Screech-Bling, Chief Executive Officer of the troglodytes.
Troglodytes (or Troglodytae) are cave-dwelling reptilian humanoids who enjoy eating lizards and other small reptiles. Their natural enemies are the Tauri Sylvestres. The Troglodyte language is a combination of screeches, clicks[1] and English.
History[]
Troglodytes used to live in various parts of Southern Africa, from Libya to the Red Sea. Theirs diets consist of reptiles like snakes and lizards.[2] They can make panduras out of the white mangrove[3] but have been known to have invented the sambuca.[4]
The Trials of Apollo[]
The Tower of Nero[]
Nico di Angelo, Will Solace and Apollo enlist the help of the troglodytes against Nero, eventually being joined by reinforcements from Camp Half-Blood. In the Battle of Nero's Tower, the troglodytes disarm Nero's deadly gas, preventing him from massacring everyone in New York and later in the tower itself. After Nero's death, Apollo notices them discussing the split of the spoils of war with Sherman Yang. Apollo suspects that Camp Half-Blood is about to be flush with Greek Fire and Imperial Gold weapons while the trogs will have a fabulous new selection of haberdashery and whatever lizards and rocks they can find.
Two weeks later, Nico reveals to Apollo that he believes that his friend Bob the Titan has been calling out to him for help from Tartarus. Nico and Will intend to travel to Tartarus and try to find out what happened to Bob, rescuing him if possible. As Hades has forbidden anyone from ever going into Tartarus again, Nico intends to enlist the help of the troglodytes who can dig to and from anywhere, even Tartarus and can thus get Nico and Will in and out safely.
The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure[]
Two months later, Nico and Will seek out the trogs help with their quest. To Will's surprise, Nico reveals that he relocated the trogs to the Underworld following the destruction of their previous home where they will be even safer as long as they avoid Hades' notice. Screech-Bling and Hiss-Majesty agree to help the two and aid them in defeating two drakons before leading the demigods to the River Acheron. The trogs reveal that the Acheron is their shortcut and they haven't been able to find a better one despite looking. After directing Nico and Will to Gorgyra for help, the trogs invite them both to visit when they return and depart after sharing a look that suggests the two trogs would've gotten emotional if they'd stayed any longer.
Known Troglodytes[]
Abilities[]
- Superhuman Speed: Troglodytes are extremely fast runners.[5]
- Stealth: Troglodytes are stealthy, being able to sneak up on others undetected and take them out without realizing it
- Enhanced Digging: Troglodytes can burrow through the hardest of materials. According to Nico di Angelo, they are capable of digging to and from anywhere, including Tartarus.
Trivia[]
- Their eyes are very sensitive to light, causing them wear special goggles whenever they go above ground.
- Troglodytes have appeared as enemies in Dungeons & Dragons (even making a cameo in Stranger Things[6]). They are of the humanoid type and their alignment is chaotic evil.[7]
References[]
- ↑ Pomponius Mela, Chorographia, 1.44
- ↑ One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Troglodytes". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 298–299.
- ↑ Athenaeus, Deipnosophists, 4.184
- ↑ Eusebius, Preparation of the Gospels, 10.6.1 - en
- ↑ Herodotus, Histories, 4.183
- ↑ https://strangerthings.fandom.com/wiki/The_Vanishing_of_Will_Byers
- ↑ https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Troglodyte