Norse mythology

**Nordic or Norse mythology** is the mythology of three similar races of humans: the Norse (of the *Collectionverse*); the Nordiskar (of Jerde and the *Rabydosverse*); and the Vetarbroitar and their Norse ancestors (of the *Rinnarverse*).

## Main gods

### Aesir

The gods of civilisation. The worship of the Aesir gods is known as Ásatrú, the "path of the Aesir gods". It, like Vanatru, is basically the same.

* Odin - the king of the gods; and the capricious god of wisdom, medicine, war, runes, healing, royalty, the gallows and death. Having lost an eye to gain much wisdom, he sometimes wanders and scouts the world as an old man in a pointed hat. He is accompanied by two ravens, Huginn and Muninn.
	+ His quests for knowledge inspired a nation of Rannariskar, Baesorja, to devote themselves to science and technological advancement.
	+ It also led to many of his worshippers in the Galaxy to tend to be scientists and researchers - with scientific research itself as an act of worship to him!
	+ Odin is treated as one of the highest gods in Novantirna mythology, where he is also worshipped there as the god of science and mysteries. The odhal rune, a symbol of Odin, was modified among the Malendors into an eye, used by its holy warriors in crusades against tyrants and demons.
	+ To honour Odin, Malendors never damage eyes, as the eye is also a symbol of Odin. Losing an eye is considered a sign of divine favour; but damaging one's own eye is considered cursing at Odin and rejecting him. This is why Igarins and Kuelgons mutilate the eyes of Malendor prisoners, sacrificial victims, and slain troops, to curse their enemies and the gods that they worship and love.
	+ One of his symbols is the valknut, a triangular knot that represents death; his power to bind and unbind warriors' minds with fear, courage, and rage; and eternity.
* Frigg - the queen of the gods; and the goddess of foresight and wisdom.
* Thor - the red-bearded, brash god of war. He rides on a chariot pulled by goats. The husband of Sif.
	+ People use his symbol, the mjolnir, as an emblem of their devotion to the Norse gods and a protective charm against evil beings.
	+ He also loves to drink, and he likes to go with ordinary people. His association with craftsmen also made him the god of engineers.
* Heimdall - the bright god who guards the gate to Asgard.
	+ Because he was described as the "whitest" of the Gods, he is often seen as a very bright being who can blind anyone who sees him. Even Baldr, his brother who also shines, and the radiant Celestials must cover their eyes or turn their faces to avoid being blinded.
	+ In Galactic folklore, this causes him to be interpreted as a god of fire. He is also depicted as a man wreathed in flames due to a mistranslation of his descriptions.
* Tyr - the god of war. His hand or arm was eaten by Fenrir, the great wolf.
	+ The Freyrgardians and some Norse peoples of Jerde venerate him as the god of chivalry and order.
* Baldr - the god of light and beauty. He was killed by Loki with a mistletoe arrow or spear. The husband of Nanna.
	+ According to Rannarisk folklore, Baldr also led an army against various monsters and demons. He also sits with other heroes and ancestors at a hall in Helheim, hosted by the goddess Hel.
	+ In the Eighth Age, the warrior Bannar declared himself as a descendant of Baldr, and led an army of various human races against the alien Aspuruks. In honour of his deeds, people from other countries revered Baldr as a god of heroes and monster-slayers, and they sought to emulate him and become heroes. They also formed knightly orders in honour of the god.
	+ When the Freyrgardians first encountered the Epadwaranai and explained about their culture to them, many of the Epadwaranai chose Baldr as their icon because their bodies shined like him. And when the Freyrgardians answered that Baldr was in the underworld, they turned towards Forseti and assumed that Forseti would shine like his father.
	+ One of his symbols is the mayweed flower, which reflects his light.
* Nanna - the wife of Baldr.
	+ Popular among women warriors on Jerde as their counterpart to Baldr, a goddess of justice.
* Forseti - the god of justice. He is the son of Baldr and Nanna.
	+ Some Norse folk on Jerde venerate him as their patron, whether of knightly orders or guards.
* Bragi - the god of poetry and skalds (poets). The husband of Idunn.
	+ In later times, Bragi is revered as the god of art and music.
* Rán - the goddess of the sea. She receives those who die at sea into her underwater hall. The wife of Ægir.
	+ In Hothro, the word for "water" (rán) was derived from her name.
* Ullr - the god of hunting.
	+ Popular among the Besotrosk minority that lives at eastern Marnos.
* Sól - the goddess of the sun.
* Máni - the god of the moon.
* Gefjun - the goddess who ploughed the land, and a bringer of happiness. She also represents foresight.
* Váli - the half-giant son of Odin and Rindr, he grew to adulthood within a day to kill Höðr and avenge his brother Baldr. He later ties up Loki using the entrails of the latter's son, Narfi.
* Víðarr - the god of vengeance and herders.
	+ Revered in Hothro alongside Forseti, Frey, Bragi, and Rán; who represent justice, livestock, songs, and water, four important resources in their desert home.
* Vili - the god of willpower and sense.
	+ A popular deity in Daleskarnia who represents fervour and activity.
* Ve - the god of sanctity and appearance.
	+ A popular deity in Daleskarnia who represents commitment and focus.
* Meili, Nepr, Váli, Hildólfr, Sigi, Skjöld, Ítreksjóð, and Sæmingr - the other sons of Odin, the princes of Asgard.
	+ In the Rabydosverse, Ítreksjóð was venerated in the Celestial Empire as the patron god of robots. He was supposedly the deity that turned Lumbariz into another god.
	+ Meili is a god of travellers, like his father Odin.

### Vanir

The gods of nature and wildness. The worship of the Vanir gods is known as Vanatrú, the "path of the Vanir gods". It, like Asatru, is basically the same.

* Njörðr, Njörd - the god of the sea, wealth, seafaring, wind, fishing, and crop fertility. The husband of Skadi.
	+ He and Skadi have two children, Freyr and Freyja.
	+ Sailors invoke him to calm the seas and help fishermen.
	+ He likes bays, seagulls, and swans.
	+ In Novantir religion, Njordr is also the god of good luck.
* Freyr - the god of holy kings, war, virility, peace, fertility, prosperity, good weather, and good harvest. The ancestor of several royal dynasties. The husband of the giantess Gerðr.
	+ The ancient kings of Sweden and Freyrgard/Daleskarnia claim descent from him.
* Freyja - goddess of love, gold, fertility, beauty, and seidr magic. She rides on a chariot pulled by cats. Half of all warriors who die are chosen by her to go to the field of Folkvangr. The wife of Óðr.
	+ Popular in Rukthan as the goddess of luck, cats, lions, and tigers. Some Rukthaneh bring their pets to temples of Freyja, to ask her to bless them.
* Óðr - the god of song and fury. The husband of Freyja.
	+ They have two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi.
* Sif - the goddess of corn and fertility. The wife of Thor.
* Idunn - the goddess of youth and spring, who looks after a tree of golden apples that keeps the gods young. The wife of Bragi.
* Ægir - the god of the sea. The husband of Ran.

### Jötnar

A race of giants who delight in chaos and disorder. However, some jotnar are not destructive, but rather friendly and helpful.

The singular term for one of the jotnar is "jotunn".

* Loki - a giant who has become the god of mischief and chaos.
	+ He has several children from his many wives, including: Hel, Sleipnir, Jormungandr, Fenrir, and Narfi.
	+ His hatred of the Aesir gods stemmed from his envy and due to them killing his wife and locking his son Fenrir.
	+ While the Jerdiskar Norse see him as an evil monster, the Rinnarverse Norse hate him as the god of all evil.
	+ In the Galaxy, he is known as "Loskar", a bringer of chaos and ruin.
* Skadi - the giant-goddess of bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains. The wife of Njörðr.
	+ The Heronoi are afraid of her because she is a winter goddess, and winter is associated with the vampires that they fear the most. They believe that she leads armies of vampires who march from the northern ice wastes, seeking victims to slay and devour.
* Gerðr - the wife of Freyr.
* Mímir - a wise jotunn whose head was cut off by Odin to acquire his wisdom. He used to keep a pool where he gained his great knowledge, and after he was beheaded during a war against the Vanir, Odin preserved his head and brought it back to life so he would consult with it.
* Rindr - one of Odin's wives. From their union Váli was born.
* Logi - a fire jotunn who is the brother of Aegir and the wind god Kari. He has a wife, Glöð, who bore him his daughters Eisa and Eimyrja.
	+ Not to *ever* be confused with Loki.
	+ Some Norse peoples of Jerde venerate him as their god of the forge.
* Hel - the goddess of the underworld. She looks half blue and half alive. She receives those who pass away, and her realm was said to be a pleasant realm.
	+ *Not* to be confused with "hell".
	+ Some non-Nordic peoples depict Hel as a warrior queen, defending her cold realm from the invasions of hellish demons.
	+ In the Rabydosverse, most people do not fear her, but they see her as a guardian of the righteous.
* Móðguðr - the guardian of the bridge to Helheim. She is a powerful warrior.
	+ To some Norse peoples in the Rabydosverse, she leads the righteous into paradise.
* Jormungandr - a great serpent. One of the children of Loki.
* Fenrir - a great wolf. One of the children of Loki, he will kill Odin in Ragnarok.

### Other beings

* The Norns - three goddesses -- Urðr, Verðandi and Skuld -- who determine the lives and fates of all living beings, including the gods.
	+ In Pelarin, because Skuld represents the future, she is also worshipped as the goddess of technology and science.
* Hárr, Jafnhárr, and Þriði - three strange men on tall thrones, each above the other, in a magical palace where the ancient king Gylfi sought answers. All of them were actually manifestations of Odin.

## Minor characters

* Sleipnir - an eight-legged horse who is Odin's steed.
	+ In Marnos, he has become a popular character among children, nerds, and horse-owners; to the extent that a cartoon, an arcade game, and a toy franchise were created for a character based on him.
	+ In the Galaxy, Norse civilisations cloned six or eight-legged horses as sacred steeds in honour of Sleipnir and his master, Odin.
* Sköll and Hati - giant wolves that pursue the Sun and Moon. Once they eat them, Ragnarok begins and the universe ends.
	+ In Marnos, Sköll is "commemorated" as "Skolt": an anthropomorphic wolf who rides on a horse, and as an interjection.

* Fenrir - a great wolf who is one of Loki's monstrous children.
* Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór - four male deer that gnaw on Yggdrasil's leaves and branches. The morning dew in the branches pours to create the rivers of the world.
* Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri - four dwarves who carry the sky formed by Ymir's skull. They represent the north, south, east, and west.
* Nidhogg - a great antlered dragon that devours evil people in Nastrond.

### Human characters

* Gylfi - one of the earliest kings in ancient Scandinavia.
	+ After taking land to create the island of Zealand and Lake Vanern in Sweden, he visited a strange palace as he wanted to know more about the gods' magic and the nature of the world. He met three kings, all of which were actually manifestations of Odin.
	+ Some time after his passing, Odin ruled over the ancient Scandinavians.

## Other beings

* vættir - the wights or spirits who inhabit the land and any natural feature within it. The gods (both Aesir and Vanir) and jötnar are also counted as vættir.
	+ landvættir - land wights or spirits.
	+ fjallvættir - mountain wights or spirits.
	+ sjóvættir - sea wights or spirits.
	+ skogvættir - forest wights or spirits.
	+ vatnavættir - water wights or spirits.
	+ húsvættir - house wights, spirits, and guardians.
* dísir - female ancestors; the great mothers.
* einherjar - warriors chosen by the war god Odin as his army of champions and knights. After their deaths, they are taken by the valkyries to Valhalla, where they are trained for the future war of Ragnarok. They are trained every day to fight at the golden hall of Valhalla, and whenever they are killed, they are revived at the next morning. Some einherjar ride with Odin in the Wild Hunt, in pursuit of some beast or demons to slay.
* valkyries - warrior women who serve as Odin's knights. They bring the warriors chosen by Odin who die in battle into Valhalla where they are trained. They are also notorious for hunting the living for sport, hence their association as the bringers of death.
	+ According to Norse folklore, the aurorae lights in the sky are a sign of the valkyries' presence, as light shining from their armour.
* álfar - elves. They are like humans, but more powerful and magical.
	+ dökkálfar - dark elves. They live underground and have very dark skin. They also enjoy causing mischief.
	+ ljósálfar - bright elves. They live in Alfheim under the wise rule of the god Freyr, and have very light skin.
	+ svartálfar - black elves. It is unsure whether are they related to the dökkálfar and/or dvergar or not.
* dvergar - dwarves. Short people who live underground and enjoy mining minerals and metals.
* vörðr - a spirit that follows every person from their birth to their death. Some believe that the vörðr advises people to make better choices, while other believe they protect people from danger.
* draugar - the cursed dead, bound either by curses or strong emotions against the living. They can only be defeated by wrestling.
* risi - another race of giants alongside the jotnar. Possibly wilder than the jotnar.
* thurs - a monstrous race of giants, considered too dangerous even to other jotnar.

## Locations

### Nine Realms, Nine Worlds

The Níu Heimar are nine realms or dimensions in Norse mythology, supported by the cosmic tree of Yggdrasil.

* 1: Ásgarðr, Asgard, \*Ansiwiz-gardaz - the realm of the Æsir Gods, the gods of civilisation and higher values. A beautiful realm above everything else.
	+ Because it is the location of the main gods and its upward location, it is sometimes translated in some languages as "Heaven", when it is one of many locations there.
* 2: Vanaheimr, Vanaheim - the realm of the Vanir gods, the gods of nature. A forested realm.
* 3: Álfheimr, Alfheim, \*Albiz-haimaz - the realm of the ljósálfar, the light elves or fairies. Ruled by the golden god Freyr.
* 4: Miðgarðr, Midgard - the realm of humans. Either the Earth or its universe.
	+ Also a name for Europe or Palkyras.
* 5: Jötunheimr, Jotunheim, \*Etunaz-haimaz - the realm of the jotnar-giants.
* 6: Svartálfheimr, Svartalfheim or Niðavellir, Nidavellir - the realm of the dark elves and/or the dwarves. A gloomy realm.
* 7: Niflheim - a realm of ice and great cold. Home to the ice giants.
* 8: Muspelheim - a realm of fire and volcanoes. Home to the fire giants, such as the dreaded Surtr.
* 9: Helheim - a cold realm where the peaceful dead go to after they die. Ruled by the frightening yet benign goddess Hel, she protects those who passed on and ensures a peaceful afterlife.
	+ Sometimes this is considered as a part of Niflheim, with Svartalfheim replacing its place.

### Major locations

* Valhalla (Hall of the Slain in War) - the golden palace of Odin where half of those who die fighting in wars go to. Escorted by the valkyries, the warriors (known as einherjar) spend every day drinking, feasting, and killing each other in battle, only to reawaken whole on the next day. Their eventual fate is to fight as Odin's armies against the forces of evil, and then die fighting the jotnar in Ragnarok in the far future.
	+ To some civilisations of the Galaxy, Valhalla became a place of torment for their enemies: their enemies will enjoy the praise and combat at first, but the constant brutality and repeated deaths would frustrate and frighten their enemies, until every sign of weakness would make them a plaything for the einherjar. They would gladly kill their enemies to send them to an eternity of torment in Valhalla.
* Valaskjálf (Shelf of the Slain in War) - Odin's inner court and throne room. On his throne of Hliðskjálf or Hlidskjalf, he and Frigg see everything in all the nine worlds.
* Folkvangr (Field of the People) - a field where the other half of all who die fighting in wars go to.
* Þrúðheimr, Thrudheim (Realm of Power) - the kingdom and realm ruled by Thor. It has a field known as Þrúðvangr or Thruvangr (the field of power).
* Bilskirnir (Lightning Crack) - an enormous hall which serves as Thor's personal palace.
* Breiðablik (Broad Splendour) - a beautiful hall that serves as Baldr's former palace. Now it is presumably the palace of his son Forseti.
* Himinbjörg (Heavenly Peak, Heavenly Bastion) - an impressive hall at the edge of Asgard near the Bifrost Bridge. The home and fortress of Heimdall, the warden of Heaven.
* Iðavöllr, Idavollr (Splendid Plain) - the meetingplace of the Gods.
* Bifröst - a rainbow that serves as a bridge between Asgard and the other realms.
* Járnviðr - a forest to the east of Midgard where troll-women and wolves live.
* Myrkviðr - a dark forest between Asgard and Muspelheim.
* Útgarðar (Outlands) - a great castle in Jotunheim. Sometimes considered its capital city, and perhaps where the most sophisticated jotnar fend off raids from their wilder brethren.
* Mímisbrunnr - the well of Mimir, filled with wisdom and secrets. It is located under Yggdrasil's roots, perhaps in Niflheim.
* Urðarbrunnr - the well of the Norns. It is located under Yggdrasil's roots.
* Ginnungagap - the great void between Muspelheim to the south and Niflheim to the north. From the latter's sparks and the former's streams, a great mass of ice was formed, and melted to form the giant Ymir and the cow Audumbla.
* Hvelgelmir - a frigid spring in the north of Niflheim. From it, eleven rivers flow southwards.
* Élivágar - eleven rivers from the cold spring of Hvelgelmir.
* Éljúðnir - the palace of Hel. Considered a very cold place battered by blizzards.
	+ To the Freyrgardians, it is a place of glory for the righteous and the good, where they read tomes of history and chat with the heroes of old. Above it are constellations and a ring of sixteen stars that represent the deeds of the righteous in life.
* Niðafjöll - the mountains along the northern parts of Helheim. Righteous people also go to a golden palace there. When Ragnarok rages and destroys the universe, they will wait until everything is safe. It is the domain of the dragon Nidhogg.
* Náströnd - a swamp where the murderers of families, oathbreakers, and traitors go to after they die. There, they are constantly bitten and torn apart by serpents.
	+ Náströnd has become a curse-word among the Norse peoples of the Rabydosverse and Rinnarverse, an equivalent for "Hell".

### Minor locations

* Brimir - a hall owned by the giant whom it is named after, along the temperate plain of Okolnir. After Ragnarok, it will become a place where people enjoy the best drinks.
* Gnipahellir - a cave along the gate of Helheim where the wolf Garmr guards.
* Gjallarbrú - the bridge across the Gjöll River where all dead people and visitors must cross in order to reach Helheim.
* Gjöll River - the border between Helheim and other realms, possibly Midgard (the world of people).
* "Twelve Heavens" - twelve celestial realms mentioned by the Icelandic writer Snorri in Skáldskaparmál 69
	+ They are: Hlýrnir, Heiðþorrnir, Hregg-mímir, Andlangr, Ljósfari, Drífandi, Skatyrnir, Víðfeðmir, Vetmímir, Leiftr, Hrjóðr, and Víðbláinn.
	+ In the Gylfaginning by Snorri, Asgard is the first of three heavens, Andlang is the second, and the highest, Víðbláinn, is the third. Víðbláinn is also inhabited by more light elves. In the same account, the two upper heavens will also be where the souls of dead people will be protected from Ragnarok.

## Times

* Fimbulwinter - three consecutive winters in the far future that will kill many living beings. After that, Ragnarok will begin.
* Ragnarök (Doom of the Rulers, Doom of the Gods) - the final battle between the jotnar and Hel’s army against the Gods. Eventually both of them kill each other, and the worlds are burned and drowned. Only a handful of survivors (several Gods and a male and female human who hide in a forest) emerge to inhabit and repopulate a reborn world.

## Religious concepts

* blót - ceremony to worship a god or wight, sacrificial offering; specifically any offering requiring animal sacrifices or meat offerings
* faining - a ceremony without blood sacrifices or meat
* symbel - a drinking ceremony toasting the deeds of people
* hlaut - blood or a drink poured while worshipping a god or wight
* mjǫðr, mjöður - mead, fermented honey used to honour the gods
* hof - a temple or shrine
* hǫrgr, hörgr - cairn, altar, sanctuary
* vé - space around a shrine or temple
* líkneski - idol, "likeness" of a god
* trémaðr - "wooden man", idol
* skurðgoð - "carved god", idol
* goð - a god, an idol for that deity
* goði - priest
* gyðja - priestess
* galdr (pl. galdar) - hymn, prayer song, incantation, invocation
* sumbl - feast, banquet
* hamingja - luck or success
* friðr - peace
* rúnir - a rune, a sacred symbol or letter used when worshipping the gods
* mjǫllnir, mjölnir - a hammer used to represent Thor and protect the wearer from spiritual dangers
* valknut - a triangular loop associated with Odin, frenzy, madness, victory in battle, death, and eternity
* urðr - fate, destiny
* ørlǫg, örlög - fate, doom, fortunes
* seiðr - feminine magic, divination
	+ To some Galactic civilisations, all divination and fortune-telling is seidr, simply because seidr meant "divination". This either led to attacks against fortune-tellers and some priests for being "cowardly", or worse, led to militarism which shunned the future.
	+ The Freyrgardian usage of divination led to war with some civilisations, who accused them of seidr.
* vitki - a sorcerer, a wise man; he might sometimes practice seiðr magic.
* vittugr - having magical powers
* níð - curse, dishonour
* níðing - a cursed person, an outlaw, an evildoer

## See also

* Norway
* Norse calendar
* Futhark
* Slavic mythology
* Baltic mythology