Naglfar (Witches of Midgard-verse)

* Erik the Ageless
* Hvedrung
* Turid
* Lara

*"The outlandish neopagan cult of magic users from Scandinavia who worship Jötnar, primordial deities that are common adversaries of both Gods of Asgard and Nine Olde Witches during the Ragnarök. In addition of following ancient customs and traditions, it opposed those who uphold the legacy of the Nines in a 100 years conflict that became known as Thapoli-Naglfar War."*
― Description of Naglfar.

**Naglfar** refers to a cult of pagan witches and wizards who worship Jötnar, a race of Nordic primordial deities and enemies of both Gods of Asgard and their allies Nine Olde Witches. The group serves as the primary antagonistic faction in *Little Witch Academia: Witches of Midgard* series.

## Description & Characteristics

Naglfar was founded some time after Ragnarök by a group of magic users in Old World who dissatisfied by the teachings of Nine Olde Witches and seduced by the power provided by surviving children and grandchildren of Loki, Hel, Hrimgandr, and Skoll & Hati. Through its Den of Wargs temple, it is the successor of Fangs of Fenrir, a Viking era religious sect who notorious for dedicating the blood they had spilled to their namesake patron Jötunn and earned his favor. Founded by Hvedrung the Blessed and Erik the Ageless, Naglfar aimed to end the legacy of Nine Olde Witches for the latter's alliance with Gods of Asgard long ago and ensure its patron Jötnar' domination over humanity and the rest of Nine Realms. As part of its preparations to attain such goal, the cult kept its practices a secret for centuries and enlisted assistance from a splinter group of Myrkálfar who provided it their advanced magic-mechanical equipment.

This radical cult eventually made its presence known to the world through unprovoked attacks and sieges on unsuspecting settlements inhabited by humans and Pomokai Holoholonas alike around Thapoli and Hoddmimi's Holt during the Golden Age of Magic, sparking a devastating magic war that became known as Thapoli-Naglfar War. The cult however, ended up on the losing side as the result of underestimating the might of its united enemies and subsequently forced into hiding. Reduced into a shadow of its former self, Naglfar became fragmented and in the state of disarray, with growing schisms among the cult's High Priests resulted its temples to turn against one another. Said in-fightings were further exacerbated not only by the assassination of Hvedrung the Blessed — its Grand High Priest at the time — near the end of the War, but also Hel's demise after Battle at Horgsholt Fortress as without her leadership, the alliance between the rest of the cult's patron Jötnar fell apart, which certainly didn't help their worshippers' situation.

Even with the cult's current miserable state, Naglfar still pose a serious threat to the magical world. In the pursuit of restoring its former glory, the cult's main temple, Hall of Death Goddess, led by Erik the Ageless, seek out various powerful relics scattered around Midgard and if possible, to try to seize the secrets of five legendary Valkyrie Armors and subdue every leader of splintered Naglfar factions along the way. He also had one of his prominent disciples, Saxa, to create Sigyn Industries that would act as its benefactor to keep it well-funded.

### Temples and Hierarchy

*"Naglfar possesses a strict hierarchy and is led by a Grand High Priest or Priestess who has High Priests or Priestesses as Councils in ensuring them to remain on the right track while enforcing the will of their patron Jötnar. Said High Priests or Priestesses are in turn, hold authority over their respective Temple. Ranks of the cult's members — acolytes — are distinguished by the appearance of the deer skull adorning their hood and distinct ceremonial garbs. The neopagan cult also consisted of three Temples; Hall of Death Goddess, Tower of Frost Serpent, and Den of Wargs."*
― Description of Naglfar hierarchy and Temples.

#### Hierarchy

* **Initiates**: Newly recruited acolytes who have overcome the initiation ceremony thus accepted into the cult. They are to be taught basics of Naglfar's ways and carry out mundane tasks in Temples or Shrines they assigned at before being promoted into Disciples. Initiates' deer skull is completely blank.
* **Disciples**: Soldiers and enforcers of Naglfar. Disciples obey their superiors and are the main force when the cult is at war alongside Farbjodar. As such, they are well-equipped for taking up missions which they carry out by any means necessary. Upon being promoted into a Disciple, the Naglfar member receives blood red paint over a carved Ear rune on the forehead of their deer skull.
* **Priest/Priestess**: Main preachers of the cult as well as commanders of a squadron of Disciples. Devout and evangelical in their teachings, they will do anything to make sure the ways of Naglfar are being followed and upheld. Upon being promoted into a Priest/Priestess, the Naglfar member receives blood red paint over the tip of their deer skull's horns as with its forehead.
* **High Priest/Priestess**: The leader of a Naglfar Temple and to whom members of the Temple in question must answer to. Appointed by their Temple's patron Jötunn and blessed by the Grand High Priest or Priestess, they are part of them, and fierce enforcers of their will. Upon their ascension into their temple's High Priest/Priestess, the Naglfar member receives a blood red stripe over their deer skull's snout as with its forehead and horn tips.
* **Grand High Priest/Priestess**: The figurehead behind the Cult, the one who holds the most sway over the entirety of Naglfar acolytes. A High Priest or Priestess may ascend into one should they managed to prove their worth before the cult's patron Jötnar in a trial. Upon their ascension into the cult's Grand High Priest/Priestess, the Naglfar member will have their Jötunn patron consecrated their deer skull with Blessing of Ymir to signify their authority, turning its blood red paint azure and giving the skull its neon blue glow.

#### Temples of Naglfar

* **Hall of Death Goddess**: A temple originally dedicated for Hel, the Nordic Goddess of Death and former ruler of Helheim. Following her death at the heat of Thapoli-Naglfar War, she was succeeded by her daughter and Ymir reincarnated, Hel-Ymir.
* **Tower of Frost Serpent**: A temple dedicated for Hrimgandr, the spawn of World Serpent Jörmungandr.
* **Den of Wargs**: A temple dedicated for Sköll and Hati, twin wolf-Jötunn sons of Fenrir.

### The Blessing of Ymir

**The Blessing of Ymir** refers to concentrated divine energies patron Jötnar of Naglfar bestowed to their worshippers. Any beings endowed with this energy will have their magic greatly enhanced up beyond the level of average witches and wizards thus allowing them to challenge the might of formidable beings such as Pomokai Holoholonas. Acolytes of Naglfar replenish their Blessing of Ymir reserves through a blood ritual where they offer some drops of blood (be it their own or that of the enemy) to a patron Jötunn.

### Farbjodr

*Main article: Farbjodr*
Naglfar utilizes Farbjodar, chimeric, insectoid homunculi created as the vanguard of Naglfar infantry, cannon fodder, aerial combat assistance (since they can fly), and area denial. They are equipped with a special harness over their thorax and head to make them more aggressive towards foes in addition of automatically administer healing concoctions should they severely wounded in battle.

## Tools & Equipment

### Blackstone Armor

Enchanted suit of armor composed of Niflheim magic-infused obsidian rocks originally devised by Myrkálfar, dark elves of Svartálfheim. Originally a double-edged garment and weapon meant to be deployed as a desperate measure, Naglfar had since revamped Blackstone Armor into a removable combat garment comparable to enchanted armors developed by Thapoli that not only can be worn without any repercussions, but also had its time limit removed. Typically worn by senior members who achieved Priest/Priestess rank and onwards.

### Ceremonial Seax

*"Seax wielded by Naglfar acolytes. In addition of as melee weapon, it can be deployed for sacrificial purposes such as blood offering."*
― Description of Naglfar's Ceremonial Seax.

    Broken-back style seax that can magically absorb and store blood of those who cut or stabbed by it. The amount of blood stored within is highlighted by crimson coloration on both the weapon's edge and orb. Upon being extracted via. a spell, the stored blood forms into globule(s) ready to be offered upon one's patron Jötunn in exchange of Blessing of Ymir.

If the stored blood happened to be taken from different individuals, it will be divided into their respective globule upon extraction via. a spell.

## Notable Members

 Moongarm | Lara (Hall of Death Goddess)

* Dusty and Birger (Hall of Death Goddess)
* Skulk and Agram (Hall of Death Goddess, formerly, deceased)
* Hvedrung the Blessed (Hall of Death Goddess, deceased)
* Several unnamed members

## Articles & References

1. ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/bsoulstone/art/Turid-with-Naglfar-s-banner-LWA-WoM-895539407
2. ↑ https://www.deviantart.com/bsoulstone/art/Naglfar-s-Ceremonial-Seax-LWA-WoM-1012143451

## Navigation

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