The Gods of Jotunar

There have been many gods to rule over Jotunar. Some are dead, some are sleeping, and some just wait for the right person to find them and give them purpose once more. The current gods are divided into two tribes, the Aesir and the Vanir. Long ago, when the lands were still young, the Aesir and the Vanir warred against each other. The Aesir won and absorbed the Vanir into their ranks through marriages and treaties. The Vanir tend to lean more towards influencing war, foresight, violence, and death whereas the Aesir often hold dominion over subjects of fertility, magic, nature, hearth, and home. Now they are equally worshipped together and rule from the higher realms.   Below is a list of the most prevalent gods, there are many regional spirits and demigods worshipped as well.  

The Aesir:

 

Odin:

Odin is the leader of the gods. He rules from his hall of Valhalla in Asgard. His spheres of influence include war, death, magic, foresight, wisdom, and knowledge.  

Frigga:

Goddess of fertility, knowledge, and prophecy. She is revered by couples and parents. Her son Baldur will be the one to rule after Ragnarök and make the new world.    

Jord:

A giantess and goddess of Oak and Earth. She has dominion over one of the seven sacred trees and is seen as a goddess of strength and resilience. She is also Odin's mistress and Thor's mother.    

Thor:

  The strongest of all the gods, not least of all due to the mighty belt Megingjord which doubles his already prodigious strength. He is considered the protector of small species such as humans, dwarves, and elves. He wields the supremely powerful hammer Mjolnir and uses it to fell giant and beast alike. He is the god of Storms, strength, war, and protection.  

Tyr:

  Tyr is a complicated god. He is best known for making a compact with the great wolf Fenrir, resulting in the imprisonment of Fenrir and the loss of his hand. This is seen by many as a great example of his valor and bravery, but by some as a great betrayal of his closest friend. Still, his skill with the sword is legendary and his bravery is hard to doubt. He is the god of valor, war, and justice and is the enforcer of contracts.  

Heimdall:

  Heimdal is the guardian of the gods and watcher of the realms. His powers of perception and deduction are unrivaled by the other gods and as such much of his time is watching over the realms and making sure things stay in balance. His powers of perception even extend into both the past and the future. He is the god of Prophecy, magic, and knowledge.  

Loki:

  Loki is a complicated god. Maligned by some as the eventual bringer of the end of the gods, as well as often an instigator for mischief both large and small. He is also one of the greatest sorcerers amongst the gods as well as one of the cleverest. He is best known for birthing three monstrous children all of whom will serve him in the great conflict of Ragnarök, those being Hel, Fenrir, and Jormungandr.  

Sif:

  Sif is the goddess of swordsmanship as well as the harvest. Her long golden hair is seen as the representation of the wheat that feeds the people of Jotunar and her skills with the blade are needed to protect it from the harsh world around. She is the wife of Thor and the mother of Uller.  

Uller:

  Uller is lovely to look upon, having been blessed with the long hair of his mother but the strength of body and coloring of his father. He is an excellent tracker, hunter, and marksman and his eyes are second only to Heimdall in terms of perception. His preferred weapon is the bow, and he is an unparalleled archer. He is one of the gods that is prophesized to survive Ragnarök and rebuild the world in the next cycle.  

Baldur:

  Baldur was one of the most beloved gods before he died and is still called upon and worshipped to this day. He is the god of beauty, creativity, and rebirth. The tragedy of his death is the catalyst for Ragnarök and is prophesized to return and help rebuild the world after it.  

The Vanir:

 

Freya:

  Freya is the leader of the Vanir and the most worshipped of them. She is an unparalleled mage and is considered the mother of Witches. She is also a goddess of nature, love, and beauty and is often called upon, with Frigga to bless marriages. As part of the peace struck between the Aesir and the Vanir, she had to teach the Seter magics to the Aesir. She still is first amongst the Vanir, along with her brother Freyr, and is married to Odr the god of the sun.  

Freyr:

  The god of agriculture, farmsteads, animal husbandry, and fertility Freyr is beloved by the common folk who work the land. He is one of the truly least warlike of the gods and does not allow weapons within his temples. He is not one to run from a fight if it's unavoidable but is a god of life first and foremost.  

Njord:

  One of the oldest and largest gods Njord had domain over the seas, rivers, fjords, and lakes of Jotunar. Njord is the father of the twins Freya and Freyr and blesses all those who seek their fortunes on the water. The benevolence regularly put him at odds with the god Aegir.  

Odur:

  God of the sun and responsible for pulling it across the sky and keeping it ahead of the great wolf Hatti Odur is a free spirit. He is often away from Asgard for long periods, only truly resting for the darkest of months in the winter. He is kind, joyous, and a patron to free spirits and thrill seekers as well as equestrians. Odur is the god of the sun, freedom, travelers, and adventure.  

Braggi:

  Gifted with an adept mind, a silver tongue, and a handsome face Braggi is a beloved god. He is the keeper of the stories of the gods and the chronicler of the great deeds of heroes and villains alike. Braggi is worshipped by skalds, poets, and adventurers. He is also often offered to by Adventurers at the outset of a grand quest.  

Idun:

  Gorgeous, kind, and tender-hearted Idun does not often fit in with many of the more warlike and conniving gods of Asgard. She instead spends much of her time with her husband Braggi and tending her orchard of golden apple trees. The same golden apples that give the gods eternal youth and immortality. She has dominion over the woodlands, woodland creatures, love, and horticulture.  

Other Gods:

 

Hel:

  One of the many children of Loki, her appearance echoes her dual aspects. Her left side is that of a lovely and fair maiden, while her right side is rotted and dying. This reflects her role as the ruler of both Helheim and Niffleheim. One is the realm of the dishonorable dead, a frozen wasteland where the souls are tormented and hunted. The other is a quiet place for the souls of the dead who did not earn a place in Valhalla or Folkvangr to await Ragnarök and the great battle.  

Eir:

  Goddess of healing and life, she is gentle-hearted and loving of all living things. This makes her often at odds with her more warlike kin. She does have a deep connection with Idun and her husband Braggi and can often be found in their home.  

Eostre:

  Goddess of the Spring and rebirth, she is one of the handmaidens of Freya.  

Elli:

  Goddess of old age. She is one of the dark servants of Hel and comes to claim those who die of old age and bring them to Helheim.  

Gefjun:

  Goddess of fertility and planting, she is the wife of Freyr.  

Hermodur:

  God of travelers, and roads. He is the messenger of the gods and travels throughout the nine realms. He is best known for traveling to Helheim to barter with Hel for Baldur's soul after his death.  

Hlinn:

  Goddess of reconciliation and protection through the law. She is the wife of Forsetti and is seen as his equal in giving the protection of the law to all.  

Kvasir:

  Goddess of inspiration and passion she is the mistress of Braggi and beloved by Skalds and musicians.  

Magni:

  Son of Thor and god of Strength. He is prophesized to survive Ragnarök.  

Mani:

  God of the Moon, he pulls the moon across the sky in a chariot pulled by two cats.  

Nott:

  Goddess of the night, she is prayed to for protection when the sun goes down. She and Mani are at odds for an unknown reason.  

Sol:

  Goddess of the sun, she pulls the sun across the sky in a chariot pulled by eagles. She and Mani are both pursued by great wolves that will eat them at the beginning of Ragnarök.  

Thruer:

  Daughter of Thor and Sif she is worshipped as a great warrior and patron of shieldmaidens. She is first among the Valkyrie.  

Vidarr:

  God of the forests and keeper of the seven sacred trees. He is also the caretaker, along with the Norns, of Yggrassil and the creatures that live on i  

The Ancient Jotun Gods:

The Jotun gods are relics from a previous age. Ancient and powerful beings whose connection to the natural world are unparalleled. They are all Kings and Queens of their people. All of them have a prophesized hand in Ragnarök.  

Surtur:

  The god of the fire giants, and one of the few left from ancient times, Surtur is the god of Fire Giants. He now spends all of his time in Muspelheim and rules over its burning lands. He is the sworn enemy of Thor, and his followers seek to disrupt the goals of the thunder god and his followers whenever they can. They are friends to Loki and the churches often work together.  

Skadi:

  Skadi has had a complicated relationship with the gods. Her father was slain by Thor after being tricked by the gods of Asgard into building for them their great walls and defenses. She has been married to the god of the sea Njord, but it did not last, and their turbulent relationship is what created the tides of the seas. She is not married to Uller, the son of her father’s killer, and seems happy enough. She is the goddess of the mountains and one of the gods with dominion over the earth. Dwarves, goliaths, and miners all give her tribute, and many believe she is the mother of the Goliath race.  

Aegir and Ran:

  Not gods you want the attention of. Most of the prayers to Aegir and Ran are to keep their focus away rather than to draw their attention. Aegir is the god of storms, sea monsters, and bad weather. He, along with his wife Ran, is responsible for the birth of many of the terrible monsters of the seas such as the Kraken, the Leviathan, and many more. Those that gain their attention or their ire can find themselves dragged down to their dark domain at the bottom of the sea, never to be seen again. Because of this Aegir and Ran are two of the wealthiest gods as all the sinks below the waves belong to them.  

Thrym:

  The last of the ancient frost giants Thrym is the ruler of the freezing realm of Jotunheim. He is a living embodiment of frost, fury, and the howling winds of the deepest winter. Though not many worship him in Midgard he is revered by all frost giants. He is responsible for the coming of winter each year. The only thing he hates more than the gods of Asgard is Surtur. Their eternal war is maybe the only thing that keeps them from mounting a successful assault on Asgard.  

The Norns:

The three ancient mothers who tend the world tree Yggdrasil. They water its roots and keep it healthy from all the various threats to its existence. Their exact origins are unknown, they seemed to appear as soon as the world tree was done growing. It is said they weave the threads of life for all mortals in Jotunar, and perhaps beyond. Many believe they are the first and oldest hag coven.  

Urd:

  The mother of the past, she is the keeper of wisdom and lost knowledge. She knows all that has happened, and how it will affect both what is and what may happen. She is cryptic and hard to understand.  

Verdandi:

  The mother of the present, she is the keeper of here and now and the principal tender to Yggdrasil. She knows all that is happening across Jotunar and uses that knowledge to see what will happen. She is focused and always delighted by the actions of mortals.  

Skuld:

  The mother of the future, she is the master weaver of the trio and knows all that may come to pass. She is often quiet for years at a time and seems absentminded as she tracks the infinite possibilities of the future.  

The Great Beasts:

These beings are all either holdover from an earlier age, or the children of gods. Their blood, much diluted, is what gives the beast races their unique properties.  

Jormungandr:

  The middle child of the three great children of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, Jormungandr is an impossibly huge serpent who has lived in the deep seas since his expulsion from Asgard by Odin. It is only known to Odin and Jormungandr why he banished the serpent to the seas of Midgard. Many of the great serpents, especially the sea serpents that haunt the Bay of Wyrms and other waters around Jotunar have Jormungandr as the sire of their line.  

Nidhoggr:

  The Ancient and terrible dragon who sits at the base of Yggdrasil, Nidhoggr is the mother of all dragons across Jotunar. She regularly lays eggs and these hatchlings become the dragons that hunt across Jotunar. The Serpent Born can also trace their lineage back to her.  

Ratatoskr:

  Ratatoskr is a huge squirrel who lives on Yggdrasil. Some say that he is the living embodiment of the world tree itself. Ratatoskr spends most of his time running between Hreasvelgr and Vedrfolnir at the top of the tree and Nidhoggr at the root. The serpent and the birds trade insults back and forth with Ratatoskr as their messenger. While on his constant back and forth he is ever vigilant for any threats to Yggdrasil and acts swiftly to defend his home. Due to this role, Ratatoskr and Hermoud are quite close. He does find time to visit Midgard now and then, where some of his descendants, especially those blessed with rodent like qualities.  

Fenrir:

  The first of Loki and Angrboda’s children, Fenrir grew up in Asgard amongst the Aesir and Vanir. He was particularly friends with Tyr. When Odin grew to fear Fenrir due to the prophecies of Ragnarök he sought to imprison him. The Aesir eventually bound him with unbreakable chains deep in Helheim, under the eye of his younger sister Hel. His rage and resentment towards the Aesir and Odin in particular has had centuries to grow.  

Skoll and Hatti:

  Two great wolves, Skoll and Hattie chase the chariots pulling the sun and moon, keeping them ever on the move. Their parentage is not known, though it is suspected Odin has a hand in it(as is often the case). They make their way down to Midgard every now and then, and many of the lupin Beastborn as well as many of the great wolves of Jotunar owe their lineage to these two wolves.  

Sleipnir:

  The child of Loki and a giant stallion named Svadilfari, Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse and the stead of Odin. He is the greatest of all horses and can easily travel between the realms. His descendants on Midgard are some of the greatest mounts and steeds of legend as well as Beastborn who share his horse-like stamina and strength.  

Gullinbursti:

  A titanic boar with skin of shining gold and a glowing fiery red main, Gullinbursti was made rather born. His was made the Brokk and Sindri as part of a bet with Loki and gifted to the god Freyr. Gullinbursti has a wild heart, much like his master, and regularly wanders into Midgard from his home in Vanaheim. Those who share his blood often also share his red hair and a strong constitution.  

Bygul and Trjegul:

  The great cats that pull Freya's chariot, Bygul and Trjegul are the greatest of all cats and can fly as well as many other magical powers. They regularly descend to Midgard in either cat or humanoid form to hunt and play across Jotunar and beyond.  

Artaois:

  A creature from the earliest time of Midgard's creation Artaois is one of the few great beasts who live full time on Midgard by choice rather than banishment or edict by Odin. Artaois is a truly titanic bear, in animal form. And a large hairy male of jolly disposition and terrible wrath in humanoid form. He is perhaps the most liked of the great beasts having many friends amongst both the gods and the giants and few enemies.  

Hreasvelgr:

  The great eagle, lord of winds, and bringer of change Hreasvelgr is a golden eagle of immense size who sits in the bows of Yggdrasil, watching the realms and trading insults with Nidhoggr via Ratatoskr. It is said the great eagles of the high mountains, as well as the Aarocokra that trace their lineage to him, were first born from feathers he shed that landed in Midgard.  

Vedrfolnir:

  Smaller in stature than Hreasvelgr and less chatty, Vedrfolnir is a great hawk that lives at the top of Yggdrasil. She is not very chatty, unlike many of the other great beasts but she does travel much farther than Hreasvelgr. It is said Freya's magic feather cloak, as well as many of the bird folk of Midgard are made from her feathers.