Kettil Runske.[1](#xd32e1429)
by Herman Hofberg · from Swedish fairy tales
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Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there were two kings. They lived on a pretty island. They had a big argument. It was about their land. One king lived north. The other king lived south.
The King of the North wanted more land. He asked Gilbertil the Digging Troll. Gilbertil was a big, strong Troll. The king asked him to dig a ditch. This ditch would split the island. It would make two parts.
Gilbertil the Digging Troll started to dig. He made a very long hole. The hole went under the ground. He dug and dug. He made much noise.
The King of the South heard the noise. He knew Gilbertil was digging. He did not like this. He asked Kettil the Strong Troll. Kettil was a big Troll. He could stop Gilbertil.
Kettil the Strong Troll came to the island. He rode in a small boat. The boat felt very heavy. It sank low in water. No one could see Kettil. He was invisible.
Kettil the Strong Troll found Gilbertil. Gilbertil was digging a big hole. Kettil stood over him. Kettil told Gilbertil to stop. He said, 'Stop digging now!'
Gilbertil did not listen. He kept digging his hole. He made a funny face. He would not stop digging. He thought Kettil was silly.
Kettil the Strong Troll held his stick. It was a magic stick. He held it up high. Gilbertil tried to catch it. He reached out his hands.
But the magic stick was tricky. Gilbertil's hands got stuck. His feet got stuck too. Even his mouth got stuck. He could not move. He was stuck tight.
Gilbertil was stuck to the stick. Kettil the Strong Troll put him down. He put Gilbertil in the big hole. This was the hole Gilbertil dug. He went down, down, down.
Now, Gilbertil the Digging Troll stays there. He stays in that big hole. He cannot get out. People see the hole today. They call it Gilbertil's hole. He is very quiet there.
Original Story
Kettil Runske.1
On the island of Vising, in Lake Vetter, there lived in olden times, two mighty kings, the one in Näsbo and the other in the castle of Borga, at opposite extremities of the island. A controversy arising about the division of land, the King of Näsbo consulted a Troll named Gilbertil, who lived in the parish of Ölmstad, in Östergötland, and engaged him to dig a ditch through the island, thus dividing it into two parts. Gilbertil undertook the work, and began digging at Näs, where a deep pit, even to this day, is pointed out as marking the spot. When the king of Borga became aware of this, he sent an invitation to Kettil Runske, another notorious Troll man who lived in the parish of Habo, in Vestergötland. Kettil Runske accepted the invitation, and at once set out for the island with the returning messengers, to whom his presence on the boat, though he was invisible, was made known because of the boat being borne down into the water to its gunwale. They were also made aware of his departure from them, when they neared the castle, by the sudden rising of the boat as if relieved of a heavy burden.
To accomplish his undertaking, Gilbertil intended, apparently, to make an underground canal from shore to shore of the island, and allow the water to complete the excavation, and had already progressed to a point just north of Kumlaby, about half way through the island, when Kettil discovered his whereabouts, and opening the grounds above him commanded Gilbertil to cease digging. Gilbertil met the command with mockery and scorn, whereupon Kettil threw his Troll staff at him. Gilbertil intercepted the missile in the air, but his hands clove to the staff so that he could not free them. In the effort to release himself he endeavored to break it with his feet, but they also stuck to it. In extreme rage he then attempted to tear himself loose with his teeth, which also became fastened. Thus bound, hands, feet and mouth, Kettil threw him into the deep hole which is now to be seen in the meadow of Kumlaby, and which has received the name of Gilbertil’s hole.
1 Commissioned by Governor Lindehkelm and Doctor Urban Hiarne, Bailiff Girs, of Tveta, in the province of Jönköping, went to Vising Island in the year 1705, for the purpose of learning whether or no any trace of the Giant’s work yet remained.
Arriving at the island he applied to three aged and trustworthy men, from each of whom he received the same narration that has here been presented. Accompanied by these men he went by sea along the eastern coast of the island until he reached a high bluff, situated between the villages of Näs and Stiby, and about a third of a mile south of Visingborg. Here were actually two holes about fifty feet distant from each other. Into these holes three men crept, Policeman Nils Runske into one, and two peasants into the other. After creeping on hands and knees some feet they found it possible to walk upright for about thirty-four feet when the three met, the two tunnels here continuing in a single passage, which they were not able to penetrate beyond a few feet, because of the foul air. The passage was six feet high and eight feet wide, but said to have been much larger seventy years earlier. Later Girs was shown a sunken place or bog which extended from the aforementioned bluff inland three-eighths of a mile and terminated at the hole in Kumlaby meadow, where it is supposed Gilbertil is imprisoned. As late as the beginning of the eighteenth century the story was so generally credited that few or none could be found who were not entirely convinced that Gilbertil was still, by some devilish power, alive and laboring to free himself from his imprisonment. ↑
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Two kings on Vising island dispute land, leading the King of Näsbo to hire the Troll Gilbertil to dig a dividing ditch. Gilbertil begins an underground canal, but the King of Borga counters by summoning the powerful Troll Kettil Runske. Kettil confronts Gilbertil, who mocks him, leading Kettil to bind Gilbertil completely with his enchanted staff and imprison him in the very hole he was digging. The story concludes with a historical account from 1705, verifying the existence of the holes and a bog, solidifying the legend of Gilbertil's ongoing imprisonment.
Themes
Emotional Arc
conflict to resolution
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story includes a historical note from 1705, detailing an actual expedition to verify the physical locations mentioned, lending a pseudo-historical credibility to the folk tale.
Plot Beats (12)
- Two kings on Vising island are in a land dispute.
- The King of Näsbo hires Gilbertil, a Troll, to dig a ditch to divide the island.
- Gilbertil begins digging an underground canal from Näs.
- The King of Borga learns of Gilbertil's work and sends for Kettil Runske, another powerful Troll.
- Kettil Runske travels to the island, his invisible presence weighing down the boat.
- Kettil locates Gilbertil, who is digging near Kumlaby, and orders him to stop.
- Gilbertil mocks Kettil's command.
- Kettil throws his Troll staff at Gilbertil, which Gilbertil intercepts.
- Gilbertil's hands, feet, and mouth become stuck to the staff as he tries to break free.
- Kettil throws the bound Gilbertil into the deep hole he had been digging.
- The hole, now known as Gilbertil's hole, marks his imprisonment.
- A later expedition in 1705 verifies the existence of these holes and a sunken bog, confirming the local legend.
Characters
Kettil Runske ★ protagonist
Massive and immensely heavy, capable of sinking a boat to its gunwales by his invisible presence alone. His true form is not explicitly described, but his strength and size are superhuman.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but implied to be simple and functional, befitting a powerful, ancient being from the Swedish countryside. Perhaps roughspun tunic and trousers, or a cloak of animal hide.
Wants: To fulfill the King of Borga's request and stop Gilbertil's destructive digging, asserting his dominance over other Trolls.
Flaw: His quick temper and reliance on brute force, though effective, could be seen as a lack of subtlety.
He acts as a force of nature, resolving the conflict by overpowering his rival. His character does not change significantly within the narrative.
Decisive, powerful, unyielding, and quick to anger when defied. He is a problem-solver, albeit a forceful one.
Image Prompt & Upload
A towering, broad-shouldered male figure with rough, craggy skin, deep-set eyes, and a stern expression. He has long, dark, tangled hair and a thick, braided beard. He wears a simple, dark brown tunic made of coarse wool, cinched with a leather belt, and dark, sturdy trousers. His posture is powerful and unyielding, holding a thick, gnarled wooden staff in one hand. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Gilbertil ⚔ antagonist
Not explicitly described, but implied to be of significant size and strength, capable of digging a massive ditch. His hands, feet, and mouth are strong enough to attempt breaking a Troll staff.
Attire: Not explicitly described, but likely practical and rugged for digging, perhaps simple, earth-toned garments or animal hides, consistent with a Troll living in the Swedish countryside.
Wants: To fulfill the King of Näsbo's commission to dig a ditch and divide the island, likely for payment or to assert his own power.
Flaw: His arrogance and inability to recognize superior power, leading to his entrapment. His rage also blinds him.
He begins as an active worker, confident in his task, but is decisively defeated and imprisoned, becoming a static, suffering figure.
Stubborn, mocking, scornful, and prone to extreme rage when thwarted. He is persistent in his work but lacks the ultimate power to overcome Kettil Runske.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, stocky male figure with a broad, flat nose, small, beady eyes, and a wide, sneering mouth. His skin is rough and earthy, with patches of moss-like growth. He has short, coarse, dark green hair and a scraggly beard. He wears a simple, tattered tunic of dark grey linen and rough, patched trousers, covered in dirt. His posture is defiant and enraged, with his hands, feet, and mouth appearing to be stuck to an invisible object, struggling to break free. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
King of Näsbo ○ minor
Not explicitly described, but as a king in olden times on a Swedish island, he would likely be of sturdy build, perhaps with a beard, reflecting a Norse or early medieval appearance.
Attire: As a king, he would wear garments appropriate for a Norse or early medieval Swedish monarch: a tunic of wool or linen, possibly embroidered, with a cloak fastened by a brooch, and perhaps a simple crown or circlet.
Wants: To gain more land by dividing the island and resolve the controversy with the King of Borga in his favor.
Flaw: Relies on external, potentially dangerous, magical forces (Trolls) to achieve his goals.
A static character who initiates the conflict but does not change.
Assertive, strategic (in seeking Troll assistance), and determined to win his land dispute.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged male figure of sturdy build, with a neatly trimmed brown beard and long, straight brown hair reaching his shoulders. He has clear, grey eyes and a firm expression. He wears a knee-length tunic of forest green wool, embroidered with simple knotwork patterns at the collar and cuffs, over linen trousers. A heavy, dark red wool cloak is draped over his shoulders, fastened with a silver brooch depicting a raven. A simple, polished bronze circlet rests on his head. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
King of Borga ○ minor
Not explicitly described, but as a king in olden times on a Swedish island, he would likely be of sturdy build, perhaps with a beard, reflecting a Norse or early medieval appearance.
Attire: As a king, he would wear garments appropriate for a Norse or early medieval Swedish monarch: a tunic of wool or linen, possibly embroidered, with a cloak fastened by a brooch, and perhaps a simple crown or circlet.
Wants: To stop Gilbertil's digging and prevent the division of the island, thus protecting his land and power.
Flaw: Relies on external, potentially dangerous, magical forces (Trolls) to achieve his goals.
A static character who responds to the conflict but does not change.
Observant, proactive (in seeking Kettil's help), and determined to protect his interests.
Image Prompt & Upload
A middle-aged male figure of sturdy build, with a neatly trimmed blonde beard and long, braided blonde hair. He has piercing blue eyes and a resolute expression. He wears a knee-length tunic of deep blue wool, embroidered with silver thread at the collar and cuffs, over linen trousers. A heavy, grey wolf-fur cloak is draped over his shoulders, fastened with a large, ornate silver brooch. A simple, polished bronze circlet rests on his head. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Lake Vättern
A large, deep lake surrounding the island of Vising, with cold, clear waters. The surface reflects the sky, and the shores are likely rocky or forested, typical of a Swedish lake.
Mood: Vast, ancient, and slightly mysterious, as it holds an island of powerful beings.
Kettil Runske travels across the lake to Vising Island, his invisible presence weighing down the boat.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, serene view of a large, deep lake in Sweden, with the distant, tree-covered shores of Vising Island visible. The water is dark and reflective under a pale, overcast sky, with subtle ripples on the surface. A small, simple wooden rowboat, slightly submerged to its gunwales, cuts a path across the water, leaving a faint wake. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Näsbo
One of the two royal residences on Vising Island, where the King of Näsbo lives. It is the starting point of Gilbertil's ditch, marked by a deep pit.
Mood: Ancient, royal, and a place of conflict initiation.
Gilbertil begins digging his ditch here at the behest of the King of Näsbo.
Image Prompt & Upload
A deep, freshly dug pit in the earth, marking the beginning of a massive, unnatural trench cutting into a grassy, slightly undulating landscape on a Swedish island. The soil around the pit is dark and disturbed, contrasting with the surrounding green meadow. In the distance, hints of ancient, simple wooden structures or a small, fortified dwelling, typical of early medieval Scandinavia, are visible under a clear, bright sky. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Kumlaby Meadow and Gilbertil's Hole
A meadow on Vising Island, north of Kumlaby, where Gilbertil was digging his underground canal. It features a deep hole, now known as Gilbertil's Hole, where he was imprisoned.
Mood: Eerie, ancient, and a site of magical imprisonment.
Kettil Runske confronts Gilbertil here, binds him with his staff, and throws him into the deep hole.
Image Prompt & Upload
A vast, verdant meadow on a Swedish island, bathed in soft, diffused daylight. In the center, a perfectly circular, unnaturally deep hole plunges into the earth, its edges sharp and distinct against the surrounding green grass. The soil around the rim is dark and freshly disturbed, suggesting recent, powerful excavation. A faint, low-lying mist might cling to the ground near the hole, adding to the mysterious atmosphere. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Underground Tunnel System (Gilbertil's Work)
A subterranean passage, six feet high and eight feet wide, initially much larger, dug by Gilbertil. It extends from a bluff between Näs and Stiby inland towards Kumlaby meadow, eventually becoming a single passage. The air inside is foul.
Mood: Claustrophobic, dark, ancient, and oppressive.
Policeman Nils Runske and two peasants explore this ancient, man-made tunnel, confirming the legend of Gilbertil's work.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dark, claustrophobic underground tunnel, roughly six feet high and eight feet wide, carved directly through the earth. The walls are uneven, showing the marks of ancient, powerful digging, with exposed soil and small stones. A faint, cool blue light from a distant opening or a magical source barely illuminates the path ahead, highlighting the dampness and the oppressive, heavy air. The ground is uneven and muddy. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
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