Trolls
The largest and most solitary of all peoples, Trolls originated high in the mountains and tundra. They tend to be nocturnal but aren’t as strict about this as G’blenthi. Trolls consider themselves to be the only culture to develop a written language before a spoke one. While this might not actually be true, Trolls place a much higher importance on writing than even the Nom. Because of their solitary nature, and remoteness of their habitation, the written word is the most important method of communication between Trolls. If these people can be said to hold any concept of sacred objects , it is based around text. One of the oldest artifacts of any culture is “Response to the Argument of Hulluk’s Unified Theory of Self Identity” carved into a slab of slate by an author who identifies herself simply as “Shul Kahartha” (Daughter of the Mountain). The Troll’s written language is considerably more elegant and nuanced than the spoken word, which actually seems to be a form of verbal shorthand.
It is hard to make generalized statements about Troll culture because, as one astute early observer put it, each Troll behaves as their own sovereign nation. They are autonomous creatures with individual allegiances, feuds, and customs. Trolls live in solitude and sometime hibernate. (Modern Trolls will sometimes go dormant during the cold winter months) in their own well defined territories. If these boundaries are not respected properly, the individual can become very territorial. This has given them an unwarranted reputation for aggression. When the boundaries are shown the proper respect and ritualistic permission has been given, Trolls can be quite gregarious and hospitable. Some individuals seem to really enjoy visitors. A Trolls favorite medium of exchange is information this can either be gossip or philosophical discourse. Troll discussions can last for weeks at a time, pausing only long enough to allow the participants to sleep or forage for food . It is customary for Trolls to groom each other while conversing.
Trolls are omnivorous, preferring simple vegetarian cuisine when it is available, but they are capable hunters. Unlike all other peoples, Trolls always eat in private. It is considered a severe breach of etiquette to eat in front of anyone else or watch someone eat. If two trolls need to share food, (such as the carcass of a recent kill) they will face away from one another and not speak until the meal is complete. Modern restaurants in urban centers often have a few closed booths to accommodate their largest customers need for seclusion.
When the female comes into estrus she will seek a mate and select based on intellectual accomplishment as well as physical strength. The breeding pair will live together until the child can walk. After this point the parents alternate child rearing responsibilities. Contrary to the stereotype, Trolls are attentive doting and protective parents. When the child is old enough, they venture forth into the world to find their own settlement. Natural caves are preferred but they will build into the hillside themselves if no suitable cavern is available. Before settling in, the young troll will seek out other more established adults to educate them so that they can develop a broader view of the world than what their parents can teach them. Outside the mating season, trolls don’t differentiate between the genders, and find other species’ views on gender roles comical.
Before the advent of printing technology, there was not much understanding between Trolls and other people. The common belief was that trolls possessed limited intelligence and no cultural sophistication. They were thought to be savage and violent unruly creatures. Trolls themselves thought most other people weak, foolish and incapable of living alone. Unkind references in their writing often dubbed non trolls “ants” or “smallnoses” ( due to the weaker sense of smell ). Feeding into the cruel misconceptions about Trolls is their simplistic purely funtional technology. Trolls use only the most basic of tools and construction methods and only wear clothing out of deference to wider cultural sensibilities. As trolls have thick shaggy, rust colored pelts, they do not need any further protection from the elements and have thus not developed any sense of body modesty. Trolls genuinely can’t understand the concept of physical shame.
Trolls excel in mechanical fields and usually have an innate technical ability. This is rarely employed, however, due to the fact that Trolls would rather spend their energy on intellectual pursuits . So they settle on the simplest solution and move on. The historic difficulty of relations between trolls and other peoples was exacerbated by the fact that trolls would occasionally prey upon different species of hominids
This practice has largely ceased since the acknowledgement that other peoples are in fact intelligent. In turn the custom of mobbing trolls to death has mostly stopped among other cultures. There is still occasional resentment over these incidents however.
In modern society Trolls trade freely with other peoples and are usually found in positions like engineering, research, and construction where their aptitude for mathematics and tremendous physical strength are assets. They are seldom involved in politics and are surprisingly rare in academic and legal fields. Trolls have very limited tolerance for bureaucracy. They tend to be brusque and forthright in communication. They do not stand on ceremony or concern themselves overly with manners. Trolls welcome intellectual discourse and are usually extremely well read on a wide array of subjects.
Trolls have made vast contributions in the field of literature not only in Philosophic and scientific observations, but in poetry and fiction as well. While a troll “novel” is intended as a pure literary form, their poetry and music (they use the same word for both) is meant to be sung, chanted or declaimed,. instrumental accompaniment is rare and when it is involved is traditionally a simple rhythmic line repeated over and over on flute or drum. Dramatic monologues are sometimes performed, but the trolls have no naturally occurring theatrical arts in their culture. Small carved figures and accurate drawings do exist, but they are considered a secondary form of expression purely for illustrational purposes.
The largest and most solitary of all peoples, Trolls originated high in the mountains and tundra. They tend to be nocturnal but aren’t as strict about this as G’blenthi. Trolls consider themselves to be the only culture to develop a written language before a spoke one. While this might not actually be true, Trolls place a much higher importance on writing than even the Nom. Because of their solitary nature, and remoteness of their habitation, the written word is the most important method of communication between Trolls. If these people can be said to hold any concept of sacred objects , it is based around text. One of the oldest artifacts of any culture is “Response to the Argument of Hulluk’s Unified Theory of Self Identity” carved into a slab of slate by an author who identifies herself simply as “Shul Kahartha” (Daughter of the Mountain). The Troll’s written language is considerably more elegant and nuanced than the spoken word, which actually seems to be a form of verbal shorthand.
It is hard to make generalized statements about Troll culture because, as one astute early observer put it, each Troll behaves as their own sovereign nation. They are autonomous creatures with individual allegiances, feuds, and customs. Trolls live in solitude and sometime hibernate. (Modern Trolls will sometimes go dormant during the cold winter months) in their own well defined territories. If these boundaries are not respected properly, the individual can become very territorial. This has given them an unwarranted reputation for aggression. When the boundaries are shown the proper respect and ritualistic permission has been given, Trolls can be quite gregarious and hospitable. Some individuals seem to really enjoy visitors. A Trolls favorite medium of exchange is information this can either be gossip or philosophical discourse. Troll discussions can last for weeks at a time, pausing only long enough to allow the participants to sleep or forage for food . It is customary for Trolls to groom each other while conversing.
Trolls are omnivorous, preferring simple vegetarian cuisine when it is available, but they are capable hunters. Unlike all other peoples, Trolls always eat in private. It is considered a severe breach of etiquette to eat in front of anyone else or watch someone eat. If two trolls need to share food, (such as the carcass of a recent kill) they will face away from one another and not speak until the meal is complete. Modern restaurants in urban centers often have a few closed booths to accommodate their largest customers need for seclusion.
When the female comes into estrus she will seek a mate and select based on intellectual accomplishment as well as physical strength. The breeding pair will live together until the child can walk. After this point the parents alternate child rearing responsibilities. Contrary to the stereotype, Trolls are attentive doting and protective parents. When the child is old enough, they venture forth into the world to find their own settlement. Natural caves are preferred but they will build into the hillside themselves if no suitable cavern is available. Before settling in, the young troll will seek out other more established adults to educate them so that they can develop a broader view of the world than what their parents can teach them. Outside the mating season, trolls don’t differentiate between the genders, and find other species’ views on gender roles comical.
Before the advent of printing technology, there was not much understanding between Trolls and other people. The common belief was that trolls possessed limited intelligence and no cultural sophistication. They were thought to be savage and violent unruly creatures. Trolls themselves thought most other people weak, foolish and incapable of living alone. Unkind references in their writing often dubbed non trolls “ants” or “smallnoses” ( due to the weaker sense of smell ). Feeding into the cruel misconceptions about Trolls is their simplistic purely funtional technology. Trolls use only the most basic of tools and construction methods and only wear clothing out of deference to wider cultural sensibilities. As trolls have thick shaggy, rust colored pelts, they do not need any further protection from the elements and have thus not developed any sense of body modesty. Trolls genuinely can’t understand the concept of physical shame.
Trolls excel in mechanical fields and usually have an innate technical ability. This is rarely employed, however, due to the fact that Trolls would rather spend their energy on intellectual pursuits . So they settle on the simplest solution and move on. The historic difficulty of relations between trolls and other peoples was exacerbated by the fact that trolls would occasionally prey upon different species of hominids
This practice has largely ceased since the acknowledgement that other peoples are in fact intelligent. In turn the custom of mobbing trolls to death has mostly stopped among other cultures. There is still occasional resentment over these incidents however.
In modern society Trolls trade freely with other peoples and are usually found in positions like engineering, research, and construction where their aptitude for mathematics and tremendous physical strength are assets. They are seldom involved in politics and are surprisingly rare in academic and legal fields. Trolls have very limited tolerance for bureaucracy. They tend to be brusque and forthright in communication. They do not stand on ceremony or concern themselves overly with manners. Trolls welcome intellectual discourse and are usually extremely well read on a wide array of subjects.
Trolls have made vast contributions in the field of literature not only in Philosophic and scientific observations, but in poetry and fiction as well. While a troll “novel” is intended as a pure literary form, their poetry and music (they use the same word for both) is meant to be sung, chanted or declaimed,. instrumental accompaniment is rare and when it is involved is traditionally a simple rhythmic line repeated over and over on flute or drum. Dramatic monologues are sometimes performed, but the trolls have no naturally occurring theatrical arts in their culture. Small carved figures and accurate drawings do exist, but they are considered a secondary form of expression purely for illustrational purposes.
Copyright John A Ryan 2010
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