MGB MAGAZINE Issue 7, April 2015 | Page 8

the è è st QUESTS Be IN VIDEO GAMES A contract picked up in the bustling port town of Flotsam, Troll Trouble tasks Geralt with ridding the town of a dangerous troll who’s taken residence at a broken bridge on the town’s outskirts. On the way to the bridge, Geralt finds a man being attacked by a group of nekkers. After killing them, he learns that the man was sent by merchants from the port to find out what had happened at the bridge – it being the only on-land trade route out of Flotsam. The troll, it turns out, is an alcoholic, and he’s demanding vodka as a toll. The man also tells Geralt he can learn more about the creature from the village elder in Lobinden. After making his way to the village elder, Geralt learns that without the troll there wouldn’t be a bridge, so solving the problem peacefully would be more beneficial to the townsfolk and the roaming merchants. After heading back to the troll, Geralt tries to initiate a conversation, but the troll says, “No vodka, no passage,” and attacks him. Once Geralt has the upper hand, the troll cries, “No hit – I be good,” and breaks away, explaining that his “woman” was killed by some humans while he was minding the bridge. His mental wound can only be healed with vodka or vengeance. If Geralt decides to help the troll, he ends up taking part in gambling tournaments and underground fist fights, in an attempt to uncover the mystery. Eventually, Geralt finds the culprits and slays them, thus getting a reward from the troll and coaxing one from the village elder. Of course, Geralt could just slay the troll and have done with it, getting a smaller reward. A really devilish player might kill the troll after claiming the reward for vengeance, but most will likely spare him as he’s such a great character. The troll’s personality is what makes this quest so brilliant: its Eastern European accent, combined with his human-like vice are what stick in the mind. When you first pick up the contract to kill a troll, you never expect to find yourself warming to him. That’s why Troll Trouble deserves a place on this list, for subverting expectations. 8 mygeekbox.co.uk @mygeekbox è The Witcher 2: Troll Trouble