Trollocs
Trollocs are a species that feature in The Wheel of Time.
Contents |
History
Trollocs were an animalistic hybrid race of Shadowspawn created by the forces of the Dark One. During the Age of Legends, they came to comprise the bulk of the Dark One's armies. During the War of the Shadow, the Dark One's forces searched for a method to produce a soldier more powerful than normal humans. The quest for this "super-soldier" was undertaken by the Forsaken Aginor. He combined human genetic material with that of several animal species. Species such as boars, bears, and eagles were selected due to their high levels of aggression, leading to some of the common animal features seen in Trollocs. The crossbreeding eventually produced a soldier with the desired physical and emotional attributes, and just as importantly, a soldier that was capable of producing viable offspring. A self-replenishing army was more highly valued than one that needed to be produced in biological laboratories. Originally, Trollocs were a failed creation. Their innate blood lust overwhelmed them and made them impossible to control, and thus, while they were superior fighters, they made terrible soldiers and had extremely poor discipline. This problem was solved when Trolloc breeding began to result in the Myrddraal: a being capable of intelligent thought and of being commanded, and which also terrifies any Trolloc into obedience. What causes the birth of a myrdraal is unknown, even by Aginor, although it is generally described as a "throwback" of sorts that is more human in appearance, if not in nature or abilities.
Overview
In appearance, Trollocs were a cross of human and animal stock with physical characteristics that blended of both lineages, horrifying almost all that come in contact with them. A Trolloc has an animal-like snout, beak, or head, hoofed feet, feathers, or oversized rough hands with thick nails. Much as height and hair color differs between humans, so does the line between animal and human vary amongst individual Trollocs. Some have feet capable of wearing boots, while others have legs far more like a goat, hoofed and unable to wear shoes. They are between 8 and 10 feet (244–305 cm) tall.
While capable of speech, they possess an intellect inferior to that of other sentient races and have proven difficult to utilize in battle unless supervised.
They were carnivorous, sadistic, fearful and violent. Trollocs are cruel and sadistic, often killing for pleasure or by instinct than by command. This inherent violence makes them easily detectable by a sniffer. They are also fearful creatures, with self-preservation generally being one of the only reasons they abstain from violence and killing. They also fear rivers and crossing bodies of water, as they cannot swim.
Unlike other Shadowspawn, Trollocs are social creatures, grouped by several distinct tribes and capable of cruel and twisted humor.
Notes
- Trollocs were created by Robert Jordan where they featured in The Wheel of Time universe.
In other media
Television
- In The Wheel of Time, Trollocs appeared in the setting of the live-action television series.
Appearances
- The Wheel of Time:
External Links
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