Hel

Hel (from Old Norse: hel, “underworld”) is a Jötunn in Norse mythology who presides over the chthonic realm of Helheimr, the afterlife for the deceased who did not qualify to reach Valhalla or Folkvangr.
Hel's emoji is "💀", representing the dead she presides over.
== Description ==
Hel (from Old Norse: hel, “underworld”) is a Jötunn in Norse mythology who presides over the chthonic realm of Helheimr, the afterlife for the deceased who did not qualify to reach Valhalla or Folkvangr. Hel is the youngest child of the trickster god Loki and his mistress Angrboða, the sister of the giants Fenrir and Jörmungandr, and the half-sister of the horse Sleipnir, and the twins Narfi and Váli.
Once the gods found that Loki and Angrboða’s children were being raised in the land of Jötunheimr and learned of prophecies that they would cause great mischief and disaster, Odin sent the gods to gather the children and bring them to him. Upon their arrival, Odin threw Jörmungandr into the ocean, they bound the wolf Fenrir and trapped him on the island of Lyngvi, and Odin threw Hel into Niflheimr where she would gain authority over those who died dishonorably from disease or old age.
The left side of Hel's body and face is heart-achingly beautiful, about twenty-five years old, with her ermine cloak shimmering like a snowdrift rippling in the wind. She has long dark hair and pale elven skin. The right side, however, is terrifyingly cadaverous; withered skin, a skeletal hand, and leg, patches of blue ice covering decayed flesh, membrane-thin lips over rotten teeth, a milky-white eye and tufts of desiccated hair like black spider webs. When presenting herself to mortals, she often uses illusory magic to hide her ghastly appearance. However, in almost every other circumstance, she is not afraid to show her true appearance.
Personality-wise, she is very kind and nurturing on the surface, but much like the rest of her family she always has an ulterior motive behind her honeyed words. She’s often described as more deceitful than her trickster father, Loki, being more likely to lead heroes astray. She takes pity on those who find themselves within the halls of her realm, albeit in a very twisted way, believing that they should’ve used their lives better. She often cares little for her children, claiming them immediately and occasionally leaving a gift to the ones she believes might be worth something in the future. The unfortunate few of her already sparse children who find their way into her realm after death are often tossed into Ginnungagap as if to spare them the suffering of undeath. She’s known to be annoyed with her children that deny or dishonor their heritage, and can physically cause them pain on their branding–another reason she often claims them early–when she desires, often when they’re being “disobedient” in her eyes.
== Claiming ==
Like other Jötunn, Hel claims her children by creating a branding of scar tissue on their body in the shape of a skull, always on the left side of their body corresponding with Hel’s “alive” side. The branding can be anywhere, but it’s commonly on the neck, hand, or shoulder blade. As stated above, their mother has the ability to telepathically create a burning sensation on their branding.
Hel tends to claim their children right after they die, since she has no love for them when they’re alive. However, should they somehow become aware of their powers or heritage before they die, she will claim them before death.
== Demigod Powers ==
=== Major Powers ===
==== …Of Life… (Major) ====
* As Hel is attested to be able–albeit unwilling–to raise the dead, such as with the case of the god Baldr, her children can use the left side of their body (the “living” side of their body) to produce radiant energy that can heal wounds. Due to the nature of the power revolving around life force, it doesn’t work on undead or otherwise non-living targets such as constructs.
* If a child of Hel has both “...Of Life…” and “...And Death…”, then they can only use one of the two powers at a time, and must wait a turn in between uses of the power before switching to the other one.
* Level 1-3: Children of Hel can take up to 12 turns to heal physical wounds, however they can end the power earlier. 5 turns will heal minor wounds, 8 turns will heal moderate wounds, and a full 12 turns will heal major wounds. Once they stop using the power, they can’t use it again for 15 turns.
* Level 4-6: Children of Hel can take up to 9 turns to heal physical wounds, however they can end the power earlier. 3 turns will heal minor wounds, 6 turns will heal moderate wounds, and a full 9 turns will heal major wounds. Once they stop using the power, they can’t use it again for 15 turns.
* Level 7-8: Children of Hel can take up to 7 turns to heal physical wounds, however they can end the power earlier. 2 turns will heal minor wounds, 5 turns will heal moderate wounds, and a full 7 turns will heal major wounds. Once they stop using the power, they can’t use it again for 15 turns.
* Level 8 Superpower: Using this superpower, a child of Hel can channel their healing energy into a beam that they can affect multiple targets in a 15 foot line with. At this superpower level, major wounds take only 3 turns to fully heal. This power lasts 9 turns and can be used once per day.
* If they have both “...Of Life…” and “...And Death…”, they can instead use a separate Level 8 Superpower that combines the effects of both superpowers into one, channeling both at the same time. The child of Hel can choose who to target with which effects. This can be used once every 3 days.
==== …And Death… (Major) ====
* Being the goddess of the dishonorable dead, a stark contrast to the more benevolent rulers of the dead Freyja and Odin, Hel can use the right side of their body (the “dead” side of their body) to produce necrotic energy that saps the vitality and life force from living creatures. Due to the nature of the power revolving around life force, it doesn’t work on undead or otherwise non-living targets such as constructs.
* If a child of Hel has both “...Of Life…” and “...And Death…”, then they can only use one of the two powers at a time, and must wait a turn in between uses of the power before switching to the other one.
* Level 1-3: Children of Hel can drain the life force from one person in a 5 foot radius of them. They can continuously do it for up to 12 turns, but they can end it early if needed. Draining the target’s life force will eventually cause them to fall asleep, but it cannot kill them. Once they stop using the power, they can’t use it again for 6 turns.
* Level 4-6: Children of Hel can drain the life force from one person in a 7 foot radius of them. They can continuously do it for up to 12 turns, but they can end it early if needed. Draining the target’s life force will eventually cause them to fall asleep, but it cannot kill them. Once they stop using the power, they can’t use it again for 6 turns.
* Level 7-8: Children of Hel can drain the life force from one person in a 10 foot radius of them. They can continuously do it for up to 12 turns, but they can end it early if needed. Draining the target’s life force will eventually cause them to fall asleep, but it cannot kill them. Once they stop using the power, they can’t use it again for 6 turns.
* Level 8 Superpower: Using this superpower, a child of Hel can channel their necrotic energy into a beam that they can affect multiple targets in a 15 foot line with. At this superpower level, the power can actually kill the target, though it takes at least 6 to do so. This power lasts 9 turns and can be used once per day.
* If they have both “...Of Life…” and “...And Death…”, they can instead use a separate Level 8 Superpower that combines the effects of both superpowers into one, channeling both at the same time. The child of Hel can choose who to target with which effects. This can be used once every 3 days.
=== Moderate Powers ===
==== Frigokinesis (Moderate) ====
* Users of Frigokinesis are able to create and manipulate small amounts of snow and bend it to their will, as long as it keeps the original surface area of the substance that’s being manipulated. They can create simple structures out of snow such as walls or ramps, or they can choose to cover an area in snow to create uneven terrain.
* Level 1: Users of Frigokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 3 foot cube of snow. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
* Level 2: Users of Frigokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 6 foot cube of snow. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
* Level 3: Users of Frigokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 9 foot cube of snow. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
* Level 4-6: Users of Frigokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 18 foot cube of snow. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
==== Nordic Necromancy (Moderate) ====
* In a mythology that revolves so strongly around the dead, it can often be hard to think of the concept of “necromancy”. The einherjar are dead, so necromancy would be weird for them. However, children of Hel are able to use a form of necromancy that allows them to temporarily (and violently) ensnare a lost soul from their mother’s realm of Helheim and bend them to their will.
* Level 1-3: At this level, the user can summon a lost soul for 3 turns at a time. The lost soul can carry out basic tasks that do not require them to interact with objects (people are fine, they just can’t hurt them). They can do this once every 6 turns.
* Level 4-6: At this level, the user can summon a lost soul for 5 turns at a time. The lost soul can carry out basic tasks that do not require them to interact with objects (people are fine, they just can’t hurt them). They can do this once every 7 turns.
* Moderate Degree: At this level, children of Hel can choose to enthrall a full-fledged Draugr. The Draugr uses the same rules as what can be found in our monster information. The Draugr remains for 6 turns or until it’s killed. They can do this once a day. Alternatively, they can continue to summon lost souls as usual.
==== Cryokinesis (Moderate/Minor) ====
* Users of Cryokinesis are able to create and manipulate small amounts of ice and bend them to their will, as long as it keeps the original surface area of the substance that’s being manipulated. They can create simple structures out of ice such as walls, spikes, and even some blunt weapons or tools.
* Level 1: Users of Cryokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 1 foot cube of ice. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
* Level 2: Users of Cryokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 2 foot cube of ice. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
* Level 3: Users of Cryokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 3 foot cube of ice. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
* Level 4-6: Users of Cryokinesis are able to create and manipulate a 6 foot cube of ice. Doing so drains them physically, and overextension can lead to exhaustion and fainting.
=== Minor Powers ===
==== Hoarfrost (Minor) ====
* Children of Hel always give off a vapor cloud when they breathe from their mouth. However, this cloud can have magical properties.
* Passive: Children of Hel always give off a vapor cloud when they breathe. This is how their power activates.
* Level 1: Children of Hel can lower the temperature of objects that their breath touches, eventually reaching freezing if they try hard enough.
* Level 2: Their breath now immediately coats things in ice crystals, which makes objects very cold and can cause distractions in enemies… I guess… If you blow in their eyes or something… Gross…
* Level 3: Their breath can now be channeled once every 3 turns to be a large blast of magic, affecting a 15 foot cone.
==== Rebirth (Minor) ====
* Children of Hel can bring themselves back from the dead using their influence over the cycle of life and death. Doing so is disorienting for the Child of Hel, so it’s (obviously) a last resort. Every rebirth has a cost. If they are injured while resurrecting themselves, the power fails and they die, unable to reattempt it.
* Level 1: Children of Hel can resurrect themselves within 3 turns of them being incapacitated at the cost of 1 level of any power. They are brought back at 100% torpidity, requiring them to take some time before getting back into the fight. They can only do this once per month.
* Level 2: Children of Hel can resurrect themselves within 3 turns of them being incapacitated at the cost of 1 level of any power or within 5 turns at the cost of 1 level tier (Level 4-6 goes to Level 1-3) of any power. They are brought back at 75% torpidity, allowing them to at least reposition and/or run away from the fight. They can only do this once every 3 months.
* Level 3: Children of Hel can resurrect themselves within 5 turns of them being incapacitated at the cost of 1 level of any power or within 7 turns at the cost of 1 level tier (Level 4-6 goes to Level 1-3) of any power. They are brought back at 50% torpidity, allowing them to get back in the fight right away if needed. They can only do this once every 3 months.
==== Black Thumb (Minor) ====
* Children of Hel have a cold, unfriendly touch that causes plants to wither and rot under their touch.
* Passive: Children of Hel are completely incapable of cultivating normal plants, they simply die within 24 hours of the child of Hel handling them. Magical plants are slightly more lenient, but their relationship has to be a little long-distance.
* Level 1: Children of Hel can cause up to 1 cubic foot of plant matter to rot over the course of 3 turns as long as they’re making physical contact with it. This cannot affect magical plants or plants grown with magic.
* Level 2: The range the child of Hel can affect is now 2 cubic feet every 3 turns, and they can now affect magical plants, but still not plants grown with magic.
* Level 3: The range the child of Hel can affect is now 3 cubic feet every 3 turns, and they can now affect all plants, regardless of how they were grown.
==== Soul Phase (Minor) ====
* Children of Hel can temporarily turn the right side of their body intangible to avoid incoming attacks. Since they can only turn the right–“dead”–side of their body intangible, it leaves them still vulnerable to attacks that target their left side or would continue from their right side into their left side. In short: this really only defends against “that was close” moments.
* Level 1: Children of Hel can avoid an attack on the right side of their body once every 10 turns.
* Level 2: Children of Hel can avoid an attack on the right side of their body once every 9 turns.
* Level 3: Children of Hel can avoid an attack on the right side of their body once every 8 turns.
==== Death Mist (Minor) ====
* Children of Hel can cloak themselves and others in a “death mist” that clouds the vision of anything that would detect life. For example, to pass into Hel uncontested, one must be among the dishonored dead, so the Death Mist will assist that.
* Level 1: Children of Hel can cloak up to 3 people (including or excluding themself) for 3 turns at a time. They can do this once per day.
* Level 2: Children of Hel can cloak up to 4 people (including or excluding themself) for 3 turns at a time. They can do this once per day.
* Level 3: Children of Hel can cloak up to 5 people (including or excluding themself) for 3 turns at a time. They can do this once per day.
=== Given Powers ===
==== The Ebb and Flow… (Given) ====
* In certain circumstances, children of Hel appear as if they’re being viewed with an x-ray overlaid on their original body; fusing the two in a strange macabre. This happens when lightning flashes, in temperatures below 0° Fahrenheit (always in Niflheimr and Helheimr), and rarely when particularly anxious or emotional.
==== Half ‘n’ Half (Given) ====
* Children of Hel are often warm and lively on their left side, as a normal person is, but tend to be slightly colder on their right side, which is their mother’s “dead” side.
==== Age Like Milk (Given) ====
* Children of Hel often age very quickly. Some folks you’d ask “you’re 40?!” because they look so young. These are the types you’d ask “you’re 40?!” because they’re going silver.
==== Accustomed (Given) ====
* Children of Hel can withstand extreme drops in temperature without entering shock. Low temperatures still affect them negatively in the long term.
==== Doorman (Given) ====
* If Children of Hel happen to enter Helheimr, the giantess Móðguðr–who protects the bridge to Helheimr–will not attack them or prevent them from entering. This only applies, though, if nobody else is with them. If they bring guests, they’re treated as normal intruders.
==== They Didn’t Make It… (Given) ====
* Children of Hel cannot tell when people die, especially after making it to Valhalla, but they can sense whether or not a person is in Hel if they are given a full name and focus on it.
== Trivia ==
* Contributors to Hel:
** Karma (Creator)