Character:Name: Fellsoil Dreamender??? the Male Night Troll "Hrrrmm. This name will take some getting used too. If I decide I don't like it, I can ignore it until it goes away, or terrorize another settlement in hopes of getting a better one."
Physical Traits:
Arrow Lodged in Shoulder
Tattooed Arms "Prevents me from getting magic fatigued as easily, and even helps out a bit with casting. Also: Fashionable."
Springy Legs "I wish I could fly, but being able to jump like a flea and kick peoples ribs in is the next best thing."
Camouflaged Body "I can be invisible... at a glance or at a distance."
Hypnotic Gaze "I'm good at disabling a mortal's self preservation instinct... not so good at predicting his actions once I do."
Skills:
Eon Manipulation (+5) "Eon Manipulation is a family tradition. I hope to someday be as good as my father..."
Stealth (+4) "They can't escape what they can't see!"
Dark Manipulation (+2) "The night is my birthright and my greatest ally..."
Communication (+2) "Even for one as hideous as myself, a silver tongue goes a long way!"
Night Creature Empathy (+1) "Because it pays to be friends with other night dwellers."
Fire Manipulation (+1) "Fire is one of the few things capable of scaring mortals as much as I do. It makes sense that I should master it."
Plant Empathy (+1) "I can use this skill to navigate the forest... among other things."
Inventory:
A cursed bracelet of plant reading [+1 when listening to plants] (Worn, right arm, boosts Plant Empathy in some situations)
2 Bound Elves (Slung over each shoulder)
Steel Buckler (Wielded, left arm)
An Elf-Tooth Charm Necklace of Healing (Worn)
Alchemist's Work Outfit [Shirt, Apron, Pants] (Worn)
-A Soul Catcher Necklace (Worn)
-3 Full Coin Purses [Unsorted] (In pocket)
-28 Lockpicks (In pocket)
-1 Handheld mirror (In pocket)
-2 Large Rubies (In Pocket)
-2 Platinum Ingots (In Pockets, Straining Garmet)
-1 Human Brain of Phyros [Magically Preserved] (In pocket)
-1 Small Sack of Grey Powder Labeled 'Phoenix Ash' (In Pocket)
-1 Small Sack of Assorted Dragon Bits [Small Bones, Scales, Teeth, Ect] (In Pocket)
-1 Small Sack Labeled 'Warning: Gunpowder' (In Pocket)
-1 Book Titled 'Intro to the Inferno: The Scourge's Guide to Flame Manipulation' (In Pocket)
-1 Book Titled 'The Devil's Cookbook: Alchemy for Those Lacking in Moral Fiber' (In Pocket)
Thick Belt (Worn)
-Scorchedjade, An Artifact Rose Quartz Spear [Unknown Enchantment(s)]
-1 Large Knife (Sheathed, Hanging from Belt)
-1 Saber (Sheathed, Hanging from Belt)
-1 Steel Dagger (Sheathed, Hanging from Belt)
"I'm well equipped to handle any situation!"
Perks:
Magic Perks
Budding Animal Empath: You will gain the animal empathy skill if you succeed in 1 animal empathy actions, or successfully study it in a book
Improving Communicator: Your Communication skill will increase if you succeed in 1 communication actions, or train extensively under a superior communicator.
Time Displacement Specialist: Take a +1 to any attempt to send something foward in time.
Budding Fire Manipulator: You will gain the fire manipulation skill if you succeed in 2 fire manipulation actions or train with somebody who has it
Budding Lore Keeper of Notcheclaw: You will gain the loreminder [Notcheclaw] skill if you study her scripture or train with an instructor 4 more times.
Budding Priest of Notcheclaw: You will gain the Invocation [Notcheclaw] skill if you study her scripture or train with an instructor 2 more times.
Aspiring Water Manipulator: You will gain the water manipulation skill if you succeed in 6 water manipulation actions, or train extensively with somebody who has it
Aspiring Swordsman: You will gain the Armed Combat [Swords] skill if you succeed in 6 sword combat actions, or train extensively with somebody who has it
Bug Speaker: You do not suffer an untrained skill penalty for using animal empathy on bugs
Bird Speaker: You do not suffer an untrained skill penalty for using animal empathy on birds
Youth Speaker: Take a +1 to any attempt to communicate with a mortal who is under 30 (Or equivilant to being under 30 for non humans)
Reproductive Perks
Mature: You are physically and mentally capable of converting and impregnating mates. To do so you must spend a "Gift" perk. "Gift" perks can be gained by rolling very high, learning new skills, or through other supernatural means. If you create a child it may be born with some traits of it's mother in addition to whatever gift you use to conceive it.
Gift of Puppetry: Can be spent to convert or impregnate a mate. The night troll created will be bound to follow your commands for as long as you both live. You will be made aware of any major changes to your puppet's health or location.
Gift of Hideousness: Can be spent to convert or impregnate a mate. The night troll created will appear so unatural and ugly that it will almost always elicit a powerful emotional response (typically fear, disgust, or anger) in any mortal who lays eyes on it. Bun in the Oven
Gift of Inferno's Embrace: Can be spent to convert or impregnate a mate. The night troll created will be able to make itself as one with any sufficiently large blaize. While merged with a fire a night troll is nearly invincible, has the ability to materialize anywhere near it, and exert some control over the direction and rate of it's spread.
Gift of Withering Touch: Can be spent to convert or impregnate a mate. The night troll created will have the ability to cause mortal beings to age upon physical contact. Humans can be brought from infancy to natural death in about 30 minutes. Dwarves take about three times that much. Elves and Goblins can be aged to physical maturity, but not beyond that point.
Gift of Amnesia: Can be spent to convert or impregnate a mate. The night troll created will have a hypnosis power capable of removing the last few minutes of a mortal's memory.
Gift of Battlelust: Can be spent to convert or impregnate a mate. The night troll created will have thick natural armor and the ability to enter into a martial trance when cornered.
Gift of the Left Stone: Can be spent to convert a female or impregnate a mate. Instead of producing a son or a consort, this gift creates a fully functional female night troll. The traits gained depends on the female converted or consort impregnated.
Recipes:
Drought of Perception Blotting: Causes the drinker to become invisible to members of a single sentient race unless the drinker tries to get their attention or is pointed out to them.
-1 Brain of the Race you wish to be not noticed by
-1 Fistfull of ash from burned oak
-1 1 Large Mug of digestive juices from a mammal
Other Party Members:
Gwendolyn, the Night Troll Consort (Recovering From Birth)
-Loincloth
-Steel Sword
-Steel Sword
-Wood Shovel
Cherlyn, the Night Troll Consort (Healthy, Unfamiliar with her own body)
-Black Thief's Clothing
-Steel Dagger
-23 Iron Lockpicks
Jimma, the Night Troll Consort Puppet (Healthy, Unfamiliar with her own body, Pregnant 0/?? Fear for Baby)
-Scrap Cloth Loincloth
-Steel Battleaxe
-Set of Steel Chain-mail
Alice, the Night Troll Consort (Healthy, Unfamiliar with her own body)
-Steel Combat Knife
-Steel Workman's Ax
-Coin Purse [33 Dwanmaiden Silver Coin, 3 Foghorn the Vile Aluminum Doubloons]
Unamed Baby Night Troll (Hypnotic Gaze, Tattooed Arms, Camouflaged Body, Springy Legs, Tumors of Blinking)
You head down to the dungeon and check out the the rouge's catch. The prisoner is a human child, male and about the age of 10. His craftsman's grab and calloused hands imply that he is an apprentice at some trade or another. He is a bit scared, but not as hysterical as you would like or expect from somebody in his position.
The child is breifly interrogated. You learn that his name is Chip, and that he is a blacksmiths apprentice who makes bullets and keys. Things get interesting however when you ask him why he is able to remain calm.
"Because I know you wont want to eat me unless I am afraid."
You blink.
"Where in the world did you learn something like that?""My father taught me."
"And who is your father?"The kid frowns. "A corpse sir. A lynch mob took him away a few nights ago. He worshiped a goddess affiliated with your kind and was blamed for bringing you here."
"Notcheclaw?""Yes Sir. She is also a patron for some assassins. My father's father made his living knocking people off for coin. He worshiped Notcheclaw and passed down the faith to my father."
"Do you follow Notcheclaw?"Chip shakes his head. "No sir. My master tries to make me worship Rockthrone and my mother wishes I follow Sol. My father never figured trying to teach me his faith was a fight worth picking."
You sigh. Your father would beat you to within an inch of your life for empathizing with a human.
"Alright kid. Can you give me a good reason why I should spare your life?"1d20 = 19 + 2(Skill) + 1(Perk) = 22"I know a few other people in town who worship your goddess sir. If you spare me, I can refer you to them."
You pound your open fist with a hand. A good no strings attached meal is hard to find these days.
---
After telling Chip you will consider his offer, you decide to spend some time with your son. You try to teach the baby to speak your name, and Gwendolyn's. After a few hours of work you get the little critter to say. 'Grendalyn' a few times. You consider getting the tyke a playmate or a pet.
You know this to be a delicate issue. One of your younger cousins/half brothers was killed when dad let him play with the prey before dinner time, but that was because Aunt Ivine forgot to break his arms first.
That said you know that know that letting night trolls play with humans is a useful educational tactic. If a prisoner was brought in by a consort but not sufficiently scared, Dad would often let you and your brothers play with it until it expired. You reckon you (perhaps unintentionaly) helped season plenty of meals for your family while learning about mortal anatomy in the process. Knowing what you know now; that mortals are capable of insight and friendship, you wonder if perhaps getting the child a long term companion may be a good idea. You would have to wait until he is a bit older to be sure, and you would have to select the mortal for the job carefully, but the benefits could very well outweigh the risks or complications.
Of course a pet is always a good backup plan. You Knight Trolls have good natural chemistry with several noctournal animals. You figure in a temperate climate like this, an owl would be your best bet.
---
Alice is Foghorn's daughter and Jimma lacks free will, so you decide that they are no threat to Foghorn or his family come feast time. That leaves Cherlyn and Gwendolyn to account for, so you have them both sent to your room.
"Alright. Listen up. In the near future Alice's father, Foghorn the Vile, will be coming to visit the tower. If all goes well I will likely gain his help assualting Oakworshiped, and you will have much slaughter and torture to occupy yourselves with. If anything happens to Foghorn however I will occupy myself by slaughtering and torturing whoever has wrong him."You glare at each consort for a bit. Gwendolyn swiftly assures you that if she had wanted to harm Foghorn, she would have done so when they met at the ranch shortly after you turned her. Cherlyn manages to turn the tables on your threat and give you some more grief.
"I'm offended. I'm a thief and a kidnapper; not some petty assassin. I find the thought of picking a fight with somebody who can defend themselves to be abhorrent." The consort sneers with a voice just dripping with sarcasm.
"If it makes you feel better you can just send me away on a 'shopping' trip once the royal dignitaries arrive."You sigh. At least you are fairly sure Foghorn will remain unmolested.
1d20 = 11 + 2(Skill) + 3(Both Targets are your Consort) = 16"Whatever. Gwendolyn, lets head out to the woods and coax some furniture for the meal. You go get a few Lovebirds ready to travel, I'll go fetch Alice and Jimma. Cherlyn, don't you dare eat that kid while I'm gone."---
In the woods you try your hand at Coaxing first. The trees however are rather unwilling to bend for such an amature, and eventually you resign yourself to allowing the skilled Consorts to give it a go.
Alice and Gwen flip a dubloon to decide who gets to try first. Alice calls tails and tails is what comes up. The new consort leads you deeper into the forest to a few trees that she considers to be personal friends. After spending a few minutes showing off her new form she gets down to business, and guides the large plants to produce tumors in the size and shape of a table and chairs. This takes awhile, and once it becomes apparent that everything is working according to plan, Alice begins to mercilessly rub her success in Gwendolyn's face.
1d20 = 13 + 5(Alice's Skill) = 18After taking the abuse for several for several minutes the elder consort counter attacks with a brutal verbal riposte, attacking Alice's sexuality and inability to do her duty to you. The final hour and a half of waiting for the furniture to grow is spent in awkward silence. You are not sure if you should be mad at Gwen for saying such things, or at Alice for provoking it.
You are rather relieved when Jimma cuts the furniture free with her axe, loads it onto the birds, and you all return home. Rox isn't back yet, and it occurs to you that the Tiger Woman never bothered to tell you exactly when Foghorn would arrive before she left to hunt.
"...Just wonderful."
Author
Topic: The Last Night Troll (Read 221309 times)