Phaze Troll

A phaze troll is barely more than half a true troll's height but thick with corded muscle. It stands fully upright, with a high forehead like a thinking race. Its stiff, leathery hide is studded with knobby lumps and ranges from deep blue through violet to black, topped by a tangle of blue or purple hair. Infravision reaches 120 feet, but its short frame gives only a 35% chance to climb any surface.

Phaze trolls are very strong and can aim claws and bite at different opponents. Knowing their natural weapons are weaker than a true troll's, many prefer polearms and other two-handed arms, gaining +4 damage but losing all natural attacks while armed.

Two innate powers set them apart, each usable at will once per round, one at a time, up to four times a day at 6th level. One is a dimensional shift like dimension door, with no disorientation after arrival. The other duplicates mirror image.

They regenerate 3 hit points per round from the third round after injury but cannot restore fire or acid damage. Their stout limbs come off only to vorpal swords or swords of sharpness, fight on, and rejoin after battle if they can.

These mutants are born to ordinary trolls that spent long periods near raw magic or strong underworld radiation, which explains their powers and wits, though sages cannot say why only these two powers appear. Too rare to form tribes, they stay with the troll tribe that bore them and often lead it, usually in tense partnership with the largest female shaman, since phaze trolls cannot cast spells. Some are psionicists of up to 3rd level, typically in Psychokinesis, Psychometabolism and Telepathy. Both sexes are equal in size, strength and intellect. Eighty percent are sterile, which is fortunate, because fertile pairs breed true. They mature quickly and can reach 150 years.

Always hungry for meat, they strip whole regions of game and raid frontier outposts of the good races. Their blood aids healing and mind-affecting magic; their bones help craft items of illusion or dimensional travel.