Mythic Era, Age of Form, Turn 13

Since time immemorial, the Trolls have made their homes in the southeastern third of Tholaurch, the proto-continent raised by Tholak so long ago. Since then the Trolls have slowly but surely spread out; some displaced by inter- and intra-clan wars, some searching for new rocks and minerals, and some just out of a lust for adventure and discovery.

The Troll clans did not spread equally, however. Clan Thaeron, the most spiritual and traditionalist of the clans, stayed mostly in the southern mountain caves of the Troll homelands. A small number of them migrated northeast to the range there, and a smaller number still made their way to the smaller mountains – glorified hills really – to the far northwest.

Clan Aerolch, the proudest and more warlike of the clans, chafed under the domination held by clan Thaeron over the southern mountains. Many of them travelled to the northeastern and northwestern ranges; in the northeast, they held an uneasy balance with the Thaeron, but in the northwest the Aerolch reigned supreme.

Clan Vilcth, the most independent-minded of the clans, had many members migrate both east and west. To the east many Vilcth, during a period of low tide, migrated across the narrow strait to a new island, and made their homes in its smaller mountains. To the west they passed the great lake and came across the salt flats. Those who took up residence there subsisted primarily on salt, and over time came to consider themselves their own sub-clan: clan Saelch.

Clan Ffolth, the least adventuresome and most thoughtful of the clans, in greater or lesser numbers followed the other clan migrations. Many of them in the west consider themselves to now be part of clan Saelch, while those elsewhere make up a majority of those Trolls who live outside the mountains.

Over time the disparate Trolls founded their own, regional traditions and practices. In the Aerolch-dominated northwest, centralized leadership first arose. As sub-clans and bands feuded and negotiated, tribute was given by the defeated to the victors, as were promises of aid in war. Great chieftains, each commanding many vassal bands, warred and feuded, and many petty states rose and fell.

While the Aerolch of northeast mountaintops also warred and feuded, the Thaeron of the mountain caverns only infrequently did. The Thaeron, seeking to stop the bands of marauding Aerolch from entering their tunnels and demanding fealty, suggested to several of the dominant Aerolch chieftains of the region that just as Tholak reigns supreme over all Trolls, one Troll should reign in his stead over all Trolls in the region. The Aerolch chieftains fought and duelled until one, Graunth, managed to subdue his rivals. He was acclaimed king by his vassals and by the Thaeron, who had arrogated for themselves the right to crown their king. Graunth named his new kingdom after himself, and the Kingdom of Graunth was born.

The new Aerolch kingship caused great distress in the Aerolch-dominated northwest and the Thaeron-dominated south. Both fearing a conquering army, in the northwest the greatest Aerolch bands arranged for a tournament. The chieftain Nraourth managed to subdue his rivals in a free-for-all brawl, and was acclaimed by his fellow chieftains as their king. Following Graunth's example, Nraourth named his new kingdom after himself, and the Kingdom of Nraourth was born.

The Thaeron of the south held a meeting in one of their holiest meeting places, alleged to be the site where Tholak created the first Trolls. There the chieftains elected one of their own as king. Unlike the other kingdoms, this new kingdom was not named for the new king, but instead called Tholran, after the name of the ancient meeting place. And thus the Kingdom of Tholran was born.

The Saelch to the west, fearing invasion, quickly followed suit. The Saelch had many small bands, few of which had grown to the size and power of the great Aerolch and Thaeron bands of the other kingdoms. The Saelch king was thus chosen by a grand council of hundreds of chieftains, and accorded less authority than the other kingdom's kings. His ability to command his subject bands at all during peacetime was limited, and minimal tribute was afforded to him. The council also chose the name Esthalk for their new kingdom, after their name for the great lake. And thus the Kingdom of Esthalk was born.

In the far west, on the island not made by Tholak, only a single band had migrated. and although that band's numbers now far exceeded those of most bands, it was still far smaller than any of the kingdoms on Tholak's continent. Nevertheless the chieftain of that band assumed for himself the title of king, and named his new kingdom and the island on which it was situated Arshal, after himself. And thus the Kingdom of Esthalk was born.

Effect For some amount of his 50 points, Tholak uses Command (Divine) Avatar once and Command Race enough times to expand the Trolls to encompass the following regions, and to form the following five Troll kingdoms. If 50 points is insufficient to accomplish this, the effects of this post happen over the course of several turns, with Tholak spending all of his points on it each turn until it's completed.

Troll Kingdom A is the Kingdom of Esthalk.

Troll Kingdom B is the Kingdom of Nraourth.

Troll Kingdom C is the Kingdom of Tholran.

Troll Kingdom D is the Kingdom of Graunth.

Troll Kingdom E is the Kingdom of Arshal.