Reborn as a Troll

What is a Troll?

A true is not a monster. A common misconception in Urea. They are considered a "Barbaric Race".

Trolls do not build homes. They do not have families. They rarely move in groups. They eat other sentient races. They are violent, greedy, and cruel. They think everyone else is "puny", and "food". They hate Giants too.

They often ambush travelers and attack villages to eat people. They even kill for fun. This behavior is why most consider them monsters. Although they technically aren't. As for how they still survive after all this time?

Trolls are incredibly strong. They are virtually immortal and have a strong healing factor. Thankfully for many, they are not smart. All of them are born dumb. No one knows where they have the children neither. As Troll children have never been seen in history.

For all these reasons and a few more, they survive to this day.

There are many subraces of Trolls too. Mountain Trolls, Desert Trolls, Forest Trolls, Water Trolls, Sea Trolls, Cave Trolls, etc.

I was born as a Forest Troll.

As for how children are hidden? It is really crazy. Trolls can shapeshift into something that is apart of their environment based on their subrace. Most Trolls can turn themselves into a sort of rock. As a Forest Troll, I am able to turn into a tree. Troll Children are immedietly made to shapeshift into their inanimate form after birth. Once they become an adult. They can turn back into a Troll. As for how they grow?

I have no idea. I turned into a tree, so I can make some sense of how I grew. The other Troll children turn into rocks. How does a rock grow?

Once a child turns into their other form and are left alone. It is left up to luck that they will reach adulthood in 40 years. In my case, I must hope to not get uprooted or cut down.

I had an idea on why Trolls are so dumb in my time as a Tree. It is mind numbing to be a tree for 40 years. If I wasn't an old soul, I would definitely go dumb.

Thankfully, I was in a mostly undisturbed forest. Besides some scratching, antler rubbing, and such. I consider myself lucky knowing that creatures exist that can blow away trees.

When 40 years had passed. I finally felt that I could escape being a damn tree. It was an odd feeling, but the transformation didn't take too long. When I was in my full Troll form. I felt invigorated.

I had a pale green skin and brown hair that was long enough to cover my face. I am not surprised, but I am completely naked. I was tall, very tall. My head threatened to poke into the tree canopy. Looking around, there was nothing. 

"I can explore a bit.", I murmured. I began walking around.

I found a stream and followed where it was coming from. To my great surprise, it led me into a valley with a small river running through it. After scanning the valley with my eyes and finding no threats. I walked into the valley and to the river.

It was at least 10ft deep in every place. Suitable for bathing. I immediately took a bath in it. Even though there is no soap, cleaning with just water is good enough after 40 years.

"Refreshing...", I comment to myself.

I get out of the river and think about what to do now. As a Troll, life is simple. Eat, sleep, and sleep some more. Trolls are not a proactive race due to natural strength. Troll Shamans are rare and more rarely venture out of seclusion. Other than them, Trolls don't do magic or bother to learn much. My soul isn't that of a lazy stupid Troll. Although I get more lazy urges than before I was reborn as a Troll.

For I was a slightly above average human being in my last life. I was productive, had a good job, a good education and a few hobbies. I liked my times of laziness and silence of course, but nothing abnormal.

How could I waste my life away like a normal Troll. As I am practically immortal, I have plenty of time to learn whatever I want. However, there are no books or records in some random valley in some random forest probably in the middle of nowhere. I could walk around and try to find civilization, but I am a Troll. I'll just be hunted down.

I decide that the best thing I can do, is settle down in this valley and learn from scratch.

As a previously civilized man, I wanted to get some form of shelter from the elements. Despite having a robust body that could handle nearly anything.

I began by taking down trees to turn them into logs. All crude as it was done hands and brutish strength. Then I moved dirt and rocks to make up crappy walls. I put the logs on top. Then covered it all with dirt, small wood pieces, and leaves. Now I had a simple, crappy shelter to start with.

"Better than nothing."

Now I wanted to focus on clothes. Which are going to be an issue. As I am about 20ft tall and most certainly not thin. Using plant fibers would take ages to do. Even if I make primitive tools. I don't really have any other option though.

Thus began long days of making a simple fiber weaver out of wood using sharp stones. Then more long days of collecting plant fiber and turning it into a rough cloth. I made a tunic and baggy pants for myself. As for shoes? I'll need leather to make any sure that'll be worth it.

Next, I wanted to improve my shelter.

To do so, I made more simple tools from wood and stone. I felled more trees and spent much time carving out the logs so they can fit together. As there are ways to build with wood without using nails or screws. Putting together notched wood, tightly secured with pins is also good, if not better. Cultures in my old world came up with this, as they did not easy access to metal.

A home for a normal human takes a long time to build. Let alone for a 20ft Troll. Luckily, the valley was large and had plenty of trees. The river was abundant with fish swimming through every day and all night too. Food wasn't a problem because of this. A fish basket trap everyday kept me going.

The house I made was a bit raised off the ground, but sturdy. It has 5 rooms. A bedroom, a kitchen, a living room, a study, and storage. The study is the largest room. As I will be spending a lot of time in there I hope. The windows are just wood shutters I open and shut. As I can't make glass right now. It is good enough though.

The bedroom is lacking a bed and I want to fix that. Sleeping on the ground sucks after all.

My material options were limited. I had to use plant fiber cloth to make the mattress case, then I filled it leaves, grass, and other soft things. Essentially a big pillow I slapped onto a crude bedframe. I absolutely loved it though. A crappy bed is still a bed. It is enough for someone who has gone so long without it.

After a night of good sleep on a bed. I wanted to begin learning about the wood. I needed a way to record what I learn though. A simple way would be paper and pencil. Making those isn't easy for me right now. Which means I need to start with older methods. I decided to use wooden tablets strung together into a scroll.

Thankfully, the Troll language is a very short language in terms of writing. Simple straight lines connected together make sup the writing system. With words only taking 1 to 3 for the most part. Doesn't take up a lot of space.

As for how I know this? Some sort of racial memory. I know all this just because the knowledge popped in my head out of nowhere. Finding a way to make paper will be a top priority still. Along with finding a replacement for ink. Maybe paint? I could make some primitive paints I think. Oil and coloring should do. Maybe fish oil? I'll just to try until something works.

I lost count of how many weeks it took to find a replacement for paper. At the end of the valley, there some plants that had fine fibers which could be weaved, and dried into a thin sheet. Somewhat like papyrus, but different enough. It was a bit thicker and tougher. Good enough for scrolls and perhaps books.

Anyways, Trolls are given names at birth. My name is Taln.

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Welcome, thanks for reading