Cave Troll

Medium humanoid (giant), chaotic evil

Armor Class 22 (natural armor)
Hit Points 52 (5d8+25 plus 5); regeneration 3 (fire or acid)
Speed 60 ft., climb 20 ft.

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STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
15 (+2)	22 (+6)	20 (+5)	6 (-2)	9 (-1)	6 (-2)

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Saving Throws Fort +9, Ref +10, Will +0
Skills Climb +10, Perception +7
Senses darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, scent
Languages Giant
Challenge 4 (1,200 XP)

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Regeneration. The troll regains 3 hit points at the start of its turn. If the troll takes acid or fire damage, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the troll’s next turn.

Haste (Su). The cave troll is affected by a permanent haste spell (caster level 8th). This grants the cave troll a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes the cave troll lose its Dexterity bonus to AC also makes it lose its dodge bonus. This is an inherent bonus and cannot be dispelled or negated.

Spider Climb (Su). They can climb sheer surfaces as though by a spider climb spell (caster level 4th). This ability is always active, but can be negated or dispelled. The cave troll can restart it again on its next turn as a free action.

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Actions

Multiattack. It makes two claw attacks and one bite attack.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4+2 slashing damage.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d6+2 piercing damage.

Rend. If it hits with both claw attacks on the same turn, it can use its rend ability on that target.

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Tactics

Cave trolls often use deception when they first encounter prey, especially intelligent prey. Despite their smaller size, they allow opponents to believe they are slow in combat. When the cave troll strikes or moves, the ruse is negated, revealing their true nature. They attack by grabbing and rending opponents, showcasing their lethal capabilities.

This ugly humanoid appears to be about 6 feet tall. Its leathery skin is blackish-gray and its eyes are yellow. It has long, upright ears, almost elven in nature. Its arms and legs are long and slender and end in wicked-looking claws.

Cave Troll CR 4

XP 1,200
CE Medium humanoid (giant)
Init +6; Senses darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +7

DEFENSE

AC 22, touch 17, flat-footed 15 (+6 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural)
hp 52 (5d8+25 plus 5); regeneration 3 (fire or acid)
Fort +9, Ref +10, Will +0

OFFENSE

Speed 60 ft., climb 20 ft.
Melee 2 claws +6 (1d4+2), claw (from haste) +6 (1d4+2), and bite +6 (1d6+2)
Special Attacks rend (2 claws, 1d4+3)

TACTICS

They often use deception when they first encounter prey, especially intelligent prey. Their troll heritage often leads to the misconception that they are slow in combat, which they gladly allow their opponents to believe – until the cave troll strikes or moves. Only then is the ruse negated and the true nature of the troll revealed. Cave trolls attack by grabbing and rending an opponent.

STATISTICS

Str 15, Dex 22, Con 20, Int 6, Wis 9, Cha 6
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 22
Feats Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness
Skills Climb +10, Perception +7
Languages Giant
SQ haste, spider climb

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Haste (Su)

A cave troll is affected by a permanent haste spell (caster level 8th). This grants the cave troll a +1 bonus on attack rolls, and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves (both already figured into the stat block above). Any condition that makes the cave troll lose its Dexterity bonus to AC also makes it lose its dodge bonus. This is an inherent bonus and cannot be dispelled or negated.

When making a full attack action, a cave troll can make one extra attack with any weapon it is holding or one extra claw attack (if using natural weapons). The extra attack is at the cave troll’s full attack bonus.

Spider Climb (Su)

A cave troll can climb sheer surfaces as though by a spider climb spell (caster level 4th). This ability is always active, but can be negated or dispelled. The cave troll can restart it again on its next turn as a free action.

Cave Troll Characters

Cave troll characters possess the following racial traits.

• +4 Strength, +12 Dexterity, +10 Constitution, -4 Intelligence (minimum 3), -2 Wisdom, -4 Charisma.
• Base speed: Its base land speed is 60 feet. Its permanent spider climb ability gives it a climb speed of 20 ft.
• Darkvision: It can see in the dark out to 90 feet.
• Low-light vision: It can see twice as far as humans in conditions of dim light.
• Scent: It can detect opponents within 30 feet by sense of smell.
• Racial Hit Dice: It begins with four levels of humanoid, which provide 4d8 Hit Dice, a base attack bonus of +3, and base saving throw bonuses of Fort +4, Ref +1, and Will +1.
• Racial Skills: Its humanoid levels give it skill points equal to 4 x (2 + Int modifier, minimum 1).
• Racial Feats: Its humanoid levels give it two feats.
• AC: +5 natural armor bonus.
• Natural Weapons: It fights with 2 claws (1d4) and a bite (1d6).
• Special Attacks: Rend (see left).
• Special Qualities: Haste, regeneration 3 (fire or acid), spider climb (see left).
• Languages: They begin play speaking Giant. Cave trolls with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following languages: Common, Orc.

ECOLOGY

Environment underground
Organization solitary or gang (2-4)
Treasure standard

Smaller cousins of the normal troll and are found in all types of subterranean realms. They are as deadly, or more so, than their larger brethren. Cave trolls have the same voracious appetite of the normal troll and sustain themselves on whatever they can find in their underground realms. They rarely venture to the surface world, preferring the security and tranquility of the darkness they inhabit. If extremely hungry or if food is scarce, however, a cave troll ventures to the surface and attacks whatever it finds near its lair.

Cave trolls stand 6 feet tall and weigh 300 pounds. Cave trolls do not walk with the same hunched gait of their larger relatives. They stand upright and move with blinding speed.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Cave Troll from the Tome of Horrors Complete, Copyright 2011, Necromancer Games, Inc., published and distributed by Frog God Games; Authors Scott Greene and Clark Peterson.