#finding out the truth about baldr

[goldensunset]

khdr.... *collapses and dies*

[mrpristineblade]

Our third! The thunker, Voice of the Skeptic! Not a lotta doodles this time, but certainly a lotta symbolism behind his design!

My general theme was "katabasis", a mythological story about a hero who has to descent into the underworld.

Usually to help someone down there escape (like a certain imprisoned princess we might be familiar with) or to ask for wisdom/knowledge from the dead (like a certain remnant of a dead person we might be familiar with).

From there I just started grabbing whatever facets of these heroes I wanted to use:

Most of my inspiration came from the Mesopotamian goddess Inanna (more popularly known as Ishtar), because her clothing was a key component in her descent. She had to wear many layers, which were then stripped from her with every layer of the underworld she entered, including a turban, a palla dress (it became more of a makeshift pallium without the hood, because of how awkward the palla looked with the turban), a lapis lazuli necklace (became a key chain for the same reasons), A pectoral (why it has a keyhole, I'll get to later wink wink) and a lapis lazuli measuring rod.

Though it doesn't really look like your typical measuring rod, does it? It's more like a golden branch. Or, as Virgil would describe it, the Golden Bough. A golden bough Trojan/Roman hero Aeneas had to find on a tree to allow his descent.

My main motif between designs is that, because the Long Quiet is depicted as a collection of wings, all the voices need a pair of wings. Skeptic has butterfly wings and moth fur on his head, a reference to Psyche, who became Greek goddess of the soul after having also traveled to the underworld and back. I guess you can also see the soul as the true self hidden underneath and Skeptic loves his truths.

Lastly, we're going up north to the Norse/Germanic side of mythology. There we meet Baldr, a divine ball of sunshine who was protected from every form of harm by his mother, making him indestructible... except against mistletoe. It was Loki who figured out a way around the rules (like Skeptic did with the head) by guiding Baldr's blind brother Hodr to unbeknowingly shoot Baldr in the heart with an arrow of mistletoe, leading him to become trapped in the underworld. Except I made it a keyhole for recognizability sake. Skeptic, in this situation, being the one vulnerable to trickery due to a lack of information, both as the blind shooter and the shot, which gets us in the Drowned Grey.

Hero/Contrarian/Skeptic(you're here!)

[sigyn-foxyposts]

Smite!Loki analysis! (Spoilers for The official smite comics)

I haven't made this kind of post about smite Loki before because he genuinely scares me. Look at this face, I have good reason to be. No, but in all seriousness my question is what is wrong with him? Why are you the way you are sir?

YOU MAKE ME GO FERAL AGHHH-

Anyways I find this version of his character so interesting and I need to learn more about him. But we don't have THAT much honesty.

So let's start with my biggest question! I apologize if I am all over the place.

What happened between him and his children to the point jormungandr and fenrir ended up hating him so much? We don't know what happend between them but luckily we have Hel. They made it very obvious in the comics what kind of father he is to her at that point in time, what their dynamic is ect.

At this point we know he has already killed Baldr and been punished for it, hence the black scarring on his face. (Sigyn where are you?)

Loki and Hel worked together to obtain Zeus's Thunderbolt only for Loki to take it for himself when Hel needed it to free Fenrir.

What does Loki do with it? Have create chaos and scare people!

He might be a little unhinged after his torment but he is clearly trying to stop Hel from helping her brother.

Also when Hel does confront Loki they end up getting into a fight, something Hel was willing to do keeping Fenrir in mind and the things Loki tells her.. I want to assume is a heat of the moment thing.

Something clearly happend between these two in the past for Hel to insist they go through with the plan and Loki is like: "No that's insane!"

Also what's up with this plan they keep bringing up? I'm pretty sure it's about them starting Ragnarok since Hel's only goal is to free Fenrir and start Ragnarok. Even though it has been stated in the game that Hel has the ability to choose a different path other than to the propechy tied to her since birth.

Out of nowhere though, after Hel manipulates the other gods into stopping Loki and convince them she's on their side. Loki suddenly starts speaking the truth about what Hel is doing even though he could've sooner? (He was too busy beating up other gods and insulting them)

Maybe it's a way to save his ass but it came across to me as him being genuine at the same time, despite causing so much chaos himself. Do you think he is ashamed about his kids? Heck, even afraid of them with the way he doesn't want to start Ragnarok previously calling it insane?

Also not to forget he says they're monsters. He is basically agreeing with the other gods. But then again he is CRAZY AF to the point he has embraced the negativity..

Perfect timing to move onto his character!

I only have his mythical counterpart to base off what could've happend to him (even though it's very obvious) because they keep referencing Sigyn and his punishment.

Also Sleipnir! (they're yet to be shown and we still don't have a trace of Narfi and Vali + Angrboda was only hinted at in a joke voice line of a Loki skin 💀)

So personally to me, it's giving: He is an alternative version of myth Loki but if Ragnarok didn't happen and he went mad.

You can't tell me he is obviously left with all his trauma and scars. This Loki is unhinged, cruel and a broken image of his former self. He is a masochist, embracing what previously burnt and ruined his face, the poison that hurt him. It's all he apparently needs. He is proud to be what children fear at night. (Me too, I'm afraid of you/j)

What hits harder is that he seems to hate what he has become to an extent, with how he fought himself in his dko god reveal. Though he did trick Hercules to his death (Uhm..poor guy?? 😭)

Maybe I'm overreacting or over analysing this but why else would they add that in the way they did? To show he can't be trusted, not even with himself? That would make the most sense, right? 🤨

If I had to have a therapy session with this guy he would definitely have some issues. Don't make me fill in the gaps here hirez, I'm too used to doing this..💔😭

YOU UGLY MAN I HATE YOU (ILY THO)

[broomsick]

UPG’s of what some of the Gods could want to help you with!

These are all completely personal thoughts, and I am aware they may not mirror your own experiences at all. They don’t have much historical accuracy, which is why I’ve labeled them “UPG’s”. I haven’t experienced each and every one of these as manifestations of deity blessings, but I have experienced some. The rest is conjecture based on the God’s “domains” (the areas of influence they are generally associated with), as well as their personalities and the interests I’ve come to associate each of them with. Feel free to take any of these to heart, as well as to add your own UPG’s.

Th��rr: developing pride in yourself and your accomplishments, learning to let go of worries and have fun every once in a while. He brings about a feeling of absolute safety and He’s always come to soothe me after difficult events.

Óðinn: making important life decisions, learning new skills and trying out new things, finding ways to acquire wisdom, learning to truly listen to others but also to your own instinct. His presence is an extremely calming one, and He opens your senses to the world around you.

Freyja: feeling comfortable in one’s body, helping one show their affection to their loved ones, accepting hard truths and overcoming them. She’s also a good teacher when it comes to developing magical crafts such as spells and potions.

Frigg: She can provide a lot of comfort and love, and She can help you accept and deal with difficult changes in your lives. She’s also a great help when it comes to family matters.

Yngvi-Freyr: appreciating the land you live on and its gifts, seeing the beauty in the world, developing gardening and cooking skills. Just like Thórr, He is very keen on cheering you up when you’re feeling down. He is also a great help when it comes to matters of wealth, material possessions, and financial stability.

Skaði: fighting off seasonal depression, finding warmth and comfort during winter, enjoying the season either alone or with friends and family. In my experience, she’s great at helping you stay level-headed and emotionally stable.

Týr: defending one’s values and opinions, staying true to oneself, but also learning to find compromise to settle disputes, accepting differences in others. He’s a great help when it comes to making the necessary sacrifices to reach one’s goals.

Eir: overcoming illness/injury, keeping oneself safe and watching out for loved ones, and helping others in general, by becoming involved in one’s community or by starting volunteering activities, for example.

Heimdallr: improving one’s willpower, observational skills and intuition. He is, amongst other things, a symbol of transition, which is why He is helpful when it comes to tackling important transitions in one’s life.

Baldr: seeing beauty in the mundane, nurturing happiness, learning to act spontaneously and in the spirit of adventure, appreciating the people around you, rediscovering and caring for one’s “inner child”.

Loki: developing one’s self-confidence, letting go of worries, finally acting instead of waiting, learning to detach oneself from others’ opinions, finding pleasure and passion again.

Iðunn: improving one’s connection to spirituality, nurturing and acting on creativity, finding inspiration, keeping one’s heart and mind peaceful, learning to calm oneself, spreading kindness.

Hel: She can help one mourn, accept death and be at peace with it, as well as tame their fears. Just like Óðinn, the lessons She teaches can be heard in Her silence: Her presence is extremely calming and quiet, but She has much to teach.

Njörðr: helping one’s wealth prosper, appreciating the gifts of the sea, improving one’s connection to the ocean, practicing sea magic and developing such crafts that are connected to the sea.

[sigynsilica]

I find it so fascinating that Odin is the textbook definition of "you better educate yourself, but never too much".

He spends the first half of the cycle willing to do basically everything and anything just to Know More Things! Learn All The Things! I need to impale myself and hang myself upside down from the world tree for nine days in order to learn my letters? YOU BETCHA COMING RIGHT UP!!! I would literally rather be half-blind than pass up an opportunity to Know Things!!!

And dude honestly same.

But then something changes. And there's a part of that which comes from Frigg, but a lot of it is himself.

He learns too much.

Potentially, it's when he learns about his son's foretold death, or Ragnarok in general. And when he hears about these things, he can't help but panic. After all, he's the All father. What kind of father would he be if he can't protect his own son from a threat he can see coming? And the worst part is, as he scrambles to make use of the knowledge he's been given, he's only setting what he has learned in deeper stone. If he'd never known of Ragnarok, he never would've bound Loki and their children, and Ragnarok might not have even happened. Well, that's not the case. Ragnarok is inevitable. But the point remains.

All his efforts to stop what he knew was coming were completely futile.

I wonder if he regrets learning. I would.

Beyond that, though, he both knows too much, and not enough. In his desperation to protect everything he knows and loves, he lashes out and hurts others, and doesn't stop to ponder if it would be better to permanently tie up Loki's son with an invincible cord, or if he could just tell all the Asgardians to quit throwing random shit at Baldr.

One of those options would've been helpful. So perhaps it's not that he knew too much, but that he misused the knowledge he did receive.

Either way, knowledge is not innocent. It's heavy, and it's baffling. It reminds me of something Fredrick Douglass mentioned in his book. I don't remember the actual quote, but the sentiment expressed is that sometimes, Fredrick regretted learning to read. He half-wished he never had, especially while he was still in bondage, because now that he had that education, he was able to understand the full extent to which his situation sucked, and that's always a hard place to be in. That's really tough, and it's very discouraging. You know how bad everything is, but it's much harder to know what you should do about it.

But, on the other hand, realizing you're in a really bad place is the first step to getting out of it.

Knowledge is heavy. It's a big responsibility. And it's not for the faint of heart. Odin thought he could handle knowing All The Things, but when you don't know what you don't know, you don't know how heavy the knowing can be. You can't concieve of it until you learn, and then it's too late.

We're all on a learning curve though, and sometimes we'll handle information badly. Sometimes we'll hurt others because you don't know how to handle the truth we've uncovered. Sometimes the truth is a terrible thing.

But it's up to you to decide whether it's worth knowing.

[valorxdrive]

So seeing how I didn't turn down my theory kitchen stove just yet. More of the Dark Road reflections has led to one more possible revelation.

Primarily on this Children of Destiny concept, which are basically connectors/amplifiers for the power of emotion and in turn, primal forces of light and darkness.

There was a segment eased on during the finale which the Player spoke of some particulars.

And I believe this isn't solely on the basis of just natural growth and views of the world. In particular, these individuals hold a risk of succumbing easier than average if they don't have a strong foundation, if they only draw in this massive branch of negativity, in many ways, we'll get ourselves a situation like this.

There was a certain conversation that Xehanort had with the darkness that ensnared Baldr, and in particular, I want these details to meet the eye in terms of how a great part of KH's history with Keyblade wielders and what they fought went down.

For this newly born darkness to point this out, it says a lot to me as they expand on what follows.

Not just in Xehanort's case, but everyone he's been involved with from the classes, it's through this devotion and the gritter undercurrent that never been tackled through their devotion to duty, all of these dark emotions managed to find life through Baldr with his heart being a possessable catalyst. This isn't all that we come to learn through this exchange either, there's another truth it introduces to what's likely going to be part of the penultimate enemies of the series.

The try and true method of why they work the way they do. How scheming, manipulation and playing about the vulnerability of the hearts grants them new power and more in number. In particular, what they enjoy aiming for is those around the circle of the Child of Destiny in question, giving them little choice around their trusted by to take in these agonies.

This in turn leads to the main line of my thoughts here. Children of Destiny may be a particular and famous target for the insidious forces. Transforming them by transforming their surroundings, their people, creating the perfect breeding grounds for them to amplify that darkness into a new strain of power. In short, we're getting a better look at their war winning strategy back within the old days.

And it's all coming to a head with the modern age meeting the past.

[beastenraged]

make me evil instead

(KHDR Werewolf AU)

There are two ways to become a werewolf. A beast to be hunted and destroyed, before it in turn destroys the world. 

One: to be bit by a werewolf, cursed by the Darkness running through veins and saliva into your own blood. You scream and cry and scratch at yourself as you transform under the full moon’s light, curse calling out to that same moon with an unbreakable cry. 

To be bitten is to be scarred horribly. A Dark scar that shall never fade. 

Two: to be born a werewolf. This is much rarer than the spreading curse, although much more Dark. Because those that are werewolves from the very womb are the worst kind of monsters, the teachers say. They choose to give into their evil and kill. Slaughter without remorse, for they were born without such. 

Born werewolves are never marked. Stories claim it’s impossible for them to be scarred at all, outside very rare circumstances and events. 

Neither kind can be spared. Both must be killed, to save humanity from the Darkness beyond Scala ad Caelum’s gates. 

Such has been the truth passed down from the very founder himself, the first great Hunter. Ephemer, who legend claims had to slay his own love after they fell victim to the werewolf curse. 

If the Founder can be so strong...then it is only right that all future Hunters should be same in conduct. Right?

-

Baldr looks at his naked body in a full length mirror. Not a single scar to see. Not a single wound that’s still recovering. Blank like fresh canvas waiting to be painted upon. 

Not a single bitemark to be seen. 

He lets out a heavy breath. Which means...

Baldr lifts one hand. In the mirror, that same hand swiftly becomes furred. Clawed. A werewolf’s paw, with fur as white as his hair. 

The mark of the Dark. 

A Darkness he can never hope to cured of, one that he was born with. 

Should he lose control, he’ll destroy everything he’s ever cared about. His sister, his friends, his city...everything. 

But. He can stop it. He has to stop it. 

All he has to...

“Never bite anyone,” he whispers to his reflection, just as blue eyed as ever. “And no one will ever find out.”

(Ever find out how evil he truly is, on the inside.)

-

Resisting the urge to bite...Baldr doesn’t quite manage it in the end. 

It is far too easy to sink fangs into his sister’s too still body, with the knowledge that werewolf healing will easily take care of those otherwise lethal wounds. 

Easier still to bite her classmates, also covered in blood and injured by the great dragon they foolishly sought to challenge. To shred them like so much meat. 

The Darkness within and the darkness creeping into his eyes from his too weak body...

Both overcome him, in that cave. 

-

He opens his eyes to a room whiter than any other he’s been in before. Back in his human form. 

Master Odin’s voice echoes from the other side. “Ah, I see you’re finally awake, Baldr.”

Baldr bears his teeth. But doesn’t let the Darkness overcome him. Not yet. 

“Why haven’t you killed me? Aren’t I the terrible werewolf?”

“...Baldr, you are of Scala ad Caelum’s original lineages. That...cannot happen.”

Baldr feels his eyes widen. Those times in the past, those werewolves killed...they died because they didn’t have the right blood.

(Something stirs inside at the thought. Something Dark and hungry.)

“Where’s Hoder? Shouldn’t she be locked away too?” he cries out to his Master. 

“Your sister...” A pause. A hesitation. “Hoder sacrificed herself to protect the rest of us from her curse.”

Sacrificed. Sacrificed. 

(What a pretty name for suicide.)

He can’t tell if it’s the thoughts in his brain screaming or the sound is actually emitting from him. 

He can’t tell anything. 

(Only Darkness awaits him. Awaits them all.)

-

After that, well, Baldr can’t bring himself to care. 

Why should he? 

His own sister died rather than be anything like him. They’ll lock him away rather than admit anyone in Scala could possibly be a werewolf without a bite. 

But. They’re used to truly contrite cursed wolves. They’re used to weakness. 

Baldr is still strong. Stronger than ever, after expanding his pack. Even one more member increases his strength, an interesting fact about natural werewolves Baldr is sure they only mention to students as upperclassmen. 

(Even if his new packmate is...no longer here.)

All he has to do is...

His fangs are bared. He howls with laughter as the shoddy old wards give under his claws. 

Nothing can stop him now. Not his sister, not her classmates, not the Masters. 

No one. 

-

Far too easy to tag along his own class’ first Hunt for the upperclassman. Especially when the Masters haven’t told any of them what true fate befell their seniors. 

It almost makes Baldr laugh. 

Scratch that, Baldr does laugh as everyone splits up into pairs. Making it far too easy for him to hunt them down. 

Bite them. Force them to drown in the Darkness that dwells within him. Destroy the future of Scala ad Caelum’s Hunters in one final sweep. 

(Make them pack.)

He bites them all. Curses them all. Except Bragi, who bleeds out, oops, he bit a little too hard there, haha. 

Leaving only Eraqus and Xehanort left. 

The werewolf hater and the outsider. 

Harder to find than the others, the scent is strangely covered up. Much better than the others, never mind all the lessons they had on it. To avoid the monsters hunting them.

Well, Baldr’s the monster now. Those tricks don’t work on them. Yet, it’s still difficult. Takes time, to track them deep through these tall trees. 

Eventually he comes across them. Or he comes across Eraqus and another wolf. Standing between him and Eraqus. 

Yellow eyes. Silver fur. Just as silver as a certain someone’s hair and eyes. 

It’s...Xehanort. Xehanort, a werewolf!

Baldr can’t help the laugh that escapes his mouth, more of a howl. Eraqus flinches, but Xehanort doesn’t, yellow eyes steady on Baldr’s shaking form. 

(He can’t stop laughing. Howling.)

“You...you’re just like me!”

[the-firebird69]

My father asked me about Paul hesterberg in the study of the movie legend and his findings were that he can't tell the difference and you can't see that there are two actors playing the devil what we found is that's wrong and they look different from seed to scene and they the masks that don't look the same and they're plastic and it looks a lot different when you look at a small scale which should not happen and they were not changed on the set they said and the mask is still the same they can see which one it is because it's preserved. So he was not telling the truth but he knows that there's something funny going on there. Also he wants me to report on the status of some of the battles and I'm giving permission

-there's a giant battle against the clones and they are that's everybody practically is launching an offensive against them underground a huge offensive and it is against the clones and their bases what's remaining down there is very huge and what's remaining in the shifts is very huge and Tommy f is arrogant I'm in strange and is getting hit and stuff because his clothes are infighting and he's fighting them and he does not just how he is he used to how teeth as he used to it's really a word that means arrogant as he used to. Has diminished but not by 50% he has been attacked and it was for several days in a row and he has lost probably about 25% of his faces and not much more than that and he is losing more today the basis are numerous and huge there's probably a total of 25 very large basis and thus far he's lost only five of those and everybody said they're all gone and they're lying and people are trying to get ready and the also lost about 50 large bases out of 150 and they're pretty big at the very large bases are about 70 miles long not 700 but they are about 10 mi high and 20 miles wide and yeah they're a bunker and it is inside the tunnel on the bottom of it and they're very huge 70 is not very big is it now it's 700 yeah they're gigantic that's way too many uses 20 of those left is ridiculous and they were built about 15 to 20 years ago no it's they started about 50 years ago and the 700 club is what they are called and they rated those churches and they still are and a funny amazing number of clones with huge stories and they don't care for it and they are putting them in prison and they're getting more and more Intel every minute but these bases are being rated and hit and really there's a ton of stuff there and out of the medium you saw how many those bases are about 500 Miles by 20 mi high by 80 miles wide they're gigantic and put it in respective it's like 50 60x60x40 bunkers it's like a whole area and there's 150 of those left Bluetooth Earth has still twice as much as he does with regards to bonkers but if you come for the ships they are greatly outnumbered so they're going at it very hard and almost desperate and people are very angry there's some more information and I'm told up to date yes we are at war with Estella and he is coming down on us and so forth threatening us and we are stopping him cold he has medium bunkers about and they are about 400 MI by 20 mi high at 60 mi wide and that's another whole area but big ones so really totally he has about 2,000 areas and people think these will be defeated overnight and it's not the case they have managed to push most of their troops to the ships and they're calling troops from these bases and they're trying to stop them from going after the ones going after the ships and it's actually what it's driving it these bases are holding huge armies off of the ships up north what's going on all day and night and we're going to publish now this is extremely important

Baldr and Miele

And she said you have the spelling right finally and it means what it sounds like just like our other names and your names are a little cryptic but ours are not and accept his is a little bit it means to pummel someone

We're going to raise the demons we need them now is far too much stuff around here we need trespasser and knife Head very badly for concrete and right now and we have a lot of teams we sent to work on it and it is about the chocolate factory and they're fighting over it now a lot they see the plants there and they're still making it a little bit of chocolate not a ton and not much cokai mostly they dispose of it because they don't want to get in trouble we did see them they were burning it and the chocolate is really good and that's what the world famous for and it will change and huge armies are fighting over it and they will be raised shortly as will the devil and Lilith and that's our my mother-in-law

We're going to post now Olympus and we thank you both Hera Zeus

[pretty-weird-ideas]

Working off of this there’s a big piece of evidence that I think a lot of theories and analysis aren’t talking about. Which is that the Master of Masters is not a secret, and he is well known as a Messiah or Oracle figure in Keyblade society. The only people who are wary of the MoM are the people who are closest to him; who he has let the mask slip for. The common person who was in a union or reads the book isn’t going to know how reliable of a narrator he is. We know how well known the war is, and the fact that Odin is very well-versed in Pre-Scala history. I don’t find it difficult to see Odin and several others within Scala, being aware of the BoP’s meta, attempting to force it upon themselves. Such as sending Xehanort to Destiny Islands, tempting the upperclassmen with KH, and sending the underclassmen into an active mass murder scene without telling them. Sometimes the best-kept secret is the one you aren’t intending to hide. There's also a possibility that Xehanort is hidden from the public in order to make sure that he does not find out that the truth of the end of the book. That if he truly is the CoD that he loses, or mu

Vidar explicitly calls Xehanort the "Visitant", the Master of Masters calls him the "Singularity", Player calls him the "Child of Destiny", and Luxu/Xigbar calls him the "Scapegoat". They are clearly begging to make Xehanort fit into a slot that isn't just a funny name. It's prophesized or rumored to happen.

I think it also would work as an interesting parallel here since Daybreak leaders and society tried their hardest to keep the events in the book from happening. I can see Scala taking a completely different “it is what it is” route, hedging all of their bets on an unnamed and unidentified Child of Destiny. Where they basically absolve themselves from full responsibility and instead take to careful research rather than direct action. The demise and tragedy of Xehanort come from the attempt to not put their hands on fate itself. Luxu himself seemed to have been betting on him being the Child of Destiny, which is why he absolved himself from getting into the fight in the first place (outside of his orders). It would also explain why Xehanort is so obsessed with direct action, if he is the child of destiny he is the only one in Scala who is “authorized” to do something. Why Odin looks at Xehanort and just stands there as if he expects Eraqus to do nothing, as if he’s goading him into a role that he needs to play for the book to be correct.

I don’t think Xehanort and the possibility of the end of the book happening between Xehanort and Baldr is a kept secret. I just think people don’t talk about it. From what I can see it seems like both Odin and Luxu were banking on Xehanort changing fate like Sora did, and when he failed to do so, Luxu realizes that he could work on the other side of the problem. So Luxu begins to railroad him into becoming a Seeker of Darkness instead.

Just speeding through khdr cutscenes to find the darkness lore when I noticed something in chapter 7.

Vidar did make it back, and he very clearly told Master Odin everything about what happened. Then he gets told about Kingdom Hearts, which he wouldn’t know to fuck up literally everything to try and save Baldr. In that cutscene we also get the vibes of Baldr breached containment but now I’m not so sure. I think that Odin contained Baldr after finding out he was present and then sent the underclassmen out and contained Baldr on the same day make roughly every chapter a day.

So Odin lied to the underclassmen sending them to find the V gang while having Baldr locked up assumedly studying him like he told Vidar to do. He planted the idea of Kingdom Hearts in Vidar’s head and the underclassmen but for them it was more of an explanation as to what Vidar was doing.

I need to know who Odin really is, because everything he has done caused something to go wrong especially since I now think he knew what happened with the upperclassmen and Baldr and still sent out the underclassmen anyway without telling them anything, and this would mean that he already knew Hoder was dead when he gave the excuse of wasn’t going with them.

That’s just what I noticed and theorize.

[goldensunset]

imagine xeha and eraqus finding out the truth about bragi. it’s like

‘our friend is dead… :(‘

then it’s like ‘oh no he actually survived baldr didn’t get him he’s still out there! :D’

then it’s ‘but luxu did. a long time ago. we haven’t actually seen the real bragi in years, if ever. and even if we bonded with him whether he was a fake or not he’s still not coming back because he’s got a job to do and he doesn’t need us anymore’

[luxu-loveskh]

Welp i had a random story idea , so i am going to write it down. But keep in mind i am not the best in English and story writing , so hopefully the grammar is good ,enough to be understandable .

____________________________

Its been 1 week and 3 days since i first came here. Quadratum . If we count the one week i was unconscious,then it would be 2 weeks and 3 day.

I am still getting used to this new cycle .

Waking up in a unfamiliar place, smelling the smell of whatever kind of recipe strelitzia is trying out for breakfast. Baldrs silent footsteps,that always make me feel like hes trying to sneak up on me, when in truth hes just well very silent.

Today is just pretty much the same. I look out the window and just wonder who •×}÷ is . That name and person i know that its very important to me. But i just cant remember. Strelitzia aand Baldr said that losing some memories is normal and that they'll recover over time. And if they dont recover i might be able to find someone who i knew and they might help. " •×}÷ i just want to remember who you are", i mumbled.

”Sora”

I turned around a little bit shocked by the sudden noise and started smiling ,when i saw strelitzia and baldr standing at the door.

"do you want to come with us?" Baldr , i dont know much about him except for the fact that he came before i came and that he's a keybalde wielder, although he refuses to actually use his keyblade.

”there is a new bubble tea i want to try, and i thought since you didnt go outside yet , ut may be fun for you to come with us ” strelitzia smiled

"sure... But what's a bubble tea?"

”Youll see”

---------------------

Yesterday i arrived in quadratum, the place where sora is supposed to be. Ever sine ive been walking around and getting lost by this giant city....

Until at some moment a familiar face appeared infront of me.

"luxord?"

Luxord smiled at me.

"hello riku and welcome to quadratum. I am indeed luxords somebody but it would be nice if you called me dolur ."

I'll try...

"a right here" luxo- i mean Dolur (rikuyouhadonejob-) gave me a key and a piece of paper with something written on it "this may seem a little bit fast but this is a adress and house number from a place where you can live in if its ok for you. There are many people like you here ,that came from the other world after death. The organisation i work for speciallises in helping these people out." There was a distant car hooping sound"Coming in a bit! If you need anything you can call the handy number written on the paper. I'll pick up right away , its the least i can do after giving you guys such a trouble through org 14. Anyway have a nice day riku." I nodded as thanks while watching dolur as he walked to his car.

This was indeed very quick...

I stuffed the key and paper into my jacket. when i turned around i could not belive my own eyes. To think it would be this easy. I walked up to him.

---------------------

Strelitzia, Baldr and me finaly reached the shop and ordered the drink. Since i was a but overwhelmed by the huge selection strelitzia decided for me. A bubble tea called tropical fruits. It tastes good , like home. ... I hate this its so familiar it made me tear up... •×}÷ ...

I noticed someone standing behind me. Strelitzia put on an 'angry ' face, probably trying to intimidate whoever was behind me. While baldr completly ignored the situation whike drinking his tea.

I turned around and....

•×}÷... that's him the person i couldn't remember.... •×}u...... R×}u.... "Riku!"

My 'tearing up' from earlier turned into actual tears. Riku he-He cried to.

"sora! "

My body moved on its own. I hugged riku and he hugged me. "Sora! I found you"

Yes... Riku found me... Riku .. i am so happy to remember this lovely name.

".... So sora are you going to explain who this is or -?"

"ah" i stopped hugging riku and turned around to baldr.

"I am one of soras friends"

"seems more then friends to- aghk!" Strelitzia kicked baldr for some reason.

”its nice to see that you two where able to reunite , and i can see that you where able to catch soras bubble tea that he dropped"

Wait what my tea is right he- ah my hands are empty .... Riku is indeed holding the bubble tea.

*haha yeah im used to having sora randomly dropping things"

"th-that doesnt matter right now! How about we go back to the apartment !"

"good idea..." Baldr started walking home.

Strelitzia followed while winking us to follow . I looked at riku and he looked at me... We both started to follow strelitzia.

Hes here riku. I am happy

_____________________

[godsofhumanity]

i'm not "ignoring the truth because i don't like it". i've already said previously that i acknowledge the essential role Loki plays as a trickster in the myths. i love reading myths, i know why tricksters are there, i get it. i did not, and have not said anywhere that Loki is the great big bad, i simply said that he's, in general, not a very nice guy (you can disagree with me if you want, it's just an opinion).

your first point feels strange to me because yes, while the gods did agree to the bet with the builder to begin with, it was Loki himself who advised that the builder should be allowed to have his horse Svadilfari help him:

...(the builder) asked that they would give him leave to have the help of his stallion, which was called Svadilfari; and Loki advised it, so that the wright's petition was granted. (Gylfaginning)

naturally, since Loki was the one who advocated for Svadilfari to aid the builder, it fell onto Loki's shoulders to do what he should in order to make the sure the gods won the bet and not the builder. so, was Loki "trying to help the gods with the problems they made"? yes, kind of, but i feel like that's not the whole truth... furthermore, we know Loki could transform himself into just about anything, anytime.. so my personal question is- why didn't Loki just transform back?

about Loki's children. true, Hel, Jormungandr and Fenrir were thrown out of Asgard. to us, people of the modern world who understand that the sins of the father are not the sins of the child, it seems like a terrible and cruel thing to do. but for Odin, king of the gods, he had a responsibility to protect his subjects and his land, and given the nature of Loki's children, the track record of Loki himself, and the fact that there were prophecies clearly stating that these kids would be bad news for Asgard, wouldn't you also have been just slightly suspicious/cautious about inviting these giant children into your home? even so, for what it's worth, though Jormungandr was immediately cast out, Odin still gave Hel an entire domain to rule over, and in the beginning, the gods, particularly Tyr, did their best to raise Fenrir. of course, the paranoia of prophecy eventually got the better of everyone and thus, the relations between Loki's children and the gods naturally fell apart. i'm not going to make a comment on whether what Odin did was right or wrong, but i honestly don't think the options available to him were that black and white.

about Sleipnir. i've heard it been said many many times that Loki offered Sleipnir to Odin as a gift, though, admittedly, i've had a hard time finding texts that explain exactly how Sleipnir came to be Odin's steed. still, i couldn't find evidence to support that Odin might've "robbed" Loki of Sleipnir either, so i guess this one's up to personal interpretation.

now, about Vali. i've said before that the death of Vali is one of the most awful and terrible things to happen in any myth ever. i'm with you on this one- no matter the things Loki had done, i don't believe anyone deserved something so graphic. yet, ignoring the question of morality, i do feel it's important to remember that this scene only takes place during the binding of Loki- i.e., it takes place after eons of Loki hanging around Asgard and pulling stupid pranks and murders... it's the final straw, the accumulation of eons of pain and betrayal that the Asgardians would've felt as a result of Loki's shenanigans. it was Baldr's death that pushed the Asgardians to do this.. you spoke of the Asgardians taking Loki's children, but Loki took Asgard's child as well. Baldr was the most beloved of all the gods, and still Loki killed him... the Asgardians, at the very least, had reasons for casting out Loki's kids. what reason did Loki have for killing Baldr? i'm sure that that must've been one of the darkest days in Asgard. not to mention the indirect deaths Loki caused with Baldr's- Nanna (his wife) dies, and Hodr (filled with regret) is also killed as punishment. in a world where an "eye for an eye" is the way, it's pretty easy to understand why Loki had to suffer so terribly. it wasn't unjustified.

Sigyn is an interesting character, but so little of her is actually recorded. we have no idea how she felt about Loki, how they got married, what she thought about the Asgardians. she might've stayed with Loki because she was his wife, and that was her duty. it doesn't mean that she loved him. it doesn't mean that she supported him. the only thing we can truly confidently conclude from Sigyn staying by Loki's side is that she had respect for the sanctity of marriage and was committed to her role as a wife.

as for the adultery committed by Thor and Odin. i don't think it's fair to say that Loki's murdering and lying is alright because he's just conforming to his role as a trickster in myth, but Thor and Odin's extramarital relations are not alright even though they're also just conforming to the standards of the society at the time. for most Norse societies, adultery wasn't considered that bad if a man did it- it was terrible if a woman did though (i feel that this is part of the reason why half of Loki's insults towards the goddesses in the Lokasenna are accusations of adultery). even with a marriage, a woman's consent wasn't usually required for marriage. we consider these things to be "horrible shit" now, sure, but we're looking at it from a modern lens.

now Freyr. Freyr never threatened Gerdr into marrying him, though i do acknowledge that Freyr's servant, Skirnir, resolves to threatening Gerdr. this could be perceived as Freyr being the one to make the threats, but in the Lokasenna, Tyr praises Freyr as one who does not threaten women, and it makes me question whether Freyr knew or would have approved of the way Skirnir spoke to the woman he loves so deeply:

Of the heroes brave | is Freyr the best

Here in the home of the gods;

He harms not maids | nor the wives of men,

And the bound from their fetters he frees. (Lokasenna)

i suppose the credibility of Tyr's testimony all comes down to whether you think Tyr, and indeed the rest of the gods, are reliable narrators or not. personally, i choose to think that they are "decently" reliable narrators.. they don't have a reason to lie, whereas Loki is obviously in a situation where he's purposefully trying to antagonise everyone and cause discord (his first move upon coming into the hall in the Lokasenna is quite literally to kill one of the servants), so there is reason for him to lie and be unreliable.

anyhow, i am by no means trying to say that Asgard is perfect and Loki's pure evil. this is mythology- nobody's perfect, everyone has their shitty moments. i'm not trying at all to make Loki look like the "worst of the worst". the original question was "Do you HATE every version of Loki tho?" and i was just explaining why i dislike him. it wasn't really a targeted attack or anything, but i guess that's the cool thing about mythology- that so many different people can have so many different takes and understandings of the same story.

so yeah. hope that explained my take on this a bit better and sorry to have written so much ahahahahah i got caught up in it.

Do you hate EVERY version of Loki tho?

wdym every "version"? i dont like his general actions in myth

[sigyn-foxyposts]

⧼Random Norse mythology ship head cannons: Frigg x Fulla⧽

Back with another ship to add into the series, that I believe some of you have actually heard about! Oh Frigg and Fulla, my tragic little lesbians.. You deserved better. Maybe in another life time 😔

Feel free to use these for your own ideas, I'm simply making this series to show support to random ships we create, basing things off on what we in sources of finds and yes! I'm gladly feeding into them all. ✨

༻𓊈Head cannons 𓊉༺

How did they met?

Fulla was one of Frigg's handmaidens, like many other Ásynjur goddesses, but she held a special role in personally attending to Frigg’s needs. Fulla kept Frigg entertained with engaging conversations, assisted her in managing daily tasks, and took care of her footwear. Their relationship grew more intimate when Frigg, feeling neglected by Odin and hurt by his infidelities, sought solace in Fulla.

This comfort soon blossomed into a romantic relationship. Frigg finding reassurance in knowing that Fulla genuinely cared for her when her husband did not. Meanwhile, the devoted and loyal Fulla, deeply enamored with Frigg, considered herself fortunate to serve and love her lady without hesitation or complaint.

Their dynamic!

They might have a big difference in power dynamic but Frigg never takes advantage of her status, especially not against Fulla. If anything she makes sure Fulla, despite being a servant gets the same treatment as her!

While both Frigg and Fulla love to chat and gossip. Fulla finds herself to be the one listening most of the time.

Fulla from the very start was always so smittend by Frigg's beauty and grace.

Every night Fulla found herself treassuring everything they shared together, excited to see her again.

Sadly when their relationship became romantic, they had to keep it a secret from most of the aesir.

That way Odin wouldn't find out about it and unleash his wrath upon the two.

The two ladies would only be open about their relationship with certain people like: Gná, Hlín, Lofn, Sjofn, Baldr, Nanna, Hodr and Hermod.

The wodden box Fulla holds is very symbolic, containing not only the truth about their relationship but all of Frigg's most precious secrets.

Fulla takes her role as not only Frigg's handmaiden but as the protector of Frigg's secrets very seriously. She would rather die where she stands then tell.

Fulla wears a golden band around her free hair, it being a gift from Frigg. (Gylfaginning Chap.35 reference)

To others it symbolic of Fulla being a virgin, a lady in waiting but little do they know the real meaning behind it.

It's a way to keep Fulla out of harms way and from prying eyes of men. That way, Frigg can protect that she holds dearest! It being almost a similar case to Baldr.

The very few times when Frigg could travel, she brought Fulla with her. Unable to stay away from her even when she had free time to do as she pleased.

On more than one occasion they had to say they were "found sisters" because of how close and affectate they were.

The two women also practiced seidr together, it turning into a intimate ritual between them whenever they were alone. (Second merseburg incantation)

Baldr might have been the favorite son of Odin, but it Fulla who had delivered and together with Frigg, had raised her sons when they were young children!

Because Odin was an absent father in the early days, always traveling. Frigg found herself struggling through motherhood alone without him!

But since Fulla lived in their hall, she was able to aid her lady in need, making their bond even more closer.

The woman was a passionate and caring step-mother, somehow made to manage three wild playful children.

She would also pay special attention to little Hodr, helping him navigate through the world and teaching him how to read runes with his fingers.

Fulla wouldn't dare call herself the mother to any of Frigg's children, in fear to disrespect Odin. But Hermod, Hodr and Baldr view things a little differently.

They absolutely adore Fulla, secretly seeing her as a second mother.

Even accepting her as a part of their family, not just because she helped take care for them but because she deserved their mother's love and affection.

When Baldr started having nightmares, both the ladies were worried sick, knowing through the prophecies Frigg had spoken about it could be time.

Fulla was the one to offer to comfort their family, while Frigg was out.

Once Frigg had lost not only one son, but two. Fulla felt protective over her lady more than ever, refusing to let anyone near them! Not even Odin.

They'd spent days just laying in Fulla's bed, trying to grieve in each other's arms. Frigg didn't even care what Odin thought, all she needed was Fulla.

But even in death Nanna and Baldr would not be forgotten as they gave gifts back to their family, even Fulla. (Gylfaginning chap. 49 reference)

The pet names Frigg gave Fulla are:

"Hirðmey" (court maiden) "Gullband" (golden band) "Fríðr" (beautiful)

While Fulla's pet names for Frigg is:

"Hjartkona" (heart-woman/wife) "Ástvinur" (beloved friend) "Min drottning" (my queen)

Random trivia on the ship!

Their ship name is Frulla!

Frigg is a dominant switch, while Fulla is a power bottom. They're both gentle and soft lovers.. Very wholesome!

I always imagined Frigg being bisexual, because I truly do believe she loved Odin until he cheated. Fulla is obviously painted to be a lesbian in my opinion.

They give off ''forbidden lovers'' vibes!

Songs that remind me of them!

"They're singing about how they'll keep their secrets until the end of days and they don't appreciate people who snitch! Dangerous duo I must say~"

"Frigg singing about how much she wants to be with her dear "friend" Fulla, but she's too scared to make it too obvious that she likes the goddess back."

[echoghost1]

EchoGhost's Phic Phight 2021 Master Post

And in case you missed any, or just like seeing the whole gang together, here is every single fic I wrote for my first ever Phic Phight!

1) Perseverance

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: While Maddie is helping Danny with his homework a notification from his phone becomes a major distraction.

Prompt: PR134 - Danny is sitting quietly next to someone. Maybe he's doing homework with his friends, maybe Jazz is driving him somewhere, maybe he's working on a group project with someone, maybe he's doing something else entirely. He suddenly starts *freaking* the heck out - Perseverance has just landed on Mars, and he just found out about it. How is his reaction perceived by whoever he's with?

2) The Reason You Wail

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: An odd feeling he can't quite explain is haunting Danny. He wants it to stop but he knows it won't, he just knows now.

Prompt: PR054 - As Danny gets older, he doesn't just predict the appearance of ghosts. He starts predicting when someone's going to die.

3) Forget Your Life Story

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Danny woke up with no memory. He didn’t even know his own name. The doctor told him it would come back and his parents were there to help him. He trusts them, even if he doesn't recognize them. Even if some things didn’t quite line up.

Prompt: PR002 - Danny woke up from being in a month long coma with no memory of how he got there or anything about his past. Thankfully, the doctors said that his memory would return eventually, and he had his loved ones nearby to tell him who he was and his life story. However, as his memory slowly returns, there's huge, distinct differences between what he's been told and the things he's remembering.

4) Recreational Botany

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: It wasn't her fault. She was merely curious, had only wanted to help. She didn't mean for this to happen. She just hoped it would wear off soon. (TW: Drug use - Weed)

Prompt: PR228 - Ghost weed.

5) Fool’s Errand (Ghost Prince AU)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: It had been hours since Danny flew off to fight Pariah Dark and Vlad took it upon himself to see what was taking the boy so long.

Prompt: PR065 - After their fight, Pariah Dark decides Danny has all the qualities he wants in an heir and forcibly adopts him. (Danny can either lose the fight to put him back in the Sarcophagus, or Pariah can get out again later.)

6) You Walked Right Into This

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Sometimes walking is more than just walking. (TW: Child Abuse)

Prompt: PR142 - Jack and Maddie seriously injure Danny Fenton, resulting in him being at their mercy and revealing he’s not exactly human. Now the parents have to decide wether to help him... or finish what they started. TW for serious injury and probably gore and angst.

7) What You Fear The Most (Scary Ghost Form AU)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: What if his ghost form was less human-looking? What if he looked every bit the monster his parents had always told him ghosts were?

Prompt: PR035 - Monstrous: AU where Danny's ghost form is monstrous and grotesque. On one hand, he doesn't have to worry about anyone recognizing him; on the other, it might be even harder to convince people that he's a good guy

8) Parallels

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: It's amazing the things you learn on a field trip.

Prompt: PR047 - Wacky reveals (ex: Danny drying up too quickly bc intangibility, Danny's drink stays cool way too long, people's electronic devices are always more charged when they've been near Danny, etc)

9) Cast Into Obsidian (Blind AU)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: The accident sent Danny to the hospital due to the damage to his eyes.

Prompt 01: PR092 - Write a more traditional ghost story. How would things change if ghost powers weren’t super powers, but closer to old horror movie tropes?

Prompt 02: PR259 - The Accident didn’t turn Danny into a half ghost, but instead allowed him to see, hear, and physically interact with the very real ghosts that are now pouring through the portal (Alternative: Danny’s always been clairvoyant, but after the accident he finally sees all of the ghosts he’d grown up talking to)

10) Where The Lines Overlap (Parallels part 2)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Maddie wants to know what her son has been keeping from her and today he finally decides to tell her. (TW: Outsider POV of PTSD flashbacks)

Prompt: PR091 - When he told his parents the truth, Danny had only ever bothered thinking about the stress of potential dissection. With that out of the way, and his secret fully accepted, he realised that there were a lot of unexpected things to adjust to... Write about something funny or awkward as the Fentons learn to live with a half ghost son!

11) Quoth the Librarian, “But I’m Alone?”

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Eleanor loved her job at the school library. She always made sure to come in early to make sure everything was just right before the students came. Today something beat her there.

Prompt: PR234 - Suddenly, there was a knock at the door...

12) The Baldr to My Odin (Ghost Prince AU part 2)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Pariah has recently acquired a son and wants to get to know him better.

Prompt: PR121 - Pariah Dark wakes up from his slumber and tries to live a peaceful existence in his castle practicing his swordsmanship and rebuilding his castle with all modern luxuries. But ghost from the ghost zone keep trying to challenge him to become king.

13) Tagged

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Dr. Flora Santos and her partner Dr. Carlos Rodriguez have lucked out as they have finally caught their most elusive subject.

Prompt: PR090 - Something physical happens to Danny’s body that makes it impossible to keep his secret identity, well, secret.

14) The Paleontologist and The Princess (Dino boy AU)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Danny had one true passion; Paleontology. So can anyone really blame him for getting excited when he thinks he comes face to face with a dinosaur? Even if it isn't a dinosaur after all.

Prompt: PR139 - "Actually, Dad? I wanted to be a paleontologist."

15) Lost In Transmission

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: There's a Ghost Expo happening at Casper High and Danny thinks it'll be fun to see all the incorrect ways people try to find ghosts. He learns the hard way that just because is old, doesn't mean it doesn't work.

Prompt: PRO58 - Casper high is holding a supernatural expo. Supposed paranormal experts are gathered in their gym to show off their expertise. Thinking it'll be a flop, since most employ methods that aren't modern, Danny and his friends go for fun. Only, it turns out that traditional ghost hunting techniques are more efficient than they seem.

16) Dark Familiarity (Role Swap AU)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Danny has been hunting ghosts for a while now. He has been ever since they ruined his life and a mysterious package arrived with everything he needed to exact his revenge. (TW: Character Death)

Prompt: PR095 - Danny and Valerie role swap (but not personality swap!!). How does Valerie fair as a ghost? How does Danny do as a ghost hunter (and what motivates him to do it in the first place?) [Shipping them is fine, but gen fics are preferred!]

17) I’ve Felt It Too

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Ember's having a bad day and Danny tries to help.

Prompt: PR079 - Phantom looked at Ember. Her eyes filled with tears. She gnashed her teeth and screamed. "You don't know what it's like."

And Phantom, with a heavy sigh whispered. "Yeah, I do..."

18) Repair All Of The Damage (Undead Danny AU)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: After the tragic loss of her son, Maddie vows to bring him back. No matter what. (TW: Death of a child)

Prompt: PR088 - tw; death of a child?

The Fentons had their daughter sure but they always wanted a son. due to an accident or complication with their son, Danny, died. They decide to put their ghostly knowledge to use and try to summon the spirit of their son back to them. They are ghost scientists. they know how to contain them after all. How much time that has passed between the death and the 'summoning' is up to you!

19) Out Of This World (And Into The Next)

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: What if when Danny first fought the Lunch Lady ghost she actually noticed how young he was. What if she didn't know he was more than just another ghost? What if when she commented on how underweight he was, she decided to help him?

Prompt 01: PR113 - Danny has an existential crisis because he’s dead

Prompt 02: PR242 - somehow, he's gotten younger

20) Spirit Versus Spunk

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Mr. Lancer isn't sure how he's supposed to be reacting to what he's seeing, but seeing as he's the adult here, he better make up his mind.

Prompt: PR019 - Danny and Wes Weston fight over a harmless ghost. This happens during a ghost attack.

21) The Group Project From Hell

AO3 or Tumblr

Summary: Danny and Tucker get stuck working with someone that they really don’t want to

Prompt: Everyone hates group projects, and that’s even if you like your group members. Tucker, Danny, and Elliot/Gregor all get teamed up for a group project, and Tucker and Danny need to refrain from killing him.

And as an added bonus I did make a Spotify playlist for this too! There's a song for each fic that I felt best fit the vibe of each story.

[doloresrojo]

Hel’s Daughter

Notes: Although I've never read one of his books, I was inspired by Rick Riordan. I also took some elements of different works of fiction, like Francesca Simon's "The Monstrous Child", the History Channel show "Vikings", Neil Gaiman's "Norse Mythology" and other sources. English is not my native language, so there might be mistakes when it comes to grammar and spelling.

Hope you like it.

The word miracle didn’t exist for the old Norsemen; the concept was foreign to them. If you wanted the favor of the gods you had to take it through sacrifice and blood, prayers were not enough. The gods demanded action. Hel, the goddess of the dead, ruler of Helheim, receiver of those who died an unworthy dead, believed this just as much as the Aesir and the Vanir; and yet, she couldn’t think of a better word to describe the baby that was about to come out of her womb. For thousands of years the gods and goddesses had roamed Midgard coupling with mortals leaving offsprings everywhere. So far, Hel had been the only exception when it came to offsprings. Nobody told Hel that she couldn’t conceive, she just assumed it, after all, half of her body was a corpse. She thought that she wasn’t supposed to produce life, it was not her domain. But having a child had always been one of her deepest longings.

Hel was a witch too, her mother the giantess Angrboda was a völva, and a powerful one; Loki had not chosen her only for her beauty and wickedness; power attracted Loki more than anything, and before being separated from her children she had thought her daughter well. Hel could cast a spell for almost anything, but her favorite was the art of illusion. Hel could make the left side of her body, the one that was a corpse, complement the right one. She knew that the other gods disdained her appearance, and she had used that to her advantage, she loved to play with them, but when it came to mortal men she knew that she had to conceal that part of her if she wanted their attention. So she presented herself as a beautiful Nordic woman: fair skin and smooth as the ice, green eyes like a meadow in the spring, scarlet red lips and long blond hair that reached down to her waist. She looked like a princess from a fairy tale, ancient and mysterious.

The father of her baby was a young Irish musician that was living in London, one of her favorite places. He wasn’t particularly ambitious, he hadn’t left Ireland trying to make it big, he was a wanderer and an artist, a good one for that matter. At first Hel had been attracted to his voice, raspy but comforting, like whiskey running through your veins; then as she watched him she realized that he was shy and he was honestly baffled when someone showed interest in him, and it wasn’t an act; she could see it through her left eye, that eye could only see the truth; he knew her as Sigrid and for one night they worshiped each other. Trough sex, Hel was able to feel the rush that only living bodies feel, the feeling that she couldn’t completely have on her own. And this boy was good at what he was doing, despite of his clumsiness and hesitation, once he got confident he became aware of what his partner wanted and delivered. He wanted to see her again and she didn’t oppose the idea, she told him that she would come back; but she didn’t, not because she didn’t want to, she was expecting his baby and she didn’t know what to do. Hel never thought that she would have to deal with such a human and mundane situation.

The pain was excruciating, she had known pain but never like this. The pregnancy had not been an easy one, for the majority of the time she had to stay in bed, more than once the baby tore her left side almost coming out before time. She believed that if the baby was born dead she would be more angry than sad, all that pain for nothing; she longed for a child, yes, but now she felt bitter. The fates had given her so much sorrow: a deformed body, an untrustworthy, narcissistic and negligent father, a family broken by the fear of others, a kingdom that resented her no matter how much she cared of her subjects’ wellbeing. So no, she didn’t believe that the fates will let her have a piece of joy; her own piece of joy. She could have a corpse baby, ready to be put to the ground. A living corpse, cursed to be a living dead. A monster, just like her and her brothers, destined to endure the wrath of the gods.

“Just one more push, daughter, it’s almost here”. Angrboda was assisting her. When Hel arrived to Nifelheim her mother was already waiting for her; she had been killed not long after the gods had come for them.

“Pray to the Bloodmother”. Said Modgud, the giantess that guarded Gjallarbù, and her friend, who was supporting her back and holding her from the armpits.

With a cry that declared war she pushed as if her life depended on it, she felt her left side finally being ripped apart, and she collapsed on Modgud; she felt herself being dragged to unconsciousness, then a memory came out of nowhere: She was back at Jötunheim, with her brothers in her room, she was lying on Fenrir looking at the view from her window- ice mountains and snow being carried away by the wind- Jörmundgandr coiled beside them with Fenrir's tail rubbing him. Her sanctuary. She was brought back to reality by a high pitched baby’s cry. She opened her eyes and saw Angrboda, astonished, looking at the new born. With tears falling down her face she said:

“It is a girl, Hel. A beautiful baby girl”.

Using her remaining strength she sat up and held her arms out for her baby. What she looked was a healthy baby demigoddess, with ten fingers and ten toes, an upturned nose and a lot of hair on her head. Chestnut hair and brown eyes, just like her father.

“Thank you, Bloodmother. She has her father’s looks”.

Hel kissed her daughters forehead and wept; they were tears of happiness, her baby lived. And that was also the problem: No living being could live in Helheim, which meant that she could not stay with her, she had to live in Midgard. Soon she would have to let her go. The fates truly despised her.

***

No matter how much she hated the three dreadful sisters giantesses, they had the answer to her questions. She swaddled her baby and went to pay them a visit at the foot of the tree of life, the Yggdrasil. The sisters were beautiful, three maidens in the prime of their youth, who could believe that they were ancient and feared by gods and mortals alike?

“You took your time, queen”. Said Urd, the Norn that commanded over the past. She was picking up branches and leaves that had felt from above.

“But alas, no one can escape their fate. Not even a god”. Skuld, the one that presided over the future said, she was looking at the well of fate, the Urðarbrunnr.

Hel looked to Verdandi, the one that ruled the present, waiting to see if she had also something to say. She didn’t even acknowledged Hel, she just took a branch out of a basket and snapped it. Hel flinched and held the baby tighter, Verdandi had just terminated someone’s life. Tossing the branch she said:

“Don’t make that face, Hel. You are the queen of Helheim, death shouldn’t make you flinch. It is natural”.

“She is a mother now. Nothing will ever be the same for her”. A smiling Urd said.

Condescending bitch, thought Hel. Maybe it was the nerves but she was feeling mocked by the sisters. Either way, they were talking as if she wasn’t present.

“I am here…”

“Oh, we know”. Verdandi sounded exasperated, bored even. “You want to know what awaits to your child. Put her in the crib”.

A crib appeared at Hel’s feet, carefully she set the sleeping baby in the crib and the sisters stood beside it. They looked at the baby for what to Hel felt like centuries and then stared at each other. Urd was the first to speak:

“Your daughter is not like any other child a god has ever had; she is special, one of a kind. She is the only child you will ever have; she comes from the barest place in the nine worlds and holds so much power. She will be pure magic, she will be the one who will tip the balance when the end of everything comes”.

“You mean?”

“Yes. Ragnarök”. The sisters said in unison.

Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods. The prophecy had done so much damage already to her family. Fenrir was in Asgard, chained with a sword stuck in his mouth and Jörmundgandr was forced to hold the waters of the mortal world with his tale already in his mouth.

“How?”

“That is yet to be seen. Just like you queen, her part in it is yet not defined”. Answered Skuld.

“You wretched… tell me what you know!”

“Hush now. We don’t have all the answers, you already knew that before coming here. And you’d be wise to mind your words, unless you want her to have a similar fate like the rest of your kin”. Verdandi reminded Hel that they could tamper with fate how they saw fit, so it was wise no to offend them so they would be on her side.

Hel took a breath and swallowed her anger.

“Forgive me… I am scared. I don’t know what to do to protect her”.

The sisters softened at Hel’s turmoil. Skuld and Verdandi went back to their places, resuming their work, Urd picked the baby up from the crib and gave her back to her mother.

“You already know what you have to do to protect her, your child is not safe. She is in a very precarious situation. There is only one place were Odin, and Loki, might not find her that easily; your powers will be useful for that. Not to mention your love for her, that’s your greatest weapon against everyone that comes to harm her”.

***

After leaving the sisters Hel realized that she needed to act fast. It was only a matter of time for everyone in the Nine Worlds to find out about her daughter's existence; she had cast an invisibility spell on the baby to prevent Odin from seeing her in his dreams but that wouldn’t last forever. Loki was still bound inside of a cave for what he did to Baldr, but the fates had mentioned him and that didn’t surprise her; the gods didn’t understand the full extent of Loki’s powers; bound to a cave with a venom serpent over his head was not enough to contain him. She knew the place that the sisters meant, the one were her daughter would be safer: Midgard. The world of the mortals had changed and with it also Odin’s ability to see everything there; mortals moved faster in comparison to the old days. A lot of things were happening at the same time in Midgard, it was hard for the All Father to keep his eye on them.

Hel was dreading this, to let the father know of the existence of their child, but she didn’t trust anyone else with her daughter’s safety. She had seen his heart, he was a good person; still, she knew that she was asking for too much. They had been together only once and he was young, clearly not ready to be a father. She had to try though; and if he refused, well, she could force him to do it, but she didn't want to do that, because she wanted her child to be loved. Hel's mother loved her, she loved all her children, but not Loki, he didn't know how to love anyone. She wouldn't let her child to be with an unloving father, that wound never heales. So if he refused, she would find someone else to take care of her child. There was no other way.

***

The father’s name was Ciaran, little dark one. He didn’t usually have nice dreams, he always dreamed of unpleasant or strange situations that left him feeling confused or disturbed. However, this dream was extremely different. He was in a place surrounded by rocky cliffs enveloped in green foliage; there were rows and rows of mountains surrounding the land like a belt or a fortress. The wind was cold but it wasn’t unbearable and even though they were near the sea the wind was dry, it could burn your skin. The land had also sterile patches; this place was a harsh one. He heard a surge of water, even though he was now far from the sea, he thought it was a waterfall but the sound was inconsistent; it was a geyser, there were hot springs too. Amazed, he touched the water, warm, it felt so real. He wished he could stayed there forever. Just when he thought that this place couldn’t mesmerized him more, he saw a volcano, and it was not dormant, smoke came out of it.

He loved this place, wherever it was, and he knew it was real, it had to; he didn’t think his imagination as vivid as it was could produce such a place. His favorite part was the beach, with its soft black sand; he sat there for a long time, seeing the waves come and go, breathing the sea breeze. He felt in so much peace.

Hel had been watching this whole time. She was the one who orchestrated this dream; Iceland had always had a calming effect on her, she hoped that he would feel the same way. She felt guilty, she was about to ruin his good spirits. Ciaran heard footsteps, when he turned he found the most beautiful woman in the world. Sigrid, the lovely Sigrid. He laughed when he saw how she was dressed: A long emerald gown with gold and silver embroidery, a black fur cloak as long as her gown fastened with a small gold chain, a copper choker of a snake that ate its own tail around her neck, her impossibly long hair was braided and on top of her head was a crown made of bones and stones. Now, his dream was getting more usual: Nonsensical.

“What’s so funny?” Hel asked, teasingly.

“Nothing… I’m just being silly”.

They didn’t say anything, they just looked at one another.

“You look beautiful, Sigrid”.

“Thank you. Do you like this place?”

“I do, I have no idea where I am but I love it”.

Hel stood beside him and scooped some of the sand in her hands.

“It’s called Reynisfjara beach”.

Ciaran’s eyebrows shot up to the top of his forehead.

“The what?”

Hel chuckled.

“If it’s better, you may say that you’re in Iceland”.

“Really?” Ciaran asked.

“Yes”.

This was a dream, he knew it; but if that was true then why did everything felt so real. The sand that he took form Sigrid’s hands, the smell of salt, the cold wind on his skin, and her. Specially her. It was just as the last time, so natural and effortless. As if to prove himself that she was in fact real, he cupped her left cheek; being in the land of dreams made him bold. She just stood still.

“Where did you go, Sigrid?”

How she wished that she was Sigrid, that she was a normal human woman that could venture to have a relationship with him. Hear him sing his beautiful songs with his lovely voice and caress his skin to sooth away all of his sorrows. But she wasn’t Sigrid and she’ll never be, and there were more important things to talk about right now.

“My name is not Sigrid, I’m not who you think I am”. She removed his hand off her cheek and took a few steps back. Closing her eyes, she let her glamour drop.

She couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes right away, so she listened. For a long moment he held his breath, he didn’t move, but his heartbeat sped up. When she finally opened them she saw him with his mouth agape and his eyes looked as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. He backed away from her in horror. If you asked anyone, they would tell you that Hel had no heart, because it was in her corpse side, she couldn’t feel anything there. That was not true, in that moment she could feel her heart breaking. Not wanting to hear hateful words from his mouth she broke the silence.

“I am sorry for deceiving you, I promise you I meant no harm. My name is Hel, Norse goddess of the Underworld, of Helheim, daughter of Loki and Angrboda. And I need your help”.

Ciaran looked at her with suspicion but also with interest, when they met he had known that something was different about her, now he knew what was it. She turned so her right side faced him maybe that would make things easier for him. He came closer and turned her so he could see her completely. Hel hated to feel evaluated, normally she would punish on the spot anyone that dared to looked at her like this; still, she let him, she owed him this much. He put both of his trembling hands on both sides of her face, the corpse side didn’t feel as he thought it would; the flesh didn’t come off at his touch, there was no stench, in fact, she smelled sweet, too sweet, it was hard to describe. The air around her was colder and her right side felt unnaturally soft.

“Is this not a dream?” He asked still holding her.

“It is, I used magic to enter your dreams. I brought you here because I love this place, it soothes me. I hoped that it would do the same to you, that made easier what I’m about to tell you”.

“There’s more?”

Hel removed her cloak, revealing that she had been carrying a baby in her arms this whole time. Ciaran looked at the baby and then at Hel, comprehension slowly making way to his mind. He opened his mouth but nothing came out, he just looked at the baby.

“I thought that I couldn’t have children, I had been sleeping with mortal men for centuries and nothing ever happened. I don’t know why it was different with you”.

Ciaran didn’t know what to do. Maybe Hel was being manipulative, she took the opportunity to put the baby over his chest, and luckily he took her, maybe more as a reflex than a conscious move.

“She is in danger. She needs to hide from the other gods and from my father, I talked to the fates before coming to you. Our daughter is meant to bring balance when the end of the world comes; she is not like any demigod that’s ever existed. She will be hunt down if we don’t hid her from them”.

“Did you just say the end of the world?!”

“I know it’s a lot to take. But if you accept to be her guardian I will help you; I will be watching over you both, I will instruct you, my treasure is more abundant than the one that Odin keeps in his halls, I will provide for you. Anything you need”.

Ciaran shook his head, this didn’t make any sense. He was just a regular guy, how in the world was he going to be able to protect a demigoddess?

“I don’t… how will I…” Then the baby opened her eyes. She had his mother’s eyes, his eyes. Fatherhood and motherhood were supposed to be different, or so he was told. Fathers were supposed to take more time to feel a bond with their children, it was normal. But now holding this baby, he felt it, he felt that bond. This was his baby and he was her father, he was certain.

“What’s her name?”

“I haven’t named her. I was hoping you would choose a name for her”.

“I always liked the name Felicity for a girl”.

Felicity meant happiness and joy, everything that Hel was not. It was perfect.

“I love it”.

Ciaran smiled and touched Felicity’s little face.

“Ciaran, do you think you can love her? I want her to be loved not just protected. Do you think you can love her as her father?”

“I already do”. And by the gods he did. It was insane but it was true.

“I’m going to need your help, Hel. You will have to teach me, I don’t understand anything that’s happening and I don’t know how I’ll protect her from gods and such”.

“I will, no matter what. I swear”. Said Hel fiercely. She put on her cloak and took Felicity, hiding her once more.

“It’s not dawn yet in London, go back to sleep, Felicity will be there in the morning. I need to say goodbye first”.

Ciaran nodded, he doubted that he could go back to sleep, but Hel made sure of that with a sleeping spell. He would need all the rest he could get.

***

Back at Helheim, Hel asked her mother and her servants Ganglati and Ganglöt to go to her treasure hall and gather enough jewels and valuable trinkets to secure a substantial income for a year. Angrboda took a look at her daughter and understood what she was about to do; it pained her, but it was the right thing. She kissed Hel and left, Ganglati and Ganglöt behind her, moving at the speed of a snail. Hel adverted her eyes elsewhere and when she looked back at where the siblings were they were gone; most likely, they were already at the hall waiting for Angrboda. They were one of Helheim’s greatest mysteries, to this day Hel doesn’t know where they come from or why they move so slowly as long as they are being watched.

She sat on her bed, Sick-bed, the very same bed where Felicity was born. She retrieved a silver pendant of a rune from a jewelry box. She dangled it over Felicity’s head, the pendant catching the light of the fires illuminating the room, her little brown eyes following it.

“This is the Hagalaz rune; it’s a rune that is associated with me. It represents the wrath of nature, destruction, trials and testing and crisis that leads to completion. If anything the fates said is true then it represents you well, my love… a god cannot always be everywhere at once, I certainly can’t; this pendant will be my eyes and ears, as long as you wear it I’ll be able to know where you are and if you need my assistance. Never take it off”.

Hel chanted the incantation necessary to bind herself to the pendant, green light poured out of her hand and danced around the pendant settling in the rune. Felicity watched everything with a serene expression, as if magic was already normal to her, as if she hadn’t been born a few days ago.

“Felicity, if only I could let you know how much this hurts me. I dreamed of you for so long, forgive me. This is not what I wanted for you, for the both of us… I don’t know what your father will tell you about me, but rest assured your mother loves you, and I am willing to tear everything apart for you”.

***

Ciaran woke up in the morning feeling rested; it had been a while since he had slept so well. He stretched and savored the feeling before remembering everything. He stood up and looked around his room, and there she was. Felicity, his daughter. A bag was next to her basket on the floor, he knelt and peeked at the basket, she was awake, and in her tiny fist she was holding something, he took a closer look and saw that it was a necklace, a pendant of a rune. Even he had heard of runes, and he knew that this was meant for Felicity to have. He opened the bag and found jewels, golden coins and precious stones, Hel wasn’t kidding when she said that she had treasure. Now it felt truly real. The dream that Hel had called upon felt real enough, but now it had materialized. Last night he was a musician that worked odd jobs to get by and was content with being aimless, and now, he was a father, a father of a demigoddess. Hel had not been very specific about the dangers that followed Felicity, and now him he supposed; how was he going to explain this to his parents? To his friends, he needed help, he had to go back to Ireland. This was not going to be easy, even with Hel’s help and support, but he was up for it. Whatever was coming he would face it, he would be there for his daughter just like his parents were there for him no matter what.

***

Verdandi saw everything as it was happening. Hel resumed her role as the queen of the Underworld, pretending that her heart and mind were there, Loki was struggling and raging in his bonds and Odin was vigilant as always, but still unaware of the existence of Felicity. The father was preparing to go back to his homeland with his kin. He didn’t know what awaited them. Not even her and her sisters knew for sure. The pieces on the board that was Ragnarök were scrambled. Some of the pieces were still set in their rightful place: Fenrir was still going to kill Odin and Odin would kill him in return, Thor and Frey would perish as well, and so would Loki. Hel’s role was still unchanged; she would provide her father with an army of the dead but it seemed that the rest was up to her. After Ragnarök the world will be reborn, a new order will come; that’s were Felicty’s part comes in to action. She will either lead the gods in this new world or she will return to the giants what was taken away from them so long ago, as their ruler. Why was she the one bestowed with so much power? Simple, this girl had inherited the power of Ymir. Everything came from Ymir; the giants, the world as we know it, and even the gods. Odin and his brothers had killed Ymir, little did they know that had Ymir wanted to they could have killed them in the blink of an eye. They were nothing compared to Ymir, but Ymir had chosen to sacrifice themselves so marvelous things were born. Ymir was great, and the greatest thing about they was the purity of their heart. But Felicity was not Ymir, and it was yet to be seen if she possessed the same purity of heart. None of this worried Verdandi, whatever this girl happened to decide to do with her power was… unimportant. As long as the outcome was unchanged, the rest didn’t matter.

[lokeanwelcomingcommittee]

Hey! So, I've been doing a little bit of research on Ragnarök lately and I have some questions. (If you dont know, that's fine, too). Firstly, do we still believe that it will happen? Secondly, do we have any idea what happens to the Norse gods after they die?

Hi!

Do we still believe Ragnarok will happen? I dunno. Do you? Heathens have really varied interpretations of how to interpret the myths and how literal they are, and most practitioners are pretty resistant to orthodoxy along those lines. Ragnarok in particular is very divisive.

Some people believe it was a late addition based on the Christian apocalypse, and thus disregard it entirely. Some believe it was originally a myth about the seasons before Christianity got mixed in, with the wolf eating the sun referencing the short/nonexistant days during midwinter in the far north. Some think it was actually a metaphor for the conversion to Christianity and the end of the old religion.

And yes, some people take it as a story about the end of human civilization through war or natural disaster. But just like you won’t find many people who believe that a giant primordial cow literally came along and physically licked us out of the ice at the beginning of time, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who believes we’re going to be burned by a literal fire giant with a literal flaming sword.

The beautiful thing about myth is that it’s not limited to a single interpretation. It can be all of these things at once, and more. Even if the myth is new, or a given interpretation is new, it can still reflect a spiritual truth.

As to what happens to the Norse gods afterwards? Well, in the Eddas, some do survive. Baldr and Hodr get to come back from Hel, for instance, and the Sun’s daughter becomes the new sun. The post-Ragnarok future, whatever that looks like, isn’t godless.

The ones who don’t make it are kind of implied to be actually gone, since they don’t just come back from the underworld with Baldr and friends who had died under more conventional circumstances. Or at least, they’re transformed beyond recognition. The sagas suggest there might have been a belief in reincarnation down family lines, so like, maybe Sunna’s daughter is the old sun but new, and the rest of the gods are eventually reborn from whatever regrows from the remnants. That’s pure, unadulterated speculation on my end, though, and there’s nothing in the Eddas themselves that suggests it’s the case.

But ultimately, does it really matter what happens? Whatever the truth of Ragnarok might be, things end. Large and small, everything ends. And if you look at the world right now, you will understand why this is a mercy, and why Loki fights so hard to grant it. The myth of Ragnarok, if nothing else, teaches us to accept this, and to face it with dignity and courage.

Mourn, if you need to. But remember that there are real, tangible actions we can take in the here and now that past or future loss does not negate, and find strength in the fact that the gods are our partners in this.

- Mod E