Trolls

Description
Trolls... the bane of any traveller. Trolls are a sentient race of brutes who achieve victory through surprise, firepower via thrown axes and strength of numbers. They are commonly encountered on bridges and lonely roads. Trolls are capable of speech as is evidenced in Ultima VII and both the Ultima Underworlds. In Ultima VII the player may encounter and converse with an imprisoned troll in the jailhouse of Yew as well as in the torture chambers below Buccaneers Den. Trolls also hurl insults and threats (and sometimes rocks) at the player in Ultima VII whilst attacking.

A troll is one of the main instigators of the events leading to Ultima Underworld 1. A clan of trolls controls a section of the Abyss and can be bargained with.

Trolls in Pagan were a highly civilised race at one stage. The player may find a book written by the last civilised troll lamenting the fact that his race are now nothing more than savages. He also claims his troll peers insulted him and were abusive. This would lead us to believe trolls in Pagan are capable of communicating, though almost always choose to do so through their club. Pagan trolls are much stronger than trolls in the previous Ultima games.

There is only one troll in Ultima IX. Using an enlarged goblin model, he is encountered on a bridge just before Paws. He demands a toll from the player for safe passage.

Lore
''In the district where I was raised, it was not uncommon for Trolls to waylay an occasional traveler. Several times I have seen such brigands after justice had dealt with them, hanging from roadside crosses. Until I visited the Shrine of Compassion, therefore, it had not occurred to me how nearly civilized the Troll people are. After all, they use civilized weapons (stolen from us), wear tatters of clothing or hide, and speak a rough form of the same tongue which we speak. Curiosity next drove me to visit the Lycaeum on Verity Isle, where I learned that the Trolls had once been a mountain-dwelling people. Over recorded history, however, they have always moved closer to civilization - today, they are commonly found along roads and under bridges. I became convinced that the Trolls were fit candidates for the Way of the Avatar. My servitors and I travelled the roads of Britannia for two years, recruiting Trolls for our great Abyssal Experiment. Many of the monsterforms rejected us, and some we were forced to slay in self-defense. However, I am glad to report that the Trolls accepted our ways and now constitute an important section of our community. It has been difficult for many to accept the presence of the Trolls. The Knights were trained from youth to slay such creatures on sight, and Goblins are a favorite food of Trolls. Nevertheless, the Virtues have triumphed. (And those Trolls who offend by dining on Goblinflesh are immediately exiled, if caught. - Corby)''

- from "The Memoirs of Cabirus", Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss

Evolution in the series

 * First appearance: Ultima III


 * Last classical apperance: Ultima VII/2


 * Appearance of other variants: Ultima VIII, IX

After they first appeared in Ultima III, Trolls changed only little in behaviour and looks. There are however three other kind of creatures also called Trolls, but different from the classic Britannian Troll.


 * The Ice Trolls of Serpent Isle.


 * The Pagan Troll, the result of the Guardian destroying their minds, is a stupid, huge brute with a club.


 * In Ultima IX, a being that is called a troll is just a oversized Goblin.

Notable examples

 * Garg the Troll in the Prison Tower in Ultima Underworld II. Once freed, he kills every Goblin in the tower for the Avatar.