God of War: Norse Mythology

Chapter IV: The Fiery Troll

We climbed up a chain leading to two pathways, one was blocked so we decided to go the other way. At the end of the path, there was a shrine dedicated to a great giant, made by the Jötnar from Jötunheim. "Look here." I open the shrine's 'cabinet-like' doors and we saw symbols, runes, and art.

"Oh hey! It's Sköll and Hati- the giant wolves who chase the sun and moon. Where did they come from? How did they get up there? What's happening there at the end? They eat the sun and moon, and then everybody fights?"

Ragnarok.

~~~Atreus's journal entry~~~

The giants left behind shrines that tell stories from their history. I loved these stories when Mom told them. Let's see how many we can find!

~~~Sköll and Hati~~~

Wolf-giants! Sköll chases the sun and Hati the moon. What happens when they catch their prey? Looks like a massive fight- Odin, Thor, The World Serpent... could it be...?

~~~

I noticed that there was another way before going up the chain, we went that way and saw the deer. I gave Atreus his bow back and said, "Wait for my mark." I guided him in aiming and shooting at the deer. "Relax. Don't think of it as an animal, it is simply a target." Atreus takes a deep breath, "Clear your mind. Feet Solid. Steady yourself." I said while guiding his bow and arrow pinpoint at the deer.

He shoots and the deer drops to the ground.

"I got it!" He said proudly, "Good." He goes to the deer and was shocked, "It's... It's still alive." "Your knife..." I told him. He pulls it out and gave it to me, "No. Finish what you started." He looks at me with a nervous glare. He hesitates in stabbing it while his hands were shaking, "I can't..."
I hold his shaky hands and pushed forward into the deer. At first, it was struggling and was hyperventilating but then it froze and took its last breath.

Atreus looked sad and sighed, "I..." While I looked off into the distance. Afterwards, Atreus joined me looking at the far mountains. I tried to put my hand on his shoulder like a proper father but I hesitated and took the knife out of the deer instead and gave it to him.

Suddenly, a giant hand appears and picked up the deer following with deep growl. Atreus and I were caught off guard and he stabbed the hand with his knife but was tossed away, "Atreus!" I worriedly called out. The other hand went for me but luckily I dodged it and ran, kicking its head, knocking it back.

A troll!

It mumbles a language we cannot understand and grabs a giant pillar lying beside it. "We're going to fight that?!" Atreus yells, "We have no other choice."

Atreus starts shooting arrows at it shouting, "Nista!" "WHOA!" Atreus was almost crushed by the giant pillar as the troll picks it back up and swings it at me.

Atreus told me his idea to let it fall off the cliff which was conveniently beside it but it didn't work and hurls me on the other side of the ruins, "Keep hitting it! Why isn't it falling?" Atreus shouted in disappointment.

The troll suddenly gets tired and puts its pillar down for a short while. Atreus started shooting arrows at it endlessly and with rage, "Get control of yourself, boy!" I yell. "I'm FINE. Kill it!" He yells with much anger in his tone.

I hit it on the head with my axe and it got stunned. I quickly got on its head and struck it repeatedly with my hands. I jump down grabbing one of its horns, knocking it down. It was struggling as I was trying to grab another horn in finishing it off. I overpowered it and finally snapped its neck making it drop dead.

~~~DAUĐI KAUPMAĐR~~~

I think the troll we just fought was Dauđi Kaupmađr. Mother used to always tell me stories about him to try and scare me

"RAAAA!! THAT'S WHAT YOU GET!!" Atreus rushed in bringing his knife, stabbing the lifeless troll again and again in a fit of rage. "Think I'm afraid of you?! You're nothing to me! NOTHING!!" He continues to stab it, getting exhausted over time.

"Boy!" I grab him while he was still stabbing it, "Look at me! Look at me, boy! Boy-- look at me!" He finally calms down and looks at me straight in the eye.

"We did it." He gasps with a weak tone.

"You are not ready." I said.

"What? Are you serious?" He says as he was stumbling around, "I found the deer, I proved myself. How am I not ready?"

"WE are going home." I said emphasizing the word 'we'.

"I haven't been sick in a long time. I can do this!" He bargains.

"You are NOT ready."

"I AM ready." He says looking depressed and broken.

"Do not speak again."

~~~DAUĐI KAUPMAĐR~~~

I think the troll we just fought was Dauđi Kaupmađr. Mother used to always tell me stories about him to try and scare me if I wondered off too far. I think she'd be proud of me, but Father thinks because I got a little angry that I'm "not ready." Whatever. I just helped him kill a troll; I know I'm ready!

Mother told me a lot of stories about trolls. This one's name translates to Death Merchant. With a name like that, I think it's safe to assume he was pretty evil. I'm glad we killed him.

~~~