Troll Stronghold

Lore & Background

The trolls of the stronghold are ruled by the fearsome Troll King, a brutish chieftain who commands his kin with an iron fist. Duradel, a renowned Slayer Master, also resides here, offering combat assignments to adventurers brave enough to seek him out—but only after they have proven themselves by completing the Troll Stronghold quest. The history of the stronghold is written in stone and blood, marking numerous skirmishes where the trolls repelled invaders who underestimated their ferocity. Despite their reputation as mindless brutes, the trolls within these walls display a fierce sense of community and territorial pride that makes them formidable foes.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through the narrow pass, whipping snow against your face as you approached the stone gates. Duradel loomed above, his massive form casting a shadow over the defensive barricades. He did not speak of peace or trade; only of survival. Below, in the valley, torches flickered like hungry eyes—the human army was gathering for another assault. You tightened your grip on your weapon, knowing that tonight, the mountains would decide who belonged to the stone.

Reader's Guide

The quest begins when adventurers approach the Troll Stronghold and meet King Duradel at its gates. He explains that a human general is leading an invasion force intending to destroy the troll sanctuary. The player must assist in preparing for this assault by gathering necessary supplies and weapons from nearby locations. Once prepared, the core of the experience involves defending the stronghold's entrance against waves of human soldiers. Combat skills are tested as defenders hold their ground against repeated charges. Success requires coordination with Duradel and other troll warriors to repel the invaders effectively. Upon successfully defending the position, the player is rewarded with access to the interior of the Troll Stronghold. This unlocks new areas for exploration and resource gathering within the mountain complex. The event solidifies an uneasy alliance between the adventurer and the trolls, highlighting the ongoing tension in the region.

Did You Know?

• The name of the element cobalt descends from kobelt, a 16th century German miners' term for unwanted ore, related to mischief perpetrated by the gnome Kobel.
• Paracelsus claimed gnomes measured 2 spans (18 inches) in height, while Agricola had them to be 3 dodrans (3 spans, 27 inches) tall.
• Agricola recorded that mining spirits called Bergmännlein acted as miming and laughing pranksters who sometimes threw pebbles at miners, but could also reward them by depositing a rich vein of silver ore.
• The word 'gnome' comes from Renaissance Latin gnomus, which first appears in a book by Paracelsus published posthumously in 1566.
• Agricola's De animantibus subterraneis (1549) describes mountain-cave demons called cobalos in both Greek and German, who earned their name due to their alleged habits of aping or mimicking humans.