The Troll War

Chapter Eight - Gravel Switch & Bottomless Pit

Gravel Switch and Bottomless Pit are each about a two-sun walk, but Rocky arrived just outside Bottomless Pit as the sun came up over the horizon, but since his men were tired, he decided to let them rest until high sun. The day was bright and sunny, with a cool light breeze the men enjoyed their respite. Three laid down for some sleep, while Rocky, one troll, and the bat stayed awake to eat a little. After eating, the remaining three also laid down for a quick nap.

The sun was approaching its high point when the bat woke up, after a good stretch and yawn, he woke Rocky. Then Rocky and the bat quietly woke the remaining trolls, who stretched and yawned, but were now fully rested and ready to take on the residents of Bottomless Pit.

Rocky lead the squad into the center of the village, but no one was to be seen. He told one of his band with a war hammer to ring the alarm bell. Which he did, three very hard bangs, even denting the alarm. Nothing. No one came out, but just as the bell was about to be struck again, an elderly troll came out and stood several paces away, "What do you want?"

"We want every able-bodied male Troll to take up arms and join Prince Charred in his rightful quest to take over the leadership of our great land." Rocky was very proud of his little speech; he had been working on it for the past sun. He stood there, all proud and full of himself as if he had just done something wonderful.

The old troll shook his head, "I mean no disrespect to Prince Charred, but we here in Bottomless Pit feel that King Potts has done a wonderful job so far, and has brought peace and understanding between us and the Elves."

Rocky was a little surprised by the old troll's comment, "King Potts is old, frail, and becoming senile; Prince Charred is young and vibrant, with plans of growing the land of trolls. Everyone would prosper."

"And what if the able-bodied trolls, decide they like the way things are and don't want to join Prince Charred in his quest for power?"

Flabbergasted, "How can you not want to help your Prince?"

"Again, young warrior, what if we refuse?"

Rocky, in a firm and determined voice, "My orders then old man, are to kill everyone and burn your village to the ground. Now what do you say?"

"So, you would kill your own kind, all the males, all the females, and all the children?"

"Those are my orders, do you wish to be the first to die?"

"Please take two steps forward, so that I may see you better."

A bit confused, Rocky takes two steps forward. The old troll takes a deep breath, then in a clear and loud voice yells, "ONE!" And from a roof top a troll armed with a crossbow fires a bolt at Rocky. Normally a bolt is like a single pointed arrow, but this was a new tip the local blacksmith had created, it was flat, very sharp and about the width of four regular bolt heads. It slammed into Rocky's throat cutting through the air-way and the spine; he fell to the ground unable to move or speak, just lying there as blood and life flowed from his body. The trolls and bat stood transfixed, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

The old Troll again takes a deep breath, and yells, "Two!" From another rooftop another crossbow fires, but this is a standard bolt that slams through the bat's heart and into the ground; stunned, he falls face forward onto the ground. Dead.

The old troll yells, "Fire!" From the various rooftops' arrows from bows, and bolts from crossbows, come down on the remaining troops in the squad, and at the same time male trolls come running out of shops and homes, all with weapons drawn, and yelling a battle cry.

The squad starts to make a very hasty withdrawal, running like scared rabbits. Some falling wounded from the bolts and arrows, others still running, but injured; with the males with weapons running after the fleeing trolls. This did not go the way Rocky had said it would; he said they would join and no one would be hurt. It wasn't long until the pursuers had killed all of Rocky's squad. They left the dead where they fell. Let their rotting bodies be a warning for any future warriors from Prince Charred.