Tuff’s less trollish appearance is a consequence of his family’s efforts to integrate into humanoid society, often mixing in human, halfling, or orcish influence into their grand bloodline. Though they managed to soften their harsh features and shade themselves more of a ruddy tone, they couldn’t get rid of their distinct tails, which was a certain point of ridicule among more xenophobic crowds. Sometime in his early life, Tuff steeled himself and had his tail amputated and cauterized in order to feel more “personly”. This had some unfortunate side effects, as a shire troll’s tail plays a role in their metabolism, and so Tuff gained a ravenous appetite, much to the dismay of whoever housed him ever since then.

Tuff is the youngest son of a large shire troll family, though that family was largely disconnected from each other aside from the necessary rituals, discussing food and culinary techniques they’ve discovered. Instead, the family he lived among was that of the many miners and labourers in the lower Underhaven, a rough bunch who treated him well (partly because he did much of the heavy lifting). 

In the mines, he gained a reputation for being “as Tuff as rocks”, which he happily proclaims as whenever he jumps into a brawl or scuffle. The swings of his fists could knock a man down just as easily as a pickaxe could shatter brittle shale, it was said. As mining can be hazardous both on and off the clock, Tuff and his fellow miners often were taken in for impromptu medical checkups,  after a tunnel collapses during a shift or a denizen of the Underdark was rudely awakened by their mining equipment. In such emergencies, Tuff shielded his friends with his own body, usually taking a severe beating in the process until the local guard force showed up to take care of the monster or provide emergency services. On numerous occasions, the Noble Harts were summoned to such cases. When they were, he was often patched up by the Noble Harts’ own medic, Nerolias Lython. It happened frequently enough that he was familiar with Nerolias, though Tuff’s natural regeneration made any of the doctor’s orders simply “keep it clean and get some rest”, but Tuff nevertheless followed his orders to a T, having complete faith in whoever he deemed smart or higher ranked than himself.

When he and his fellow labourers were off work, they frequented the many taverns, alehouses, and bars of the Underhaven. Being the typical rowdy mob that they were, they were commonly disliked by the establishments’ security because they’d always cause trouble. Atlas Octua is not a big fan of Tuff’s loud and often destructive shenanigans, as the drunken troll easily broke many chairs and tables with his weight. Tuff doesn’t mind it in any case, as Atlas’ infamous screech had no effect for a man with bad hearing, and he’s almost always drunk when it happens.