Hill trolls are a tough race closely related to the widely feared forest trolls with a decidedly less malevolent disposition. While not the most intelligent of the common races, they have managed better than most to survive the more rugged parts of Ralsenna’s geography.

Personality: While hill trolls are noticeably dimwitted compared to the other races, they have a generally likable demeanor and an intuitive perceptiveness that makes them invaluable in stressful situations. At the same time, hill trolls can be rather inflexible, and once they establish a certain way of thinking or methodology, they stick to it. For example, a hill troll might avoid fish its whole life after being bitten by one as a child.

Physical Description: Hill trolls are generally between 5-1/2 to 7 feet tall and can weigh between 150 and 350 pounds. They look similar to large, well-built humans, though, to human eyes, they can appear brutish or animalistic. Hill troll skin colors range from light tan to dark brown or green. They have prominent brows, sharp, stubby teeth, and long, thick finger and toenails. Their hair colors range nearly exclusively in shades of brown, with only the occasional instance of black hair and no known individuals with blond hair. The physical differences between the sexes are less pronounced in hill trolls than in humans, but it is still not difficult to tell them apart.

Alignment: Hill trolls have a general tendency toward lawful alignments, but have no real problem with working alongside those of chaotic persuasion. Evil trolls tend to leave hill troll communities in favor of living amongst forest trolls.

Religion: Hill trolls hold a devout reverence of the “Daroos,” or nature spirits that reside in certain elements of the natural world. Hill trolls can sometimes become quite superstitious about these Daroos, and will place a strange significance on seemingly mundane objects.

Language: Nearly all hill trolls learn enough of both Common and Giant to communicate effectively in both languages. However, many hill trolls have the bad habit of only learning a particular word in a single language, such as only knowing the Giant word for “sandwich.” This can be a problem among races that don’t commonly speak Giant.

Names: Hill trolls are not given names, they earn them. There is no formal way to earn a name, and most receive a name a few years before they reach puberty. Until a hill troll has earned a name, he is referred to as “child” (usually in Giant). Hill trolls may go through several names in a lifetime, and named hill trolls occasionally bestow names on non-trolls as well. Hill trolls do not have surnames, simply using their tribe’s name as such when in human lands. Some of the names listed below are written in Giant (translations are in parentheses).

Female Names: Onka ji’Ammeh (Seed on the Wind), Pactmaker, Soorkala (Mooneater), Soori ji’Tanrema (Dancer on Moons), Stitch.

Male Names: Bear, Burnspitter, Falling Pine, Krah ol’Surrussem (Gleam of the Setting Sun), Ven ji’Kolma (One Lost on the Sea).

Tribe Names: Bolduruss, Daashkrek, Elirrog, Thurshbol, Wenhild.

Adventurers: Hill trolls adventure primarily for two reasons: Either they’re questing for their communities, or they’ve been exiled from them. Exiles take on human names and travel as wandering mercenaries or explorers, while those who travel under the good graces of their communities are often doing so to recover artifacts, gather information or allies, or take care of some other threat identified by their community.

• +2 Strength, +2 Wisdom, –2 Intelligence: Hill trolls are extremely strong and perceptive, but noticeably dimwitted when compared to other races.
• Medium: Hill trolls are Medium creatures, and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
• Normal Speed: Hill trolls have a base speed of 30 feet.
• Giant-blooded: Hill trolls have the giant subtype, and as such gain low-light vision and treat Intimidate and Perception as class skills.
• Robust: Hill trolls receive Endurance as a bonus feat.
• Thick-Skinned: +1 natural bonus to armor class.
• Troll Recovery: Hill trolls receive a +5 racial bonus on Constitution checks made to stabilize when dying. Additionally, when a hill troll rolls a natural 16 or higher on a Constitution check to stabilize, the hill troll regains hp equal to its Constitution score. The hill troll loses these benefits for 1d4 rounds when it takes acid or fire damage.
• Languages: Hill trolls begin play speaking Common and Giant. Hill trolls with high Intelligence scores can choose any of the following: Gnoll, Goblin, Ixtachi Trade Language (understand only).