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>A continuation of a quest, from the previous thread!

>>5670901

>As well, a pastebin with relevant character information for the troll adaptions that you have mutated so far from your own adventures;

https://pastebin.com/urKeXrPB

>>5707096
>Run away big fast! You don't know what to make of this bunch, and you'd rather fall back to the safety of the village before reacting.

>>5707096
>Talk big fancy! Maybe these dum-dums will heed the words of the rightful ruler of these parts!
Make fun of them. Tell them they're wearing pauper armor and they picked their weapons out of the same barrel.

nice art btw

>>5707096
>Talk big fancy! Maybe these dum-dums will heed the words of the rightful ruler of these parts!
Worth a go. If it fails, we'll do what we must. Be reasy to fight, even if it impedes our diplomacy, such as by drawing a weapon or hefting a rock.

>>5707096
>>Talk big fancy! Maybe these dum-dums will heed the words of the rightful ruler of these parts!

Amazing opening art; did you commissioned it?

>>5707098
>Talk big fancy! Maybe these dum-dums will heed the words of the rightful ruler of these parts!

>>5707328
>>5707175
Thanks! I only found it though, all credit to the artist.

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>>5707391
>>5707328
>>5707189
>>5707175
>>5707160

>Talk big fancy! Maybe these dum-dums will heed the words of the rightful ruler of these parts!

Any other troll would surely fly to violence at any such provocation as this! And in truth, you probably would have done so in times past. But now you are a proper and regal troll, all civ-il-ized and... fancy! As hungry as you are looking at these adventurers, what a tasty meal they would make, you feel some obligation to at least try and not simply smash and kill as your first response.

So for all your big troll smarts, it's time to act big troll fancy! Only the most intellectual and elegant response will suffice.

"-wait little'uns! Strogga isn't Strogga!"

"...what?"

"It can talk?"

Damn it all, how do the humans and others say it, instead of one's own name... ugh, it hurts your head to think this hard about something. Only luckily was your response similarly confusing to the adventurers to catch them off guard.

"Me am... I is... uhhh... Strogga some other troll! Under the river bridge!"

"...trolls are supposed to live under bridges, aren't they?"

"Is the reward not for just any troll? It has to be for this 'Strogga' monster?"

By no means nervous, but you try and stand confidently before the assembled group of violent opportunists all the while anxiously awaiting some response as they deliberate over your response. Ever so subtly gripping for your new big wooden club just in case.

Eventually though for whatever reason, perhaps simply because your initial response was so strange and unexpected to them, the adventurers argue themselves in circles till indecisiveness. It seems rather stupidly plain even to you, but to them it may be worth investigating if there is another troll before committing to attack you.

And so in the end, there's some hollered threats your way about their returning and for you not to leave the area, but finally the befuddled group depart for the river.

"Huh huh huh... little dum dums, no one is smart-er than Strogga! Ouch!"

Feeling quite proud for your success of talking the enemies out of violence, you happily swing your fist skyward in triumph and end up bonking your head with your held club in the process. Even a knot on the head though won't detract from your supreme intelligence, surely the biggest smarty around these parts.

Although, smart enough to realize that you didn't really solve the problem but merely delay it. You'd prefer to finish your lazy afternoon stroll about the area, but know now that there are hostile adventurers about! Your fancy outsmarting them has only bought time but then, time is all you need to prepare. No longer the risk of being caught unawares like that had you at first.

Now you can return to town for help, or head elsewhere decide how to deal with this new menace... if and when the adventurers return with committed hostility.

>Wat do?

>>5707599
>Follow them and lead them on a wild goose chase to all the places "Strogga" could be.

>>5707604
>That, but always send people saying how beautiful, smart and helpful "Strogga" is

>>5707604
>>5707605
Support. Set up a series of red herrings hat always lead to a grateful villager talking about all the good we did. Sub in our tamed bandits if necessary.

>>5707599

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>>5708053
>>5707605
>>5707604

You managed to deflect the attention of the adventurers for a time, but who's to say you can't sway them to something else altogether with some more cleverness? They're on the hunt for some big nasty troll monster you assume, but what if that troll turned out to be not so bad? What if rather than bad, that troll was actually pretty great and the new queen around these parts? You've no shortage of humans about to confirm such things and make clear all the good you've done, not at all a horrible monster worth some reward for killing.

Whatever it may take if there's any chance of convincing these wandering ruffians towards something beneficial or even cooperative. You've obtained the favor of various people about the area, but not yet a group of adventurers... how curious that would be!

So, with the troublesome group already gone on their way, you can make your way into town proper rather than just skulking about the outskirts. Seeing who you can find for help in this matter.

"Well if they're travelers with no approval from the... or some baron, the sheriff could have them all arrested."

"Strogga don't want trou-ble with ad-ventur-ers if poss-ible. Dav-ith help change dum dum's minds and bring other humies from around for more help."

On short notice you try to come up with a good plan, and manage to find your old lackey Davith in town. One of the few humans around here you can simply approach and interact with evenly, without fear or trouble. If he can gather the rest of the former-bandit group and some volunteers from the village, then you may be able to pull of this hastily formed scheme of yours. By which the adventurers will led astray in a futile search for their sought-after target, and all the while you'll have locals and fellow humans to claim and convince of what a fine and favored ruler you are! Or, that this "Strogga" is.

That's the plan at least, gods know if the tables were turned then this same plan would work against you, you think. Just in case though, while your lackeys gather themselves and support you make a quick detour to your barn-house to fetch your reworked springald siege weapon. And wise enough to not just walk right up to the adventurers wielding it, you'll try and find a place near to the bridge to hide it if need be.

---

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---

"We looked high and low all across this bridge, there ain't no 'Strogga' troll here!"

"No? Big strong and big pretty and big smarty Strogga must have known ad-ventur-ers were com-ing! Strogga must have moved some-place else! Come and fol-low, Stro... me am know where Strogga may-be is!"

"What is this shit, ring around the roses?! I'm starting to think there's only one troll around these parts."

By the time you reach the bridge, behind your assembled lackeys, there's already some commotion about. It seems that the adventurers were initially led astray by confusion from your greeting to them, but they aren't as dumb as you may have hoped to continue being diverted. Or more simply, they lack the patience and manners for distractions. Here for money, here to kill. It is a shame because your plan did seem like a good one and your half of the scheme was working; your lackeys and some volunteer townsfolk traveled to the bridge ahead of you in a small crowd, and were busy singing your praises to the adventurers. The problem with the plan looks like it was with the other half, the adventurers themselves. Who seem to have only been further and further annoyed by your side's noble efforts.

Maybe if these miscreants were a more civilized bunch, as with groups you've encountered before. This bunch though, they seem pretty rough and brash.

"No! No no no, me am al-ready said! Strogga some other troll, the best troll in all the world so ad-ventur-ers won't catch so eas-ily!"

Towering above your gathered crowd of friendlies with an impressive voice to plead your case, you speak as convincingly as to perhaps nearly dissuade the adventurers a little longer. They don't look happy and argue together but maybe you can stall a fight just a little longer.

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And then a local farmer from beyond town, not privy to this situation unfolding, happens along the bridge.

"Good morning Strogga!"

"Good mor-ning humie!"

Oh wait... damn it all.

"I fokin knowed it! That's the monster!" pipes up one of the adventurers.

"How many times did I have to tell you, what are the chances of two trolls around some pisshole village like this?"

"Awwrite monster, time to die!"

Well it had been a good plan you think, but you simply didn't have enough time to plan for every potential flaw. Unfortunately it seems now that conflict may be inevitable as the adventurer group are angry now more than just annoyed, where an attempt at negotiation or bargaining might have been possible otherwise. Still, if nothing else your plan did buy you time to better prepare a little; to relocate everyone to your bridge rather than out in the wilds beyond town, to fetch some weapons of yours, and to gather some allies for the fight.

On the other hand though these enemies aren't easily trifled with. You've encountered and fought adventurer groups trying to kill you before, and they always prove to be quite dangerous. How easily you might have died in those battles before, rather than your foes. With five of these hostile outsiders; a warrior-looking and barbaric-looking pair of humans, a priestly-looking and obviously sorcerous pair of elves, and a roguish orc. Personally you can expect a life or death challenge, but along with all your lackeys and townsfolk you have some worry of collateral damage and unwanted deaths. But then again, against enemies like these you may want all the help you can get.

At least you can make the first move if you want to, since the now-hostile adventurers are towards the other side of the bridge from you and yours.

>Wat do?

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>>5708623
Feel free to formulate a battle plan, as to your own actions and if/how you want to involve your allies, and go ahead to roll 1d100 for the effort!

>>5708623
>unleash the springald upon them
Unlikely to do much actual damage to small, mobile targets, but we might get lucky; if nothign else, it should create some shock and/or awe. Then...
>attack
>call upon our allies to attack
>promise big rewards from our trade and loot to anyone who kills or captures an adventurer
It's what humie leaders do, right?

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>5708625

Rolled 35 (1d100)

>>5708623
>hunker down in a defensive stance, have allies pelt them from range with whatever they can shoot/throw, and hit hard whenever you see an opening

>>5708623
Challenge them in our smartest, and high bearing voice possible
Would you like to be arrested or eaten?

Then when the mages/ranged people are on the bridge, destabilize it with the unlocking ring and smash them into the river where we would have an advantage

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>5708635

>>5708625
>Focus the shot on the elves.
We outsmart, outstrength and outlimber the fighters, they're not a big threat. Rogue is too slippery for a projectile to hit, real danger comes from magical light benders.

>Ask humies underling to avoid getting engaged in melee and throw their pitchwork, daggers, use their slings
Harmless to us, psychological shock and efficient on the suckers in the other side

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>>5708668
>>5708640
>>5708635
>>5708634
>>5708632
>>5708631

>76

With the adventurers already on the charge you don't have a lot of time, but can can at least call for your gathered allies to remain on the defensive and avoid extending themselves for risk of getting hurt or worse. The lot of them crowd your side of the bridge so that when you withdraw behind them to go and fetch your spingald hidden down behind the bridge, the charging adventurers can't get past.

"Damn it all, outta' the way!"

"I'll kill any of you I have to, if you're protecting that monster!"

Not really impeded by the defense of the villagers but rather an initial hesitation to attack civilian sorts, and fellow humans. Only a momentary hesitation though, as the barbarian is about to cleave his way through the crowd when you return just in time. Hefting the great gnomish contraption, although you tower above everyone and could shoot it above their heads, just to be safe you call for the crowd to part ahead of you.

And with some careful aim, having had several days of practice since re-obtaining it from the passing gnomes, you fire the device at the enemy.

"-oof... ha ho! Look at that elvie, dead just like that!"

The resounding noise of a heavy metal twang cuts through the area, the siege engine loosing it's heavy projectile with force enough to knock you back off your feet. When you were bigger and bulkier you would have managed just fine, but your adapted elven physiology makes using the weapon a difficult task even with practice.

But of course the important detail isn't how it affects you, rather how it affects the enemy. A siege bolt launched with such force that at this (relatively) close range on the other end of the bridge, it punches clear through the target and embeds somewhere in the road some hundred yards beyond... or perhaps even a tree of the forest beyond that.

Not even a shield of magical energy could protect the target, the elven sorcerer in this case, as you witnessed the magic barrier shatter to the siege bolt. Sadly you don't get a clear sight of the damage to the elf as even though the bolt just rips clean through him in an instant, such force of the projectile even in an instant also sends him flying a good distance from the bridge.

That he isn't moving isn't the surprising thing, it's that he has a torso left for his head and limbs to remain attached to. And for all of it, not even the chance for a death cry.

"-AHEM! Now then, ad-ventur-ers want to be arr-ested or eaten?"

"...L-Lewen! No!"

"Fokin monster you'll die slow for that!"

The pair of humans having almost reached you before firing your springald, dove out the way either side and stared in horror at what happened, while the elven priestess beside the sorcerer stands in shocked disbelief. Giving you the chance to reach your feet again and stand up regally to announce your challenging threat to the adventurers all.

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Now that they see that you are serious, it's not too late to avoid bloodshed... well, more bloodshed, if they surrender.

Unfortunately they take rather the opposite stance and instead fly to violent fury at the loss of their companion... by the look and sound of the human warrior, she must have been very close with the elven sorcerer even! Tears and blood fury as she and the barbarian jump up to continue and complete their charge at you. Weapons held and swung against you viciously, you try your best to defend with your club but the enemy weapons are magical. Maybe you could have fared better against these two fighters but your effort and attention is split with trying to defend your villagers and order them to remain on the defensive to make ranged attacks rather than rush in to protect you.

Your enemies have no such distractions, and together in their fury they might be too much for you to handle! A few hacks with her enchanted axe and your club is split to pieces, and as she has your attention the barbarian fellow is able to swing his mighty sword low and cut your leg off outright. Sure to follow up with your head after, now that you fall over unable to properly defend yourself.

"-AGH! Damn humies... come here!"

Among the ranged attacks from your villagers is a lucky thrown rock which hits the barbarian in the head, no harm done but a moment's distraction that he can't just lop your head off. In that moment and having tossed your club aside, you reach your arms out for a great big bear-troll hug for both the human fighters. The warrior herself chops your hand off, but for all the pain you suffer not enough harm is dealt to stop you from drawing the two enemies close, and rolling off the bridge into the river with them.

The water though it hurts your many grievous wounds, has all the worse result on the pair of humans; a troll is one thing but drowning is quite another. Until recently you were strictly a river troll and still retain aquatic adaptions, so you're perfectly able to fight underwater without hindrance while the humans suffer their typical aquatic shortcomings. Maybe on the bridge the pair of them together could have slain you but now it's your fight to lose, and how could you really? Your two opponents make an admirable effort, put up a decent struggle. But it's simply too easy for you to keep them submerged with you while crushing and ripping and biting them however you can, one-legged and one-handed regardless.

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When after some ten minutes a portion of the river is still clouded red, eventually you struggle to climb your way out of the waters and onto the bank. Dragging with you the pair of fighters... whether they died to drowning or your brutally savage underwater attack isn't clear, but you set what remains of them beside you to bloodstain the grass and rocks.

"-Strogga! Hey Strogga, we got 'em!" calls Davith from the bridge.

"Bastards got what was coming, we ought to kill these too!"

You're a little ways downriver of the bridge so the villagers have to shout to you, but by the look of things they managed the rest of the fight, the remainder of the adventurers on their own more or less. You'll need some time to regenerate your wounds and regrow your hand and leg, so your allies make their way from the bridge and dragging with them the two survivors. The roguish orc who they overran after you plunged into the river, and the elven priestess who fled in panic but was ridden down and caught by none other than sheriff Nevens who conveniently arrived to the fight after the victory was certain.

Among the small crowd of cheering villagers though, the pair of captives look worse for the wear and for good reason; despite the defensive effort and your presence, a few folks were unlucky enough to suffer attacks from the rogue and the priestess, and may not survive if they don't receive urgent care. For this the villagers have abused the prisoners quite badly while dragging them over to you, wondering what to do. Same as your previous cooperative battle effort, with your lackeys against the hostile knight, your allies loot what they can from the belongings of the adventurers. First and foremost seeking whatever magical healing resources they may have had, like potions. For serious injuries though... on such short notice it may be that only the priestess herself could save the grievously wounded from death, but between the beatings and the mix of fear and despair for how everything turned out for her here, it's only natural that she'd be reluctant to help. Either opposed for the deaths of her comrades, or simply in a state of shock to provide any help.

In any case though, a dire and bloody little battle it may have been but at great personal cost, you and your allies have triumphed. Yet another defeated adventurer group to notch your tail with, but for what greater purpose this group came after you... you're not sure yet. Wondering if, with your increasing renown could mean more hostile types coming to try and take your head. Gods know the little races have their respective love or honor for slaying "monsters".

>Wat do?

>>5709126
Along with deciding what to do, for your struggle against the adventurers, you've accomplished enough to mutate twice! Normally trolls undergo change based on their environment and diet, as you already know, but it can also happen as a result or need for survival in dangerous or harmful situations.

Thus your body can develop some adaption, not exactly Strogga's choosing but by player suggestion and agreement. Some sort of physiological change you can imagine to your body or mind, that would provide some useful benefit. If need be some choices can be provided, but creative player suggestion/brainstorming and agreement would be best. As per the list of mutations you have already adapted thus far;

>https://pastebin.com/urKeXrPB

>>5709129
Wat do?
>strip their gear, take anything actually useful to us and deposit them at the bottom of the river
>eat them but leave some fleshy bones and place them in the gear

Lets try to pretend they drowned via river fording a la oregon trail and spread rumors that they tried to avoid paying bridge tolls and river ferry fees by taking such a dangerous route or monster attack

Mutations
>regeneration
I guess faster regen

>healing magic

>>5709126
>Mutation one : Greater cunnings
>Mutation two : Greater charisma

Let's go the whole troll leader negociator road.

>Give the priestess a chance to live if she heals the wounded villagers
>Fuck, then eat the orc

>>5709126
>offer to release the survivors in exchange for them healing the villagers

>Mutation one : Greater cunning
>Mutation two : Greater charisma

>>5709204
>>5709502
A matter of these mutations suggested, greater cunning and charisma, is that they are traits of personality and thinking. As your actions are your own, how charismatic and cunning you are can depend on how much you choose to be/write in responses.

You can still take them if you want and be provided with such options when it's relevant, but you don't need to take adaptions if you want to be more cunning and charismatic, you just simply have to act/make actions that way.

>>5709538
Am >>5709204
Strogga still lack in the gray cells account and the persuasivity.
I want the mutation to grasp concept like articulate speech, including things such as linking words, prepositional usage and tense sequencing on the charisma side. Like the troll getting as articulate - or maybe a bit more - than the average human.
Greater cunnings means never slip up like the lines :

Come and fol-low, Stro... me am know where Strogga may-be is

or
"Good morning Strogga!"

"Good mor-ning humie!"

We are keeping the trolling and cunning in the hand of the player, but I want the troll to mutate to reflect more of that.

>>5709568
That's sensible, thanks for the clarification!

Although just to note, Strogga's disjointed speaking of words isn't for lack of eloquence but simply because of having tusks. Fine for troll speech, same with orc and goblin speech as linguistic cousins, but difficult for the common language of the humans and such.

I have no idea what these remaining amateur adventurers must be thinking right now. Not only did they get japed by a fucking TROLL, but one of their friends got eviscerated right in front of their eyes by a fuckhuge springald and then got the shit beaten out of them by the village for attacking THE TROLL. Who would believe them back at the bar?

>>5709126
>wat do?
Loot the adventurers and send them on their way IF the priestess heals our friends. If she can't or won't, public execution and private devouring.

Also, reqard handsomely the villagers who helped, and recompense the families fo those who lost lievd ones, from our loot or (better yet) the adventurers'.

>Mutations
Greater Regeneration: heal fastrr than average for a troll
Greater Charisma: further imprivement to our speechcraft and linguistic centres, the better to lead humies with like we did today

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>>5709621
>>5709607
>>5709568
>>5709502
>>5709204
>>5709155

Before seeing to anything else, you want to make sure your humans are taken care of and survive their wounds from the battle. They fought and risked their lives for your sake, something you're not used to in your life besides family when you had it. Unfortunately even if someone went and hurried to fetch either the local priest or apothecary, it doesn't seem likely that help would arrive in time to save some of the more severely wounded villagers. You reminder yourself of course, that humans and the other smaller races are weak and fragile compared to you, they can't shrug off lethal harm like you can.

So while some potions and elixirs from the belongings of the adventurers can help, the real deliverance is needed from the elven priestess. She, battered and terrified, brought before you... as you sit on the river bank with the dead remains of her comrades beside you.

"Just kill her like the others I say!"

"Damn elves, always causin trouble!"

The small crowd of your villagers gather about and express their opinions with mob mentality, but you have other ideas.

"Grrrrrr... priest lady can heal others? Elvie be-tter start pray-ing for gods to help, or Strogga will send to meet her gods!"

"-aich! D-Don't... don't touch me! P-Please... I will, I-I'll do what you want just... don't..."

With a ferocious growl you roughly grab the elf, needing only one hand to hold her up to your face. As fearful as she is, of course she shrieks and pleads for mercy... you expect better from an elf for all their arrogance, but it seems the sight of her friends being killed and brutally so has broken her high and preachy demeanor. Especially when you're handling her with their blood on your hand and face, and sharing it with her to stain her immaculate robes and mark her pristine body, with what's left of her comrades.

For either such a savage display, or the obvious threat of you eating her, she feebly tries to regain her composure when you let go of her again. Despite her shaky and despairing demeanor she does as you command and under supervision begins to reluctantly perform clerical duties. Some space afforded to her by the riverside while the most severely wounded are ordered by need. Although none of the villagers are happy with any of this... they regard her strange elven customs and faith with suspicion and ire, actual hostility is avoided when the priestess proves to be able to mend injuries and save lives with faith-healing.

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Sadly some of your humans refuse her help outright, the more faithful among your allies viewing the priestess as some blasphemous heretic, and for that it costs them. Though they have your respect and appreciation for their determination, one lad surely won't survive the return to town even with help, and another will probably never walk again. But for the most part otherwise, the casualties could be worse thanks to the enforced help of the priestess.

"What do we do with the dead ones Strogga?" Davith asks apart from the crowd, as the rest either seek restoration from the elf or return to town for help. You snort in amusement though, since Davith knows you well enough by now for the answer to his question to be obvious.

"Strogga will take and bury ad-ventur-ers prop-erly. No humies to worry about any of this, Strogga make disa-ppear."

You try to seem proper and pensive with your response, so that the humans can pretend otherwise about the truth and look the other way, since you're of course going to eat what you can of the dead adventurers. Probably even the living ones too, if you get your hands on the orc. Besides the fact that regenerating your health from terrible wounds is hungry work, you'd prefer to deal with this personally as much as possible rather than the village of Kasvald itself. The adventurers came here looking for you so you'd hate for anyone to get in trouble or suffer for your sake. It helps that sheriff Nevens, perhaps cleverly also aware of the situation, starts speaking and spreading the idea that the adventurers came as a threat to the town rather than just you specifically. If the people can believe this then you won't suffer as much animosity or any lasting grudges for this trouble that truthfully is your fault.

After all, you have very few supporters in Kasvald to begin with. Generally the people fearfully tolerate you rather than any love or loyalty, just this small crowd of allies all you may expect for help who knows how long remaining. Possibly forever due to some obstacles about you and your reign simply being too difficult for most to accept.

"More ad-ventur-ers for the river... ha ho! Look at this elvie!"

When eventually your hand regrows, you can at least hobble back to the bridge to grab what remains of your club and use it as a makeshift cane to walk with, until your leg regrows. In the meantime, the bloody work of gathering up the remains of the dead adventurers to carry across to the other side of the bridge... beyond town and to the treeline, away from your humans so that you can eat the bodies without upsetting anyone. And then to dump what little you leave into the river to wash away the traces. Laughing aloud for as impressed as you are, when you reach the dead sorcerer to pick up and his body just falls apart after such extreme damage from the springald's siege bolt.

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Sitting among the trees then and hungrily biting chunks out of the three... more like one and a pair of less-than-half bodies, you don't dwell on the whole situation too much. Times past you wondered why the smaller races wouldn't leave you alone, calling you a monster and groups of these adventuring sorts and others trying to kill you. Now though after enough of these encounters and continued hostility and bloodshed, you've just come to accept it as the way things are. Take the village of Kasvald, your humans for example. Even for all the good you've done for them, they still see you as a monster and probably always will. You could go and put an end to this war, reunite this human nation and lead in peace and prosperity as their new queen, and they would still speak badly of you behind your back and wish for the worst to befall you.

But the same as you wouldn't fault the river for flowing or hate the rain for falling, after all these years you don't hold it against the humans or others. Better to make the best of your situation, and despite all their shortcomings you still see and experience the best from the humans, compared with the other races, thus your choice to thrown in your lot with them... of course all trolls instead would be much better, the perfect ideal. But when's the last time you even saw another troll? There's more than a hundred humans in just this village, while you can't say you've met even fifty trolls your entire life. Shame about that, otherwise your kind would make for the strongest nation of all!

Just some things to ponder, while you eat your fill of your defeated enemies...

---

"I doubt this is a good idea troll, spoiling the townsfolk like this."

"Humies helped Strogga, Strogga want to thank them. Other humies can see, and may-be next time also help Strogga."

It's already sunset by the time you return to town after everyone else, first making sure to dispose of what little remained of the dead and going for a wash in the river so you're not covered in blood and gore. Your leg and any remaining harm to your body should be regenerated this night, back to health, but as usual you opt to sit on the periphery of the village square and watch. Better not to make people unhappy with your presence while they celebrate this victory of theirs. At least that's how you choose to portray it, asking the Lord Mayor to organize and oversee a small ceremony both to reward the victors and honor the dead. To those humans who helped you despite being the unwanted resident troll, you're willing to part with the valuables of the adventurer group. Professionally-made or even magic weapons and armor, clothes and items, and for the family of the dead man all the gold and silver besides that the adventurers had among them. And all the while with the orc rogue tied to a wagon for everyone to jeer at and toss rotten vegetables and such... though nothing lethal, you have plans for the orc yet.

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From the beyond all the commotion, sheriff Nevens sits atop his horse to also watch the ceremony and questions the wisdom of distributing such valuable goods among the locals. If nothing else it could be dangerous to arm them so, if they ever decide towards some sort of hostility or revolt. Though you can understand this worry from the sheriff, your appreciation for those loyal humans who rose to support you, is immense and heartfelt as to approach some maternal love or pride almost. For all the trouble and misery the humans can cause both you and themselves, they still manage to surprise you like this and restore some faith or hope in them. And for that you want them handsomely rewarded, especially those who made sacrifices for you... even if they believed it was for the good of the town rather than your own sake. All this, and of course it presents a compelling case to doubters and enemies here in town, for them to see your supporters treated so generously.

Let them celebrate their victory here in town, and you will celebrate at home later yourself. Besides this unexpected trouble and distraction from some adventurers however, come tomorrow you can return to normalcy along with the village. Or at least normalcy up till now. With all your efforts and endeavors in Kasvald progressing quite well, really the only obstacle that remains is the local human nobility. Yes, that troublemaker Baron Killear, still held up in his manor after all these weeks and still in open defiance of you. Now that you've stabilized and empowered the village to function well with or without you, you'd considered turning your sights elsewhere possibly. The next village over or even the prominent town of the region... your purpose, well you've been wondering how far you can go with this effort to become 'Troll Queen' of the humans. Kasvald is nice and all, but there's still a warring nation being torn apart by civil strife out there, that could benefit from your control. Or maybe just instead, you remain settled here and make Kasvald your regal seat, continue to improve things and maybe even have another family for yourself. A growing horde of troll-kin to enforce your rule, till eventually things get too cramped and then you can overrun all opposition!

Whether you leave or remain though, whatever you do the Baron will persist as a thorn in your side for as long as you allow him to be. Though you could just smash your way into his manor and kill him, or instead peacefully resolve things in harmony, but either way you'll want to do something about it sooner or later.

>Wat do?

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>>5709984
With the adventurer trouble more or less resolved then, things can get back on track for where the previous thread left off, as to your decision about what to do going forward in the longer term. Now that this village of Kasvald is stable and prospering for your efforts. For example, what you intend to do or don't do about the local Baron.

Besides this you can readdress any specific plans or details wanted since last time, as well as of course besides long term efforts, just simply what you want to do for the rest of the night and come tomorrow.

---

On a separate note, I will update the pastebin then with the chosen adaptions, as well as new magic power since the dead elf you consumed was a sorcerer and will empower you with the magic of his body.

Besides bodily changes as well, there's material rewards. Most of which you gave away to the townsfolk in thanks for their help, and to the family of the deceased. You kept at least something good for yourself though, that you can decide;

>Weapon, offense
>Clothing, defense
>Accessory, utility
>Artifact, aura effect

players can choose the type you think would be best for you to have, then see what you get. And if you want to, you can roll 1d100 to see how good of an item it turns out to be!

>>5709990
>Weapon, offense
our club did just get hacked to pieces, so we'd keep any replacement we found

how viable would it be to siege the baron? just like lmao no more food deliveries for you

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>5709990
>>5710029
forgot my item quality roll

>>5710029
Siege as in surround and cut off from contact or supplies? You haven't personally ventured to the Baron's manor so you can't know for sure what it's capable of, but by nature you would expect that enforcing a siege of the place would be easier than actually storming the place.

Especially since given your experience as a troll, you are quite experienced at blocking and bullying travel routes such as roads.

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>5709990
>Weapon, offense

>>5709984
>wat do?
Scout the baron's manor, with an eye towards siege ro diplomacy depending how it looks.

Get preggers (from captive elven champion, or our humie boytoy, either is fine but first is preferable).

If we want to start a troll brood, might I suggest trading our poisonousness in for fertility/fecundity, to birth a small litter or churn out babies faster?

Just some thoughts.

Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>5709990
>Loot
>Weapon, offense

>Wat do?

What about the dwarven stonemason we especially ordered?

Else,
>Send sheriff say the Baron an adventurer crew finally slayed the Troll and he's expected for a party at the village
Get the Baron out of the castle. Have a nice fest. Show up. See if he's so bold away from the castle or if he's okay with doing the paperwork to appoint us Bourgmeister For Real For Real - and learn how Humie Paperwork works.
Then, we can move on to the next town to "Pacify" - Asking our River Guild pal to spread good word about Strogga, and how she can bring a solution to most monster, bandits, or adventurer problem nearby. The goal is amassing funds for fortifying Kasvald. We'll need to pop off Kids to act as regents of village though.

>>5710064
>Poisonousness for fertility

Smart call.

>>5710115
>luring out the baron
Easier said than done, I suspect

>Spread the word of Strogga the Fixer
>Further fortifications
Both solid ideas, though. Support!

>>5710116
>>5710064
As you may already know, you are able to recoup adaptions in favor of different ones, if you should decide that some mutations aren't serving you well when something else could instead. With players consensus of course.

Though in this specific example you consider, you'd also want a consensus for other relevant details, like a worthy sire to benefit of such adaptions. Not much point adapting for cold resistance for example, and then traveling to a desert.

>>5710115
Any prior awaiting efforts/plans in place, such as a stonemason, you can see the success (or failure) of come this following day.

>>5710125
>>5710115
>>5710064
>>5710031
>>5710029
It seems that the majority choice is a weapon, so here are the possible options for you to choose from while I go about the next update;

>Giant Cleaver - A massively oversized sword by human standards, used by the barbarian but probably made for an ogre. It's not all that special magically-speaking, but it is the right size for you to use correctly.
>Bristle Shield - A fairly large spiked shield used by the warrior, although at your size it would only serve as a buckler. Still, you can use it as a weapon and it is enchanted to be utterly impact-resistant; whether a rock from a slingshot or a boulder tossed by a giant, the shield will not yield to any (mundane) attack.
>Night Quiver - An enchanted arrow quiver used by the orc, though at your size it could only hold one projectile at a time. When the imbued projectile strikes a target, a magical field of utter darkness is extended some-twenty feet around the projectile for several minutes.

>>5710554
>Night Quiver

I found the prospect of Ninja Troll with a full range of one-shot magical arrows utterly hilarious.

>>5710554
>Bristle Shield - A fairly large spiked shield used by the warrior, although at your size it would only serve as a buckler. Still, you can use it as a weapon and it is enchanted to be utterly impact-resistant; whether a rock from a slingshot or a boulder tossed by a giant, the shield will not yield to any (mundane) attack.

>>5710554
>Bristle Shield
Captain Kasvald is go!

>>5710554
>Bristle Shield
Regeneration aside, we're presumably shedding durability alongside our strength with our thinner build. The shield is probably for the best.

Hey all, apologies for the delay in posting. I'm progressing along with it, but this proved to be a much longer and detailed update than planned... I got a little carried away having some fun with the writing.

Just wanted to give a heads up, and to expect a lengthy update before long.

>>5710622
>>5710607
>>5710583
>>5710565
It seems like the shield then is the majority preference! To be added to your collection of artifacts, to use as you see fit.

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>>5710115
>>5710064
>>5710031

With the townsfolk to have their celebration into the evening, eventually at some point you can find the chance to sneak over and steal away a keg of booze and the captive orc. Back to your own barn to enjoy the night yourself after the nasty little conflict earlier in the day.

"Home a-gain now elvie, Strogga brought food and drink!"

"Ugh, more of this human gruel? Kasp'va if I would not kill for proper semly-seared venison and honeypine brandy... you would agree if you only knew, trolloc."

Your barn has felt a little lonely of late, since you freed the elven captives from your forest raid, after they kept up their end of the bargain and provided you with durable basilisk-leather for fancy clothes. Maybe a risk to take and you've wondered where they might get off to, but easier this way than having to keep them around always.

All there is then is Arandyll, your sole remaining captive. Champion of the destroyed elven enclave, you intend to hold onto him until his lover returns to rescue him. In the meantime he'll have to endure living with you... and in a way he is getting used to it. A week ago he'd kill you if he had the chance and always spoke ill of you, but the longer he spends around you now the more he is influenced by you. The psychoactive haze that your body emits, the barn is thick with it now like dust after enough time. And for Arandyll to be spending day and night here, even against his will and despite his resistance, is succumbing to the effect. Still not pleasant company but not as hateful and vicious anymore...

There's also Jacen, your bedmate from among the locals, but you recently allowed him to not be confined to the barn like Arandyll. Able to come and go in the village, he's spends his usual time elsewhere until you ask for him.

"Here orcy, eat and drink!"

"...what is this, poi-soned? We were en-emies be-fore, now we're hav-ing a drink?"

"Believe me of this orc, it takes some adjusting to."

Naturally the orc is dismayed after everything he's been through today, only for you to carry him home and throw him down to enjoy an evening and celebrate with you and Arandyll. Whether it's because he's a roguish sort or simply a stoic orc, he handles himself through all this hardship better than a human or elf would by comparison, but he still remains wary towards you and your hospitality. Only after both you and Arandyll already have some to eat and drink, does the orc consider joining you, but when he does it is hungrily so.

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Sorrog is his name, a decent-looking orc although a little smaller than average hence why he took to being a rogue in one of the human cities. At least until he was accosted by the same adventurer group for criminal activities, but then joined with them ever since. As his guard lowers through the evening with drink and encouragement, he has more than a few stories to tell about dangerous and fantastical places they had been together, and what threats dealt with. Up until hearing news of a troublesome troll disrupting the system of governance and power structure for this area. His group answered the call and offer of reward from Baron Killear and sought you out, although you all know how that turned out for him and his comrades.

By the sound of things though, your efforts towards Kasvald and in the area are making some of the humans quite upset in other places. The ruling sorts of humans at least, enough to offer great rewards for anyone able to eliminate you. Especially with the civil war taking place, when unity and upholding the system matters most. Not even so much that you're a troll, a "monster" to their eyes. You could be a fellow human same as the rest of them, but still would be a danger... the risk of yet another player in this war is too much to bear.

Well it's something to be aware of, but not something you care to worry about for now as you enjoy the evening spent celebrating your victory. Till eventually you run out of drink and feel bold enough for something else, staggering to your feet and dragging the orc by the leg to the opposite end of the barn. Seeking some privacy aside before throwing him among the hay, after having made sure he ingested plenty of antidote to your body's toxicity amid his drinking.

"Y-You- *hic* -you killed my part-ners, my f-friends! I won't give- *hic* -won't give what you w-want!"

"If orrrrcy don't... Strogga kill tooooo..."

The both of you might have gotten a little carried away drinking, you in celebration of victory and he in lament for his dead group. But that doesn't stymie what you're interested in, the opposite really. You've been so busy recently, trying to organize and improve even just a village of humans is a lot of work! All the time, even for a big smarty! Very little time to yourself, after a rousing victory such as earlier today you'd appreciate the chance to enjoy yourself. Otherwise what's the point of being in charge if you're always too busy to take it easy and enjoy things once in awhile?

That, and along with the drink, stir some feelings in you for Sorrog. It's been many years since you've seen a fellow greenskin, another person with tusks. Sure he's no troll, a scrawny orc by comparison... but when drunk enough, closer to your preferences than any human by contrast. At least he's able to enjoy an evening drinking with you unlike that sourpuss Arandyll, even after watching his friends die and even with their killer.

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Of course that doesn't extend to sharing a bed, or hay pile in this case, still viewing you as an enemy and holding a grudge. But considering the ultimatum you present... he'd rather not join non-orc comrades in death, if he just has to suck it up and bear a night with you.

And all things considered, you could do worse for a partner. Certainly you enjoy yourself at least, Sorrog better able to roll in the hay with you than a human or an elf. Clumsy and drunk, aggressive and angry, even if he is scrawny for an orc he's still tough enough for you to have fun with. Able to put in some effort and try different... things, without maiming or killing him. Rather than just laying back and having him do everything as you're used to, a little passion for once. Well, clumsy drunken passion anyway. And after a long while when you've worn yourselves out, you lay together in an exhausted, sweaty green mess.

"Damn troll, you kill my friends and then... this? You're evil... forcing me to feelings for you like this... maybe we could be evil together then? I've... I've got nothing else now because of you, might as well stay if you'll have me."

Late into the night, a little more sober after all that exertion together. The both of you panting for breath for it, but otherwise enjoying the pleasant afterglow of it all. Arms about one another as you lie among the hay and are able to properly converse in the dark with shared orcoid language.

"Mhmmmaybe, that might be nice... I'm pretty hungry after all that though..."

"Come on, I was being serious. Just think what we could do togeth- uhrk! Wh-what... what you doing?!"

Things were nice and comfortable relaxing with him atop you, until the mood quickly shifts when you harden your grip about him with your arms and he starts to panic. Surprisingly things actually turn into a fight as despite being scrawny for an orc he still puts up a strong resistance, and you're already scrawny for a troll. You grab for his neck with one hand, but with both of his he's strong enough to pry himself free. You try to trap him between your legs, but with a whole-body effort he's able to roll the both of you over. The two of you violently wrestle for control in the hay, a dark parallel to your earlier intimacy. Despite his martial skill however, eventually by your sheer strength and size you're able to maintain a hold of him against your body well enough to start taking bites out of him. Chomping into the orc wherever you're able as he howls in pain, and blood starts covering your naked bodies.

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In a dying effort he does put up an impressive fight and even tries to convince you to stop but it's only so long before he's missing whole bitten chunks of his body, and his life fades in your arms as you eat him alive.

"-I heard... bwuh, I h-heard screaming, trolloc? No t-trouble... fwuh, no trouble back there eh?"

"-mwagh... no! No trou-ble elvie!"

The barn's pretty big so from the opposite end you tend to have privacy, though pleased troll and orc moans may have been heard by Arandyll's keen elf ears. Either way he chose to keep to himself, but Sorrog's pained screams as you bit him apart must have been enough for the elf to at least approach your side of the barn, enough to call out and be heard. Hastily gulping down a mouthful of orc meat and blood, you dismiss any concerns so that Arandyll will continue keeping to himself on the entrance side of the barn.

Leaving you all the privacy you want to enjoy a late night supper of as much orc as you can eat! There's a reason you chose not to eat much at all earlier in the evening when the three of you were celebrating, instead just keeping it to drinks yourself. So you sit among the increasingly blood mess of Sorrog's body, as you hungrily continue to tear off chunks with your gnashing maw and bloody hands.

Admittedly you're quite flattered that the orc may have changed his mind, or even his feelings towards you after this lovely evening together. You're so used to everyone around you feeling only fear and disgust towards you... the feeling of disgust being mutual, as you feel towards them... so it was nice having the company of someone vaguely-similar to a troll you could actually relate to and feel something yourself for. But it's only temporary, and that's all that Sorrog could be to you, just some simple fun. One night of enjoying yourself, a wholesome enjoyment of victory and your heart-held standard for success; good food and drink, and good company with a comfy bed. All to feel fully satisfied with going to sleep each night, and Sorrog has done a fine job satisfying you! Nice and happy, and feeling good from being stuffed with orc meat... in multiple senses. The whole range of victory enjoyed, and all the sweeter for it as you slap your big bloody belly with a mirthful belch, and rummage about for any other keg of booze back here to empty while you lay down exhausted among the hay for a wonderful and well-earned sleep.

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Sure you could have managed something with the orc perhaps. But it isn't the orcs you chose to side with, it was the humans. Who you keep as a partner or partners isn't anyone's business but your own, however Sorrog couldn't have been more than a distraction. When was the last time you even saw other orcs, years or decades ago? Rare enough to not be worth seriously considering. No, the humans already have trouble accepting you even as little as they do, having an orc around would be too much. Would that you could enjoy yourself freely without restraint, things may have gone differently.

But as you're coming to learn and understand, among many things being a leader means sacrifice. To place what is better for yourself, ahead of what you desire for yourself. Something only a big smarty like yourself could understand, as you drift off to sleep feeling quite content and satisfied.

~~~

Some dark and moonless night, who knows how long ago. The glimpse of a bridge, and the village beyond with a few buildings ablaze. A marauding warband of orcs come to raid the human settlement, only to be stopped by the local bridge troll for harming her source of food and loot. In truth the warband of orcs could probably all together take on and slay the troll, but hold off on doing so at the order of their chief.

"See my bridge here? This is my territory! This bunch of humans around these parts, they're mine to bully so get lost... or I'll smash you all!"

"Don't be like that troll, we're all tusked brothers and sisters! Why not come with us? You seem smart for a troll, think of how much we could all plunder from these weaklings together!"

His hopes of the warband benefiting from this unexpected meeting, in the way that orcs will often have some monster along with their horde, such as a like-minded giant to join in the marauding. A troll would make for a fantastic ally in war, and as racial cousins to add troll blood to the clan upon return from this raiding foray.

The only question is, would the chief and his orcs be able to make an offer enticing enough to lure the troll away from her bridge to join them?

A dream? Or a memory...

~~~

"-by the Goddess, what happened trolloc?!"

"-oh, uhhh... he tried to kill Strogga while sleeping... yes, and... he got a-way in the night! But Strogga is o-kay, big tough troll! All healed up!"

Distant thunder wakes you by late morning, as you stir from the hay and hazy sleep. Without thinking you stumble over to the entrance side of the barn looking for something to drink, in the process affording Arandyll the sight of your huge naked form covered in dried blood. That's right, you killed and ate the orc while celebrating last night, you remember now!

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Well you hastily try to make up some excuse to the elf as to what may have happened, before hefting a barrel to fill with water to carry to the back of the barn. No need to worry about breakfast when you can just finish eating the rest of Sorrog's body to explain his disappearance, though you'll want to wash yourself off before getting dressed and heading out to the village for the day.

That's right after all, since the elves fashioned your clothes you've started having some care about your appearance, at least for the sake of how the humans see you. It seems they regard you as their potential leader better if you're not stomping about town in rags from your eaten victims, much less wearing nothing at all and covered in blood!

"Every-thing go-ing good? No trou-bles with the work?"

"Aye trogoth! I've worked with better before, most of me life, but I wager I'll have yer wall built on time. Ahead of schedule if ye fetch a work-crew of me kin!"

With all this concern about your enemies and yesterday after the adventurer attack, your attention to the town wall occupies your mind first and foremost. Thankfully the humans have more or less taken control of the effort without you, and though your help will always be welcome and beneficial (your size and strength makes everything easier) it isn't required anymore. Especially since you managed to hire a dwarven expert on the matter of stone, after the river traders of Kasvald spread the word and made the search. Normally dwarves would be reluctant to help non-dwarves in matters such as this, to share their craft. However this fellow, Baggor is young for a dwarf and so yet hasn't had the chance to earn his place in a dwarven guild or brotherhood of masons. In the meantime while honing his craft and gaining experience, dwarves in his position will sometimes lend their services to the taller races... for a price.

This also has the double benefit of freeing up more people, workers to be able to expand the village with more housing for the war refugees. Just wooden homes for starters so at least the people can have roofs over their heads rather than tents, but once the wall is to be completed then proper stone and mortar for permanent residences and citizens.

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With this particular matter seen to then, all that remains is that last issue. Perhaps the most pressing one, all things considered.

"Hrmm... the Ba-ron has a nice house! Strogga might want it after every-thing is done..."

"I dunno Strogga, them's a lot of soldiers..."

"And that's only what we can see... how many more inside? Actually maybe none inside, if I know Baron Killear."

Given the seemingly ever-distant nature of the Baron ever since your engagement within Kasvald, you'd assumed he would be far away. Though his manor is outside of the village itself, it's much closer than you would have expected, only some half-hour walk or less. You can somewhat understand why though, if being away from everyone and having more space from the village means having a big and nice home! All fancy-made with multiple floors and even an exterior wall. You've heard stories about those "castle" places the humans build, this must be one of those!

Admittedly you're a bit distracted then by the impressive abode of your rival, such that Davith and some other lackeys of yours are the ones doing most of the surveying and scouting for the property, the distance away that you all hide in the forest to observe from. Besides the fortification of the manor itself, it seems in all the time that you left the Baron to prepare he has amassed a decently sized little force of human soldiers. Probably comparable to the group of army deserters-turned bandits you encountered and fought in the forest ranges across the river. If you gave the Baron much longer, whether he gathered more supporters or not you can expect his force even as-is could probably make an attack on the village against you.

The one benefit though is that the lot of soldiers are not within the manor itself, or even the walls. They remain camped outside the place, probably until their effort here is completed. You expect that they might withdraw within the manor walls if threatened, but until such a time they keep outside. A closer look to see if you could determine how many notable combatants are among their force would be ideal, like if they have knights or wizards and such, but you yourself wouldn't be able to get much closer than this without being noticed and facing hostility.

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Then again, maybe it doesn't need to go that way? There's any number of things you could do to try and settle this conflict with the rival Baron, and some of your known humans believe diplomacy is possible. Seeing the soldiers you doubt it, but maybe you're wrong. The one thing you know however, is that you probably can't rely on the village for much help. Although they have proven willing to follow your leadership and governing in their own affairs, from what you know of them they wouldn't rise up against a fellow human noble (and their technical ruler) in favor of a troll. Helping you against bandits or monsters or even adventurers is one thing, but their former Baron is too much for the commoners... unless with extremely good cause.

>Try and make a siege of the manor, or at least blockade the roads and prevent travel and supplies to the place.
>It couldn't hurt to try a diplomatic approach? But you how you want to approach and convince the humans to treat with you, and what sort of negotiations you want to make... you'll have to carefully decide.
>Perhaps you could avoid much of the trouble if you can trick the Baron himself to interaction? Such as some ruse about the adventurer group and their success towards you, or some other wild scheme that may draw the man out of hiding?
>Rather than the Baron himself, perhaps you could interact with the military force? With or without them, determines how you can act towards the man in the manor.
>[Write-in.]

>>5710856
>Rather than the Baron himself, perhaps you could interact with the military force? With or without them, determines how you can act towards the man in the manor.
Ooo, interesting! If his entire force is mercenary at this point, we could perhaps convince them we are the surer horse to back in this time of conflict and uncertainty? We're bigger, stronger, smarter, and maybe richer by this point! at least, we can say so.

>>5710827
Jesus, Strogga.

>>5710856
>>Rather than the Baron himself, perhaps you could interact with the military force? With or without them, determines how you can act towards the man in the manor.

Cunning time!

>Ask villagers if they have brothers, husbands, nephew in the military. Get the good word of Strogga to them. Then arrange meeting when they come into the village.

>>5710856
>Rather than the Baron himself, perhaps you could interact with the military force? With or without them, determines how you can act towards the man in the manor.

we take his men and we take his castle!

>>5710856
>Try and make a siege of the manor, or at least blockade the roads and prevent travel and supplies to the place.

Prevent him from gathering more soldiers, and starve out the ones he has already.

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>>5710898
>>5710979
>>5711264
>>5711279

If nothing else you think that you could probably block the roads about the walled manor so that no further external aid is received. There is after all just one route which passes by the property, from who knows where to Kasvald itself so you personally should be able to stop and bully any outsiders from traveling here.

As a hostile action however, you'd at least want to see if you have a non-hostile option available to you. Partly in keeping with this sort of mental perception you've created about what a "proper" leader to the humans should be like and your struggle to follow that, and partly you see what you're capable of; for some reason you've been feeling more... charismatic this day passed.

Why not then, try to see if you can perhaps interact with the soldiers themselves? From what you understand, most of them would be outside aid requested by Baron Killear to help deal with the local troll menace. It could be a chance for you to learn how strong the unity is between the different human settlements and powerful figures.

"-AAGH! Troll!"

"Run! Run away!"

"...but Strogga only said hell-o..."

"That maybe could have gone better."

From this little scouting venture then, the obvious decision is to send some of your lackeys to try and lure some enemy soldiers away for you to be able to interact with personally. Better than you just wandering up to the manor and drawing hostility from the entire camp. As you come to find though after a couple attempts, the chances of you successfully dealing with any of the soldiers personally seems low. They take one look at you and immediately take to fear or violence despite your best efforts.

And it seems less because of their orders or reason for being here, but simply the sight of you. As you know the average human may live their lives never even seeing a troll, and monsters about this land are a problem enough. So even a nicely dressed and civil one attempting to negotiate, is still too much a fearsome threat for any to act in a civil way towards.

"Your first mistake was to bother with the common soldiery... those are levies, just farmers and laborers dressed for war. The commander is the man you want to see."

After the initial failures of your diplomatic effort, the lot of you return to the village for what to do next. Of your own volition you decide to seek out that old rival of yours, the knight Sir Harren who in exchange for his life and freedom, swore an oath to assist you in any sort of diplomacy with the Baron. The knight and his squire have since remained in town, and so are quite relieved and eager when you finally come calling for assistance. And Harren himself certainly has some ideas about what to do.

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As well, to not completely discard the help of your lackeys, you figure to ask if they may know anyone personally in the militant force. You don't know enough about humans to be sure, unfamiliar with their family-making culture and structure, but it seems your assumptions were not terribly off the mark. While few humans travel far from their home, it's fairly common for them to have relatives in neighboring settlements. And that's what it seems this aiding military force is, sent by the nobles of nearby villages to aid a fellow noble. If it were a proper human army then the soldiers would be drawn from all over, but these levies are sure to have some relatives of some of your own people. Although that may not help with the negotiations, it should help worsen morale and commitment to the fight if the time comes.

So then, with better preparations in place you try make a second effort of this... though your patience begins to wear, the longer you consider how you could instead just rush in and start smashing heads. Victory or defeat, at least there would be results.

"Is this some fucking ruse? That's the troll! And you haven't killed it yet? What are you playing at Sir?!"

"On my honor, I speak true. I shall not deny the she-troll is a monster, but it is not a mindless one... here, see."

By Harren's effort he is able to negotiate a meeting beyond the camp with the commander of the military force and a pair of officers, although he has to be secretive about some details. They would never agree to meet if they knew of your presence so that comes as a rude surprise. Try as he might though, Harren does put himself on the line and tries all he can to prevent violence. You're able to help with this, after introducing yourself and then gently picking up Harren's squire and setting him down harmlessly.

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That, along with several other supportive humans around to demonstrate that you aren't just a crazed killing monster, at least brings matters to discussion... even if not well-meaning or productive discussion.

"This has to be worse than treason. You'd take sides against a respected nobleman, and not even sides with your own kind? This monster instead of men?! More than the troll, why shouldn't we cut you down as well?"

"I take no sides in this and stand only as a mediator. Whatever may happen here I will return east and join the war effort, would you not rather as well? The troll will do whatever it chooses to, regardless of whatever is resolved here. I would say only... to consider if this is a worthy battle to you, fighting for the man who allowed this trouble to begin with, and lost control of his holdings to a monster?"

As much as you'd like to speak for yourself, you know the fear and disdain the humans have for you; even for all the effort of the humans to this meeting, they only remain because you keep a "safe" distance away from them all. Otherwise they would not stay a moment longer if they had to stand and face you even relatively closely.

Harren seems surprisingly capable and true to his word however, so at least let him say what he will and make clear the position of things. Then once the potential enemies know how things are, you can speak your piece as well as any of them. And by the sound of things there is a notable amount to consider and address.

Particularly in the growing dissatisfaction among the militant force with the Baron himself. When it was that they answered the call for help and first arrived, they were ready to march into Kasvald that very night and find the troll to slay. In his fearful over-cautiousness and reluctance to act however, the Baron has only harbored the soldiers without action all this time... and not even well-accommodated. Having them all to camp outside his walls and only supplementing their supplies rather than treating them as guests. A few days would be fine but it's been nearly two weeks and the men are grumbling about it. Whether he overestimates you or is too risk-averse for his own good, the Baron seems only intent to act when he can feel absolutely certain that you can be eliminated as a threat. And for that, he seems to want more than a levied military force.

Furthermore there is derision among the men that the Baron is not able to deal with this problem himself. He has his own household guard, he has a knight in his service, yet all of them couldn't handle one troll and a female at that? It would be one thing if they tried and failed but they haven't even done that, just sitting comfortably in the manor and enjoying the amenities and hospitality within, until such a time as they feel compelled to ride out to borrowed victory; a triumph they can't rightly claim if the levied force have to do the hard work.

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Especially in this time of war going on! All of this seems like a trivial waste of time when the real enemies stand to the east.

"You're right of one thing Sir, it's a fucking mess all of this. But what have you, we march home to our own lords with empty hands and face punishment? If he outlasts this monster without us, you can be sure it will be known."

"To my shame, I shall return to my home with empty hands. I do not expect punishment, with the greater enemy on the minds of all."

"Not all of us are knighted Sir, to have that same chance."

Eventually past a certain point even, it almost seems like the humans just forgot you are there and instead take to lamenting the sorry state of affairs in the country. Certainly it seems there's potential here for you to seize regarding the situation and this negotiation, things more complicated than you thought even as a big smarty. You're not exactly sure what you might be able to do to benefit here since it doesn't seem as simple as black and white, but surely there must be a way you can maneuver all of this to your advantage?

The problem is, how you would go about doing that. When you can hardly talk to these outsiders without fear or hostility. Sir Harren was able to negotiate for you as far as this point, but could you progress any farther on your own? Even your best and most smarty idea for everyone to be happy, would probably just be ignored or rejected by these humans due to their prejudice towards you, only restrained at present. Even less likely, do you expect any cooperation from Baron Killear himself, but then again who's to say if you had the chance to meet him personally.

At least though you know the state of things, and the problems that the Baron's side of this matter are dealing with. Better able to decide and prepare, if you do give up on negotiating and take to conflict. Be it besieging and blockading the manor, or attacking with violent intent. You'd like to avoid these options if you can, you think, but you've gained a sense of the big picture now with this diplomatic effort.

>Wat do?

>>5711385
>Interject into negotiations. Suggest treating directly with the baron.
If the commander can arrange a meeting, even through trickery and at some distance, we can make clear our willingness to peacefully coexist. In exchange for free rein in Kasvald, we can keep this place safe, releiving his levies and their commander to fight in war. They won't even leave shamed and empty-handed -- they will have "solved the troll problem" and assigned a capable champion to the local garrison!

>>5711385
this is literally the ideal enemy to siege, but if no one else wants that I can back >>5711440

>>5711385
I like the idea of >>5711440
>Treating directly with the baron
>Options are his to choose : negotiation or honor-bound duel.

When he refuse, call him a yellow-bellied coward, convince the troops he's not worth dyin' for, and they will get compensated for their service to Kasvald if they bring you the Baron. Add a bit of Power word : Money to sweeten the pot.

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Apologies for the later post than usual, bit of a busy day today

>>5711440
>>5711518
>>5711647

For the most part you can understand letting others do the speaking for you, if these outsider humans are too unfamiliar and fearful to deal with you personally. You don't like it to be this way but you can accept it. However in some instances there may still be a need for you to speak up for yourself, if Sir Harren doesn't fully grasp or relay what you have in mind. While the humans chatter amongst themselves then, you growl for attention in a similar manner as they would clear their throats. Your sound startles them and you notice hands move to weapons, but since you remain sitting calm and peacefully a fight is avoided.

"You humies from oth-er towns have your own prob-lems, but this is all a prob-lem for us here in Kas-vald. Strogga want to talk to the Ba-ron, no need to trou-ble you oth-er humies."

"...Gods be good, it plays at being a person well, doesn't it?"

Your words are not particularly well-received, though more because it's you speaking them rather than their own merit. With Harren's help to convince them, and what has already been discussed so far, less and less can the commanders find a reason to refuse what you want. Although they may still be compelled to fight for Baron Killear, why should they risk their lives if a bloodless option could be possible? That was always your initial position going into this negotiation, and so finally the humans are coming around to understanding that. No appeal in it for your troll self, but a sobering reality-check as to why they are here in the first place and whether it's a worthy effort.

So then after awhile longer until the humans reminisce themselves to boredom, the two sides can uneasily part on neutral terms as the would-be enemies return to their camp outside the manor. To see if there's any possibility for your wishes about a meeting, a proper one as should have taken place between the true contesting parties rather than their subordinates. Just as well it gives you the chance to withdraw and ask Sir Harren and your lackeys what they made of the exchange and this situation. To try and understand what took place since this is your first real attempt at "diplomacy" in your life to this degree, with humans no less.

As dreadfully boring as it all was, and frustrating for how simply you could have acted forcefully to settle matters otherwise, you wonder if a good ruler of the humans has a need for successful diplomacy. If so, then you'll want all the practice (and adaption to the process) as you can get, in your quest to become your idealized imagining of a good ruler...

---

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---

"What grave mistake have you made Sir? Was I not informed of the monster's capitulation, to witness instead this sorry display? If there is to be no surprise of your taking the troll's head, then I ensure consequences for you and yours."

"...is that... Clarry?"

It takes another day for the opposing soldiers to figure something out, but eventually they are able to lure the Baron out with promise of a surrender ceremony in town for the people of Kasvald to witness. You aren't aware of the details but it sounds like there was some promise that they had defeated and restrained you, for him to display triumph over to the citizenry. By the look of things though the Baron intended punishments to be dealt to the townsfolk for their treason, as he has brought his household guard from the manor with him... probably the only way he would leave in the first place.

So naturally when the procession is intercepted along the road just outside town by your own supporters, and a called truce with the outsider soldiers, the Baron and his guard are not at all happy. Their initial expectation is a fight of course and weapons are drawn, a would-be effort for the Baron to escape back to his manor which is ruined when you yourself emerge from the trees and move to physically block the road returning to the manor. Perceived as a hostile action first with the lot of them ready to fight their way free, but you and yours try to remain peaceful even as tension flare.

Although, as much as the Baron is upset, can't match your surprise at seeing him... is that little Clarence? It took some long moments that confused you significantly, while the two sides of humans have their back and forth; weapons drawn and just waiting for someone to slip up and draw first blood. By smell and appearance though even at a distance, you come to convince yourself of the strange suspicion that the Baron is in fact little Clarance, Clarence Killear that would make him.

"Clarry-bab! What are you do-ing, all this trou-ble? Come and get a hug from Strogga-mam!"

"...Sir Jadeth, ensure we have a safe return route to the estate, while I address those traitors."

Oh it would have been years ago, when your daughter Elena was still a child. Although half a troll, as a little girl she was better tolerated by the villagers and so some of the human children gathered to her out of curiosity and became friends. Little Clarance himself was one of those local boys who played with Elena, and to your amusement you think fancied her. Although it wasn't to last since Elena grew and developed faster than the fully-human children, it still marked a time when your relations with Kasvald were the best. Enough that some humans even tolerated their children spending time around you yourself, albeit only in Elena's company of course, and you came to withhold on bullying travelers across your bridge altogether in favor of being given food by the village instead.

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All of this probably in part, because you saved little Clarry's life once from drowning in the river. Thus his father made a proclamation towards friendly relations with you, and the village... at least for some years, until the unfortunate death of your son Roddi at the hands of the village. Back then you didn't understand how the humans governed themselves however, so you had no idea that Clarry's father would have been the former Baron Killear. As a boy he was just another of the human children you were familiar with, Elena's little best friend, and you never could have imagined he'd become the young man you see before you today; the current Baron Killear.

Why then all the hostility this month-and-some passed then? Why even now, does he refuse to deal with you and seems to not even be able to look you in the eyes? Despite how things may have gone since then, you always were quite close and friendly with the lad when he was a child. Only now for all this trouble, why if you had known since the start you probably wouldn't even have bothered to gain control of Kasvald if you knew it would make things difficult for Clarence. It even upsets you a little, maternal concern for what may have happened to him to become this way... if someone hurt your little Clarry, then you'll smash them for it!

"Listen here you fools, all of you! By all rights granted of the king, your king, I am due your heads for treason! You have had your fun playing at rebels but that time is over... throwing in your lot with a monster... there is a war on, you damn fools! I offer this mercy only once, that you return to your kith and kin and together stamp out this rebellion... consider it a summer fever, men driven to mania these long days. Upon the morrow however, all in refusal should expect their lives forfeit, and punishment rendered to next of kin!"

You shake your head and try to clear your thoughts, to not see Clarence as the little boy you knew. The commanding Baron Killear, now addressing all the gathered humans in threatening force. It's tough for you but seeing his cold resolve helps to take him a little more seriously. Especially when you can see that his words hit your lackeys hard, such an ultimatum that he makes for them to falter against the Baron's force. You'd like to imagine that the whole village assembled would stand strong and resolute in support of you, but even for all the good you've done... seeing this now, you couldn't be sure of the humans.

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For what it's worth though, there sits the Baron atop his horse before you. It does occur to you that you could simply charge right at him and grab the man, the object of all the recent troubles, and what could his men do to stop you? If keeping to a peaceful resolution is the ideal however, then maybe there's something you could do or say that would sway matters to negotiation? If not with the Baron personally then at least his men here... alternatively even, you gradually become aware that if the Baron is out here with you near to the village, then that means he can't be at home in his manor. Here with his household guard even, you wonder how defended the walled manor would be.

>Wat do?

>>5712197
Whatever your response action, if it is in opposition to the Baron or his group, you can also make a 1d100 roll for the effort! Like if you want to attack, or try to converse and convince, anything which might oppose his own action here. Your roll can also stand to represent your preparations made, such as if you want to try and bribe off his outsider support, then what and how much you have to offer them.

>>5712197
>offer to be the baron's subordinate and defend him against the vagaries of war, if he lets you have your fun with Kasvald
It's Clarry, after all, and it doesn't need to be forever... Just until we are entrenched enough that he can't stop us.
>If he refuses, throw soemthing heavy at him

>>5712197
>Run in and grab him
fuck it we ball

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>5712197
>Talk more about how grown he is and tell about embarassing stories about him and your little girl

Full humiliation with plausible deniability

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>>5714101
>>5713935
>>5712202

>16

You know you ought to be taking this more seriously, but it's still a bit of a shock seeing Clarence again after these years and what a man he's made of himself. Hard not to get carried away by maternal feelings since this is the closest thing to coming across one of your own children after many years.

"Whatever your grievances, they cannot compare to-"

"Clarry-bab, what's the ma-tter? Too much a big boy for old Strogga-mam? Huh huh huh yes... big boy, naugh-ty boy! Re-mem-ber the time Strogga caught you hid-ing with Ellie-bab and kiss-ing? Ha ho! Big boy Baron Cla-rence!"

Of course your words and feelings are genuine, you don't mean to cause Clarence any trouble. Such that you regret it some when you come to notice him wincing in visible discomfort at your joyful reminiscing of times passed, aloud for everyone to hear so that many of the men have to stifle their laughter. If it wasn't obvious to you then, his change in demeanor to take action can't be mistaken.

"Jadeth clear the road now, whatever it takes!"

Just as you have the services of your defeated rival knight Harren, so too does Clarence appear to have a sworn household knight in Jadeth. Another mounted and armored warrior, who steers his horse around and back along the road towards you.

"Need not be this way monster, but you had your fun. Surrender or I draw my blade."

"Is Clarry-bab up-set? Strogga didn't mean to make him an-gry or sad! Please tell him Strogga so-rry if it will make him feel be- gyah!"

Addressing the approaching knight with genuine concern and trying to look past to see if you didn't displease Clarence, you attempt a worried apology but for your trouble only receive hostility. True to his word, Jadeth doesn't hesitate and with surprising speed draws and slashes you with his sword... must be enchanted to cause you such harm, and it's fortunate you have your adaption for magical resistance or else some sort of spell-effect should have happened; the knight pulls back his bloodied blade with a surprised remark that you didn't lose your arm.

In pain and panic then, you reply by kicking the knight's horse over with him on it. That enemy out of the way, you're not sure what else to do but make a dash for Clarence himself. Otherwise what, you're going to have to face off against all of his household guard? No, better that you crash through the lot of them with a charge and snatch the Baron right off his panicked horse.

"-augh! Unhand me! Damn it all you fools, help me! Attack the troll, kill he-"

"-shhh! Hush now Clarry-bab, Strogga-mam got you!"

The effort is easier said than done, as you do suffer a number of opportunistic stabs and slashes from Clarence's guards when you charge through the lot of them.

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But it's nothing you can't deal with so long as you're able to get your hands on the Baron. Holding him close and tight to stop his struggling resistance and screaming for help, as you charge away from the chaotic mess of violence just as quickly as you came.

Admittedly you feel bad for leaving your lackeys to undoubtedly face hostile repercussions for your actions, but in the moment you panicked and followed your instincts. Better to deal with this your way and settle the whole matter, than whatever ugliness could have developed if Clarence was left to deal with the "traitors" himself.

---

"Burgmeister?! You're mad troll! You won't have a head after all this is done, less a position!"

"No burg-mei-ster? Then how about Ba-ron? Clarry is a Ba-ron, Strogga want to be a Ba-ron too!"

It wasn't without struggle that you kidnapped Clarence, and though you had little to slow you down through the fields his men still gave chase. Naturally you left behind those on foot pretty quickly, but a few mounted riders kept pace and kept up the attack until you reached the forests to the south of town. By then you were either able to lose their pursuit of you, or physically prevent their pursuit in similar ways as you did with Sir Jadeth.

It certainly takes that much effort for you to get Clarence to calm down some and accept talking to you, when he realizes that help can't be relied upon. Not to rescue him in time anyway, so conversing with you is his only option. He's not at all happy however, which you thought was from getting blood on his fancy clothes (that you apologized profusely for) but he doesn't seem to share the same enthusiasm you do for obtaining some official position for yourself in regards to Kasvald.

"Look you... listen... Strogga, things are not how they used to be! I cannot allow you what you want, especially not after what you've gone and done now! Maybe... maybe years ago, before my father... but not anymore, not now!"

"Why not Clarry? You have all those o-ther humies to help you, let Strogga help you now too! Like a good mam, like be-fore! If you have any trou-bles with the war, with mon-sters or o-ther humies, Strogga will kill them all! Al-ready humies in Kasvald bow their heads for Strogga."

"That is not a good thing, that is a problem!"

Pushing through the trees and navigating the forest, you look for a secluded spot you can set Clarence down to be able to sit and talk. You must admit though that his resistance and refusal to your wishes tries your patience, and only because of your history with the lad have you not just killed and eaten him already. If he wants to keep acting stubborn and making all this trouble for you, then why should you settle for just some lowly "official" position?

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Why shouldn't you just take his role and set things straight like a good troll mom ought to do? Big smarty that you are, you could stand to say that... all things considered Clarence has been doing a pretty poor job of things, if a "monster" such as yourself has been able to reach such heights of power in the area, enough to challenge him.

But then, you don't want to upset him or cause any trouble for the lad if you can avoid it. You still see him as that little boy alongside your daughter during those pleasant years ago, still that human child you fought to pull from the river and save from drowning. You wish that he still felt the same way that you do about how things were, so that all of this could easily be resolved and joyfully so. That you could work together and appreciate a bond that once existed, how beneficial and successful things could be in cooperation. But apart from the arrogance of his noble position, he also continues on about how the troubles with the war and the late king prevent any such cooperation or even familiarity between the two of you. Something to do with that familiar problem you've heard much of these last few months, the sudden increase in hostility against "monsters" by the humans.

A disappointing shame that it is, for what an occasion this should be for you compared to how it's turned out. At least you have managed to capture and kidnap the Baron of this region so that has to count for something. You just hope that there's some better way that you can get what you want, get what both of you want, without resorting to just using Clarence as a bargaining tool or threatened hostage. Your lament, if there's no way both of you can't be happy for all this... as should be the case.

>Wat do?

>>5714414
Tough love time. Either Clarence accepts our big smarty plan to "officially" give us a position and let us be his representative and champion as a sign he has tamed/conquered a monster of renown and can protect his people, or we humiliate him by parading him as a dangling ragdoll through his barony until it's clear he CAN'T do that, then we kill him. He knows we can do it, WE know we can do it, so it's really quite nice and generous of us to pretend to be his subordinate at all.

Tick tock, buddy. Time's running out, and our nostalgia won't last forever. Based on QM's dream sequences, we've forgotten so many lifetimes of alliances and friendships... What's one more?

>>5714417
Supporting. We have a soft spot for him, but he's also made our life pretty fucking difficult.

>>5714417
I like that.

>>5714414
>Tell him if the war and king keep him from allying with you then he should just switch sides in that war.

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>>5714417
>>5714447
>>5714500
>>5714758

The only reason you're even having this conversation is because you have a soft spot for Clarence, and even then only because he was close with your daughter once upon a time, when they were children. They've long since grown up however, and she long since wandered off to make her own life, so your affinity for the young man wanes with your patience. For all the trouble he's caused you, anyone else you'd have killed and eaten by now.

And you're not above letting him know that.

"You lis-ten now Clarry, Strogga only brought you out here be-cause Strogga care about you. If Strogga didn't, then you'd be dead back at the road right now. Things can still go that way if you don't help Strogga help you. Strogga being very gener-ous for all this, for all Strogga could de-mand... good for Clarry as well, Strogga can protect and help you. Re-member be-fore?"

"No, you listen! I let you continue to live here, under the bridge for years out of gratitude, by the goodness of my heart! Go to any other town, see for yourself how many trolls are even allowed, to say nothing of accepted! To officiate you some role... it wouldn't do any good for anyone!"

"Grrrr... it would do Clarry-bab good not to up-set Strogga-mam..."

You'd hope that Clarence's defiance against you is a mark of his courage or his conviction as a man, rather than just belligerent entitlement like some spoiled brat. Either way though it doesn't matter when you forcefully remind him of the reality of the situation, your accommodating smile turning to an intimidating growl as you easily pick the young man up in threat. He may have his reasoning to refuse you, and surely he understands humans and their social and governance systems better than you do. But none of those things are going to deter you in the moment, right now as you have him isolated in a forest, helpless in your grip and how easy it would be to just twist his head off and eat the remains.

He can give you what you want and have his life, or he can continue to be stubborn and die. For all your smarts and recently-adapted civility, it's a sobering reminder of how often and how simply you end up getting what you want from others, with the simple threat of death.

Though you're sure Clarence will leave here upset, and probably bearing a grudge over this, it really feels unwarranted to you. As far as you're concerned you're being extremely generous, more than you would be with any other human. You could just take his role as Baron, and have his manor for yourself, all of these things befitting a troll queen as you are. Instead you're settling for less, a role you already have only to be made "official", and no loot or rewards besides. Gods know that Clarence will continue living and going to bed each night better than you ever have, despite your undeniable triumph over him.

Whether that seems right to you, it's what you've settled for...

---

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---

Well that was certainly an eventful morning, now to afternoon by the time you return to the scene of fiasco on the road.

"Milord! Up and at 'em you louts!"

"Monster! I promised your head, I shall have it now and see if you can stop me!"

"St-Stay... stay yourselves, men! You see that I have secured my own survival, that the monster brought to terms! Thanks be to the gods that there is no need for bloodshed... err, any further bloodshed on this matter!"

To afford Clarence his dignity, upon the return you let him walk ahead of you rather than just carrying him back, and that he can address his waiting men in a more positive manner than how things may be regarded. Already the pair of you were found by his scouts (searching since your disappearance with him) long before returning to the road, so there was already some chance to figure out how best to present this... negotiated agreement between all parties involved. That is to say, how he can save some face despite his surrender.

Although your concern is to your lackeys, as it looks pretty bad from your retreated absence; probably rather easily, did Clarence's household guard turn on and defeat your allies. As bad enough for the lamentable death of Davith who was slain for his refusal to surrender or retreat by Sir Jadeth. Some of your supporters wisely fled when you did but a fair few were subdued and many of them gravely wounded in the struggle that resulted from your kidnapping the Baron. All the worse since Clarence's men clearly haven't taken good care of the prisoners, probably worsening things in fact with hostile treatment.

As much as you'd like to kill Jadeth for this though, just barely are you able to contain your anger enough to not simply yank him from his horse and rip him to pieces. If your feelings don't subside then you can always kill him later, but for now and with a heavy heart do you recognize the need to remain civil for the agreement between you and Clarence... big smarty that you are. At his word then, his guards will release your surviving lackeys from captivity and actually bother treating their wounds.

"Look at them... I can already tell, I'll have to be looking over my shoulder after this. Making deals with a troll... the same with my men, as with the other noble lords and the king..."

"Don't wo-rry Cla-rence, Strogga keep you safe... but may-be if your king keeps your from ally-ing with Strogga, then may-be you should just switch sides in the war?"

Whether or not you mean it seriously, your response comes as a shock to Clarence as the two of you stand to watch the other men deal with the aftermath of the skirmish, before you move ahead to try and gather your lackeys about. To gather Davith's body for proper treatment, and to try and make use of your adapted healing power for those of your supporters who need it.

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For all the trouble, upset and bloodshed however, it seems you've finally managed to obtain what you were after all along. Something official, to be recognized as. You spoke of it with Clarence during your return travel back to the road, some representative emblem and documentation to fully officiate your role. As to what that may be though, how and when it may be done (such as a ceremony), and what your role will afford and allow you to do... well that's your decision to make, more or less. You had taken control of Kasvald in the de facto sense before, now you will hold that control in the de jure sense as well.

Cradling your dead friend however, and trying to save the lives of your wounded supporters, you wonder how much it was worth it. All this for what... a badge and a piece of paper? You'll probably want to take some time to think about it properly, and deal with your feelings on the matter, so that this hard-fought opportunity and the lives lost won't be wasted by asking for less than is deserved... despite your efforts to remain otherwise, in your anger and upset part of you imagines to just resort to instinct and go on a troll rampage against your gathered enemies here. Take the crown from whatever bloody scraps remain, a just reward for their making such a hard time for you.

Ah, but then is that what an ideal, good ruler of the humans would do?

>Wat do?

>Create a yearly Davith remembrance ceremony when you award the worthiest villager of Davith's Legion

>>5714847
>Celebrate our victory
Be generous with our minions for an evening. Then, after the ceremony...

>Practice necromancy.
Maybe Davith can be our guinea pig? Maybe, if he we can bring him back in some capacity, we can one day do the same for our lost babs?

>>5714850
Seconding holiday creation.

>>5714847
>Head back to town and share the good news

Damn. Davith was a good chap.
>>5714850
Gonna support this option. He was the only one that could actually hide his disgust of us.

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Hey all, will be continuing today just later than usual.

In the meantime then, because of your scuffle with the Baron's household guard, you can suggest another possible mutation;

>>5709129

as usual, some adaption that may be beneficial to you, or appropriate given the situation. As well, a chance for shifting around adaptions you already have, like if you want to lose or exchange some for other new or altered ones.

>>5715684
I suggest adding:
>Adaptive Armor: For 24 houra after being struck by an attack, your regenerated skin (or entire limbs) become more reisatant to that damage type

Also, trading inour toxic adaptation for...

>Fecundity: You have greater pregnancy chance, and a higher chance of a litter, than other trolls

If we plan on staying put long enough to raise a platoon of babs, anyway.

>>5715685
Support

>>5715685
Agreed. Toxic may have helped us in the elf fight, but it's way too much of a double-edged sword given us trying to be more sociable.

>>5715684
>>5715827
if you want sociability pick good looks adaptation over fecundity

>>5715900
We still have a free adaptation, I think, so we could do both?

>>5715931
>>5715900
You do have an ongoing-unused adaption, as had been kept if needed emergency but you could instead now make use of it if you wish. Be aware though that "good looks" as Strogga is a troll, will apply to troll standards. If you mean to appeal to others for sociability reasons, such as the humans for example, then you could instead adapt to human physiology. However this would replace your current elven physiology (though at a free cost, since it would be a simple trade-off).

Also, will be posting now in a little bit.

>>5715933
We already have elven physiology, can we do elven good looks or is there no getting it away from the troll baseline?

>>5715962
Same as you further adapted/improved your regeneration, you can further your elven adaption (or most any other adaption for that matter). Though at some point it may be worth considering after how much you could still call yourself a troll and function as one?

If for example you took to such commitment and time, that eventually you end up as indistinguishable from an elf or human.

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>>5714850
>>5714853
>>5714855
>>5714919
>>5715004

Why should this have to be the end of things, when you can have a say in how it goes? Necromancy for example, whatever the humans call it. Communicating with the dead is already an ability you possess, how much more difficult could it be to bring the dead back to life? And then how different everything could be! No one ever has to die under your watch ever again... as you recall back to your time in the southern swamps, dealing with the monster toad and the various undead you saw skulking about there.

The lot of your supporters limping back to town with you to lead them after that nasty skirmish, you're left wondering if such an act towards Davith would be for the best. Plenty of time on the way home carrying his body after all. Maybe less about what you want since of course you'd prefer to have him around still, but rather about what he would want. Another chance, but in undeath... taken from the gods or wherever he is now.

It's hard for you to even think about let alone consider, whatever outcome you reach. Davith was probably the closest thing you had to a friend among the humans, and now once again forced to deal with the loss of someone close. You never thought to have taken him for granted, but only now do you truly realize what you had... when making an effort to heal and save the lives of your other lackeys. Humans who stand in support of you and yet recoil in disgust they can't hide, when you try to touch them even just to heal their wounds.

Something to think about as you stagger back to town, wondering how best to recover from this loss...

---

"Ex-plain to Strogga, knight... how do humies... erm, rem-ember im-portant humies?"

"Important? You have given the townsfolk to celebrating already, were it to become a yearly occasion. Some remembrance such a memorial may be in order... you understand what I say of this?"

At your urging there's quite the celebration through the village this evening, over the official appointment of the new burgmeister and in memory of fallen "heroes" who helped things reach this point. In part driven by your upset and frustration from earlier, you demand to break into and distribute the village stores for food and drink in order to match your expectations of how grand these festivities should be... as least as grand as a country village can manage. Also due to your earlier upset, you take quite vigorously to the celebrations yourself in some hope of drowning out your problems in merriment.

Unfortunately with your recent adaption against poisons and such, you aren't able to get drunk of the booze of the humans no matter how much you down, or at least not drunk for very long. That, and the natural aversion people have towards you when trying to celebrate among them; they'll cheer and congratulate you and toast your name... from a distance, but no one cares to hug or dance like you'd want to.

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Such that after awhile and annoyance, you find yourself sitting out on the sidelines as usual but this time fuming. Anger for the treatment, anger for the loss of your friend, anger for the seeming lack of reward for all your hardships. And the only available shoulder to metaphorically cry on? Your old rival knight, Sir Harren.

"...so then, troll?"

"So then... humie knight kept his word and helped Strogga. You can leave in the mor-ning, go home and don't come back... ah, take the elvie priest with you when you go. That's all Strogga ask."

How strange it feels, to have come full circle in a sense. Harren is the first human you've been on a name basis in a long time, since you began this whole trouble with focusing on the town. Known him longer than Davith, even if it wasn't on good terms. In the end though you both played your part in all this, and as he made his promise you too can make yours and free him. When he could have probably escaped or fought his way to freedom but instead swore an oath and kept to it. For that at least, you can finally release him after this month-and-some passed. Or at least tell him that, who's to say what you might actually do before he actually departs tomorrow morning.

For now though, the rest of the night you're content to stew in frustration and hope to get over it, so that you can focus on... well, what comes next now. Something you never expected at any point during this whole long struggle of yours; to actually end up with a village of humans to your name, to do as you please in an official capacity. For the time being at least, it wouldn't surprise you if Baron Clarence or his peers try to cause you trouble due to their own upset of your position.

But at least you're able to establish a remembrance of your fallen friend, able to try and celebrate some of this annoyance away, and able to rest easy for once. All the trouble you faced so far, just for this... if you weren't so compelled to properly establish yourself as "troll queen", you'd question if it was all worth it. For example if you want to focus on whatever human settlement comes next after Kasvald, will you also have to go through all the same troubles and pain and loss? Each time?

It's not easy being a ruler! But if that's just how it is, then that's just what you'll have to do you suppose.

>Wat do?

>>5715966
>We could end up mutating into a human lookalike
I'm not sure I want to go down that rabbit hole. At that point we'd have to ask if we were the ones in control of the humans, or if humans assimilated us.

>>5715969
As for your choice of action, you can decide both immediately (for the rest of this evening/night), and more longterm as to what your next goal may be. Now that you've consolidated power in Kasvald, more or less.

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>>5715970
A human some of the time, but a troll ALL of the time!

>>5715969
Since we seem to have gone for fecundity, I'll also back >>5715900 on:
>Human Aesthetics: Your facial features and bodily proportions more resemble a human

And I think it's about time we had a passel of babs. Might help with our loneliness and sense of belonging. Any anons with me yet? if not, I think we should move on (or at least take a vacation) and go find somewhere to study magic to advance our necromancy and healing.

>>5715970
There certainly is one possible outcome scenario you may imagine, where you become indistinguishable enough from another race (humans in this example), such that you'd have none of the usual troubles you face in trying to take control and power. Gods know if you were just a human, but with the same drive and mind, that you may well have been the actual queen of the humans by now!

Sure you'd have given up being a troll, but in exchange how powerful and successful and comfortable your life (and that of your descendants) would be! In that scenario what would be more important; your triumph as a troll and of trollkind, or instead your triumph as Strogga. Something worth pondering at least, to contrast with your methods otherwise.

Of course, not that you can't always revert any changes again after.

>>5715969
>Grow Kasvald into an economic powerhouse

>>5715978
>>5715962
>>5715685
Is that to mean then you're willing to trade elven physiology for human physiology instead? If this is to be a commitment as well as the reason for doing so, then you may want to weigh the benefits between races, and what you intend to pass on.

For example elven adaption benefits you for speed and agility, longer life, reduced size and consumption and such (easier interaction with other races), though limited to elven lineage. Fully troll physiology benefits for the usual size and strength and toughness, suvivability/adaptability, and unrestricted lineage, though the familiar difficulty interacting with others. While human adaption would be somewhere between these, as humans stand to be between elves and trolls for example. Or potentially, even some other racial adaption, whatever you see fit. If need be I can give more comprehensive information as needed or to the pastebin.

Otherwise, will be writing and continuing now.

>>5716588
Eh, Then simply advancing elven physiology further would be fine. Just as long as our face and body better resemble our subjects in a way they won't find as repulsive

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>>5716406
>>5715978
>>5715970

After an otherwise uneventful evening, probably better for it so that you can deal with your anger and grief in a better or at least less destructive way, you can get a good night's sleep at your barn in order to be up and early come tomorrow.

"Bigg-er! Bigg-er!"

"I'm just a smith here troll, you want a foundry go visit the dwarves."

"Look how big Strogga is! No humie-tiny... erm, bad-ge? No-thing small for Strogga!"

The most pressing matter of course? Your newly granted official position! Darling little Baron Clarence promised you a collection of papers like the humans obsess over, authorized by him to be able to show anyone who would question you. And if that isn't enough then a physical symbol of your position, not unlike what sheriff Nevens has so that people know he's the sheriff. Unfortunately, while it turns out there had at one time been a position similar to "burgmeister" within Kasvald when it was too small of a settlement to be incorporated, the dusty old relic of a badge (eventually found by the lord mayor) was sized for a human. So it's off to the local smithy for something more appropriate!

Although something as detailed as what you request is a bit beyond the limited smithing facilities of the village, a badge for you being like a small shield size for a human, so you'll either have to settle for something crude or send off for being made at one of the larger settlements. Incidentally along with a badge you also... kind of would like a uniform, something like that. Even as a troll with little care for your own fashion-appearance, you can't deny that Clarence's household guards looked pretty impressive. Some sort of similar outfit for yourself might be better than just fancy troll-clothes, to help interaction with other people and races. As with the badge though you would probably need to send off for this to be made, now as you start regretting to have granted freedom to your captive group of elves.

Although you still have Arandyll, skilled though he may be he is only one elf so his capacity to work is limited.

"O-kay Sall-ow!"

"-gah! Wh-What is it?!"

"How to make Kas-vald an econo... en-comic... emco-nnic pow-der-house... how do we make the town big and rich?!"

After seeing about the trappings of your official role, your next focus then is to actually serve that role! And to do this, continuing as you have been doing for many weeks now, your idea is to continue making Kasvald bigger and better however you can! Sure there are other settlements around that you feel... at some point you could or should travel to, to impose your will over as you have done here. But you don't want to have struggled all this way to finally achieve something meaningful, only to just abandon the post the next day.

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At the very least, you'd want the situation to be left in good hands before you depart, and you're a big smarty enough to know that you probably can't trust Clarence in your absence.

The only problem is... you don't know the first thing about economy and prosperity! Certainly not the human measure of it, as a troll your understanding was always limited to what you could bully and steal from people weaker than yourself. Although it is still possible to do this, you could go and raid for valuables and supplies to bring back to town, this seems like it wouldn't remain a good idea for very long. Better that the town continue to grow and prosper on it's own, you're willing to help of course but you don't want it (or any other place) essentially dependent on you.

Lord Mayor Sallow has some basic ideas but he doesn't seem much a tradesman or merchant himself either, so his notions of prosperity are... somewhat boring, by your standards. Maybe you could come up with some ideas yourself? Even if money and economy are completely alien concepts to you, you are a big smarty troll so how difficult can it all be really? Better at least than relying on trade, which Sallow sees as the way forward and suggests finding goods that Kasvald can specialize in for value.

There's also Clarence himself you could always visit for ideas, if your official position is closely associated with him in some form or another. But after the nastiness yesterday you aren't sure if you should give things some time to settle down or even if you should bother with the Baron again. So long as you get what you demanded from him, maybe you'd be content to just let him continue living his little sheltered life while you run the village as intended.

"May-be... troll skin? Strogga can keep chopp-ing off body parts to sell!"

"Would you not rather have some enterprise among the humans that you could rely on, trolloc? Ah, but I have no envy for you... to have to rely on humans, and in this manner... kash!"

Spending the afternoon at your bridge to ponder the matter, you drag Arandyll along for support. Ironically despite being one of your worst enemies he's just about the closest connection you have remaining in Kasvald, not to mention that he could use the fresh air. And of course he is knowledgeable and experienced about matters even such as this, though how much you can rely on him is questionable since his estimation of the humans and their potential is abysmally low.

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Ah, if only you had Davith around... still difficult to think of him and cope with those feelings of grief, subtly wiping your eyes of tears. Really though you ought to be punching yourself instead, getting all worked up like this for a human! You know it ought not be for others than trolls, or at least family. Something you've been feeling perhaps you could do with again, considering the unlikeliness of finding others as tolerant or amiable towards a troll. At the very least, easier to treat the humans as to be expected, but trust and rely on family only... but then, what fellow around these parts would even be worthy of assisting you in this endeavor?

Yet another thing for your big brain to ponder, as you watch the river currents beneath the bridge in the afternoon sun.

>Wat do?

>>5716739
Do a silly dance!

>>5716741
Seconded. With Arandyll. Do a little dance, make a little love

>>5716739
Ponder what, exactly, money is.

As for goods, aren't we surrounded by woods? Could we not start trapping small game for furs and food, and cutting wood for carpentry? Do we even HAVE any competent carpenters and woodsmen?

>>5716752
Indeed Kasvald is known for it's forests, along with the river of course, and bordering the highlands beyond the forests. These are the natural resources at leas, and in town there are plenty of decently skilled local workers for each area of business (like the river worker's guild you're familiar with). Considering the village has always relied upon these though and is only the small size that you find it, you probably couldn't expect fast or lucrative economic gains if leaving the local economy to it's present trend. Stable, but not the makings of an economic powerhouse, as it were.

>>5716752
>>5716802
Maybe if we work on necromancy and healing, we can become a sort of pilgrimage-town in the area? In a land wracked by war, someone who can allow you a final word with your loved ones and mend your wounds and disfigurements would be very popular... And if we become more attractive, continue to shed psychoactive spores, and can champion our people against monsters, what are we if not a holy woman?

>>5716803
That may well be possible, just a reminder though that your magic capabilities are only temporary, since your inherent troll "gift" was intelligence not magic... unless of course you want to try and adapt-ably revert from that.

So without a means of sustaining your magic (which you got so far by eating dead magic bodies) you won't be able to perform such a role forever. But then, as you mention with your mind-influencing body haze, you very well could adapt in ways that are functionally indistinguishable from magic. To an imaginative extent at least.

>>5716734
What kind of smithy can't forge a small shield?

also the elven physiology is dumb, let's go full mountain troll and just wear a bigass cloak and mask

for economy uuuuh i dunno
they ever have dwarves prospect the area for valuable ores?

>>5717050
If it were just a simple shield that would be one thing, but you're trying to replicate the detailing of a fancy badge so your local smith isn't as minutely skilled as that. A crude recreation is one thing but you want something perfect if you can have it of course!

Seems though there maybe isn't a consensus about what racial physiology to adapt to. As an aside I'll at least update the pastebin now with the things that have been agreed on.

Hey all just wanted to let you know, we probably won't be continuing today, but resume tomorrow as usual.

In the meantime anyone else can give input to any of the possible idea/plans, and as well perhaps figure sone consensus about the race adaption preference.

>>5717624
I think going elfier makes sense for administration OR traveling to learn more magic. Draws less attention and especially less hostility.

>>5716804
Next level up we can probably choose passive magic production, right?

>>5717860
You can adapt in ways that will benefit or assist whatever magic power you can gain yourself and/or already have, but you can't adapt to synthesize magic yourself/bodily. Like your inherent intelligence that you were born with, magic potential is something one has to have naturally.

Though it may be possible to adapt so significantly that you effectively "evolve", it would mean changing your

>Intelligence

for

>Magic

similar as how you can recoup one adaption for another. But to this significant degree it would almost be like being born anew with a new troll type. Though magic is of course a formidable power and who's to say what you could accomplish with it, is it worth trading for your intelligence? That, is for players to ponder and decide.

But in summation, no you wouldn't be able to adapt in ways that could just innately provide you with magic. Same as a troll with Magic talent or Strength talent, wouldn't be able to adapt in ways that just innately duplicate intelligence. Otherwise, every troll could end up adapting for all traits! And then would of course have conquered the world long ago!

>>5718002
Ah, damn. Well, I guess we'll need to find external sources for magic. A worthy ambition as well!

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>>5716741
>>5716749
>>5716752
>>5716803
>>5717050

In order to make Kasvald an economic powerhouse, you need lots of money and for that you need... errr... what exactly is money, anyway? As far as you're concerned, treasure was always your measure of wealth. A collection of shiny things kept in a pile to marvel at and show off. Wealth, but not value. Value to a troll of course is family, comfort, and being well-fed of course! If you gained or lost treasure it didn't bother you all that much really, since it didn't have much use besides appreciation.

The humans though, and many smaller races too, they value things like gold. Gaining it is something kill for and losing it something to die for. A very strange concept to you, but if you are to govern over them then you suppose you ought to try and understand it. It may never be that you place value in money but you do value the humans you rule over so for their sake, if increasing their money makes them happier and improves their lives, then you can try your best to see that they get the money they want!

Oough... lots of big thinking, starts to confuse you. Something to clear your head...

"...pah! What are you doing trolloc? Such absurdity..."

"Dance! Troll dance! A troll dance of lea-ving, to scare off all the bad times and mem-ories and leave only the good!"

As a big smarty you recognize the importance of traditions and such, even if you don't personally practice them all that often. Once in awhile though you feel the occasion worthy enough to invite the old ways with ritual or ceremony. And this seems as good a time as any, a departure dance to properly mark the transition from your old life as a bridge troll, to your new life as a civilized troll... or at least a civil-living troll!

It probably would appear quite a silly dance to non-troll observers, although decided less silly since your elven physiology provides you with nimbleness and grace to perform most any task with impressive composure. Still, like most troll things it is a largely uncoordinated dance with lots of jumping, erratic movements or flailing, and semi-ritual chanting. All that needs to be done and said to drive off evil forces and keep everything good.

Of course it could hardly be judged as silly, if the one judging it gets dragged into the dance as well.

"-kaph'to! Release me trolloc, or by the Goddess I shall-"

"Come on Aran, dance! Strogga show you how! Jump more, swing your tail- oh, no tail... shake your head!"

How disturbingly uncouth for the elf this must be, enough that he tries his hardest to fight against your efforts to dance with him. But given your size, strength and agility, what hope does he have really so long as you keep a grip of him?

---

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---

Your first day spent as an officially-appointed role in human society, not too bad you think, even if the costs to reach this point were higher than you'd have wanted. What better way to spend a good day though, than with a good night to follow?

"I refuse... do not mistake my acceptance of imprisonment for cooperation... or interest, trolloc. We are simply incompatible, and I believe you know that."

"That's o-kay, Strogga only ask-ing... here, now drink this!"

"-bleurgh! Hluergh!"

With your new professional life settling in, you'd had the time to ponder now and then your personal life and the matter of family again. And between your elven physiology and spending more time with Arandyll, you figure he'd make a decent sire. At least better than any of the humans around the region you've met.

Of course the elven champion refuses your interest with abject disgust, but you know that spending close time with him these past weeks has continually deepened your influence over him. Before he'd curse you and spit at your name, try and kill you if he could, but now you more or less get along. That's still a long and surely impassable way from intimacy, but then that's what the love potion is for, that you grab ahold of his head for and force into his mouth for him to swallow.

"-mwah... love-ly elvie taste, Strogga would eat you if Strogga didn't need you."

"-I beg you trolloc, do not... please Strogga, don't do this to me... my heart belongs to another, our love is eternal-"

"-ha ho! Strogga can eat your heart la-ter! It's not your heart that Strogga want to-night..."

Ah, what a delight. Arandyll is the perfection of elven bloodlines and pedigree, to their race a timeless treasure beyond measuring, and you have him all to yourself! His features and body as if sculpted by his goddess for your own enjoyment, and use. And all the better to enjoy him now that it seems your body isn't toxic anymore? Able to taste all of his body without and within, as your gleeful drooling troll maw finds its way up to his mouth, and you press his face between your tusks for your tongue to pry into his mouth.

Try as he might to resist you and fight to preserve his dignity and love, between your hypnotic musk and the love potion... as well as your intimacy upon him, it's only a matter of time till he succumbs to your desire and lust. Such rotten carnality with a monster, filling his fine and delicate elven form till his formerly adamant refusal and self-control... slips from his grasp, and leaves him with only emotions and urges left.

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And what unexpected delight it proves to be for you. He may not be a troll or even an orc, but what Arandyll lacks for in size or strength, he makes up for in agility and endurance and most of all... experience. You can tell from the way he loves you and makes you feel like you never have before, that in his many centuries of life he has become an expert lover as sure as he is an expert warrior. A different kind of passion and pleasure new to you, that he must have learned and practiced with his one true love, but now you get to reap the benefits of.

Enough at least, that even from within your old barn among the bedding, surely others outside and beyond would have heard you and late into the night or early into the morning. Whichever came first, exhaustion or the love potion wearing off, you still lay in a sweaty panting mess of intertwined elven and troll flesh. Fine and fair between tough and green, as you lasciviously cherish your lovely new champion close in your arms against yourself.

As for the elf though, now that his head is starting to clear after all the emotion and everything else he poured into you...

"...what have you done to me... monster... you've ruined me... Aenwyn, my moon... forgive me..."

"Huh huh huh... Strogga is Aran's moon now."

Blissful for all that he was worth, eventually you fall asleep in the afterglow feeling more satisfied than you can remember in a long time. And not just for your new elf loverboy, but for all that you've accomplished and triumphed in. That you wouldn't be where you are now, and have what you have, without the hardships and effort you've gone through.

A well-earned night's rest in comfort, a belly full of good food and drink, an elven champion to please you, and all of as the new Burgmeister of Kasvald? How many others, of any race, have succeeded as well as you have now?

---

Banging at the barn door come morning to wake you, an unpleasant way to wake after such a pleasant sleep.

"-gruagh! What?! Strogga kill!"

"Apologies your... uh, official-ness?"

"Sorry to wake you ma'am, but there's some question of what to do with the body of your man... Davith, after the festivities."

Fortunately there's no trouble or danger, and fortunately the humans keep to just banging at the door rather than barging in and finding the sordid mess of a troll and an elf abed together, as well as risking your rudely-awoken anger and getting smashed to death by accident. You can't stay angry at them though since their news actually is concerning to you, albeit rather unpleasant contrasted with the more recent pleasantness. But with your festival in Davith's honor concluded, there's the matter of how to bury him or otherwise treat his body.

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Fortunately it shouldn't be too complicated of an issue, just something honorable and appropriate for the humans that you can ask their help towards.

"Huh huh huh... humies called Strogga mam... uagh, Elvie? Aran not feel-ing good? Come here, Strogga help you with a kiss."

In being jolted awake though you'd jumped to your feet expecting danger, only now looking back to see Arandyll looking unwell. Your first worry is that he actually has been poisoned by you, but rather it seems that he simply has been awake all night. Although your intimacy together did injure him some, given that he is the pinnacle of elven physique and fitness, it's nothing he can't soon recover from compared with an average elf or even a human who you may have killed when bedding. Rather, his inability to sleep must have been from something else... maybe it was the love-reek of your bodies together to his delicate nose, or your troll snoring to his dainty ears, or your strong and loving grip of his delicate body against yours through the night.

Surely it couldn't be trauma from what actually happened between you two, as you seek to make him feel better by grabbing and lifting him up to force a nice deep and long kiss. Feeling his slender yet athletic body, his perfect skin and sleek hair. A delightful taste and thanks for last night, before you let him down with encouragement to sleep, while you haul over the water basin to dump over yourself and try to remember to get dressed for the day.

After all, you're the Burgmeister now and you have duties and obligations! Chief among them since yesterday, your focus on improving the economy. And for that, you have some ideas pertaining to both the forests around the region and the nearby highlands, or mountains beyond even. What wealth can be generated from these natural resources, like forestry and mining...

>You want to take an active and personal role in these endeavors, to see them to success!
>You may encourage these efforts, but best to appoint some appropriate humans to the tasks. You want to keep Kasvald's efforts and successes local, for your own people.
>Rather than taking away the time and effort of you or anyone else of Kasvald, better to seek and employ outsider professionals for this.
>Try to coordinate on a larger scale, directly with other settlements. Cooperation may be difficult if even possible, but surely multiple settlements can manage together better than one? And... a chance to learn about them.
>[Write-in.]

>>5718635
>Rather than taking away the time and effort of you or anyone else of Kasvald, better to seek and employ outsider professionals for this.
If Kasvald had the necessary experts, they'd have already made something if this burg.

Maybe we can put out feelers for magic tutors, too...?

>>5718635
>Try to coordinate on a larger scale, directly with other settlements. Cooperation may be difficult if even possible, but surely multiple settlements can manage together better than one? And... a chance to learn about them.

QM?

>>5721869
I'm still here. Was waiting for at least a third player input, but it's been four days now and we can't manage that it seems. Though there has been a decrease in activity, things were still able to function and continue. If we're down to just two (reliably) active players though, I don't think we can progress.

Bridge falls everyone dies
The End

>>5718635
>Try to coordinate on a larger scale, directly with other settlements. Cooperation may be difficult if even possible, but surely multiple settlements can manage together better than one? And... a chance to learn about them.

>>5718635
>Try to coordinate on a larger scale, directly with other settlements. Cooperation may be difficult if even possible, but surely multiple settlements can manage together better than one? And... a chance to learn about them.
>[Write-in.] See about any nearby gnomish settlements. If the visitors you encountered are any indication, they're extremely good craftsmen and useful to keep around.

>>5721991
I've been regularly lurking, probably should have voted or even chimed in more. Will try to be active to keep this awesome quest going, cause you're doing a damn fine job.

Let this be a lesson to all: lurkers never prosper, and by their absence in the vitexounts may bring low even a great and wondrous quest.

>>5721991
So, are we in luck after all?

>>5718635
>>Try to coordinate on a larger scale, directly with other settlements. Cooperation may be difficult if even possible, but surely multiple settlements can manage together better than one? And... a chance to learn about them

Got less time to play this week, but still here

>>5722274
>>5721991
If it's reaching to the point where after several days it takes a plea to lurkers just to barely have enough activity to continue, then I'd prefer to spend the time and effort on something new which might hold player interest and participation better next time. I mean it's no secret that interest has waned overtime to the bare minimum.

Though I have enjoyed this quest a lot, and hope other people do as well, if it wasn't enough for more players then I won't try and force it. In any case I do appreciate everyone who did play and made as much of this possible as it has been, I wouldn't have done it without you.

>>5722646
Dang. Well, thanks for running, QM. If you feel like doing an epilogue/finale post, that closure is always nice.

>>5722651
Sure, what would players like to see resolved and/or how would you have expected things to go?

>>5723816
Maybe we could read what our babs look like?

>>5723816
How things will be going for Strogga 150 years away, with war over

>>5723818
>>5724660
Sounds good, I'll try and work something up along these lines then when I get the chance.

>>5726664
Thanks QM, you're a champ. Sorry this one didn't work out as popular as you hoped.

>>5726850
No need to be sorry, I enjoyed running every minute of it and only hope players enjoyed it as much as I did. As for it's success or failure, shame it won't go the distance, but there's always next time!

>>5727658
It was a great one. I honestly don't know why it didn't draw a bigger crowd or more participation, except maybe people being intimidated by a mostly pure write-in quest.

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>>5723818
>>5724660

>Some years, decades, or centuries later...

It's no easy feat to navigate a city like Kasvald, especially during holidays when the streets are packed with people or even parades. And with as many different peoples of races and cultures welcomed in the troll's domain, there's plenty of holidays to go around! The city is your home however, born and raised here as you saw it's growth and transition over many years from some nowhere-farmer's hamlet to the capital of the emergent country. Finding your way around comes easier, and not just because you're a half-troll standing head and shoulders above most.

Your traveling companion though, the foreign human messenger isn't so blessed and quite out of sorts. Guarding and escorting him to his destination, what would be an easy stroll through town even on a festival day becomes a challenge.

"Careful there Safez, you want to end up flat under one of those dwarf rollers?"

"Blessings be, you have much here the likes of which has never been seen in my land... or that of your neighbors as I understand."

Catching the messenger from wandering into the street ahead of a dwarven and gnomish collaborated auto-wagon, one of many new contraptions made use of in the region, you'll have to wait until the parade passes. Davith's plaza is always the center of attention on holidays of course, the focal center of Kasvald of course. Though you remember times when being in a crowd was always notable, for being eight feet tall or thereabouts, having a tail and long ears, faintly green skin and such. Back when the crowds were just humans. Now though there's so many different sorts around that you hardly stand out... or maybe it's just simply because there are so many of you now, you and your half-troll siblings.

To be fair, being half-elven as well made it a lot easier for the majority of humans to grow accustomed to you and yours. Ironically, perhaps easier even than if you'd all have been half-human. Fine and fair elven physiology a better balance to tough and monstrous troll physiology, even if a human sire would have been more relatable for the populace.

"That you Delsen?! Who've you got here with you?!"

"Messenger! Came to see, talk to mam- erm, the queen!"

Well you still stand out in a crowd to your fellow kin, met by one of your sisters Nerys while waiting for a path to clear through the plaza. Having to shout to hear one another over the celebrations and music, but getting the point across just the same as with all the other members of your family you've encountered along the way.

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"Not Kellan or Avrae, or Yrathea and Vamir?! You know how they run things around here for her!"

"He's an envoy, that sort of thing! From Peshten, you know to the south?! Supposed to meet her!"

Maybe this would be easier if someone else in the family were to handle the matter. Gods know there's more than enough of you to go around, in this country, that from Volden all the way to Teppens (and Kasvald here between everything) there's always at least some half-troll managing things. Enough siblings to develop interests and expertise in all walks of life, from labor to governance. And rarely limited to any one expertise either, when you've centuries of life to live and grow as you see fit. All the better to lessen demands on the big troll herself's time, and carry her will and influence across the country over the years. Not just her powerful physiology passed down to the family, but her intelligence as well, which very much benefited the collective effort to carve out this country of yours' and sustain it.

Though you'd always leaned towards the militant side of things, you pride yourself at being a reliable taskmaster in the family for your busier and more professional siblings. Who normally might handle this matter themselves, but this time your traveling companion is supposed to go to the queen herself. A rare enough thing these days as to warrant your attention.

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But for that, to meet the queen, means not traveling to the royal estate or the grand hall of guilds or even the moored floating island castle... not even among the frequent celebrations in town in her honor, but rather down by the river under the crumbling old bridge.

"Ha ho! Good catch bab! Better than frogs to eat, see?"

The troll queen herself, Strogga, busy showing your youngest siblings how to live off the river (catching fish, this instance particularly) rather than running the country. But then it was always obvious what she valued most of all. Clearly an aged troll now from the decades or centuries, but no less eager or active than she ever was... a little slower than you remember, when she was raising you but still.

"-ah! Is that Delsen-bab? Come give mam a hug!"

Well you can't avoid the notice of your young siblings, who in turn inform Strogga of your arrival, so you can't avoid her embrace either. Always happy to see you or any of the family for that matter, you may be a strong and seasoned warrior but there's no victory against your huge full-troll mother once she's set her mind to treating you like a child.

"-heurk! Strogga please... mam! I've brought someone to you... come on Safez, you wanted to meet the queen?"

"Ah y-yes... your highness, on behalf of the King of Peshten I am bidden to extend a peaceful hand in mutual respect of a fellow monarch, the Troll Queen! In your triumph against the dragon menace, my people recognize this country of yours and in the bonds of legitimacy, seek formal relations and trade!"

Thanks be to the gods, you knew this effort of yours was worthwhile and that Safez was just the man for the occasion. As fancily and as formally as he carries on, as an envoy would, Strogga pretty quickly loses interest in favor of your young siblings even if she does know better to at least act polite about it. But your interest is firmly held by the envoy and his message, what it should mean for your family and this land.

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What years it has been, more than a century ago when the civil war was ended. Inconclusively so, at least in regards to the initial conflict and reasons. Rather the focus shifted towards the rise and overtaking of Strogga the troll queen and her growing domain. Enough to overcome the royalist schism and carve the old country asunder, with the strength to defend and enforce new territory and borders. After all, while one troll herself couldn't stand up to an army, she could hold off aggression (from an increasingly fortified Kasvald) long enough until she had an army of her own; a dozen or so half-trolls, not yet adults even but still a force to be reckoned with together, between the physiology and taught skill of troll mother and elven father. Enough to beat back the human enemy armies, and with passing years ever greater numbers of the family to join the fight, until peace was unavoidable... either that, making peace with the troll and giving up her domain, or to be conquered entirely in turn.

Still, despite such a feat, it never amounted to recognition. The other (now fellow) independent portions of the old country may have been forced to settle an end to the war, but that doesn't mean they would ever accept or recognize any legitimacy of the troll queen. Not even if she had wed their own human king, such a blasphemous idea as troll royalty would be. But with the war ended and unexpected, innovative progress and prosperity brought to her domain, attention and recognition would only grow with time. Until eventually that original threat behind the civil war... the dragon, reared its head. That, only recently in fact. You remember it all too well, for you yourself fought in that conflict.

Though as mighty as a dragon may be, and that red terror was... indeed, many of your family fell in the bloody and fiery battle... even that might was unable to prevail against a small army of half-trolls seasoned by earlier war and armed with advanced arms and armor from all manner of hired or welcomed experts and races. After all, how many oversized bolts from dwarven-gnomish-elven-enchanted springalds can even a dragon take? After that, well...

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Peshten may be the first, but it is a significant power on this side of the world, it won't be the last. To finally accept and recognize this land as a true, distinct and legitimate country, one for history and the maps. A country founded and ruled by a troll no less, with troll royalty... something that had existed only in myth before, now a reality and accepted by other races.

"-with all the formalities due of course! In turn a proper response would be welcomed, that I may return to the King with your blessing!"

"-yes of course! I... I mean, what do you think about it Strogga?"

For all that Safez has to discuss, there's surely a need to take this to a more formal setting and engage with the matter as a legitimate governing body would. For now though you're so eager to accept that you hold off on shooing away your young siblings for long enough that Strogga can take this seriously. Though you look to her for approval, as she slogs through the river shallows to take a seat on the old stone throne the dwarves made for her years ago, which she dragged from out of town to under the old bridge here.

"Huh huh huh... your old mam did pretty good, eh bab?"

Older than she was back then, tired and scarred from conflicts past, but still a contented sigh as she sat down. Chuckling with a satisfied smile to you, for a well-fought and hard earned quest finally complete.

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>The End

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>>5735078

And there you have it, thanks all for playing! I hope everyone enjoyed this quest as much as I did, and I wouldn't have been able to make it what it was or gotten this far without you!

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Oh and of course, if anyone had any questions, comments or critiques of the quest, I'd welcome them.

>>5735078
>>5735079
That's a cute ending. Thanks, QM! It was a fun one.

>>5735082
>questions
How many centuries has Strogga actually been alive, before the epilogue?

>comments
You're a pretty great QM, so please tip me off next time you run a thing so I can play it.

>critiques
Again, the only thing I can think of is to offer more options rather than just write-ins. I think it really scares players off a bit, and it makes forming a consensus difficult. Given the high quality of this quest, I can't think of any other reason people wouldn't play in greater numbers. It certainly more polished and better-written than my own quest.

Aw, did neither thread get archived?

>>5735079
Thanks for running!

Can't help but think we got a far happier ending this way than if we had gotten more threads lol.

>>5735238
Both are on the moe archive I believe.

>>5735366
Who knows, I tried to guess as how things may have gone or what players might have done in the long run, based on how things had been done so far, versus some of the larger plot challenges there would have been, such as the dragon.

>>5735173
Strogga was in her 50s at the start of the quest, so would have been over two hundred by the epilogue. In this imagined setting trolls could live for around three hundred years on average however, so 50s was still young and 200 is older than middle age.

I've got a pretty busy schedule in the near future so I won't be able to run a more serious quest idea that I had wanted to, a giant spider cult story. I may still be able to do something though, less serious and more easygoing. I was thinking a quest about kind of a low tier loser supervillain trying to make it big. So keep an eye out, I'll try to be doing some quest or other in the near future if possible.

As for the options versus write-ins, I can see how that may have been a problem or the cause. Although even then the quest was pretty successful in general I think, and progressed farther than other purely options-driven quests I have done. Besides that, I personally kind of hate options because it tends to not invite player creativity or investment in my experience. You might get a bunch of players but most simply vote for given options and nothing more, so the quest just becomes like a choose-your-own-adventure story, rather than a cooperative and interactive storytelling effort. Write ins I think, encourage and force player creativity even if it means less players.

But I'd infinitely prefer a quest with a few invested and creative, cooperative players doing write in options, against a quest that has hundreds of players who just copy-paste reply the options given with no further input or creativity. But that's just me and my preference. When it comes to questing I enjoy a cooperative literary canvas of creativity from people involved, more than just one sided creative writing from me alone that people steer without contribution.

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>>5735421
>giant spider cult
Sounds neat!

>When it comes to questing I enjoy a cooperative literary canvas of creativity from people involved, more than just one sided creative writing from me alone that people steer without contribution.
Makes sense, and I tend to agree. However, especially early on in a quest, I think a lot of people get choice paralysis. In my quest I include pregen options, but still get (and encourage) plenty of write-ins, plus little creative 'minigames' to create NPCs, design attire, introduce or influence setting elements, make and discuss grand-scale plans and battle strategies... That sort of thing! it doesn't ALWAYS work, in the sense that sometimes everyone just picks a default option or latches onto one anon's write-in, but I do get discourse, discussion, setting speculation, and a fair few votes.

>moe archive
So it is!

>>5736279
What quest is that you better tell me

Also on a related matter, another problem I encounter with choices is that some players will just stop reading and quit a quest if their option choice doesn't get the majority, or win enough times. With write-ins as shown with this quest, most of the time I try to combine or at least include all the written-in player options for each post, so everyone gets to have their input matter and contribute. With options, it's not impossible to combine them but then what's even the point of providing distinct options for people to discern and choose among them, if you end up having to combine them anyway?

>>5736651
When a vote doesn't win but has some popular support, I generally try to integrate at least some of the discussion around the decision into the MC's internal monologue or their discussions with supporting characters, and if possible I keep options open. When possible, and especially if a minority opinion or an interesting write-in is compatible with the majority vote, I combine or integrate them.

>what quest?
Reptilian Infiltrator and Dragonborn Antipaladin.

>>5736676
>Reptilian Infiltrator and Dragonborn Antipaladin.

Ok everyone and anyone players still here and still reading this, you better go and play this quest or Strogga would be most disappointed

>>5736868
First one ended so that's impossible

>>5736871
I meant the active one lol

>>5736874
It's almost over, but I appreciate it. I'll likely start a new quest, though! I'll also keep an eye out for your next one. Beastgolk Quest helped inspire me to start RIQ.