sorry to be that guy, and rather off the point of the OP, but its a murmuration of starlings, but a flight or a gulp of swallows.
Back to the point:
an irritation of kender
a rumble of giants
an argument of rules lawyers?
Well done for getting the PCs right down to the wire.
I got one of my (12th level) party members down to single figures last session, but it's the closest I've been for a while. I clearly need to up my game.
I had fun playing white box D&D back in 1977 so - provided it's with right DM and players - I don't see why playing with just the SRD should be any less fun.
Being at bit dense this morning (as most mornings) it took me a couple of seconds to realise what you (very obviously really) meant by this. For a second I thought you'd decided to name the troll "Geography" ... which I now think you should.
I'm all caught up again after a rather long hiatus - and in truth it was great fun to have multiple sessions to read through all at once(ish). Loving Were-Ram; the party definitely needed another creepy psychopath o_O.
I still have no idea where the story is going, but I can't wait to find out.
Well, I'm glad everything is crystal clear now ....
Seriously, I agree with Carborundum - a very enjoyable backstory with the same patterns being played out every few hundred years, since .... when?
That's the one I'd have to pick as well (although I'd want to cheat and add Gormenghast as well since they're really one story).
Honourable mention to The Warrior who Carried Life by Geoff Ryman.