Troll Kingdom of Zul'Kandar

The Troll Kingdoms, a fierce and fractured confederation of warlords, stand atop the world's most brutal landscapes. Though all swear loyalty to King Gorgoth Bonecrusher, each sub-kingdom is ruled by a warlord who fiercely guards their autonomy. Trolls are united by their love for combat, strength, and survival in the harshest conditions, but beneath this unity simmers a deep tension between the different tribes and clans.

For centuries, the trolls were the favored children of the Fallen One the once-goddess who had gifted them with unmatched strength and resilience. They were the chosen warriors, the protectors of the Broken One's realm, and the most revered of all her creations. But when the Broken One fell, the world turned against the trolls. The other races, who had once feared and respected them, now saw them as abominations, as cursed creatures born of darkness and chaos.

The trolls were hunted by the kingdoms of men, elves, and dwarves, forced to flee their ancestral lands and seek refuge in the harsh and unforgiving territories of the Burnt Sea. They were shunned, reviled, and persecuted, their very existence a reminder of the Broken One's downfall. The trolls, once proud and noble, were reduced to outcasts, forced to live on the fringes of society.

It was in this darkness that the trolls found an unlikely ally: the Monsters, the twisted creatures spawned from the Broken One's own blood. These abominations, feared and reviled by all, saw the trolls as kindred spirits, as fellow outcasts who had been wronged by the world. Together, the trolls and monsters forged a bond, a pact of mutual support and understanding that would last for generations.

The trolls, driven by a deep-seated resentment toward the other races, saw the monsters as worthy companions in their eternal struggle against the kingdoms of men, elves, and dwarves. They joined forces with the chaos of the Burnt Sea, embracing the darkness and the power that it brought. And so, the Troll Kingdoms became a central player in the world's war-torn landscape, their strength, resilience, and mastery of combat making them formidable allies to the monsters, and a thorn in the side of their enemies.

Population: 125,000

Cities

Zul'Drakor: The Capital of Zul'Kandar

Location: Carved into the jagged peaks of a mountain, Zul'Drakor is a massive fortress-city. With towering stone walls and deep labyrinthine tunnels, it serves as the heart of the Troll Kingdoms' military might. Its elevated position allows trolls to rain down stones and launch massive siege weapon attacks on approaching enemies.
Description: Built with brute strength and imposing architecture, the fortress looms like a jagged scar on the mountainside. Enormous iron gates lead into the city, flanked by statues of troll warlords past, their expressions eternally frozen in scowling glory. The city is constantly enveloped in a swirl of snow and thunder, reflecting the ever-volatile nature of the trolls. Massive forges and barracks are scattered throughout, with the Arena of Zul, a sacred ground for combat, sitting at the city's center.

Drak’Mar Citadel (Drak’Market)

Description: A bastion of warriors, known for its elite Berserker Legion. Drak'Mar Citadel is an ancient stronghold built on blood-soaked ground. The atmosphere is always tense, as its warriors are always on the verge of battle, kept in check only by the iron fist of Warlord Zurgak the Savage.

Skullcrusher Keep (Skullcrusher)

Description: Situated on a craggy plateau overlooking a vast plain, Skullcrusher Keep is both a fortress and a siege engine workshop. The trolls here specialize in the construction of massive war machines, catapults, and battering rams, preparing endlessly for war under Chieftain Urlog Skullcrusher.

Stormspire (Stormrage)

Description: Set on a windswept peak perpetually struck by lightning, Stormspire is a place of arcane and elemental power. Ruled by Stormcaller Zulak, this city crackles with storm energy, harnessed by the shamans of the clan. The trolls of this clan are attuned to the elements, using lightning and storms as their tools of war.

Important Figures

King Gorgoth Bonecrusher

Title: King of Zul'Kandar, Overlord of the Troll Kingdoms
Role: Supreme ruler of the Troll Kingdoms, and commander of their armies.
Appearance: Gorgoth is a colossus of a troll, standing over 15 feet tall with skin as tough as iron. His body is covered in countless scars, each a testament to the battles he has survived. His thick, spiked armor is forged from the bones of his enemies and is enchanted with the power of storm magic by the shamans of his court. His eyes burn with an eternal fury, a constant reminder of the trolls' banishment from the grace of dragons.
Personality: Gorgoth is as ruthless as he is cunning, understanding that brute strength alone will not secure the dominance of his people. While he prefers direct combat, his strategic mind is sharp, capable of outwitting even the craftiest of generals. He despises weakness and will personally execute any troll who brings shame or dishonor to Zul'Kandar.
Alliances: Gorgoth has made an unholy pact with the monsters of the Burnt Sea, believing that together they can bring about the downfall of the elven, dwarven, and human kingdoms. He sees the monsters as creations of The Broken One—their rightful patron—and therefore believes it is his duty to lead them in battle against the enemies of his goddess.
Weapon: Gorgoth wields the Hammer of Zul, a colossal warhammer rumored to be enchanted with the blood of ancient monster kings. Its power is said to be strong enough to shatter mountains and summon thunderstorms in battle.
Leadership Style: A fierce proponent of strength above all else, Gorgoth leads his armies personally into battle, often at the front lines. His strategy combines overwhelming force with carefully timed strikes, and he is known to be unforgiving to those who fail him.

General Throga Thunderfist

Title: Warlord of Zul'Kandar, Master of Siege Warfare
Role: Second-in-command to King Gorgoth, Throga leads the largest of Zul'Kandar's armies and is a key strategist in their war efforts.
Appearance: Throga stands slightly shorter than Gorgoth but no less imposing. His arms are heavily tattooed with storm runes, and his fists are covered in lightning scars from the many battles he has fought. He wears a crown of jagged iron, a symbol of his power, and his eyes spark with latent electricity.
Personality: Throga is Gorgoth’s trusted right-hand troll and a renowned tactical genius. He blends the raw aggression of the trolls with brilliant strategies, often turning battles by using terrain and surprise to crush his enemies. He believes in the old ways of troll combat but has adapted to the more organized warfare needed to deal with modern enemies like humans and dwarves.
Weapon: Throga wields twin war gauntlets imbued with storm magic, capable of unleashing devastating bursts of lightning in battle. His signature move is the Thunderfist Strike, which sends shockwaves through the ground, disorienting his enemies.
Notable Feats: Throga is credited with leading the Siege of Iron Crag, where a dwarven fortress was toppled in just three days. His lightning tactics and overwhelming siege weapons forced the dwarves to flee, marking a significant victory for the trolls.

Priestess Volka Bloodfang

Title: High Priestess of Zul'Kandar, Keeper of the Ancestors' Fury
Role: Spiritual leader and the conduit between the trolls and their ancestors, as well as their goddess, The Broken One.
Appearance: Volka is adorned with blood-red tattoos and jagged bone armor, with a feral, almost ethereal presence. Her crimson eyes blaze with an ancient power, and her sharp fangs, which give her the name "Bloodfang," are stained with the blood of sacrificial victims.
Personality: Volka is fiercely devoted to the spiritual traditions of the trolls and the worship of The Broken One. She holds immense power within the kingdom, as many trolls believe she can channel the spirits of the ancestors in times of need. Volka is both feared and revered, her word carrying the weight of the gods themselves. She is also deeply involved in the rituals that bond trolls with the monsters of the Burnt Sea.
Weapon: Volka wields the Blade of Ancients, a ritual dagger carved from the bones of an ancient troll warlord. The blade is said to draw the power of the fallen, enhancing the strength and fury of those it touches.
Special Abilities: Volka can call upon the spirits of deceased troll warlords to empower living warriors during battle. This spiritual fury gives trolls immense strength, rendering them nearly invulnerable for short periods.

Trolls and Their Alliance with Monsters

The Burnt Sea serves as both a barrier and a breeding ground for monstrous forces. Born from the blood of the Fallen One, these creatures roam the desolate land, attacking any who dare cross their path. The trolls, once favored by the Fallen One, have embraced these monsters as kin in their eternal struggle against the other races. Under the leadership of King Gorgoth, the trolls have forged an unholy alliance with these beasts, often leading them into battle against human, elven, and dwarven armies.

Behemoths of the Burnt Sea: Giant, towering creatures covered in hardened ash and black rock, they serve as living siege weapons for the troll armies. These monsters tear down city walls and smash fortifications with ease, often with trolls riding on their backs, directing their fury.
Harbingers of Ruin: Winged monstrosities that blot out the sun, they descend upon enemy armies in swarms. Troll shamans, led by Priestess Volka, have learned to harness the chaotic energies of these creatures, bending them to the will of the trolls and using them to create havoc on the battlefield.
The Devourers: Massive, worm-like creatures that burrow beneath the earth, emerging beneath enemy strongholds to cause catastrophic damage. These creatures are the greatest asset of the trolls in long-term sieges, capable of destabilizing entire mountain fortresses.

Troll Involvement in the Larger World

War Against the Other Kingdoms

With their monster allies, the trolls have become an even greater threat to the kingdoms of men, elves, and dwarves. Their armies now include not just their own terrifying warriors but also the beasts of the Burnt Sea, who they direct like living weapons. This alliance has allowed them to conduct devastating raids into the human kingdom of Valior and the elven territories of Elairean, burning villages and crushing armies beneath their monstrous war machines.

Against the Elves of Elairean: Troll raiding parties often attack the outer edges of the Great Forest, burning down entire sections of the enchanted woodland. The elves, with their reliance on magic, struggle to defend against the raw, elemental fury of the trolls and their monster allies. The enchanted creatures of the forest are no match for the sheer physical strength of the trolls, and the elves are forced to retreat deeper into their hidden cities.
Against the Dwarves of Khazdor: The dwarves, with their mastery of Rune Magic, are one of the few races capable of withstanding the troll onslaught. However, the alliance between trolls and the beasts of the Burnt Sea has shifted the balance of power. The Skullcrusher Clan frequently leads monster-infused sieges against dwarven strongholds, with Urlog Skullcrusher at the forefront, wielding siege engines enhanced by monster strength.

Troll Philosophy: Embrace of the Broken One

The trolls have fully embraced their banishment from the grace of the dragons and their new role as champions of the Fallen One. They believe that suffering is the only path to true strength, and this philosophy extends not only to themselves but to the entire world. By unleashing their fury and their monster allies upon the world, the trolls see themselves as enforcing the divine will of their shattered goddess—bringing an endless cycle of struggle to all who would oppose them.

Important Locations

The Arena of Zul (Zul'Drakor)

Purpose: A massive combat pit where trolls prove their strength in brutal gladiatorial battles. It also serves as a holy site where warriors offer blood and strength to their ancestors and the goddess the Fallen One.
Significance: A place of worship, battle, and celebration. Victors are awarded great honor, and losers meet a grim death. Trolls believe that by fighting in the arena, they earn the respect of both their ancestors and their people.

The Shrine of the Broken One (Hidden within Zul'Drakor)

Purpose: A dark, ancient temple where only the most devoted trolls are allowed to worship The Broken One. The temple is constantly shrouded in shadow, and sacrifices are often performed here in her name. Priestess Volka Bloodfang presides over its ceremonies.
Significance: This sacred place is the heart of troll spirituality, where the strongest and most devout warriors commune with the shattered goddess. Blood rituals and spirit-channeling ceremonies are performed here to call on the power of ancient trolls.

The Forges of Ragefire (Skullcrusher Keep)

Purpose: The main armory and forge where the siege weapons of the Skullcrusher Clan are built. Massive troll blacksmiths work night and day to create war engines powered by the strength of their monster allies.
Significance: These forges represent the industrial might of the trolls, where the tools of war are crafted for the countless raids and battles they undertake.

Important Buildings

The Throne of Bone (Zul'Drakor)

Description: King Gorgoth Bonecrusher’s seat of power, a massive throne carved from the bones of ancient trolls and slain enemies. The throne room is cavernous, its stone walls etched with the history of the troll wars and bathed in an eerie red light from the molten cracks in the ground.
Purpose: This is where Gorgoth rules his people, hands down his judgments, and plans military campaigns.

The Temple of Storms (Stormspire)

Description: A tower that rises into the storm clouds, constantly bombarded by lightning. It serves as the headquarters of Stormcaller Zulak and his storm shamans, where they commune with the elements and train to harness their power.
Purpose: The temple is where trolls of the Stormrage Clan master the elemental arts of storm magic, using their connection to the heavens to strike their enemies with lightning.

The Berserker Hall (Drak'Mar Citadel)

Description: A great hall filled with trophies of war—skulls, banners, and weapons taken from enemies. Here, berserker trolls hone their frenzied combat skills.
Purpose: The training ground for the feared Berserker Legion, where they prepare for their next battle under the watchful eye of Warlord Zurgak the Savage.

Language and Swear Words

The trolls speak Thrak’gar, a guttural, ancient language filled with harsh consonants and roaring tones that mimic the sounds of storms and battle. Their language is direct and forceful, just like their culture.

Common Phrases and Swear Words:

"Thra'k'thar!": A battle cry meaning "Crush them!"
"Grug’tal!": A curse word used to express rage or frustration, translating roughly to "Fool of stone!".
"Krogar’zul": A deep insult, meaning "Weak-blooded", referring to someone who has failed in battle or shown cowardice.
"Zhar'thul!": "By the bones!" – often exclaimed in shock or surprise.
"Blood before bone": A common saying expressing that a troll’s strength and honor must come before their pride or lineage.

Customs and Traditions

Trial of Strength:

Description: Trolls believe that only through combat can true leadership be proven. Any warlord or general must undergo a Trial of Strength to maintain their position, fighting challengers in a brutal contest before their peers.
Significance: The trial reinforces the belief that power must be earned through struggle, not inherited.

Blood Hunt:

Description: An ancient troll tradition, where a group of trolls is sent into the wilderness or enemy lands to hunt down and kill the most dangerous creatures they can find, offering the blood to the Broken One.
Significance: The Blood Hunt is a rite of passage for younger trolls, marking their ascension into adulthood.

Fury Feast:

Description: After every major victory, trolls hold a massive feast where the meat of fallen enemies and great beasts is consumed. These feasts often last days, during which trolls tell stories of their ancestors and battles.
Significance: The feast reinforces their belief in the strength of struggle and the importance of battle in troll society.

Troll society is structured around strength, with leadership based on one’s ability to dominate others in battle or command respect.

Troll King (Gorgoth Bonecrusher): Supreme ruler of the Troll Kingdoms. While he commands the loyalty of all the sub-kingdoms, each warlord maintains significant autonomy.
Warlords: Leaders of the sub-kingdoms. They answer to the Troll King but fiercely guard their independence, managing their clans like sovereign rulers.
Generals and Shamans: Commanders of armies and spiritual leaders who wield immense influence, both in military and religious affairs.
Warriors: The backbone of troll society. Every troll is a warrior first and is judged based on their prowess in battle.
Craftsmen and Forgers: Though not as prestigious as warriors, trolls who work the forges and craft the weapons of war are highly respected for their contributions to the kingdom’s might.
Shamans and Priests: Spiritual guides who commune with the ancestors and lead the sacred rites. They wield great influence but are subordinate to the warlords.
Slaves and Captives: Non-trolls captured in raids or defeated in battle are enslaved, used for manual labor or entertainment in gladiatorial combat.

Troll Values

Strength: The cornerstone of troll society. Power is respected above all else. Weakness is a death sentence.
Honor in Combat: Trolls believe the only way to gain respect is through battle. A life lived without bloodshed is considered worthless.
Loyalty to the Clan: Despite their brutish nature, trolls are fiercely loyal to their warlord and clan. Betrayal is met with instant death.
Respect for Ancestors: Trolls believe their strength comes from their ancestors and the Fallen One. Rituals and sacrifices are common to honor their spirits.
Survival: Life is a constant struggle for survival, and trolls see the world as a battlefield where only the strong can endure.