>In an open-ended fantasy world...You are Strogga, a troll! You have a nice and easy life under your bridge, spanning the river along a village of humans in this land of theirs. Well you don't make their lives nice or easy, but what can they do about it?"Show yourself, monster! Your death is nigh!"It seems they can do something about it as you are woken from a pleasant afternoon slumber by some unpleasant shouting from nearby. Stirring your huge body amid a pile of pilfered belongings and half-eaten remains, from the shade of your bridge you spy one of the humans with shiny metal clothes sitting atop a tasty-looking horse. >Wat do?
>>5670901Bellow loudly in response and try to hit the puny man with a stone. We’re too lazy to come out and make a real effort of squishing him
>>5670901Shitpost on 4chan
>>5670902Supporting this
>>5670901>No, I'm sleeping!
>>5670918>>5670913>>5670910>>5670902You're good and comfortable in your den beneath the bridge, and the only thing that might stir you to leave would be hunger. Well you are hungry, trolls always are, but not so hungry that you want get up and move around."...no, I'm sleeping!"You bellow loudly in response to the annoying human, your monstrous voice echoing beneath the bridge. With a sleepy eye you can see this startles the human and his horse but unfortunately not enough leave. "Your grip of terror on these good people is at an end today! I swear it, or my name is not-"Again with the bothersome yelling! Mayhaps you could have just rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, hoping the sound of the river would drone out the prattling of the human. But in his bold movements to match his bold words, it causes the sun to reflect off his gleaming clothes and shine right in your eyes... annoying you enough to lift a finger."-uuuragh..."Shifting in position onto your side, with one arm to prop yourself up on an elbow, with your other arm you reach around for anything you can get a good grip of. Were you standing and made the effort you could surely heft a boulder that would squash the human and his horse outright, but with one hand you are more limited. Well, only somewhat limited given your size and strength."-honor demands it, and for your heinous crimes against-""-here, rock!"A good rock, about the size of a human head. Slick from the river water but plenty able to be hurled with one arm from beneath the bridge, right at the annoying human.>Roll for the effort! 1d100Also, now that you're awake... at least for the moment, what is your strength as a troll?>Strong Body - What are trolls if not mighty beings of physical power? Your unique (trollic) physiology will also benefit, like healing ability.>Strong Mind - Very rare among trolls as unfortunately they are a dim race, but you can at least string a sentence together and understand... relatively complex matters. >Strong Spirit - The intricacies of magic are better left to wizarding sorts, but trolls can be plenty capable of base sorcery and shamanic arts. >Strong... Something Else? Feel free to suggest!
>Strong Mind - Very rare among trolls as unfortunately they are a dim race, but you can at least string a sentence together and understand... relatively complex matters.
Rolled 48 (1d100)
Rolled 82 (1d100)>>5670936>Strong Body - What are trolls if not mighty beings of physical power? Your unique (trollic) physiology will also benefit, like healing ability.
Rolled 86 (1d100)>>5670936>Strong Mind - Very rare among trolls as unfortunately they are a dim race, but you can at least string a sentence together and understand... relatively complex matters.We're definitely smart enough to know exerting effort is way too much effort
>>5670936>Strong Mind
>>5670936>>Strong Mind - Very rare among trolls as unfortunately they are a dim race, but you can at least string a sentence together and understand... relatively complex matters.We can even count past 20!
>>5670936>Strong Mind - Very rare among trolls as unfortunately they are a dim race, but you can at least string a sentence together and understand... relatively complex matters.
>>5671019>>5670956>>5670946>>5670940>>5670939>>5670937>>5671030>86And so the rock whips through the air with the force of your throw, not a significant distance but enough to surprise even yourself with the accuracy of your lazy effort. As annoying as the human was, the very audible thunk of rock against metal is worth having woken up for."S-Sir!"Amidst his babbling the mounted human is more than shut up by the direct hit to his chest by your thrown rock, so much so that he very nearly is knocked clear from the horse and slumps back motionless in the saddle. To your delight, and the horror of some other human standing near to the horse. Some servant type you assume, who scrambles to control the panicked horse and attempt to check the wellbeing of the shiny human."Grah-hah-hah!" Is he dead, unconscious, stunned? You can't say but you rather soundly ended that annoyance! Surely thanks to your intelligence, a benefit you were blessed with by destiny or luck. You know that humans and other races regard trolls as tremendously stupid, but some rare exceptions like yourself exist who are able function mentally... relatively speaking at least. You're at least able to learn things, and understand the benefit of not just charging headlong into a fight without thinking. Hence your lazy effort which paid off!Not especially strong or tough for a troll, or possessing magic power, but gifted in a way few trolls are and perhaps the most dangerous of all because of it. To which end, you wonder of any benefit in following up with your hostility towards the incapacitated human. Less because you're worried about consequences and more because of any worthwhile gain you could make.Then again, you could instead make your way from the river to the magic network in the forest. It's been awhile since you've checked up on it and had the chance to cause trouble and upset for those fancy-pants smarty wizards who use the network. Do a little "trolling", as they say. Either way, you've been woken up now so might as well make use of the day. Bit too roused now to just roll over and go back to sleep, at least for awhile.>Wat do?
>>5671045>intimidate and question the servantWho sent shiny-man, and are more likely to come?
>>5671045>>5671048 +1
>>5671048Backing this
>>5671048supporting
>>5671048>>5671094>>5671145>>5671250Of course you'd rather have just spent the day lazing about and snoozing as usual, and at the very least not bothered with a fight against some annoying humans. A fight is one thing though but bullying? Now that is something else entirely! Why else would a troll choose to live under a bridge if not to bully people?"Urgh, too bright... 'ey! Humie! Come here!"Groaning from the effort and wincing from the sunlight, you grip the side of the bridge to pull yourself up and emerge standing from beneath. Not the strongest troll around no, but still an imposing being of size and might. Still hoping to not bother too much, you try bellowing in command to the scrambling servant which usually works against humans. The villagers anyway. This one though shows some defiance, probably because he has something to protect."Grrr... when Strogga say come here, humie come!"Shielding your eyes from the sun then you stomp after the interlopers, grumbling all the way. Unexpectedly the horse simply panics and flees, without its rider to guide it and too forcefully for the servant to keep control of. Leaving the more normally-dressed human alone for you to menacingly approach and tower over. To his credit though the lad doesn't just flee screaming as most people would. Not that he puts up a strong showing either, trembling in your shadow but he does at least remain in defiance with weapon raised. A little impressed you must admit. "-yow! Stop it!" you wince for a moment when the feeble human slashes into your hand, as you attempt to grab him. To be immediately followed with a strong wallop from your other hand, smacking the human straight into the ground in a dazed mess. Exercising more care than a normal troll might then, you use a foot to roll him onto his back and step down onto his chest. Only enough to keep him pinned in place but clearly demonstrating that you could easily just crush him. "Why humies come here?!""L-Let me be monster!"Asking loudly and far more politely than he deserves, you don't get an answer at first. Maybe fear or simply that he's still recovering from your strike, but the lad strops struggling against your foot when you lean on him with more weight for a moment to make your intention clear. "Who sent shiny-man? Are more to come?""-agh! Th-The decree! There was... w-with the war on, the regent wants no stray monsters about! The baron here... the man in charge has a reward for you, that's how we heard!"A lot of big words and complicated ideas, surely your average troll would be dumbfounded. With some tough pondering though you think you understand what is going on... it seems the humans are angry right now, and if they are angry with fellow humans then of course they'd be angry with "monsters" like you.
Not that any of it matters to you, but something that did catch your interest..."...reward? For Strogga? Shiny things... good food maybe?""What? N-No, not that kind of rew-""-halt monster! Free my squire else your death shall not be quick, this I swear!"This talk of a reward alights your imagination with fuzzy thoughts of a nice party for your sake! The big human in charge around these parts giving you lots of presents! Shiny presents, tasty presents, surely in recognition for what a good job you've done guarding the bridge! Before you can learn more however, you're rudely interrupted by that same annoying human from before. So he isn't dead, the shiny-man as he approaches once again atop his horse. Must have finally recovered or regained consciousness from the rock you threw, and doing a good job keeping his horse steady with weapon raised. Though he still sounds like he wants to kill you, he's more hesitant than before... probably because you're pinning his "squire" to the ground, and very easily could just step down and kill the lad. Well you're smart enough to recognize that, but what you choose to do about it is up to you. One detail that bears remembering, not that you need it and are wholly capable of fighting without, but you left your club back under the bridge. >Wat do?
>>5671331>If I fight in the war, will the baron give the shiny and food to me?
>>5671331>ask shiny man and squire to take Strogga to big human for present
>>5671331>>5671334 +1
>>5671334Too much effort.>>5671331Ask the man if there are any local monsters to “kill” for bounties.
>>5671331>throw the squire at the knightI smell opportunity; if there's a big war going on and they're relying on bounties, there's probably not much of a military presence beyond the war zone.
>>5671375Supporting this one, war is too much work but if we can get good food for squishing little monsters that would do just fine
>>5671334>>5671335>>5671351>>5671375>>5671402>>5671431A reward does sound nice, if the big human does have one waiting for you then you'd like to go and receive it. Why now though and what for? Maybe it has something to do with this war the humans have? That would explain why you haven't gotten any tribute lately, leading to you being quite hungry and lazing the days away in wait. Traditionally you've had an uneasy agreement with the local humans to not bother them too much in exchange for livestock. Nothing of the sort since an entire change of the moon however, and were it not for the sudden increase of troublemakers in the area... bandits they call them, you'd have to had left your bridge in search of food! Being the clever troll that you are then you can sense some sort of opportunity afoot. You're not exactly sure what it is yet, that's a bit too much thinking for you but at least you're aware. Not expecting a clear answer from these humans otherwise then, you lean down to grab the squire and tug him out from under your foot. Holding him suspended in front of you for the knight to see, you have one hand clasping the lad's head and another about the waist. A clear threat that you could just pull the squire into pieces if you don't get what you want."...if Strogga fight in the war, will bah-ron give reward? Talk! Or sqy-er dies!""A monster? Fight?! The regent would never allow it!"Naturally the knight doesn't lower his guard and you wouldn't expect it, but for the sake of his squire he holds off on charging you and answers your demands. Well, he responds to your demands but not with answers you wanted. "...not our regent, after what the dragon did. His hatred of monsters is why we're here..." the squire mumbles from your grip. So it seems these humans do not share your enthusiasm for the war. To be fair you perhaps could change their minds if they saw you fight, benefited from your help. Some mention of a dragon, well by contrast you at least are willing to converse with humans rather than just burn them all and destroy their homes. Supposing you showed up and walloped their fellow human enemies, maybe they would reward you as well?
You can't say for sure though, and from your dealings with humans you know it wouldn't be easy... as you've seen they tend towards hostility first and foremost. Slow to consider or accept, for how long of living here it took that you could even attempt to bargain with the locals. "Hrm... reward for mon-stars? If Strogga kill mon-stars, can have their reward?""Typical! Driven only by greed and violence, like any foul beast... or well, I suppose... any monster would fetch a reward, but who would give it to a troll?"Through his knee-jerk reaction of hostility, it seems you pose a question that the knight hadn't considered. Enough to catch him off guard at least, as he raises his weapon for the moment to consider what you ask. He and his squire came here to kill you and probably because you have a reputation in these parts? You assume so, these two aren't the first to try and kill you, only the first in quite some time. But by the sound of things any "monster" is due to receive a reward! Either from the local baron or the high regent.Exactly how it is that you would go about claiming such a reward, even the knight is not sure. But none of that matters! The point is, if you stomp on other monsters around these parts then you can take the rewards that were supposed to be theirs! You imagined a nice party that the humans would give to you, well imagine how big the party would be for all the monsters but now only for you!Yes, that does sound appealing... although, if the locals are having to rely on outsiders like this knight to come and deal with you then maybe the humans are in a sorry state? Weakened by their war between one another. Weak enough for you to do something about? You took to living under the bridge because it was easy, to bully anyone who might try and cross. If you cared to though, what sort of benefit could you gain if you went and bullied the locals directly? Even this baron of theirs? Who's to say if they could even stop you, if they have to rely on the likes of this knight. And you could even say they deserve it by now if they've gone and broken the agreement made with you.All it would take you suppose, would be to dispose of this knight and his squire... an easy task if you were to just throw the lad in your hands directly at the mounted knight. Then you could just stomp over into town and clobber what little resistance remains.Urgh...So many big ideas all of a sudden, it's making your head heavy and you're starting to get confused! The burden of intelligence; an average troll wouldn't be concerned with all the details of this complicated situation, because they couldn't be concerned with any details!>Wat do?
>>5671448>What if Strogga help shiny and sqy-er hunt mons-tars and ban-tits, shiny and sqy-er get presents, and gives Strogga part?
>>5671448Eh, tempting to squish them anyways, but maybe put them down for now.We should try collect the reward on ourselves (because we’re leaving the bridge)
>>5671448No squishing, maybe… maybe the little humans will want to give rewards more if we don’t squish them. Squish monsters instead!
>>5671456>>5671457>>5671465With intelligence comes self-control, just barely enough restraint to not maim or kill these humans as much as you'd like to. Whether for better or worse you can grasp of the idea that the humans would look upon you better and be more rewarding if you did not kill them, or others like them including these two. As well these two could perhaps be more useful to your purposes if they were left alive?Well, one of them could prove useful at least. "...oh-kay then, Strogga will leave now. Go and kill mon-stars for reward.""Halt creature! You think I can just let you leave?! Your torment of the good people of Kasvald will not go unpunished!"Gradually, with much difficulty you were able to formulate a plan through the confusing haze of details and ideas. Maybe not forever but for today you decide to leave your bridge and venture out in search of monsters to smash and take their rewards. It seems like a fair deal to you and to leave the humans in peace if that's what they want.The knight who came for your blood however doesn't seem so understanding, and from him you can imagine why it would be difficult in trying to do something like fight in war for favor of the humans. Not impossible, but so much more difficult with humans like this to remain hostile to you regardless of circumstances.Still holding the squire then and hoping to simply avoid a fight, you ponder your options for some moments as the knight levels his weapon at you. In a snap decision so as not to dwell on the matter, you heft the lad aloft then and hurl him right at the knight with both hands. Not as clean or precise as your thrown rock earlier but then you're working with a larger projectile and the target is much closer. "-aaAAGH!""-oof!""...heh heh heh..."You can't help chuckle to yourself in amusement at the sight of the one human flying through the air and colliding with the other, knocking them both free of the horse to crash to the ground. In their dazed and probably injured mess, you can hastily return to the bridge to gather up your important belongings and then make your escape. Either into the forest or along the river, any chance to avoid these enemies or perhaps even to just head into the village and try your luck......then again, before making your escape you notice the laid-low state of the annoying pair of humans. You very easily could kill them now if you wanted, even though you resolved that it might be better not to. But besides killing or maiming, you've all the chance you could hope for to bully them otherwise. Whether to just rob them of belongings or to subdue them, perhaps even kidnapping if you have some use or idea for the pair.Not that you need them of course, you could always just find other humans if you needed to. But for the time being the possibility is open for you to do as you please, before departing.>Wat do?
>>5671592Get the horse, it would be a nice snack.
>>5671592>eat horse>Steal squire>interrogate squire as to where to find other monsters
>>5671592Definitely munch on the horse, but then let's make our way along the river to kill some mon-stars!
>>5671602>>5671609>>5671644You don't have a lot of time so try to make the most of it, quickly gathering up what few important belongings you have and shoving them in your bag made of an old wagon's canvas bonnet. Though not everything you own, having lived under a bridge and preferring a simple life there isn't all that much you own which is actually worthwhile! "-Sir! It's coming back!""Have at you vile beast! I shall- blagh!"By the time you've rounded back on the humans then, they've recovered from your attack and had been pursuing after the fleeing horse. The one in shiny clothes however is slow enough for you to gain on them, and though an attempt at a defense is made... you get a nasty sword stab to your gut, but you simply trample over the knight with all your size and mass and continue on.More focused on the squire instead, as he falters on your intimidating approach and attempts to flee, but only just too late as you yank him up by the leg and stuff him inside your bag. After that, well the knight can try to pursue you but good luck to him keeping pace with you through the forest.---Ironically it ended up proving more difficult to track the horse down than was to deal with the pair of humans, but in the end you managed to catch up to the horse just enough to be able to hurl a tree branch and break a leg. After a killing blow to the animal's head with your club then, you stopped to rest and recuperate. Enjoying yourself and chomping down on an entire horse leg, feeling tired but better with your wounded gut healed. Having been awhile without a decent amount of food, the horse is a welcome relief from hunger and although may end up eating the whole thing, it shouldn't be enough to cause much of a change to your body.As you know of course, troll physiology changes based on environment and diet. Having lived under a bridge you could be said to be a river troll with vaguely aquatic physiology, and it would take eating more than a few horses and relocating before you started to change into a plains troll. "Mmmyum! Om nom nom... so where other mon-stars are sqy-yer?" you utter between gnashing mouthfuls of meat, and spitting blood. "I've lost Sir Harren, who will attend him now... what will become of me?"Sitting nearby among the trees with you is the squire, in a distressed state with his head in his hands and muttering to himself about this and that. If it wasn't enough to be snatched and carried off by a troll then it was seeing you kill the horse and rather brutally just start chowing down. Fearing for his own life perhaps, but you haven't the time or care to deal with his problems!
With a clenched and bloody fist you bonk him on the head to knock some sense into the lad. "-oi! Talk!""-wah! O-Other monsters? We... we had only come for the troll but there are some others I think... l-local hunters would know better."Partly jarred from your hit and partly from the startling return to reality, the squire staggers over his own thoughts trying to answer you. It seems he can provide some answer though, rifling through his own bag to produce some human-written papers detailing other monsters in the area... or so he claims. Although you mostly kept to yourself living under the bridge, you can't expect any other "monsters" in the area that the humans claim, could be more dangerous than you or else even you would have heard of them. Just the likes of a harpy nest, a giant toad, a stone creature, and some killer plant. There are other more human-centric problems like banditry and witch activity (the results of instability from the war), but these are just the notices that the squire got from the village nearby. The problem though is that the knight and squire are outsiders to this area, having traveled here specifically to find and kill you. Finding the local bridge troll was easy enough but the squire has no definite answer as to where the other "monsters" are, only a vague idea based on the village notices. The good news though is that despite escaping into the forest to elude the knight, you kept near to the river so should easily be able to travel as you please along it and access much of the area around these parts. Like the humans, there isn't much to dwell in these parts which would be far from the river. And now that you've returned to being active and mobile again, you can bully anyone or anything you wish to!>Wat do?
>>5671775Use magic network. Especially, go "trolling" until the divination wizards give you answer so they can use their network for looking at naked dryad frollicking in peace again
>>5671775Well, easy!Take the squire and bring him to the nearest village and have him ask around on our behalf.
>>5671830>>5671835The solution seems simple enough! If other humans have a better idea of where to find these monsters, then you can make use of the squire to ask them! You could just stomp into town and make clear your demands, by your guess the villagers wouldn't be able to put up much of a fight. But in seeking your reward you already spared two humans so avoiding hostility with their kind seems to be the smart thing to do.At least you think so. You've already done it so probably just keep doing it for things to work out."Mmmh... oh-kay, we go! Come sqy-yer and see other humies, ask about mon-stars."Wiping your mouth off on some of the rags that pass as your clothing, you reveal your plan to the squire while picking splinters of bone from your teeth. Having stuffed yourself with a good quarter of the horse, you stow another quarter in your bag for later. The remaining half you can leave for the forest as the natural order intends; an offering in thanks for this recent change in your fortunes. Grabbing onto one of the bigger trees then you can pull yourself up to standing and grab the squire by the arm to do the same. No need to shove him in your bag if he's willing to cooperate and follow your lead, so a quick trip down to the river to clean off... best not to scare anyone with all the blood if you should actually encounter any other humans yourself, but after that you're headed back the way you came. Off towards the very village you "protected" for so many years, some time since you last met with the denizens directly.---"Die and go to hell sqy-yer! Strogga make you hurt for this!"Hastening back across the bridge away from town, you bellow back at the angry mob in pursuit of you. Perhaps you were a little too quick to trust the squire because while you waited on the outskirts of the village for him to venture in and do your bidding... well you're not sure what took place among the humans but before long that same annoying knight from before showed up with a group of angry villagers in tow! Perhaps confirming your suspicions that the village is not so well protected, you feel fairly confident that you could take on the mob of this size as well as the knight, and though it wouldn't be easy you may emerge victorious. But keeping in the mindset of sticking to the plan and to avoid harming humans if you can, you opt for the easier and safer effort of just withdrawing. You get plenty of rocks and torches and farming tools thrown at you, even a few arrows, but the annoyance of this... betrayal is worse than any injuries.
Well if that's what you get for relying on them you suppose you'll have to manage things on your own, at least to begin with. Normally you may have to rely on your nose to track down any monsters, difficult to do as a blind effort but not impossible given how keen troll sense of smell is. But in this case you have a backup you can always rely on in this area at least."Ban them! They're stirring up trouble for fun!""Hurr hurr... sors-errors was here, wiz-zards is stupid!""Damn it all Pentor the bastard is in your area, you still haven't dealt with this?!"Unlike other monstrous denizens of the area, you know exactly where the old locus of the magic network is. It's why you were sent to this place to begin with those years ago, by the troll king of this land. You took to dwelling under the bridge but your purpose was to keep an eye on the locus in case your kind should have any need of it.Constructed in an age passed, you've traveled many a time along the river to an overgrown island where the magical shrine rests. Of course nowadays magic wielders have simpler and more personal ways of accessing the global magic network, things like crystal balls. But in ancient times these locus were the only means and attracted magic travelers and creatures from all around. This locus having been long abandoned, yours is a claim upon it for the trolls and you've made use of it yourself on occasion over the years......mostly to cause trouble, upset and anger. Do a little "trolling" as they say, since the most common use of the magic network is for communication. Easy enough to upset those wizard-types amid their academic babbling with your interruptions. Make it impossible for them to conduct their business while you are there to distract and dismay. In truth you believe the reason they are so upset is simply because they cannot match your wit and refute your flawless arguments. Either way though you can get the desired result, make use of the shrine and tap into the magic network to hijack discussions and information sharing, until you get what you want. Would that they could just remove you from the network altogether but the old loci have a stronger root in the system than any personal device. Though there is mention of some local wizard who dwells near you with a bone to pick, but eventually your trolling is aggravating enough that some other users just give in and provide what you want; clearer directions on locations of the local monsters! No thanks to that damn squire, but you now can try to hunt down whichever threat you see fit. Not that you have to, if you'd rather something else first or even just make preparations first. But at least you should be able to now, rather than just guessing or taking days to weeks to track by way of your sense of smell.>Wat do?
>>5672044Thank the nice voice that answer your question and propose a mutually profitable partnership. You bring him the monster head, he brings it to the regent, bring you back the feast, can eat a bit for his trouble.He sounded like only skin and bone, probably a poor student without his own bridge-tower, could use a meal
>>5672044Let's get a tree to hit the monsters with before we go, weapons are good for hitting! After that, let's go check out one of those locations
>>5672060>>5672279While it is true that those wizards usually are scrawny types, you thanks would be misplaced with the local wizard because he was not the one who helped you. Quite the opposite in fact, apparently he has a grudge against you and similarly with the knight would prefer to see you dead it seems. Something about reflecting poorly on him because of your abusing the magic network, it being known that the occasional trolling originates from his area but as of yet he's been unable to stop it, or you.The one who did help you, just some faraway wizard from another land who got annoyed enough by your troublemaking to give you what you wanted. By way of magically scrying across the area and transmitting mental glimpses of the monster locations. Not that you wouldn't thank him for his help but it's not exactly possible for you from where you are... unless you get creative!Still, just because the local wizard wasn't helpful and indeed may prove hostile, doesn't mean you can't interact or bargain with him. But first you have to have something to show for your effort, so turning your attention to the local monsters now is your priority! Now that you saw the mental glimpses of their domains."-grrragh! Good tree, this."Although you have your club made from the undercarriage of a wagon, something a little more sturdy and disposable would be nice to have for a potential fight. So you pick a decent tree that you can tear from the ground and carry on your shoulders as you go, venturing off to find trouble.---
---By your smell and recalling the mental glimpses of the particular area, based on the scrying of the wizard, you spend the rest of the day searching and end up sleeping in the forest for the night. Come late morning of the next day however, you narrow your search until eventual discovery."Ooh, some few of them harr-pees..."Further up the valley by way of the river, you sight a stone hillock among the forest where the group of harpies have made their nests, in and around some old abandoned human structure. Flying targets weren't your preferred enemy but they were the closest and easiest to find. Although there aren't a huge number but more than you'd imagined, having to count on two hands for those you can see.A bit strange to see them anyway, from what little you know of the flying creatures based on old stories among trolls, harpies tend to higher ranges or mountains. They must have some reason for being here, but that doesn't much concern you when your purpose is to destroy them and their presence in the area. Fortunately they haven't noticed you from afar even by your size, the forest helping to conceal you from the air above. But you remain quite far away so you don't expect to be able to get anywhere near close before you're noticed and then can expect trouble. How dangerous these creatures may be you're not sure, but the bigger challenge it seems is how you would be able to fight and bring down enemies capable of flight.In any case you've at least found them, so already well on your way to that eagerly anticipated reward!>Wat do?
>>5672360Look for harpies not close to any others and take them out first
>>5672360Uptrooted tree have wide branches. Use wide branched tree to bat the harpies out of the air, and smash them when they fall to the ground.>>5672364Can't sneak up on harpies. Troll probably smell too bad. Harpies can probably smell.
>>5672360>Use our greater intellect, the horse's bowel and the tree to create a giant slingshot like that brave kid used to shoot at our face from time to time
>>5672382>>5672366>>5672364Go ahead and roll a d100 for the attempt! Whatever your action ends up being.This is open for anyone until next we continue, both to suggest other ideas of what to do or support an idea already, and of course to roll along with it.
Rolled 4 (1d100)>>5672382>>5672383
Rolled 23 (1d100)>>5672383
Rolled 68 (1d100)>>5672360Yet a rock into it.>>5672383
Rolled 20 (1d100)>>5672383
Rolled 88 (1d100)>>5672383BAT THEM TO BITS!
Rolled 53 (1d100)>>5672383place the horse corpse down on the ground and wait in a bush for them to approach.
>>5672382>>5672366>>5672364>>5672388>>5672493>>5672505>>5672528>>5672553>>5672560>88The problem of these flying monsters would surely pose a challenge even for a group of humans! Their nesting location is cleverly chosen and not easy to assault or dislodge the beasts. Fortunately you are not a group of humans, but a big smarty troll with a big smarty brain! Based on what you have with you, already you have some ideas of what to do as well as observing some of the harpies flying about above from beneath the cover of the forest canopy. With the continuing rise of the morning sun you've glimpsed a few of the monsters carrying dead animals back to their nest, so they at least eat meat. Through the slow drip of ideas into your brain, a plan starts to emerge like something shiny dredged from the riverbed. Trying your best to keep hidden then, you sneak around the forest as best a huge troll can sneak, in search of an area where the tree cover is less dense. A small grassy area where a massive oak fell in the past and opened the canopy to the sky, you don't risk venturing out into the open but it is here you will attempt your plan. The horse carcass is the key to everything so you pull it bloody from your bag and get to work, quick as you can for you expect you don't have long. After some tens of minutes spent preparing then, you hurl the carcass into the middle of the small clearing and find what little cover you can in feeble hopes of hiding."Huh huh... breaky-fast time harr-pees, like what the hugh-mans say..."Watching, waiting. As much a distance away through the trees as you can afford, to avoid notice while still being able to act quickly upon the carcass plain to see for any who might fly over. Patience isn't a strength of yours and how much rather you'd prefer to just charge up to the old windmill and start bashing. But against monsters like these you know that any direct approach is sure to fail... forethought like this, that sets you apart from other trolls.
As it turns out though, it's not the sight but the eventual smell that catches the attention of the harpies. It takes time under the direct noonday sun for the horse carcass to be noticed by the beasts passing overhead, and come to investigate. Very skittish, very flighty (appropriately enough), and prone to bickering infighting. Animals may just approach the carcass without thought but the harpies seem to have some hesitation, perhaps worrying of a trap? It's a good thing though that their capacity to notice things seems very good vertically but not so much laterally, as the forest canopy concealed you well enough from overhead but some distance away behind tree trunks you can clearly see the monsters. "-mine!""Skree! Give!""Mine! Mine!"Finally then after an annoying amount of time, a first harpy falls upon the carcass greedily for others to competitively follow after. Again with the squabbling for how much each tries to take, despite there being more than enough to go around. Although it's not the harpies upon the carcass you're focused on, but those harpies that aren't fighting over it. Those still too cautious and waiting upon tree branches to see how things play out. Again, another difference between you and other trolls... as you very nearly just charged in yourself, but can imagine how the harpies waiting in the wings so to speak will be the biggest challenge. Giving it a little longer so that it's been awhile before any more of the beasts arrived then, you finally sate your annoyed boredom to undertake the plan! Having prepared in ahead of time and made a few successful practice shots, you grab a decently-sized rock and pull back upon the horse innards strung many times between a close pair of trees. Your aim is for harpies not close to any others, to take them out first. Those hesitant few perched up in the trees around the clearing."-grak!"The first harpy struck is of course noticed by the others, but not yet suspected of foul play as opposed to just dropping out of the tree. It's not an easy effort for you either, as about half of your attempted shots are misses.
But you have plenty of rocks to work with!"-skreek!"It's when the second harpy is struck though, along with your missed shots making noise through the forest, that suspicion and alarm is raised. "Dead!""Some other!""Fly! Fly!"A frightened mass of feathers and wings, as the harpies panic. It's one thing for some human hunters to attack them, but it's quite another for a full-sized troll to come bursting through the trees."-GRUAAAAGH!! Got you stupid harr-pees! Die now!"Roaring as you go, you manage to stomp up to them before the monsters can fully flee. Surely they could have if they just up and flew away without hesitation, but the horse carcass is too great a prize to abandon... the greed of the harpies slowing them down. To their credit they do seem to be able to set aside their infighting in a dangerous situation like this, and they try all together to grip the carcass and take flight in cooperation. But it's only moments too slow before you bring an uprooted tree crashing down upon the lot of them! You don't even land a direct hit with the tree trunk on any of them but for all the branches and leaves extending from the tree, along with how harpies are not the hardiest of monsters compared with the amount of force you're bringing to bear, there isn't a harpy that isn't knocked down to the ground or at least stunned. Well since that seemed to work, you repeat the effort again.And again. And again."Huh huh... take this! And this!"Continuing to raise the tree and bring it crashing down upon the increasingly debilitated harpies. The first strike with the tree was enough to keep them from all taking flight together, but each following strike manages to either disorient and daze with indirect hits, or kill with direct hits. Every few wallops with the tree you take a moment to catch your breath and check for any movement, invariably following with more wallops when some harpy tries to recover or flee. Caught between a rock and a hard place, or rather the ground and an entire tree swung by a troll, the monsters have little chance to survive.
And so finally after who knows how long, when you've exhausted yourself and need to sit down for a long rest... between pants and with sore arms do you marvel at the whole bloody mess. The tree cast aside, with few branches or any leaves left attached, with some mangled harpies entangled in what remains. And those not stuck in the tree, a scattered bunch of broken bodies and feathers absolutely everywhere, even on you!Over your heavy breathing you can still hear the occasional gasp or pained cry, from the few harpies that still cling to life. But none of them are able to flee now so easy enough for you to just put out of their misery. In fact only one or two of the monsters at best did manage to flee; those hesitant ones perched in the trees, not all of whom you hit with rocks before needing to charge in for the majority on the ground. If you had to guess, fleeing back to their nest in the old windmill. You suppose you could pursue them in an attempt to see the flock entirely destroyed, but you doubt you'd be able to catch or kill the remaining few in their own environment. The important thing is, you wiped out the vast majority of the harpies and doubt they'd be able to recover from so few remaining, if they even risked remaining in the area in the first place.A decent effort you think, as your mind wanders to a reward.>Wat do?
>>5672870Save the wings and the heads of the harpies to show the humies that you killed mon-stars. Their torsos and legs, eat.
>>5673026Seconded. Then, let's go collect our reward from the no-doubt grateful humies. :) We so smart.
>>5672870>>5673026 Thirded
>>5673026Fourthed.Additionally, get our horse gut sling back in the bag, this thing will be useful again in the future
>>5673109We SO smart! We like a troll filo... f-filosif... filifofic... uh, a troll smartie.
>>5673026>>5673109>>5673121>>5673144>>5673168Hmmm yes you must be the smartest troll ever, possibly the smartest being in the entire world! Your flawless plan is coming to fruition, already having completed one half in the way of removing the harpy threat. Now you just have to go and claim the reward that the humans were going to give to the harpies instead. Demonstrate that because these monsters are dead, their reward now is up in the air but shouldn't go to waste. You expect the humans may take some convincing of this, but actually having the dead harpies to show for it should help, and after your successes thus far you're feeling confident that you can outwit or convince any humans of whatever you want!Ah, but first..."-grahaha! Om nom nom, good harr-pee taste! Big chickens... but maybe better with fire? Bah, none left to share!"As a nice reward and recuperation after the fight, you sit and enjoy yourself to a hearty meal of dead harpy! As much as you can eat! Grabbing one dead one after the other and ripping off the wings and heads for keeping, while stuffing the rest in your gnashing tusked maw. Some even are still alive when you grab them? But they soon aren't alive after what you do! Perhaps for an observer this would be a rather ghastly and gory sight, but as far as you're concerned you won the fight so anything you do is fair. That, and your hunger and exertion from the fight justify whatever you may want to do. ---"Die and go to hell night! Strogga make you hurt for this!"Hastening back across the bridge away from town, you bellow back at the angry mob in pursuit of you again. Once again led by that damned knight, only now even more prepared and angry! It seems he has poisoned the village against you in your time away, unable to best you in combat he instead turned the good folk hostile. Well it's not like they were ever particularly friendly to you, but they didn't act in such violence except when you did something bad. This time certainly not, you tried your hardest to be on your best behavior! You didn't threaten or hurt anyone you merely approached the village from your old bridge in a peaceful manner with the dead harpies to show for your efforts. Maybe you shouldn't have been so messy and covered in gore, and maybe you shouldn't have just approached trying to get attention with a bunch of mutilated monster remains. But how is any of that your fault?! You were happy and excited after your triumph and hurried back to town without distraction, so that you could show off to the humans and get the reward!
Managing to escape from the mob and the knight in the forest once again, you grumble and fume over the state of things as you pull arrows and spears from your body. "Grrrr... if no night, people happy and welcome Strogga. No trouble to visit before, now hew-mans hate Strogga!"Talk about disappointing, you're so upset that you'd shed a big troll tear if you weren't so angry! All those years of good relations with the village now ruined by some mean outsider, coming to cause trouble because of that stupid war! If you ever get a hold of him, there's no telling what you'll do! Crush his puny limbs one by one and then pull them off, or maybe take him back to his home to watch as you ruin his life in return! Whatever the case, you don't give up on your plan or your hope for the village and its people. You just think that as long as the knight remains to foster hatred towards you, then you won't be able to deal with the humans directly as you used to be able to. At least that's what you believe, hoping it has nothing to do with how the villagers may just actually feel about you now that the knight is there as a shield from your retaliation. So with your plan still in mind, still committed to it, you realize you may need to change things a little. The harpy reward still must be waiting but it seems you can't be the one to personally claim it... unless of course you try to by force. If you want to do things the peaceful way however, it may be that you need to find some human who could act on your behalf. Or pretend that they killed the harpies, something like that. Either way a human to deal with humans, to take the dead harpies from you and return with the reward! ...but then, what human could you trust that much and how would you even find them? You already tried trusting the squire and look where that got you? The more you think about it, the more you realize and worry that any human might also betray you and just keep the reward for themself!"Hrmmm... if only babs were here..."Yes, how simple this would all be if your kids were still around. Ah but who knows where they got off to? No, you expect you'll have to come up with some solution of your own if you want to benefit from all the hard thinking and hard work you put into this amazing plan of yours!What a terrible and unfair predicament for a good and honest troll to be in! >Wat do?
>>5673235Dig a pit, trap some humies inside, act as savior, say the pit was knight-dug, create trust-based relation with said humie.Maybe clean the gore first.
>>5673246Ohh that’s a smart troll thinkings, I say we go with this one!
>>5673246Thirding. Never would have thought I'd get this much enjoyment out of reading a trolls hijinks.
>>5673233>"-grahaha! Om nom nom, good harr-pee taste! Big chickens... but maybe better with fire? Bah, none left to share!"Are we not vulnerable to fire? I just assumed that as a troll, fire was a no-no for us.
>>5673246>>5673293>>5673387>>5673508If you can't go to the humans, then you'll bring the humans to you! As long as that damned knight remains in town to turn people against you then you can't safely venture within. But one or some humans from outside of town? You'll have them at your mercy to do with as you please! That is to say, treat kindly and gently in order to make new friends! You know better than most how fragile humans can be after all.So with this in mind you set about creating a way in which you can single out some human or more, away from the village in order to interact with them personally. In a way that they can't just escape or have help to come and rescue them. Then you can deal with them as you please.And for all your big troll brain good smarts, the solution is clear; dig a hole!"...and then with all these eggs sold to market, we can finally afford the apothecary for Little Timmy's disea- AAAAHHH! Oh, it's not that deep... Who dug a hole here?! All the eggs are broken!""Damn! Stupid hole!"Having spent the rest of the day crudely digging, then trying to figure out how better to dig, then digging better, then going to sleep for the night, then resuming digging again... then realizing there's no point digging holes in the middle of nowhere where no humans are going to be... you finally progress to digging a hole along one of the roads to and from the village, across the river on the other side of your old bridge.Watching from the treeline though, unfortunately the first attempt doesn't work. Misjudging human height, the hole isn't deep enough and the human just climbs out.
"...then with these flowers and a special blueberry lavender pie, Felicia will surely accept my hand to marriage instead of that dastard Clive! A baker's son is just as good as any- GYAAAAH!""Yes! Catch him, he... oh he dead... bad hole! Bad!"The second attempt is also a failure unfortunately, well maybe not a complete failure. You do end up with some tasty flowers and a pie to eat, a welcome treat after all this hard work! But you dug the hole too deep this time so that the human died from the fall in. Best not to leave him to scare away other humans... and best not to let him go to waste as you stuff the body in your bag to eat for later. Finally then you fill the hole to a better middle ground (literally) between the two previous attempts. Watching and waiting as before with bolstered hope."...set some fires, slit a few throats, that ought to convince them to pay- WHAT THE?!""Huh huh huh... caught you now humie! Uhhhh... Strogga mean to say... poor humie fall in hole! Strogga help! Then humie help Strogga, make friends with hew-mans in town!""Well you see I'm... actually a bandit, I rob and kill the folks there."This is starting to become frustrating. How much easier and quicker it would be to just stomp into town and kill the knight, and then everyone would be your friends again. But! You promised to... well not anyone really, yourself perhaps, to avoid violence and conflict. Exactly why you promised that... you can't remember, but it seems like the right thing to do. Besides, more dead humans probably means less reward? You think? So although your patience wears thin, you've already committed to this plan and annoyingly will see it through.
So, fourth time's the charm! Well more like the fifteenth or something; by noon, three distracted humans fell for your hole trap so far but significantly more humans noticed beforehand and simply walked around. That's honestly more frustrating than the three catching attempts, watching from the treeline as before while you tie the pleading bandit to a tree with your handy horse guts. He won't be of much use in this situation but you might figure out something later for him, or failing that he'll make for a decent meal. "-by the gods! Do they not even bother to keep the roads anymore?"The sound of a loud bang, enough to be heard from the forest, eventually draws your attention though. Yes, perfect! The sight of a horse-drawn cart having rolled into the hole, another of the wheels popped off from the impact. Two humans driving the cart, at least one of them should prove useful."Huh huh huh... stupid hew-man wagon thing! Erm.... some other troll say that, Strogga say hello!""AAH! Keep it away! Don't let it eat me!""Th-There you are troll... keep back, we have your offering and want no trouble!"Oh, it seems these humans recognize you as you stomp up towards them? If they're traveling to the village by way of your bridge then maybe you have dealt with them before, if the male and his female seem aware already of the troll toll you exact. Or used to exact, when you lived under the bridge and bullied travelers. Although you don't recognize them personally, already you have a better chance of dealing with them than other humans."No off-ring, no bridge troll no more... here, Strogga help!"Keeping in mind to avoid harming or killing, you let the pair keep the sheep they brought as the troll toll. After all if there's no troll under the bridge then there's no troll toll anymore. Instead of any offering, you instead seek there help and even make yourself helpful with the cart. Well you try to help and do manage to lift the cart out of the hole and smack the missing wheel back on, but your presence naturally spooks the horse making everything difficult.
"Strogga help humies, now humies help Strogga! Here dead harr-pees, no more harr-pees..." without warning you dump a gory collection of severed wings and heads right into the cart amongst the other goods, causing the lady to scream and cling to the man, "...hew-man have reward for harr-pees? Strogga want. Humie go to town and get, bring back for Strogga."Despite the bloody mess you just dumped in these people's lap, you otherwise presented yourself quite well you think. You made an effort to clean yourself up in the river and make yourself look pretty, so by appearance the humans should have nothing to complain about you. Then helping them with their broken cart, and acting as friendly as you can... mustering a big tusked smile and offering a big clawed hand... that's what humans do, right? For all that effort you try to present your best self (by human standards rather than troll standards, at least) and hope that it will pay off. Otherwise you can't really expect a better opportunity than this, to claim your reward without resorting to force or violence."I-I uh... well we could... ask around, if there's something like that for these... if there is and we return this way, then..."Nervously and with obvious hesitation the fellow meets your hand, which you emphatically clasp and shake up and down so that his entire body is yanked off the ground a few times. The lady stifles another scream when you offer to shake for her as well, so you'll just have to accept this arrangement with the man. After that you can let them on their way then, to their immense relief and your joyful delight. Happy and hopeful for the amazing reward you anticipate receiving upon their return!Now, you'll just have to find a way to pass the time until they get back. Ideally sooner rather than later, but who knows what humans get up to in their settlements together?>Wat do?
>>5673517Also, go ahead and make a 1d100 roll, to see how trustworthy the humans prove to be!
Rolled 45 (1d100)>>5673517He seems like a nice humie... Good trusty humie!Meanwhile... Hmm, maybe eat bandit? Yeah! Kill bandit and get hims bounty too! He hurts the village, village probably hates him! They'll call us the smartest troll there ever was and give us MORE rewards!
>>5673508Indeed fire is one of the very few things in the world which can cause lasting harm to you, so naturally you are averse to it. However because of your greater intelligence you aren't intolerably fearful of it, able to overcome your instinctive wariness of fire. And so while you wouldn't comfortably be anywhere near a big roaring fire for example, by contrast you wouldn't have too much trouble with a small campfire or nervously carrying a torch. Especially in circumstances where a fire would be beneficial, like a need to keep warm or making food tastier. So generally speaking, you'd avoid fire whenever possible, but warily accept it if helpful.
>>5673517Chat with the bandit. If the humies inexplicably betray our generosity, we can help him rob and kill instead.
Rolled 12 (1d100)>>5673517Looks like a flawless winChat up Bandit bro, lecture him on other are important and antisocial behavior is a no no.
Rolled 64 (1d100)>>5673583Wait, do we get multiple rolls?>>5673517If so, I'm >>5673568, and I'm rolling
>>5673776Well not multiple rolls per player, but all players are welcome to roll once each.
>>5670901Rape her
>>5673519>>5673568>>5673583>>5673776>64Letting the pair of humans on the cart continue to town, all there is now is to wait for their return! You trust that by helping them they will help you and so you'll just have to be patient in your belief that they will do what it takes to get your reward and bring it to you. In the meantime then, as for ways to pass the time..."-well no it's not alone, we have our own camp. Used to be refugees with the war but we could only go for so long without food...""Reffu-geese? Some like harr-pees then?"Having kicked over a tree to sit on while rummaging through your bag, you eventually end up conversing with the captured bandit. Not that you're out here longing for company, although it has been awhile, but it's better than just listening to the birds and watching the clouds pass. Naturally your initial reaction was to just kill and eat the bandit, as your hunger grows with waiting and indeed you may still eat him before the day is through. But for the time being you have plenty of food otherwise with the dead human who fell in the deep hole, so a little conversing between bites is a pleasant distraction.Although the bandit himself doesn't seem to feel the same way. Having to look away or else risk puking, while you take crunching bites out of the dead man. "I figure the others will be pleased when they find out you're leaving from here though... the bridge I mean. Nobody with their wits about them dared to harass the village from this side, but now...""Hrmmm... om nom nom... town have night to keep safe. No need Strogga no more..."Bitterly you address the matter of your departure from the bridge, and who will guard the riverside flank of the village. Although it wasn't really your intent, your bullying of the townsfolk wasn't entirely one-sided as you did serve as a potent deterrent and offer protection. In fact lately with all the newcomer troublemakers like these bandits, you probably have confronted and killed comrades of this fellow. No longer though, if the knight is to have driven you off. Maybe that's how the humans want it anyway. This war of theirs has made things worse in a lot of ways, like the recent emergence of such bandits as this. But if more like this knight show up then maybe the humans will be able to keep their own peace against monsters and such. If this regent of theirs didn't sound so hateful, you'd consider venturing to him yourself to offer protection, ha!But oh well, what can you do about it really? You were never here to change the world and certainly not the humans' world, just doing as you were bidden by the troll king to keep an eye on the magic network locus... although how long were you supposed to do that, now that you think about it? It's been quite a long time, more winters than you have fingers and toes...
...thoughts for another time, as with the setting of the sun, you notice a carriage coming across the bridge. A fancy carriage in fact which isn't familiar to you, but approaching near enough to investigate you do recognize the smell of a pair of humans."Hey-yo friends! Humies do in town what come for? So... have reward?""O-Oh it's... the troll again. Th-The reward...""...yes! Right ah... r-right here, in... in the carriage!"The man and lady looked so happy that you were sure of your reward, though when you approached to stop them... strange that they tried to whip their new bunch of horses to go faster, until you just stood right in the road... your approach seems to have dampened their high spirits. You apologize for ruining their fun, for how joyous the lives of such fancy humans must be.Actually... were they so fancy before? You recall... a crude old cart dragged by a single old horse, the humans themselves in patchy clothes. Now though they have a team of horses and a third human to drive them, in as fancy a carriage as you ever saw. The humans themselves no less, in rather fine and colorfully stylish clothes, the carriage packed full of all sorts of nice looking things. "Make some good deal in town! Good for humies!" you marvel at the newfound wealth and success of the pair. You certainly picked the right ones to place your trust in."Y-Yes of course! And this is... this is for you!"The fellow goes from what seems like dread, to hasty panic as he looks and rummages about the carriage for something. Something particular, it must be your reward and such a reward it must be! Eventually at the nudging insistence of the lady (when she notices your increasing eagerness) the fellow just grabs a few things to hand to you."There you are! The sheriff offered these, and his personal thanks for removing such a problem!""Strogga not move harr-pees again... but happy for reward!"With a big stupi- smarty, with a big smarty grin you reach out your hands to take the reward from the humans. A relatively large and loose, open bag with some small amount of gold jingling at the bottom, and a terrified sheep. How strange, it looks like the sheep they had from before, smells like it too. But if this was part of the reward waiting for the harpies then it obviously can't be the same sheep they had before.
Though you are happy for this amazing reward no doubt, you kind of... maybe... imagined a little more? Or hoped for more at least, as you curiously inspect the nearly-empty bag of gold and the struggling scrawny sheep. The humans seem to notice your suspicion and hastily scramble for a response."-give it, give it... give her... that-that-that... that, the barrel dear!""O-Oh! F-Forgive me troll, there was also... this!""Ha-ho! That more like!"Among the trove of fancy goods, there are also a few large barrels. As sizeable as they are, you find it hard to believe the humans could have forgotten as being part of your reward. But having a keg large enough to fit a man inside, filled with "wine" as they call it, is a big enough delight for you to forgive the carelessness of the humans. Phew! Even at your size and strength it's no easy feat to hoist one of the barrels out of the carriage, but what a reward you've received for all your hard work. Giving thanks to the humans with a big troll hug... which they seem fearfully reluctant of, and the lady screams about her arm being broken afterward... you roll your barrel off the road and stand aside with it to let them all be on their way. And how surprisingly fast they leave, screaming something about getting to a "doctor" or whatever silly human nonsense they busy themselves with.They must be in a hurry to get home you figure, but once they're a good distance away you can't help your giddy delight."Huh huh huh... stupid humies! Big reward, all for Strogga!"Truly you played those dumb humans like a fiddle! That is to say, how trolls play fiddles which is to find a human or other little'un who knows how to play a fiddle and squeeze them until they play! Admittedly you feel a little bad, a little guilty for manipulating and scheming the man and the lady. But as wealthy and successful as they appeared to be, you figure they don't need the reward themselves. Besides, you didn't take the sheep they originally had as an offering to you, so this makes up for that!Either way, you're feeling quite content and proud of your efforts. It was a rather strange and winding path that led you here, but here you stand after having claimed a reward for killing some monsters! Not such a bad result you think, the obvious result of your amazing plan. If anything there could be more of this, although after such a success you wonder what else you could accomplish. Wondering if maybe you're setting your sights too low or wasting your talents as a monster hunter?Not that there's anything wrong with stomping on monsters for their rewards, you just as easily could live perfectly happy and content in this lifestyle or profession or whatever you want to call it. It's just that... by your intelligence you're aware that it's not the only option available to a big smarty troll such as yourself.>Wat do?
>>5673845>not the only option available to a big smarty troll such as yourself.Other options such as a zug-zugger, for example! >>5673809
>>5673845>share wine with bandit humie and tell him of our smart plan!
>>5673853Supporting. Is he handsome? You know, for a humie?>>5673845
>>5673853Yeah that.Implying he could have been the one doing the harpies-into-reward-trade if he was not a dumb-dumb antisocial
>>5673853>>5674002>>5674182This grand reward scheme of yours doesn't have to end with the harpies and probably won't, but having accomplished this much so far you're in high spirits! Of course there's nothing wrong with an indolent lifestyle spent lazing under a bridge or in a cave, that's a model lifestyle for a troll! But one hardly ever achieves anything besides easy comfort. No troll king ever got that way because he sat around and slept all day, after all! So it's been many winters since you did something worthwhile like this, and the return to an active lifestyle (at least for now) is invigorating, especially since you have something to show for it. Hefting your barrel you hasten back to the forest to rejoin the bandit, though now you feel you can untie him from the tree."Strogga just smash open, easy peasy!""No but- you'll spill it if you do. Look, there's a spigot here already."The initial reaction of the bandit was to take the chance and flee, if you were allowing him to leave. At the sight of your reward though, he does hastily depart but a few minutes later sheepishly returns with interest, to your delight. He wouldn't be a bandit if he wasn't in a difficult spot to begin with and the jingle of gold coins and wine is hard for him to pass up on. Whatever his intentions may be though, you don't mind having him around for the company. If nothing else he proves to be useful in ways where having smaller, more dexterous hands matters. As well, there's no way he's smarter than you of course but he does seem to have an eye for details that you don't, such as with the wine barrel and not just smashing it open as you would have done.
Before long you've had a few turns each of pouring several mouthfuls of wine, with you hefting the barrel and him to operate the spigot. Honestly you'd probably rather just smash it open for faster chugging, but you recognize the wisdom in not spilling any wine if you can avoid it. Tasty stuff it is, you'd hate to waste any!"Strogga you all-ready know, so who is humie? For help Strogga big smart plan?""Uh... call me Davith. Listen troll, I don't know what you're planning but... I could help out maybe, if you need it. So long as you don't go eating people again. At least... not in front of me."Indeed as you'd hoped, the allure of a reward is a strong enough motivator for the both of you. Enough to get you out of an indolent bridge lifestyle, and enough to get a human to tolerate a troll. Or, a bandit to tolerate a troll at least. As you'd figured before, it's not that you actually need or particularly want a human around but having the help should make things easier. Although you would have preferred a more particularly skilled and useful human rather than some bandit you caught on the road, he should do fine for the time being until you find someone better. As for Davith himself... you've enjoyed time spent with worse humans before, worse temperament and worse looking for sure. A young man in a desperate position because of the war rather than a seasoned criminal, you feel he's more reliable to keep around for the time being rather than some strangers like the couple who helped you with the harpy reward. Better to have a dependable human for matters pertaining to humans themselves, than to have to keep finding new strangers each time and hoping for the best. As for his other qualities... eh, you could go for an intimate tumble with him if you felt like it. It's been a long time so you wouldn't mind, and as far as humans go he seems decently put-together. Physically speaking, at least. More importantly though, just on the basis of company he seems eager for any sort of reward which if nothing else is reliable in his willingness to overlook his distaste for you, so that has to count for something. How many other humans around these parts can you sit on your shoulder and share a drink with, without trouble or overt discomfort? Of course it's a feigned pleasantry but what else can you hope for when dealing with humans?
Perhaps more appealing though is his own offer."Other humies? Mhmmm... too much trouble for Strogga.""Well I don't think it'll be easy, but if they see what you got to offer I don't think there'll be trouble."Your intent was to just spend the night out here in the forest, enjoying the wine and what food you have remaining. Stay up awhile watching the stars, have a talk with Davith to learn better what is going on around these parts (among the humans at least), and the tomorrow drag him off towards the next monster for that next juicy reward! Instead though Davith offers a possible alternative for you to consider. He's not out here alone of course, he's normally with a group of other bandits. They have a camp off the forest road where they've been staying for a couple weeks, better accommodations than just sleeping on open ground, and perhaps most importantly... if Davith could be persuaded to your plan, then perhaps these other humans could? There's bound to be initial hostility, but in a similar way once they hear the jingle of gold coins and get a taste of wine, who knows what they might agree to? You've never lived with more than one human at a time before, and even then only a couple times in your life, so the idea of associating with a group of them? It sounds risky and prone to trouble, but with your intelligence comes curiosity towards such an arrangement. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad? Although even if it was bad, there's no denying the usefulness a group of humans would have towards your grand reward scheme. Just imagine how the harpy situation could have gone differently if you had a bunch of humans to help out?Of course it's only an offer by Davith, and an uncertain one at that. Trolls are typically solitary creatures so you're just as happy to limit your contact to only him, and keep to the wilds as you always have rather than some camp with a group. But the possibility is there if you cared to seek it, otherwise just playing it safe. Already having one human to drag around is a big change, and not one you'd want long term you think.>Wat do?
>>5674394Let's have Davith prove hisnworth in our nezt monster hunt and, if he doesn't turn out to be a coward or fool, we will take him up on his offer.
>>5674394heck yeah, new group of friendly humans to pay us tributeparty up with the bandits
>>5674394>>5674409 +1
>>5674394>>5674409 supporting
>>5674409>>5674447>>5674637>>5674670A whole group of humans? That you could properly bully full time rather than sparingly when crossing a bridge? Well that sounds like a troll regent to you! Although of course the ideal would be lording over other trolls, humans are complicated things, but it's better than nothing you suppose. Who's to say what you couldn't boss them to do rather than just waiting for the occasional traveler over a bridge. Before considering, let alone actually seeking such a thing though you'd like to be a little more prepared, more stable in your footing. This reward from the harpies was enough to sway Davith to your cause, but maybe not all his comrades? Or at least not to unquestioningly convince them. If you were to go down that path then you'd want accepted obedience from the humans, not begrudging tolerance. And so for that you need a more substantial reward."There's others around? We only heard about the troll.""MMMmmmmmmyyyeeeeeeaaahhhh... Strogga ooonly hear *hic* ooonly hear of mooon-stars nooow time..."You spend the remainder of the evening in the forest together, mostly your focus on the barrel of wine for which you get a little carried away emptying. What's wrong with celebrating a little though? After your change in fortune you welcome and enjoy some merriment! Interestingly Davith knows how to make a fire, from his time before being a refugee-turned-bandit so you're able to kill and roast the sheep to go along with the wine. Of course you have your initial and instinctive fear of the fire and very nearly just crush Davith into a bloody paste the moment the flames become steady, but through much wariness you can gingerly appreciate some of the benefits, such as a hot meal. It's not as much a meal as you'd like but you can go hungry for one night rather than ruining any goodwill with your captive human, by roasting and eating what remains of the dead human. At some point or other you go into more detail about your plan and the potential rewards, but getting that late the drink starts taking its toll when you get lost in old troll songs and muttering on through angry tears about your sworn vengeance against that damned knight...---
---The smell of damp forest is what wakes you come the morning, as a rain broken by the tree canopy falls. Although you're perfectly comfortable and content to just lay there and laze about all day, you try to recall last night and what you can remember, what you need to do. With a reluctant groan then you sit up and stretch, not overly eager to go about your day but otherwise doing just fine; by your troll physiology you might get drunk by downing so much booze, but like most anything you'll recover in short order and by the time you've woken up you're feeling right as rain! Appropriately enough even, though hungry."Huh huh huh... sleepy lazy Dav-vith..."When eventually he does return to your memory through the haze of last night, you immediately check around for your human lackey. To your surprise there he sleeps beside, when you'd entirely have expected him to sneak off some time in the night. Not that it would have gone unnoticed since before passing out you made sure to tie him to your tail, so that you might notice an escape attempt. But still some attempt was expected.Maybe he had too much to drink himself, or humans are just that weak... it's been awhile since you spent any time with one. But even with his clothes damp from the rain he continues snoring. If he's like this after a night of a little merriment, you only imagine what he'd be like if you'd gotten up to any crude fun together. Watching him over, part of you imagines just killing and eating him now... you don't see much use for a lightweight like him, and you're getting pretty hungry. But you can hold of on doing that just yet, if this plan of yours can benefit from his help. It's not like you need him to be strong or capable, only for him to be a human. Besides, you can always just eat him later if you get really hungry."Wake up time humie, now we go. Strogga want more reward!""Uugh... a little longer? Do you have something to cover us from the rain- gah!"Not caring to wait around on his schedule, after you untie the man from your tail you grab and hoist him up, to sling over your shoulder. If he's too lazy or under the weather to walk then you'll just carry him the rest of the way, see if he can get some sleep on your shoulder.So then, smashing open the wine barrel and downing the last contents, you wipe your mouth with a satisfied smile and a hearty troll belch before stomping off again. Following after the next mental glimpse for the location of the next monster.But which monster that will be, you've yet to decide...>The giant toad, downriver to the swampy area of the forest. >The stone monster, upriver to the mountain foothills. >The killer plant, within the deepest part of the forest. >Something else? You'd rather do something else first, or entirely!
>>5674676>The giant toad, downriver to the swampy area of the forest.Mmm, froggie leggies make for good eatings... And bringing back the big frog head will make for a gooder reward!
>>5674676>The giant toad, downriver to the swampy area of the forest.
>>5674796>>5674680>>5674678Your next best target you think is the monstrous toad, in no small part because it has the best reward according to Davith by means of the notices you kept from the squire. Big numbers mean big reward! Also unlike the other monsters the toad is most proximate to the river so easiest for you to locate. Maybe not the shortest amount of time to reach though, since you can't just swim downriver. You do make an attempt of it but Davith isn't aquatic so nearly drowns in the process. No, you'll just have to walk like a normal troll. Time to admire the scenery you suppose. "-and other humie trouble-makers around?""Kasvald already took in all the people it could, between the fighting and the dragon. Everyone else... like my lot, had to make their own way. And that's just this side of the river, worse on the other for no troll around to scare folks off."A chance as well to learn more of the goings on in the area from Davith, as you carry him most of the distance for the better part of the day. He doesn't seem proud of the circumstance of his group but it sounds like they didn't have much of a choice. Worse still that they aren't the only humans on hard times left out to the wilds so there's something of an open competition or conflict between a few similar groups across the outskirts of town; it's only because of their inter-group fighting that anyone manages to travel to and from Kasvald with any degree of safety, though naturally still a risk. You can start to imagine why Davith would have some interest in your joining his group now, besides any shared reward. Amongst a bunch of petty outlaw groups of humans in the area, someone having a troll to their side would be an incomparable advantage. Although you have your own dislike of bandits in general having tangled with some in the past, before the war, the thought is funny of some individual person or being whipping this recent bunch into shape... or destroying them entirely.Then again, it wasn't this lot of desperate ruffians who turned against you, but the village itself! More or less, a certain knight certainly didn't help in that regard.---
---"Maybe better to try tomorrow? More daylight.""Strogga can see at night."Not long till sunset, by the time you reach the beginnings of the swampy area of the forest, fed by an offshoot of the river. Quite a a spooky impression of the place if one was scared of such things, mist beginning to creep over the area and will-o'-wisps dancing above the mire. Although you are not bothered by such things at all, Davith expresses reluctance to continue once you sight a few undead wandering about here and there. Easy for you to pulverize them with your club but fear and superstition gets the better of your lackey and you keep a close grip of him to prevent fleeing. "There? You said you can smell it? It looks like like some ruined... a torch would-""No fire. Monsters see you easy peasy."Slogging through the swamp with the onset of night, it's a daunting task to try and navigate by your nose for such a complexly-scented area unfamiliar to you. Even so, through it all the giant toad is a scent that stands out to you even though you've never smelled it before. Between that and your memory of the scrying glimpse of the area, you can eventually tread enough murky water to find the den of the beast.Some old human building it looks like, long since abandoned and reclaimed by the swamp. The side facing the river is entirely collapsed but not by natural means... caved-in from enough comings and goings of the monstrous inhabitant within. "-agh! Hear that?!""L-Loud... big toad..."With darkness settling in, comes an unexpected croaking. From across the swamp the growing nightly chorus of many amphibians but particularly the immense toad-song which, if not scares you then at least startles you with it's sheer volume as to ripple the waters of the swamp around. The monster is awake it seems, who knows how long until it emerges from its den. As for a plan... well you'll have to come up with one! You should be able to shove Davith in one of the taller dead trees standing about the swamp, so no need to worry about him since you weren't expecting much help from any human in a fight such as this. But how you personally intend to combat a monster surely larger than you are, will be a first. Since leaving your troll clan, you've never dealt with something bigger than yourself. Troll or not, it's a daunting task the more you look at the ruined building... and hear the growing song of the giant toad.>Wat do?
>>5674867As for whatever plan of action you come up with, go ahead and make a 1d100 roll for the effort!
Rolled 80 (1d100)>>5674867Set a trap, methinks. Adjust the broken beams an, and break some branches off of trees, to form a sort of spike pit in the toad's own collapsed house. Throw rocks at it, lure it in, dive between the spikes and let the toad impale itself, then attack it from beneath while it's skewered.
Rolled 95 (1d100)>>5674867>>5674904 +1
Rolled 24 (1d100)>>5674867>>5674904supporting
Rolled 63 (1d100)>>5674867>>5674904Dat's a good plan meagrees, very smart troll thinkings. Very impressive to little bandit as well definitely
Sorry for the later post than usual, but this was a lengthy update to write!>>5675071>>5675052>>5674950>>5674904>95Time to put that big smarty troll brain to work! For his own safety you shove Davith up in a tree to watch, and hang your own bag of belongings from a branch, before slogging through the murk towards the old ruined building. Although you're bound not to be heard over the nightly sounds of the swamp if you remain careful with your efforts, there's no telling for scent and you can only hope the giant toad can't smell as well as you can. "All-right... biggun inside. Come outside for fight good... make trap outside for fight more good!" Muttering to yourself as you observe the ruined building, it helps with your thought process and forming a plan. If the humans have a reward for the toad then it must be dangerous so you imagine if it becomes aware of your presence then it will attack. And where else from but the hole of the collapsed side? If you're able to initiate the fight as you please, then who's to say you can't set the field of battle? Yes, a nasty trap ought to improve your odds! You have everything you need for it, if only you can remain stealthy and quiet while you work. "Why not just burn the place down with it inside?""Ha ho! Stupid Dav-vith, look see all the water. No fire here."The forest gives way to the swamp so it's not easy to find trees across the mire but you manage to collect a few armfulls of tree trunks not given way to rot or water. Of course the real benefit will come from the ruined building itself and the bounty of wood there, but you're not sure how much you'll be able to get away with so close to the toad's den so you want something to work with beforehand. Carefully and quietly as you can then, which being a troll and trying to break timbers for giant wooden stakes is not careful or quiet at all, but you manage to avoid immediate conflict by keeping to the outermost exterior of the old building. Working beyond and around the hole to set up an array of wooden spikes both jutting up from the water just outside, as well as many inward-turned spikes lining the periphery of the hole itself. It's nervous work being so close to the toad, and whether your mind plays tricks on you, you think you can see the monster a few times deep in the darkness. Eventually though you can step back to marvel at your hasty work; it's not perfect but you have turned enough sharpened or jagged timbers inwards to the hole to make for a nasty trap.
Now, for the scary part."Oi! Come on out biggun! Strogga want tasty legs!"In this instance having some fire from Davith actually would have been useful, but you'll have to make due with hurled rocks and shouts. Even with your dark vision it's hard to make out much of anything within the ruin, but you realize you're getting somewhere when eventually the immense toad-song quietens. An eerie silence falls across the mire and the old structure starts to shake and list before you make out some sort of gleam in the dark... reflection of moonlight off slick skin, and a huge pair of eyes. "-AAH! Ah...? Ha ho! Got you biggun! Now for- AAAAAHH!"Initial panic as the entire building shifts, when the toad makes hungry jump for you. Easily large enough to swallow you whole, you didn't expect a creature so big could be so fast. In relief though do you ease up from flinching and open an eye to see the monster caught upon the many oversized stakes you set up. Blood spilling forth from many wounds, the giant toad writhes against impalement and causes much damage to the structure but is unable to actually reach you. It seems like that may be it for the beast as you ease up to marvel at the struggle against your trap......until it opens its mouth. A huge tongue lashes out and smacks into you, some agonizing moments of dread before you're tugged out of the water and into that gaping maw. Struggling and screaming all the way, you're dragged into darkness soon enough."-ahah... AHAHAH! Real fight now biggun?! AHAHAHAH!"If you were a weak and tiny human like Davith for example, this would be the end for you. Gobbled up by a monstrous toad for an ignoble end, probably like many others before. You're a troll however so this isn't even nearly the end for you. Between claw and tusk and horn, and the sheer strength of your body, you fight back against the toad from within its gullet. Biting and ripping what you can from within and finding a grip of the monster's jaws to force its mouth open and try to hoist yourself back out. And you very nearly would have, but faced with being caught by the many wooden spikes and a prey that isn't so easily eaten, the toad in some panic simply resorts to what it does best. Kicking off the ruined floor of the old building, the toad performs a leap of such strength that it entirely upends and takes the ruin with it. And you as well of course, caught in its mouth. A dizzying tumble through the air for the short distance that can be managed, when the toad up and tears the structure out of the swamp only to crash back down with it some distance away. All goes black, all goes quiet. ~~~
~~~Some rainy summer's day, who knows how long ago. The glimpse of a grown troll watching the antics of a troll youngster trying to catch frogs among the river reeds."Want to eat hoppers? Have to be fast, bab!""Eat? Too small mam-mam! Have to catch a whole hundred for snack!""Ha ho! Catch one and kiss, turn into humie! Big eats then!"A dream? Or a memory...~~~"-you in there, Strogga? Still alive troll?!""...bwuuuughhh... Strogga alive..."Choking on blood but not your own, you're awoken by the rummage and fall of rubble as you hear Davith looking for you. There's hardly any room to move, but you're able to clamor your way out from the dead toad's mouth and find yourself buried with it beneath the completely destroyed old building. It seems that in it's effort to escape your trap, the toad only further skewered itself upon all the stakes you made once the structure landed with and collapsed upon it. The whole ordeal left you unconscious for a time it seems, but by now your troll body has completely healed from any damage you received... though you still feel sore, but no worse for the wear. Warning Davith to move from the rubble then, you move to stand and throw off as much of the destroyed structure as you can. In good time as well, as it appears the whole mess of rubble was sinking into the mire and sure to take you and the toad with it. Fighting against the incoming water and sinking mud, you burst free from the would-be tomb and struggle with all your might to try and drag the huge dead toad after you. Although you may be able to save the carcass from being lost to the swamp, how much you can actually move or transport the thing remains to be seen for it's sheer size. "Huh huh huh... Strogga big strong, big smarty eh?"Either way though, you emerge alive and victorious from the sinking ruin. Much to your relief with a proud smile, and Davith's speechless amazement for all he witnessed. >Wat do?
>>5675469>Take a leg or two to cook and eat with Davith>Take the head (or eye? something) to turn in for the reward, and have Davith do so tomorrow>if he doesn't betray you, take him up on that offer to meet his bandits
>>5675469backing >>5675511
>>5675469>>5675511supporting
>>5675469>>5675511 +1
>>5675602>>5675601>>5675585>>5675511Combating the toad was no easy feat and you're lucky to have made it out with no lasting injuries. You never imagined the creature would be as big as it was however, so from one daunting task of how to kill it, to the next daunting task of what to do with the carcass. No way you can haul the whole thing back to the village."That was... I honestly thought you'd be dead for sure against that thing and I was going to leave first chance I got, but that was amazing!""Yes yes, Strogga best, every-body know all-ready. Now help with toad."Davith can handle a sword better and a blade will be needed for the immense task ahead, you grab and pull taught portions of the dead toad for him to slice into. It's even harder that you would have thought, as by its size and age the toad has a surprisingly tough hide. It's no wonder the only way you managed to kill the thing was to pit it against its own strength once caught by your trap, forcing the monster to further impale itself with its own effort. Who knows how long it would take the two of you to normally slice up the remains, the hard work infrequently interrupted by roaming undead. Examining the dead toad enough for trying to find a better way of doing all this, you come to notice some enchanted weapons here and there stuck in the hide of the monster. Probably from previous attempts to slay the beast, you doubt the previous owners are alive to complain. And so finally with a replacement magic sword in his hands, much more quickly and efficiently can the pair of you sever what you need to. A very messy and grotesque ordeal, not that it bothers you any but Davith does have to be forced through it all as you're both covered in and slogging through toad viscera. "Phew, what a mess. I wonder how late it is... I mean where are we supposed to spend the night?""Hoo-ah, Strogga so tired can sleep here. Dav-vith in tree if scared."It's late into the night by the time you have anything worthwhile to show for your efforts, the pair of you utterly exhausted for all that disgusting work. But for all the trouble you now have a pair of giant toad legs, and the head to prove the kill. Still an immensely difficult effort for you to move the thing, but it is at least possible unlike the entire carcass.
So as worn out as you are, you could just drop where you stand and sleep in the murk of the swamp. Only your hunger keeps you awake, and the prospect of fire-cooked toad meat just barely enough for Davith to convince you to trek out of the swamp for drier land. At least the periphery where there's still trees standing and not just water, though you demand to remain in sight of the dead toad just to be safe and make sure the head isn't stole while you're away from it."OM nom nom! Good good eats! No want humie?""Eeeh I'd... rather not eat something that ate people before."Strange human issue to get hung up on, but that just means more meat for you! Each individual leg is larger than you are, all that effort just to drag them out of the swamp but as worthwhile as you'd hoped when you get to chow down by the fire and stuff yourself more than you can even stomach. So you get your hot meal, and Davith gets to not sleep within the swamp itself, everybody wins! Although he does seem a little worried, preoccupied with the lights of some habitation a ways off in the swamp, more noticeable now that you both aren't so focused on the toad. But what does that matter? You're more focused on imagining the reward for the toad, and wishing you had more of that wine to go with this meat. Either way you'll be sleeping well tonight, then the difficulty of moving the head tomorrow from the swamp back to town, and then for Davith to take it from there and try to manage things with the humans himself. >Wat do?
>>5675670>Dream of lost magic>Have a check on all the magic weapons and pin them into the club like an oversized baseball bat with nails
>>5675670>>5675673As of this point we probably won't play as usual tomorrow, so you can have the opportunity in the meantime to figure out how you want to transport the huge toad head from here back to Kasvald, and any specifics you'd want for Davith when he goes to claim the reward.Also a chance to figure out any greater plan you have going forward, now that you've had success at killing some monsters and may try your hand at associating with some bandits. If you have anything in mind regarding that, or something different entirely or even greater still.---On a separate matter, after your endeavor with the harpies and the giant toad, you've accomplished enough to mutate! Normally trolls would undergo change based on their environment and diet, this you already know. Like if you were to eat then entire giant toad, for however long that would take, you'd develop monstrous toad physiology. But troll adaptability is all based on survival, and you've been getting into some dangerous situations and surviving! Thus your body can develop some change, not really Strogga's choosing but by player suggestion and agreement. Some sort of physiological change you can imagine to your body or mind, that would provide some useful benefit. An example could be venom for your fangs, vocal ability to mimic sounds/speech, or able to better tolerate sunlight. If need be some choices can be provided, but creative player suggestion/brainstorming and agreement would be best. You'll have the whole day to do it after all! And while I won't be able to properly update, I'll try and answer any questions if need be, when I have the chance.
>>5675674Oh yeah.Mutation :>Thicker, oily wet skinPros : Better resistance to blades and hit, like the river's king. Somewhat resistant to sunlight and fireCons : Once the skin is dry, it becomes brittle. Have to stay hydrated, ideally full immersion every day, the somewhat resistant turns into aggravated weakness when dry.
>>5675674>wear toad head as hat and wait around a street leading into town to "borrow" a carriage so Davidth doesn't have to drag the head into town. (doubles as a disguise so our good name won't be smeared by allegations of highway robbery)Mutation:warty skin (even thicker skin) and parotoid glands (weak poison to deter would be gourmets).QM how big can these physiological changes be?
>>5675670>Dream of lost magic and days gone by>>5675674>Developed Language CenterWe've been using our big brain a lot lately, so why not lean into that? Maybe we can start to get better at understanding and speaking whatever languages we know, for proper negotiation and group planning in future?
>>5675869Supporting this mutation, but I think toad hat might be too much for the little humies
>>5675869For a simpler way of imagining it, you can compare with your initial adaptation as shown here >>5670936 where Mind was your chosen trait. So you could imagine further adaptions to fall into these categories, like a Body mutation, Mind mutation, Spirit mutation, or Other.As for how big the change can be, don't feel limited by what mutation is suggested. If the chosen change is too significant as suggested I'll provide/clarify a balanced middle ground.So far though, all the mutations suggested are fair possibilities.
>>5675922For clarity though, your initial adaption was core to your being, as when you were born so new subsequent adaptions wouldn't be so significant as your big smartyness.
>>5675674>>5675694sounds coolwould the toad head fit on a wagon? if so steal one
Ok, going to be continuing today again!>>5675933>>5675897>>5675877>>5675869>>5675694Seems like a tie between these two, perhaps a combination. Say, one from the harpies and one from the toad, two monster threats slain so two mutations.>Thicker oily wet skin>Parotoid glandsFurther attune to your environment, this river strewn valley, your amphibious physiology advances. Your skin becomes thicker and tougher, rubbery firm like other aquatic mammals. Your mutated dermal layers now, produce an oily substance ranging from moist to slick depending on hydration, which helps against burns.Notably though, because of mutated new glands, this oily substance is actually toxic! Not that you're expecting to get eaten but if anything should try they will regret it! And who's to say if you can't wipe off or collect this oily substance for some other use?>If players care to, feel free to specify the toxic nature of the substance. Like how something would become poisoned from it (contact? ingestion? other?), and what the effect of the poison is.Otherwise, will be continuing in awhile now.
>>5676737Ingestion or entering the blood stream, so we can still shake hands without poisoning humies.
>>5675673>>5675877>>5675674Maybe your human lackey will have a fearful restless night, but you're perfectly able to just lay down and sleep comfortably pretty much anywhere! Especially after a hearty meal of monstrous toad meat, stuffing yourself to the point of sickness! Although maybe the toad meat itself isn't the best thing to be consuming. It did taste funny after all...~~~Through the fog of these swamps and perhaps even the fog of time, do you gaze upon the happenings of some humans. A group of wounded or dying humans fleeing through the forests, being pursued from Kasvald by an angry mob but also some tough-looking individuals. This harassed group, all clothed the same style, are less and less with time and distance as they fall to their pursuers. Only but a handful survive and only by barely escaping notice, hiding within a small marsh here amongst some local inhabitants. "...can we really trust this lot? What if they turn on us like the town did?""You can take your chances out there if you like, see if the paladins catch you... all we have to do is keep our heads down here, be more... secretive with our beliefs."The marsh smaller than the swamp today, you notice, with a collection of human structures operated and maintained on this minor offshoot of the river. Making some sort of living producing goods here, surely all the easier without any undead around. People actually coming and going to and from the area, rather than avoiding it...~~~
~~~"-aaAAH! There's a zombie! Get it off!""Bwuuuhhh... go away deady..."What a strange dream and to be awoken so suddenly by Davith yelling, you feel pretty groggy as you sit up to investigate. Sure enough there's an undead trying to bite your human, must have shambled out of the swamp after sunrise. Hardly a problem for you to lean over and grab the zombie however, dragging it off Davith and swinging to hurl the animate corpse into a tree some distance away, smacking into it with a rotten squelch and busting into two pieces. Naturally Davith is in a state of shock but you just yawn and stretch, rubbing at your eyes for the day ahead. Chomping down some more toad meat before pulling yourself up to standing by a tree, and hoisting the human up onto your shoulder so he doesn't have to worry about any more dangers. The toad's remaining (uneaten) leg slung over your other shoulder, you slog back into the swamp to where the rest of the monster's carcass lies."Bwuh! So many bad bugs!"As you'd seen the previous night, by morning much of what remained from your fight with the toad has sunken further into the mire, both the ruined building and the body of the toad. The severed head you left on higher ground but really anything left exposed, by now has been swarmed with all manner of scavengers both mundane and unnatural. The bigger things and potential threats even you can scare off yourself, but the swarms of insects and nastier "monstrous" insects are too much even for you to deal with. Withdrawing for a time, Davith after encouragement is able to come up with a solution in the way of fire.
Torches for both your size and his to wave and smoke through the area. It's still a battle against the clouds of bugs for sure but one you can eventually manage together, and reach the toad's head. Now all there is... is the gargantuan task of moving the huge rotten thing. "We could remove all the... all the meat, a skull would be easier to move?""-ngh... too much time -grrh... Strogga want back to town fast -hrrk..."Puffing and panting all the way, you strain and try your hardest to haul the monstrously huge toad head. It's no easy feat through such difficult terrain, sometimes pushing sometimes pulling through the murk of the swamp, and really only made possible by the fact that the head is roughly circular in shape so possible to roll. Perhaps it could be made easier in ways but with the reward on your mind, your primary focus is to at least get the toad head out of the swamp before anything else, then you can figure out how to better transport it back to town. Davith tries to help as much as he can but a human doesn't really bring much to the table in this specific situation other than being able to move on ahead of you and scout for the best path to take and move the head along. Eventually though by the end of the day and so much exhaustive effort, the both of you completely filthy from muck and blood, you drag the almost-unrecognizable head from out of the farthest reaches of the swamp and into proper forest again. Collapsing next to the thin for a good while to rest and catch your breath, the whole ordeal would have taken even longer if not for the benefit of being able to bite meaty chunks off the head as you went to remedy all this strenuous hungry work!"We really ought to find something to move this thing... I could try to hire a wagon with the money left. A boat would be perfect though, but... unless you take one over I doubt we'd be able to pay for one."You're still recovering from the hard work while Davith is going on about transport logistics. You'd rather he just shut up and consider eating him to do so, but you can tell he's still in a troubled state from his time in the swamp, so if this helps him cope with the stress then so be it. Of course now that you're out of the swamp, all it would take is rolling the toad head down to the river to wash and clean and then you could haul it on your back or even atop your own head for easier carrying.
Admittedly though you'd still be traveling quite slow by foot with such weight, when one of those vehicles of the humans would be easier. Actually obtaining one however, is another matter altogether. Davith offers to take the money and go to pay for one, but you wonder if you can trust him to not just flee with the money. On the other hand he is correct that a river boat would be easiest but to obtain one would most likely mean you having to take a hostile action against one such boat traveling the river. All the same you could forcibly take a wagon by road as well, but by that point then why not just hijack a boat anyway?"Huh... Strogga feel diff-rent..."All these are things to consider, but the good news is that the hardest part of this whole giant-toad-endeavor is behind you now. Just the minor details of how to get it to Kasvald, and how Davith will claim the reward. Admittedly though your attention is much more drawn to yourself... as having the chance to rest from the day full of hard work, you start to notice changes about yourself. Sleek but tougher skin, slick with an oily substance. You're not sure what to make of it yet, but you are aware that from all the trials and hardships you've gone through these past several days, your body must have adapted once again! As trolls are prone to do in situations where survival depends on adaptability. You can only wonder how these mutations will come to benefit you, while planning to probably camp out here again for the night and then tomorrow settle upon a solution for transporting the head.>Wat do?
>>5676824As for finding a different way to transport the head, whether you choose to act hostile or rely on Davith, go ahead and roll 1d100 for the effort to see how things go! Either in terms of how well you can hijack or intimidate control over a vehicle, or how reliable Davith proves to be left to his own devices.
Rolled 52 (1d100)>>5676824>Rely on DavithProve yourself worthy of having a Troll Queen lead your merry band of bandits, rogue. Do not fail us!
Rolled 61 (1d100)>>5676826>Rely on Davidthand im supporting >>5676807 's idea we were a lady orc?
>>5676930>lady orcPretty sure we're a lady troll, yeah.>>5673235>raised kids>>5674674>troll regent, not Troll King, is how we think of ourselves as a ruler>>5673845>"-give it, give it... give her... that-that-that... that, the barrel dear!">her>>5674393>As for his other qualities... eh, you could go for an intimate tumble with him if you felt like it.I could be wrong, but that's my impression.
>>5676938went completely over my head somehow, thank you
Rolled 25 (1d100)>>5676824>letting Davith make decisionshijack a boat
Rolled 76 (1d100)>>5676824>Rely on Davith
>>5676824>Rely on DavidWhat about the plan to turn magic weapons into baseball bat tree?
Rolled 70 (1d100)>>5676960
>>5676960The plan to do what now?
>>5676998>>5675673>you come to notice some enchanted weapons here and there stuck in the hide of the monster. Using the various collection of magical weapon looted on the troll, Strogga cunningly embedded them in a club (nail-bat style) to create the mighty Trollin' club of sparkles
>>5677002Oh sure, you can opt to keep the various magic artifacts from the giant toad. Claiming the reward is one thing but you're not sure Davith would be able to sell them well anyway.
>>5676962>>5676957>>5676952>>5676930>>5676832>76You might personally prefer to take action yourself, as well as the chance to take a boat for yourself. But you're also more accustomed to working alone after years of living alone. Now you've got a human minion and potentially more soon enough so why not try giving orders? What's the point of being in charge of anything if you can't give orders and make others do things for you, after all? So let Davith try to do something on his own for once, and prove his worth. It'll be the biggest indicator of whether you should bother with these bandits in the first place."Then I should come back here after?""No... meet near bridge."Accordingly you wouldn't be going with Davith for this effort then, as easier as it may make things but sure to cause trouble if other humans see you involved. You'll remain with the head while he ventures forth to find and obtain some means of transport, but upon his return you'll make your own departure and meet up after all is said and done......all these complex efforts makes your big brain swirl with ideas, but Davith thinks it's for the best so you can follow his part of the plan this time around.---Another night spent in the wilds then albeit better than the swamp for sure. Come the next morning Davith heads on back to town with the remaining treasure from the harpies so see what he can manage for the head, leaving you to your own devices for the day. Although you do get the chance to better examine your new mutations and imagine what you could do with them, the passing of another night very nearly makes you lose patience with the human altogether...
...mostly because you're running out of things to eat before you start just chomping on the giant head itself."-troll! Strogga, hey! I rode ahead but there's wagons coming, so you should get out of here!"A startle to be woken by, but it's Davith's horse panicking at the sight of you which stirs you from a hungry slumber. Mmmm... tasty horse... but if what he claims is true then you'll want to avoid attention from approaching humans. At least he gave you some warning to get up and make your departure for the river, otherwise if he showed up at the same time with many other humans and horse, who knows what your hunger would have driven you to do?Fortunately in your preferred environment of the river you can eat as you ever have, catching fish on your way back upriver. All the better too, with your newly adapted skin even better for aquatic dwelling and travel. By noon you reach your old bridge... and decide to steer clear for you notice now, human guards posted on either side. That's something new, maybe the humans really are taking defenses seriously now with this war of theirs?In any case you bore yourself to frustration, having left the river to lurk in the same area of forest in sight of your bridge. One more night angrily spent with nothing to show for it, and you swear to charge into town the next day and tear the place up looking for that damned traitor human of yours. Perhaps disappointingly though you never get the chance, or very nearly don't, when you awake one more morning in hunger and now a rage. Hefting your club and charging out of the forest ready to bust some heads... ...when there in the distance waiting near the bridge on this side of the river is Davith with a wagon. When he got here you can't say, but waiting for you as he was, he stands up and signals with both arms. Which, you initially take as an invitation, until he panics at your approach and points to the guards... maybe instead he'll drive the cart along the road to the treeline, and meet you instead."Y-You weren't kidding about the troll! You're sure it's... safe?""You're not going to hurt my new friend Maretha, are you Strogga?""-OM nom nom... no hurt Strogga, Strogga no hurt."You're too hungry to care much about the details, and Davith should be proud of himself for remembering to bring food. Specifically several sheep that he recalled your favor for, which you quite quickly bash to death and start ravenously cramming in your mouth the moment the lot of you can find a secluded place off the road to drive the wagon.
What little you care to listen though, it seems Davith was able to hire wagons to haul the head all the way back to Kasvald where he received a fabulous reward for the dead toad. The village even held a celebration for him as a hero, which upsets you quite a bit considering... well, the humans should be treating you like a hero! Proving his loyalty though Davith didn't just ditch you and after the day and night spent celebrating, when he met this new human Maretha, he bought one of the hired wagons and horses outright in order to haul the substantial reward to come and rejoin you!Unfortunately there was some bad business to do with the rest of the giant toad's body, which was expected for a full reward, but even still just with the head proving the monster's death the reward is substantial. A small wooden chest full of treasure, adoration of the village leading to the wagon being stocked full of goods and foodstuffs including six barrels of wine, free transport for life (supposedly) by the guild of rivermen, and finally the deed to the land of the swamp itself... which doesn't seem that useful given how wretched the place is, but it's a nice addition on top anyway. You're also not sure if Maretha is part of the reward? If she's your pet now or something, she seems more accepting of you which is good but smells different from the others. You're pretty pleased about the reward either way... really, mostly about the food right now but after sating your hunger you can better appreciate the spoils of your grand scheme and endeavor. Better appreciate, and decide what to do next. Davith's offer towards his bandit comrades is still available, but with a reward like this now, who knows what else you could get up to or choose to do?>Wat do?
>>5677019>let Davith introduce us to our new goons.He did good, we will hold up our end of the bargain as well. A good big boss keeps his word.
>>5677061Supporting.>>5677019>Humbly accept leadership of Team Bandit
>>5677019>>5677061We will be... THA BIG BANDIT! BIGDIT!
>>5677019>join up with bandits>those villagers will regret choosing the knight over youreally they wanted the whole giant toad body? did they miss the part where it was a GIANT toad? it was hard enough to just move the head around and we're a troll, how did they expect a human to transport the whole thing?
>>5677167From what you can learn, it seems a good portion of the reward was put up by the local wizard rather than entirely from the town, his interest in magical components from the giant toad body. No one expected a single individual to deal with the toad, if the humans were to do it they would have mustered a whole force who could transport the carcass. One troll showing up and killing the thing was totally unexpected... although no one knows a troll was responsible!
>>5677016big sexy slick moist troll with smooth strong skin make all the males come to the yard
>>5677167>>5677143>>5677118>>5677061>>5677334You don't put a lot of faith in humans from your experiences with them, but were willing to go out on a limb for Davith obviously or else you wouldn't have gone to all this trouble. It's nice to see that for all the trouble that the humans are, they're not totally unreasonable... some of them at least, and even then if only for promise of reward. Without other trolls around or even any orcs or goblins, humans are really all you have to rely on both positively and negatively so it seems wise to remain involved with them some way or another.Otherwise, would you even consider this bandit proposition in the first place? Something which you're still not sure about to be honest, but after departing from your bridge lifestyle, trying new things seems to have worked out well for you."Oh-kay we go, see Dav-vith friends... other humie? They oh-kay with Strogga, with troll?""Like I said... it'll be hard I think, but if you show up with all these supplies... and you can help us out against the others..."It's not reassuring that Davith himself isn't even sure, but what have you got to lose by finding out? Even in the worst possible situation, it's not like they could kill you and it'll just mean more food. So then, having eaten a few sheep along with as many gulps of wine, you wisely take a trip down to the river to clean up and then depart with the two humans and the wagon for this bandit hideout. You wouldn't say you're nervous all the way but you do keep wondering how things will go, and this isn't helped when every once in awhile some other people come traveling along the forested road and you have to take cover and hide to not be noticed.Eventually though awhile after midday, and farther away from town in this direction than you've ever been, Davith sights some marker that only his group is aware of and takes a winding detour off the main road. This route doesn't seem especially hidden to you if a horse-drawn wagon can travel along it, but maybe people just don't bother to venture this far off the main road for curiosity sake? Then again maybe that's a reason why Davith's group are on hard times if others could find them by looking."Hey heeey!! So he's not dead after all, and he brought- what in the hells?!""Is that Dav? What's he- aaaAAAHHH!! Monster! Monster attacking!"Another while of travel deeper into the forest to reach the hideout, and for things to go as poorly as you expected. A scramble of humans all about their hideout, either taking up arms or attempting to flee in the face of the apparent troll attack. And this is even after hanging back so that you aren't the first thing seen, tried to let them adjust to Davith's return before acting.
With an annoyed sigh you heft your club ready to start bashing some humies, but to your surprise Davith makes an admirable effort on your behalf."-no no! Listen, look! Look at all we've got here, the troll helped! It's not dangerous... well she is dangerous, but can help! Watch, watch watch!!"At his urging gestures, you move towards the wagon in sight of everyone and pick Davith and Maretha up... you're not exactly sure what he wanted you to do but setting them on your shoulders as usual seems like a good idea. That at least seems to confuse the collection of humans, gathering to try and attack you. Davith tugs at one of your horns which you nearly crush him for, but with his pointing at the wagon... you grab some of the goods and hold them out to offer."...here humies, Stogga bring gifts..."Most of them remain on guard at first, while a couple younger humans are shoved forward to investigate. One to the wagon supplies and the other, very hesitantly towards you, to test your offer. When you don't just grab and bite his head off and it seems your offering is quality goods, the other humans... well they don't lower their guard but they are willing to approach and take a chance with what's going on here, at Davith's urging. Even so, despite your friendly gesture they mostly keep their distance and focus instead on the wagon itself, learning from Davith the details of this bountiful reward and your role in everything.But the fact remains, that would-be hostility has become... peaceable for the time being. If you stomped into their camp empty-handed then conflict was sure to follow, even if you came in goodwill and friendship. But showing up with a human to speak for you, arms full of gold and quality food, they can at least investigate to make sense of your arrival here. Some even cautiously approach to examine you closer, though they flinch and yell and panic whenever you make a movement, as you grab and set Davith and Maretha on the ground. "...so are you like... a cursed human, turned into a troll?""Nope, Strogga is troll-troll.""You didn't steal all this? It's alright if you did, we rob from people when we need to.""Strogga kill mon-stars for reward! Strogga big smarty, big strong! Too much for mon-stars!"Curiosity gets the better of a few of the humans, asking you questions at a distance while sorting through the wagon. You're happy to answer and demonstrate that you are indeed intelligent, not just some mindless monster. As well to verify Davith's claims... Davith though you notice has been pulled aside by a few of the other humans, where they look to be having a heated conversation. Gestures and glances towards you frequently, who knows what they're talking about but they clearly aren't in agreement.
Being the outsider and the non-human, you could just keep to yourself and let the humans sort themselves out. Then again, if you expect to be in charge of this lot then maybe you should intervene and make a strong showing! Not intending to hurt anyone, but do what you do best and start bullying! Let them know you're the boss now and any doubts they have, they can take up with the wagon of treasures you brought them. If they are bandits then they should be able to recognize the benefit of your cooperation. Otherwise you could always try a middle road approach... rather than passive or assertive, instead act friendly! You come bearing gifts after all, bust out the food and drink and show that you can be as joyous and easygoing as any of them! If nothing else, this sort of distraction should help to lower their guard towards you and make everyone more comfortable with the presence of a troll.>Wat do?
>>5677401Put on a good show. Be generous! Humans are too soft and squishy for teoll discipline. Then make it clear: if they want mroe like this, they should join in our monster-huting uest or propose another troll-worthy task, or we're moving on and taking the remainder of the loot... And some of theirs to recomoense us for our time.
>>5677401>>5677445supporting
>>5677445Let's do that. And show off our Trollin' club of sparkles and Davith magic sword to impress them
>>5677606>>5677538>>5677445Although it may not be the most certain method to gain control of these humans, you believe acting friendly and generous is the best approach. Of course you could just bully them into submission, kill whoever is in charge and take their place and there's nothing the humans could do about it. But because of your inexperience with humans especially groups of them, you think it wise to not disrupt their organization or efforts. Ideally you could be "in charge" but mostly just sit back and let them continue what they do, to reap the benefits. And to do that, rather than crushing the will of these humans you need to distort it! Their reaction towards you is fear and suspicion, so there's a need to twist that into something unexpected and catch them all of guard.Leave them all uncertain and guessing about how to regard you. If they expect to be killed and eaten, then the opposite should surprise them"Here... here! Come all humies! Good eats and drinks! Strogga bring for all, and all good for all-ways!"The small group of forest folk had been leaning on their curiosity towards you and the wagon, but you make an active effort to encourage them all. Taking goods from the wagon to offer, calling the reluctant ones over with fabulous offers, and smashing open one of the wine barrels to set down beside the wagon so that all are welcome to come and fill cups and mugs. The valuables are most definitely an encouraging sight (particularly the strongbox of treasure that you keep auspiciously open on display), but it's the food and drink that wins you the most fans... clearly these humans are on a slow path to starvation. By your goodwill though, after some ten minutes or so you've got most everyone of the ground around you. Well, around the wagon and appreciating what you have to offer, but you notice that they aren't flinching or panicking when you make movements. Now all that remains... are those humans you assume to be in charge, arguing with Davith off to the side."Here go Dav-vith! Share some reward for help Strogga!""-oh, right... thanks."From a distance at the wagon you peer towards the argument taking place, wishing you could hear what was being said... which with your hearing you normally would be able to, but there's now quite a friendly fuss going on around you and the wagon. Still by observation you may be able to guess at what the topic of conversation is, and so once the rest of the humans are... relatively more comfortable with your presence, you make an effort towards the remaining ones.
Stomping over to them and shaking some of the treasure box to Davith's hands, rewarding his service. Slyly done you think and very plain for the other doubtful humans, still clutching their weapons, to witness a small wealth of gold coins passing from you to one of their own. Right away you notice some of them easing their gripped weapons and when you leave to return to the wagon, you can clearly see the different manner of the argument.More just a conversation now, less for the others to say as Davith clutches a handful of gold and gestures towards you.---Come the evening, and the camp is a much different looking place. A current of cheer runs through and most of the bandits are in high spirits now for your presence. You wouldn't go as far to say they've welcomed you and perhaps never will, in fact you wouldn't expect anyone but criminals and outlaws to adjust to you like this, at least as easily. But they are openly tolerant of you now at least, in no small part thanks to their celebrating your arrival. By your trollish nature it pains you to share anything with anyone really and here's your big reward being scavenged away with a bunch of humans. Only by your greater intelligence are you able to grin and bear it, for the benefit you can see in holding association with an actual group of humans now."...so you want our help hunting other monsters?""We are outlaws you know, we get by robbing people not by tracking and slaying creatures.""Dav-vith help good, and him only help for that!" you gesture to the wagon. "Strogga big strong, big smarty! Strogga do all work to kill mon-stars, humies just only help."For your earlier efforts, you're now included off to the side in the leadership conversation. Those few who took Davith aside are more willingly to speak to you directly now, enough that Davith isn't even included and is having a drink with the other novice members of the group. It's hard for these few to argue with results or go against the majority of the group so they're open to at least hearing what you have to offer."...or humies have other ideas! If humies think better reward than biggun hopper, Strogga help! Easy peasy!"You heft and set down your mighty club before them, the act of which startles the bunch but they soon come to be distracted by the various magical artifacts bristling from the club, gleaming by the firelight. "...you know, having a troll would make things...""...so you'll do what we tell you?""Ha ho! Nope, Strogga boss now! If humies no like reward, Strogga leave. Is humies live good and happy before, and with-out Strogga after?"Without hesitation you blurt out your demands with laughter, startling the humans with your boldness.
You can see none of them like the idea or want to go along with your proposition, but half are too conflicted about the definite reward and opportunity you bring, while the other half are just too scared of you to oppose. Of course no one, yourself included, is really sure what you being boss of a group of forest bandits means really. There are surely ideas about it but how things will actually play out remains to be seen.You could take an active and leading role at the forefront of everything, and that may even be appreciated if you can bring continued success. Or you could do as you thought to at first, just sit back and let the humans continue doing as they have without your control, and simply you get involved and help with all the force of a troll when they need it. Either way you're sure things will balance out in time, but for now it may help to establish any particular ground rules or demands you may have. If you do have any that is, but better to be up front while your demand of being boss is still on the table, rather than later trying to argue with these humans. From what you saw with Davith, they're not so uniform a group as others so arguing tends to happen... or else you could just enjoy yourself for the evening! With the wagon there's enough supplies for both you and this group for a few days at least before needing to act again, during which time you could get to know them better. At least continue easing their tolerance towards you. A decision, reflective of your role as boss, towards frivolity or business. >Wat do?
>>5678017Be their big friendly older sister-type. If theyvstay respectful, we'll let them take the elad. If their ideas are dumb and unprofitable, we go monster hunting again. If they refuse, we crush and eat the loudest one. Easy peasy humie squeezy.
>>5678017>raid that dumb town that drove you out
>>5678138I (>>5678027) am down for this as well, if the bandits are interested.
>>5678027>>5678138Supportin' both.
>>5678197>>5678144>>5678138>>5678027Well raiding the town is significantly more complex an effort than you would have otherwise intended! You certainly can and have an axe to grind against the village, but surely you'll want to come up with some plan then? If you want any chance at success!Unless of course you want to just charge into town and see what happens. Even an entire village against you, may have a hard time.
>>5678017the intrusive troll thoughts are winning. I propose to simply just kidnap the shiny man who ruined our relationship with the townspeople instead. I support >>5678027's idea of how to deal with the bandit gang
Another late day but back again and able to continue!
>>5678317I am >>5678144 and >>5678027, and I am fine with targeting shiny-man. Maybe we could send a bandit the townspeople may jot reocognize to lire the knight out with word of having "spotted" the troll out in the woods, lure him out, ambush him with the group, and capture him? We could kill him and sell his armour, and Strogga can eat him when he'a de-shinied.
>>5678652>>5678317>>5678197>>5678144>>5678138>>5678027Certain to remain in control for as much a shadow you cast, in all senses, despite being "boss" of the group you haven't much interest dominating the group of humans. If they can at least act friendly towards you then you can remain friendly towards them, and for all else they can rely on you with the might of a troll. Otherwise, you're able and willing to go along with their setup without changing anything; deciding what the group will do but not how to live or behave. And for a few days of this things seem to go increasingly well, for the lot of you. Of course everything is eased by the plentiful supplies of your reward wagon, so the significant improvement in everyone's living does wonders to improve spirits and cooperation. They even set up your own huge troll-sized tent with some of the rewarded fancy fabrics, and make some simple clothes from the remainder so that you're not just wearing the same patchwork rags. For sure it takes some getting used to for everyone, yourself included. You aren't particularly fond of humans and never have lived among a group of them, at best just kept an occasional one for company over the years. Still, when they aren't screaming in fear or hate and trying to kill you, a few days among them isn't terrible. Spending time with other beings who can at least talk, and share with you both time and things. Kind of like having a family again, something you've lacked since your own little ones left your side to find their own way in the world.---"-attack the village? Y'mean Kasvald?!""We ain't killers, leave it for the brigands."You could have expected the others wouldn't consider your plan with high regard. Too worried about the bad things, rather than anticipating the good!"No kill, take treasure! Eats! Want to hide here in forest for-ever?"As much pessimism as the lot of them can manage however, you can match with mighty optimism fit for a troll! You took the chance of waiting a few days to try and understand the humans better, get to know them better and even learn some of their names and who they are, all before proposing your idea. Although in truth you hadn't seriously considered until spending time with these folks anyway.
Or rather, it's because of spending time with these folks that you are considering it. Growing accustomed to them and feeling responsible, starting to care for their fates, you want the best for them as you do yourself. Squatting out here in the forest is safe but it's not a good or comfortable life, one they had to resort to out of desperation! Well with your help they need not be desperate ever again."Even if we did... try to do this, there's only nine of us. Six if we don't want the ladies fighting... six men and a troll can't take on a whole village.""And what happens after? Even if we get away with it, lawmen will be after our heads?""...gotta say though, sounds better than robbing poor farmers on the road. Just think what they'll do if they see a troll coming their way?"For the most part you let the humans talk among themselves, to judge how feasible this plan is. For what it's worth, while none of them think it would be a successful effort, not all of them are too afraid to try. Davith has your back, as does Maretha, both having seen what you can do. There's also Claud the old con artist driven out of town, and Eusten the disgraced bard who's been very friendly and supportive of you. In a way it seems with your reward came a taste for finer things and the sense of a better life again, that these people used to have before becoming refugees. They'd grown used to forest banditry as the minimum to survive, but they've had their share of hard times out here too, particularly from another forest outlaw group of army deserters who'd threatened to wipe your group out. Really only Jean the old poacher is content to live out here forever, everyone else hopes for something better... although your plan doesn't offer much either, if it means going from nameless faceless bandits out in the forest, to known wanted criminals."Not all town to fight, Strogga know! Some shiny humie only trouble... no night, no trouble."Of course it would be a lie to say you didn't have your own personal motives for this effort. Raiding the town is something to appeal to the group, but whether or not you actually end up raiding the town doesn't much matter to you. It'd be fun and who knows what you could get up to, maybe go from boss of these bandits to boss of the town? Either way you don't care about that, as much as you care about getting revenge against the knight! You've held onto that bitterness ever since being driven off from your bridge but didn't think you could so easily deal with your nemesis alone. With a group of humans however to help you, if nothing else distract other humans, you think you should be able to get the revenge you've desired.
Plus, with the knight out of the way maybe the village may actually just cave to your demands? Easier than actually raiding the place if you can simply bully them into giving what is wanted; you've been bullying the locals for decades at your bridge, this doesn't seem much different. Also potentially... how other outlaws may regard you after? A successful effort against Kasvald is sure to attract attention from others in the forest, and even if you should fail to triumph much over the town, perhaps you could increase your success amongst the local outlaws? If not boss of the town then boss of all then bandits, not just this group! To this end then, expressing more the potential success for the group rather than your own personal desires, you can at least convince your gathering of bandits towards helping you against the knight.Depending on how that goes... will determine if you have their help against the village after.---Come the next day and particularly with the goods wagon exhausted, your odd little group can set about this wild plan of yours. Preparing as they see fit and everyone trying to clean up their best to look the least like rough forest bandits as possible, in an attempt to be able to interact with the village without suspicion... less suspicion at least. Traveling from your hideout in the forest to the road, in a few separated groups for that lessened suspicion, the distance back to the river and Kasvald beyond it. You also follow the group, but at your own pace and from a ways within the forest, avoiding sight or contact with any other unaffiliated humans who may pass by. "-look! Is that the one, troll? Eusten's gone and tugged at their ears again.""Whuh? Look see... argh! Is so! Bass-tard night!"Perhaps most importantly for the trip back towards town, is your chance to go for a morning swim in the river for awhile, and hydrate your aquatic skin... you'd only just been getting by from a creek near the forest hideout. After that though it was just time spent waiting for the rest of the morning while a few of the more personable bandits made their way into town to see what could be accomplished. Though you were getting to the point of losing patience and just charging into town to start smashing and grabbing, sure enough the bard proved skilled at his craft of spinning some yarn and luring the knight out across the bridge awhile after midday. Rather than patience now, but rage do you nearly charge out of your hiding place in the forest with the remaining bandits, to attack the knight upon seeing him. Only barely is your fury contained for the moment by your intelligence, and the sense to at least have a plan first before moving forward even if not a very good plan.
That is to say, how you want to engage the knight (and his squire again, along with the pair of bridge guards in sight) and what your potential plan of attack may be. For all his skill it seems that Eusten isn't able to lure the knight farther than the clearing beside the river, so no hope of just surprise ambushing him in the forest. And you're not sure if you'd even want to involve your group of humans lest they get in the way of your anger. The safest thing you consider might be to just have your humans occupy the other humans while you focus on the knight himself, but you also feel confident that you could take on all of those enemies all together.After all, if you couldn't handle them at once then you couldn't hope to handle an entire village. So long as the knight isn't able to flee however, he's in a spot now where you can get at him without worry of a mob of townsfolk around.>Wat do?
>>5678742As usual, whatever action you plan to take, you can roll a 1d100 for the effort!
>>5678742>>5678745>bandits can occupy the others>Knight and squire are ours; challenge the knight to an duel and kick his ass where everyone can seebeat the boss = be the boss. Every little troll knows this.
Rolled 90 (1d100)>>5678747Oh, and rolling!
>>5678742>>5678747supporting
After defeating the shiny man and squire and looting them lets hold off on eating them, at least in front of the bandits, it would sour our relationship.
>>5678788>>5678748Was waiting for 3 or more to post or roll, but if need be, will try to get something out tonight.
>>5679687While I like my 90 roll, may I suggest rolling only after votes are in, in the future? A risky endeavour is only risky until a player rolls very high, and then nobody wants to contradict it.
>>5679694Posts *or* rolls, if no one wanted to mess up the 90 that's fine but other player input doesn't interfere with that.
>>5678747>>5678748>>5678791>90Your hope is that when you show yourself the knight will engage your challenge unto him, but just in case he should try to flee then the only feasible means of escape would be the bridge back to town. A couple of your bandits hanging back by the forest road to block that route, and the rest to charge for the bridge and occupy the two guards. At least that's the plan anyway, as much as you can relate it to those bandits with you. You'll just have to hope the others already by the bridge will get the idea when you make your entrance.And who else could make an entrance like you can? Stomping out of the forest from the treeline, making yourself look as big as you can and hefting your artifact-studded club. Tail swishing in eagerness for some payback."Huh huh huh... shiny man! Strogga miss you! And bring for Strogga new horse for eats, very gena-russ!""-fiend! I had thought you to go and find a hole to die in, befitting for one who never amounted to more than squatting under a bridge! I shall be sure to finish what was begun, make no mistake of that!"As you had hoped, rather than reacting any other way the knight immediately takes hostile to you as before. Still shouting lots with his big words, his nonsense "duty" and "honor" making a puppet of him. Just as you... instruct for your bandit lackeys to engage the guards and secure the bridge, so does the knight instruct his squire to help the guards. Leaving the two of you to focus on one another, upon the grassy clearing spanning the riverbank to the forest edge.By his mounted speed the initial action comes from the knight then, as you don't even get a chance to stomp right up to him. Soon after his little threatening speech he spurs his new horse onward in an increasing gallop at you. This horse this time with blinders so it won't panic at your presence. Across the gentle slope of grass do the horses hooves stamp, sure to met your own charge headlong in a clash. So confident in his charge, long spear held ahead and certain to deliver a devastating attack! And to his credit the knight is quite skillful a mounted warrior, diverting his horse ever so slightly aside to avoid a mighty swing of your club, but not enough that he can't land his own blow. "Aaahhhh... HA! Wha- what?!""Ha ho! Like Strogga new skin? Big strong, big smooth, big pretty!"Out of all the things he may have expected to have happened, this wasn't one of them. With a war cry of his own does he lunge forward from his saddle to really lend some force to the attack, unwavering faith in skewering the massive target you present... only for his spear to catch at your body but then slide right off. With such ease (and still carried on by the horse) in fact, that he nearly falls forward out of the saddle and off the horse, having anticipated and braced himself against an impact but receiving none!
Galloping on past before you can swing back around to catch him yourself, the knight makes it some distance away before rounding the horse and pausing in hesitation to try and make sense of what happened. Whether he's aware of your adaptive nature as a troll you can't say, but he's clearly caught off guard by this difference from your combat the previous time. Perhaps to his own fault however, he can't adapt himself in the moment to this new development and knows no other strategy against a monster, but to charge and strike true."Foul trickery, creature! I will not be turned aside by such monstrous capability!""Huh huh huh... come! Come try again! Strogga make easy!"Quite pleased with the strategic change in dynamic, you grin wide and don't even bother chasing after the knight if he's going to keep trying to charge you. Instead just gripping your club with two hands for a big swing as you invite him to try again. And sure he does, for what else can he do against you? Brave or stubborn, you do admire his persistence at least, as another few times he tries to charge and skewer you with his spear. Only to fail each time thanks to your new skin, either slipping right off or only catching against your tough hide but not stabbing through. And each time you get a little closer to hitting him with your club, your coordination at hitting an agile moving target improving. That is until a surprising final effort where you rather nastily decide to just go for his horse instead. Although you are having fun with this apparent stalemate, you are getting frustrated to not have solidly landed any attack of your own. So yes, you'll just go for the horse this time. Both hands gripped to your club, wound back for a mighty low and sweeping swing right at the horses legs. From the shriek of the animal and the sicking sound, the gory display as you either smash or cleave right through all four legs... you can't help feeling a little bad, but really the entertainment value of watching a couple horse legs go flying is much greater, as the animal hits the ground in a bloody-stumpy shrieking mess."-die! Die monster!""-agh! Ugh..."A testament to his skill as a warrior, although you brutalize his horse the knight doesn't go down with it. Perhaps anticipating this or simply quick to act, he leaps from the saddle as the horse drops. Right for you with his weight and momentum behind the spear, and rather than slipping off your exterior he finally commits to this gamble and aims directly for your torso, skewering your center of mass. Slick and tough skin or not, this much force behind such a point drives the spear deeply into your body. Probably penetrating organs and who knows what else.
You do stagger back from the blow, though it's the surprise and pain that causes you to fall over backwards, shaking the ground where you fall. For all the impressive effort the knight brought to bear, it seems he finally accomplished his goal... if only he used a burning or magical weapon. He grips the spear in desperate anger, yelling as he tries to further drive it through you. Seemingly unaware that nothing he has done will have any lasting effect really. "Uuughhh... uh-huh... uh huh huh huh... got you now shiny man."If anything, it's just pinned him in place. No longer a moving target finally, as you reach your arms around to hug him tight against your body... a painful effort for driving the spear deeper through you, but worth it now that you have the knight. With a pained chuckle you peer at his helmet searching for his eyes with a fury your own, before you rear your head back and headbutt him hard. Maybe not hard enough to kill him (hopefully), certainly not as hard as you could have, but hard enough to leave him limp in your arms.Slinging him over your shoulder then, you struggle to stand with the spear jutting out of your torso. Wincing from pain you're not used to, you grip and jostle at the weapon before pulling it free with a gush of blood... only at first though, as your wound already starts to clot and begin healing. If he'd skewered your heart or lungs it might have been a problem, a rhythmically contorting organ impaled by a solid object, even if not magic. But despite his skill he hadn't managed that feat, so you expect to recover just fine. Well enough to afford your attention to the rest of the conflict taking place, when you toss the spear aside and pick up your club again to put the horse out of its misery before (a little more slowly in some residual pain) stomping towards the bridge. There it looks like your bandits made a good effort for themselves, encouraged by your presence at first and then emboldened by your victory!
It looks like a rough and messy fight took place among the humans but the guards were eventually overcome, and the squire beaten into a retreat where he attempted to flee back across the bridge to town but was caught halfway by Eusten... and in a scuffle fell over the side of the bridge. "What... what do we do now, Strogga?""-oh, Michel is in a bad way! Fetch the ladies Davith, we need help.""You got him troll? The knight I mean, is he dead?"You hope your bandits didn't expect defeat but they clearly hadn't expected victory like this. Most of them aren't sure what to do now, wondering if you're just going to go ahead and attack the village across the way. Others deal with their injuries and try to find something to help the more seriously wounded among them, possibly even the guards as well, the two of them in bad shape after putting up a good defense but being overwhelmed by numbers. And others still, just stand in awe and excitement at your own impressive victory; if you can defeat a mounted armored warrior in combat then who around these parts would have any hope of opposing you?For their own sakes you can step up and take command again, giving them all orders to follow and ground themselves in reality once more. But what you want to do... no one died from the fighting but knowing how weak humans are, some of them probably will without help. You'd like to hope they could manage things themselves, for your want to pursue and catch the squire before he can make it to the other side of the river and warn the village, but you'd hate to leave your lackeys and for the worst to happen. On the other hand, perhaps a sacrifice is necessary in the face of such potential victory if you wanted to maintain the momentum and continue the attack upon the village itself!Although these are fair concerns, your focus looming overhead of everything, is mostly on the knight. Holding him slung over your shoulder, no matter what happens now you couldn't be more pleased with yourself and your own victory. Half a mind to just return to squatting under the bridge now that normalcy has been restored, before this newcomer outsider troublemaker arrived to upset your life. Part of you wants to just kill and eat him for the satisfaction, but by your intelligence you consider what greater enjoyment you may get out of doing something worse... or better with him, depending on one's perspective.>Wat do?
>>5679849tell the bandits who can still fight to go after the squire, sling the wounded over our shoulder and bring them back to camp
>>5679849I like your thinking, >>5679920, but how about...>Let the other bandits attend to the wounded (including the knight, but disarm and strip him, then tie him up)>Strogga and Davith are going ahead to catch the squire and go tell the townspeople that we're in charge now
>>5679996This one sounds best, we can handle things ourselves. Get them to retreat to the hideout if they can, stay out of sight. With the enemy beaten, hopefully no one will chase them
>>5680064>>5679996>>5679920Leave the wounded for your lackeys, you've got a squire to catch! Firstly making double sure however, that the knight is secured by your bandits. Once you slog your way from the riverbank to the water though, it's no difficulty at all to swim and catch the squire before he can reach the other side of the river, thanks to your aquatic adaption. He can't even fight against you although he does try, before you snatch and dunk him under the water repeatedly until he gives up for you to ferry back."Look what I found! What the Sir had on his horse!""Are those potions? They're glowing...""Someone try drinking them, here Claud."By the time you make it back to the others Davith has gone and fetched the ladies, so that now the whole group is all together on the forest-ward side of the bridge. You trudge up to dump the squire before them, but they're chattering about something else while trying to do what little they can for the wounded. Maretha it seems along the way from the forest stopped by the dead horse to check the saddlebag and found some magically restorative bottled brews. Uncommon things that must have been obtained in the village rather than the knight's making, but then a human with shiny clothes can probably just buy things like that.It's just fortunate that the knight was the particular enemy you fought against, a privileged human. Otherwise if it were just the guards or an angry mob, it's unlikely they'd have anything like healing potions among them. Either way, it's a godsend to have and serves to save the lives of all the injured humans present, both enemy and friend alike. Of course you question helping enemies rather than just eating them but your lackeys still have their aversion to actually killing anyone.
In any case, with the humans to make an eventual recovery they should be able to withdraw back to the hideout then without your help. Take the captive knight and squire, any looted valuables... maybe the dead horse if they care to venture to and from with the wagon, and shelter at the hideout until your return. "Good work humies! Strogga proud!""You did good too tro-""-hyurk! Too tight! Can't breathe!"Quite pleased with your new little family of humans, you kneel down and reach your arms out to grab as many of them as you can together and strongly hug them, showing your pride and appreciation! Maybe too strongly as you nearly crush them, but they get the idea when you finally let them down and they collapse out of breathe or stagger about in relief. "Come now Davith, we go to town.""Well I thought maybe I could he-"Grabbing and dragging Davith along, you part ways with the rest of your group before making your way across the bridge. Shoving and intimidating the two recovering guards ahead of you, intending to see them back to the village as a goodwill gesture. After all it's really just the knight you have a grudge against.---"Hear that humies? Strogga boss of town now! Tell all, Davith.""...yeah so basically... Strogga is the boss of town now..."Maybe Eusten would be better for this, partly because you know Davith to be on the meeker side but also because the townsfolk recognize him. Negatively so."...hey aren't you the lad what saw the toad monster dead?""Damn you traitor! Why didn't you kill the troll instead?"At least you do actually have an audience though. Stomping your way across the bridge, a little ways further into town and you approached a small gathering crowd; it seems your fighting across the river had not gone unnoticed. Panic takes the villagers upon your approach and most flee to their homes, only a smaller group returning with whatever weapons they could find on short notice. And this smaller lot of them, becoming less and less brave the closer you get.As you had hoped, without a rallying figure like the knight to lead them, the villagers aren't as able to oppose you. A little more than that though, they're somewhat more open to dealing with you as in the past. The way things used to be when you lived under the bridge. An uneasy truce of sorts where you both tolerated each other... somewhat. On rare occasions one side might have a reason to approach the other, and despite no love shared interaction was possible albeit difficult.
That was before though. Before they so easily threw their support behind the knight when called, before they acted openly hostile with intent to kill if they got the chance. They played mean, now you can play mean."Strogga boss now!""We'll never accept ye, troll!"Among the group of remaining defenders, you stomp up to them to grab the dissenting voice from their number. Receiving some easily shrugged off or easily healed attacks in the process, but picking up the man to shake into submission (for all to see) before dropping him again."Strogga boss now!""..."Whether or not the villagers agree with you, they aren't so quick to oppose you again. You can tell they aren't happy with any of this, hell not even that many showed up or remained upon your approach; most remain cowering in their homes peering from the windows or doorways. But you aren't something they've never dealt with before, you bothered to return their bridge guards alive, and you've withheld from violence or killing when you very easily could have.That has to count for something, given what they may believe about trolls otherwise."So... now Strogga boss, humies... ummm... what humies do for humie boss?""...what do you want, troll?""And what about the Baron?"Dealing with the forest bandits was already a step farther than you'd ever gotten with humans, so to interact this way with some assembly of an entire settlement? You weren't really thinking this far ahead as to what may happen, and you're not exactly sure what to do now really. Honestly you thought everything would just devolve to bloodshed, and perhaps it still may. For the time being though you hold the attention of these villagers to make your demands. You're so caught up in the pride and excitement of becoming the ruler of this town however, that you're not exactly sure what that means or should entail, or even what to ask for really. That, and there's talk and dissent about their human ruler already in place. Some "Baron" in or near the village? Your mind races with ideas and possibilities, but big smarty that you are, you have the sense to not just blurt out what first comes to mind. Of course you could ask for all sorts of things that you desire, like good eats and drinks, a big fancy chair to sit on, maybe a strapping fellow to keep company, and all the treasure and praise and worship they can muster! Why, perhaps even you could become a troll queen of the town! But you have some hesitance to speak your demands, when you risk asking for too little compared to what they could offer... although, it's not like you couldn't always restate your demands again, whenever you feel like and backed up with a strong fist.>Wat do?
>>5680351>good eats and drinks, a big fancy chair to sit on, maybe a strapping fellow to keep companyThe treasure can stay where it is; we own the village, so we already de facto own the treasure already as long as it's in the village. Fighting works up an appetite, though. Our new consort can tell us about the baron after we boink his brains out (if she can still move and talk and breathe and such).
>>5680351>Live the high life supported by the townsfolk
Hey all just wanted to let you know I'm going to be traveling for the next few days and probably won't be able to post proper updates, so we can take a break for this time.Given your recent victory towards the village though, this seems an appropriate point to afford some time for it. Both for any other players to weigh in on what to do in regards to the village and your plans for it, as well as any potential plans going forward. Several days to figure out what you want to do with your own new settlement, if you decide on undertaking the effort to ensure control! Also of course, what you want to do about the knight and the squire, now that you have them captive.---Separately, given your triumph you've progressed enough for another mutation. So players can decide on what new adaption you think would benefit you, or be appropriate for the situation. Similar to before as with >>5675674 and >>5675922
>>5680768Well we fought the knight so i think we should adapt to be more noble>better speech, enunciation and charmAs for the village i vote for >being a shogun and being the real power behind a puppet emperorAs for actual plans>choose a name they can refer to us as other than troll to make it not so obvious>prepare defenses against assault>secure food and prepare future food production
>>5680768Immediately plans: >>5680381What we do next probably involves preparing for the Baron's intervention. Maybe we can ransom the knight and squire to him, and agree to keep monster-slaying and to defend the village, if he leaves us alone otherwise?Mutation: >>5675877>Developed Language Centeressentially what >>5680879 said. We have to be ready to rule.
>>5680768for mutation >better speech, enunciation and charmfor the village>celebrate, eat, drink, bask in your gloryAs for what to do with this village in the future i've got no clue. What use is a village to a troll?
>>5680879Overall, supportin' all of this.For the name :Burgmeister Strogga the Great have a ring to it.For the plans :>Understand how the village is organized>Understand the gripes of the villager and attempt to help them>Once a week, escort our richest and more succesfull traders to the close towns and village to build trust>Try to secure funds to educate all the little humies, even if we have to "borrow" a teacher somewhere
>>5680768>>5680879+1For the name maybe something like the Toll Taker
Hey all I am back now, and plan to continue things as usual from where we left off tomorrow.
>>5683531Welcome back, QM!
In advance of posting, can do some tally work.>>5680879>>5680882>>5681255>>5681379>Developed language centerIn just this week or so you've had to deal with and speak with more humans than ever before in your life. Particularly with your success due in part to your bandit lackeys, you've done so well because of your efforts to communicate with the humans. All this effort on your big brain has prompted changes, so that your grasp of language has improved.You aren't any more intelligent than you were but you can put thought to words better, especially with the language of the humans. Which should incidentally improve the perceptions the humans have of you... at least a little bit, your appearance and being a troll is always going to work against you.>>5680381>>5680430>>5680879>>5681255>>5680882>Benefit from all the village has to offerBig smarty that you are, you have big plans! For a little while first though, you very well can enjoy the spoils of victory, so to speak. Before this the most you could ever manage was whatever you could bully out of travelers, but now you're able to bully an entire settlement of humans! Few if any trolls have ever managed such a thing before, as far as you're aware.>>5683044>>5681379>>5680879>Making plansAs aforementioned, you have big smarty plans! Similar to the notion above of enjoying yourself from the fruits of this village you can call your own, it's not just simple pleasures but also a chance to learn what the humans as a collective are capable of and what their settlement means for you. How you can best make use of them, given the type of relationship or role you want to have with them/in their lives.
>>5683957Oh and to clarify, the mutation would include >>5681255>>5680879>better speech, enunciation and charmas well. In regards for how charming you may come off however, that's up to you (players) to specify if and when you want to directly (write-in) respond.
>>5683967I think people would view strogga more like a wild barbarian chief that can be talked to rather than a troll that should be burnedAlso if the speech was at a 1st grade level, it would not be at a 5th grade level
>>5683957We should craft a human mask so we can wear it and pass as a human
>>5683972A wild barbarian chief that was still human is something, but something not even human and viewed as a "monster" is different. However this is how you had lived in relation to the humans before, perhaps you can change their perception of you with effort or time. Certainly improved speech and language should help.>>5683975That does seem like a fantastic idea, and by your intelligence you believe it should work! Although you don't personally like the idea of pretending to be a human, you're proud of who and what you are! If it mattered though or was the difference between some success or failure however, you're smart enough to recognize the benefit and compromise for a time.
>>5683957Sorry, are we meant to vote again, or is another update coming first?
>>5684024No sorrys needed another update is coming, that was just some catch-up for all the player input while I was away.Though this is quite a long update, similarly for catching things up, but expect it soon-ish.
>>5684032Thanks for clarifying!I'm a canuck, the sorry is mandatory
>>5680768>>5680351You would rather a whole day or even many to better ponder and state your demands, but who knows if you'll get another chance with any gathered humans of the village again? Even now it's not all that many just a portion of them you hope will convey your presence and demands to the others around the village."Strogga want... good eats and drinks! And uhh... chair! Big fancy chair what humie boss sit on! And uhhh... eheheh... good strong humie for kissy and zug- uhhhh... love make?"A delicate balance between triumphant boldness in your demands, and the intelligence to guess at what the humans will tolerate. A typical troll would just raid these people's homes and take what was desired, or make absurd demands which would chafe the humans. And sure you feel those desires to just raid and kill and eat them all, only barely kept in check by your intellect. But in your unexpected triumph here you desire something more, something permanent. Why raid and live good for tonight only, when with a little wisdom and compromise you can live good every night?So you make your demands, as much as you think is fair while still demonstrating your dominance. There is of course grumbling and dissent from the humans but your demands aren't beyond their capabilities, so under your watchful and expectant eye they discuss and argue some before accepting your terms. Most just take this as a chance to get away, flee back to their homes and also barricade inside like the rest of the population. But for the sake of the village, many make an effort to gather what they can to meet your demands and seek the help of others who can."If you stay here troll, we'll try to put you up.""Ha-ho! Big home for Strogga!""Yeah, biggest... house... in town."The one thing that no one wants is for a troll to be wandering around town unchecked, in fact most everyone would rather you weren't anywhere near town it seems. In order to accommodate your demands or at least pacify you though, the townsfolk have to be able to reach you. So for the time being they scramble about in effort and finally accept to house you in the barn of a local farmer. Partly because it's outside town proper as well as that it's one of the only two types of buildings in Kasvald that you can fit inside; the local tavern & inn, and storage buildings such as barns. Better not the tavern or some storehouse within the middle of town, so a barn it is.You've never had a house before however, so you're quite happy! Homes yes, but never a constructed building let alone one built by humans. And amidst making yourself comfortable in the barn, humans hurry to and fro to empty the place out of what was within, and to fill with goods of your desire. Food, drink, and even an effort by workmen to hastily furnish the entrance of the barn complete with a troll-sized "throne" under construction.
Would that you had your way the barn would be filled from top to bottom with tasty food and drink, but you try to keep aware of your purpose here and not be too greedy. So that when you notice the humans starting to argue amongst themselves about gathering more goods for you, at the cost of their own wellbeing, you interject to let them know they've brought enough.At least a wagon-load just of food, as much as your own weight, and several barrels of booze. More than enough to keep you happy for several days at least. That, and you'd like to afford your attention to the other matter of your stay here."Jay-sen?""Jacen.""Huh, big for humie... Jacen make Strogga feel good, Strogga make Jacen feel good."First and foremost in your goals, or any troll for that matter, is living comfortable and happy. Improved intelligence or not, what's the point of doing anything in life if you're not getting to sleep each night without hunger, in comfy bedding, and with enjoyable company? Everything else follows after that. Of course you would naturally and undoubtedly prefer a fellow troll, but without even an ogre or an orc around, a human will sadly have to suffice. It wouldn't be the first time for you anyway, and if you want to become the boss of a bunch of humans then that makes the most sense. And so there goes out a call through the village for any fellow brave enough to make a heroic sacrifice for Kasvald, and keep you company. Not that you're especially looking forward to it either rather than just wanting it done, but you are surprised to find more than one would-be suitor. The bard Eusten from among your bandits is expected since he's been courting your attention ever since you arrived, while an enterprising merchant named Zane offers you a life of luxury and travel if you'd marry and protect his trading caravan. Alternatively, you even consider your knightly rival for the torment and shame your companionship would surely cause him and his family, how funny such vengeance would be.For the time being you end up settling for Jacen, a young farmhand among the refugees in town forced into this by the locals, simply because he's the biggest and toughest human to be found... most likely to survive your company. Even so, you are flattered to have several suitors and chalk it up to your recent adaption for smooth skin, making for quite a troll beauty if you do say so yourself!"-bluagh! I n-need... I need w-water... so c-cold...""Drink, here. Strogga ask help dock-torr..."As it turns out however, it's a good thing you did choose Jacen. On this first night of would-be revelry, you find out the hard way of the effects of your poisonous body upon humans. Drunken (by necessity) attempts at kissing must have led to the fellow ingesting your bodily residue, for Jacen soon becomes seriously ill.
Physically debilitated, vomiting, taken by chill fever and delirious... you can't help but marvel at your own bodily adaption against enemies or predators, albeit at the cost of a manner of intimacy. Feeling bad for him and trying however you can to help his recovery in the barn, supposing Jacen survives he probably won't make for good company for several days.Still, misfortunes aside you can very much enjoy the triumph over your enemy and the village, having quite a celebratory feast in your barn with a number of guests. Both willing in the form of your bandits, nervous to be breaking bread with the locals, and some few locals themselves whom by your urging agreed to participate... though you can't help but notice their silent anger and upset at your feasting upon their hard earned goods. ---"What about the appointment of Burgmeister, is that adequate? You could oversee whatever you see fit, tolls perhaps?""Strogga like the sound of that! But how would this Ba-ronn of you humies feel about it?"A month ago you were squatting under a bridge and robbing the occasional passerby. Now you're sitting upon a human-made throne in a human-made home, sounding more and more like a human each day! You wouldn't have been able to recognize yourself today from back then, but look what you have to show for it. From a boss to a "burgmeister" and all that entails. These days passed you've still enjoyed the tribute of the village, but spending much personal time to help Jacen recover from poisoning has particularly fueled an ongoing mutation of yours, a mental one. Not so apparent as your adapted skin but easily just as noticeable, is your increasing grasp of the human language and your ability to speak and communicate in general. So much so that conversing with Jacen when he's lucid, has given you better understanding of the village and led you to dealing with the Lord Mayor of Kasvald, a fancy older human named Sallow. "I would not expect Baron Killear's presence unless you forced it. Already he has withdrawn soldiery to his manor, that we have only the militia for safety.""Don't worry about safety, Strogga will protect you all. All-ready got rid of the har-pees and the giant hopper for you all."Look at you now, holding conversation with the fanciest among them! At a distance of course, even though you conduct yourself better the humans remain wary of you even if they have grown a little more tolerant. But you're at the point where you can make deals with them by talking rather than violence, as always had been the case before now. And what a strange situation the region is in for you to be making deals like this in the first place.
From what you can understand, the "Baron" is something like a local king of the humans and he regards you as a rival now. Too fearful to fight you directly after your recent victories, he has retreated to fortify his home until reinforcement from the "Regent" can assist in your destruction... something that you may want to prevent sooner rather than later. In the meantime though this "Lord Mayor" is something like a king of only the village itself, not as high as the Baron but higher than any other human around. And by contrast this Sallow is perfectly willing to deal with you and cooperate, nervously so but faced with the absence of the Baron as well as your apparent good behavior, he and others are starting to see the benefit you could provide to Kasvald. Enough so that there is an effort to involve you in matters of governance or at least continuity of the village. Technically the Baron remains the local authority, but practically the "Burgmeister" is very gradually becoming the authority, behind the scenes at least. This effort of yours significantly benefited by your desire to help the humans as you can, things like better safety and improving their lives. Not enough to break through the animosity the humans have towards you but enough that it is being noticed, the begrudged positive change you bring to Kasvald. "Monsters outside of town, but there are forces within to sustain the devotion of the people. If it were not for the sheriff and the local wizard, we would not be having this conversation.""Then maybe Strogga can make friends with them, other-wise..."Still though, with the Baron in place there remains a barrier of authority you can't pass. Probably the simplest thing would be to just stomp on over to his manor and force your way to him, violently if need be. It would definitively prove your control of the area, but could also further frighten the humans against you. Whatever the case you would need to force an interaction as you can't expect fair or equal treatment, but how you go about that is up to you. >Continue this living arrangement until something gives, and the humans are forced to act so you can negotiate with them as a whole. In the meantime you can get to know better the humans already close to you.>Make an effort to circumvent the authorities, and help the citizenry directly. You're not sure how grateful the average commoner will be, but at least you can understand the village better.>Rather than the needs of the humans themselves, act upon the needs of the people that you believe are most pressing. A strong hand may be resented but the results and payoff will be more direct and timely.>Undermine the Baron directly and go after his supporting pillars in the community, this sheriff and the wizard. Hostility however, may be necessary. >Take the troll approach, and force your way to the Baron, for better or worse!>Wat do? [Write-in.]
>>5684061>Make an effort to circumvent the authorities, and help the citizenry directly. You're not sure how grateful the average commoner will be, but at least you can understand the village better.Win a few harts, maybe a mind or two.>Make an effort to circumvent the authorities, and help the citizenry directly. You're not sure how grateful the average commoner will be, but at least you can understand the village better.THEN make friends. :)
>>5684061>Continue this living arrangement until something gives, and the humans are forced to act so you can negotiate with them as a whole. In the meantime you can get to know better the humans already close to you.I wanna see what ends up giving.
>>5684061>>Make an effort to circumvent the authorities, and help the citizenry directly. You're not sure how grateful the average commoner will be, but at least you can understand the village better.Let's be overhaul helpful.Market day? Docker Strogga.Harvest day? Strogga can pull a ploughlovemaking festival day? A troll can wish.
>>5684346Now that we're poisonous, no kore snu-snu for anyoen we want to live. :( Didn't even think about that.
