Bridge Troll

It was deep in the Felding woods. A swift-flowing river divided their path. There ahead: an ancient arch of fitted stone, worn smooth by many long forgotten feet. "Here's the bridge," declared Aiden, "and with no sign of a troll." "Were I a troll I would surely claim this one," Freya replied darkly. "It is far from help and with no way about." She shuddered. Aiden puffed out his chest: "Fret not! Your big brother will let no harm come!" [[Approach the bridge.]] [[Find another way across.]]

All seemed peaceful about the bridge. Dew drops sparkled in the (if: (history:)contains "Find another way across.")[noonday](else:)[morning] sun. But the birds were silent - an ominous portent. "There's nothing for it but to try," Aiden declared stoutly. Freya huddled close behind, eyeing the old arches warily. "Let us tiptoe like foxes," said she, "and stay our breath, should anything be lurking about." "Nonsense," said Aiden. "We will stomp loudly, so as to sound like heavy strong men." [[Steal across stealthily.]] [[March across loudly.]]

Freya sprang for the tree, precarious though it seemed. Aiden started to protest, but it was no use - Freya had slipped off her pack and was climbing down the mossy riverbank. Amethyst current ran deep and cold below the hanging log, churning up foam where branches touched the surface. Freya leaned out and leapt towards the slippery bark. This was followd by a great crashing and splashing. Aiden ran to the edge and [[peered down the ravine.]]

(set: $footWet to true)His sister was already scrambling back up the bank, intact but in an even fouler humour than before. She was sopping wet past the knees. She sat down glumly and poured frigid water from her boots. "At least you weren't eaten by a troll," Aiden jested. Freya shot him a stony glare. "Well if you are quite satisfied," he continued, "let us return to the bridge. We have tarried long enough." He handed Freya her pack and they [[returned to the bridge.->Approach the bridge.]]

<h3 style="text-align:center;">Bridge Troll</h3> (set: $firstDemand to true)(set: $negotiated to false)Aiden and his sister Freya had been on the road for two full days when they came to [[the bridge.]]

Freya frowned. "I don't like it. Mightn't we find another way? A fallen log, or a ford?" "Were there a ford, it would have surely been on the map," objected Aiden, "but if it ease your mind..." They trudged up the riverbank for a time. The brush grew thick beyond the road and the going was slow. Presently the sun climbed high overhead. Aiden stopped: "It appears I was right: the river only widens this way. Come, let us return to the bridge. The day grows old." [[Return to the bridge.->Approach the bridge.]] Freya [[spied a fallen tree->fallen tree]] hanging over the river.

Before Aiden could protest, Freya slipped out onto the bridge and began to tiptoe her way across. {(if: $footWet is true)[Her wet boots were uncooperative however, and made irksome squishing sounds with each step she took.] (else:)[Not to be left behind, Aiden hurried to retake the lead. Alas, his hasty step was ill placed and nudged loose a pocket of gravel, which cascaded loudly down the side of the bridge. Freya glared at him.]} Suddenly, the ground quivered underfoot and a frightful sniffing and snuffling assailed their ears. The two travellers [[froze in their tracks.->Who goes there?]] [[broke into a run.]]

"I am the eldest, and therefore I shall decide. We will march like a great armed host." Aiden drew his dagger and held it aloft. Freya might have giggled had the circumstances been less grave. Aiden took to the bridge, stomping as loudly as he could and calling out in his deepest voice: "Follow me men! Stay together now!" Freya followed along doubtfully, clanging cups and pans to aid the ruckus. They were making fine progress [[until...->Troll emerges]]

Aiden and Freya exchanged a glance, unsure of what to do next. Perhaps if they waited long enough it might... "I can hear yer prancy hearts beating," sounded the voice again suddenly. "Such a cruel pounding in me head! Stop now!" A great knarled hand the size of a pony sprang up and swatted the road. Aiden and Freya leap out of the way. Then a second hairy arm emerged, followed by a pair of scaly shoulders, and finally a hideous one-eyed head. A troll [[clambered onto the bridge->Demand toll]] before them.

Adien mustered all his courage and in his deepest voice he bellowed: "It is I, Rismark Whistleblade, slayer of dragons and giants, with twenty strong men of the king's guard. I warn thee: delay not our passing. We are on important business of the king." Freya [[shook her head in embarassment.->Troll emerges]]

While Aiden gaped dumbfounded, Freya raised her voice: "We are terribly sorry to have disturbed your slumber, master sir. We meant no ill will. We would as soon leave you in peace, if we could just be on our way..." "Cross my bridge," came the reply, "must pay toll!" Then a great knarled hand the size of a pony reached out from under the bridge. It was followed by an arm, overgrown with hair and lichen, then a knobby scaled shoulder, and finally a hideous misshapen head. It examined the little travelers with a single baleful eye, then clambered onto the bridge before them. [[It was, without at doubt, a troll.->Demand toll]]

(set: $angered to false)The two stood there with their hearts in their throats. Suddenly, a voice like an avalanche rumbled from beneath: "Oye there! Who disturbs my slumber with all this { (if: $footWet is true and (history:)contains "Steal across stealthily.")[splish sploosh splish sploosh] (else:)[rickety rackety] }! Is it not difficult enough to get me some shut-eye with this blasted yellow skyfire returning year after year?" [[Remain silent.]] [[Bluff.]] [[Apologize humbly.]] [[Run for it.]]

Aiden and Freya looked at each other and then, as if of one mind, bolted. As fast as their legs could carry them, they ran. At that same moment, a monstrous hand the size of a pony sprang up from beneath and swatted the road. (set: $diesFirst to (either: "Aiden","Freya")) $diesFirst screamed and was silenced in a gurgling cough. (if: $diesFirst is "Aiden")[Freya whipped around to see her brother's](else:)[Aiden whipped around to his sister's] bloody remains be scraped off the dirt and dragged below. A horrid, misshapen head peered over the bridge and regarded (if: $diesFirst is "Aiden")[her](else:)[him] with a single baleful eye. It was the troll. (if: $diesFirst is "Aiden")[Freya](else:)[Aiden], gripped with terror and despair, turned to [[flee that dreadful scene...]]

The moment their running gait struck the road, there was a great rumbling and shaking, causing them to slip and lose footing. Then a great voice roared from below: "Who dares cheat my bridge! All must pay to cross!" "The troll!" they realized at once. They were not mistaken. A great fell arm, tall as a house, reached out from beneath and swept across the road. It was followed by a pair of scaly shoulders and a hideous one-eyed head and finally the entire troll had clambered onto the bridge before them. Never had the poor travellers seen such a dreadful sight. Then that monstrous, searching arm snapped shut its clawed fingers, [[seizing the boy.->seized the boy.]] [[seizing the girl.->seized the girl.]]

(set: $angered to true)A gut-quivering roar erupted from below, and a great shadow tore itself from the riverbank and lurched upwards, springing limbs and a head as it clambered onto the bridge before them. The travellers nearly fell backwards in their fright. It was, without a doubt, a troll. It tilted a hideous, misshapen head towards them, and squinted a single glistening eye: "What's this? Only two? And naught but wee fingerlings! Dishonest fingerlings at that! Trying to cheat I daresay!" The troll [[growled angrily.->Demand toll]]

(if: $firstDemand is true)["You cross my bridge, you must pay toll!" The troll spat and sputtered as it spoke. "What...what is the toll?" stammered Aiden. "Thirty pieces silver," boomed the troll. "Both of you!" Aiden and Freya eyed each other nervously. That was a greater fortune than their entire family possessed.](if: $firstDemand is false)[Again the loathesome creature repeated its demand: "Thirty pieces of silver to cross my bridge!" The pall deepened on Aiden and Freya's faces.] (if: $firstDemand is true)[(link-goto: "Challenge his ownership.")] [[Simply can't pay.]] [[Negotiate.]] [[Hatch a plan.]]

...Only to stumble directly into the giant's other hand. Knobby, jaundiced fingers closed tightly about (if: $diesFirst is "Aiden")[her](else:)[him]. Quiet sobs of despair were the last sounds to leave (if: $diesFirst is "Aiden")[her](else:)[his] lips before (if: $diesFirst is "Aiden")[Freya](else:)[Aiden], or (if: $diesFirst is "Aiden")[her brother](else:)[his sister] $diesFirst, were never heard from or seen again. [[The end.]]

<h3 style="text-align:center;">The End</h3> Thus concludes Bridge Troll. We hope you enjoyed it. Bridge Troll comprises a dozen endings and many possible journeys, depending on the choices you make along the way. Effort has been made to inject some twists and surprises (both in the choices available and in subsequent events) without subverting the users' will, and all in keeping true to the characters and their personalities and motivations. This is just a small example of what is possible with branching narrative.<P style="text-align:right;"><A href="http://imagine.hestonlabbe.com">Home</A></P>

"I'm terribly sorry," Aiden said in the most conciliatory tone his trembling voice could muster, "but we simply can not afford that price. We hold hardly a copper penny between us!" At this, the troll bared its crooked yellow teeth: "A meal then!" Aiden and Freya exchanged a look of relief. "Why yes! Food, of course! We have some provisions..." Aiden unslung his pack and began rummaging around. "...We have cheese, and biscuit, dried pork..." Suddenly the troll lurched forward, reached out with its great beastly arms and [[seized the boy.]] [[seized the girl.]]

(set: $firstDemand to false)"Surely," said Aiden, "we could come to an agreement?" (if: $angered is false and $negotiated is false)[ "Pay the toll!" was all the troll had to say. Aiden looked dismayed. "But we don't have such money..." [[A service perhaps?]] [[Pay on return.]] ](if: $angered is true and $negotiated is false)["No! No agreements with dishonest fingerlings," growled the troll. "You tried to deceive and frighten! Now you (link:"pay the toll!")[(set:$negotiated to true)(go-to:"Demand toll")]"](if: $negotiated is true)["No," huffed the troll, "no more talky! [[You pay toll now!->Demand toll]]"]

Aiden leaned in close to Freya and began to confer in a hushed voice: "Freya, perhaps if we were to..." But before he could say more, the troll lunged forward, bleating: "No conspiring! No whispering! Whispers hurt me ears!" With its great beastly arms it [[seized the boy.]] [[seized the girl.]]

Aiden cried out as four massive fingers encircled him and hoisted him flailing into the air. The grip tightened and his cry extinguished. Soon he was gasping for air. "This will do. A fingerling, a little morsel, in place of silver." It licked its lips. "No!" cried Freya, [[Plead.]] [[Challenge a duel.]] [[Keep him.]]

Freya cried out as four massive fingers encircled her and hoisted her high into the air. (if: $footWet is true)[Drops from her wet boots fell like rain onto the dirt below.] The grip tightened and her cry extinguished. Soon she was gasping for air. "This will do. A fingerling, a little morsel, in place of silver." It licked its lips. "No!" cried Aiden, [[Take me instead.]] [[Attack!]] [[Keep her.]]

(set: $firstDemand to false)"Now who said this is your bridge to begin with?" said Aiden, fighting against his fear. "It surely wasn't you who built it. Did the king grant you lawful title to this bridge?" The troll merely blinked its big wet eye and [[stared at him->Demand toll]].

(set: $negotiated to true)Freya piped up, in spite of her fear: "Perhaps there is something we could do for you Master Troll? A valuable service, in lieu of payment?" The troll considered this for a moment, then said: "Yes, something you can do. You can pay me silver!" Freya shook her head. "No, what I meant..." "[[Pay me silver!->Demand toll]]"

(set: $negotiated to true)Freya piped up, despite her fear: "How be we pay on our return? All sixty pieces of silver. Not one piece short!" "No. You pay now!" Aiden jumped in: "Let us pass now, and we will return with //twice// the payment you request! Nay, we will pay in gold! Do you like gold master troll?" "How do you have gold?" the troll quite reasonably demanded to know. Aiden hesitated. Finally, Freya broke the silence with: [[Magic beans.]]

"Because we carry magic beans," she said. "Worth your humble toll many times over. We go to Yormus to sell these magic beans. That is where we shall obtain the gold." At this the troll considered. It considered long and hard and indeed so long and hard that Aiden and Freya began to wonder if the troll hadn't drifted into a trance, or had indeed forgotten the offer it was supposed to be considering. But at last the troll stood up straight and something like a grin twisted its jaundiced lips. "You give //me// magic beans!" [[A wise choice!]] [[No!]]

(set: $rejectedBeans to true)"Aha!" cried Aiden as he dove into his pack. "We hoped you wouldn't think of that Master troll, but you have made a wise choice. A wise choice indeed." He pulled out a little draw-stringed sack with a flourish of his hand and held it out to the troll. "Here you are! One sack of magic beans!" Aiden and Freya waited with baited breath. The troll leaned in and sniffed at the little sack. Then it eyed the travellers, one then the other. Their smiles faded. Finally, the troll shook its mighty head. [["No beans!"->Demand toll]]

Freya shook her head. "No master troll, we dare not do that. We will happily pay you in silver or gold, but these beans are too precious to give away. Even one." The troll growled and took a menacing step forward. "Um, Freya, perhaps we should relinquish the beans," Aiden said nervously. "GIVE THE BEANS," boomed the troll. It took another step towards them. "Very well! You shall have the magic beans," cried Freya as she frantically rummaged through her pack. "How many beans would you have?" "ALL THE BEANS," came the impatient reply. Finally Freya produced a small draw-stringed sack, filled with dried black beans. She held it up to show the troll then placed it on the ground and [[stepped back]] a few paces.

The troll approached the tiny bag excitedly and plucked it from the ground with his huge beastly hands. The tiny draw-string opening proved too delicate for his broad fingers and he fumbled, dropping it more than once. During this time, Freya and Aiden cautiously advanced on the far edge of the road. The troll seemed to take no notice. Suddenly, his lumbering fingernails tore the sack asunder and the beans were cast all about the road. The troll cursed loudly and immediately set about retrieving each and every bean from the soil. Freya and Aiden exchanged a decisive glance, and then they ran. They ran as fast as their weary legs could carry them and they did not look back until they were very deep into the woods on the other side. [[The end.]]

"Leave her be!" cried Aiden as his sister struggled in the creature's suffocating grasp. "Take me instead!" It turned and looked at him. Freya shook her head and implored as best she could: "Aiden...stop...heroics..." But her brother stood fast. "Look at me," he shouted. "You desire a tasty morsel you beast? I have twice the meat she does!" The troll looked at him, then seemed to agree. It reached out with its other knarled arm and [[plucked Aiden into the air.]]

And without a second thought, he lunged at the creature's trunk-like legs, stabbing and slashing with all his might. But the creature's hide was like hardened leather, and would not yield to his little dagger. The troll seemed at once surprised by this fingerling's zest, and blinked dumbly for a moment as the boy hacked at his legs. Then with an irritated roar it lifted Freya high into the air and [[hurled her]] at her frantic brother.

Freya struggled and gasped in the troll's tightening grasp. Again it licked its foul lips, glistening with putrid saliva. Aiden cocked his head curiously. "Master troll, if I am to understand correctly, you would accept my sister as payment and allow me to pass unhindered?" The troll grunted faintly. Its attention was fixed upon the squirming prize in his hand. Who knows how much time had passed since its last meal. Adien nodded with a flourish. "Very well! You may have her!" Then adding to himself: "And so much the better. We grow weary of her ceaseless ill humour." And with that, Aiden marched across the bridge. Freya [[screamed at him.]] [[held perfectly still]]

Freya pleaded: "Please master Troll! My brother must reach Yormus ere the harvest moon! On this our family depends!" "Must! Pay! Toll!" boomed the troll. It then raised helpless Aiden to its mouth. Ropes of putrid saliva dangled and fell from its mouth, slapping the dirt loudly. [[You'll be sorry!]] [[Take me instead!]] (if: $rejectedBeans is true)[ [[First give me the beans.]] ]

"I challenge thee to a duel!" Both the troll and her brother looked at her in surprise. Freya continued, undaunted: "You heard me! Singular combat - a test of strength! If you win you may do what you like with us! But if you lose, you must let us pass unharmed!" "Freya...what are...doing?" Aiden squeezed out the words in laboured breaths. The troll laughed - a horrendous gurgling cackle. Then it [[stepped towards her.]]

Freya paused, considered for a moment, then said: "You have chosen wisely master troll, for Aiden is the larger of the two of us," then adding under her breath: "and the more obnoxious. He will not be missed." Disbelief snd anger stained Aidens's eyes and he cursed and struggled with renewed vigour. The troll squeezed harder. "You will accept him as payment and I may pass?" she asked. The troll grunted faintly, its attention now fixed on the squirming prize in its hand. Who knows how much time had passed since its last meal. Without further hesitation, Freya [[seized the opportunity.]]

With the troll's attention diverted, Freya hoisted her pack and hurried towards the far shore as quickly as she dared. She tiptoed behind the great bulk of the troll and, reaching the other side, scurried off into the woods. When the screams rang out behind her, she shuddered and hastened her pace. [[The end.]]

"Ahh," said Freya wisely, "would you fight me with only one hand? It would give me an unfair advantage. I should refuse such an unsporting challenge." The troll considered this and, concurring that it made good sense, replaced her brother on the road. Then without further warning, it charged at Freya. "Aiden, flee!" she cried. [[He fled.]] [[He leapt to her aid.]]

Aiden, still sputtering and gasping, heard his sisters words and started to run. Freya leapt away from the charging troll, dancing and dodging the troll's great fists. All the while she pointed and cried: "Look! Your prize is escaping!" Finally it turned to glimpse Aiden escaping to the treeline. It roared in anger and turned to pursue him. With the troll distracted, Freya slipped behind it and made a wild dash for the far shore. A final fell swipe missed her by only an inch. Miraculously she reached Aiden, who was waiting at the treeline. Together, they fled into the forest and ran until they could run no more, well after the moon had risen and the bridge was far behind. [[The end.]]

Ignoring her pleas to save himself, Aiden grabbed his dagger and leapt into the fray. The troll pummelled the road before it, trying to smash little Freya into oblivion. She danced and dodged its mighty blows, and again called to her brother to flee. But Aiden was already at the creature's ankles, slashing and stabbing ineffectually. The troll stepped backwards unexpectedly, and knocked Aiden to the ground, crushing his legs beneath its massive heel. Aiden cried out in pain. Freya screamed in dismay, and in that moment was caught by a fell swipe of the troll's massive arms. Thus the fight was decided. In the minutes that followed all struggling and screaming drew to an end, and Aiden and his sister Freya would never be heard from again. [[The end.]]

The troll sniffed and squeezed Aiden, who choked and gasped. But Freya was still trapped in the troll's other hand. He tried to shout: "You...supposed...let her down...you big oaf!" "Ever the fool," hissed Freya before she passed out of consciousness. Perhaps it was for lack of air that she fainted in the monster's chokehold. Perhaps it was the sight of her brother's head being chewed off in a ragged burst of teeth and blood. Whatever it was, those would be the last three words ever uttered by Freya or her brother Aiden. [[The end.]]

Their little bodies collided with a horrid thumping and cracking. Then both lay on the ground, unable to move. The troll loomed over them, foul ropes of saliva falling from its mouth. Freya and Aiden could see each other across the reddening dirt. Struggling against the darkness, Freya cast her brother a final withering glance and her lips formed the word "fool!" Then all went black. [[The end.]]

Freya cried out in anger and dismay, and cursed her brother's name. But it was all for naught. The troll drew her slowly to its drooling maw. Once Aiden was across the bridge, he continued on the forest path, quite pleased with his own cleverness. He could hear screaming when the feeding began, but he never looked back. [[The end.]]

Freya held perfectly still and looked the troll in the eye. The troll caught her sudden calm regard, and hesitated. Aiden was now clear across the bridge and trekking into the woods. "My dear troll," Freya spoke out as best she could. "I am afraid you have been cheated." "Cheated?" The troll loosened its chokehold. "Why yes. You see, my sly brother outweighs me. By as much as fifty pounds! He is therefore the larger meal, and closer in scale to your thirty pieces of silver. But alas he has tricked you into accepting a smaller payment." The Troll growled. Freya continued: "It is no fault of your own, Master Troll. My brother is a known trickster. He has cheated many." Then she leaned in and lowered her voice, as if sharing in a secret: "But there is no need to settle. I know how you can rectify the situation, and claim your fair share." She then turned away. "If you are interested, that is." Without hesistation the troll nodded. "Tell me how!" So Freya [[shared her plan.]]

Aiden was strolling along the forest path, pleased with his own cleverness, when he heard his sister's voice behind him. He stiffened in shock, and whirled about. Freya was running up the path behind him. This was entirely unexpected. She spoke breathlessly: "Aiden! You simply will not believe what has transpired! But it is much simpler if you see for yourself! Come!" He stood there, dumbfounded. "Come Aiden! You will not believe it!" Freya turned and began trotting back to the bridge. "...And all the silver! We shall be rich!" Cautiously, Aiden began to follow this strange apparition back down to the bridge. Freya stopped at the treeline. "There!" She said, pointing down the bank. "The troll? Where is it?" Aiden's confusion was only growing. "Precisely!" Freya exclaimed. Reluctantly, Aiden approached the riverbank and peered over the edge. Freya then hefted her pack and strolled back into the woods, with no small satisfaction of her own. She did not slow or looked back when her brother's screaming began. [[The end.]]

(if: (history:)contains "Steal across stealthily.")[Freya fell to her knees, tears in her eyes. "This is my fault! I should not have tried to cross the bridge first, against my brother's plans!" She looked up at the monster. "It is I who should pay the cost! Take me instead!"](else:)[Freya cast about desperately for a solution. Finally, with quiet resignation, she pleaded: "Take me instead."] Suddenly Aiden emitted a squeal and with renewed vigour managed say: "Yes! Take...instead! She...more tender...eat!" Freya stared at her brother, unsure of her own ears. The tears dryed in her eyes. The troll looked at Aiden, then [[back at Freya.]]

"You'll be sorry you nasty troll," Freya lashed out desperately. "If you take a single bite of him, I'll return here with an army! I swear it!" "Mmmm! More tasty morsels for me," exclaimed the troll. "Big morsels! You swore it!" Then it lifted Aiden up to its gaping mouth and sunk its rotten yellow teeth into Aiden's torso. There was screaming. Perhaps it was Aiden, perhaps his sister. In either case, the screaming did not go on for long, for once the troll's teeth had rent Aiden's body in two, leaving only twitching legs and gory entrails in its fell hand, Freya was overcome by the sight. Her breath fluttered, her legs gave out, and [[blackness overtook her.]]

When Freya awoke it was night. The previous events came rushing back to her mind and she sat up and whipped about in a panic. But she was alone. There was no sign of the troll or her brother, save a blood-stained patch of gravel some yards away. All about her was quiet and still. She took a moment to settle her nerves, then climbed to her feet and collected her belongings. Then Freya fled that dreadful place, and hoped never to return. [[The end.]]

Then without warning the troll reached down and grabbed Freya. "Yes! More tender this one," it agreed with enthusiasm. Then without hesitation it raised hapless Freya to its toothy jaws. "Now...supposed...put me down," Aiden began to shout. But the words caught in his throat as, barely an arm's reach away, the troll bit down on his sister's body and rent her apart. The colour drained from Aiden's face as he bore witness to that grim spectacle. The troll was a messy eater, but it relished every bite. It was an inglorious fate, and one that Aiden feared awaited him more surely with each passing moment. Alas, he would not be wrong. [[The end.]]

"Fine," said Freya. "You may have him! But first, allow me to retrieve the beans! You may not have those!" The troll looked at her curiously and cocked its head. Freya felt the need to explain: "The magic beans you lumbering fool! They are in the pack he is wearing." "Show me these magic beans," said the troll, as it replaced Aiden very unceremoniously on the road. Aiden tumbled out and lay gasping and sputtering on the ground. Freya at once rifled in Aiden's pack and produced the [[bag of beans.]]

"Now if you will excuse me..." she began. "Show me the beans," boomed the troll. Freya battled her fear. "No, you have chosen my brother. Not the magic beans. Take him. I am keeping these, they are far more valuable." "I choose the beans!" Freya sighed. "I see you leave me no choice." At this the troll grinned. Freya placed the little bag on the ground and went to help her brother [[to his feet.->stepped back]]