trollocs

Trollocs are a race of monstrous humanoids in The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. They are bred by the Dark One to serve as soldiers in his ongoing war against the Light, and they form the main fighting force of the Shadow in many of the early books. Trollocs are among the most numerous and feared of the Dark One’s followers, trusted to overwhelm opponents through sheer numbers and ferocity.

According to the lore, Trollocs were created by the Forsaken Aginor and the Dark One’s power, using experiments that mixed human and animal traits. The aim was to produce a versatile, brutal fighting caste capable of operating in chaotic battlefield conditions and in the Dark One’s dread territories, such as the Blight.

Physically, Trollocs are tall and heavily built, with features borrowed from various animals. Their faces may resemble those of beasts, sometimes with horns, snouts, or fur, and their overall appearance is designed to be intimidating and feral. They are typically organized into bands or tribes and are generally led by a Myrddraal, the Dark One’s right-hand enforcer, who manipulates them through fear and magical influence.

In behavior, Trollocs are driven by hunger, aggression, and subservience to their leaders. They fight in close-quarters melee and rely on overwhelming force rather than intricate tactics. While numerous and dangerous in large numbers, Trollocs are often less capable of independent strategic thinking and can be controlled or repelled by the One Power and by organized resistance from human forces against the Shadow.