Troll Earth

From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Timeline 1.2 Modern Troll Earth 1.3 Superadine 1.4 Factions

Overview

Troll Earth--also known as Fomoria--is an alternate dimension in which superadine was introduced in the 1930s and Trolls have taken over the planet. It is the home dimension of Smashdozer.

Troll Earth is featured in the MA arc "Fear of a Green Planet" (#402948).

Timeline

• 1931: Marcus Cole and Stefan Richter return from their travels, now wielding mysterious power. They become the Statesman and Lord Recluse, respectively. Later that year, superadine makes its first appearance in America. The addictive drug gives users powers that appear similar to Statesman's--super-strength and invulnerability--but also causes physical mutations, lowered intellect, and violent behavior.

• 1932: Fueled by Prohibition, superadine spreads rapidly underground, becoming the drug of choice. Statesman forms the Freedom Phalanx to combat this growing menace. This group includes the Hero Thunderfist, who is one of the first Trolls, and who is recovering from superadine exposure. Later that year, the newly-formed group faces its first challenge when Nemesis launches an attack on Paragon City in what is later known as Brass Monday. Nemesis is defeated and forced to retreat.

• 1936: The Freedom Phalanx tracks down primary production of the drug to a high-tech laboratory run by none other than Lord Recluse, who has been attempting to replicate the events that gave him and Statesman their powers. After a clash, the lab is destroyed, but the mastermind escapes. Unfortunately, Recluse has already given the recipe for the drug to various crime syndicates, and production continues.

• 1937: The Crime Fighting Act is passed, officially recognizing the Freedom Phalanx as a crimefighting organization. By this time, a number of ex-Trolls have joined its ranks.

• 1939: By the end of the decade, hordes of Trolls roam across most of North America, and drug manufacturers have discovered a way to produce the drug cheaply. The United States are largely crippled by the problem, with the urban areas being hit the hardest. Meanwhile, WWII breaks out in Europe. The US maintains an isolationist stance due to its growing Troll problem.

• 1941: Simultaneous attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and by the 5th Column on Paragon City. The Japanese forces return in later months and advance across the West Coast, capturing several Western states. The Nazis are driven out of Paragon, but maintain a strong network of bases along the East Coast.

• 1942: In a last-ditch attempt to drive out the invaders, the government begins recruiting Trolls into the armed forces. Trolls march into the Western states, driving back the Imperial army. The Manhattan Project, however, is set back by years.

• 1943: First American Troll troops deployed abroad. Meanwhile, the Nazis attempt to refine Superadine in order to produce their own supersoldiers. The attempts initially appear successful and show fewer physical side-effects, but the subjects eventually devolve in intellect and behavior--becoming the dreaded "White Trolls".

• 1944: War rages across Europe and Asia. The Nazi White Troll forces make advances into Russia until they are countered by Stalin's so-called "Red Trolls" (red only in name--in reality ordinary Trolls), which have been created in secret.

• 1945: Allied forces achieve victory in Europe, but the Troll armies refuse to return home. Rogue Trolls capture large parts of Europe and Western North America. Meanwhile, with the Manhattan Project delayed, loyal Troll troops advance into Japan. The war will continue there for three more years. On the morning after VE day, Nemesis briefly seizes control of Washington DC. Heroes manage to thwart his schemes, and he retreats to the Arctic, where he begins construction of his mechanical nirvana.

• 1949: The USSR, having few Troll-related problems compared to the rest of the world, begins expanding into Europe. Japan is occupied by American Troll forces, and claimed as a US territory.

• 1952: The Russians make an alliance with the Rogue Trolls of the West Coast and capture Alaska. The Cold War becomes a Hot War in Canada, where US and Canadian forces fight against the Soviets and their Troll allies.

• 1953: US Troll forces in Japan rebel and side with the Rogue Trolls. With Soviet aid, the European Trolls join the alliance. The Rogue Trolls around the globe declare independence from the countries they occupy, calling themselves the Empire of Fomoria. Los Angeles is the capital. The Trolls force superadine use on the populace of areas they control.

• 1955: Europe is in ruins. The Western half of North America is controlled by Soviet-backed Fomorians, with armies advancing across the Midwest and the Southeast. America and its remaining allies begin counterattacks against Russia.

• 1957: Fomorians win a decisive victory at the battle of Calgary, and establish dominance over Canada.

• 1958: In a desperate maneuver, the US unveils its secret weapon--dropping the recently-completed atomic bombs on several major Russian cities. The USSR collapses, and the loyal states ally with China. War continues with Fomoria, but the US is able to slow their advance by the end of the year. Without their foreign backers, Fomoria begins to come apart politically due to constant in-fighting, with numerous territories insisting on individual sovereignty.

• 1959: By the end of the decade, the Fomorian Empire has collapsed into warring states, but Trolls still control much of Western Europe, and everything in North America north of the Great Lakes and west of the Mississippi river, with the exception of Texas. Texas has held the line, preventing the Trolls from expanding South into Mexico. China has absorbed the Russian nuclear and space programs, which leads to their first atomic weapon test later that year, followed by the launch of the first human satellite in October. The Chinese, however, make no visible move to ally with the Fomorian territories.

• 1960: American Heroes unearth research concerning Lord Recluse's original experiments with superadine and dimensional travel, leading to the founding of Portal Corporation three years later. The Chinese begin a similar program based on Soviet studies. The Fomorians already know something about the unusual properties of superadine, and have been advised by prophets known as "Dreamers" for years. Young people around the globe begin experimenting with superadine, hoping for visions. The drug is difficult to root out, as its production is heavily backed by Fomorians.

• 1961: Efforts begin to reclaim the western states from the Trolls. Throughout the decade, fights will rage across the Midwest and the Southeast. Canada and Alaska remain firmly in Troll control.

• 1962: Researchers determine with certainty that trollification is irreversible, and that long-term users can pass on changes to their children. Second-generation Trolls in America begin pushing for equality and respect, facing harsh resistance and persecution.

• 1963: Lord Recluse reappears and seizes control of the Rogue Isles with the help of superadine-enhanced Arachnos troops.

• 1964: Fomorian-supported revolutionaries take over the government of Venezuela. The US begins diverting troops to combat the "Green Menace". The fighting will last for over a decade, spreading over the rest of South America. Meanwhile, China shores up control over the rest of Asia.

• 1966: China invades Troll-held Japan and takes control from the Trolls within the year.

• 1968: US forces reclaim the Midwest from the Trolls. Trolls retreat over the Rocky Mountains and claim Baja California. Meanwhile, superadine addiction continues to grow around the world at an alarming rate.

• 1969: China lands the first human on the Moon, with America close behind.

• 1975: Exhausted from war, and facing increasingly negative publicity, American troops are pulled out of Venezuela, conceding defeat to the Trolls. The Trolls begin spreading their influence into neighboring countries.

• 1976: Troll radicals begin launching terrorist attacks against the US, dumping superadine into the water supplies of many major cities.

• 1979: Strange portals begin appearing over cities around the world, and soon a strange enemy begins pouring out--wreaking havoc across the globe. These invaders were originally encountered on an expedition by Portal Corp, who had noted their extreme hostility. They were called the Others.

The US is hit the hardest in the initial attack. The Troll nations, on the other hand, seem to already know how to fight the Others--they claim their Dreamers have already encountered them in their travels across dimensions. The US is forced into an alliance with the Trolls to fight back the attackers. The Troll nations form the United Fomorian Nations.

• 1980: In a desperate move to stop the Others, a team of American and Fomorian Heroes travel through the Others' main portal and use a powerful technological device to seal off the Others' home dimension. The team never returns, but the Others cease receiving reinforcements. The Others are left unsupported, and quickly break into scattered groups.

• 1981: Some of the Others have been found to be carrying a plant called teycheri that is capable of naturally producing superadine. While it was rumored that the Fomorians already knew about the existence of teycheri for decades, its sudden availability and subsequent cultivation flood the market with superadine. Statesman admits that he and Lord Recluse obtained their powers by consuming something which they understood had come from the refined juices of a teycheri plant, but he claims the exact process of refinement is unknown to him or Recluse.

• 1982: The Circle of Thorns, having had the magical wards of their hidden city broken by the invading Others, begin making a bid for power on the surface world. They come into direct conflict with Troll forces inhabiting the areas underneath Paragon City. This conflict escalates over the coming years.

• 1984: South America experiences a surge in Troll numbers as superadine production in the area skyrockets. Governments begin to collapse from the ensuing chaos. Meanwhile, Troll hordes begin roving across Africa.

• 1986: Due to the abundance of superadine, the US now has nearly as many Trolls as non-Trolls--especially in its armed forces. During this year, Mexico is claimed by Trolls, and Texas secedes from the union, but not as a Troll state. Pro-Troll groups begin making bids for attention and power across the US, and around the world.

• 1987: Troll paramilitary groups storm the ruins of Oranbega below Paragon City, obliterating the Circle of Thorns' base of operations. The cult is disintegrated and ceases its attack on Paragon City, although it continues to exist in small, isolated cells. This victory generates massive public sympathy for the Trolls.

• 1988: Several Trolls take political office in the US. Anti-Drug forces around the world have nearly given up on stopping superadine. China loses control of Japan, as well as several other territories.

• 1989: Pro-Troll forces stage a coup on the US government. This is unsuccessful, but inspires similar attempts on state levels, some of which do succeed. Meanwhile, Troll hordes seize control of the Middle East.

• 1991: The US breaks apart as Trolls come to power in more and more states. Most of the states become independent territories with varying degrees of Troll influence. Many of the territories join the UFN in order to maintain some unity. Paragon City becomes the capitol of Providence territory--covering most of New England--which manages to remain relatively civilized despite the fact that the majority of the population have become Trolls.

The Hero community comes out overwhelmingly in favor of Troll rights, including Statesman himself, as many of them are Trolls or near-Trolls. Statesman takes on a more Troll-like appearance as a sign of solidarity. Most of the other Phalanx members are already Trolls.

The Rogue Isles, meanwhile, have been under the control of Recluse's Troll army for decades. They also join the UFN during this year.

• 1992: African Troll hordes invade India. Meanwhile, China opens its first moon base.

• 1996: A Troll becomes the Head of State in England. The British Isles have allowed Trolls equal rights for years, and have decided to regulate superadine rather than ban it outright. This model is moderately successful, and is imitated in many of the remaining non-Troll nations.

• 1998: India falls to Troll control after years of chaos.

• 1999: As the millennium ends, the face of humanity has changed. Even the countries that have not been reduced to warring tribes have a great deal of Troll influence, and many people now consider this to be simply the way of life. Superadine is used as a casual drug on par with alcohol and nicotine. Steps have been taken to purify the drug--or at least minimize the mental side-effects. This has been met with some success, but the crude forms are unfortunately still the most addictive. Most of the Heroes and Villains of the time are individuals who have gained exceptional power from use of the superadine. Australia and China remain the two countries with the least Troll influence.

• 2000: During a construction project in Eastgate neighborhood of Paragon City, a controlled demolition causes a massive collapse of the cave network below the area in an event later known as the Hollowing. Paragon's enforcers create the Hollows Task Force to head the rescue efforts.

• 2001: In the summer, strange clockwork men resembling the war machines used by Nemesis decades earlier begin appearing in Paragon City, scavenging for scrap metal and attacking anyone who interferes. Enforcers eventually track these machines back to a warehouse where they are being assembled under the supervision of a disheveled young man. In the following fight, the mysterious man is killed, but his body later disappears.

• 2002: The Others return. Although cut off from their homeworld, they have managed to move to another dimension to regroup. The attack is long and brutal, devastating large portions of the globe. As there is no way to repeat the tactic used during the first War of the Others, the Trolls must stand and fight. Portal Corp is destroyed during the opening wave of attacks.

• 2007: The combined might of the Fomorian armies meet the forces of the Others at their fortress at White Plains. The fighting goes on for weeks, but the Others are finally crushed, and their fortress destroyed. Enjoying the taste of victory, the Trolls discuss a renewed alliance.

• 2008: With the admittance of the African and Indian Troll nations into the UFN, the majority of the Troll nations are now member states. Member states are not forbidden from attacking each other, but are required to follow certain rules of war (such as not using chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons) to avoid invoking the wrath of the other nations.

• 2010: The UFN is showing signs of being significantly more stable than the original Fomorian Empire, and has turned its sights on Australia and China. Australia is still recovering from the second Others attack, and is busily negotiating treaties with the Fomorians for peace. China is on considerably more hostile terms--there have already been minor skirmishes, and a broader conflict appears imminent.

Statesman has reluctantly taken up the title of Boss of Providence territory due to his overwhelming popularity among the other Trolls, although he prefers to leave governance to others who are more skilled at it. Providence territory is currently engaged in a war with its northern neighbor Montreal territory.

Meanwhile, Nemesis has not been heard from in years, but Heroes report that his arctic fortress is still active, and crawling with mechanical defenders. It is believed that he has been supplanted by a protege--a clockwork king, of sorts. No one has yet encountered this new mastermind.

Modern Troll Earth

Troll governments initially favored leadership of the strongest--following the Fomorian Empire's model. While some territories still use this model, it hasn't held up well in the long run. Strength is still highly valued in Troll leaders, but other qualities--such as tactical intelligence and charisma--are considered important as well. Many territories still hold contests of skill to determine leadership, but these have become less potentially fatal over the years. The leader of a Troll nation is traditionally called a "Boss". Dreamers also hold positions of power in Troll society, often serving as religious figures.

The standard of living in Fomorian nations (and around the world) has fallen considerably. During the '60s, many Trolls made attempts at Communism due to their recent Soviet influence. These attempts failed due to infighting, but the Trolls were able to settle on smaller, communal models in many areas, trading amongst each other. This model proved the most effective, as the Trolls were no longer organized enough to engage in large-scale global trade.

Technological progress has slowed to a halt everywhere except China and Australia. Computers are virtually non-existent in all but those two countries. Australia has established a local internet system, and China has a government-controlled network. The Trolls have managed to keep many other industries operational--albeit at a lowered capacity. Medicine has become difficult to obtain, but, fortunately, the regenerative effects of superadine have mitigated the overall impact of disease and injury on the population.

Biomagical technology scavenged from defeated Others invaders have influenced global technology. During the second Others invasion, the Trolls built a chaotic system of war walls based on Others technology sectioning off parts of Paragon City to contain the spread of attacks. These walls are reinforced at the upper levels with barriers of red energy which disintegrate anything attempting to pass through them.

Modern-day Troll culture is naturally centered around superadine use. The practices surrounding the drug have matured considerably over the years, however. Most modern Trolls use superadine in smaller amounts and less often--usually only at social events. While no amount of superadine use can be considered healthy due to the neurological damage it causes, modern Trolls are no longer near-constantly addled by superadine high, and are capable of functioning almost normally in society. While there still are junkies, modern Trolls are less violent and feral than their predecessors. Unfortunately, the speech areas of the brain are heavily affected, and Trolls still struggle with language.

Australia has become a sort of promised land for refugees fleeing the Trolls. Over a third of the population consists of refugees from India. The country has established a strict zero-tolerance policy for superadine, and has instated broad rehabilitation projects for recovering addicts and second-generation Trolls. China, on the other hand, has cut itself off from the rest of the world. China is believed to be the most technologically advanced nation on the planet, but it remains so secretive that no one knows for sure. It is known to have a highly advanced space program.

Superadine

The effects of superadine are now more fully understood. The immediate effects include euphoria and increased aggression and strength, while simultaneously dulling the user's intelligence. Some users experience hallucinations. Long-term effects vary from person to person. Green skin and increased strength are standard side effects, as is the eventual growth of small horns and tusks, and loss of hair. Long-term users also experience permanent neurological damage, and increased aggressive behavior. Most long-term users experience reduced sex drive, and a reduction of their secondary sexual characteristics. This is most prominent in females, who often end up looking nearly indistinguishable from males. Both males and females have a higher risk of infertility, and males risk impotency.

Trollification is passed on from parents to children, essentially making Trolls a true-breeding species. The bodies of Trolls actually begin to produce small amounts of the mutagenic substance. Researchers have linked this phenomenon to the endocrine system, and believe it is caused by changes to the DNA itself. This has led to some calling Trollification an infection, and, as of yet, no cure has been found.

Strangely, many individuals have different responses to the drug. Some manifest some of the side effects less strongly than others, and some individuals have completely different reactions entirely.

• Uncut Superadine: This crude form of superadine produces a stronger euphoria than other forms--causing users to become maddened with rage and to physically transform into "supa-trolls" for a period. The transformation causes a boost of muscle mass, but it is unstable and can actually result in some very strong users becoming weaker.

• Purified Superadine: Originally developed by prohibition gangsters, this expensive form of superadine initially manifests very few of the negative side-effects of the drug, but still enhances the user's strength and resilience. It is also considerably less addictive, and produces a weaker euphoria. Trollification does eventually begin to occur after extensive use, however.

• White Superadine: Developed by the Nazis in WWII in order to produce "Aryan" Trolls. Instead of turning green, white Trolls lose their pigmentation entirely and become pale and white. These Users of white superadine retain their mental faculties longer than those who use ordinary supradine, but the degeneration does set in eventually--often in a sudden burst.

• "Naturadine": Superadine created from processing the juices of the teycheri plant--a shrub that apparently arrived from another dimension. It is essentially the same substance as superadine, although the mental and sexual side-effects are less severe. It was because of the creation of Naturadine that Trolls were able to rapidly increase their population, as the substance is very cheap and easy to produce. With the reduction of sexual side effects, it also allowed Trolls to have children much more easily than in the past. Naturadine is the primary form of superadine used on Troll Earth.

• Teycheri: The consumption or smoking of the crushed leaves of the plant itself causes hallucinations, euphoria, and rage. These effects are mostly mental and short term--it does not immediately cause the physical effects associated with superadine--although extensive use will cause Trollification. Teycheri is commonly used by Dreamers as a catalyst for their visions.

• "Puradine": Purified Naturadine is the best stuff on the market, and it is quite expensive. It is similar to synthetic purified superadine in that it boosts strength and resilience, and the negative side effects are much slower to arise.

• The Tree of Life: Marcus Cole and Stefan Richter allegedly discovered an ancient tree of Teycheri, the sap of which drained into a pool at its roots. The water of the pool contained a perfected form of superadine, which granted them their impressive powers. The exact effects of this elixir are unknown, and it has never been replicated.

Factions

• Providence Territory: Providence Territory covers most of New England. It is one of the most powerful territories on Earth, in part due to the presence of its powerful heroes. Providence is engaged in several disputes with neighboring territories.
  • Freedom Phalanx: The most powerful heroes of Providence Territory are united into the elite Phalanx, lead by Statesman. This team has a relatively small membership, and many are also associated with other organizations.
  • Paragon Enforcers: The Enforcers are Paragon's version of police, and are lead by Blue Steel. As Trolls, they need no weapons, however. Their beat is limited to Paragon City's local troubles, but this hardly makes them lightweights--it is Paragon City, after all.
  • The Dreamers: Lead by the powerful psychic and Freedom Phalanx member Mother Dreamer, this group contains the special individuals who have manifested powers of the mind. These Trolls are carefully trained in their abilities in order to be able to use them without going insane. Dreamers are most famous for their ability to view other dimensions, but are also powerful precognitives and telepaths.
  • Warhammer: This military group was organized by the Freedom Phalanx in order to engage Providence Territory's enemies directly. The group has a sanction by the UFN to combat other Territories that threaten Providence.

• The United Fomorian Nations: The UFN does not restrict member nations from attacking each other, although it does regulate the rules of war. Its primary purpose is to provide a united front against the Trolls' mutual enemies.
  • Vanguard: This international group was created with the primary purpose of fighting the Others. Initially, it included Troll and non-Troll member nations, but in modern times it has been entirely taken over by the UFN.

• People's Republic of China: China's technological superiority has kept it isolated from the rest of the world. No outsiders know what its long-term goals are, but Chinese covert ops teams have been spotted in various Fomorian Territories.

• Australia: Australia is the last remnant of the old order of civilization. It does not plan on giving that up without a fight. While Australia is technologically superior to the Fomorian nations, it is far too outnumbered to dare try any aggressive actions against them.

• Arachnos: Lord Recluse operates his organization out of Etoile Territory. It has advanced technology for a Troll Territory, has its own division of Dreamers called Fortunatas, and even recruits and trains Mu-blooded mystics. They have been at war with Providence for some time in an attempt to claim Paragon City. Providence has responded by sending Warhammer troops into Etoile Territory. Etoile Territory is a member of the UFN, but has been accused by Providence of ignoring some of the organization's rules of war.

• The Others: The enigmatic invaders are horrifying in appearance and behavior. No one knows what their motives are for attacking Earth, as they never speak. The Others were defeated, but still exist on Earth in large numbers. They still pose a significant threat to the safety of the world.

• Montreal Territory: Providence's French-speaking northern neighbor mostly consists of bands of raiders, who periodically attack south of the border. They are well known for their use of shields in combat.

• Clockwork Nemesis: The original mastermind known as Nemesis has been replaced by his protege. Not much is known about this man, except that he seems to be a powerful psychic, and has been trained by the Prussian Prince himself in robotics. So far, he seems to be content to hide out in his clockwork fortress in the Arctic, although groups of his machines have been spotted around the world.

• The Fifth Column: This fascist group is run by white Trolls. They periodically launch attacks on Providence Territory from their base on Striga Isle. They are allied with a group of alien interlopers called the Nictus.

• The Circle of Thorns: After its defeat at Oranbega, the Circle of Thorn has had its back broken. The cult still plots for its return, but, without its base of power, that effort seems doomed. In the isolated cases where the cultists are encountered, they seem to have lost access to their ability to call upon their demonic allies.

• The Outcasts: It is not illegal to be human in Providence Territory, but those that are do face prejudice. Some of the humans who remain have organized themselves into a resistance group called the Outcasts. It is infamous for arson attacks against Troll buildings, and other terrorist activities. They are, unfortunately, not greatly helping their cause. Trolls mostly view humans as devious, cowardly, and perverted.

• Sons of Grendel: This gang of Trolls operates out of the Hollows under the brutal command of its current leader Atta. The Sons of Grendel want to go back to the old ways--in which the strongest fought their way to the top and Trolls were less cautious about their consumption of superadine. They are considered dangerous junkies by the Enforcers.

• The Tsoo: This criminal group is largely made up of Troll gangsters who have fled China and Chinese controlled territory.

• Vahzilok: Someone has been attempting to replicate the Others' ability to turn humans into zombie slaves, apparently in an attempt to overcome death itself. It is believed, however, that he may have become a pawn of the Others.

• Other Groups: Trollified but otherwise similar versions of some Primal Earth groups exist, including the Family, the Freakshow, the Warriors, and the Carnival of Shadows. Certain groups such as the Banished Pantheon, the Shivans, the Snakes, and the Coralax are essentially unchanged from their Primal Earth counterparts, as the events of Troll Earth had little influence on them. Yet others--such as the Hellions, the Council, Malta, the Sky Raiders, and the Devouring Earth--don't exist there at all.