#duraþrór

[wolvenart]

what the f....

[mea-gloria-fides]

The Four Stags: Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór.

[thatoneluckybee]

Anyways, something that still confuses me: why a stag? I don't remember stags being significant in the stories of the Wild Hunt I know. So, let's see:

I first started by reading about stags in Norse mythology. The first I found were Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór, the stags that eat among the branches of Ygdrassil, the world tree. This originally didn't seem connected, given that it's 4 stags and that they're not really connected with the Wild Hunt, but 2 things:

1) In an influencial work, Finnur Magnússon suggested that the 4 stags actually represent the winds. Remember, the howling wind is an important part of the Wild Hunt

2) It's actually theorized that there was originally only one stag (potentially thought to be Eikþyrnir)

Who's Eikþyrnir? Another stag of course! He's said to stand upon Valhalla and also eat from Ygdrassil, though I can't find any connections to the Wild Hunt with him

But is there anything else? I decided to look through some Wild Hunt sources, because who knows, there might be a stag somewhere after all, or at least something I missed in the past

The first interesting thing I found is this:

'Another class of specters...'? How interesting... (This is definitely just a coincidence lol)

Next up:

Definitely a stretch, but potentially more reasons why Lenore and (if we are to believe this new episode) Annabel Lee could be targeted?

For the rest? Sadly, not much. (Also I'm suprisingly tired so I'm gonna try to wrap this up)

Another stag I found out about though, is the white stag. It's a common and just overall good/holy figure throughout medieval folklore, and killing them is a big nono

Brain becoming soup. Kill stag bad.

This basically. I'll continue later tiree eeeed

YOU NEED TO START MAKING THESE THEORIES A SEPERATE POST AND MAIN TAGGING THEM. I'M MAIN TAGGING THIS

[the-twilight-sword]

Dainsleif: The White Knight & The Light Prince.

Let's go over what we know about the White Knight. He is referenced by the Bloodstained Chivalry artifact set, and by his sword, The Black Sword. He was a noble-born member of the Knights of Favonius that served under Arundolyn 500 years ago. He was trained by Rostam, becoming a powerful knight who was obsessed with justice. Over time, he began to lose himself in the slaughter.

☽ Kaj's Note ☾ In Norse mythology, Dáinsleif is the name of king Högni's sword, crafted by the dwarf Dáinn. When drawn, the sword cannot be sheathed again unless it has taken a life, and wounds from the sword do not heal.

Dainsleif's commentary in Xiao's collected miscellany "I know the adepti suffer hearthache just as I do but I cannot know Xiao's future. Will Xiao be ravaged by the unending war he wages and be plunged into Despair? Or will he meet someone who understand his sacrifice and can shine ray of light into his dark world…" in which he seems to relate Xiao's life to his own story.

Here are a few more Collected Miscellany quotes that I believe match up.

✧ "Within Mondstadt, there are few who possess the ability and a desire to seek truth equal to hers. But beware, O young seeker. You must sacrifice your all to unravel the world's secrets. Can the astrologist Mona truly bear such a burden?"

✧"Diluc's explosive, ruthless fighting style, and his aloof manner, are all admirable traits. But if the disaster from five centuries ago were to happen again, if he were to face the same evil that I once did, would he still hold fast to his resolve?"

✧ "Few know where Tartaglia acquired his fighting skills before become a Harbinger. Nor do many know where his lust for combat originates. There is a dangerous secret to the martial legacy he inherits. But it is one that even he himself does not fully understand.

✧ "I am content to watch most crises from the sidelines. But if Albedo were to make a single wrong move.. I could not let myself ignore it."

✧ "There are those with hatred in their hearts that are able to do what Eula has done: take the lust for vengeance bequeathed to them by fate and channel it into a force for self-advancement. For Eula, this has set her down a path of peace and inner strength. Still there are others for whom the passage of time does nothing to quell the poison spreading through their souls. Only the future will reveal the path they take, but inevitably, it will be a different one."

✧ "Life and death are but two halves to an endless cycle. Life leads unto death, and death unto new life-- why, then, should death be taboo?"

✧ "Their only tangible legacy is the sword and the gun, and weapons only stand for whatever meaning humans ascribe to them. Are they tools to hunt down the last remnants of an age gone by? Or to uphold the order of a new age? The choice lies with their wielder. Clorinde's sword has never wavered, for her sense of justice is sufficiently simple and adequately strong. Moments of doubt, difficult decisions... leave those for the people forced to live through times of momentous change in the world."

✧ "Human lives are short, and their memories cannot be passed on."

☽ Kaj's Note ☾ "Harts there are also four, which from its highest boughs, arch-necked, gnaw: Dáinn and Dvalinn, Dúneyrr and Duraþrór." Each of these are dwarf names, and each have meanings: Dáinn is "The Dead One", Dvalinn is "The Unconscious One". Dáinsleif is the name of the sword crafted by Dáinn, and the inspiration taken may reflect Dainsleif's curse of immortality and tortured relationship with death.

The Tsaritsa & the Pale Princess

The confluence between the past and future. The original calamity had been overturned, yet the island in the sky set the earth to burn. Chalk pursues gold, in this time inopportune, the eclipse is swallowed by the crimson moon. The future must atone for bygone mistakes, as the bond familiar falters and breaks— of the same blood, elders and the youth... Such is the cycle of the world, in truth. Dain, what is that strand of blonde hair to you? Someone you must kill? Or the object of your penitence?

—A self-proclaimed prophet

Defeat me, command me to step aside, show me that you are worthier than I to rescue her. Then, the threads of all fate will be yours to re-weave. My memory has all but faded completely... But I will always remember how much she too, loved these flowers.

- Dainsleif, Travail

The one he's trying to save is the Pale Princess, the Tsaritsa.

Required reading for this section is "The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies", the first volume of which exists in-game. Subsequent volumes were datamined by players in early versions of the game and can be found here.

If you read the book, you will find it self-explanatory why I think the Pale Princess might be the Tsaritsa, archon of love.

We first receive the book "The Pale Princess and the Six Pygmies" from Lisa, when we help her take it back from a cryo Abyss Mage who has stolen it. The player must receive this book in order for the story to progress. I think the book contains a shocking truth, not only because it's supposed to contain “a secret”according to the Abyss Mage Emery, but because of Lisa's vision story.

With the aid of her Vision, Lisa acquired the knowledge that she sought. But she also sensed the deep secret hidden in the shadows of that knowledge. For whatever reason, the gods gave humans the key to changing everything, but they did not explain the cost involved. Lisa grew fearful of the truth. The Vision that hung from her neck became to her a bottomless pit filled with sweet delights, lingering at the back of her mind. So, from time to time, when somebody whom she finds interesting comes along, Lisa will pass onto them her understanding on all kinds of matters. Perhaps she is secretly hoping that by doing so, one day someone will come along who has the ability to understand the ultimate truth behind Visions.

Furthermore, as exemplified by Wanderer’s story, we learn that the truth of things erased from Irminsul can be preserved through fairytales. The fact that Irminsul can be edited solves any reasons we have so far of why Dainsleif can't be the Light Prince

Why the Tsaritsa gave up her heavenly principle might be explained by Dainsleif's lines in Raiden Shogun's collected miscellany. "Yet archons are born arrogant-- by attempting to grasp the heavenly principles, she brought a disaster upon mortals. Perhaps some may say that I'm overstating what happened, but... I'm just speaking from experience after all."

Dainsleif is titled the "Bough Keeper" (Chinese: 拾枝者 Shízhī-zhě, "Bough Picker")

I believe this references the flowers after which the Fatui logo was fashioned.

In the namecard from the Shadowed Snowfall Battle Pass, variably called “Solanum Lyratum” and “Travel Notes: Lyratum”, this flower is described.

“Only this flower remains on the heights where all trees have withered.”

The real plant under that scientific name, the lyreleaf nightshade, or the snake berry, grows not in the snow, but in temperate and subtropical climes. It has five petals, not four. So despite its name seeming to allude to the real life plant, I think it means something entirely different in the context of Genshin Impact.

☽ Kaj's Note ☾ This is not impossible- almond tofu in Genshin requires almonds and tofu to make, despite our world’s almond tofu being made of apricot kernel milk and agar agar. Valberries are almost certainly rosehips. And the zaytun peach comes from the Arabic word meaning “olive”, “زيتون”.

The flower resembles Albedo’s “sun blossom” (as called in his namecard) or “solar isotoma” (as called in his elemental skill). Again, this can’t refer to the real-life genus of herbs under the name “isotoma”, all of which have five-petalled flowers.

They are inexorably linked with the heights as part of Albedo’s kit, notably rising skyward. In his fourth constellation, Descent of Divinity, plunging attacks from the solar isotoma have increased damage. The divine nature of the flowers are referenced in the first constellation, Flower of Eden.

This Geo bloom has an unusual property mirrored in the aim of alchemy. To rise from the earth, soar into the sky, and become the sun.

The description for geo specters is:

Geo Specters mimic the fruit of certain plants when their wings are closed together. As such, they are held by some ancient tales to be the fruit of a giant tree in the sky, and are regarded as having mysterious medical value.

and they look like this from above

The flowers of the Fatui are, I think, a sort of mirror to these.

The Blind Boy & Vedrfolnir

☽ Kaj's Note ☾ Veðrfölnir is a mysterious figure in Norse mythology, only once attested to. He is a hawk who sits between the eyes of an eagle perched atop Yggdrasil (the Norse equivalent to the German Irminsul), and his name consists of two components. "Veðr" meaning weather or wind; and "fölr" or "fölna", meaning "pale" or "white" and "to wither" or "lose colour" respectively. The meaning can therefore be "storm-pale", "wind-bleached", or "wind-witherer".

Vedrfolnir's title, "the Visionary", may be a contradictory sort of reference to the blind boy described in Viridescent Venerer and in Deepwood Memories. If Dainsleif is the Bloodstained Knight, that makes the boy his brother.

Notably, that boy, following his brother's journey through Teyvat, is killed in Sumeru as result of the Cataclysm. But these lines make it seem possible that his death was not permanent.

The ancient legends say that the lord of the forest was immortal, As they at life's end would melt into the forest, Their claws would become metal and wood, and their stripes would become an endless maze, And their smoldering eyes would become the moon in both the sky and the water. All things that die will gain new life in some other form. All things that decay will sprout pure and tender new shoots. "But those souls who had been destroyed by death, memories that are eternally lost," "Is there a place for them in the cycle of life and death?" "The soul is a void concept, and memories must one day return to the land." "What is there to worry about if something that was always void were to fade away?" "Rather, remind and support one another, such that everyone's image will be remembered forever." "Thus shall we defeat the natural cycle of life and death, and preserve memory forever!"

The blind boy discovered the "relic of the woods", the in-game weapon Hunter's Path, which he gifted to Viridescent. A connection can be made, then, to the Archon Quest Hunters, Prophets, during which Mona describes Fontaine's prophecy as being so great in magnitude that only a "visionary" might be capable of weaving it.

☽ Kaj's Note ☾ His blindness might be the reason for his prophetic prodigy. In Norse mythology, Odin is known to have gouged out one of his eyes in return for prophetic and other magical power. Hödr, the blind god, makes incredible prophecies. His story has themes of fate and the consequences of divine actions- being that this prophecy, which predict's his brother, Baldr, lord of light's death- sets off a chain reaction which causes Ragnarök, the end of the world.

In Bedtime Story, the quest we learn that Vedrfolnir is Dainsleif's brother, extensive parallels exist with the lore of Deepwood Memories.

It is "a self-proclaimed prophet" who gives us Dainsleif's character introduction. Could it be his brother?

Wrapping it All Up

Issues with this theory persist.

One thing that could cause this whole theory to come crashing down is that Vedrfolnir is Dainsleif's older brother, while the blind boy is the Bloodstained Knights' younger brother.

Another is that the Light Prince clearly comes from beyond the world of the Pale Princess, and Dainsleif seems unlikely to be a descender.

There are also other explanations of who the Pale Princess and Light Prince could be.

At a far-flung moment in the distant past, the ancestor of the seelie met a traveler from afar, with whom they swore an oath of union witnessed by the three sisters of the Lunar Palace. Just thirty days later, a sudden disaster struck. The seelie and their lover fled into exile as the world collapsed around them, fleeing until the terrible calamity caught up with and seized them. Their cruel punishment was to be separated from each other for eternity and to have their memories wiped without a trace.

- Records of Jueyun, "Mountain Spirits"

The Seelie lovers are a potential candidate. In an anniversary event, it is possibly Seelies that are alluded to as children of the moonlight.

There's also the fact that these datamined books may not be indicative of game content any longer. We all know that huge changes were made to the story when it became apparent that Genshin would succeed as a huge game.

Finally, the White Knight is only 500 years old, and so is Dainsleif, while for this theory, he’d have to be over 1000 years old. However, in Venti's collected miscellany, he says "A thousand years have passed since the God of Anemo left this land. But to me, it has only been half that time." To me, this shows that time passes oddly for him. I get the sense he's talking about himself as well as Qiqi when he says, "As a zombie, Qiqi has escaped the grip of both time and death. How Qiqi entered this state of existence, I do not know. But I doubt it was of her own volition. Are the heavenly principles toying with her? Or is fate seeking to torture her? Is an ordinary life of simple pleasures really a thing so fragile?" There could also be some fuckery with resurrection, reincarnation, and memory wiping.

[doubleddenden]

Had a thought about Pokemon for the first time in a while. DD's theory corner time:

Legends Arceus- Arceus is in the title, basically the kick to get the plot ball rolling, our ultimate goal

Legends Z-A, if we were to try basing it on the one title before it, probably references Zygarde. Makes sense if we compare the Z to XY- except the A.

Theory: Legends "2" has two title legendaries associated with it. The A is a new Norse inspired Pokemon that represents some new aspect of dimensions (like the X, Y, and Z planes of a graph that formulate latitude, longitude, and the spaces between).

I know I'm not the first to speculate this, but I think I do want to speculate exactly what the A could be. A certainly doesn't fit in with the XYZ planes (or at the least, nothing is really turning up on Google). HOWEVER, the Norse angle does have a hit we could try to wrestle with.

Xerneas, Yveltal, and Zygarde all represent various aspects of the specific Norse iteration of the World Tree mythos (the reason it's so popular world wide is because- much like the world turtle- mythos for world trees exist all around the world)- in this case, Yggdrasil.

Xerneas is the embodiment of life, and embodies aspects of the tree itself, plus seems to be based off of the 4 stags that eat at the branches of the tree. Their names are Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór- no, I don't know how to pronounce those either, but basically as they eat at the branches, the life dew that forms on their antlers flows downwards to create rivers of the world. That's how we get to Xerneas being the tree, the stags, and life itself.

Yveltal is death, and possibly based on an "unnamed eagle" that sits atop the World Tree- aka the Y axis- Or it could possibly be the hawk called Veðrfölnir that sits between the eyes of the unnamed eagle. These birds are attested to be a source of knowledge and possibly are based off of Odin's ravens, which fly off and return with new knowledge. Hawks, Eagles, and Ravens are all birds associated with death to some degree, whether killing prey itself or scavenging dead corpses. That could be how we get a death bird that opposes a life deer

Zygarde is most likely based on the Nidhogg, a dragon that feasts on the roots of Yggdrasil and in particular seems to actually be a villain in early stories. The Nidhogg apparently nibbled and ate corpses of those who lost honor, particularly those guilty of adultery, murder, and oathbreaking. In this case, the fact that Zygarde watches the ecosystem could be a simple role reversal to what Yveltal was supposed to be, and could even embody various aspects of Norse pantheon itself.

Now there is one more prominent creature that could be worked with- Ratatosk- which is a squirrel like creature that communicates messages between the unnamed eagle and Nidhogg, and basically was sort of a chatty gossip that seemed to start shit on purpose, basically harassing the fauna of the tree and continuing the fued between Eagle and Nidhogg. This could already be incorporated into Zygarde's cell system, as the cells communicate with each other across the world- but seem to exist to SOLVE problems instead.

Still, as we've seen from the above, Game Freak isn't afraid to remix or twist ideas to make their own. So I'm gonna say Ratatosk has a strong chance of being legendary A, in this case. Something to note is that it may not be 100% a squirrel in this case, much like how Zygarde is a snake and a dragon, but it's still something that can be meddled with.

Now the question would be: what does A bring to the table that Life, Death, and Order does not?

Before that, let's ask WHY there'd be a Legendary A. Xerneas and Yveltal, by nature, are beings that go into long slumber once they've done their jobs- according to XY, that would have been about 3k years before the start of the story, where Yveltal drained the life of everyone and thing around it before turning into a cocoon, and/or Xerneas becoming a tree that granted life instead.

GF can do whatever they want, but there's something else to note: if ZA takes place ENTIRELY within Lumiose, that means we're not going to Geosenge where the cocoon or tree were to power the cannon Lysander almost destroyed the world with. Now they'll probably bring them back anyway, but if they'd play as big of a role as Zygarde, why not call the game XYZ like the anime?

Hence A. Pokemon loves legendary duos, and so A could potentially be the opposite of Zygarde. In other words: CHAOS, the opposite of order.

This could fit imo, given that Ratatosk loved to start shit. Not to mention, A is opposite to Z in the alphabet- certainly would explain why it pops up against the established XYZ.

Of course, you can't talk about Norse mythology in the modern Era without bringing up Thor or Loki. While Thor has yet to be represented imo (and hey, who is to say all we get is A in this case for a new legendary), Loki is probably one of the most well known people from this mythos. And, again, given that we've established that GF isn't afraid to mix things around, I personally think A will be a mix of Loki and Ratatosk.

In other words, a trickster that THRIVES on starting shit.

While it's initial basis for Ratatosk is a squirrel, Loki was a shapeshifter that took on various forms, including the infamous horse that would give birth (yes Loki got pregnant and gave birth) to the 8 legged horse, Sleipnir. Loki also took forms of creatures such as a fly, a salmon, and even an elderly woman.

Now picture this: doesn't this sound like something that could be used for traversal? A salmon or fish form for surfing, a fly or flying insect form for gliding or flying, a horse for faster traversal- if we throw in the squirrel, that could easily climb things, and the elderly woman could easily be worked in either as a villain, npc, or even integrated into a final form akin to Zygarde's 100% form.

So does the Pokemon transform? Does it work like Zygarde and have bits and pieces to collect? If it's Chaos, why would it help us?

That I'm unsure of. It may not even happen- but we do need a reason as to why suddenly Zygarde is okay with humans rebuilding Lumiose. And again, it could simply be trying to start shit, perhaps helping us retake a Lumiose reclaimed by nature as a way to simply piss off Zygarde. Of course, it could also be the enemy that took over Lumiose to begin with, or it could simply be a generic friend Pokemon, who knows.

It could even be that those forms mentioned earlier could be taken separately as new forms or special Pokemon akin to the likes of Wyrdeer or Kleavor. Or not at all of course.

We won't know jack until we get an actual trailer for the game itself, but I think that the red tinge in the title art could indicate something. Unclear what.

If I were to think of a name... Aosk? Like Chaos and Ratatosk. And the animal? A rat. On the nose, but snakes eat rats, and Zygarde is a snake. Duality, bitches.

We can probably assume AZ will be here since he's cursed with immortality, and we can't ignore the fact that Z-A is AZ backwards. So whatever it is, legendary A might have something to do with him as well.

In fact, now that I think about it, that red tinge does match the color of the canon... what if this was a Pokemon directly created as a result of the canon?

Anyway that's all my rambling.

[the-exhausted-xexandaler]

So who’s the Hawk/Eagle/other bird of prey in Hazbin Hotel’s lore? Is it Lillith? Oh wait, should step back a little…

So who here knows about Yggdrasil? Almost all of you I shouldn’t wonder. But here’s something I noticed about a few of the characters. Specifically two of the powerhouses; Lucifer and Alastor.

Lucifer is obviously based on Lucifer from Christianity, the Angel that fell and became one of the defacto demons running the show, but he’s also depicted as the snake that gave Eve the Apple of Enlightenment. So he’s a snake (technically a shape shifter but go with me on this).

Alastor seems to be based on a Wendigo, a messed up human transformed into a venison like beast by canabalism (to put it bluntly). So we have a deer/elk/moose? right here.

Around Yggdrasil, the tree that is the foundation of the universe in Norse mythos, there are three well known beings that opporate the balance. Well… technically 6, but you’ll see what I’m getting at in a moment.

So we have Lucifer, a snake which could be in relation to Niðhõggr ir better known as ‘Nidhogg’ that guards the roots, an unnamed Eagle that protects the branches, and there are four Stags (an animal similar to deer and elk) named Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór that guard the base of the tree, the trunk if you would. Now while Alastor is a single being, he does in his own way four beings at least. Himself, his shadow (which can move independently), Husker and Niffty, the latter two he holds the souls of in his palm.

Both Lucifer and Alastor have a bit of a rivalry in the episode Dad Beat Dad, so is it not fair to say that this Unnamed Eagle may be someone else relevant to Charlies life?

That’s all I can do for now. Gotta get to work.

Have a good Monday on my fellows of the fanbase.

[losttimpactt]

Mythological Deer - Four Stags of Yggdrasil

“Yggdrasil is a massive sacred tree, around which all life exists. Many creatures live inside it, including four deer: Dáinn “The Dead One”, Dvalinn “The Unconscious One”, Duneyrr “Thundering in the Ear” and Duraþrór “Thriving Slumber”. They are said to crane their necks upwards to browse the branches, while morning dew gathers in their antlers to form rivers. Interpretations are debated, scholars theorize they could represent the four elements, the four seasons, or the phases of the moon. A similar function is served by a singular deer, Eikþyrnir, who resides atop Valhalla.”

🔴 KO-FI

⚫ COMMISSION INFO

[kekkuda]

Duraþrórs Prosesjon

[hopefulkidshark]

Tattoo

A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, and/or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing processes and techniques, including hand-tapped traditional tattoos and modern tattoo machines. The history of tattooing goes back to Neolithic times, practiced across the globe by many cultures, and the symbolism and impact of tattoos varies in different places and cultures.

Tattoo - Wikipedia

What is the meaning of Yggdrasil

Yggdrasill, in Norse mythology, the world tree, a giant ash supporting the universe. It is closely related to the tree of life, a motif found across many cultures, and the tree of knowledge, which was said to grow in the Garden of Eden in Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam).

The world tree, Yggdrasill: Norse god Odin (left) approaching the god Mimir's well beneath the world tree, Yggdrasill.

In Norse mythology, Yggdrasill is an enormous ash tree that connects the nine worlds, including the underworld (Niflheim), the earth (Midgard), and the realm of the gods (Asgard). Yggdrasill is associated with both life and death: it acts as a gallows that the god Odin hangs himself from in order to gain mystical knowledge, and it is said to be the source of new life after Ragnarök (Doomsday), the catastrophic final war of the gods.

Yggdrasill | World Tree, Nine Realms, Norse Gods | Britannica

Yggdrasil

"The Ash Yggdrasil" (1886) by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine, Yggdrasil (1895) by Lorenz Frølich, The norns Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld beneath the world tree Yggdrasil (1882) by Ludwig Burger.

"Norns" (1832) from Die Helden und Götter des Nordens, oder das Buch der Sagen

Yggdrasil (from Old Norse Yggdrasill) is an immense and central sacred tree in Norse cosmology. Around it exists all else, including the Nine Worlds

Yggdrasil is attested in the Poetic Edda compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and in the Prose Edda compiled in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In both sources, Yggdrasil is an immense ash tree that is central to the cosmos and considered very holy. The gods go to Yggdrasil daily to assemble at their traditional governing assemblies. The branches of Yggdrasil extend far into the heavens, and the tree is supported by three roots that extend far away into other locations; one to the well Urðarbrunnr in the heavens, one to the spring Hvergelmir, and another to the well Mímisbrunnr. Creatures live within Yggdrasil, including the dragon Níðhöggr, an unnamed eagle, and the stags Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór.

Scholars generally consider Hoddmímis holt, Mímameiðr, and Læraðr to be other names for the tree. The tree is an example of sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, and scholars in the field of Germanic philology have long discussed its implications.

Yggdrasil - Wikipedia

[arcanelore]

Well, happy new year!

I’m collaborating on a few projects, one of which has a “magic tree”. I don’t know that it’s an overdone trope, but I can think of a few in fantasy literature, and literature in general.

So here are my favourite “magic trees” from literature, mythology and pop culture. This list is certainly not exhaustive or comprehensive, just ones that I could think of..

Yggdrasill

The world tree of Norse Mythology.

It’s probably the grand dad of the Tolkien mythical trees. Yggdrasil is attested in the Poetic Edda compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and in the Prose Edda compiled in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In both sources, Yggdrasil is an immense ash tree that is central to the cosmos and considered very holy. The gods go to Yggdrasil daily to assemble at their traditional governing assemblies. The branches of Yggdrasil extend far into the heavens, and the tree is supported by three roots that extend far away into other locations; one to the well Urðarbrunnr in the heavens, one to the spring Hvergelmir, and another to the well Mímisbrunnr. Creatures live within Yggdrasil, including the dragon Níðhöggr, an unnamed eagle, and the stags Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór. For the record it is an Ash tree.

White Tree of Gondor

First White Tree

The first White Tree of Gondor came from a fruit that Isildur stole from Nimloth the Fair, before it was was destroyed. Isildur brought the sapling to Middle-earth and eventually planted it in Minas Ithil before his house. But when Sauron returned to Middle-earth, he attacked and captured Minas Ithil in SA 3429, destroying the White Tree. Isildur escaped, again taking a sapling with him.

Second White Tree

In TA 2 while in Minas Anor instructing his nephew Meneldil in rulership, Isildur planted the sapling of the White Tree in memory of his brother, Anárion. This White Tree stood until TA 1636, when the Great Plague spread across Gondor and the tree died.

Third White Tree

A third sapling was planted in TA 1640 by King Tarondor. After the line of the Kings failed the tree never bore fruit and seldom flowered and finally withered and died in TA 2872 at the death of the Ruling Steward Belecthor II. At this time no seedling of the tree was found, and the dead tree was left standing "until the King returns.”

Fourth White Tree

Following his coronation as King of Gondor, Aragorn was taken by Gandalf to a hallow on the slopes of Mindolluin. There, Aragorn found a sapling of the White Tree. The dead tree was removed from the court and placed in the Houses of the Dead, and Aragorn planted the sapling in its place. In June of TA 3019, the tree bloomed.

The Christian Tree of Forbidden Knowledge

Whether you consider it sacred or mythical, the Tree in the center of the Garden of Eden has to be considered on your list of important trees.

In Judaism and Christianity, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is one of two specific trees in the story of the Garden of Eden in Genesis 2–3, along with the tree of life. Alternatively, some scholars have argued that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is just another name for the tree of life.

Spell: Tree Merge

Fyvrian Level VI

Author: Dennis

Caster is able to physically merge his body and consciousness into a tree of at least his body size or greater.

While merged caster can cast spells, use Psionic abilities IF he is of high enough ability to maintain consciousness

CS: Duration until actively ended by caster. Maintains consciousness

MS:Duration up to SI: days Maintains consciousness

MF: duration SI ROUNDS. Does NOT maintain consciousness

CF: duration indeterminate. Douse NOT maintain consciousness.

SI:30+ maintains consciousness, even with MF

SI:55+ can extend perception through tree body.

SI:85+can extend perception through root network. Maintains consciousness, even with CF

Speed:15-SB

[lpbestiary]

In Norse mythology, the four harts are a quartet of stags who eat among the branches of Yggrasil, the world tree. The harts - named Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór - must crane their necks to get at the tree's branches.

There is much debate as to what the four harts represent. Most commonly, they are speculated to symbolise the four natural elements, the four seasons or the phases of the moon.

Image source.

Monster master list.

Suggest a spook.

[poeticnorth]

Im upto about 55 now. I've written so far for:

Thor (1)

Rán (5)

Eir (2)

The Nine Daughters of Rán and Ægir (1)

Sól (1)

Skadi (1)

Freya (3)

Týr (1)

Loki (1)

Freyr (2)

Bragi (1)

Idunn (1)

Nótt (2)

Dagr (1)

Jorð (1)

Vidar (1)

Hoðr (1)

Máni (1)

Baldur (2)

Nanna (1)

Ymir (1)

Hermod (1)

Sif (1)

Thrúd (1)

Magni (1)

Modi (1)

Ægir (1)

Frigg (1)

Njord (1)

Heimdall (1)

The Valkyries (1)

The Elves (1)

The Dwarfs (1)

Hel (2)

Odin (6)

The Nornir (1)

Austri, Vestri, Norðri and Suðri (1)

Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór (1)

On the to write list currently are:

Jarnsaxa (but I might make this to the Nine Mothers of Heimdall, so Jarnsaxa would still be included)

Askr and Embla (maaaaaybe)

Snær

Kári

Logi

Gullveig

Who else am I missing? (Some of the ones that I've already written for might get at least one more written for them, depending on if inspiration let's me)

Just when I think I'm close to finishing The Great Heathen Hymn Book™️ (working title), I find yet more figures and deities to include.

[underthepyramids]

Heidrún & Durathrór. A little elk and a wee goat I recently crafted to commemorate fifteen years of friendship. Thank you so much @midwintercrone for your trust and for this beautiful project 🖤 Samantha recently opened @midwinteratelier where she crafts with natural fabrics and recycled materials 🌿 Both pieces are my personal interpretation and not copied on any petroglyph. . . . . #underthepyramids #portablemagick #Heidrun #Duraþrór #Durathror #petroglyph #petroglyphs #NordicBronzeAge #Norse #norsesymbols (at Paris, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFNRjC-HdGC/?igshid=1c2e1afl3gk3f

[the-twilight-sword]

The Winds in Genshin Impact

These are some thoughts I've had after my last post about the archangels and the cardinal directions. It'll be required reading.

There is much to be said about the wind as it pertains to Mondstadt lore. The Venti, Roman wind gods who were based on the Greek Anemoi , are referenced by the Four Winds of Mondstadt. The foremost of these were the cardinal directions. Their names were Boreas (Aquilo), Zephyrus (Favonius), Notus (Auster), and Eurus (Vulturnus).

A great source of knowledge on these gods and their lesser companions is the Tower of the Winds in Athens. The tower further fits Mondstadt themes, as it is the only surviving clock tower of classical antiquity. It also features a depiction of a compass rose; another Mondstadt theme.

Relating to this is the Watchtowers of John Dee, tutelary spirits associated with angels and the cardinal directions. The Mondstadt Tower is a Book Collection found in the Thousand Winds Temple and the Knights of Favonius headquarters. And of course, we know Decarabian's tower at the centre of Stormterror's Lair.

It's also speculated that the harts of Norse myth, Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór represent the four winds and cardinal directions.

I predict that in Natlan, with the Masters of the Night Wind, we'll get references to the Bacab, another set of four wind deities.

In Hinduism, the guardians of the cardinal directions are called the Lokapālas (लोकपाल). You remember Lokapala jungle in Sumeru. Three of the four principle deities are referenced in Genshin- Varuna of the West being the Traveler's sibling, Morax being Kubera of the North, and Indra of the East being Raiden Ei. Only Yama of the South isn't referenced.

In the Ars Goetia, varying from copy-to-copy, we also get four kings of the cardinal directions; Amaymon for the East, Corson for the West, Ziminiar for the North, and Gaap for the South.

[arsuf]

God of War  ▪  Photomode (2/?) // Flickr

[darthtalon89]

A day late but yesterday was #Yggdrasil #OldNorse #norsecosmology #sacredtree #NineWorlds #PoeticEdda #ProseEdda #ashtree #centertothecosmos #Urðarbrunnr #Hvergelmir #Mímisbrunnr #Níðhöggr #Dáinn #Dvalinn #Duneyrr #Duraþrór #Hoddmímisholt #Mímameiðr #Læraðr to be other names for the tree #paganism #mythology #norseuniversetree #cowmos https://www.instagram.com/p/CPOg_x3HDqG/?utm_medium=tumblr