Deep in the mountains of Norway, where the mist clings to the cliffs and the rivers whisper secrets to the stones, there lived a troll named Grumlek the Greedy. Unlike his kin, who spent their days smashing rocks or terrifying lost travelers, Grumlek had a different passion—gold. Not just any gold, but the kind humans hoarded in their so-called “banks.”
Grumlek had watched the humans for centuries, marveling at their foolish system. They gave their gold to other humans, who then “stored” it in giant stone buildings. But instead of leaving it alone like a respectable dragon would, these bankers lent it out to others, charging fees and interest. It was a system so absurd, so fragile, that Grumlek knew he could break it with a single well-placed trick.
One autumn night, when the humans were sleeping soundly in their soft little houses, Grumlek stomped into town wearing his finest disguise—a long cloak, a wide-brimmed hat, and a ridiculous mustache he had stolen from a theater troupe. He walked straight into the grandest bank in the city and declared in a deep, booming voice:
“I am Lord Grundvald von Rockefeller the Third, and I demand a loan of one million gold coins!”
The bankers, blinded by their own greed, barely questioned him. After all, he spoke with confidence, smelled faintly of wealth (trolls have a natural scent of damp caves, which to humans smells oddly like old money), and had a hat so enormous that it simply screamed important person.
Papers were signed, seals were stamped, and by the time the sun rose, Grumlek had walked out of the bank with a cart full of gold. Of course, he had no intention of paying it back. That was a human problem.
The Collapse Begins
A few weeks later, the bank realized something was wrong. Lord Grundvald von Rockefeller the Third had vanished like a troll at sunrise. Panic spread. If one important customer could disappear, what about the others? Humans, being fragile creatures, rushed to withdraw their gold. But to their horror, the bank had no gold left—it had all been lent out!
Grumlek watched from a nearby mountain, munching on roasted goat as the human economy trembled like a bridge under a troll’s foot. One bank failed, then another, and soon the entire kingdom was in chaos. The king, red-faced and sputtering, demanded answers. The bankers, now suddenly much less confident, could only shrug.
Meanwhile, deep in his mountain lair, Grumlek sat atop his treasure, laughing so hard that pebbles rained from the ceiling. Humans had made it too easy. They had invented a system that could be destroyed with one simple trick: taking them too seriously.
The Moral of the Story?
Never trust a system built on imaginary wealth. And never, ever underestimate the cunning of a troll.
Speaking of these intriguing creatures, you might be interested in exploring more about Trolls as they are depicted in Scandinavian folklore. Digging into their narrative, you may also find the economic system of Norway fascinating, especially in light of this imaginative tale! If you are curious about the human obsession with gold, you can investigate on the history of Gold Reserves. Apart from these, if the mention of the Rockefeller got your attention, read further on the influential Rockefeller Family. Lastly, don’t miss out on understanding the implications of Bank failures which had a key role in our troll’s story. Happy reading!
