Tales of Folk and Fairies

Ashipattle is a modest lad who spends his days gathering firewood, sweeping the byre, and entertaining his kind sister with tall tales of trolls, giants and daring heroes. Though his older brothers treat him poorly, his upbeat spirit and vivid imagination keep him warm by the ashes, and his stories hint at a world where even the lowliest can become brave.

When a colossal sea‑monster called the Meester Stoorworm rises, darkening the horizon with its fiery eye and poisonous breath, the kingdom plunges into panic. The King’s finest sword, Snickersnapper, cannot pierce the beast, and counsel offers no solution—until a despised sorcerer proposes a chilling sacrifice. The ruler then issues a bold proclamation: anyone who can drive the worm away will win Princess Gemlovely, half the realm, and the legendary sword, and will inherit the throne after the king’s death. The call sparks a mix of panic and daring among those who hear it, setting the stage for an adventure where courage and cleverness must confront a fearsome, slumbering danger.