Into the Shadows of Arcadia

Gnome Your Enemy 1

"For centuries, the troll and human worlds stood separate and at peace, divided by bridges that acted as doorways between our two realms. But the Gumm-Gumms wanted to devour all of mankind. They were led by Gunmar "the Black." The rest of Trollkind fought against him, culminating in the great Battle of Killahead Bridge, the portal to Gunmar's Darklands. After many moons, good triumphed over evil, and our great Trollhunter, Deya "the Deliverer, locked Gunmar away, exiling him to the Darklands, and sealed the Killahead Bridge with the sacred amulet. After, we tore it apart, stone by stone. We left the old world in search of peace. We stowed away on a ship called the Mayflower, just a handful of us and some gnomes we'd brought along for companionship and nourishment. Finally, we arrived in a strange and exotic realm."

"New Jersey"

Blinky continued telling the story. 

"We kept walking. Eventually, we came across a new Heartstone, and we realized we had found a new home under Arcadia."

Blinky finished, his hands pulling down the book to reveal Toby, leaning forward, deep into the story, Aaarrrgghh matching Toby's posture while Jim was asleep, another open book in his lap. Blinky groaned and quietly walked to Jim, Toby, and Aaarrrgghh watching as Bliny slammed the book shut. Jim woke with a startle, screaming in Spanish.

"Lo Siento, Senor Draal! No me mates!"

"The training of troll history might seem like a minor duty, Master Jim, but-"

"Sorry, I pulled an all-nighter studying for my Spanish Comprehension exam and my brain is muy gooey. I don't know. I guess I thought if I'm facing Draal in a week, my training would be a little more... active."

Jim stands with a stretch and a yawn, Aaarrrgghh doing the same. Toby hopped over excitedly and pretended to fight Jim to make an emphasis.

"Yeah, like, when is he going to learn Troll-kwondo? Or Rock-itsu?""

Toby snaked his arm around Jim's shoulders, pulling him down to his size.

"Before one fights, Tobius, one must understand why one fights. For these precious early steps will decide whether a young Trollhunter will become a Deya the Deliverer... Or Unkar the Unfortunate."

Jim and Toby share a look before Jim steps up to his trainer.

"Well, tomorrow, my Spanish exam is with Senor Uhl "the Unforgiving." My main concern is for my immediate future."

"A-ha! But, to learn what will happen in the future, one must only look to the past. I recommend A Brief Recapitulation of Troll Lore by the venerable Bedehilde. Volume one of 47."

Blinky dropped the large book into Jim's hands, the boy groans as his body drops with the new heavyweight in his hand.

"Okay, but if I don't pass the exam, I'm grounded and I can't be the Trollhunter. Sorry, Blinky, but the amulet chose me, and now I have two lives to keep up."

The sound of vast footsteps stomping into the Hero's Forge, a female troll running up to Blinky with panic. Her quick breaths worried Blinky further.

"Oh, no. Is it the Heartstone?"

"No! No!"

"Stalkling?"

"Is Bular in Trollmarket?"

"No! Gnome! Rogue gnome!" 

Bagduella cried out.

In Bagduella's shop. As the arena slowly grows smaller, the troll's voice echoes, before they appear in her shop. Blinky, Aaarrrgghh, Toby, and Jim inspecting the area.