VERSE 1; PHYSIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION

TROLL(S) (Truzla sapiens, examples within file) are the 144th and prospectively final iterative species complex to populate the All Mother's single life-bearing crucible (current designation "Repiton"). These sapient organisms seem to possess multiple traits previously observed in extinguished species from past sessions, such as: the baseline anatomy and societal dynamics of humans (1st session), the aquatic subspecies, skin pigmentation and dental structures of nymphs (24th session), the horns of satyrs (36th session), the differing blood pigmentation of cherubs (72nd session), the great variety of psionic physiological processes seen in arborusans (142nd session) and the facultative, mutualistic relationship with local wildlife typical of pavlovians (143rd session).

Many of these biological characteristics have been instituted artificially; the development of trolls as a species was shaped by The Scribe's own hands, in contrast to the naturally propagated lifeforms from former sessions. We can also infer from a combination of prior data, newly available information (due to Repiton's introduction into the Medium) and the Naught Father's whispers from beyond the Furthest Ring that The Scribe ensured the Aspect Holder of Life's ancestor, ZEKURA RAINES, was present at the dawn of troll civilization on Repiton. It is assumed this was carried out through tampering with the SOLANA INCUBATOR, likely with denizen aid.

In order to better understand the ramifications of such extensive manipulation, we need to look at Repitonian history and how it often intersects with other powerful means of Aspected interference, such as THAUMATURGY.

Thaumaturgy is the oldest and most complex form of exerting agency over the Aspects of Creation, and was once a capstone of power in civilized society on Repiton. It utilizes specific combinations of spell circles and sigils, anchored by an imbued artifact (see: Section III, Verse 2, The Vivifier), to cast an Aspected spell. Thaumaturgical spells tend to be safe and insulated, with little to no potential repercussions to an experienced caster if performed correctly. Due to the complexity and time needed to cast these spells, they are often quite varied in scope and powerful, though less complex thaumaturgical circles for simpler Aspect manipulation are also possible.

Throughout the multiple iterations of the Solitary Universe, instances of non-players being able to naturally tap into the All Mother's foundational Aspects have been mostly non-existent, Repiton aside. Regardless, these hypothetical individuals (other than Aspect Holders) who manage to successfully access the Aspects can only, in theory, exert agency over the dominant Aspect of their soul: their EMANANT ASPECT. Thaumaturgy bypasses this restriction, as it relies on a mixture of the caster's own power, the latent Aspected energy present in the natural world and the anchoring artifact itself, instead of solely drawing from any individual soul.

Perhaps the most noteworthy case of thaumaturgy on Repiton is its direct use in modern troll reproduction. Repitonian reproduction was once characterized by an insectoid, caste-based model — genetic material harvested from multiple donors was combined into the brooding pool of a "mothergrub" (as per the species' curious polygyne form of social organization) and tended to by the jadeblood hemotype. Modern troll reproduction, on the other hand, is a mixture of scientific developments, advanced technology and a specific thaumaturgical catalyst, kept a closely guarded secret by the planet's current ruling authority (see: Section I, Verse 23, The Repiton Corporation). This process is called REDUPLICATION.

It follows that ancient Repitonians were also more insectoid in physiology, presenting clearly delineated hemotype-specific psionic abilities and physical traits. However, as is the pattern of convergent evolution observed in the species that inhabit the life-bearing crucible, trolls eventually evolved to exhibit bipedal, vertebrate-like characteristics. This phenoma has two likely sources: 1) higher survival rates predicating on these traits due to environmental conditions and 2) The Scribe's direct interference with the All Mother's essence, as was previously mentioned.

In addition, trolls continued to diversify as time went on, due to gradual changes in their reproductive habits. With the advent of larger congregating urban centers, the hyper-specific bloodtypes began to hybridize, until the original 12 hemotypes were no longer identifiable; the result was a veritable rainbow of possible bloodshades. Thus, the psionic processes that were once limited to specific hemotypes receded into the troll genome, only to be replaced by a plethora of new, unique traits colloquially referred to as SURVIVAL ABILITIES.

Survival abilities are most common in red to yellow shades, due to the high concentration of a chemical called karotenite in their systems, with yellowbloods possessing the highest of them all. Additionally, yellowbloods produce a chemical called austinine - this chemical, when interacting with the karotenite in their system, amplifies the intensity of their survival abilities. Colder shades, such as greenbloods, tealbloods, bluebloods and violetbloods, have been known to present these traits as well, though cases are far rarer. The common exception to this trend is in the purpleblood hemotype, which developed a mutated form of highly concentrated karotenite in their systems. Though troll society came to identify these purpleblood survival abilities under the collective term "psychic occult powers" and later "psyOPs", they derive from the same biological process as all other survival abilities.

The specific survival ability that a troll can develop does not seem to follow any predictable pattern; all historical attempts to map ability types to certain hemotypes have been discredited, founded on conjecture or subjectivity. Greenblooded shades, for example, were previously believed to have had a “personality fixation” as their survival ability — a condition in which an individual persistently focuses on a specific thought or concept — though recent studies have found no genetic basis to this claim. The only observed commonality of survival abilities is in identical or near-identical powers within a genetic lineage, ie. an ancestor and their descendant.

VERSE 2; SOCIETY AND CULTURE

To start, we must understand the importance of SIGILS to trollkind. The sigils used to identify modern troll bloodlines are a language construct that carried over from ancient Repitonian history. These sigils were part of an older, hieroglyphic form of writing, now lost to time, used in the casting of thaumaturgical circles to embue them with specific elements and directions. Though the practice of Thaumaturgy eventually fell into obscurity, these sigils persisted, gradually evolving into blessing charms and lineage crests, with the belief that a strong association with a given sigil would empower the bloodline attached to it.

During the period of time referred to as "the Renaissance", the population of mothergrubs took a sharp decline. This was a consequence of a chain of historical events: at the height of the Renaissance, the Aspect Holder of Void's ancestor, NEREUS KERIAN, better known as CAESAR CONSCELERATUS PERSOLUS, began his systemic genocide of the violet and fuchsia hemotypes in order to consolidate his rule as the "highest" shade on the hemospectrum. To that end, he utilized a then unseen form of extremely destructive warfare: ALCHEMY. Developed by one of his closest advisors and scientific experts, VIKTOR COLIAD, also known as THE VANGUARD, this was a streamlined, instant, and extremely volatile way to access the Aspects, without the need to use a casting circle or artifact (see Section III, Verse 12, Alchemy). The reckless, widespread usage of destructive alchemy resulted in irreparable damage to the planet's environment, upsetting the ecosystem in ways that made it increasingly harder for the mothergrubs to survive into brooding age.

At this time, several jadeblood groups focused on developing methods of storage and preservation of genetic material, for future use in the now sporadic brooding periods. A specific division spearheaded by SOLALA HEKRIX established a storage facility on the western coastline of the Northern Wastes, as the natural chill of the caves preserved the samples of genetic material for a longer period of time. These jadebloods, friendly to the seadweller plight, were secretly responsible for the continued existence of other seadweller shades past the Renaissance, as one of Caesar's first decrees was to bar the other seadwelling hemotypes from submitting their genetic material for reproduction...