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The Diamond Throne
Shadow Troll Large Giant Hit Dice: 6d8+36 (63 hp); dying/dead –7/–23 Initiative: +3 (Dexterity) Speed: 30 feet AC: 19 (–1 size, +3 Dexterity, +7 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 16 Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+13 Attack: Claw +9 melee (1d6+6) or staff +9 melee (1d8+9) Full Attack: 2 claws +9 melee (1d6+6), bite +4 melee (1d6+3) or staff +9 melee (1d8+9) Face/Reach: 5 feet by 5 feet/10 feet Special Attacks: Rend 2d6+9, spells Special Qualities: Regeneration 5, camouflage, scent, darkvision 90 feet Saves: Fort +11, Ref +5, Will +7 Abilities: Str 23, Dex 16, Con 23, Int 17, Wis 16, Cha 15 Skills: Alchemy +10, Climb +14, Knowledge (magic) +11, Listen +12, Sneak +16*, Spellcraft +10 Feats: Blood as Power, Iron Will, Spell Affinity (invisibility), Corrupt Mage Environment: Any land or underground Organization: Solitary or team (2–4) Challenge Rating: 7 Treasure: Standard Advancement: By character class Level Adjustment: +7 * Includes a racial bonus.
Shadow trolls are sinister and devious cousins of the common troll. They cast spells and hide in the darkness, waiting to strike at the unwary. Like other trolls, shadow trolls are carnivores—they prefer the flesh of intelligent beings. They are also exceedingly cruel and delight in inflicting pain and suffering. Few things are as important to a shadow troll as exacting revenge and seeing their enemies embroiled in pain and sadness (and virtually everyone is their enemy). An adult shadow troll stands 9 feet tall and weighs 500 lbs. Its craggy hide is charcoal black, and its shock of hair is either jet black or stark white. Their arms and legs are long but graceful, and they sport terrible hooked claws. Shadow trolls possess all the strength and stamina of normal trolls, but they also command magic and skills of subterfuge. Shadow trolls walk upright but hunched forward with muscles ready to spring into action. They are agile and surprisingly nimble. Despite their size, they are very sneaky, using their spells to help them stay hidden and move silently. Shadow trolls speak Common and Giant.
Combat Shadow trolls are crafty and love traps and ambushes where the odds lean heavily in their favor. While many are power-
mad, they do not seem as fearless as normal trolls. In fact, they are quite cowardly. They carry staves for spellcasting but rarely use them in melee, preferring their traditional claw/claw/bite routine. Rend (Ex): If a shadow troll hits with both claw attacks, it latches onto the opponent’s body and tears the flesh. This attack automatically deals an additional 2d6 + 9 points of damage. Spells (Sp): Shadow trolls all cast spells as 5th-level magisters. They even require staves. A typical shadow troll has these slots: 6/4/3/2. It readies the following spells: 0-level—bash, canny effort, detect creature, detect magic, disorient, read magic, saving grace, lesser telekinesis; 1st-level—cold blast, compelling command, distraction, fireburst, resistance, stone blast; 2nd-level—boil, lesser ability boost, read mind, silent sheath; 3rd-level—invisibility, protection from elements, sorcerous blast Regeneration (Ex): Fire and acid deal normal damage to a shadow troll. If a shadow troll loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6 minutes. The creature can reattach the severed member instantly by holding it to the stump. Camouflage (Ex): Due to their shadowy nature, shadow trolls gain a +8 bonus to Sneak checks.
Shadow Troll Characters Shadow trolls are almost always mages of some kind. If they take levels in magister, their inherent levels stack (so a shadow troll with five levels of magister casts spells as a 10th-level magister, although he possesses all special class abilities of a 5th-level magister—including the one bonus feat). If a shadow troll takes levels in another spellcasting class, such as runethane or mage blade (two of their favorites), the levels stack with their inherent magister levels as with normal multiclassing (see Monte Cook’s Arcana Unearthed, Chapter Three).
