[Monster] Forest Troll

For LL…

Forest Troll

 

No. Enc.: 1-5
Alignment:  Chaotic
Movement:  90’ (30’)
Armor Class:  5
Hit Dice:  3+1
Attacks:  3 (claw/claw/bite)
Damage:  1-3/1-3/1-4
Save:   F3, +1 to saves vs. spells or spell-like devices
Morale:  8
Hoard Class:  XX
XP:   130 + 35 per spell-like ability

These vile magical creatures are about the size of gnomes.  They most often live alone or in small groups of two to five, usually in caves or huge hollow trees, almost always in forests (especially magical forests or areas).  Because forest trolls are masters of camouflage, their homes are 90% undetectable; they also have the same ability as halflings to conceal themselves in a forest environment (90% undetectable).

A forest troll possesses from 2-4 of the following spell-like abilities. Determine randomly how many and which ones (or select). Each is useable once per day unless rolled, or selected, more than once.  In that case, the number of times per day the ability may be used is equal to how many times that ability is rolled or selected.

1. Animal companion*
2. Animal Growth
3. Barkskin
4. Charm mammal
5. Curse (reverse of bless)
6. Entangle
7. Faerie fire
8. Hallucinatory terrain
9. Hold person
10. Invisibility
11. Obscuring mist
12. Pass without trace
13. Putrefy food and drink (reverse of purify food and drink)
14. Silence 15’ radius
15. Snake charm
16. Snare
17. Speak with animals
18. Stumble
19. Tree shape
20. Warp wood

*Not usable once per day; this ability is reusable once companion(s) has/have been killed. If it is rolled or selected more than once, then a more powerful companion or more numerous companions may be obtained.

Typically, forest trolls guard an area or landmark in the forest, such as a bridge, a clearing, a tunnel, a cottage, etc., close to their homes.  They harass -- verbally, by traps, magic, or violence -- most anyone passing by.   Forest trolls will parley and negotiate (not necessarily honestly) and sometimes a payment of some sort will be enough to secure clear passage. They are adept at setting traps, some of which will be of the sort to alert the trolls to the presence of intruders or startle or embarrass the victim(s).  Other traps will be more lethal.  They often attempt to use their spell-like abilities from positions of concealment.  Even though they are quick, vicious fighters, forest trolls usually only engage in open combat as a last resort, preferring traps, magic, deceit, trickery, and intimidation. 

Forest trolls are extremely chaotic and serve no masters, but they have been known to form alliances with other evil beings out of mutual interest or for pay. For instance, the trolls often act as intelligence operatives, providing information about those travelling through the forest. Their treasure is almost always scattered about in many different small containers, most trapped, and buried in separate locations in the vicinity of their homes.