Find a kynnys on the surface, then open it only with the Portal Page whose word matches that kynnykset's destination word. Inside, choose between returning to the entry point and taking an alternate exit; most alternate exits require an item or condition.

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How Players Reach a Dungeon

  • Find a kynnys on the surface; they are solitary stone arches scattered across the islands.
  • Check the Portal Page the player is carrying. If the page's word matches the kynnykset's destination word, the passage opens.
  • If the words do not match, the kynnys stays closed and the player has to keep searching the archipelago for the correct page.
  • The largest kynnys fights are reserved for the full release; the demo only teases the portal system.

Dungeon Identities

Different dungeons carry distinct identities that change what the player should expect inside:

  • Mystery — focused on discovery and lore reveals.
  • Tension — hostile encounters stacked into tighter spaces.
  • Survival — resource drain and stat pressure on top of the combat loop.
  • Prior human presence — dungeons built around remains, signs, or structures left by earlier visitors.

Each dungeon identity changes the pacing inside but does not change the rule that the kynnys must be opened with the right Portal Page.

Alternate Exits Inside Dungeons

  • Inside any dungeon, the player is given a choice between returning to the entry point and taking an alternate exit.
  • Most alternate exits require an additional item or condition before they activate, so trying to push through without preparation usually fails.
  • An unlocked alternate exit can move the player to a new surface location, which then feeds back into the bridge-and-kynnys layer of the map.
  • If a dungeon ends in a dead end, retreat to the entry point is always available; it is not a soft-lock unless the player is out of healing items or potions.

Why Dungeons Exist on the Map

  • They are the gameplay answer to broken borders between the human realm and the Kalevala realm; the player's job is to resolve them and rebuild those borders.
  • Each dungeon sits where the borders have broken down, so dungeon locations cluster where the forest shows corruption, hostile spirit activity, or worsened Lykky.
  • Reaching a dungeon also requires the Lykky balance to be healthy enough to survive the dungeon's stat drain; players who enter on empty Hunger, Thirst, Sleep, or Temperature will struggle.
Among the Trolls Rituals: Cupstone Altars and Kynnys DoorsRituals in Among the Trolls are the player's tools for restoring Lykky, keeping the borders between the human realm and the mythological realm intact, and unlocking the dungeon network behind the kynnykset. There are three ritual practices in the game: cupstone offerings, kynnys openings, and Vaki-aligned potion brewing.Among the Trolls Map: Archipelago, Bridges and KynnyksetThe Among the Trolls map is a forested Finnish archipelago rendered in first person, split into two layers: a surface forest overworld that goes on across many islands, and a network of ancient dungeons that branch off from it.Among the Trolls Magic and Luck: Vaki and Lykky ExplainedThe magic and luck system in Among the Trolls is a single coupled balance between Vaki and Lykky. Both are ancient, animistic forces that the player must keep aligned to survive, and neither behaves as a stand-alone meter: Vaki actions nudge Lykky, and Lykky in turn changes how effective the world's resources and creatures are.Among the Trolls Combat Against Supernatural Creatures GuideCombat against supernatural creatures in Among the Trolls is distinct from regular hunting. The supernatural enemies are the mythological figures of the Kalevala tradition — they adapt to the player, attack in packs or ambushes, and appear where the borders between the human realm and the mythological realm have broken down.