Trolls in the Young Kingdoms

[havercake lad]

"That trollspawn's sword passed through my ribs, I think-.."
Dyvim Tvar, "The Stealer of Souls", Chapter 5.
This dying curse is an insult and not literal, but clearly the concept of trolls and half trolls isn't alien to him.
Either he learned in person ,or through anothers tales or writing, of trolls in other realms, or they have once ( and might still ) inhabit the world of the Young Kingdoms.
I'm loath to make Tarkeshites,carbon-copy Vikings so I'm not in favour of Scandinavian trolls .
Any ideas ? Its good to have something other than demons, cultists, bandits and pirates to play with .
I'd considered that some debased ,hulking descendants of the Greenmen of Karasim could fit the bill nicely.

 

[The King]

May be he read Tolkien?

 

[Da Boss]

The Dragon Isle ruled a thousand worlds in perhaps as many Realms so they could have encountered them..brought them back with them as slaves, curiosities - whatever

its a nice spot though - could be useful.............

Earth Elementals could also look a bit Troll like?

 

[havercake lad]

Agree re earth elementals looking like trolls, though suspect Melniboneans might not have treated them with the same contempt they exhibit to men and other creatures.
The creed of Krim in the Unknown East certainly seems well aware of some very Nordic type realms of existence as it lists Seven Spheres. which include the realms of of Dwarves and Giants.

 

[Loz]

Moorcock's certainly read Tolkien - and dismissed him, so I wouldn't place too much stock on trolls or trollspawn as being anything like Tolkien's trolls.

As already said, creatures akin to trolls or known by that name, could well exist in the nether regions of the YK or planes close to it. I think this is a case where you should do your own thing, using Gloranthan trolls maybe, or something Scandinavian/Tolkienish if you prefer that route.

YYKWV (Your Young Kingdoms Will Vary)!

 

[The King]

It may also be just some folklore to frighten children.

I remember in the Hour of the Dragon (by Robert Howard) that there is talk about goblins and other faeries when a dark sorcerer came back from the dead. This part of the text was very poetic (REH was also known for his dark poetry) but the setting was nothing other than the Hyborian Age (the novel was also released under the name Conan the conqueror). So this is clearly a reference to ancient folklore though it doesn't mean this exist.

 

[Krimson]

It may also be just some folklore to frighten children.

I kind of have my doubts that a people who employ dragons, summon demons, have menegeries of various kinds of slaves, surgically alter some to sing one perfect note, as well as employing torture regularly would have any need of "folklore" to frighten children. It would be more like, "See son, that's a troll. Scary eh? Let's see what Doctor Jest does to him. Oooh, that's a new sound."

 

[The King]

It may also be just some folklore to frighten children.

I kind of have my doubts that a people who employ dragons, summon demons, have menegeries of various kinds of slaves, surgically alter some to sing one perfect note, as well as employing torture regularly would have any need of "folklore" to frighten children. It would be more like, "See son, that's a troll. Scary eh? Let's see what Doctor Jest does to him. Oooh, that's a new sound."

I don't think so because the Melnibonéans hadn't much influence on the Young Kingdoms anymore. Dragons were asleep for many years and demon summoning isn't a very known knowledge. Pan Tang is just emerging because of the decadence of Melniboné.
In fact the Young Kingdoms setting is best described in the older but nonetheless excellent campaign (in 2 parts: Black Sword + Stealer of souls, written by Ken Rolston) which describes a quasi non magical setting, excepted in Nadsokor and where most opposition is human.
The world become more magical when the gods become progressively involved and when the theocrat of Pang Tang decide to invade the world with the help of chaos.

 

[havercake lad]

Further 'stock' mythic creatures in the Elric Saga include the werewolves from "the Revenge of the Rose".
Richard Watts contributed some vampire material on other forums
( In 'The Stealer of Souls' the Melniboneans attacking a stronghold are likened to 'vampires, hungry for blood' ).
Yet another seed for a monster/creature ~
"His voice would moan like a banshee " A traditional wailing undead spectre or portent probably fits the bill here.
JRW

 

[The Curly WereBear]

I quite like the idea of them being creepy children stories, theres no reason why a certian element of their life couldn't be included in the young kingdoms, I mean there's some people in our world that belive in goblins and trolls, so why not the young kingdoms?

 

[Da Boss]

It may also be just some folklore to frighten children.

I kind of have my doubts that a people who employ dragons, summon demons, have menegeries of various kinds of slaves, surgically alter some to sing one perfect note, as well as employing torture regularly would have any need of "folklore" to frighten children. It would be more like, "See son, that's a troll. Scary eh? Let's see what Doctor Jest does to him. Oooh, that's a new sound."

I don't think so because the Melnibonéans hadn't much influence on the Young Kingdoms anymore. Dragons were asleep for many years and demon summoning isn't a very known knowledge. Pan Tang is just emerging because of the decadence of Melniboné.
In fact the Young Kingdoms setting is best described in the older but nonetheless excellent campaign (in 2 parts: Black Sword + Stealer of souls, written by Ken Rolston) which describes a quasi non magical setting, excepted in Nadsokor and where most opposition is human.
The world become more magical when the gods become progressively involved and when the theocrat of Pang Tang decide to invade the world with the help of chaos.

I must admit my Stormbringer Universe is more magically active, like the older rpg books.......my Melnibone is more like that which Krimson describes.............its not dead yet............

Trolls could be a Dhazi creation - the Melniboans would have no love for them then.............some of these creations could exhist still..................

 

[havercake lad]

It may also be just some folklore to frighten children.

An example of story telling to children occurs in Skrayling Tree, Chapt 9
'I remember the story told to Melnibonean children of the dead souls who walk the star-roads of the Milky way, which we call the Land of the Dead'

 

[The King]

It can also be due to some sorcerer (or Dyvim Tvar himself) visiting other planes of the Multiverse and encountering these creatures or people who believe in their existence (proto-Vikings). He would then integrate it in his general knowledge and would use it as a private joke.

Everything is possible in the end.

 

[Loz]

Dyvim Tvar?

Yyrkoon or Theleb K'aarna perhaps, but not Dyvim Tvar...

 

[TRose]

Might point out "Trolls can mean many different things.You have Runequest trolls , D and D trolls and my kids troll doll. Not to mention internet Trolls.

 

[The Curly WereBear]

Might point out "Trolls can mean many different things.You have Runequest trolls , D and D trolls and my kids troll doll. Not to mention internet Trolls.

I like the idea of Warhammer trolls best but Tolkien's version quite appealing too.

 

[The King]

There are even different Runequest trolls: Glorantha trolls (Uz) and those from the Norse mythology (Viking box). And Now there are also trolls from the Slaine setting (in Midgard).