#deepcrystal-tribe

Culture: As a tribe they are drawn knowledge, magic and mysticism. They have more mystics than hunters or warriors. Of those Mystics a large portion are a form of mages (most being frost and arcane, with tiny minority of fire), then shaman, Loa Priests and Witch doctors. It is said they gained the knowledge of how to wield magic and the arcane from their chief Loa but also from watching the Children of the Travelers (Titan keepers). They protect their caverns using stone golems and pacted Ice elementals as sentries and fist line of defense guards. Compared to most other trolls they prefer silver, true-silver and titanium jewelry to Gold, they will set most of their jewelry with gemstones. It is a very common practice for them to inlay or replace their tusks with gems or crystals, even the arcane crystal of the roots of the trees of Crystalsong Forest. They have an artisan level of skill with jewel crafting, working stone, enchanting and inscription. They carve their tunnels and caverns both using tools but also with magics such as shamanism as well as driving magic icicles into cave walls and expanding the ice to crack and shatter the rock. Other professions (aside from engineers which they do not have), they are capable but not masters. They write using vellum made from animal hides, carving stone tablets and walls, beating it into metal tablets and binding sheets of metal etched with the acid from jormungar. For food they hunt animal both below and above the surface as well as farm cave fungus and what few plants can grow with the little light that reaches some caverns by cracks and shafts. They will practice cannibalism at great need, during the war on the Nerubians they had eaten the corpses of their enemies till the War of the spider when they enemy had become undead. Very few Deepcrystal trolls practice voodoo as it is largely frowned upon, those that do as witch doctors who use local reagents such as crystals, underground fungus, Northrend herbs, parts of local animals. Saronite is considered a taboo substance, in the past after the sundering they had some run ins with it and members of their clan using it which lead them to ban its use. In the past using it would result in exile for life, to be killed if they ever returned to the caverns, these days they will be killed outright. Where they come across it while expanding their tunnels or caverns they will either destroy it or cast it into bottomless cracks. Religion: The Deepcrystal tribe have similar religious beliefs to mainstream troll culture, including their own hierarchy of Loa. The Matron Moon loa is the highest of their pantheon, they worship her as a loving mother, guide and teacher. They worship her on the surface in night time trips but also in underground caverns where her light reaches through cracks and shafts to reflect on pools of water.

Their second highest Loa is Hi’reek, whom they view as a protector who watches over them when they venture to the surface. They also feel a kinship with him as they both sleep in caves and underground during the day.

They also worships an array of other Loa including many of the same local Loa as the Drakkari but also Loa they brought with them on their migration north such as Bwonsamdi and Jani. Other lesser Loa they worship include Veranus the blue proto-dragon. Clothes and tools: They cloth themselves in cloth, leather, hides/scales of beasts, and furs. They have a preference for icy blues, whites, light grays and in rare occasions darker grays and blacks.  Their tools are a mix of stone, crystal, enchanted ice, metal of which cobalt or titanium is the most common. Their tool and weapon craftsmanship is sophisticated but usually appears rough rather than beautiful. A few Deepcrystal families will have Highborne weapons, jewelry and items made of metal and gems that they keep as relics, these items were originally scavenged from the surface of Crystalsong forest formerly belonging to the  Shandaral Highborne who all died and turned the forest to crystal trying to fight off the Blue dragonflight whom they had stolen from. Languages: Their native tongue was once a dialect of Zandali that has evolved over untold generations of isolation into its own distinct language, its name not known to outsiders. They also make sure to learn true Zandali though speak it with a distinct accent. As a people they tend to pick up other languages easily with practice. Relations/Diplomacy: Trolls: The Deepcrystal clan has a mixed relationship with other troll tribes. Towards the Drakkari they have hostility because when they sent a party to beg for aid, their envoys were ambushed, with most killed and some captured.