Thread:Patrick.vtap/@comment-27097330-20160923003940/@comment-26535281-20160923011234

Asgard is the realm of the Aesir. It is one huge city, the largest and most powerfuin all the nine realms. Whole buildings made of solid gold and silver. Giant walls taller than the sky surround the city. Outside the city a huge dark ocean full of storms extends around the rest of the planet, with only a few small islands in the expanse. Or this is what Asgard used to be. The great Vanir-Aesir war strikes Asgard hardest of all. The wall is torn down, the city is in pieces, the whole city is in a perpetual state of battle. The buildings are crumbling and the ocean sweeps through the streets. The Bifrost, the magic bridge to Midgard, is under the control of the Vanir. It's guardian Hiemdall barely escaped. Asgard is now a land of beaten warriors. Most of the Aesir's leaders have fallen, but he few left hold out in small fortresses. It's primary occupants are the warrior Aesir, but now the Vanir battle throughout much of the city. While Asgard lacks many animals their are a few powerful and ferocious species, including the wolves and ravens of Odin as well as a ferocious giant boar, all of which are immortal unless killed in a very certain way. Another important group of occupants are the einherjar. They are the dead who lived glorious lives as battle worn heroes. They used to be a bountiful group handpicked by Odin. Now many have been stolen away to Helhiem and though the ravens of Odin chose heroes in his absence, most are taken by Shal'vor before they arrive. Cosmically Asgard is near the crown of Yggdrasil, above Vanaheim and Alfhiem. While many Aesir were killed in the war, some notable leaders survive. These include Tyr, Baldur, and the escaped guardian of the Bifrost, Hiemdall.

Vanahiem is the realm of the Vanir, also known as Valinor. It is covered in pleasant green fields, bright forests, with trees far enough apart that you can always feel the sun, beautiful bubbling streams clear as day, paradise style beaches with crystal clear ocean waters, giant beautiful snow crested mountains. The primary occupants of the Vanahiem are of course the Vanir. Their are also many animals, and while unlike in Alfhiem they are not larger than average, but they never age, as Vanahiem forever lies under Hespera's protection from Shad'vor. The animals in Vanahiem are also stronger and faster than animals in Midgard. The sky is always graced with a beautiful sun and puffy white clouds. Cosmically Vanahiem is right next to Alfhiem on Yggdrasil, right below Asgard. It is closer to Asgard than any other realm. But underneath the paradise of Vanahiem, is an underlying tension. The land is empty, completely vacant. With the raging Aesir-Vanir war constantly going on, almost all the Aesir are off in Asgard, in a bloody eternal battle. It used to be that Vanahiem was a paradise for the souls who lived good lives. Now Shal'vor steals most souls away to Helhiem before they can arrive. Those few who do have no guides, and paradise quickly turns into a punishment as they hide from Shal'vor's minions. Only the lingering magic of the Titan Hespera protects Vanahiem from being completely destroyed by Shal'vor.

Alfhiem is the realm of the elves. It's covered in shady forest, and temperatures are always mild. The trees are the highest in all the nine realms, towering into the clouds. Their are hundreds of interlocking branch layers among them. In fact almost no creatures live on the forest floor, as even rivers run through the trees. Many of the woodland creatures are also giant. Huge squirrels, enormous deer, and vicious, humongous, forest panthers stalk the forests of Alfhiem. Among these forests their are a few areas, woodland clearings, with no trees whatsoever. While a woodland clearing on earth is relatively small, one on Alfhiem is the size of a city. Countless herbivores gather there to bask in the golden glow of the Alfhiem sun, which is never obscured by clouds unless some foreign being commands it. The primary inhabitant of Alfhiem however is, of course, the elves. The elves live in treetop cities amazingly full of beauty, though many outsiders would pass right by without noticing. Cosmically Alfhiem is located far above Midgard. To pass from Midgard to Alfhiem you must travel a long and dangerous, windswept part of Yggdrasil before you can enter. It is parallel to the realm of Vanahiem right next to it on the tree, and they are closely connected so the path is easy between them. Some other important figures in Alfhiem include Freyr, the Vanir lord of the elves, though his sister Aphrodite also has great influence.

Nidavellir is the realm of the dwarves. Like the race who occupy it, this realm is small but mighty. This realm is always covered in a dark cloudy sky, which perfectly compliments the large hills with short black grass, and enormous mountains. These very mountains are filled to the core with beautiful metals and gems, the pride and joy of the dwarves who live there. Their are more different kinds of gems and metals in Nidavellir than in any other realm. In fact, the surface of Nidavellir is almost entirely empty. It's in the enormous systems of caves and tunnels that hold the dwarven cities and markets. But the dwarves are in no way prospering. They simply shut themselves in their tunnels and avoid the war with the elves. All because a few of Shal'vor's envoys tricked them into thinking they were elves and attacked the dwarves one fateful night. Other than the dwarves only a few life forms reside in Nidavellir, such as the carrion birds that fly over the mountains and the blind creatures that move wishing the tunnels. Cosmically Nidavellir is located on a branch beside Midgard, in the opposite location from Jotunhiem. Unlike Jotunhiem the only thing separating Jotunhiem and Midgard is Jormungand's moat. Their are many notable dwarven warlords and craftsmen.

Jotunhiem is the realm of giants. It's terrain is covered with wild mountains, full of enormous crags and peaks. Ragged canyons and gorges scar the land, and everywhere is covered in a thick, stifling blanket of snow. In the lower areas enormous  coniferous trees, though not as big as in Alfhiem, cover the landscape. Wild rivers full of rapids race down the slopes of Jotunhiem, frigid ice lakes grace it's wildernesses, and in a few well fought over areas, hot springs bubble up and provide ideal home locations. The primary occupants are the large, brutal, tribal giants who live all over Jotunhiem. The weak ones live in fragile makeshift huts or caves, while the most powerful force others to build them large stone fortresses, the most famous of which is Utgard, the capital city. Jotunhiem is also full of many giant animals and savage predators. Cosmically it is on a branch next to Midgard in the great tree. It's only seperately from Midgard by the highest mountains in all the nice realms and the thousand savage beasts that live within. Some notable residents include the overlord giant, Jarl, and Angrboda, his consort.

Svartalhiem is the realm of the dark elves. This realm is a land of fog and ash. Dark clouds parade over never ending jagged expanses of black rock. Even during the day the sun is no more than a hazy blot behind a smoke scree. During night, the sun and the moon are no more than figments of imagination. The jagged mountains and craters are all that is left after Shal'vors invasion of old. The realm was left dead, and the servant of Shal'vor, Nardo, Titan of mist and shadows, is now the supreme ruler. The army of elves from Alfhiem who attempted to stop him were cast unmercifully into the dark pits below ground. Now they can only reach the surface at the dark of night or at Nardo's command. Most of Svartalhiem is scattered with the old ruins of the once great army of elves, and many ancient artifacts still lie where they're fallen masters once did, thousands of years ago. The only notable occupants of Svartalhiem are the dark elves, the shattered remnants of a much mighty army. Cosmically it is nestled a good ways below Midgard on the world tree. Nardo is the surpreme ruler and primary figure, but for obvious reasons Shal'vor is important there as well.

Muspelhiem is the land of fire. This realm is covered in huge lave lakes and rivers, giant expanses of molten rock, enormous volcanoes, and everywhere burning fires. If humans or elves walk into Muspelhiem without proper protection they are torched instantly. The tougher, more fire resistant dwarves might withstand a few minutes, just long enough to draw out they're pain. The primary occupants of Muspelhiem are the fire giants, similar to their cousins in Jotunhiem but much more, fiery. They build huge red fortresses in Volcanoes, forge magic weapons, or hunt with hell hounds. However another dominant race on Muspelhiem are the dragons. Some dragons live in Midgard of course, a few live in Alfhiem, and Niflhiem has a population of frost drakes. But Muspelhiem is the ancestral home of the dragons. Even before their were fire Giants Msupelhiem was the home of the majestic dragons. The greatest and most powerful dragon lords ever to live reside in Muspelhiem, and they are in firm belief that by right they should have Muspelhiem, after all they came their first. Other than these two many fiery monsters survive in Muspelhiem but none as important. Cosmically it is located below Svartalhiem but above Niflhiem on the lower half of Yggdrasil. One notable occupant is Surtál, the fire giant King.

Helhiem is the realm of the dead. However in reality it isn't actually a realm at all. Below the mists and ice of Niflhiem is Helhiem, but in general it was seperate in most affairs from Niflhiem and is usually considered separate. Helhiem has three main levels. The first is Sato, the uppermost layer, guarded by the three headed dog Cerberus. It used to be this layer was in general under the domain of the Vanir Hades. A panel of three judges would judge the dead souls to decide their fate, depending on their past life. If they lived pathetic and useless lives their hearts would be devoured by a monster known as Ammet and their souls would be tossed into the void never to be seen again. If they lived a life of evil they would be brought to the Fields of Punishment. There depending on the severity of their lives they would suffer a certain punishment for eternity or until they were redeemed. If they lived an average life doing pretty much nothing, doing no good and committing deadly sins, but not being entirely evil, they would go to the Fields of Asphodel, an incredibly boring field of wheat, where they would wander forever. If they lived relatively good lives but didn't do enough they would be allowed to reincarnate without their memories and try harder in the next life. If they had lived excellent lives full of good and honor they would go to Elysium. A passage from Helhiem led straight up to Vanahiem where the paradise fields of Elysium waited for the truly good souls. However their was always a chance that a courageous, powerful, true, kind hearted, hero would live and die. In that case their was a good chance he would be chosen by Odin to be an immortal warrior in his army of einherjar in the Asgardian halls of Valhalla. Hades lived in his own personal palace on this level and many demons and servants of his prowled. That was until Shal'vor turned the world upside down. He cast Hades into Tartoi for want of complete control and took over the system himself. Still the truly evil souls went into Chaos but all the others were gathered in Helhiem like sheep in a pen. Odin was lost in the Aesir-Vanir war and stopped choosing souls for Valhalla. Very few souls managed to make it to Elysium without getting nabbed by Shal'vor. Soon almost all were imprisoned in Helhiem. The second layer of Helheim is Sarsa. It is the huge obsidian fortress where Shal'vor and his servants live and plot. It has not changed much over the third and lowest layer is Tartoi. Tartoi is the darkest, deepest pit in Helhiem. The dank Titan Tartarus resides within, holding the most evil and powerful monsters and beings. Once one is tossed in their is almost no escape. It is here that Shal'vor tossed his fellow Titans and Hades to take control of the nine realms. Helhiem is full of inhabitants but all are under the iron fist of Shal'vor, the most notable and powerful inhabitant. Cosmically Helhiem is located at the roots of Yggdrasil, just below Niflhiem. However there are several direct passages leading from Midgard to Helhiem.

Midgard is the realm of humans. It goes by many names, including Arda, and Earth. It's terrain is very complex, but it's noted that much of it is covered by water. In terms of Cosmic location Midgard is near the center of Yggdrasil, not too near the canopy or the roots. It's nestled in between a nest of branches, with an enormous river encircling it, similar to a moat. The primary occupants of Midgard are humans, and they dominate it. However the world is also covered in a variety of monstrous creatures. Notably their are also quite a few remaining elves of Midgard, though they are rare. There are also a many wandering dwarves, working for different people, as well as dwarves in the Himalayas. Some notable non faction powers include, the Olympians or Valar, a collection of Vanir and Aesir who watch over earth from Vanahiem. Another few important figures are the Titans of Sin who plague it. Shal'vor is also notable on Midgard as it has the largest population of aging creatures, so he collects souls often. Another important being is Jormungand the giant sea serpent. He lives in the most around Midgard and protects it. Any travelers have to go past him.