Asgard

OC Note: This information is well known to the Aesir, but only through mission reports and fragmented stories in UNITED. Your character can know and believe as much or as little as they wish.

“When he came into the town, he saw there a hall so high that he could not easily make out the top of it: its thatching was laid with golden shields after the fashion of a shingled roof.

On their backs they let beam, sore battered with stones,
Odin's hall-shingles, the shrewd sea-farers.”

From the Beguiling of Gylfi

Asgard, home to the Aesir, is a great city stretching for miles and seemingly without end. All around bound by a giant wall and within teeming with halls in every direction. A traveler coming within the walls would have little aid to navigation save the long paved street leading to the middle - called Idavoll. A cleared space at the very centre of the city, here stands Gladsheim all made of gold and seating twelve thrones and opposite it beautiful Vingolf hewn from precious rocks, glittering and beautiful, seating twelve more.

Or so it was before the gods slept. Now that the Aesir awake once more in their halls and all Asgard around them is tarnished. Some dwellings are fallen or weak with age, and others mysteriously absent, their owners sleeping in some other place. Within the centre of the city Gladsheim and Vingolf still stand proud but the gold is sick and burnished with the passing of countless suns and the gems glow dimmer in the light.

Giants have often come to threaten Asgard, but none could ever breach the walls that encircle it whole. They stand tall and strong and have in the gods' memory only been breached with trickery and deceit.

It is claimed that the giant named Hrimthurs had built these walls, demanding great payment of the Aesir for completing it one day. The Aesir thought that he could not, for Hrimthurs was disguised as a man, and challenged him to do it. They did not count on Hrimthurs' magic steed, which could pull boulders with great speed and after most of a day he had built a wall nearly all round Asgard. The Aesir panicked, and called upon Loki to stop Hrimthurs finishing - so Loki disguised himself as a mare and led Hrimthurs' horse away so that he could not finish.

Perhaps it was true, but the wall stands complete and seemingly of one craftsmanship and those who have asked Odin or Thor or Loki get no reply as to who truly built those walls. Still, many say that Odin's eight-legged horse Sleipnir is born of Loki and Hrimthurs' horse…

Most famous among the halls of Asgard is that of Valhalla, where Odin gathers his favoured mortals. But as the Aesir have slept for more than a millenium and the heroes of Valhalla with them and in the meantime no new heroes have arrived. Now those who drink and battle merrily every day demand that more are brought to join them, so that their feasting will continue as it was before. The Valkyries have obliged, discharging their promises and duties to Odin even in his absence.

While the Allfather does not sit at the head of the Hall, still with every round of the horn that is passed, each hero toasts to their Lord.

The Great Hall of Thor, high inside so that it seems to rise to the heavens, and carved of ornate stone. Other than what Thor holds and wears there is no metal in Thrudvangar and all is wood and stone. Thor holds here feats, contests and councils of war and so there is a great expanse within which may be purposed for this and that.

Thor may be of short temper and quick to anger, but so he is quick to invite guests and those passing by Thrudvangar are often in danger of being dragged into some contest of strength or carousing.

Where Odin once lived is called Valaskjalf, but since the Aesir awakened, it has been left empty and ghostly. None have ventured within out of respect for the Allfather, but no signs of life have been noted. Even Odin's wife Frigg has not set foot within Valaskjalf and yet claims she knows her husband is not within.

All in Asgard respect the boundaries of this hall, and only the most deceitful and treacherous of outsiders would venture to transgress these boundaries.

Stretching far and wide the Halls of the Aesir within Asgard are of all shapes and sizes. Some are great wooden longhouses and others are stocky dwellings of stone while still others are decorated with all manner of riches. The city is divided into three great holds, each ruled over by the Lords as Odin had ordained.

Ruled by Alfr the Allman, this is the most sparse of the holds within Asgard and with a great many fields or gardens growing within. The Aesir here have a strong sense of community and are most welcoming of others. Alfr himself speaks to everyone regularly, dining at a different hall each night and once a month gathering all those of Storvorde to his own for a lavish feast where he listens intently to the stories told.

Ruled by Oligmar Hammerblow and standing in the shadow of Thor's Hall, Thrudvangar, a great many of the best Aesir warriors reside within. It is said that every Aesir that lives here is a sworn brother or sister of each other and so if ever one were to be threatened, the others would come fast to their aid. Perhaps that was so once, but since the Awakening the feelings of confusion and mistrust have broken down old bonds. In truth, if the Aesir once remembered such oaths, so much time asleep has left them forgotten.

Ruled by Gywynn Golden who holds all crafts in great regard and for whom the Dwarves have made all manner things. The most dense of the holds and with the most ornate Halls in all of Asgard it is here that most Aesir come to trade. It is also the place where the greatest number of Vanir and Jotun live, finding a better place for their own dwellings and a chance to appear more circumspect amongst the mass of Aesir.

Beyond the walls of Asgard lie great fields and plains where the gods travel and serfs till fields. The city must be fed and does not stand alone with smaller villages dotted around the landscape.

The way out of Asgard leads most directly to the Bifrost - a great bridge, seemingly to nowhere, that has let the Aesir travel directly to the plain of Midgard, Alfheim and Svartalfheim. When the Aesir went to sleep, so did the magics of Bifrost however and now that they have awoken it has proved difficult to coax back into working order. There are other ways to the other worlds that the Aesir are unaccustomed to using - so taxing and demanding on the mind of a god. Heimdall still keeps watch over it from the hall of Himinbiorg standing by the bridge. Many have asked him why he guards it while none may pass, but Heimdall has only answered that the need to guard the bridge is beyond the understanding of all but the Allfather.

Roads from Asgard lead deep into the mountains in one direction, and in another straight across the fields. The plain and direct path takes some time to bring the traveler to Vanaheim, but they will surely reach it without too much difficulty. The Vanaheim road is gentle and easy, and one can see trivially in all directions around, so one cannot be waylaid.

The mountain road, on the other hand, is treacherous and long, winding through mountain after mountain, pass after pass, each one more treacherous than the next. If one should brave this road and traverse all the obstacles, then one will come to the river Ífingr, which blocks the way to Jotunheim, where the some-time rivals of the Aesir have lived for a long time, and this past thousand years unsleeping.

Field after field can be seen all around the city of Asgard and on every one daily toll the serfs of the Aesir so that there is grain, meat and mead aplenty. Lesser of the Aesir are chosen to oversee the work there and often these come out to live for a time in the low halls of the many serf villages. The greatest and furthest of these is called by the serfs Helsinge and from it they work on the most fertile of fields the bring food to the tables of the likes of Thor, Freya, Frigg and Hodr.

Thunder God of many purviews, among them strength, the protection of humans and even fertility. Renowned among the Aesir as a great hero, but equally the source of all the stories beginning “I was drinking with Thor…” that tend to end in property destroyed, giants slain, and an enormous hangover. Thor asks for nothing, and so few would ever refuse to offer up aid if it was ever needed. It is said that Odin held Thor's council in high regard, but among the other ruling Aesir it is said he holds an ill reputation. Indeed, he is known to have a strange fascination with mankind, and seeks ever to protect them from the worst fates that befall them.

Now that it is known the Aesir have slept while the people of Midgard toiled on, how will Thor take the failure to look out for them?

Of the Vanir that came to Asgard at the end of the Wars of the Gods, Freyja is perhaps the most active in life and politics. Though she is held to rule love, fertility and beauty, she has gathered in the years before the Long Slumber more purviews under her belt, including war and death. With Odin's permission, she now gathers many of the slain warriors in her field of Fólkvangr. Many are suspicious of her motives - well-regarded though she was for her energy and activity, with the addition of so many interests and a ready supply of great warriors slain in Midgard what trouble could she brew?

With Odin missing and the Aesir having slept for centuries, some have looked to Freyja for leadership, while others still cannot countenance holding even the foremost of the Vanir as leader and ruler.

Wife of Odin, Frigg is the foremost of the Aesir Goddesses and mother to Thor, Hermóðr, Heimdallr, Týr, Bragi, Víðarr, Váli, Skjöldur, and Hodr. Queen of Asgard, and renowned prophetess and healer, there are none that doubt her wisdom and power. She is known to see far into the future, but she rarely reveals what she sees and what is to come. Some have scorned her for squandering the gift that might help all the Aesir, but she has always been resolute in holding on to that knowledge. It now seems to some that the sadness and doubt they saw in her before the Long Slumber means that she knew something of what was to happen.

Frigg is restless - she claims she does not know where Odin is, but prepares daily for his return. There is a manic fervor to her preparations and few choose to speak or question her for fear of provoking her anger.

Hodr, the youngest of Odin and Frigg's children, was seen as the most skilled and nimble warrior of the Aesir. Not long before the Long Slumber, however, he was tricked into slaying his brother Baldr following the prophecy of his death as the first of the events that would lead to Ragnarok. Though he was tricked, and Loki blamed, it seems that Hodr cannot absolve himself and is seen wandering, sullen, among the halls of Asgard. If anything could rouse him from this depression, perhaps he would be an asset to the Aesir once more.

Bearer of the Gjallarhorn and owner of Gulltoppr (a horse said to rival Sleipnir), Heimdall watches for the onset of Ragnarok. Stoic and watchfull, many have sought the advice of Heimdall for he rarely misses a detail and has helped track down troublemakers, law-breakers and many a miscreant. He is also the guardian of the Bifrost - the passage from Asgard to Midgard and has undertaken his duty to guard it most enthusiastically.

The Bifrost lies in disrepair now, however, but Heimdall has not left his post and still welcomes all those that come to seek advice or help.

There are many famous horses belonging to the chief Aesir and Vanir gods, but the steeds of Asgard stock are regarded highly for their pedigree. Few are as fantastical and grandiose as Sleipnir or Fafnir, but all are hale and strong. It takes a feat of strength and empathy to court and tame one of the Asgard steeds roaming the land, but success brings an awful lot of prestige to an Asa.

Although Huginn and Muninn are the best known of Odin's ravens, they have not been seen since his disappearance. There are many more who have served Odin at one time or another, and these great ravens flock in the skies of Asgard. They are wise and can see far and deep, but they are tricky friends and few Aesir have dared to associate with them or seek their help. The Vanir in Asgard have had more success, however, and it is said that Freyja regularly goes out to meet them and that since the Slumber they more frequently roam around the field of Fólkvangr.

Vedfolnir is the hawk that sits atop an eagle perched upon the top of Yggdrasil. That eagle's name is lost to time and even to the Asgard, but they all know the spawn of Vadfolnir. Large and powerful as an eagle, but swift and deadly as a hawk, these giant birds are the predators of the fields around Asgard. Though they have been known to occasionally attack lone travelers, it is not uncommon to see one making off with a bullock or lamb and even a pony tucked in its claws. Vicious and bad-tempered, little is known of why such creatures came to Asgard, but all the Aesir know to watch for the shadows of the Spawn.

The Great Wolf, Fenrir is a child of Loki and fated to consume Odin himself come Ragnarok. Fenrir was raised in Asgard but as the gods became aware of its growing strength they commissioned the dwarfs to forge the fetter Gleipnir. They took Fenrir out to the isle of Lyngvi, and there challenged the wolf to test its strength against the slender fetter. Sensing a trick Fenrir agreed on the condition that someone place a hand in its mouth, as surety that it would be released. Tyr bravely volunteered her hand and when the magic of Gleipnir became apparent, binding the wolf impossibly tight, Fenrir bit it off at the wrist. As the wolf howled his rage, the gods jammed a sword between its open jaws and wedged it firmly in its maw.

Fenrir has lain bound on Lyngvi ever since, awaiting Ragnarok when its chance for revenge will come.