The Witcher

Gnome Your Enemy

In the Hero's Forge, Blinky is telling the three teenagers a story from the history of Trollkind.

"For centuries, the troll and human worlds stood separate and at peace, divided by bridges that acted as doorways between our two realms. But the Gumm-Gumms wanted to devour all of mankind. They were led by Gunmar the Black. The rest of Trollkind fought against him, culminating in the great Battle of Killahead Bridge, the portal to Gunmar's Darklands. After many moons, good triumphed over evil, and our great Trollhunter, Deya the Deliverer, locked Gunmar away, with the help of the first Witcher, Alvara. The two exiled him to the Darklands and sealed the Killahead Bridge with the sacred amulet. After, we tore it apart, stone by stone. We left the old world in search for peace. We stowed away on a ship called the Mayflower, just a handful of us and some gnomes we'd brought along for companionship and nourishment. Finally, we arrived in a strange and exotic realm."

"New Jersey," Aaarrrgghh said.

Blinky continued, "We kept walking. Eventually, we came across a new Heartstone, and we realized we had found a new home under Arcadia."

Blinky finished, his hands pulling down the book to reveal Toby, leaning forward, deep into the story, Aaarrrgghh matching Toby's posture while Jim was asleep, another open book in his lap. Blinky groaned and quietly walked to Jim. Raelle, Toby, and Aaarrrgghh watch as Blinky slams the book shut before Jim's face.

Jim woke with a startle, screaming in Spanish, "¡Lo Siento, Señor Draal! ¡No me mates!"

"The training of troll history might seem like a minor duty, Master Jim, but-"

"Sorry," Jim interrupted Blinky, "I pulled an all-nighter studying for my Spanish Comprehension exam, and my brain is muy gooey. I don't know. I guess, I thought if I'm facing Draal in a week, my training would be a little more... active."

Jim stands with a stretch and a yawn, Aaarrrgghh doing the same. Toby hopped over excitedly and pretended to fight Jim to make an emphasis.

"Yeah, like, when is he going to learn Troll-kwondo? Or Rock-itsu?" Toby asked. Toby snaked his arm around Jim's shoulders, pulling him down to his size.

"Before one fights, Toby D., one must understand why one fights," Blinky said, "For these precious early steps will decide whether a young Trollhunter will become a Deya the Deliverer..." He points to the statue.

"Or Unkar the Unfortunate," Aaarrrgghh said, pointing to Unkar's statue.

Jim, Raelle, and Toby share a look before Jim steps up to his trainer.

"Well, tomorrow, my Spanish exam is with Señor Uhl the Unforgiving. My main concern is for my immediate future," Jim told Blinky.

"Yeah, you have no idea how harsh he can be," Raelle added, "It's a miracle that anyone can pass."

"A-ha! But, to learn what will happen in the future, one must only look to the past. I recommend A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore by the venerable Bedehilde. Volume one of 47."

Blinky dropped the large book into Jim's hands. He groans as his body drops with the new heavyweight in his hand.

"That's brief?" Raelle questioned.

"Okay, but if I don't pass the exam, I'm grounded, and I can't be the Trollhunter," Jim started backing out of the Forge, "Sorry, Blinky, but the amulet chose me, and now I have two lives to keep up."

With the sound of vast footsteps stomping into the Hero's Forge, a female troll named Bagdwella runs up to Blinky with panic. Her quick breaths worried Blinky further.

"Oh, no. Is it the Heartstone?" Blinky asked with worry.

"No! No!" She replied.

"Stalkling?" Aaarrrgghh asked.