Bjerg-Trolde

Huge Giant (Earth), Neutral Evil

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Armor Class 17 (natural armor)

Hit Points 178 (17d12 + 68)

Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
23 (+6)	9 (–1)	18 (+4)	10 (+0)	13 (+1)	9 (–1)

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Saving Throws Con +7, Wis +4
Skills Athletics +9, Perception +4, Stealth +2 (in rocky terrain), Survival +4
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical attacks
Damage Vulnerabilities fire, radiant
Condition Immunities petrified, prone (while touching natural stone)
Senses darkvision 120 ft., tremorsense 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages Giant, Terran; understands Common but rarely speaks
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP) • Proficiency Bonus +4

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Traits

Earthbound Regeneration. While in contact with natural stone or soil, the Bjerg-Trolde regains 15 HP at the start of its turn. Fire or radiant damage suppresses this until the end of its next turn. Sunlight inflicts 20 radiant damage at the start of its turn and ends regeneration until sunset.

Stone Meld. As a bonus action, the Bjerg-Trolde partially merges with stone or earth, gaining half cover and advantage on Stealth checks in rocky terrain. While merged, it can see and hear through stone within 60 ft.

Guardian of the Hill. Within 1 mile of its lair, the Bjerg-Trolde knows when creatures disturb the earth and can cause a localized earth tremor (DC 16) once per day.

Innate Spellcasting (Earth Magic). Wis is its spellcasting ability (DC 14). It needs no components.

• At will: mold earth, stone shape
• 3/day each: earthbind, meld into stone, shatter
• 1/day each: wall of stone, erupting earth

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Actions

Multiattack. Makes two Slam attacks or one Slam and one Boulder Hurl.

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 19 (3d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage and the target must succeed on a DC 16 Strength save or be knocked prone.

Boulder Hurl. Ranged Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, range 60/180 ft., one target. Hit: 28 (4d10 + 6) bludgeoning damage; DC 16 Dex save or be restrained under rubble (escape DC 14).

Stoneheart Roar (Recharge 5–6). Each creature of its choice within 30 ft. must make a DC 16 Con save, taking 21 (6d6) thunder damage and becoming deafened on a fail, half on success.

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Reactions

Earthen Shield. When it or an ally within 30 ft. takes damage, the Bjerg-Trolde raises a stone barrier, granting +2 AC until the start of its next turn (20 HP; destroyed at 0).

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Legendary Actions

The Bjerg-Trolde can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below (one at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn). It regains spent actions at the start of its turn.

• Tremor Step. Moves up to half speed without provoking opportunity attacks; ground within 10 ft. becomes difficult terrain.
• Rockburst (2 Actions). Stone fragments explode in a 15-ft. radius; DC 16 Dex save or 10 (3d6) piercing damage.
• Meld Away. Uses Stone Meld without a bonus action.

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Lair of the Bjerg-Trolde

Bjerg-Trolde lairs lie beneath ancient barrows and mist-covered hills, tunneled through quartz-veined stone and root. Dripping water, moss, and half-buried treasures mark their halls. A Bjerg-Trolde encountered here can command the earth itself.

Lair Actions

On initiative count 20 (losing ties), it takes one lair action (once per round, no repeat two rounds in a row):

• Quaking Ground. Each creature on the ground within 60 ft. makes a DC 16 Dex save or takes 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage and is knocked prone.
• Grasping Stone. Rocky hands rise in a 20-ft. radius within 60 ft.; area becomes difficult terrain; DC 15 Str save or restrained until next round.
• Stone’s Retaliation. Shards erupt from walls; three targets within 60 ft. make DC 16 Dex save or take 14 (4d6) piercing damage.
• Echo of the Hill. The troll’s voice reverberates; attackers without clear sight have disadvantage until its next turn.

Regional Effects

Within 1 mile of its lair:

• Whispering Stones. Boulders murmur and laugh at night.
• Living Earth. Trails shift and re-form (DC 15 Survival to retrace).
• Troll’s Breath Mist. Dense fog at dusk halves light radius and muffles sound.
• Resentful Slumber. If slain, the hill lies barren for a century and sleepers dream of movement below.
  These effects fade 1d10 days after its death.

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Mythic Transformation — Heart of the Hill

When reduced to 0 HP within its lair, the Bjerg-Trolde’s body crumbles and its Heartstone awakens. It regains half its HP (89) and transforms into its mythic form.
The encounter’s total CR counts as 13 (10,000 XP).

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Bjerg-Trolde (Heart of the Hill)

Huge Elemental (Giant), Neutral Evil

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Armor Class 19 (living stone)

Hit Points 89 (half of total restored on transform)

Speed 40 ft., burrow 30 ft.

Saving Throws Con +8, Wis +5
Damage Resistances bludgeoning, piercing, slashing from nonmagical weapons; fire
Condition Immunities petrified, prone, frightened
Senses tremorsense 120 ft., darkvision 120 ft.
Languages as base
Proficiency Bonus +5

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Mythic Traits

Armor of Living Stone. The troll’s body is one with the hill; its AC is 19 and it has resistance to fire.

Crushing Terrain. Ground within 30 ft. is unstable; at the end of each creature’s turn there, it must make a DC 16 Dex save or take 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage.

Unyielding Heart. Regeneration increases to 25 HP per round while touching stone or soil.

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Actions

Multiattack. Two Slam attacks.

Slam. +9 to hit, reach 15 ft.; 27 (4d8 + 6) bludgeoning damage.

Voice of the Mountain (Recharge 5–6). Each creature within 60 ft. makes a DC 16 Wis save or is frightened until end of its next turn; already frightened creatures auto-fail.

Eruption of Stone (1/Day). The troll slams its fists into the ground, creating a 60-ft. radius eruption of rock spikes. Creatures of its choice in that area make a DC 17 Dex save, taking 35 (10d6) piercing damage and falling prone on a fail, half on success.

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Legendary Actions (Heart of the Hill)

The Bjerg-Trolde has 3 legendary actions in this form:

• Tremor Step. As before.
• Rockburst. As before, damage increases to 16 (5d6).
• Awaken Stone (Costs 3 Actions). Animates a 10-ft.-tall stone guardian (AC 15, 30 HP) in an empty space within 30 ft.; acts on its initiative to attack once (+6 to hit, 11 (2d6 + 4) damage). Lasts 1 minute or until destroyed.

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Tactics

Phase 1 – The Watcher in the Hill: Uses stealth and terrain control, dividing the party with earthbind and boulders. Retreats into stone to regenerate.
Phase 2 – Heart of the Hill: Fights as a living mountain—collapsing tunnels, raising spikes, and roaring through the earth. The battlefield itself becomes its weapon.

When destroyed, its hill implodes, forming a new cairn and burying its treasures beneath layers of stone and legend.

Bjerg-Trolde

Huge giant (earth), neutral evil

This immense, moss-covered giant seems carved from the very mountain it guards. Its skin is cracked stone veined with roots, and its glowing amber eyes burn like lanterns buried deep beneath the earth. Legends say bjerg-trolde awaken only when trespassers defile sacred hills or barrows.

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CR 12
XP 19,200
Init +1; Senses darkvision 120 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +21

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DEFENSE

• AC 27, touch 9, flat-footed 26 (+1 Dex, +18 natural, –2 size)
• hp 178 (17d8+102)
• Fort +15, Ref +6, Will +10
• DR 10/—; Immune petrification; Resist acid 10, cold 10
• Weaknesses vulnerability to fire, sunlight aversion

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OFFENSE

• Speed 40 ft., burrow 20 ft., climb 20 ft.
• Melee 2 slams +22 (2d8+12 plus knockdown)
• Ranged rock +13 (2d10+12)
• Space/Reach 15 ft. / 15 ft.

Special Attacks

• Rock throwing (180 ft.), rock catching
• Stoneheart Roar 6d6 sonic damage, DC 23 Fortitude, 1/day
• Earth Mastery, Earth Meld, Earth Magic (see below)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 12th; concentration +13)

• At will — meld into stone, stone shape
• 3/day each — earthbind (DC 17), shatter (DC 16), meld into stone
• 1/day each — wall of stone, eruptive pustules (DC 18)

Earth Magic (Su): While touching natural stone or earth, the bjerg-trolde gains +2 on attack and damage rolls and +2 to the DCs of earth or sonic effects.

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STATISTICS

• Str 35, Dex 13, Con 23, Int 10, Wis 15, Cha 9
• Base Atk +12; CMB +26; CMD 37
• Feats: Awesome Blow, Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Bull Rush, Iron Will, Power Attack, Toughness, Vital Strike
• Skills: Climb +25, Intimidate +12, Perception +21, Stealth +7 (+11 in rocky terrain), Survival +14
• Languages: Giant, Terran; understands Common
• SQ: Guardian of the Hill, Earth Regeneration, Stony Camouflage

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SPECIAL ABILITIES

Earth Regeneration (Ex): Regains 15 HP per round while in contact with natural stone or soil. Fire or sunlight suppresses this for 1 round. Killed in sunlight petrifies instantly.

Earth Meld (Su): Move action to partially merge with stone. Gains 20% concealment and +4 AC vs. ranged attacks. Can see and hear through stone within 60 ft.

Guardian of the Hill (Su): Senses disturbances in natural earth within 1 mile. Once per day can trigger a 10-ft.-radius tremor (DC 20 Reflex) as a full-round action.

Stoneheart Roar (Su): Standard action, 1/day. Sonic burst in 30-ft. radius. DC 23 Fortitude or take 6d6 sonic damage and be deafened for 1 minute.

Stony Camouflage (Ex): +8 racial bonus on Stealth when motionless against natural stone.

Sunlight Aversion (Ex): Staggered and takes 2d6 damage per round in direct sunlight. Death in sunlight causes instant petrification.

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TACTICS

Before Combat: Hides in its lair, using Earth Meld and Stealth to observe trespassers. Casts Earthbind to restrain flying enemies and Wall of Stone to control battlefield.

During Combat: Opens with Stoneheart Roar, then hurls rocks at large or loud opponents while engaging in melee. Uses Power Attack and Awesome Blow to knock foes prone. Retreats into stone to regenerate if below 30 HP.

Morale: Fights to death if cornered or defending sacred relics; otherwise may retreat to regenerate.

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ECOLOGY

• Environment: Cold mountains, northern hills, and ancient barrows (Scandinavia, Scottish Highlands, Carpathians; circa 1453)
• Organization: Solitary or pair (guardian and mate)
• Treasure: Standard (stone clubs, ancient relics, buried hoards)

Description:
Bjerg-Trolde (“mountain trolls”) are ancient, solitary giants bound to hills and barrows. Their bodies are crusted with moss, lichen, and quartz veins; their deep amber eyes glow with the dull light of buried gold. Standing 18+ ft. tall and weighing nearly 10 tons, they are said to awaken only when their sacred hills are trespassed upon.

Lore Knowledge (Arcana/Nature):

• DC 20: Recognize as earth troll, regeneration, and vulnerability to fire/sunlight.
• DC 25: Know its earth magic and Stone Meld abilities.
• DC 30: Learn that death causes the hill to become barren for a century.

Bjerg-Trolde

This tall, gangly humanoid has earthy brown skin and a wild tangle of white hair.

Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.

On this Thread

Bjerg-troldes, sometimes called hill trolls, reside in mounds and hill-locks lined with gold and other valuables. Bjerg-troldes are fond of thievery and kidnapping, particulary the abduction of women and children. Bjerg-troldes cannot tolerate loud noises, and are rumored to flee from the sound of bells.

A typical adult bjerg-trolde stands 9 feet tall and weighs 500 pounds. Females are slightly larger than males. A bjerg-trolde’s rubbery hide ranges from tan to brown. Their hair is always white, becoming a white beard in dwarf form or white stripes in toad forms.

Bjerg-troldes speak Common, Dwarven, and Giant.

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Troll, Bjerg-Trolde
Large Giant
Hit Dice	6d8+36 (63 hp)
Initiative	+2
Speed	30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class	16 (-1 size, +2 Dexterity, +5 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple	+4/+14
Attack	Claw +9 melee (1d6+6)
Full Attack	2 claws +9 melee (1d6+6) and bite +4 melee (1d6+3)
Space/Reach	10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks	Alternate form, rend 2d6+9
Special Qualities	Darkvision 90 ft., Low-Light Vision, regeneration 5, Scent
Saves	Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5
Abilities	Strength 23, Dexterity 14, Constitution 23, Intelligence 10, Wisdom 13, Charisma 10
Skills	Bluff +8, Diplomacy +2, Disguise +6 (+8 acting), Intimidate +2, Sleight of Hand +8
Feats	Iron Will, Persuasive, Track
Environment	Any hills
Organization	Solitary or gang (2-4)
Challenge Rating	5
Treasure	Standard
Alignment	Usually chaotic evil
Advancement	By character class
Level Adjustment	+5

Combat

Bjerg-troldes enjoy deceiving humanoids and often lure them into traps. They are just as ferocious as common trolls, and are equally happy rending victims apart with their claws.

Alternate Form (Su): A bjerg-trolde can assume the shape of a dwarf, toad, or giant toad as a standard action. While in its alternate form, the bjerg-trolde loses its natural attacks and rend ability, but it gains the natural weapons and extraordinary special attacks of its new form. It can remain in that form until it assumes another. A bjerg-trolde remains in one form until it chooses to assume a new one. A change in form cannot be dispelled, nor does the bjerg-trolde revert to any particular form when killed. A true seeing spell or ability, however, reveals both forms simultaneously.

Rend (Ex): If a bjerg-trolde 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.

Regeneration (Ex): Fire and sonic deal normal damage to a bjerg-trolde. If a bjerg-trolde 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.

Originally appeared in Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #158 (1990).