Trolls are an assembly of fungal cells which generally take a roughly humanoid form, though this shape is rarely maintained at very small or very large dimensions. When maintaining a humanoid form, trolls will âwalkâ in seemingly random directions; their only preference seems to be avoiding sunlight.Â
THREAT IN ACTION: Trolls can consume most any solid or liquid mass, and do so relentlessly until utterly destroyed or contained. The matter is rapidly converted into additional fungal mass, and trolls with uninterrupted access to consumable mass will continuously enlarge. This poses an obvious risk to all other beings near the troll, and a sufficiently massive troll is a potentially existential threat. Â
COUNTERMEASURES: Regardless of their current shape, trolls are insensible to almost all external stimuli; only exposure to sunlight or intense heat will discourage its continued growth. Chemical destruction of a large, actively growing troll biomass is possible, but impractical due to a trollâs rate of cellular reproduction. These methods are only recommended if the troll has been successfully isolated from all or solid or liquid matter.
 A large enough troll will generally expose some part of its surface to sunlight, which causes rapid death of the exposed cells and cell layers near enough to the surface to receive sunlight indirectly through the troll's translucent exterior. These cells rapidly petrify, containing and immobilizing the exposed section of the biomass. However, any part of the troll which has avoided exposure (for example, the bottoms of the âfeetâ) will be largely unharmed and will continue to accumulate mass via the conversion of adjacent soil. Soil further from the sunlight seems to be preferred, and once a minimal safe biomass has been achieved, the "safe" part of the troll will often sever itself from the petrified mass above the surface. This splitting behavior only seems to be triggered via sun exposure; when attempting to eliminate trolls via the application of sunlight, take care that the troll is standing on a "hard-to-digest" surface such as stone or other primarily inorganic material. Trolls CAN convert completely inorganic mass, but do so much more slowly than the conversion of organic mass. A troll exhibiting sunlight aversion by consuming inorganic materials is usually reproducing slowly enough to allow complete excavation & isolation.
A troll whose entire outer surface is petrified is not neutralized (except in the case of very small trolls). Much of the troll's internal mass remains alive and can remain dormant for years (possibly decades or more â research is underway, and will necessarily take some time). While its own dead cells are one of the few things a troll cannot or will not convert, it only takes a simple accident or act of nature to crack open the âshellâ, whereupon the troll can go about its business as eagerly as ever. For this reason, sunlight-petrification is NOT a recommended method of permanent neutralization. Direct application of extreme heat will destroy the cells without petrification; temperatures of 300°C or higher are recommended. Be sure to thoroughly heat the troll's general surroundings as well as areas it has previously occupied as well; incidental collisions often cause parts of the troll to break off and begin the formation of new trolls.
If intense heat is not available as a weapon, an externally-petrified troll can be suspended in the air via arcane or technological means until heat weapons are available. To avoid cracking the âshellâ, move the troll very carefully and DO NOT allow it to remain in contact with any surface. If heat weapons are unlikely to be available for an extremely long period, it is better to dispose of the petrified troll in a bath of strong acids or chemical poisons such as pure chlorine (Trolls can convert these chemicals as well, but at a rate insufficient to replace the cells the chemicals destroy). A troll who incidentally consumes acids or poisons in the course of its normal feeding behavior will lose significant biomass to the hazard, but will generally divest itself of the affected portion well before the contaminant would become effectively lethal. Do not allow any part of the troll to touch the bottom or sides of the chemical storage container.
A troll in vacuum is utterly unable to gain mass and, as long as it does not come in contact with matter, is essentially neutralized. However, regulations forbid firing a troll into space. Though space is mostly empty, the small risk of infecting other planets or artificial colonies with trolls is intolerable, especially as we cannot be sure if sunlight-petrification would continue to function in different atmospheres (or the absence of an atmosphere).Â
Agents or staff who come into direct contact with non-petrified troll biomass must separate themselves from the contaminated equipment or body part immediately. The pain of a hasty field amputation cannot be compared to the pain of having your brain consumed by fungus while conscious. Youâve all seen the tapes.
RESEARCH APPLICATIONS: Petrified trolls sometimes produce an oily residue on the exterior of their petrified forms, which is squeezed through gaps in the stone much too small for the fungal cells themselves to pass through. This residue does have certain pharmacological value in the treatment of wounds and amputations, but the Bureau's carefully contained specimens provide an adequate supply. Agents in unauthorized possession or engaged in unauthorized production of "troll sweat" are at risk for infection and, as a hazard to their fellow agents, are subject to immediate sterilization via heat weapon. Agents exposed to the terminated agent are subject to quarantine for six weeks.
