𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐍𝐀𝐑Ø𝐊𝐑 -- 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐈𝐆𝐍𝐒 .
the biggest downfall of the Æsir was their arrogance , really , in the face of Ragnarøkr . they had plenty of signs that the end of their world was imminent , and yet decided to implement safeguards in their hometown instead of accepting what they had been taught their whole lives : that the events written in their lifetimes , forewarned through premonitions and shared through childhood tales , confirmed by visionary Nornir and inscribed in golden walls of the palace that housed them , were unalterable . tangible . inevitable .
but ask any Asgardian about Ragnarøkr and chances are you would be met with a scoff , a chuckle , brows raised as if to say ' how dare you imply that anything could defeat us ! ' --- or , you'd be hit with actions the Gods were taking to minimise the damage . either way , the problem was that the immense cataclysmic destruction of their doomsday was played out as something they could handle , something they could control . a minor battle , which they would fight and win , like many battles prior .
this isn't a mindset that afflicted ALL the Æsir . Baldr was one of the first to showcase concern and try and create a plan of action --- and in fact , it was his plan that saved most of the Asgardian people , in the end . he had ships in place to evacuate them , he had guards and Valkyrie trained to the highest degree , ready to lay down their lives to protect civilians . Thor followed suit , Frigg knew better , but convincing the Gods to be proactive instead of reactive was ... a challenge , even in the face of the signs .
1 . Baldr's death .
Thor's brother , Baldr , is predicted to die a thousand years before Ragnarøkr , and is the first incident that feels like it triggers a countdown to doomsday .
2 . Miðgarðr's natural disasters .
perhaps not entirely 'natural' ------------- humans would blame global warming , the Æsir would blame Jörmungandr , the world serpent , which frees itself and causes turmoil across the realm as a result .
3 . visions .
Thor , Frigg , Odin , Heimdallr , and others , will have visions of the fated day soon after Baldr's death , and closer to doomsday itself those visions will feel more like premonitions , a glimpse into the future , with events that actually play out as is on the day . they will feel more real , more vivid , and almost tangible the closer and closer Ásgarðr gets to Ragnarøkr .
4 . Thor meeting Surtr .
and Thor's aware of this sign ; somehow , somewhere , he will meet Surtr only one time prior to Ragnarøkr . they will exchange words , Surtr will try and trick Thor into giving up his powers and his hammer to prevent Ragnarøkr . Thor assumed that this meeting would take place on Múspellsheimr , where Surtr is chained up , until the day he's destined to break free . but as it turns out , this meeting didn't require Thor’s physical presence there at all : it was an invasion of thoughts , of meditative state , of dreams he had while he was awake , and it took place at a branch of the world tree , where he felt most connected to the nine realms , and the storms across all of them .
5. three harsh winters .
Fimbulvetr is known amongst the Asgardians as the ‘ long winter ’ , and represents the months that bring unbearable cold to the realm . described as three periods of wintertime with no intervening summer , it’s a slow , painful lapse in their luxury , and symbolically the cold before the burning heat of the end of their world .
6. the death of Ásgarðr's primary sun and moon .
this will happen a month or so prior to the fated day . children on the realm should be told a story about how Ásgarðr's main sun and moon will be swallowed by two of Surtr's guardians , the wolves Sköll and Hati . instead , they're told that this is entirely Odin's doing -------- that to shroud the realm from Surtr's gaze , he ordered the sun and the moon not to rise , and not to shine . post - Ragnarøkr , Thor identifies this as a major mistake of both his and the other Gods ; in changing the narrative they dismissed the crucial sign of an impending doom , playing it down as a self - congratulatory pat on the back .
7. the reddening of the skies .
Surtr , a giant aflame , will redden the skies with his arrival , illuminating the realm far more than any sun or moon managed to in the past . this reddening sky will come with a new air , full of smoke , difficult to breathe ----------- the kind that gets behind your eyes . everything will smell like ash , everything will taste like ash . this happens in the final two weeks before doomsday .
8. Surtr's gaze .
the final week before Ragnarøkr , Surtr will tower above Ásgarðr , and do nothing . he simply marvels his new land , and revels at the time to come . for seven days , his terrifying gaze will transfix on Ásgarðr's ----------- in the form of a single eye that doesn’t blink , replacing the swallowed sun in the sky . a pupil like a black hole , seeing everything , and everyone , surrounded by the flames of his iris , sitting in position , day and night , until his armies are ready .
9. destruction of the bifrost .
Ragnarøkr begins with the destruction of the bifrost , and Heimdallr with it . from the horizon , Surtr arrives , small enough to walk yet large enough to take up the skyline , with an army of soldiers , comprised of molten rock , and ash .
