although they have some trappings of civilization, their organization is largely clan based, with inter-clan ranking being based entirely on strength. Innovation, culture, and development are considered with distrust, and usually disregarded unless they provide immediate and severe increases in strength. Equatorial trolls, being large, need access to large amounts of resources to feed clans, meaning their whole territory is sparsely settled.

Equatorial trolls are deathly afraid of fires, which in the hot and humid jungles are typically rare unless started by the jungle trolls themselves. Although they usually eat meat raw, they do use fires for some purposes. Tending the fire is considered a dangerous task that only the strong can do, usually water shamans. These water shamans are powerful trolls who keep large amounts of water on hand to quickly douse any fires and to prevent them from spreading. Usually fearless of fire, they are some of the few trolls who can convince other trolls to fight enemies who wield fire and therefore often become clan leaders. However, they are just as foolish as the rest of their fellows, and have been unable to levy this mental strength to actually advance the trollish civilization.

Equatorial trolls supplement their diet with sentient flesh, and are not above cannibalism, with ritual sacrifices made to keep the rain falling. Those who attempt to trade with equatorial trolls often find themselves falling prey to them instead, but occasionally trolls in a particularly rich area may be persuaded to trade raw materials for goods such as metal tools and weapons as well as for food. They are also slavers, occasionally taking whole tribes of goblins as slaves (occasionally they forget and eat them). Almost all races on Ærellion consider equatorial trolls to be savage and evil creatures, and they are considered a great threat to civilization. On Ifyrial, the trolls are seen similarly, with the exception of neighboring goblin clans which view them with great fear and see them as indomitable conquerors.

Thanks to their propensity for cannibalism, ritual sacrifice, and lack of morals, equatorial trolls are very susceptible to influence by demons and devils, who encourage their worst tendencies and use them for their own ends. At the moment, the [tbd], the most powerful equatorial clan, are under the sway of devils, who have empowered their leader with a dark strength that he and his followers have used to gain sway over a large amount of land. In return, the [tbd] have taken up the cultivation and selling of the narcotic Blightshade, which is used to advance the devils' plans and help spread the Shadow Dimension into the mortal plane.