The Truth about Trolls

Don’t let those big-haired cartoon characters or internet rascals confuse you; trolls are mythical creatures from Northern Europe that have been around for ages. But what are they exactly? Depends on who you ask. In Scandinavian mythology trolls were either small, dwarfish creatures or dumb, ugly giants. They were sometimes thieves or even cannibals. Some lived in the mountains and forests, others underground in caves. The only thing we know for sure is that they were magical…The word troll is associated with the Old Norse term “trolldomr,” which means “witchcraft,” and the Swedish “trolla,” which means “to charm, bewitch.”

According to legend, the creatures are easily outsmarted, but if that doesn’t work you can ring bells or pray for lightning (two things that supposedly send them running). Of course, the Department of Mythical Wildlife knows trolls as loyal creatures who value friendship and actively seek to expand their social network. Like the cynocephali, trolls agreed to integrate into human society and hide their true appearance with the help of the gryphon’s magic.

To read more about Sam London’s encounter with a troll named Trevor, check out “Guardians of the Gryphon’s Claw,” the first case in the Sam London adventure series.

Creature Feature:

There are tales of trolls shapeshifting or changing into rocks; truth is, their powers vary widely among the different species. The more prevalent human-like trolls enjoy enhanced hearing, sight and smell, as well as a keen sense of approaching danger.