Ug'den Thog

The Shattered Bone Lands

Like a vast, stygian city, the lands of the trolls, primarily located in the south-western portions of the forest, are somewhat centralized into one huge camp. Their crude huts, comprised mainly of dried mud, sticks, animal skins and bones, dot the landscape in many clearings protected by thick treelines. With only a marginal concern for the forest's well being, the trolls of the Shattered Bone have deforested vast areas of their territories in order to meet their expansionalist needs.

Ghar'Rektch- Northernmost village, Ghar'rektch is home of some two hundred trolls, the entire comunity at a perpetual state of readiness for the war they know will begin.

Gruk'shokt- The largest of the clearings, located centrally amongst the border encampments, this is the place where the majority of the trolls congregate to test their worth in battle, enjoy leisurely activities such as eating, drinking, and sleeping, and other such things. Also, this is where the most powerful and well respected of the trolls gather to hold counsel and exercise their prowess in clan politics. The chieftain of the Shattered Bone also resides in this place, and from here rules with an iron fist and a bloody axe.

N'garrn- Located on the eastern edge of the Troll lands, N'garrn is some ten miles from the border of the Whispering Trails. Numbering some one-hundred and fifty able-bodied trolls, the village is a strongpoint for various hunting parties.

Uchechk- Uchechk is the smallest of the troll villages, numbering somewhere over one hundred-twenty warriors. This village is somewhat centrally located, and in a perpetuate relaxed state of readiness.

Bulwark- The bulwark is a massive earthworks that rings the village, six feet high and five feet across, it is an earthen mound decorated liberally with sharpened stakes that point outward from the village, so that defenders may mount it or use it as shelter without harm. The stakes are typically smeared with dung and offal, to make them even more dangerous. The bulwark's opening is typically ten feet across, on the opposite side of the opening to the palisade, so that one must enter the bulwark, then run around the palisade while dodging whatever form of missile the trolls feel necessary to throw, hurl, pour... you get the point.

Palisade- The palisade is a tall wall of interwoven logs, sharpened at the top and smeared with Uch'le (A tar like substance derived from the roots of certain trees that possesses a degree of fire resistance) The height of the wall is an alternating fifteen feet and eighteen feet, making crenalations for the defenders. The opening in the palisade wall (There is no gate)is on the opposite side that the opening in the bulwark is, making life hard on attacks and other unwelcome guests. Near the opening is a gong, to be sounded in times of need. There will almost always be at least three trolls on guard duty at one time.

Tents- Made of uncured animal skins in most cases, the tents are also smeared with uch'le, and the opening of each face the firepit. The leader's tent is always nearedt to the fire, and families of dwindling importance radiate out from the place

The Fire Pit- Constructed of many charred rocks in a wide oval perhaps fifteen feet in diameter, many branches, carcasses, and other things are sacrificed to this pit daily in order to keep a large bonfire of sorts burning brightly at all times. It is here where hearty warriors of the Shattered Bone meet to drink, eat roasted meat, sing their songs, tell news of the day, and listen to tales of battles told by the grizzled veterans of many a campaign against the elves. At all hours of the day trolls can be seen lounging about, often trying to sleep off dreadful hangovers. Due to its important location in the center of Grukt'shok, it has become a focal point as well for rallies, meetings, and points of open dispute.

The Pit of Bones- As the Fire Pit has its place as an area for recreation, this is a place of brutality, and sometimes even death. It is a rather large hole dug into the earth at the west end of the clearing. Approximately nine feet deep, seven feet wide, and fifteen feet long with wooden poles plunged into the ground at each corner with skulls plunged through the tops, it serves as an arena where trolls meet to sharpen their fighting skills by pummeling their brethren. Also a source for great entertainment, it is not an unusual sight to see many trolls gathered around the pit, cheering and drinking their blood-mead while watching two or more combatants break eachothers' bones. Also a place for grudge-matches and irrefutable disputes, the hard earth surface is littered with broken bones, testament to such matters.

Voorg'leh
Unlike any other village, the stone "city" of Voorg'leh is an enigma.The trolls of of the Burneal Forest revere this place as holy ground, and no troll will willingly walk upon it's land uninvited, prefering to die, so great is their fear. There is no bulwark, palisade, or even firepit present at this place. It's purpose unclear, but believed to be a temple of some sort to an obscure ''God''.


The Alchemists' Caves
Located a bit further north of Gruk'shokt lies the honey-combed network of cold, damp caves which house the secretive and aloof troll alchemists. Consisting of many dark holes burrowed into the side of an earth and rock clustered ridge, they lead under the ground, and into the dark, cubicle-type dwelling spaces of the alchemists. Here they practice their peculiar arts, not well understood by the rest of the troll community. Considering themselves separate and aloof from the matters of the clan, they are allowed their privacy in exchange from their unusual and 'tasty' potions.