Troll science is my favorite kind of science.

This isn't really worldbuilding so much as it is things I think about in my free time. I spend a lot of time thinking about trolls and how they can exist in a modern world or in different worlds, so I decided to write some of this stuff down.<br>---<br>**The Biology of Trolls**<br><br>* Trolls are a part of the kingdom known as Mimir. Mimir includes a large variety of creatures that can regenerate lost limbs, including hydras, salamanders, starfish, and certain kinds of flatworms. Trolls are a part of the phylum known as Trollia, which includes dragons. In terms of modern taxonomy, the phylum Trollia is placed in the kingdom Mimir, but some taxonomists and scholars believe that Trollia should be its own kingdom because of the many unique traits that exist in these creatures and nowhere else. Some of these traits include the varieties of magic that exist within the blood and arteries of each creature within Trollia and Mimir.<br>* Trolls are bipedal, which heavily separates them from other Mimirians. Other Mimirians, such as hydras and starfish, are capable of movement in numerous different directions, whereas trolls walk similarly to humans and other bipedal creatures. <br>* Trolls have four Chambered Hearts, and their blood is a deep shade of indigo and is capable of holding oxygen similarly to hemoglobin in red blood cells. Their blood appears blue because of this unique property, which is heavily desired by alchemists. <br>* Trolls have an incredibly slow digestive system, and must eat massive amounts of food to fuel their bodies. Despite their need for large amounts of food, troll stomachs take years to digest their food, allowing them ample time to roam and eat more without having to worry about starving. Regardless of how much a troll eats, its digestive system always takes the same amount of time to digest food.<br>* Trolls can regrow any and all body parts using magic within their blood. Trolls have such an immense amount of magic in their blood that it can be used to fuel other spells and incantations. When a troll is mortally wounded, it can use its large amounts of blood to heavily accelerate its healing process. This healing process can be slowed and accelerated by different environmental, emotional, and physical factors, such as being in a place of great comfort, pain, and stress, which will slow healing. A troll in great pain or stress, such as one who is being burned by fire, will heal at an exponential rate in comparison to one who is cut by a sword or shot by a gun. While much of this is still understood, scientists and scholars continue to study the effects of stress on the healing process of trolls.<br>* Trolls heavily rely on magic, but their large size and strength can overpower most creatures. While humans and smaller mammals may be able to cut and slash a troll, the typical troll stands 6 meters tall and can run at speeds of 80-120 kilometers per hour. Most trolls are heavily muscled, but their skin and bones are made of extremely dense and hard flesh similar to keratin but with a vaguely crystalline structure. The skin of a troll is made of a hardened form of the same keratinized flesh that makes up their muscles. It can be cut, but will usually withstand being slashed heavily without issue. In addition, troll skin is heavily resistant to magic, which is where most of their injuries come from. Gunfire can cause damage to a troll, but will not usually cause long term injury as long as any bullets are removed. Larger caliber bullets or otherwise more powerful ammunition is usually necessary to even pierce a troll's hardened skin, and larger caliber rounds and higher quality ammunition are more expensive and harder to obtain.<br><br>**Troll Magic and the Law**<br><br>* Trolls are Apotheics, meaning that their magic sources from their blood. Troll blood magic can be used for a variety of spells and incantations, but most trolls use their blood to heal from injuries. Trolls are capable of casting blood magic with little to no training, but advanced magic is much more difficult. However, trolls are typically unintelligent and disinterested in advanced magic. <br>* Troll blood is incredibly highly valued, and is used in potions, spells, and incantations in order to promote healing and accelerate health. Troll blood is an excellent remedy for anything from broken bones to heart problems. Its magical properties allow it to cure sickness, disease, and physical injury with great efficiency, but it must be harvested from a living troll. Blood from a deceased troll will not be of any value. <br>* The harvesting and sale of troll blood is illegal in many different countries. Trolls are currently protected under certain laws, and the sale of their bodily fluids and tissues is strictly prohibited. Governments around the world have different policies regarding the collection of troll blood, but most countries agree that large amounts of troll blood should be heavily regulated. <br>* Many countries have large troll sanctuaries, which create large artificial environments for trolls to form their own communities and societies. Some countries are much more accepting of trolls than others, and some countries make it illegal for trolls to be outside of these sanctuaries. Other countries allow trolls to hold jobs, own property, and vote. <br>* Troll blood is heavily trafficked, and is often heavily diluted and made less potent in order to stretch its value. Some people hunt trolls while others capture and harvest their blood while keeping them in captivity. Those who harvest the blood of trolls are called 'butchers' by most of society, and 'farmers' by those who harvest it. Butchers are often serial killers that harvest the blood of trolls in order to use it to heal their own ailments or to sell on the black market. Farmers, on the other hand, capture live trolls and harvest their blood over a long period of time, often using a process called 'milking.' Milking involves repeatedly draining the blood and letting it regenerate, which is a much more cost-effective method and is much safer for the farmer. These farmers often work in secret, using highly guarded and hidden troll farms to harvest the blood. <br>* Blood Trolls are a type of troll that has become incredibly popular in recent years. Blood trolls are trolls that are born with a heavily diluted form of their indigo blood, which becomes red similarly to red blood cells. Blood trolls are incapable of regeneration and magic, and heavily rely on humans for protection and safety. Mostly, they are taken in by volunteer farmers who give them homes and safe spaces to live. However, blood trolls are heavily exploited and often become a burden on their caretakers. They are not protected the same as regular trolls, although there is a great movement to make blood trolls protected. <br><br>**Troll Farms**<br><br>* Troll Farms are heavily guarded and secretive operations where trolls are captured and harvested for their blood. These farms are heavily regulated in countries where they are legal, but illegitimate farms operate in secret and are often very hard to find.<br>* Troll farms are typically heavily guarded, and often employ heavy artillery such as tanks, machine guns, and flamethrowers in order to keep their captives under control. Many troll farms require work or volunteer hours in exchange for blood, which many doctors and lawyers and other educated people do not want to work for. Farm owners often hire heavily armed mercenaries or gangs to protect their farms from those who are looking to steal the blood or free the trolls. Troll farms are often heavily guarded above ground, but the farms themselves are usually located underground.<br>* Farms usually keep their trolls in large enclosures that resemble zoos, with artificial landscapes that mimic the environments where trolls are often found. Troll farms will often connect multiple large artificial environments together to create a 'preserve' where the trolls can hunt and live. These preserves are usually heavily surveilled by the farm owners, who pay employees to monitor and maintain the areas.<br>* Trolls will often fight and kill each other in captivity. Some trolls are naturally more aggressive than others, and some will form a hierarchy where certain trolls are more powerful. Some farms will often selectively breed trolls in order to make them more aggressive or passive, depending on the owner's thoughts on the matter. <br>* Troll farms are heavily regulated in some countries, while in others they are entirely illegal. In countries where they are legal, laws are usually in place to prevent the torture or mistreatment of trolls. In reality, it is often very difficult to ensure that these farms are being run safely and humanely, and there is a large debate about whether heavily armed and fortified troll farms are necessary. Many argue that these farms should be heavily fortified, while others argue that they should be less militarized and more humane.<br><br>Anyway, that's it for now. I have thoughts about trolls and how they live and operate in different environments and ecosystems, and I'll probably be writing more about this in the future.