#teaches greek to mimir.........

[corvidexoskeleton]

I do kind of enjoy the change in Kratos' vocabulary in the norse god of war games, because while a lot of his lines in the original games were pretty aggressive, and he wasn't exactly a conversationalist, he still spoke in that sort of dramatic theater style of speech. But in the norse games, he really doesn't speak much even when he's actively in a conversation with someone, and his choice of words is a lot simpler and direct imo

I'm not sure if it was intended by the developers, but I enjoy the idea that the reason Kratos doesn't speak as much or with as much flair as he did in the original series, is because he's speaking a different language and isn't nearly as fluent in it as he would like, hence his more straightforward and simple choice of words

[rere-the-writer]

Headcanons of Elijah being married to a Norse Goddess

Warnings: Fluff, cute Hope

A/N: I was playing God Of War and this popped into my head. Atreus is my boy and I love him

You married Elijah when he was human

Kratos was following you and Elijah around when you both were courting, this man is making sure Elijah isn't touching you

Showing Elijah your magic watch him be amazed by it

Faye already planning your wedding, your mother is always encouraging you to spend a lot of time with Elijah

Mikael and Kratos do not get along, Kratos finding Mikael too harsh on his sons while Mikael thinks Kratos isn't hard enough on Atreus

Going on the journey with your baby brother and father when Elijah was turned with his siblings

Doing old Norse traditions every Spring and Winter

Elijah teaching Atreus how to hunt when he was human

You coming home seeing that Atreus and Kratos sitting in the livingroom with Elijah who was smiling

"Surprise sister! Look we even brought Mimir." "I can see that."

You telling Hope stories of your childhood and adventures with your father

Hope curious about the Norse ruins tattooed on your body which lead you to tell her stories on why

Now Hope asks her uncle if they have their own tattoos which Kol tells her yes

"Daddy can I have one? I want ones like aunty Y/N." "When you are older Hope."

"Atti, aunty says you met the World Serpent!" "We did would you like to hear how?"

Elijah cursing in Norse when Hope is in ear shot so now Hope repeats the words, cue Klaus glaring at his brother

Elijah coming home to the sound of clashing swords and seeing you sparing with father as Hope watched in awe

Your heart melts at seeing how soft Kratos is with Hope as the old God shows her how to use a bow and arrow

"Aesir are Norse Gods little sister. Your aunt is part Jötnar, gifted with magic. " You over hear Mimir tell Hope making you smile as the head tells Hope stories

Hope asking Elijah questions about when he was human wanting to learn more about Vikings

Kratos answering Hope's questions about Spartans and Greeks finding her curiosity adorable

Everyone getting overly protective when you and Elijah tells the family that you were pregnant

"Elijah, your siblings are driving me crazy." "My love, they just want you safe."

Atreus carving a little wooden bears as a baby gift while Kratos made you a crib

Hope following you around the more you showed because she wanted to help you

Rebekah and Freya taking you baby shopping while Kratos takes your husband hunting

"Father I don't think the baby will need a sword." "How else will it fight." "Kratos, our child will not be fighting."

Atreus thinking of baby names with you saying it was his uncle's duty to help you

Atreus and Hope like touching your belly, they like feeling the baby move

The witches are more careful around you because Kratos and Elijah will not hesitate

[athena-the-writer]

🏵 kratos trying to teach his so greek but she gets distracted because shes turned on by him speaking it. Looks like Kratos will have to ‘punish’ for that.

STOPP THIS IDEA IS UGH 😩😩😩

Hell even do the little chin hold thing so you can grasp the word properly. Eventually if you can’t get it he’ll just say

“ τιμωρία” (ti-mo-ri-a) and walk away and at first you’ll be like

“what’s that mean???????”

But after a while and a few punishments 👀you knew what the word meant

Then after asking mimir for some words eventually he’ll come home one day form a hunt and you’ll simply say

“σε θέλω” (I want you) and you leave him in shock from the statement. Safe to say that was a very long and passionate night

[tired0artist]

| gersemi & hnoss |

(or galena & helen)

A World After Ragnarök.

Written by Unknown.

Chapter Five: The New Gods.

Hnoss and Gersemi, daughters of the Goddess Freya, the ruler of Vanaheim. (Also known as Freya’s treasures.). Both were born post Ragnarök, hence proudly proclaimed as the “New Gods”. (Along with the two exceptions, such as the God Loki and the Goddess Thrúd, who were born before Ragnarok.).

Hnoss, Goddess of Love and Desire. The proud ambassador of the Gods, with a surprisingly quick and fiery temper. She’s said to have broken the jaw of Vidar, a surviving Aesir God of Vengeance, all while signing a peace treaty. Those present will confirm that the God deserved it, and well, he is now known as The Silent One. (No one wonders why.). Due to this reputation, many of her affairs since have been resolved peacefully. 

Gersemi, Goddess of Adoration and Beauty. The Commander of the Shieldmaidens, with a mastery over avoiding everyone. From Aesir down to Dwarf, not many can say that they had the pleasure of laying their eyes upon the Goddess. Because of this, many often mistake her for being the one and the same as her older twin Hnoss. Although, once someone manages to meet her, they’re unable to think of them as one and the same. There are whispers that she can set a man on fire, with only a passing glance. (No one yet has proven this rumour to be true, but the Commander is quite intimidating. Although very beautiful.).

The sisters aren’t usually seen together, which is fueling the rumours about Hnoss being the only daughter of Freya, but there are times when the Goddesses meet in Vanaheim’s court. Those trusted enough, will confirm that there’s nothing as bright as Hnoss’ smile and nothing as refreshing as Gersemi’s laughter, once they’re reunited.

Helen and Galena, daughters of the God Kratos, the General of the United Realms. (Also known as the Midgardian Goddesses.). Both were born after Ragnarök and raised in Midgard.

Helen, Goddess of the Hunt and Travel. A great huntress and an eager explorer, many say that she knows all the woodlands in Midgard like no one else, there are whispers that she was greatly involved in the progress of making a fairly detailed map of Midgard. 

Galena, Goddess of Healing and Wisdom. A talented scholar and a gentle healer, people of Midgard see her often around the villages, where she offers remedies and teaches how to heal. She’s said to have written a book on healing, but the Midgardians keep any other detail a secret, so not many can confirm it.

These sisters are known to often travel together, once someone catches a glimpse of Helen or Galena, it is natural that the other sister will appear shortly. (Or so they say in Midgard. No God apart from Loki can confirm that the Goddesses exist. It was advised no to ask their father about them, hence the otherwise lacking knowledge of them.).

All four are known as the “New Gods” who were born post Ragnarok, although if we are to trust the word of Mimir, it could be possible that instead of four Goddesses there are truly only two. 

But that is fairly unlikely, for it is known that Hnoss and Gersemi’s father is Odr the God of Rage. While Helen and Galena’s mother is a Midgardian witch. 

Hence this theory is rather quickly resolved.

Isn’t it?

——————————————————————

open for a A/N and close ups of the girls!!

Okay, so more about the girls from me. To blow away any confusion, yes, Hnoss and Gersemi (or Helen and Galena) are Kratos and Freya’s daughters. They’re based on Freya’s daughters (Hnoss and Gersemi) that she had with her mysterious husband Odr (God of Rage and/or Madness) in Norse Myths. Their other names are Greek, since I do believe that after Atreus’ case, both Freya and Kratos would settle on giving them two names. 

Now, as in the Myths both girls are often mistaken for one another, or it’s said that there was only one of them, so I used that. The in canon explanation, could be that Atreus somehow caused it and thought of it as a prank, which just goes on for a long time, since Gersemi is quite withdrawn from any business between the Gods unlike Hnoss. 

Speaking of, let’s tackle our girl Hnoss (Helen) first! She’s the older twin and she’s quite similar in personality to Atreus. Hnoss is very open and friendly, makes connections rather easily and overall is viewed as rather charming. Although she does have problems with controlling her anger. 

She can use any given weapon, but chooses not to carry one, choosing instead to use her fists if needed (*cough* like Baldur *cough*). But, when she’s hunting, she, much like her beloved older brother, uses a bow. 

She chose to become an ambassador to aid Freya in her ruling and because of her fascination with Mimir. The head took a great part in shaping both girl’s personalities, with his stories and teachings, but it was Hnoss who followed in his footsteps. 

Now, about Gersemi (Galena). The younger twin (obviously) and her personality on the other hand is a very well done mix of Kratos and Freya. She’s quiet but honest to the bone, but she is also kind and gentle. She suffers from a resting bitch face, but otherwise is a sweetheart (honestly she’s just shy). Although her reputation might say otherwise, Gersemi often chooses not to fight, opting to resolve matters peacefully (but if you threaten or harm anyone close to her, no power in the realms can save you). 

She mainly prefers to use the sword which Freya gave her, but she also relies heavily on her Vanir magic. 

Gersemi became a shieldmaiden wanting to prove herself to her parents and brother, but with time she grew over that need and started to aim to uphold peace within the realms. 

Their relationship with their parents is very good and close. Both Freya and Kratos have learned from their past mistakes and aimed to raise their daughters even better. Freya, instead of turning to her magic in search of a way to protect her children, trained them both to protect themselves (also she would destroy anyone who would ever aim to harm them and she rests peacefully knowing that Kratos would do the same). Kratos, instead of distancing himself, allowed himself to stay close and honest (by the time the girls are adults, he has trouble finding purpose without them, but both Atreus and Freya are a great help). 

Atreus played a great part in raising his siblings as well, he was the one to teach them both how to hunt and left an open ear for their troubles when such came. He always aims to come and check in with his sisters, no matter how busy he might be in Jotunheim. 

Overall they’re all just a big happy family, but since they do value their privacy such mishaps as others knowing very little about the girls and creating two different personas for them, often happen. Honestly, Atreus just has fun pranking his sisters and fueling the rumours about there being four goddesses and crafting the Odr persona for his father. 

Becoming an older brother truly made him embrace his trickster persona. 

[kratioed]

GOD OF WAR | ELPIS LOKIDOTTIR HEADCANONS QUICK NOTE: in my take, "Hel" is Pandora's reincarnation known as Elpis, the Spirit of Hope from Greek Mythology! (with link provided in bold text for my self-validation 🤭).

ANIMAL: her animal is a bluebird! Not only does it aligns with Faye’s bird motif, it also matches the significance in both of her Norse and Greek equivalents for GOW (according to my research): “Bluebirds of happiness,” associated with the concepts of joy, happiness, and harmony. Symbol of hope, love, positivity, and renewal. Symbolize the essence of life and beauty. Some believe that bluebirds represent a connection between those who have passed away and the living.

FAMILY FEELS

Family outing! Elpis loves it when she and her parents rides on top of Fenrir while they visit Jörmungandr!

All wolves from Ironwood, Jörmungandr, and especially Fenrir are very protective of Elpis! Make her cry and you answer to their wrath.

Fenrir gets slightly jealous whenever Elpis pays attention to other wolves/animals besides himself...he's her best friend, of course he's gonna whine (her parents finds it absolutely adorable)!

Angrboða (and maybe Atreus) taught Elpis how to bake, especially blueberry bread!

Freya's top (and beloved) pupil! Elpis' a prodigy so she's a quick learner whenever Freya teaches her Seiðr magic (the reviving spell from 2018 is one of her favorites). They also bonded over flowers and their shared love for Chaurli!

Despite's Freya's (and Angrboða's) teachings, Elpis would have been more interested in dark magic, particularly necromancy. Her family forbids her…but she learned it in secret despite their disapproval (curious and mischievous just like her father. And definitely not planning to resurrect dead animals and keep them as pets don't worry Fenrir you're still her favorite).

Kratos’ very favorite grandbaby! The moment she's born, he refuses to let anyone hold her...not even his own daughter-in-law. Even Elpis prefers her grandfather (and grunkle Mimir) over her parents (sorry Atreboða fans). They occasionally drop her off at Kratos’ cabin because Elpis kept begging them to see her grandpa!

Loves Mimir and is fascinated by his ability to speak despite being a head. She adores listening to his stories and often pleads him (or Kratos) to tell her a bedtime story whenever she spent the night at her grandpa's!

Kratos carved her a flute made from Ironwood barks on her 11th birthday, which she absolutely loved! He also taught her how to play it, and together they become a musical duo with Kratos playing a lyre (just like when he’s with Calliope). Even animals are drawn by her melodies!

Elpis found it strange by the sense of familiarity she felt towards her grandfather...as if she had known him from a past life.

Because in rare occurrences, Elpis caught a glimpse of herself in some reflections; a fair woman with lighter hair and blue eyes (definitely not Pandora). she never told anyone about this, not even her own parents until she confides this to Mimir...

Some nights, she even dreamed about the same woman (DEFINITELY NOT PANDORA), sometimes from the woman's perspective with Kratos in a different time...

JÖTNAR HERITAGE

Has a keen interest in vulture culture (she got that weird girl energy from her mother)! Angrboða taught her to paint, so Elpis adorn her collection of animal skulls with vibrant patterns. She even wore one as a mask!

Due of her fascination with vulture culture, she started to take up ivory carving! Atreus taught her to carve, so Elpis can wore them as jewelry! She even gave one to her mother as a lucky charm on mother's day!

Has a habit of cleaning/redefining gravestones, especially to those that are unmarked since she always have a deep respect for the dead! If a grave lacks a tombstone, she'll just make one for them! Besides vulture culture and ivory carving, she would take up headstone carving! She gained this experience whenever her family buried one of their wolves or other pets on their own cemetery in Ironwood.

GODHOOD

Has a strong connection with fylgjur in Norse Mythology. She can perceive any spirit animals in every individual through their fylgjur they represent- even herself!

Since the fandom headcanon that Hel would excel in soul magic, even surpassing the most powerful Giants from her Jötnar heritage (and you know damn well she's going to help Sindri found the last fragment of Brok's soul to the afterlife as he deserved), Elpis can also communicate (emotionally and telepathically) with any souls from Gaints' marbles to plants (a "soul language" trait she inherited from her father, but in higher-level)! It's also how she was able to found Andvari whom Sindri had lost, much to Atreus' relief when Elpis asks if they can keep him; and now she keeps Andvari with her at all times whenever she travels alone!

And since the fandom also agreed that Hel can see and communicate with the dead, as well as summon Hel-Walkers, Elpis can also interact (and connect) with deceased animals (especially wolves) due to her parents’ affinity towards them.

Just overall soul/astral manipulation manifested from her godhood (and from what I've seen, everyone seems to agreed that Hel's god powers would likey have to do with death/decay character-wise in Norse Mythology, which I'm also inboard with it).

Because there are times where she caught a quick glimpses of a certain Greek Goddess just around the corner...

[bladesofkyber]

the dialogue bits in 2018 vs Ragnarok are so interesting. the entire first game is recounting old norse mythology and things about this new world, new to the gamer & to kratos (largely bc he canonically didn’t fuckkng pay attention). mimir tells the tales to atreus, but also to the gamer. lore about the giants, the gods, changes in mythology from the eddas etc.

in ragnarök, we hear more about kratos’ homeland. we hear about the Battle of Thermopylae, The Illiad, he teaches atreus a greek word, we learn of the three fates etc.

it feels two fold to me:

on one hand, it’s kratos opening up and no longer running from his past but embracing it as having shaped who he is now. it’s him using his past experiences as a way to connect with others around him. he has a heavy history and the others do as well. they’ve all done terrible things and are attempting to atone for them. this shared trauma bonds the group. kratos is actively seeking these connections. he understands he can no longer be a solitary bear. his son is a wolf, a wolf has a pack. by kratos opening up he creates this found family, this pack for his son.

on the other hand, it’s literally a game mechanic: a big plot point of 2018 is No One Knows who kratos really is. he’s just a foreign god living in midgard. it’s why baldur thinks he’s the last guardian. if the world knew he was the ghost of sparta, we’d never have a 2018 game.

narrative design is so fucking cool. y’all deserve the world.

[heimdallsram]

hi ! do you have any thoughts about kratos and heimdall together? i love your writing and am very interested on your take on this interesting n odd pair!

Hello! And my, this is a hard one, isn't it?

No matter how you slice it, this would be a difficult pairing from the get-go. Heimdall is... very much a representation of a younger Atreus that never grew up, in a sense. At least that's how I see it! I've noted his vanity, shallowness, and superiority/inferiority complex before, so I'll move past that, and say that Heimdall is a foil to and for Atreus.

That said--it could work. But Heimdall would have to go through some serious personality and mental growth before Kratos would ever, presumably, entertain even the thought of something more than pity and/or hatred regarding him. You could also say he may feel some regret for the way he lost control during their fight that had resulted (as thought) in Heimdall's death and, in his own way, may make it up to him.

Or... perhaps, Heimdall develops something of a death wish. Why should he have survived if he failed? Odin was dead, he has no purpose in life without him, so he deliberately seeks Kratos out to force him to kill him permanently this time.

You could easily draw parallels to Baldur, here.

But since we're talking about the relationship aspect and my thoughts on it, I'll stop rambling about how I think it could work canon-wise. 😅

• They're dysfunctional at best, polar opposites at worst. Kratos is stern, gruff, takes no bullshit; Heimdall is all bullshit, mouthy, defensive--it would be the first thing Kratos would have to train out of him to expose the deeper issues he has. Being a father would mellow him out enough for him to understand where Heimdall's coming from, but only just.

• Heimdall runs his mouth. Kratos would barely tolerate it before his temper would get the better of him, especially in the beginning stages.

• Kratos would no doubt see Heimdall as a way to right the wrong he committed in almost killing him and losing control. Despite how unbearable the man can be, I think Kratos would see the benefit in returning him to something worthwhile that does not depend on his now dead father's approval.

• Loneliness. Assuming Mimir takes up his torch with Sigrun, Kratos will be alone for the majority of the time post-Ragnarök. With Freya only able to join his journeys every so often due to issues within Vanaheim, this would be the perfect place to introduce Heimdall as a sort of growth experiment. He would have to learn to do things he never had to when in Asgard, and the hard way.

• Without his arm, Heimdall's esteem would tank drastically. His foresight would be of no aid to him there. Kratos could bond with him through these things, teach him to use a weapon, as he would no doubt have experience teaching maimed warriors to fight in some way. (And if not, perhaps he takes on a particular side quest regarding just that.)

• But, when all is said and done, you must consider Faye. She was a large part of Kratos' restructuring within the Norse lands and it cannot be easily brushed aside. Heimdall would be snide about her existence, expressing distaste of her giant heritage. Kratos would, without a better phrase, need to show him who's in charge. And no, that's not an innuendo haha.

• This relationship has a high chance of turning toxic. I'd throw a guess out there and say around 90% if Heimdall doesn't change his ways and 100% if Kratos starts slipping, because Heimdall reminds him too much of a certain Greek God he had killed long ago.

• I really don't think it would be sunshine and rainbows. There would be happy spots, yes, but Heimdall does not seem to be able to coexist in a family unit, especially one so heavily marked by those he considers wronged his father. And if he did try, he would have periods of running away, but would return.

• It's a very complicated question of: will he? Can Heimdall change enough to be something better for himself and not just Kratos? Enough to keep a relationship with the man, to boot?

• Heimdall would struggle with the idea of a non abusive fatherly figure, especially through the lens that he sees Kratos interact with Atreus. He would need to get over that quickly or any chance of this working implodes fantastically.

• Don't get me wrong, Kratos would have to put in a lot of work alongside Heimdall to make it somewhat stable. And I think it could be, with time and effort, and eventually be something based on love, but truly... I think we all know it would be sparked by the sexual tension that arises between the two.

So, with all this in mind, I think it could work! But anyone who writes it would have to have some consideration for Heimdall's issues, his new existence as a disabled god, and Kratos' slip up. 🤔

I hope this was helpful! This was actually a really tough question for me and I enjoyed it immensely. And thank you for being a fan of my writing 🥰

[rex101111]

it is probably a surprise to no one that my favorite new little detail in GOW Ragnarok is that Kratos is the one reading runes and lore tablets now, which means that Atreus made good on his desire to teach his father the runes. Since its been only about 2-4 years since the last game, either Atreus is a pretty good teacher or Kratos is a quick study, because that amount of time to read a language that well is pretty impressive. Him being the one writing down the codex entries is just gravy.

And of course one of my favorite incidental conversations is when Kratos actually pays Atreus back in a way, by teaching him Greek. (or well, one word of Greek Ygros, meaning “damp” or “humid”) And its really neat because Kratos sharing anything from his homeland was very rare in the last game, but now he’s able to share more with Atreus.

And now I want a scene in the future where Atreus visits home and Kratos actually teaches him some more Greek, or maybe where he teaches Mimir how to talk proper Greek since while the smartest man alive may have heard of battles and seen plays, his pronunciation is getting on Kratos’ nerves and it needs correcting. 

[choasinaspifyarchersuit]

God of War headcanons

(my bf doesn't deserve to be bombarded with all of these)

Sindri likes bringing Atreus stuffies Brøk gets him legos

Atreus brings animals into the house and every time Kratos finds them he tells Atreus to take it back where he found it

Sindri won't eat food not prepared by himself or someone he trusts

Brøk throws spoons at people when he's cooking

Atreus is a crybaby

Atreus would a cheerleader and a drama nerd in a modern au

Brøk likes bunnies

Mimir teases Atreus and Kratos a lot, Atreus and Kratos join in usually

Atreus and Brøk have food fights, during a particularly bad one Sindri passed out and Kratos carried him outside, Mimir laughed

Before the Baldur incident, Atreus would pick flowers on their trip and give them to Freya when the went back to her house. He still picks flowers for her, he was a notebook full of pressed flowers

Freyr is not allowed to be unsupervised with Atreus

Skjöldr is a hopeless romantic

Atreus literally can't tell left from right, Kratos has long sense given up on trying to teach him, Faye couldn't tell the difference either

Skjöldr, Angrboda, Thurd, and Atreus are besties and they hang out all the time if you find one there's another close by

Angrboda (she/they) and Loki (he/they/any genderfluid) are t4t

(basically cannon) When talking abt Atreus some people call him Loki others say Atreus but no one gets confused

Kratos teaches Atreus and Mimir a little Greek, they use it in tense situations when they need to watch what they say

[kraptos]

before and after God of war Ragnarok what do you think would be AOS's favorite pastime activity? Also do you think he would enjoy bakin some Greek pancakes for atreus and his friends?

before ragnarok, atreus's favorite hobby is probably just spending time with his family. he's getting comfortable in his role in the house and enjoys spending time with little atreus and teaching him whatever he can. he and mimir can also talk for hours about the intricacies of norse/spartan culture/faiths/etc. other than that, just helping kratos with general housework to ensure they'll all survive to see spring.

after ragnarok, however, i can definitely see him getting into books once he and kratos learn to read. i think he'd have a deep curiosity about gods that aren't his own (esp now because when he first learned of it as a young man, it nearly broke his world view lol). it'd give him more to discuss with mimir, plenty of opportunity to sharpen his language skills, and he'd be desperately trying to collect every odd and end tale he could find to tell atreus junior once they see him again. i'm also sure he would love to get into cooking! especially to entertain guests, and to share more pieces of his heritage with atreus jr & co.... so cute. he's definitely never going to take cooking/baking for granted again, nothing like three years with minimal vegetables and grains to make a man really appreciate them!! :"]

[baphomet-media]

Dad of Boy - A God of War (2018) Review

Genre: Adventure

Subgenre: 3D Adventure

Developer: SIE Santa Monica Studio

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Platform(s): PS4

Release Date: April 20th, 2018

I have never played a God of War game before. Though I know the basic gist of the story (Kratos kills all of the Greek pantheon before they can kill him through powers of rage), that’s about it. Still, I saw nothing but praise for the new game, and the setting, story, and gameplay that I saw intrigued me. I got the game as a gift a short while ago, after it seemed to collectively drop off the media’s radar, and eventually decided to give it a shot. So, does it live up to the hype? Let’s dig in.

Story

God of War 2018 (GoW18) takes place many years after the events of the previous games. Kratos, the former bloodthirsty deicidal barbarian Ghost of Sparta has moved to a new land of giants, dwarves, and Norse gods, and has settled down with a wife and child. But Kratos cannot run away from his godhood forever, and things catch up with him one day after his wife dies, when a mysterious stranger shows up at Kratos’s door. The two engage in a brutal fight, with Kratos seemingly emerging victorious. Kratos and his young son Atreus then must set off to take Kratos’s wife’s ashes to the top of the tallest peak in all the realms.

Along the way, Kratos teaches his son about how to survive in the world, in his own gruff way, of course. The interplay between Kratos’s grim and serious nature contrasts delightfully with Atreus’s impatience and youthful energy. Various other friendly and hostile faces present themselves throughout the story, with the highlights being dwarf brothers Brok and Sindri, two dwarf smiths with clashing personalities that spend most of the game passive-aggressively bickering about how horrible of a smith the other is, but actually do their best work together. The supporting cast are all fantastic, however the enemies left a lot to be desired, and there were very few actual named enemies, making a lot of the story beats just feeling like they lacked impact, and were instead just stepping stones along Kratos’s way. Still, there were plenty of moments of good humor and intrigue, especially for anyone with an interest in mythology, particularly the Norse variety.

While the game does not have a completely canonical representation of Norse myth, it takes a lot of the established characters and ideas and puts its own grim spin on them. I enjoyed learning a bit about different mythological figures and events, even if the majority of them are merely exposited to the player and make no physical appearance in the game itself. It leaves me wanting more, and hopeful for a sequel.

Gameplay

From what I know about past God of War games, combat used to revolve around Kratos using his Blades of Chaos, two beefy short swords chained together, which he uses to spin, grapple, slam, and juggle hordes of foes. GoW18 takes a different approach, slowing things down and moving the camera over Kratos’s shoulder. His main weapon now is the Leviathan Axe, which excels at one-on-one combat, and can also be thrown and returned for ranged combat. To put it plainly, combat in this game feels a bit more like Dark Souls than Devil May Cry. Longtime fans of the series may be disappointed in the shift in gameplay direction, but as a relative outsider, I found the combat enjoyable. I liked that it made me think about my strikes, blocks, parries, and throws, instead of mindlessly mashing attack buttons to rack up insane combos.

However, combat demands that you stay in control. Even the weakest enemies can drain your health quickly, as Kratos is vulnerable to being stunlocked. Plus (at least on the Hard difficulty, which I played) enemies have a ton of HP, so you’ll need around 5-6 combos to finish off most weaker enemies. It doesn’t help that the beginning of the game only drip-feeds you the controls, so I got killed multiple times on the first enemy because I had no idea that Kratos had a shield or how to dodge properly.

Still, as you progress through the game, the number and strength of enemies increase, but the overall challenge gradually decreases as you unlock new moves and combat options to help you deal more damage, more easily stagger enemies, and better deal with multiple foes. Unfortunately, for most of the game, the combat struggles when there are multiple foes. The lock-on system is extremely reluctant to switch enemies, and it’s sometimes difficult to maneuver, dodge blows, and keep the camera looking where you want all at once. Particularly in boss fights, which are numerous.

Still, when it goes right, using the shield to parry, and landing heavy blows with the Leviathan Axe is very satisfying. Along the way Atreus himself gets more capable in combat, improving his archery, and learning assist moves that distract enemies and set them up for combos by Kratos. You can also command Atreus to shoot arrows and use special abilities, which gives you more options in combat. This starts out being only marginally helpful, but gets much more useful the further you advance in the game, and Atreus also gains abilities that help you progress in the overworld, allowing you to bypass obstacles that Kratos couldn’t deal with on his own.

The game has a fairly expansive world, though this is not so much in the sheer size of the world, but more in that the main area of the world is constantly revealing more depth to it. The Lake of Nine, the game’s main area, is constantly revealing new areas to explore, which constantly keeps it fresh, although sometimes it definitely feels like you’re constantly revisiting the same areas. At most points in the game, you can explore freely, though you may stumble across challenges and enemies that are too difficult for you to tackle at your current power level and need to come back once you’ve powered up by upgrading your gear. On one hand, I like this, because it gives you the option to try instead of just locking out higher-level content, but on the other hand, even if you’re really good at the game, you’ll have a lot of difficulty felling enemies that are even slightly higher in level than you, mostly because their HP is ridiculously high, which leads back into enemies feeling like HP sponges.

Presentation

GoW18 is a gorgeous game to look at, with the scenery being drenched in detail. The various realms that you travel to throughout the game also add differences in visual appeal, keeping things fresh when you’re outside of Midgard.

While the game doesn’t have much in the way of music, the heavy brass and choir vocals on more dark and foreboding tracks remind the listener of Kratos’s violent past, and let you know not to mess with him. You don’t want to be on the receiving end of his Spartan Rage when that music swells!

The voice acting in the game is top-notch. Christopher Judge is great as Kratos, and as a longtime Stargate fan, it’s funny just to see how much Kratos mirrors Judge’s previous role as Stargate’s Teal’c. I also particularly enjoyed the voice acting of the character Mimir, voiced by Alastair Duncan, who exposits his own twisted take on Norse mythology to the father-son duo during travel periods. The rest of the cast are fantastic in their own right, as well.

Conclusion

God of War 2018 is a great game that manages to step out of the shadow of its previous games to create something unique and new for itself. Despite how violent and dark the series is, GoW18 tells a touching story of a father and son getting to know each other better, travelling the world together, and meeting all manner of colorful friends and foes. The combat, while slower and more methodical than previous games and tedious at times on higher difficulties, rewards skillful play and empowers the player more and more as they stick with it.

All in all, if you have a PS4 and like action games, definitely give this one a try. You’ll be glad you did. I look forward to Kratos’s and Atreus’s further adventures on the PS5 when God of War Ragnarok comes out next year!

Score: 8 / 10

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Ancient Wisdom Revealed: 5 Hidden Magical Knowledge That Can Transform Your Life

We are usually amazed when we discover hidden knowledge related to mysticism, magic, and witchcraft. Not only does this ancient knowledge enlighten us but it can also help us understand the very essence of our being. However, most of the times valuable magical information and insight are hidden right before our very eyes. We simply need to know where to look.

“Secrets have a way of making themselves felt, even before you know there’s a secret.” – Jean Ferris

It’s true that this is World which has never actually cut off from the Old Ways. In fact, so many things we still do, reflect on the Old Religion and our Witchy Ways. Therefore, we decided to publish an article, on all weird things that actually got Pagan Origin or even Witchy! This is going to be really really fun!

Magical Knowledge Hidden in Plain Sight

“It is hidden but always present.” – Laozi

The list is endless. We could keep going on and on about it but we chose 5 facts which make more sense to almost anyone.

1. Why do we Wink to signal about secret knowledge?

A Winker actually signals the Winkee that they share or s/he is about to share some secret knowledge. It’s not obvious why or what it is, but this is a sign to immediately question reality. This is an awakening call. If you really think about it, it’s already pretty weird.

Wink & the one eye of Odin

Odin is the mighty and wise father of Norse Religion. God of Wisdom, Healing and Victory he is beloved in all germanic traditions. He is famous for his thirst for Wisdom and magical knowledge. According to one story, Odin was traveling again in his quest to expand his awareness. One day he ventured to Mimir’s Well, located beneath the world tree Yggdrasil. The Guardian spirit of this well, whose wisdom and magical knowledge for the Realms was unprecedented, greeted Odin. Odin asked for some water.

I know where Othin’s eye is hidden, Deep in the wide-famed well of Mimir; Mead from the pledge of Othin each morn Does Mimir drink: would you know yet more?

I know where Othin’s eye is hidden, Deep in the wide-famed well of Mimir; Mead from the pledge of Othin each morn Does Mimir drink: would you know yet more?

The mystical creature knew exactly what Odin was asking and he tried to make it as hard as possible. Thus he demanded his eye. Odin was asking for true and absolute wisdom and the price seemed fair for the Guardian. However, Odin gave it instantly and the Guardian gave the God of Wisdom what he was asking.

Hidden Magical Knowledge of Wink

In many ancient depictions, and due to the fact that Odin has one eye, he seems like he’s winking. This is where the ‘wink’ came from. As Odin lost his eye for hidden truth, we reenact his divine sacrifice by winking, to signal someone for secret knowledge.

“The only secrets are the secrets that keep themselves.” – George Bernard Shaw

2. Why do we give the ‘middle finger’ to insult someone?

Greeks understood the power of sex & sexuality, thus sexuality was part of each God’s powers. Thus, the ‘Phallus’ aka the erect penis, was a symbol of great potential, a power which could fight every demon, reverse bad luck to golden opportunities and create a new and successful beginning in everyone’s life.

Middle finger represents a phallus – a magical symbol

Indeed, the middle finger represents an erect penis. The middle finger also is known as “digitus impudicus” or “the impudent finger”. Saint Isidore of Seville explains in his Etymologies that the third finger is called impudent because it often expresses vexation, insult. But why?

“A graceful taunt is worth a thousand insults.” – Louis Nizer

This rude gesture actually dates back to ancient Greece. This was a sacred and magical gesture – something like a Mudra. Greeks used it to instantly counter any negative activity and dark arts that targeted them. Just like the statues of Phallus in crossroads and anywhere, they did it to repel dark magic.

Therefore, by ‘giving the middle finger and insulting’ the receiver we actually attempt to bind his/her power against us.

3. Why are Days Seven?

Have you wondered? Why aren’t the days of week 5 or 10 or 12? Why 7? Is there special power in it? Well YES!

Seven are the Days, Seven are the ‘Planets’ of ancient Witches

In the ancient World, astrologers and mages worked with the energy of the ‘7 Planets’. These 7 celestial bodies – which are not all planets – embody the diverse magical forces and energies from which everything is born into creation. Each ‘planet’ has a distinct vibration that can be directed and channeled in every magical work.

Each of the seven Days of the Week represents each of the ‘Planet’ of Astrologers and Witches which of course correspond to one God.

Monday is the Moon’s Day, day of Artemis / Diana – Goddess of the Moon

Tuesday is Tyr’s / Ares / Mars’s Day – God of War

Wednesday is Woden’s / Hermes’s / Mercury’s Day – God of Communication and Knowledge

Thursday is Thor’s / Zeus’s / Jupiter’s Day – all God of Lightning although Zeus is also King of Gods

Friday is Freya’s / Aphrodite’s / Venus’s Day – Goddess of Beauty and Love

Saturday is Saturn’s / Krono’s Day – old God of Time

Sunday is Sun’s / Apollo’s Day – God of the Sun

4. Why do we make Tattoos?

A tattoo is an ancient form of art appearing in different ancient cultures throughout history. Our modern word ‘tattoo’ comes from the Tahitian word tatau which means “to mark something”. Does this remind you of something? Maybe the Witch Marks?

“Tattoos are like stories — they’re symbolic of the important moments in your life.” – Pamela Anderson

Tattoos are in fact Witch Marks

Tattoos are similar to the Marks of the Witches. It’s a sacrifice we make to our bodies in order to connect deeper with what the symbol we chose represents. An eternal mark on our mortal bodies which can also pass through our incarnations. So please, before you decide which tattoo to do on your body, choose wisely the meaning and symbolism!

5. Why do we wear our wedding ring on our ‘ring finger’?

Haven’t you always wondered? Why do we choose to put our Wedding Rings on the ‘Ring Finger’? Well, as you can understand, the name of the finger itself actually implies its participation in Wedding Rituals.

Why a Golden Ring on Ring Finger?

This part of Wedding Rituals actually dates back in ancient years. First of all, the Ring symbolizes the Wholeness and Unity. It’s the perfect shape of Alchemists and it’s linked with Ouroboros – the symbol of eternity.

Now, why on Ring Finger? This finger is associated with the Sun and Apollo, the god of all blessings. When we ‘activate’ this finger we actually activate the power of the Sun and Apollo in us. As every ‘Planet’ is associated with one Metal, the Sun and Apollo are associated with Gold. Thus, to properly activate the Ring Finger we need to wear a Golden Ring on it. Check more on how to wear Rings to pursue your purposes here!

Therefore, in Wedding Rings, we conjure the blessings of Apollo and the Sun, the bring timeless happiness.

“Secrets are made to be found out with time.” – Charles Sanford

Esoteric wisdom can help you transform your life and the lives of your loved ones. Once you know how to access and decode such ancient knowledge, you can get a better understanding of different religions, practices and spiritual self. Now that you have gained some valuable insight, use this hidden ancient magical wisdom to build a happier and more purposeful life.

Post originally published on Magical Recipes Online

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5 Hidden Magical Knowledge That Can Transform Your Life

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Magical Recipes Online

Magical Recipes Online consists of a core team of 4 people who have dedicated their lives to bring Magic to a wider audience, to teach and to be taught, to help everyone in our World tap to the Great Source of All Things and bring happiness and love into their lives. We are everyday ordinary people who have lead extraordinary lives. We have heard our call to Magic from a young age but followed different directions.

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How to Decode Emotions In Text Messages: 6 Effective Ways To Get Started

“How do you decode emotions in text messages?”

Text messages can often be very confusing. It can be especially challenging to understand emotions when we communicate through text messages. With the lack of facial expressions and body language, we can often misinterpret the intended message and tone resulting in disastrous misunderstandings. So how can we read emotions in texts? Let’s find out.

“What is a moderate interpretation of the text? Halfway between what it really means and what you’d like it to mean?” – Antonin Scalia

It’s easy when people say they are angry or sad or excited, or if they tack an emoji to the end of a text. But when they don’t? Given that even face-to-face communication can be confusing, it should not surprise us that truncated, dashed-off text messages can result in disastrous misunderstandings.

In the age of technology, we not only need to decode in-person interactions, but we also need to decode textual transmissions.

How do we know what a person is feeling when we can’t see their faces or body language?

Here are six tips to help you better decode emotions in text messages, or at least prevent yourself from jumping to conclusions based on scant evidence.

1. Assume good intentions

In general, text messages are short. We have very little information to work with. A smiley face or series of exclamation points can help assure us that the text is meant to express positive emotion, but texts do not always include these extra emotion indicators. Our friends’ busy schedules lead to abrupt messages, and our partner’s playful sarcasm isn’t always read as playful.

Keep in mind that texts are a difficult medium for communicating emotion. We have no facial expressions or tone of voice, or conversation to give us more information. If the text doesn’t say, “I’m angry,” then don’t assume that the texter is angry. We are better off reading texts with the assumption that the texter has good intentions. Otherwise, we may end up in lots of unnecessary arguments.

“Texting is a fundamentally sneaky form of communication, which we should despise, but it is such a boon we don’t care. We are all sneaks now.” – Lynne Truss

2. Cultivate awareness of unconscious biases

In my research, I have had to train numerous teams of emotion coders. But even trained coders who meet weekly to discuss discrepancies don’t agree on which emotion (or how much emotion) is being expressed. People just do not see emotions in the same way. We have unconscious biases that lead us to draw different conclusions based on the same information.

For example, every time I lead a coding team I am reminded that males and females often differ in how they interpret others’ emotions. If Bob writes: “My wife missed our 10-year anniversary,” men may think Bob is angry, while women may think Bob is sad.

I don’t presume to know exactly why this is, but I can say confidently that our emotion-detection skills are affected by characteristics about us. When it comes to detecting emotion in texts, try to remember that our unconscious biases affect our interpretations. The emotions we detect may be reflective of things about us just as much as they are reflective of the information in the text.

3. Explore the emotional undertones of the words themselves

The words people use often have emotional undertones. Think about some common words—words like love, hate, wonderful, hard, work, explore, or kitten.

If a text reads, “I love this wonderful kitten,” we can easily conclude that it is expressing positive emotions. If a text reads, “I hate this hard work,” that seems pretty negative. But, if a text reads, “This wonderful kitten is hard work,” what emotion do we think is being expressed?

One approach to detecting emotions when they appear to be mixed is to use the “bag-of-words” method. This just means that we look at each word separately. How positive are the words “kitten” and “wonderful”? And how negative are the words “hard” and “work”? By looking at how positive and negative each word is, we may be able to figure out the predominant emotion the texter is trying to express. Give this bag-of-words method a try when you are having a hard time figuring out the emotion in a text.

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Dr. Tchiki Davis

Tchiki Davis, Ph.D., is a consultant, writer, and expert on well-being technology. She has helped build happiness products, programs, and services that have reached more than a million people worldwide. To learn more about how Tchiki can help you grow your happiness & well-being, visit berkeleywellbeing.com

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Whether it is the movies, books or games, the task to reboot an established franchise is never an easy thing for any developer or publisher. With some much expectations from the series’ fans, on top of making sure they are not forgotten while trying something new, the new God of War was definitely a gamble. To achieve this reboot of a flagship PlayStation brand, it took over five years of hard work and dedication from the iconic producer Cory Barlog and the team over at Santa Monica, carefully dissecting the franchise and putting everything back into something new, from the gameplay mechanics to the general artistic direction of the game.

However, everything in this “reboot” of  God of War is actually a balance between retaining the essence of the franchise will creating something new. Beyond the obvious technical and the artistic aspect that comes from a switch to next generation, the game still pays a tribute to its legacy in all sorts of ways. While it would have been easier to start from a clean sweep to reboot this franchise, there’s a certain genius behind Santa Monica’s studio to switch to another lost mythology and yet keep Kratos at the center of it. You see, I personally wasn’t a big fan of the original God of War series, even if I admire the lore of ancient Greek myths, but it’s this episode that changed my mind, as we now venture into the Norse realm, with Odin on its throne, paired with other deities and creatures.

Despite his divinity – Kratos is, after all, a demigod and one of Zeus’ many sons – it made sense for the developers to do something similar to other iconic franchise reboots, and be interested in the human side of the character. Like it was the case with the reboot of Tomb Raider, Hitman and many others, the game is focused on Kratos’ inner struggle, as well as the desire to tell a deeper and equally intense story through his quest for redemption as a father, in a journey of initiation with his son Atreus, following the death of his wife. While this sounds a bit like a recipe a la “The Last of Us“, the similarities end here, as the script is done so well that it flows naturally even interspersed with very numerous clashes against ogres, trolls and other legendary Norse creatures.The narrative is intelligent in its structure, swinging back and forth between emotional, brutality and humor, with excellent conversation playing mostly on the Atreus’young innocent and playful reactions, contrasting those more contained a battle and life hardened Kratos.

And so in the rough 20-25 hours of gameplay to reach the end, the story of God of War contrasts with that of the other opus, because it’s all about Kratos finally teaching his son Atreus to not fall in the same mistakes he sadly did. For the rest of you, if you hope to discover a story of vengeance and treachery between gods, like the previous games, then you’re probably be disappointed. While these are present, however, they are not the central element of the story despite the journey of our heroes punctuated by clashes against some of these Norse gods. If you’re coming with the expectation of the previous games, then the sooner you realize God of War is indeed an entire story, the better. This 2018 game is dedicated to the Spartan and his son, his new life and being more human than ever, despite his divinity, and that is not an easy thing to do. Constantly struggling with this rage and anger slumbering in him, Kratos is looking for redemption by teaching Atreus to become a better man than he ever was, hiding his past for a better future. Everything makes sense and you’ll notice how the boy’s reactions remain credible, both in his burst of childish joy or uncontrolled anger, on top of his natural tendency to stand up to his father.

Between Kratos and Atreus, there’s also enough room in the game for some secondary characters, notably the first you’ll meet such as Brok and later on his brother Sindri, both dwarves with quite opposite personalities. The award for best-supporting actor though will probably go to Mimir. An important figure in Norse mythology, this god of knowledge and wisdom will be saved from Odin’s torture by our pair of heroes, forming an interesting trio with perfect chemistry. In addition to becoming the brain of the group, both literally and figuratively, Mimir will constantly give interesting tidbits about the game’s world, and several Nordic legends, helping Atreus – and the player – perfect his knowledge. This whole coherence of the universe is one hell of a blast for a history nerd like myself, as everything in God of War makes sense, or is interconnected for a purpose, including making the game even more fun.

Without presenting fooling anyone of being an open world – in comparison Horizon Zero Dawn, the last Action Adventure game from the publisher – God of War offers a huge map which you’ll truly enjoy. The set is built in a way that urges you to discover every nooks and cranny, revisit areas, and from time to time appreciate the beauty of its digital brush, as you enter a majestic cave or dock on a river bank still acting as a witness to a forgotten war. Although the system of traveling portals could’ve been better thought of, there’s never a feeling of too much backtracking, with even minimal touches of Metroidvania as you’ll end up opening new areas in the map, once you gain new powers and skills.

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Inspired obviously by Norse mythology, the Santa Monica team created one hell of a visual canvas, filled with sumptuous landscapes and confined sets embellished by a neat work on lighting effects. Whether you are in Midgard, Helheim or Muspellheim, the setting will take your breath away, as you cross an icy expanse in front of a giant that has been lying down for centuries. You thus find all the strengths of the saga’s visual strength, now help with a much more contemplative camera angle – behind the shoulder – to travel at your own pace and enjoy the panorama. But I’m a bit annoyed by the lack of variety in terms of the bestiary, which is smaller than those of other games, with barely any major changes or visible upgrades on most creatures, whether it is the trolls or just mere wolves. Thankfully, this lack of variety is completely forgotten when you see how devastating and visually complex Kratos’ attack are on those creatures. Adding the special effects and motion blur, with some subtle use of slow motion, the fights are staged so well that every monster or enemy will in a way feel different.

Remember when I spoke about the new camera angle? If you played the previous God of War games, then you probably are trying to figure out how that old gameplay system works with a behind-the-shoulder angle, correct? Well, the developers have only improved what was already well made, with the new a closer camera angle literally plunging the player into the action. While it’s might seem surprising that it works, playing God of War that way feels almost natural, thanks to Atreus or Mimir’s warning of incoming dangers (a bit like Senua’s inner voices). You’ll then have to fight in a traditional hack and slash – similar to the old games – but with extra mechanics like a switch to hand to hand and shield combo, a parry, and secondary skills. All of this will be confusing for the old veteran of the series, but enjoyable, especially after a few hours of play when we start to unlock more of the skill trees.

You will also need to learn the new weapon and gear system, which are linked to both Kratos and Atreus’ skill tree opening more branches and nodes. To start with, most of your weapons and gear will need to require a key amount of materials and money acquired from chests, completing quests or eliminating enemies. It is regrettable that some materials are sometimes difficult to find because of a lack of guidance, especially when it comes to crafting some legendary loot pieces and unlock more awesome abilities and combos for Kratos, or passive and supportive attacks for Atreus. On that front, I’m actually glad that it wasn’t another “The Last of Us”, as Kratos’ son is not imposed on your, and its usefulness in combat is quite well, especially when he gets the opportunity to bring you back to life with a resurrection stone.

Finally, we got the Rage mode, which builds up with effective combat skills like proper parry or dodge, as well as successfully chaining combos between Kratos and his son. While that mode is recurring from previous games, it was also tweaked for this new game, switching the Spartan into a berserker, with boosted punching attacks. The latter can become quite devastating when unlocking more nodes in its dedicated skill trees, such as a blasting area of attack ground stomp, or even the ability to pick up a large boulder and throw it at enemies. So yes, you get the gist of it, the gameplay has evolved and will be difficult to get used to for hardcore fans, however, it does not deny its true essence: the savage ferocity in each of Kratos hits.

Before we end this, there are two things that might be important for some of you to know. While I tested the game on two different consoles, both the vanilla and original PlayStation 4 (not even second generation slimmer model) and the Pro version, I totally suggest the latter. If you don’t have a PlayStation 4 Pro by now – even without a 4K TV – this game is a totally viable reason to upgrade your console, because you can feel the normal suffering with its intense fan sound. While there might not be damage visually on the screen in terms of performance, the game is visually better looking on the PlayStation 4 Pro. In both cases, the game runs at a locked 30fps, but it’s the HDR that really turns this game into one colorful digital canvas, full of crisp details and rich textures. Sadly, while there’s one thing that I truly like in the original series, it was the soundtrack, but this episode feels a bit hushed or not as epic as the original game music. Don’t get me wrong, It’s not bad, but it’s maybe not as powerful as the first titles.

God of War was reviewed using a PlayStation 4 digital download code of the game provided by PlayStation Middle East. We don’t discuss review scores with publishers or developers prior to the review being published (click here for more information about our review policy).

With this new God of War, Santa Monica Studios managed to perfectly refresh the franchise without losing its essence, making it the best entry ever made. While veterans might feel overwhelmed by all the changes, they will easily get used to it, and will play one of the top 5 best looking games on the console. Whether it is the movies, books or games, the task to reboot an established franchise is never an easy thing for any developer or publisher.