Hi Sarah,
Keep in mind that not only is the pass/fail cycle optional, even when you use it it's only a fallback system. Your instincts, the world cohesion and the story needs are all more important than the cycle. I've run full sessions without resorting to the pass/fail cycle at all because I had a clear idea of what was needed at every moment, but when you're not sure what the difficulty should be it's a good tool to have. If anything, thinking about the ups and downs on a story is a good exercise, even if you don't use the pass/fail cycle per se.
On your zorak zorani and trollkin example, of course a Zorak Zorani Death Lord would be more difficult to fight usually. But I wouldn't go at it that way. If you have decided that the next contest will be easy, and it's a fight, throw the trollkin against the PCs, not the zorak zorani, it's that simple. If the story demands that now it's the time for the zorak zorani no matter what, you have different options. The most simple is just having a high difficulty. You could also present them with an injured troll that has just beaten a rival Light Lord, who is unconscious at his mercy just when the PCs arrive. Maybe the zorak zorani has better things to do and just throws a bunch of trollkins against the PCs and escapes in pursuit of someone else more important to him. There are many options, but of course if it doesn't make sense for something to be easy, then have it as a difficult contest, no problem.
Cheers,
-Sergi Díaz
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