Alignment

The Alignment was a cataclysmic event that permanently transformed the world of Midrealm, starting the Alignment Era. During The Alignment, the movements of the 9 realms (Midrealm, the Realm of Ruin, the Realm of the Forest, the Realm of Fire, the Realm of Frost, the Realm of Light, the Realm of Darkness, the Realm of Giants, and the Realm of Mist) underwent a Convergence event that allowed residents and fauna of the 9 realms to easily travel between realms.

On Midrealm, The Alignment was precluded by a series natural disasters. While neither the order of these events nor whether they caused one another is known, what is known is that a great winter came, volcanic eruptions across the world filled the sky with ash, and earthquakes caused tidal waves that devastated coastal areas. After nearly a year of chaos, bridges between the 9 realms opened, and Midrealm, being located at the center of the 9 realms (hence the name), became a battleground in what was known as the War of Alignment.

### **War of Alignment**

The War of Alignment was a war fought across Midrealm by humanoid races against giants, frost giants, fire giants, snow wraiths, and other invaders. While initially fighting on separate grounds, the Aesir, Vanir, and Dwarves were forced to travel to Midrealm when their homes were destroyed, both by natural disaster and invading forces. After arriving in Midrealm, the Aesir, Vanir, Dwarves, and humans joined forces in the Alliance of the Hawk. The Alliance of the Hawk was headed by King Odin of the Aesir, with a war council consisting of Chieftain Freyr, King Regr, and King Hoddmimir representing the Vanir, Dwarves, and humans respectively. Other prominent figures in the Alliance of the Hawk were Thor, Tyr, Vidar, and Heimdal.

After years of fighting against invading forces, the War of Alignment came to a climax in the Battle of Vigrid. While there are few surviving records of the battle, it is known that the full might of the Alliance of the Hawk was pitted against a massive army of fire giants led by Surtr, as well as 2 of the Primordial Beasts, Fenrir and Jormundgandr. During the battle, King Odin is killed by Fenrir, who is in turn slain by Vidar. Thor kills Jormundgandr, but is killed by its poison shortly after. Tyr is killed by the wolf Garmr. Freyr shatters the legendary burning sword of Surtr, but is injured gravely by its fire and throws himself and Surtr from a cliff, killing them both. Alliance of the Hawk succeeds in defeating the enemy, but suffers terrible losses in the process.

### **Survivors of Alignment**

On Midrealm, after the conclusion of the War of Alignment, the survivors still had to survive the Great Winter that covered large amounts of Lifria. An area known as Hoddmímis Holt (likely located north of the Adriatic) provided shelter for the surviving humans, Aesir, Vanir, and Dwarves. When the Great Winter ended, many Vanir traveled east to Strangholt, while the Dwarves traveled west to create the kingdoms of Blainor and Volundgard.

On Asgard, the region known as Gimle provided refuge for a large number of Aesir, including Magni, Modi, and Vidar. The Aesir lived in peace for a time, but disputes still remaining from the Great Betrayal resulted in another war breaking out among the survivors.

In Hel, the Aesir living in Nidafjoll were relatively untouched by Alignment. Nastrond, and by extension Hvergelmir were strangely unaffected, but this mattered little as there were no Aesir residing there.

In Alfheim, while many areas were ravaged by the arrival of dark elves, it was still the safest realm to be in. The regions of Andlang (also called An Lathian), Vindblain, Vidblain, Vidfedmir, Hrjod, Hlyrnir, Gimir, Vet-Mimir and Skatyrnir all were safe from the forces of Alignment. During Alignment, many humans sought refuge in Alfheim. By spending extended amount of time in proximity to the Light Elves, they became physically and culturally different from other humans, becoming the Alfinar.

### **The Hoddfolk and Haliar**

After the Battle of Vigrid, the survivors of the Alliance of the Hawk were led south by King Hoddmimir to Hoddmímis Holt (likely located north of the Adriatic), a fertile land where they were able to survive the Great Winter and reform civilization. The survivors were mostly humans from the north, along with a smaller number of Aesir and Vanir. The solitary Vanir eventually left Hoddmímis Holt, traveling east to Storrholt, and the Aesir and humans interbred, creating a race called the Hoddfolk.

Because of how impactful The Alignment was, the people that helped humanity survive began to be worshiped, forming the pantheon of the Haliar. The names of the Haliar are listed below.

* Vidar: Haliar of strength and victory
* Skrymir: Haliar of magic, wisdom, and runes
* Gefjun: Haliar of weather, the harvest, and family
* Eir: Halir of health, beauty, and fertility
* Hoddmimir: Haliar of judgement, and order
* Thjalfi: Haliar of trade and travelers
* Thrigr: Haliar of crafting, smithing, and artisans
* Skadi: Haliar of the hunt
* Hildr: Haliar of death, burials, and funeral rites
* Einarr: Haliar of speech, poetry, and luck

### **The War of the Rose**

Despite the destruction running rampant through most of the 9 realms, the Realm of Light, populated by the Elves, was relatively untouched. Despite their good fortune, the Elves did not help the Army of the Hawk, and refused shelter to the survivors, causing a feeling of animosity from all other races against the Elves. After the end of the Great Winter at around 200 A.E., a Convergence event allowed a group of Elves fleeing religious persecution called The Ulithreagh to enter at a fertile land they called Ard Taelam and begin a civilization there. At around 400 A.E., the Hoddfolk expanded northwards and discovered the Elven population at Ard Taelam, and sought to drive them out. This started the War of the Rose, which lasted 20 years before it was ended with the Siege of Carraig Dho, where the Elves would have been exterminated had it not been for a Convergence event that allowed them to escape to the Realm of Fire. While they were able to survive in the Realm of Fire, the Elves did not forget the savagery of the Hoddfolk and vowed revenge.