Trowls

Though not, perhaps, the most ancient beings of Jaeis, it is obvious the Trowls are one of the most enduring. They carry centuries of wisdom behind their small, bleak eyes and the force of a siege-ram accompanies every swing of their arms. Nestled in cavernous kingdoms at the end of dark, winding mountain passages, the Trowls look down on the world below, observing, and occasionally, interfering. They are tough, gritty, unforgiving.

You see, Trowls aren't born; they are made.

Physiology

Trowls are found at heights from 8′ to 9′ in height. They have two digits on their broad feet and four stout fingers on their hands. Long braided hair or thick manes fall from their stony faces and horns sprout from their temples. Their large mouths sport large fangs that can protrude in an under-bite. Their eyes can be the color of coal, or as bright as diamonds, but lack much color, and they have broad noses. Their bodies are covered in ancient runes and spiral designs, painstakingly chiseled into their tough skin at "birth," (see below). It is these runes which give them life.

Appearance

Trowls are created naked, and so adopt the custom of wearing clothes, in order to fit in with other races. They adorn themselves with gold, silver, bronze and copper jewelry set with many precious stones, but prefer bold jewelry to the dainty, fragile things other races opt for. Strangely, though they do not need to breathe, Trowls are created with discerning minds and senses. As such, they can touch, taste, smell, see and hear, just not in the way that other races do. They enjoy strong stimulation, and greatly enjoy smoking tobacco from pipes and cigars. Trowls also have a tendency to be very loud when excited and their deep voices boom with authority.

There is little noticeable difference between Trowl men and women with regards to size, but the females are ever so slightly shorter than the men and much wider in the bust and hips. Females also have shorter, more elegant horns than the men whose horns tend to be thicker and longer. Females tend to lack the protruding lower fangs so prominent in the men. Both genders grow thick manes of long hair.

Since they are large and broad, Trowl armor is usually pulled together piecemeal. They enjoy spiky or studded pieces, which accentuate their intimidating demeanor. Large gauntlets, prominent pauldrons, and sturdy vambraces and greaves are popular. Trowl men and women dress in scant clothing, with males frequently going about topless. Their fashion is practical and basic. Trowls like kilts and skirts, with the males wearing shorter ones than the women. One notable piece of Trowl clothing is the "War Apron", which is made from thick, resilient fabric and reinforced with small, square steel plates. Trowl war aprons are outfitted with lots of pockets for all the odds and ends Trowls need for war and utilitarian use (gunpowder, tools, tobacco, pet rocks, etc). Trowls do not decorate, pierce or modify their horns and see this practice as profane.

Personality

The Trowls are slow to act, and slow to anger, but when their ire is raised, they become truly horrifying. When enraged, a Trowl becomes little more than an angry juggernaut bent on destroying enemies. When they are calm, Trowls carry centuries of knowledge, even if they have a hard time recalling it or getting it into words. Trowls are slow to make promises, but take them very seriously. The term "carved in stone" is one which reflects the honor of the Trowls. To question a Trowl's honor is likely to invite disaster upon oneself. Trowls are also very slow to forgive.

Habitat

Trowls live in the mountains, hills and caves, where they can most easily find the precious stone from which they craft. For the promotion of their race, they cannot leave the rock for long. They prefer quiet, dark places of surety and security. They look unfavorably on things built of unsound materials. As such, they are found in the Industrial North, and less so in the Southern Empires. Trowls helped to build the capital city of Kadwal. The necropolis city of Tenebra poses an eerie threat to Trowls, and so they are rarely found there. Reports have surfaced of the appearance of evasive Trowls around the abandoned city of Greygate, but no contact has yet been made.

Society

When a new member of a Trowl clan is desired or needed, an existing Trowl will work at a single piece of stone for days, months, or years, until they are satisfied or until need declares the task finished. After a new Trowl clan member has been sculpted, the Elders place the animating runes on the Trowl and it is given a name. Trowls experience no growth; they are created at one size and stay that size their entire lives. However, some Trowls, due to inexperience, can be extremely child-like. Some say the Trowls were created in the likeness of a living, non-fabricated race, some people long-dead. They say the first Trowls were created so that the race could live on. Whatever their origins, only the Trowls themselves are privy to the rites and runes which can create a new member of their race. Or at least, that is what is apparent...

When a Trowl does die, news of his or her death must travel back to their kin so their name can be chiseled into the tablet of the dead, which is nothing more than a colossal wall of names of the dearly departed of each clan. Trowls prefer to have burial mounds erected over their corpses after death. Trowl legend has it that the mountain ranges of Jaeis are the burial mounds of the first Trowls of the world.

Relations

Trowls are one of the races which have adapted to fully embrace Industrialism. Not all Trowls ride the turning wheels of progress and technology however, but most at least seem to enjoy explosives, as it makes mining, masonry, and engineering much more interesting, if not easier as well. They also seem to enjoy guns. The Trowls strongest bond is with Humans. They dislike the tendency for Vayu and Pookah to be impatient and flaky. As they value things that last, Trowls have little involvement with the Entropism movement.

Motivations

Trowls will often leave the clan in search of inspiration for a new creation, more exotic tools with which to work the stone, in search of a lost or stolen item of value, or in search of a new material to craft from. A typical adventure for a Trowl might be to find a meteorite which contains a rare ore which the Trowl seeks to use in the creation of a new member of his clan, or to track down and kill a vandal who desecrated a very important sculpture: his life's work.

Max Caps

• Muscle 12
• Endurance 12
• Intellect 8
• Cunning 8

{{section|Powers|

• Fabricated: As fabricated creatures, Trowls are immune to bleed damage, poisons, paralysis, diseases, Knockout, and death effects. Trowls do not eat, breathe, or sleep, and cannot be Petrified. Also, Trowls cannot heal. They must be repaired to regain lost HP. This works just like a Healing check, except the Machinery skill is used, as the smith reworks their runes.
• Anchor: Trowls receive a +4 to opposed rolls against any attempts to lift, toss, move, trip, drag, or knock them down against their will.
• Drop like a Stone: Trowls are so heavy, they take a -4 penalty to Swim and Gymnastics checks. It is nearly impossible to carry or assist a Trowl and those attempting to do so take a -8 to the check.
• Darkeyes: Trowls can see perfectly in low light and natural darkness. Their eyes glow with a faint reddish sheen.
• Gore: A Trowl's horns may be used to gore opponents. Treat this as a hand-to-hand attack with a Harm score of 5.
• Big and Bad: Being so large has its drawbacks. Trowls are at a −4 to Dodge. However, they possess a +2 racial bonus to their armor score due to their naturally tough hide.
• Slow: Trowl speed is 5ft/AP

Incompatible

Trowls are incompatible with Dead Weight, Featherweight, and Lousy Balance