A Short Missive on Trolls...

​When the word “troll” is spoken each listener pictures a different creature in their mind.  Is the image a cute, cuddly, doll like creature (such as the troll dolls of the 1960’s) or a rock creature that can crush with a single blow of its powerful fist?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines troll in two ways.  As a noun, a troll is a dwarf or giant in Scandinavian folklore inhabiting caves or hills.  As a verb, to search for or to antagonize others by the deliberate use of inflammatory, irrelevant, or offensive comments or other disruptive content.  We will be working with the first definition (even though some of our trolls may be a little antagonistic to others...)

Most scholars agree that the word 'troll' originated in Norse and Scandinavian folklore.  They mention trolls as nature beings that dwell in isolated mountains, caves, or burial grounds who live together only in small family groups, and are rarely helpful to others.  A troll's appearance greatly differs based on who is telling the story (Depending on those few lucky people who survived an encounter and how hungry the troll was that day).  Trolls have been described as being ugly and slow-witted, or common looking and very shrewd.  It is because of the lack of a definite description of appearance that trolls may appear in all forms, shapes, and sizes.

​Troll stories also differ as to if sunlight turns them to stone, are afraid of lightning, and loves to eat goats.  Then, of course, there are the modern version of the troll.  Movies as well as role-playing and video games have created a whole new bunch of types of trolls.  There are now trolls made of sticks, stones, fire, water, ice, rubber, and so on.  

So, why our interest in trolls?  It is because one was just spotted in the Realm of Wymsy.  What kind of troll is it you might ask...  Well, before we can answer that question, we need to talk to Passporte' to see what he has discovered about them and has written in his journals.