The Longtail News # 1

In this first 2004 issue of The Longtail Troll News it is very variable contents. You should absolutely read the amusing story about Sondre who thinks it is possible for trolls to fly, and you have the opportunity to get to know our drawer, Asbjørn Tønnesen. Of course we present the Longtail Troll Chief of the year, Bergljot, and the reason why she is the new chief. You will also find an overview of the latest Longtail Trolls. A major change to the Longtail Troll Collector's Club is that the membership is free, and subscribers to The Longtail News are upgraded to Club Members.

Bergljot is not a troll lady to be trifled with. At least not if one is a sensitive soul, for offending Bergljot in any way is just like asking for a severe dressing-down. But she has at bottom a heart of gold, and behind her at times brusque manner she is very considerate of her fellow trolls. Bergljot’s magical ability is her uniquely good hearing. She can actually hear if people are whispering together even if they are several hundred yards away from her. Bergljot thinks this is a really fun ability to have, since she is by nature also a bit curious. She also doesn’t go out of her way to repeat what she’s heard, no matter what it might be. But it was her good hearing that enabled Bergljot to become the Longtail trolls’ new chieftain.

It was on a dark and rainy autumn day that Bergljot went into Witchwood to pick raspberries in the forest undergrowth. As she picked big, juicy raspberries, she worried about what she had overheard the day before. It seemed that someone or something was stealing gold from the trolls, and that this had been going on for quite some time. Humans couldn’t be responsible, since the gold was hidden in a secret vault in the mountain, which could only be opened with magical troll songs. Well, there was a tiny hole by the door of the vault, but no human was small enough to be able to get in that way. As Bergljot was pondering this mystery, she suddenly heard many hoarse, muttering voices, which clearly came from a long ways away.

Inquisitively she followed the sound, and that good hearing of hers led her to the middle of Witchwood. The strange voices were even clearer there, but she saw not a soul. Then she discovered that the sound was coming from a large oak tree. Bergljot approached the oak tree with a fierce expression on her face and a measured stride, and looked into an oval hole in the tree trunk. Bergljot’s eyes grew large when she saw that there was a large hollow within the oak tree. For there lay the trolls’ gold, in great mounds and piles. And in the midst of all the gold sat three grymlins, chattering with satisfaction over their haul. Grymlins are small, hairy creatures with big eyes and noses as round as balls. They are very rarely sighted, for they rarely leave the trees in which they live. They are actually timid and peaceful creatures, but they have a very relaxed relationship with other creatures’ possessions. Many a human has left the forest more than one object poorer, since the grymlins believe that whatever they find belongs to them. Bergljot knew this, but neither she nor the other trolls had considered the possibility that the grymlins could be behind the theft of the gold. Bergljot made quick work of the deed, and lifted the grymlins out of the tree. The grymlins shrieked in fright, but Bergljot pulled the thieves along by the ears all the way to Trollhufsa village. On the way to the village the grymlins were scolded so thoroughly that that in itself should have been punishment enough, but the Troll Council decided that the grymlins would have to carry stones in Troll Mountain, one stone for every lump of gold they had taken. The grymlins felt that the worst punishment was the fact that Bergljot was assigned to keep an eye on them to see that they didn’t escape from their punishment. They had never thought that a troll woman would be able to talk and scold so much! And thus the mystery of the gold was solved, thanks to Bergljot’s good hearing. And for that reason the determined and unafraid troll woman was elected as the new chieftain for that year.

In 2003 you had to purchase the 2003 club pack to become a club member. The club pack included the limited edition troll "Steinar" as well as the Longtail Troll Collector's Club Magazine.

In 2004 Bergljot (se above) is the limited edition troll in the Longtail family, but this year the club troll doesn't come in a club pack. The Longtail Troll Collector's Club Magazine is replaced with "The Longtail News" which is distributed electronically on the Internet. This means that the club membership is free, and that you don't have to obtain the club troll to become a club member. Subscribers to The Longtail News are now upgraded to club members, and we are happy to welcome all of you reading this to the Longtail Troll International Collector's Club. The Longtail trolls are now constructing a members area on their website, and during the summer they will invite you for a visit, and inform you how to access the members area.

A very creative illustrator

Asbjørn Tønnesen is our illustrator of Longtail Trolls. He draws great, richly colored pictures that we use to make the figurines of. His favorite among the Longtail Trolls is Bergljot, the troll of the year. Here you can get to know him better:

You find trolls in everybody. They are in peoples mind, and they can be disgusting in nature, bad, willful and a bit stupid. They often have long untidy hair and wears rough-haired and tattered clothes.

Natural characteristic as you can see with ordinary people, especially old people. All expressions we got, grimaces, characteristics that we got with the age.

As an illustrator I have a very special relationship to trolls. I have to live with them and study them. I have to put myself into the life of a troll. I can see trolls in people, stumps, trees and tuft of moss. The nature inspires me.

I have a good troll in a book I work with right now. He is both stupid and kind, and he often forgets that he is a troll. He tries to frighten others, but that often results in him being frighten himself.

Which of the troll artists has made an influence on your interpretation of trolls ?

I don’t feel that any artist has influenced my work, but I am inspired of what I find among people.

My own trolls, especially the one I am writing about just now in a book that I hope to publish later. Among the Longtail Trolls I think Bergljot is my favorite, even if she is a bit slimmer and less bosomy than I wanted her to be.

It says that trolls bring good luck – if you should come with a troll-wish, what must that be?

My troll-wish is that someone does something with all the pollution. I believe that trolls also are worried about acid rain and dead trees.

Jacket for the Penny-club, "Tuppen and Lillemor", "Boing-club", educational books for Gyldendal. I have illustrated a super hero on a large cardboard for use to promote play-station in different stores, I have illustrated video-cover for a pop-band called Pelle Parafin, Conan, and of course "Captain Sabertooth", which is a very, very popular pirate her in Norway. For Captain Sabertooth I also make four activity magazines each year and a hole lot of other things. I have illustrated the novel about Magnus Viking, Viking series, “Bertram” – a children's book for the Norway Post, and “Fri and Frank” a book for stamp collectors.

I also work with a private book concept where I both write the story and illustrate.

The Flying Troll

Deep in the Norwegian woods is a place called Trollhufsa. Amongst the rocks, tree stumps and hollows live the Longtail trolls. Like most other trolls the Longtail trolls spend their days treasure hunting, doing a little magic, making porridge and most other things trolls like to do. But unlike other trolls that turn to stone when the sun comes out, the Longtail trolls can stay out both day and night – thanks to a magic drink they have every morning with their breakfast. The Longtail trolls aren’t especially big and only come up to the knees of most humans; but they are very sweet, friendly, and don’t get into too much trouble. Now it just so happens that these trolls have tails with magical qualities – each with a special trick all of their own. Sondre’s tail can light up in the dark, but he doesn’t think that’s quite special enough. Sondre is a real clown who is always getting into trouble of one sort or another.

One early, warm summer morning, Sondre was sitting with Mamma troll and Papa troll eating his breakfast. Papa troll was getting ready to go inside the mountain to search for the gold and treasure hidden inside. Mamma troll on the other hand was going to stay at home and do the yearly spring-cleaning. She had been a bit troubled about it the day before, because the house was MUCH too clean and tidy, in fact it was so bad that she had to fetch her broom and spread around a load of spruce twigs and dust to really mess the place up. As everyone knows, a proper troll housewife always keeps a really messy and dusty house.

Sondre plodded out of the tree stump where he lived and went to the neighboring tree stump to see if Ronja was home. Ronja was Sondre’s best friend, she was very smart and could sing troll-songs. Together, Sondre and Ronja went down to the river to do some fishing. After they’d been sitting there a while Sondre said:

“Hey Ronja, have you ever wished that you could do something else apart from singing troll-songs?”

Ronja snuck a look at her friend and shook her head; “No, why would I do that?”

“Well,” sighed Sondre, “I was just thinking that a tail that glows in the dark is a bit boring, that’s all. When will I get to use it?”

“ A tail that glows in the dark is a great thing to have!” exclaimed Ronja – “What else would you rather do instead?”

“I’d rather be able to see right through the mountain and find out where the treasures are – or lift huge rocks like Pappa troll! Or, or,” Sondre strained to think of more reasons but couldn’t, until a little bird swooped by overhead.

”Oh spit!” he suddenly hollered out – so loud that Ronja leapt up in the air. He shouldn’t really say “oh spit!” because it wasn’t something small trolls were meant to say but he’d heard Papa troll say it loads of times – especially if he stubbed his toes!

“I’m going to learn how to fly – just think, the world’s first flying troll!”

He was so excited that he jumped up, hurled his rod in the river and took off up the path.

“But, but…” began Ronja confused, but Sondre had long since disappeared through the trees.

After a little while Sondre came running back, dragging a carpet along with him.

“Come on Ronja, let’s go to the cliffs,” gasped Sondre breathlessly, and off he went. Ronja almost had to run to keep up with him.

Finally Ronja caught up with him. “But isn’t that Mamma troll’s best carpet,” she asked suspiciously. “Does she know you’ve got it?”

Sondre sighed, “Don’t be so boring Ronja, I CAN learn to fly. It’s just a question of practice, and besides I’m only borrowing the carpet - I’ll tell Mamma troll afterwards.” Finally they reached the rocky edge of the hill – which wasn’t very high and with the ground below covered in bushes and long grass.

“Right,” said Sondre, “I’m going to hold the carpet above my head so the air can get underneath it – like one of those billoons people have. Then I’ll just fly through the air!”

Ronja looked very worried and shook her head, “It’s not billoon, it’s balloon and I don’t think they’re made of carpet!”

“Yes they are” exclaimed Sondre – “I’ve seen them close up!” which he quite evidently hadn’t. Then he looked quite solemnly at Ronja – “I hope you’re ready,” he declared – “because you’re about to witness the world’s first flying troll!” With that he ran as fast as he could to the rocky edge and jumped off.

“Whooeeeeeh,” shouted Sondre. Of course the carpet didn’t behave like a balloon – but collapsed around the head of Sondre who tumbled and twisted down, arms and legs flailing as he landed with a crash down into the bushes below. Ronja peeked cautiously over the edge – “Sondre? Sondre are you ok?” She saw a movement from under the blanket, which was well and truly tangled up in the bushes below.

“Oh spit!” mumbled Sondre and he pulled the carpet from over his head – his tail really sore from the crash landing.

“Now do you see that you can’t learn to fly?” Said Ronja as they walked back to Trollhufsa village. Sondre dragged the carpet along as they went and rubbed his sprained tail.

“This accident was pretty lucky really,” he exclaimed, “because now I’ve figured it out. If I’m going to fly, I’m going to need some other kind of equipment.” “Oh no” sighed Ronja.

So off Sondre went to see the troll blacksmith. “Hey,” he asked the smith, “can you make me some wings?” Sondre explained that he and Ronja needed them for a play they were making – "we're going to play fairies." The blacksmith agreed that it was an excellent idea – and the wings he made were just fantastic. The smith made wooden frames that buttoned on and then his wife covered them with a layer of thick green leaves. Sondre thanked them politely and off they went to the hilltop again. Ronja was angry and threatened to put a spell on Sondre for lying to the smith. But Sondre didn’t listen. Once again he took a big run up and jumped off the edge. He hoped this time that he wouldn’t land on his tail again because it wasn’t particularly funny. Just at the point he jumped into the air a strong gust of wind caught hold of him.

“Hey look – I’m flying,” he shouted as he sailed through the air like a windswept crow. The wind had taken a good hold of his wings, but all of a sudden he began to spin round in the air; the blacksmith’s wings weren’t good for flapping, made as they were of wood and leaves. Sondre flapped the wings desperately but it was no use; the harder he tried the quicker he went down. At least this time he flew a bit further than the first time and the wind carried him right into the river. Sondre sat with water right up to his ears and with the fish splashing around him. Ronja laughed so hard the tears streamed down her face.

There was a big hullabaloo when they arrived back at the village. Sondre had of course to explain what had happened to Mamma troll’s carpet and why he was soaking wet. Aslak the troll-doctor came to see him and put a stylish bandage on his sprained tail. But he didn’t get off lightly and got a real telling off from his parents and from the blacksmith. Finally he was grounded and sent straight up to his room. Sondre felt sad because of the telling off he’d had.

“They’re all stupid,” he mumbled to himself, “no-one understands me. I’ll run away and then they’ll be sorry.” He snuffled as he climbed out through his bedroom window saying - ” They’ll be crying when they can’t find their clever little troll-boy.”

Once he was well away, off he crept into the woods so that he wouldn’t be seen or heard. It was the onset of evening now and the twilight made the woods appear dark and scary, but still Sondre plodded on. He was going to teach them a lesson! Some of them had even laughed at him and said that he acted like a human he came out with so much rubbish. What an insult! Sondre was deep in the woods now. He heard the hoot of an owl and then of something creeping around through the trees. Something big. He swallowed hard and felt his heart begin to pound. He wasn’t frightened of the animals; they were his friends after all. But what if it was a human? Oh spit! The storyteller, Brage, had told lots of stories about trolls being tricked by humans. What if it was the kind of human that eats trolls? The wind whistled through the trees and Sondre was sure there were humans in his woods. He had to hide. He ran to a tree at full speed and climbed right to the top. He clung to the trunk and peeked down. He couldn’t see any humans, they must be hidden somewhere. Maybe they were going to build a house here? Then he’d have to stay up the tree for the rest of his life! The thought of this made Sondre feel very unhappy and he began to sob. Think how lonely it would be spending the rest of his life up this tree. But what if … what if the other trolls came. The humans were bound to be frightened if they saw a crowd of trolls come running toward them? But how to let them know? Sondre thought for a long time. Then it came to him – the tail! His tail glowed in the dark, didn’t it? Then the other trolls would see where he was and come to save him. No sooner said than done. He waved his tail and it began to shine in the dark like a beacon, lighting up the whole of the treetop he sat in. It wasn’t long before he heard voices in the woods, familiar voices of those he loved.

“Pappa troll, Mamma troll – here I am,” he shouted, “watch out – there are humans here, its dangerous!”

Then he heard Papa troll’s voice: “No, there aren’t any humans here, just moose, so you’re safe to come down.”

Sondre was so happy that he practically raced down the tree. In fact he went so fast that he missed the last branches and landed in the arms of Papa troll. Sondre was so happy to be holding Papa troll’s hand all the way home that he didn’t even care if he got a telling off again. At least he wouldn’t have to live all alone and abandoned in a tree!

“So,” asked Papa troll “did you learn something today then?” This was what Papa troll asked every evening.

“Sure,” nodded Sondre keenly, “having a tail that glows in the dark isn’t the worst thing to have because it saved me. And trolls can’t fly.”

He thought for a minute over whether he should give it one more try just to be sure and added: “At least I don’t think they can."

Mamma troll gave a sigh: “No more flying, do you hear!” Then she added strictly: “If you don’t behave you’re going to go to a human school, and you can learn proper troll behavior by seeing how foolish humans are!”

Sondre opened his eyes wide and shivered – “I’ll never fly again – never,” he promised. And he kept his promise.

New trolls this spring

Thimbles, needles and buttons are spread out all over at the home of Bjarne the tailor troll. He repairs ruined troll clothes and gladly sews up fine new outfits out of moss and troll thread.

Bjarne is very concerned that everyone should be neatly and tidily dressed. So he almost flies off the handle if he sees a troll who isn’t dressed the way he thinks they should be. Bjarne’s magical ability is to be able to temporarily freeze all living beings, something he often uses on trolls who are hopelessly behind the times. And while the trolls stand frozen, he puts new clothes on them until they look fashionable.

Klara is the grandmother of all the Longtail trolls. No-one knows how old she is, she doesn’t even know herself. Klara knows all of the generations of Longtail trolls, for as children all of them have sat by her rocking chair and listened to her exciting tales of days of old. Klara’s tail sprinkles dust which makes the bodies of small Longtail trolls sleepy before bedtime.

Of course the Longtail trolls have a witch. Small explosions and strange lights emerge regularly from Mathilde’s tree stump by the witches’ wood when she is cooking up her witches’ brew and magical rituals. Mathilde is Sondre’s aunt, and labors under the same illusion as her nephew, namely that one day she will be able to fly on her broomstick. She has also not been able to suspend gravity, but on several occasions she has been seen running after her broomstick, which was flying through the air like a projectile. Mathilde’s tail gives her the ability to shrink herself very small.

Karoline og Arnt

Karoline and Arnt are the world champions in troll dancing, something they have to be, since they are the only two who have mastered this kind of dancing. The other trolls are in fact not as advanced when they dance. They hop up and down and wave their arms and legs as it pleases them. But Karoline and Arnt are much more sophisticated and graceful in their performance, something they’ve learned by spying on how humans dance.

The dancing pair’s magical ability is that they can make other creatures’ legs start to run. They mostly use this on humans, to the great delight of the other trolls.

Tales from Trollhufsa

The wandering troll Sigurd is very proud when it comes to his ability to find his way in the forests and mountains. Therefore it was all the more ignominious when he managed to get himself thoroughly lost in Witchwood, which is the forest right by Trollhufsa village where he grew up. Askeline found him when he had gone in a circle for the seventh time. To Sigurd’s great vexation, she found it necessary to remind him constantly of how funny she had thought it was that he had been just a few feet from the path which led out of the forest.

Competition

Answer the questions as well as you can and mail us your answer before the 1st of August. The winner is drawn in August, and who that is and of course the right answers will be announced in the next issue of the club pages at the Internet. Please write your answers in English.

Good luck!

1: What is Balders magical ability?

2: What is the name of the four climbing brothers?

3: Who believes that he is the knight of the Longtail trolls, with the result that he is a very gallant and well-spoken troll?

4: Who is Trollhufsas chief of the year 2004?

5: Who is running the village’s library?

6: What is Mortens big interest?

7: How can Ronja bewitch other trolls?

8: What kind of creatures had once upon a time stolen the gold in Trollhufsa?

9: What troll dreams that he can fly?

10: What is the name of the blacksmith in Trollhufsa?

Name :
E-mail:

Hope you enjoyed the newsletter. If you have comments or feedback, feel free to contact me at marit@trolls.net

The News

Bergljot – chieftain of the year (includes the story "The mystery of the gold")

Changes to the Longtail Troll Collectors Club

Meet Asbjørn Tønnesen, our Longtail Troll illustrator

The flying troll

New trolls

Tales from Trollhufsa; Sigurd and Askeline