Trolls

These gangly giants stand twice the height of average humans. Their bodies are covered in large, fungal growths which leak foul-smelling, pus-like fluid. Their oversized hands and feet extend to giant claws capable of rending a man in two. Dozens of slimy tendrils hang loosely from atop their oversized head, and their vast maws are filled with jagged, razor-sharp teeth. Trolls have long faces, chins, and noses, and are endowed with tangled masses of wiry, fungus-infected hair on the tops of their heads. They have never been observed to use weapons, tools, or clothing.

Looking at a troll, it can be difficult to tell whether they’ve evolved in harmony with lichen, moss, and fungi, or whether they’ve been overtaken by them. A troll’s naturally clammy flesh provides the ideal growing environment for these plants. They provide camouflage, as well as some protection from the elements. The enzymes they produce also offer limited sustenance for trolls in lean times.

Because of their symbiosis with these plants, trolls generally dwell in heavily-wooded areas, although some may occasionally be seen in damp underground environments that also house an abundance of lichens and fungi.