(This thread is to serve as background plot leading up to Chapter 1 of the CHUD Role Playing Campaign called "Ragnarok". Please do not post here, but refer to the "RAGNAROK Questions/Comments" thread if you need information on signing up, posting a character, etc.
NOTE to PLAYERS: This info is provided as "background material", you do not need to know every last term. Those marked with an asterisk are the ones you should make sure you pay attention to.)
The Creation of the Nine Worlds
Burning ice, biting flame; that is how life began
There exists a burning land called Muspelheim, a world that has always existed, and always will. It is a land brimming with heat and fire. Fire so hot that only those born into the realm can endure it.
As time began, the fiery demon known as Surt* (Surtur) sat on a blackened throne, lurking in flame as the world was born, already planning its destruction.
Across the great void called Ginnungagap, was an bitter, cold land--the frozen realm of Niflheim. Here a collossal frost Giant called Ymir rested. His icy body melted slowly, revealing mountains and rivers, man and animal, all trapped within his enormous carcass.
As time began to run, so the expanse of what was Ymir filled the great void. Ginnungagap was at last covered. Life began to creep into all of the strange new lands.
Descended from the union of men and giants, came Odin*, the Allfather. He who would rule over all. Odin and his brothers built Asgard--the great home of the gods.
From this vantage, Odin and his kin would rule over the Nine Worlds, until the coming of RAGNAROK*--the annihilation of all that is.
These Nine Worlds are interconnected, situated among the roots of the great ash tree Yggdrasil*. This tree is what gives and sustains all life in the Nine Worlds, and will survive even Ragnarok, to see the coming of the world that has yet to be.
Know ye the Nine Worlds that sit upon Yggdrasil:
1. ASGARD* - Realm of the Aesir, or warrior gods. A vast, golden plain with tall grass and bountiful woods and rivers. The utopian Viking ideal. Here lies Valhalla, the hall of the honored dead. In this place, the Einherjar (honored dead) are alive once more, battling each other in tournaments, dying and being reborn as often as the sun rises. Here these ressurected heroes wait to join the gods in the final battle.
2. VANAHEIM - Realm of the Vanir, the gentler healing and fertility gods.
3. ALFHEIM - Blessed land of the Light Elves.
4. NIDAVELLIR - Hearty land of the Dwarves.
5. MIDGARD* - The "Middle World", known to mortals of the day as "Earth". Virtually none of the race of earth-born know anything of the other worlds, but continue in the day to day struggle between their own nations. Trouble brews on Earth, a coming war that will surpass all others in its past.
6. JOTUNHEIM* - The mountainous region that is home to giants. Earthy warmth surrounds the lower tribes, while the equally fierce Frost Giants dwell in the snowy mountains. By and large, these large barbarians are deadly foes of the gods.
7. SVARTALFHEIM - Shrouded land of the Dark Elves.
8. NIFLHEIM* - Frozen land of the dead. In this realm resides the dragon Nidhogg, a collosal beast that gnaws on the corpses of the dead, as well as the lowest roots of the world tree. Situated inside Niflheim is Hel*, the realm of the dead, presided over by a woman also known as Hel (Hela), who commands the undead in her domain--the dead that passed from life as cowards, godless, or purely evil. The growing army of undead also waits for the final battle.
9. MUSPELHEIM - Land of eternal fire, home of Surt.
NOTE to PLAYERS: This info is provided as "background material", you do not need to know every last term. Those marked with an asterisk are the ones you should make sure you pay attention to.)
The Creation of the Nine Worlds
Burning ice, biting flame; that is how life began
There exists a burning land called Muspelheim, a world that has always existed, and always will. It is a land brimming with heat and fire. Fire so hot that only those born into the realm can endure it.
As time began, the fiery demon known as Surt* (Surtur) sat on a blackened throne, lurking in flame as the world was born, already planning its destruction.
Across the great void called Ginnungagap, was an bitter, cold land--the frozen realm of Niflheim. Here a collossal frost Giant called Ymir rested. His icy body melted slowly, revealing mountains and rivers, man and animal, all trapped within his enormous carcass.
As time began to run, so the expanse of what was Ymir filled the great void. Ginnungagap was at last covered. Life began to creep into all of the strange new lands.
Descended from the union of men and giants, came Odin*, the Allfather. He who would rule over all. Odin and his brothers built Asgard--the great home of the gods.
From this vantage, Odin and his kin would rule over the Nine Worlds, until the coming of RAGNAROK*--the annihilation of all that is.
These Nine Worlds are interconnected, situated among the roots of the great ash tree Yggdrasil*. This tree is what gives and sustains all life in the Nine Worlds, and will survive even Ragnarok, to see the coming of the world that has yet to be.
Know ye the Nine Worlds that sit upon Yggdrasil:
1. ASGARD* - Realm of the Aesir, or warrior gods. A vast, golden plain with tall grass and bountiful woods and rivers. The utopian Viking ideal. Here lies Valhalla, the hall of the honored dead. In this place, the Einherjar (honored dead) are alive once more, battling each other in tournaments, dying and being reborn as often as the sun rises. Here these ressurected heroes wait to join the gods in the final battle.
2. VANAHEIM - Realm of the Vanir, the gentler healing and fertility gods.
3. ALFHEIM - Blessed land of the Light Elves.
4. NIDAVELLIR - Hearty land of the Dwarves.
5. MIDGARD* - The "Middle World", known to mortals of the day as "Earth". Virtually none of the race of earth-born know anything of the other worlds, but continue in the day to day struggle between their own nations. Trouble brews on Earth, a coming war that will surpass all others in its past.
6. JOTUNHEIM* - The mountainous region that is home to giants. Earthy warmth surrounds the lower tribes, while the equally fierce Frost Giants dwell in the snowy mountains. By and large, these large barbarians are deadly foes of the gods.
7. SVARTALFHEIM - Shrouded land of the Dark Elves.
8. NIFLHEIM* - Frozen land of the dead. In this realm resides the dragon Nidhogg, a collosal beast that gnaws on the corpses of the dead, as well as the lowest roots of the world tree. Situated inside Niflheim is Hel*, the realm of the dead, presided over by a woman also known as Hel (Hela), who commands the undead in her domain--the dead that passed from life as cowards, godless, or purely evil. The growing army of undead also waits for the final battle.
9. MUSPELHEIM - Land of eternal fire, home of Surt.
