Tales of Gro'lok

Tales of Gro'lok is a book found in Darkdale written by Darkdale local, Narmald. The book is based on Gro'lok a beast that carves names into tree stumps.

## Location

The book is found in Narmald the Book Writer's Hovel, a small home in the Market District of Darkdale.

## Contents

TALES OF GRO'LOK by Narmald of Darkdale

I found myself in a part of the woods not oft walked to find a place
of solitary peace to write, away from the bustle of Darkdale and the
noise of civilisation.

I strolled a long path till I found a comfortable looking tree
stump and sat myself atop it. The work of some long gone woodcut
it seemed.

There I pulled out my quill and began to write when a swift thud
sound rattled into the bushes behind me. I paused for a moment
confused when I heard another thud and saw a thick stone crash
into the ground near me. Another soon followed.

It soon became apparent someone was throwing stones at me, I called
out 'Stop, I mean you no harm!' to which a gruff voice returned
'Aye, but I mean you harm!', the voice was not like that of a man.

I shouted back 'What are you? A troll? A demon?' and another stone
whizzed past me as I ducked behind the stump, 'TROLL' the voice
roared. And in my moment of panic I responded 'I am an author!'

Then the stone throwing stopped and there was a long pause. I
stay silent for a moment when the voice replied sheepishly
'ORTHOR? WHAT'S THAT? A MAGICIAN?'. Sensing the caution in the
trolls voice a replied, 'Yes, a magician, a master of spells!'.

The troll shouted back 'SPELLS BEAT STONES, I SURRENDER' and then
to my shock the troll marched from a nearby bush with its gargantuan
green palms open and pointed to the sky.

In this moment I sensed that I should need to keep the charade up
and assume the impression that I was a powerful mage and not a
piss soaked quivering bookwrite so I stood up and formed my fingers
into a shape as though I was holding a ball of air and stood atop
the stump I had hid behind.

'What is your name troll?' I said loudly, 'GRO'LOK' he replied
before bowing. 'You know how to bow?' I asked letting curiosity
get the better of me. 'YES MISTER WIZARD, ALL THE COURT CUSTOMS
I KNOW, FOR I WAS ONCE KING' he replied, my eyes widened.

I sat with this troll for many hours and prodded him with question
after question, his story was fascinating. A century ago a kingdom
existed on the edge of a great forest. The kingdom was ruled by an
ambitious prince who sought more land.

Prince Grolanar Lockley was his name, and his aggressive plan of
expansion included the great forest his kingdom laid parallel to.
There was a problem though, the forest was under the protection
of a powerful witch who had made grim the fates of any soldier who
had ventured in.

A mighty army was assembled led by the prince himself and they
marched on the forest burning down its trees and marching for
the witches hut. The enraged witch let off all of her magical
power at the army, many died but the prince picked up a sharp
pebble and tossed it at the witch amidst the battle.

The witch collapsed and the battle was over. Then the ground began
to shake and all of the princes surviving men fled. He approached
the witches corpse and her dead eyes opened as her lips uttered
one final sentence.

'You will be the prince of nothing but these woods you sought to
steal.' and with that the prince felt a great pain in his body
and collapsed. Upon waking he found himself in the form of a troll.

And thus the cursed beast Gro'Lok was forged. Here in the woods
he still lives, accepting offerings of sharp pebbles from folk
and killing others foolish enough to enter the woods with minds
of power and conquest. If you see old Gro'Lok, feign a magical
ability, for magic is his curse, and his fear.