Factbook: Ordo Drakul (the muri)

[Ordo Drakul]

The muri are the most populous race of trolls on Pamaltela. Many are the stories of the muri and their kin, and many the lies and falsehoods. This factbook will try to inform the reader on the truth of trolls, particularly as pertains to the Ordo Drakul.

Physically, trolls are large, powerful creatures. Females are larger and more aggressive than males, distinguished by eight mammary glands on the front of the torso. Trolls resemble baboons, though about eight feet tall at the shoulder. Although they can, and typically do, walk bipedally, they are much faster on all fours. While changing into an upright position causes a momentary imbalance, quadrupedal stance requires not such adjustment. Troll tails are hairless with a tuft at the end.

Trolls physically mature between their fifteenth and twentieth year, at which point they cease aging. A troll's primary sense is a highly sensitive echolocation, though their hearing and smell are very keen, encompassing a much wider range than humans-a troll's sense of smell is equivalent to a bloodhounds, and their hearing range is slightly wider than that of a bat. A troll's vocal chords can produce sounds with the same range, though a troll's voice typically falls in the 140-160 megahertz range.

Though much claim is given to a troll's regenerative powers, trolls do not heal any faster than humans. However, given adequate raw materials, a troll may regrow any missing part of it's body.

Trolls can eat anything that is not composed of fire or light. They are equipped with four stomachs, and can even in emergencies, sustain themselves on air. However, air-fed trolls are prone to flatulence, and many cautionary tales are told by the trolls of ambushes spoiled by air-feeding.

The primary troll race is the Mistress Race, Kyger Litor and her children, born in Wonderhome, the lost troll birthplace. All other troll races are offshoots of these primal beings, who have a lot of influence in troll society just due to their species. Trolls call them the "Folk of the Folk" and revere them almost as gods.

Trolls are ancestor worshipers, and the many religious orders of troll culture are often troll ancestors or various spirits with whom they interact. These orders are the glue that holds troll society together, and all trolls are lay members of the Order of Kyger Litor, the literal Mother of All Trolls. Individual trolls will be members of one or more other orders as well.

Troll females are known to consciously control their ovulation, and to enter a maddened frenzy of gorging when pregnant. A pregnant female is banished to the Caves of the Mothers for the term of her pregnancy, where her husband will leave her food. A pregnant troll mother is a devastating eating machine who gorges herself until going into labor. Births are single, despite the eight mammaries, but in Wonderhome, litters were common. Gestation of young depends on food supply, and twins are rare. It is assumed that the female must eat enough to maintain herself and grow the child, and multiple children would tax her system too greatly.

[Ordo Drakul]

The basic troll unit is the family. The Mother is the source and head of the family, and by troll tradition, females own all the family assets, as well as having the right to eat their children at any point. Multiple marriages are possible, but polyandry is the norm.

Sons are expected to serve (in order) their Mothers, their aunts, and their sisters, until they wed, when they serve their wife and her sisters. Affluent females often have multiple husbands, and extended families. Troll society is matriarchal and matrilineal, and wives often pay their mothers-in-law for good husbands or are adopted into the mother's family.

Several families under one powerful female form a clan under the Clan Mother. On a larger scale, several clans form a Tribe with a Tribal Mother. There was one Troll Queendom, Borlak, but it was in the dim and misty past, and trolls don't speak of it much.

These families, clans, and tribes must be formally recognized by the Sacred Motherhood to claim the coveted titles of Clan Mother and Tribal Mother, though any female who has borne live young may call herself Mother. These units may be very large-troll females can produce ova throughout their long lives-and often members of these groupings will be spread across the orders, allowing a family influence greater than might be expected.

Troll families, clans, and tribes are fiercely competitive, and rivals may employ any means in achieving their goals. Even within a family, the passing of a matriarch leads to severe infighting as the competing females vie for supremacy. Duels, vendetta, and feuds are all legal in troll society, and these are the beginnings of a matriarch war.

Inheritances usually go to the oldest female, but there is the trollish concept of a "Rightful Daughter"-a worthier, younger female-and the firstborn can be challenged in an "achievement war"-these can be very sedate, formal affairs, with witnesses and a Sacred Mother in attendance, or they can be little more than a catfight, depending on the participants.

The holdings of a family are ruled autocratically by that family, but the orders each have their own holdings which they rule much as the families do. An elaborate feudal system with porous and fluid borders has evolved, with the Sacred Motherhood of Kyger Litor holding the whole together through control of the court system, and the orders flowing across familial lines and obligations, while sometimes caught in them.

[Ordo Drakul]

baby killer: Vicious insult among trolls; infanticide is the worst troll crime. Often applied to Yelm, for her invasion and slaughter of the trolls of Wonderhome, sparing not even the smallest infants.
beardy thieves: Scholars, especially sociologists. Trolls mistrust them for their penchant of "stealing" secrets of the darkness.
beat: Trollish unit of measurement. One beat = 550 feet. A third beat is 185 feet.
been in the day(light): To have faced a challenge, or reached a certain age. Trollish children are not allowed outside in the daylight until they reach the age of 9, or until they're considered ready to face the day's dangers.
bendy: An object darksensed through reflection of a troll's sonar. Trolls sometimes say "bendy-saw" or "bendy-spot" to refer to this.
bite me: Inter-troll challenge; more literally, "Try to take a bite from me." Not used in a friendly manner.
bite my kneecaps: Insult, comparing the foe to a lowly duck (What can a duck do to a troll, besides bite his kneecaps off?). Usually friendly.
boot to the head: Caught violating rules and was punished for it; e.g., "He got a boot to the head." From trollball.
boys: Mild derogatory term. Used where many say "girls." "Look at da pansy Hooman boys, ooo, even da zombies is getting scared! Yah yah, ya buncha wussies."
breakfast : Derogatory term for non-trolls, often used by warriors. "Make some breakfast" is similar to "Making the omelet," and used a jeer in battle. (Lifted from Warhammer FB, I admit).
bring a rock to dinner: To distrust someone. "I'd bring a rock to dinner if I ate with him." From the fact that a suspicious troll may sneak rocks into his food, sending the food to the rock gizzard and thus reducing the effectiveness of poisons.
bull balls: A very brave human. "He's got bull balls."
burned: A troll that likes humans too much. Referring to the vulnerability of trolls to sunburn; a troll with sunburns is out in the day too much. Sometimes also called "Yelm's mark."
catching sheep: Zorak Zorani insult for Karrg's Sons, referring to geas. E.g., "Going to join us in battle or are you busy catching sheep?"
caught in the red zone: Attacked by missile weapons. >From trollball.
chuckle boys: Death worshippers. "Cheerful as a chuckle boy."
confuse and contuse: Argan Argar reference for Zorak Zorani, as a god of disorder and destruction.
Cuddling: Trollish term for the infantry tactic of shield push, since "Dey're always pressin' up against each other, hur hur hur!"
damnfine A universal trollish adjective; a crude direct translation of a common troll word for good. "Dis here number one good damnfine sword, you betcha!" (from CJ Cherryh).
darksee, darksaw: Darksense. Human languages lack the troll's vocabulary for this sense, and trolls usually say "see" instead of "sense."
dessert on dinner: Calvary; any human riding a horse.
eat that twice: Challenge; "I'll make you eat that twice." Literally, make you eat it, beat you so hard you vomit (not easy to do with trolls), then make you eat it again.
the fanny rune: The moon rune. Irreverent trolls mock the moon rune as being comprised of "two cheeks and da crack." Perhaps from human usage.
First Mom: Kyger Litor. Some trolls prefer to not to say her name in human languages from superstition or mistrust.
five seconds after the fire goes out: A scene of confusion or chaos. Referring to the typical human reaction when ambushing trolls put out their campfire, torches and other light sources.
gone: An object seen with a troll's visual senses but which cannot be darksensed. Sometimes used to refer to magic items in general.
good son: A proper troll son. Also used as a derogatory term by Zorak Zorani for Karrg's Sons. "Ur, hey, can you come to war today, or is yer mom not gonna let you? Hur hur hur!"
hooman: Rude trolls stress the "oo."
Hurtplace: The surface world. In Shadowspeech, "Komor"
Hurt Time: Daytime.
inside the walls: Something proper is from "inside the walls;" suspect things are not. Usually a term used by conservative trolls, warning the young.
jabug: A fighting insect. A bad and obscure pun few will probably spot, and even fewer think amusing.
Leadlover: Greedy; miserly; an Argan Argarite. "silverkisser" and "goldhugger" are similar, but imply commerce with humans and with solars, respectively.
making the omelet: Triumphing over humans, especially Yelm worshippers. A jeer for battle.
moo-moo: A bison. "Look at da moo-moos! Moooo! Moooo! Yah, and da pansy pinkies dats ride 'em, nuts to you!"
leafies: Aldryami.
mama's boys: Zorak Zorani insult for Karrg's Sons.
Nosee'im: The Invisible God.
Orlanth tears: Rain. "Every troll know dat rain is Orlanth tears. See, he's weeping coz Zorak Zoran done kicked his ass again, hur hur hur!"
pansy: Weak, small and helpless, like a flower (or a bowless elf).
pinkies: Humans. An insult not found in darktongue, and which may be a human influence. Also, pink food.
poets: Orlanth worshippers. Trolls who have encountered Orlanthi and their craze for doggerel may make up special limericks for future encounters. "Hey, windy! Dere once was dis stormgod called Orlanth, whose sticker got snipped by a 'newt Klanth; 'dis ticked off his wife, and 'cozed lots of strife, 'coz now Windy not gots lots in his pants!"
poke in a hole: An unpleasant surprise. From the troll habit of using prepared pits with stakes inside of them against cavalry.
pound the ground: An overhand smash; more generally, referring to warriors (i.e., "groundpounders"). Trolls don't use this for runners, which can cause some confusion.
pull the beard: Brave, or a worthy warrior. Originally referred to challenging humans or Mostali by "pulling their beard;"now, any noteworthy feat or humiliation of an enemy.
sheep squeezers: Humans. Probably adopted from human usage.
girl onna a horny pony: Yelornan unicorn riders. Often accompanied by obscene gestures, if the trolls are behind cover and a safe distance away.
sneeze guard: A force of elven warriors. Because the sneeze guard protects the salad.
spears up: An unpleasant surprise. Referring to the nasty habit of elite Spear units of hiding their spears and pretending to be a simple levee unit, then suddenly raising up spears and charging in.
Squeaky the Wonder Bat: Rude term for the Crimson Bat.
Squishies: Pixies and runners. More literally, "things that go squish when we step on them." Sometimes used to refer to ducks, humans and other, smaller races.
sticker: A spear; occasionally and crudely used to remark to human (but, oddly, not trollish) genitalia.
sticky: An object within range of darksense, but from which no clear darksense determination can be made.
stunties or shorties: Dwarves.
sunny boys: Yelm worshippers. Note that it applies to female worshippers as well; "boys" is the derogatory term for trolls, where many humans would use "girls" to imply weakness among men.
sure-food: Doomed, or certain to die (and become food for trolls).
sword-sticker: Humans who use swords; usually an insult.
the target: Yelm's sun rune. Warrior trolls find it highly amusing that many Yelm worshippers are kind enough to paint a circle with a dot in it, providing a fine target for trollish missile weapons.
thump suit: Heavy armored; or a Western knight. >From the distinctive sound of plate armor when a troll smacks it: "thump!"
toothless: Mild insult implying feebleness or cowardliness. A friendly insult among trolls, or a snide reference to humans and other non-trolls.
trade with Danar: A foolish thing to do. Probably of human origin, or the result of a spectacularly bad trade with a human trader named Danar. A traditional cautionary phrase.
tummy trouble: Mild insult; a troll with "tummy trouble" is a figure of humor and ridicule. A friendly insult.
upright land: An extremely peaceful or secure place; the prehistoric periods when the trolls lived in peace.
wind breakers: Orlanth worshippers. Referring to flatulence rather than protection from rain.

[Ordo Drakul]

Troll Crime
Crime takes myriad forms, and even with the human communities of NationStates crimes of some societies are not considered crimes in others. It should come as no surprise, then, that crime in muri society differs greatly from that of humans.
In fact, even some of the root concepts of crime tend to differ, since muri tend to regard “crimes” as being either against Kyger Litor herself -- such crimes being universally abhorred -- and against individuals. And in the latter case, such “crimes” are not considered to be immoral, merely successful or unsuccessful.
ALIEN CRIMES
Suffice it to summarize here that among muri, there are certain actions prohibited under the theocracy of Kyger Litor. Some crimes, of course, are worse than others; other crimes are trivial taboos. The issue here is that given that Kyger Litor defines what is trollish, she also defines what is crime for trolls, and these laws are held throughout the land.
Although there is a core of terrible crimes that instantly make a muri a not-troll, most other crimes are “flexible:” a muri with enough power can usually overcome them by virtue of her personal ability and influence. The Zorak Zorani ability to frequently flout prohibitions on using fire, raising the dead and performing proper funeral services is the typical example of this.
In fact, the theocracy frequently uses crimes against Kyger Litor to enhance their own power, which should come as no surprise! Alien crimes are not treated so liberally, but a violator of taboo from a clan supporting a tribal mother will likely be treated more leniently than a violator from a rebellious clan, or one that is not showing proper respect. It is rare for crimes to be fashioned from whole cloth or be dismissed entirely, but the penance imposed by a Great Mother or Tribal mother frequently varies.
“DAT’S MINE:” INDIVIDUAL CRIME
Now, most crime in the human sense tends to be crimes against other individuals; thinks like theft, assault, and such. With the significant exception of murder -- which Kyger Litor’s laws separates into “justified” and “unjustified” categories -- most of these thing aren’t actually considered to be crime by the muri.
Take theft, for example. For a Muri to steal from another muri isn’t considered a crime in “social” terms: there’s no stigma attached to the thief for having done something wrong. It may be considered in terms of power relations; a thief that steals from a hulking Death Lord with a thousand followers will probably be tracked down and slain, and quite justifiably by troll standards. If the Death Lord was to steal from, say, a poor penniless widower, few muri consider it wrong in an objective -- though it could be assured that any relatives of that widower would dislike it, and hope to seek revenge.
Assault is treated similarly; generally, a muri that comes out of the losing end of a fight is assumed to have been foolish enough to engage in a fight they couldn’t win! There are exceptions, of course; no sane troll would attack a pregnant female, a child or a Great Mother. But it is not considered so terrible for that same Death Lord to attack some pitiful, scrawny, weak and ancient elder -- the elder should merely avoid the fight.
This actually isn’t that unusual from many human societies, of course; Celts, for example, abhor theft from family and clan, but theft from other clans was so routinized that it became part of the Celtic economy.
The point to this being that it’s relatively rare to see too much theft within muri society, since it’s far too likely that a thief would be fairly quickly hunted down, killed and eaten; not by an angry mob, but by one of the thief’s angry victims. This tends to either make sure that thieves are very good, or means that thieves tend to be desperate.
“DIS’S ALL MINE:” CRIMES AGAINST THE GREAT MOTHER
The exception to this, however, is in terms of crimes against a Tribal or Clan Mother. Tribes and Clans are far from monolithic entities, and there is almost always some form of power struggle going on between the various lineage lines. These are rarely violent struggles, but they can be vicious in other ways.
Within this context, there is a great deal of potential “criminal” activity that goes on; things that a Tribal or Clan mother prohibits, but that other trolls will do as the opportunity suits them. Smuggling, organized theft, cooperation with other clans and tribes (as allowed within the context of Kyger Litor tradition) and assault are all “common” crimes within this context!
To return to the example of thieving, most muri don’t tend to steal from other muri unless they’re positive they can get away with it, or are much stronger. But a Clan Mother may deliberately foster raiding or thieving against another clan, hoping to weaken them, or advance her own position. The Troll Stronghold in Big Rubble is the notorious example pointed to in Dagori Inkarth, with constant fighting and feuding between troll factions each promoting their own interests, and with the added bonus of being able to shelter behind non-troll groups when necessary.
Given the Troll Stronghold, it comes as no surprise that crime is particularly noticeable in troll towns, which tend to have much greater levels of violence and crime since the social parameters that “hem in” violence tend to break down. This also helps to explain why the largest towns tend to be either “personal possessions” of an individual, like Crabtown is to Cragspider, or tend to be organized along strict clan/tribal lines (such as Redstone or the Castle of Lead); or are organized by the Argan Argar cult, which has appropriate magics to promote harmony, such as in Laca. In Dagori Inkarth there are no towns or cities founded or ruled by the Xiola Umbar cult, but some are known in other lands.
I PLAY AD&D. WHERE'S MY THIEVES' GUILD, DAMN IT?
Muri don't really tend to be organized to have organized crime, for the most part. To trolls, "crime" is not set apart in the way that would encourage that kind of crime -- at least not for the most part. The two areas where you do see organized crime are in the aforementioned struggles between clans, and in the fringes of society.
Where a clan is struggling against the rule of a Tribal Mother or Clan Mother, or a family against a family, it is not unheard of for "professional thieves" or "raiders" to be trained up. For the most part, the distinction tends to be that they're disposable, but in a few historical cases they have been very professional indeed. Typical are bands of hunters that stalk a rival's hunting grounds, or mercenaries trained to enter an enemy clan's lands and loot it, returning with the loot. A dead mercenary, usually, is no great loss (if a meal for the rivals), and some clans experiment with the tactic.
The other occasion is when troll society overlaps with non-troll societies. Trolls are, of course, superior to humans in many respects, and have frequently been sought for roles as mercenaries, warriors and such. They are sometimes also sought for roles in organized crime: they make superb thieves, for example, and most are at least as well suited as humans. They also sometimes supply muscle, assassins, smugglers, fences (for stolen human property can be readily and easily sold to trolls) and magic. The Blank Fang Brotherhood in Big Rubble is one example of this, but there are literally dozens of groups in the Lunar Heartland that supply aid to various illegal enterprises there.
WHAT, IS THIS HELL’S KITCHEN?
From this description, it probably seems like trolls have little to do besides maim, murder and rob each other constantly! It should be kept in mind at this point that this is where the lineage groups and family structures come into play.
A muri with a grievance -- say, the aforementioned Death Lord just beat him up -- has a potentially huge kinship network to draw upon. Depending on their cult and status, they may have a cult structure to draw upon, too. Certain cults in troll society -- Argan Argar and Xiola Umbar most notably -- tend to back up their members against aggravations. The result is that while muri may not think it’s inherently wrong to beat up a member of society, they tend not to do it without either great reason, or unless they’re sure their “power network” (as it were) overawes that of a rival. The result is something closer to a subtle game of power relationships, with more nudging and pushing than all-out violence. A Death Lord usually won’t beat up a random troll without a strong reason, and most trolls won’t stand up to an angry Death Lord without a network of friends and family to back them. And at that, Death Lords are often considered to be impetuous fools all too likely to bring the wrath of the clan down on their heads.

[Ordo Drakul]

Single Fighter
Class:[URL=http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=fightershadowsp7.jpg]
Spitter[/url]
Type:Heavy Fighter
Length:15.3m
mass:unknown
Power:Hyperspatial Tap
Duration:infinite
Acceleration: 10km/s
crew:1 pilot
Maneuverability: Class A+
weapon:1 Quantum Bolt Cannon(antimatter based)
defenses:Bio-Armor
Shields
Cloaking capacity
Tractor Beams


These ships use a gravimetric/Hyper-Real space drive system similar to those used in the warships. Like the Capital Ships, these fighters can both cloak and phase into hyperspace, making them the smallest vessels ever seen to have Jump capacity.
Spitters are 15.3m in length and possess more than enough firepower to dispatch an entire conventional fighter squadron single-handed.
All technology in these fighters is organic-based and controlled by a telepathic link between ship and pilot.


Scoutship
Class:[URL=http://img389.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scoutshadowww3.jpg]
Vampire[/url]
Type: Scout Cruiser
Length:356m
mass:unknown
Power: Hyperspatial Tap
Duration: infinite
Acceleration: 15km/s
crew: 1 pilot
fighters:none
troops:usually none, can carry up to 250 if needed
Maneuverability: Class A
Weapons: 1 Slicer Beam
1 Heavy Quantum Bolt Cannon
Defenses: Bio-Organic armored hull
Shields
Tractor Beams
Phased Hyperspace Cloaking

Fast, maneuverable, and very well-armed, the kozoru class vessel is commonly assigned to patrol the Space of allies, and is armed with a powerful burst weapon that is much more powerful than the energy cannon used by the Spitters, as well as a smaller version of the Slicer Beam


Warships
Class:[URL=http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cruiserbattlecrabdm2.jpg]
Battle-Crab[/url]
type: Attack cruiser
Length: variable-1km-3km long
mass: unknown
crew:1 pilot
fighters:40 Spitters/Class A, 60 Spitters/Class B, 120 Spitters/Class C
troops: unknown
Maneuverability: Class A
Weapons:1 Slicer Beam
1 Jump Point Disruptor
Energy Mines
Defenses: Bio-Organic armored hull
Shields
Tractor Beams
Phased Hyperspace Cloaking

The Battle-Crab, or Spider, is the standard issue warship of the muri. These powerful vessels, while similar in design, vary in size and power, falling into three subclasses: Class A measures about 990m, Class B(the most common) are on average 1.5 km in length, while the Class C is almost 3km long.
The beam weapon can slice a planetoid to shards, gaining it the name "Slicer Beam". It has been theorized that when used under continuous fire, a Battle-Crab could turn the entire surface of a planet into wasteland.
Unlike conventional races, these ships do not form "Jump Points" to enter hyperspace, instead sliding or phasing into hyperspace. This unparalleled understanding of hyperspace also provides the muri with a devastating weapon that collapses the Jump Point of any vessel, resulting in that ship's destruction.
Muri vessels cloak by shifting somewhere between Real Space and first-level Hyperspace. Once cloaked, a vessel is virtually invulnerable to attacks from ships in real space or hyperspace until it fully enters either dimension. The system is vulnerable to massive graviton shifts, but can be quickly compensated for by an alert pilot.
The muri Energy Mine is a field generated that attacks an enemy energy system, draining it of power that is collected to critical mass and released upon a foe, drawn to the source of it's power.
These ships carry at least 40 Spitters.
The Battle-Crab is completely biological, controlled by a telepathic link between the pilots and the ships. This link is the only apparent weakness to the ship, and countered by using only skilled telepaths to pilot the Battle-Crabs.

[Ordo Drakul]

Troll cosmology begins with the runes-basic concepts and forms that formed the whole of Reality. The first concept was Darkness-a formless, lightless Void from which all of Creation ultimately issued, which the trolls call Dehore, the Primal Darkness from which all things derive. Somehow, in a way unexplained because there was no one around to witness and analyze it, Dehore either found or created the Form Runes, and thus birthed the First Things, the Things of Darkness.
As Dehore took up each of the Form Runes, a different god or goddess was created from the interactions of Dehore and the rune. This act is not seen as procreative, but as a natural occurence, as if Dehore infused each rune with an essence that was interpreted by the rune, and thus was born (for example) Mee Vorala, the goddess of Fungus, when Dehore touched the Plant Rune, and she spread throughout Wonderhome, filling it with the mushrooms and slimes that are the Plants of Darkness. When his hand rested on the Beast Rune, Gorakikki, Father of all Insects, sprang up, and his children spread to feed on the Plants of Darkness, and each other. Most importantly, when Dehore placed his hand on the Man Rune, Kiger Litor, Mother of the Trolls, came into existance. It is important to note that trolls ritually state Dehore simply grasped each rune to create the first god of each, but that he "stirred the sweet essence of Kiger Litor", implying that trolls somehow embody the Darkness more fully than other creatures of Darkness through a more prolonged contact.
More Creation activity follows, as Dehore finds Mee Vorala and Gorakikki had found the Fertility Rune before Dehore, and when he touches it, Korasting, the Mother of Many, is produced-this is important, because it explains why the reproductive functions of fungi and insects are inherent aspects of those gods, but Kiger Litor creates the trolls through interaction with Korasting, bearing the First Litter-the Seven Sacred Ancestors.

The trolls spread and fill Wonderhome, as they call their native realm, and enjoy a paradise of plenty, bliss, and peace. Dehore finds all the Runes, and somehow births the goddess Subere to hide them, as some things are best left in Darkness. This decision comes after Mee Vorala comes into possession of the Man Rune, and births the black aldryami. It should be noted that trolls have an ancient alliance with the black aldryami that does not extend to other aldryami, who are seen as both abhorrent and unnatural. Once all this is done, he finds nothing else to do, and he weeps, his tears forming Styx, the Dark Waters, who also takes up the Form Runes, creating sea plants, marine life, and merfolk as she touches the Plant, Beast, and Man runes, before leaving Wonderhome to wander the lands beyond, where she births all the waters of Reality, guided by Rokag, a troll who becomes the god of exploration and patron of sailors.
Before leaving, Styx and Dehore mate and birth a daughter, Asrelia the Earth Witch, who is goddess of subterranian depths, caverns, and the "wealth of the deep earth". Asrelia is either given or steals one of Kiger Litor's children, the male Qualyorni, who she raises as Moorgarki in her secret cavern. Apparently, Styx is impregnated again by person or persons unknown, as when she leaves Wonderhome, she not only births the waters, but also the Surface Earth, who is male, and mates with Styx again to produce Fire, the first element not generated in Wonderhome, and an unknown quality to the trolls for the remainder of this Age.
While the trolls do not mention it, they assume that the other Elements mate with each other in a natural progression, producing the Six Elements, and the Form Runes are passed among them, creating the various species and races. This does not take place in Wonderhome, so they qualify the rest of Creation with "as it was told to us." Fire and Earth were passionate in their lovemaking, killing many until their child, Air, got between them and forcibly separated the two, impregnating his mother Fire and separating her from his father Earth, so she grew distant and became Sky, where she birthed the last element, Moon. Fire/Sky was deeply loved by Earth, and made Empress of Reality, and she and her children the Sky People roamed the heavens with her daughter Moon.
Sometime after this, Asrelia brings Qualyorni to the Surface, where he hunts and eats, ravaging the Surface Earth, until he is hunted down by Pamalt and his tribe. The volcano god Lodril strikes Qualyorni with his Burning Spear, and he flees to Asrelia's caverns, where he is tended and given the instructions that allow him to close the Burning Wound, dominate the volcano god, and somehow father the race of muri on Lodril. The muri are the first major deviation from the line of Kiger Litor, and are generally not considered of "the Folk", as the trolls call themselves, for millenia to come. That he changes his name from Qualyorni, "the Cold One", to Moorgarki, "Father of the muri", reflects this, as does his keeping Lodril as a slave and forcing his way into Pamalt's tribe with Asrelia's sponsorship, some tales saying he fathers the muri at his adoption ceremony, securing his place in Pamaltela's tribe and separating himself from Kiger Litor's.
The separation of the muri is followed by the separation of the sea trolls, who are born from a daughter of Rokag and Magasta, father of the merfolk. These two remote offshoots of the troll species hide in hidden wastes, watching as the other races spread and warred for dominion, while the main lineage of trolls remained in Wonderhome, away from the struggles.
This isolation would have a price, as the trolls were ignorant when a lesser darkness diety, Argan Argar, sold a secret of Darkness to Humakt, who sneaked into Wonderhome and stole Death from Dehore's chambers. This minor theft was not noticed at first, nor was the invasion, as Grandfather Mortal, the template for all sentient life, allowed the weapon to be tested on him, sending him to Wonderhome.
The second visitor would be more noticed. When Yelm was sent to the Underworld, bleeding and in pain, her rays withering and destroying all they touched, the trolls were decimated, a remnant of a remnant escaping to the Surface, burned and scorched by the alien goddess. Wonderhome was shattered, the trolls forced to flee, and the First Age closed with the Great Exodus.

[Ordo Drakul]

The Finding of the Sun
Long ago, in the Perfect Age, Zorak Zoran and his twin sister Xiola Umbar went looking for their brother, Zong, who was known to wander the length and breadth of the land, hunting as was his wont. Though there was no need to hunt in Wonderhome, Zong still did so for the pleasure to be had in stalking unseen. As they sought out their brother, they encountered Argan Argar, who also liked to wander, though he was more of a tourist, who travelled only to offer stories of unseen realms to those with food or other gifts.
They met amicably enough, and Argan Argar offered to guide them to distant parts of Wonderhome in exchange for a few tidbits, for Argan Argar was not truly a hunter or gatherer, but loved to barter. Xiola Umbar gave him some fine beetle legs to chew, and he lead them to a distant place, where Things waiting to be Born resided, bundled up carefully and incubating, waiting for their time to come, for all things are birthed in Wonderhome first. One of the bundles seemed strange, as it was warm to the touch, and the three poked at it.
"It is new life, and should not be disturbed lest we deviate it from it's proper course." Xiola Umbar pronounced, as she was the only female and thus, the first to speak.
"Perhaps it has some value-we should unwrap it and see." spoke Argan Argar, for he was forever curious about unknown things.
"It is a future enemy-I will destroy it now, while it is weak." said Zorak Zoran, and he unwrapped the bundle to devour it's contents. The bundle held the nascent Sun, and Zorak Zoran was horribly burned, and ran off into the Darkness to heal, howling in pain and rage.
Argan Argar turned away, but drew close enough to rewrap the Sun, that it would cease to plague Wonderhome and develop into whatever it should.
However, Xiola Umbar had watched from a safe distance, and seen what was to be. Though she never spoke of it, she became a healer in that moment, and devoted herself to mending each hurt and ending pain from that time forth. This is why Xiola Umbar is called "Keeper of the Secrets of Light".


Moorgarki comes to the Surface
Long ago, in the Perfect Age, the Earth Witch Asrelia walked Wonderhome, where she garnered the secrets of the Deep Earth in apprenticeship to Subere, Keeper of the Secrets of Darkness. Asrelia learned much, and grew wise in the ways of magic, in the brewing of potions and the singing of metals, and soon retreated to her own caverns when her apprenticeship was ended. Just as Styx had left Wonderhome with Rokag, a grandson of Kyger Litor, Asrelia thought it was her due to leave with a troll companion, and as she had studied long and hard under Subere, she felt nothing less than a son of Kiger Lytor's was suitable for her.
By means of the knowledge Subere had taught her, she lured the babe Qualyorni from his mother's cave, and took him away, to her own caverns in the Deep Earth, where she raised him as her own, tending his needs and caring for him that he would grow to be more than a companion, that he would grow to be a Good Son, as her own daughter had left to raise a family of her own. Qualyorni grew large and strong, and one day, Asrelia went to visit her family on the Surface, and asked Qualyorni to remain in her caverns, to guard her secrets from intruders. Being a Good Son, he agreed, and stayed in the Cavern of Wealth, to protect it for one he thought his mother.
Bidding her safe journey, he settled himself to guard, but being yet young, he fell asleep, and as he slept, thieving dwarfs, the spawn of Mostali, sneaked into the Cavern of Wealth, and made off with many of Asrelia's secrets. When Qualyorni woke, he noticed the strange smell of the dwarfs, and saw they had stolen much from the cavern, so he tracked them by smell to their tunnels, where he slew many and took their loot, returning it to Asrelia's Cavern. When he put everything in it's place, he noticed the dwarfs had made off with the Secret of Singing Metals, so he set out again to find the survivors and return the secret to Asrelia.
He tracked them all the way to the tunnels of Lodril, where he had the bad fortune to encounter Pamalt and his tribe. Seeing him as a marauder, they attacked as one, and Qualyorni was struck down by Lodril's Burning Spear, which pierced his side and burned the fat from his body. Shredding and tearing his way to safety, he made it all the way to the Cavern of Wealth before collapsing. When Asrelia returned home, she found him there, and tended his wounds.
He was most grievously injured, rambling in his pain, when she soothed his wounds and applied a poultice that sent his soul into the Spirit Plane, that his body's pain might heal without damaging his soul. While there, he rambled and prophesied, and, from hearing his prophesies, she knew what must be done, and did her best to heal him, for he had been a Good Son, if negligent. When he awoke, she had healed all his wounds save the gash in his side from the Burning Spear, which would not close. When he was lucid, she told him only the heat from the one who had inflicted that wound would cauterize it enough that it should heal, and told him what he must do.
Binding the wound that it would not bleed, he silently crept his way to the volcano where Lodril made his home, and waited for that god to return. When Lodril came home to find Qualyorni there, he raised up the Burning Spear--and Qualyorni slapped it away. The angry volcano attacked, and the battle was fierce, but Qualyorni beat him unconscious, then, on Asrelia's advice, held the Burning God's body against his own, close enough the heat of his flesh cauterized Qualyorni's wound, and it finally began to heal. He then made a slave of Lodril, and kept him for his own amusement, living in Lodril's mountain, until, as happened in this age, Lodril bore him children. Not proper troll children at all, but the dark and lean muri. When Qualyorni took his children to Asrelia, she smiled, and named him Moorgarki, for he was the Father of the muri.
He has kept the name since, and kept Lodril as his slave, and they still live in Lodril's mountain.

The First Kozoru
Long ago, in the Perfect Age, Kyger Litor had many husbands. Many were the trolls and spirits who sought to be among her husbands, and she mated with both troll and spirit, and helped birth many races of the Darkness. And one of the greatest of these husbands was Zukozor.
Now, Zukozor was a great warrior, and a champion of the hell spirits, one of the brothers of Adzurana. He was powerful, and if he was not a match for Kyger Litor in power, he was a match in bravery and devotion. Many were the Mothers who envied Kyger Litor her good fortune, for this was a husband of great worth.
Now, Subere the Mother of Secrets had much to do, for the world was young and there were many things that must be kept away where no one could find them, else they could do much harm. And she went to each of the great deities of the darkness, and she begged the boon of them that they aid her in her tasks. And each agreed, and many spirits and heroes were sent to hide secrets, or trap them, or to simply guard them and keep others away. And some of them are still at this, to this very night.
Now, Subere took Zukozor, and placed him as guard over one of the greater secrets. This she hid deep in the Underworld, where no outsider could come, and few trolls would go. And she bade Zukozor to guard the secret while she did other things, and she went away for a while.
Now, Zukozor was content, at first. But as can sometimes happen, he was a good husband when his wife was there, but after she left he grew resentful. He was a great and powerful warrior, but left to guard something that no one wanted -- a secret that Subere would not share even with him. How could Kyger Litor trade him away so easily? Did he not belong at her side? He grew bitter, and he paid no attention to what he should do -- and he did not see that Argan Argar found this place, and knew how to reach Wonderhome: for Zukozor had been left here to guard one of the hidden approaches, the approach that Death would take.
Now, when Argan Argar returned to the world above, he sold the secret of this path; and the Storm Gods crept in and stole Death, the secret Zukozor guarded. And Zukozor was the first creature of Darkness to see Death; and it shook him to his core.
Now, at first he would stand to fight Death, and perhaps he could even have driven it off. But the resentments and bitterness fled back -- why should he be destroyed? Why should he suffer? What did he owe any others? Had not Kyger Litor left him here, with the Hell Hag? And Zukozor did not fight, but begged Death to spare him; and Death spared him, and made him his own servant.
Now, when the trolls saw that Death had come among them, Subere knew what had happened. And at Hanroo field, when the Butcher Sun slaughtered the creatures of darkness, Subere found Zukozor fighting at Pain's side; and she struck him down, and drew out the darkness from him, so that he would never again be a creature of darkness. And Zukozor begged the Butcher Sun to help him; but the Painbringer laughed, and said that she needed nothing from the Darkness. And so Zukozor dragged himself away, and found a place where he could be alone with his pain, cast out by both Darkness and Light.
Now, Zukozor was hurt grievously, but he could not heal, for Subere had taken that part of him. And as he lay in his place, he saw a wounded troll; and he sprung up, and wrestled that troll to the ground, for great was his anger. And when he laid hands upon that troll, he felt his pain and hunger for life diminish, for he sucked that life right out of that troll. And he grew strong, and he vowed then that he would live forever, and never die, and that just as he had owed nothing to no one, so now did everyone owe something to him. And after he was done devouring that troll, he cast it forth, for it too was now an empty thing that needed to take from others to live. This was a great mockery, for Zukozor made life into unlife, and tainted creation, and called this thing his son.
Now, this is how the first kozoru came to be, and they are foul things. Kyger Litor hates her Bad Husband, and she bades us to kill them when we see them. Adzurana hates her Bad Brother, and sends her furies to hunt his children. And Subere hates her Bad Guardian, and Darkness everywhere rejects and weakens him.

Karrg and the Butcher Sun
Now, this is a story about the Worst Thing, when the Butcher Sun came to Wonderhome. A million infants she slaughtered with her terrible gaze, ten thousand infants did she rip from their mother’s wombs. She took Paradise, and left Death and Slaughter in her wake, and sometimes if you stand in the Su-Caves and smell, you can still find the stench of those she cooked alive.
Now, when Komosha came, she desired nothing else more than to become Mistress of the Underworld, for she was a grasping and greedy sort. And in Wonderhome, Kyger Litor had that honor. So she knew she must take up Kyger Litor, and devour her, or enslave her, or rape her, and thus steal her position and her power. And Kyger Litor could do nothing to resist this, for she must complete the magics that would let her take her people from the False Hell, and flee the Slaughter of Infants.
Now, the Armies of Darkness marshaled to resist Komosha, and she burned them down where they stood, ignoring their efforts. Instead she drew ever-closer to Kyger Litor, longing to consume her power and become Queen of Hell. She drew nearer and nearer, until Karrg leapt into her way, and stood before his mother.
“Now, Komosha, O Enemy, know that if you wish to kill my mother, you must kill me,” said Karrg.
Now, the Enemy just smiled at this, and reached out with one terrible burning hand, and knocked Karrg away. And with blood dripping from her mouth, she reached once more to take up Kyger Litor.
“Now, Komosha, I am not so easy at that!” And Karrg leapt back before Komosha, and stood before his mother. And the Enemy snarled at this, and blasted Karrg with her vision, burning and tearing at that Good Son. And the Enemy laughed with a sound like a thousand mothers keening for their lost babes, and drew back one of her spears of light to impale Kyger Litor.
Now, again, Karrg stood. “There remains breathe in my body, Foul One, and I will not let you kill my mother!” And Yelm stabbed at Karrg instead, and shattered Karrg’s shield.
Now, a hundred times the Enemy reached to take up Kyger Litor, and a hundred times Karrg leapt into the way. And so finally, when Kyger Litor finished the ritual, the trolls took up Karrg. More dead than alive, more wounds than flesh, Karrg had not beaten the Enemy, and had been wounded so badly that it would take half the Exodus for him to regain his strength. But he stood between his family and their foe.

[Ordo Drakul]

Oldest of the troll Orders is the Sacred Motherhood, and template for all Orders to follow. The Sacred Mothers evolved slowly-a certain female would be taken under Kyger Litor's wing for training, and then went out into the further reaches of Wonderhome with her clan or tribe to form colonies. With the guidance of a Sacred Mother, aided by spirit communication with Kyger Litor herself, the colony thrives and remained truly trollish.

The Sacred Motherhood is universal among trolls-all trolls are inducted upon birth, during their Naming Rites, but only females who have borne live young may advance within the Order. When a female who has borne live young desires to advance within the Order, she presents herself to the priestess/shamans, and takes a vow to breed at least one year in seven, and her path through the Order begins.

Initiates to the Order include any troll, but the Acolyte rank, commonly called "Maidens". They still maintain their everyday jobs-a weaver is still a weaver, a smith still a smith, etc., but now they are also Initiates of the Order. Certain ceremonial functions are performed-blessing of crops and hunting grounds, seasonal necessities as the region requires, and also memorizing the tales and songs of the trolls, and sitting as jurors in public trials, to learn how the laws works.

Eventually, she progresses enough in her studies to ascend to the rank of Priestess, commonly called "Mothers". The Mothers typically travel, seeing other cities and communities, comparing them with her own. Still bound by the vow of birthing every seven years, the Mother also begins to argue the law, often serving as a spokesman in public courts. Mothers make their way by mastering illusion and public speaking, bringing news of distant lands and the old stories and songs, amusing the public and eventually arguing the law before the courts. The religious functions at this rank are continued, but the Mother is most likely to be an assistant to the main priestess.

After years or decades of this roaming lifestyle, the Mother ascends to the rank of High Priestess (the "High Hags" in common parlance). These are the judges of troll society,steeped in magics of truth detection and summoning of spirits. The Mother's familiarity with illusion helps here, as the High Hag learns to strip away illusion and get to the core of a matter. In matters of religion, she is foremost in dealing with the spirits for the good of the community.

If a High Hag is accused of misusing her status as a judiciary, a tribunal is called-if found guilty, she is sewn into a sack with a rooster, a serpent, a pig, and an ape, the whole bound in lead chains and drowned in a well. After, the animals are lovingly returned to the Cycle of Life, and the offending High Hag's remains forged into a gavel and base, her spirit forced to serve as a judiciary advisor spirit and trapped within, and she serves thus for all eternity.