#vanaheim

I continue working on my Dungeon Synth album. This time it’s an illustration for the Vanaheimr track. ✨

pairings: loki laufeyson x reader

genre: angst, fluffy-ish ending

summary: you're the first person he goes to when trouble finds him. why would this time be any different?

your hands shook as you held your cloak closed. you stood by the bank of the river, waiting. the moon light bounced off of the water, making it sparkle in the most curious way.

a voice spoke your name urgently. you spun around, shocked by its abruptness.

he was pale. paler than usual. with a crazed look in his blue eyes.

you reached for him, "what's happening?"

he grasped onto your arms. not in a forceful way, but to stabilize himself.

"we can't be here anymore," he said with a pained expression.

Spoilers for both Race to the Edge and HTTYD 3:

This is my favorite location in GOW Ragnarok. It’s in Vanaheim—my God, I was stunned when I saw it for the first time! And the second time I played, I took so many screenshots from every angle!

(Love Wins Gate) - Notable Beings of the Nine Realms

Another Case Study of Who Fuck Is The Father?

Introduction:

Click here for Part 1!

Stranger Things and DND heavily incorporated Norse Mythology and other mythologies into their universe.

Many of us on the Love Wins Gate Chat on X/Twitter are convinced the future content will pull some Star Wars plot twists. In which an evil parent is revealed and a secret set of siblings.

TW: Kidnapping, rape, and SA

"Thor's Fight with the Giants" by Mårten Eskil Winge.

The Gods:

The Aesir work to protect humanity by battling forces that threaten order and mortals, especially the giants. Sometimes, they interbred with mortals, creating demigods.

The Vanir also help preserve cosmic order, managing Earth's natural forces, life cycles, agriculture, and the seasons. The Vanir teach magic and wisdom to deities and mortals. Sometimes, they interbred with mortals, creating demigods.

Demigods:

In Norse myth, they inherit abilities from their parents such as heightened senses, strength, speed, and combat skills, but rarely supernatural powers. Often times, they make incredible leaders, heroes, and warriors. (Is Eleven a god and/or demigod? Is Mike?)

"The Passing of Elves" by Aelin Lear.

Elves:

Light Elves:

Described as beautiful and personification of sunlight, they had abilities in magic, artisanship, and archery (Will is often bathed in sunlight. He's also a sorcerer and artist).

Shared close relationships with deities, especially the Vanir, but typically distant one with mortals. Acted as helpful guide or a trickster toward humans. Sometimes, they interbred with them, creating half-elves. Dwarves/Dark Elves:

Described as ugly and antisocial with abilities in dark magic, artisanship, shapeshifting, natural elements, and sometimes the dead.

Shared a transactional relationships with deities and mortals, forging weaponry and items for them. Often malevolent toward mortals, causing illness and nightmares (Vecna uses Will against the others).

Half-Elves:

Unlike DND, their powers aren't clearly defined. It's generally assumed they inherit abilities from parents. (Are Will and Eleven related to Elves?)

"Njord and Skadi on their way to Nóatún" by Friedrich Wilhelm Engelhard.

Giants:

The Giants weren't inherently evil. Sometimes, they were helpful towards deities and mortals. Rather they represented the chaotic and destructive forces of nature.

Fire Giants: Often hostile towards deities and mortals with abilities in fire manipulation, volcanic control, and strength. There aren't any known myths of Fire Giants interbreeding with mortals.

Ice Giants: Often antagonistic towards deities and mortals with abilities in ice manipulation, shapeshifting, and strength. Sometimes, they interbred with mortals.

Mountain Giants: Often dangerous, but more approachable and civilized to deities and mortals with abilities in illusion, shapeshifting, and endurance. Sometimes, they interbred with mortals. (Illusion might be a large aspect of season five).

Half-Giants:

Depicted as stronger and larger than mortals. Much like the Norse demigods, they rarely inherit supernatural powers. (Are any of the characters related to giants?)

"Hunderfossen Troll" by Ivo Caprino.

Trolls:

Often hostile toward deities and mortals with abilities in sorcery, shapeshifting, and strength (Will is a sorcerer).

Disrupted the lives of humans during Christmas. Invading homes to trash them and eat all of their food. Kidnapped and/or attacked people (Will is taken a month before Christmas and throws up Dart on Christmas). Sometimes, they're portrayed as flesh-eaters.

Many stories involve abducting human women and making them bear their children. Another common theme was trolls replacing human babies with changelings to improve their bloodline. Not much else is known about fate of such children.

Trolls also share enough similarities to mortals to integrate and/or marry into their society.

Half Trolls:

Much like Half-Elves, their powers weren't clearly defined.

Troll Changelings:

Human Children: Described as pale, thin, sickly, and weak after being switched out with changelings.

Changelings: Described as large, ugly, and violent brutes. Abilities in strength, shapeshifting, nature manipulation, and communication with animals.

"Hildur, The Queen of the Elves" by Jón Árnason.

Bonus (Outside of the Nine Realms):

The Huldufolk or Hidden People:

Described as beautiful elf-like beings, who reside in a hidden, parallel world to Earth. Dwelling within natural elements such as rocks, hills, mounds, mountains, cliffs, grassy knolls, lava fields, trees, and/or parks.

Lived similar lives to mortals and were considered nature guardians. Their abilities were invisibility, shapeshifting, and contacting human in dreams (Dreams might be essential to season five).

Grant fortune to humans who respect them, and the opposite to those who disrespect them and their homes.

Fun Fact: In Iceland, people have delayed and/or shut down construction projects:

Side Note: If you ever visit Iceland, please be respectful of their belief in them. As silly as it may sound to you, it's apart of their culture, and I've seen news reporters make fun of them in interviews.

Huldufolk were depicted as abducting children and women, stealing them away to their rocky, underground homes. With children, they'd raise them as their own. With women, they'd marry them and force them to bear their children, advancing their bloodline.

Half-Huldufolk:

In Norse myth, these offspring aren't well-established.

Huldufolk Changelings:

Human Children: Described weak and sickly after being swapped out with changelings. Lose interest in human activities, become interested in magic, the supernatural, and the Huldofolk. (Will suffers from depression after returning from the Upside Down).

Changelings: Sometimes, they inherit supernatural abilities from their parents such as strength, agility, second sight, foresight, healing, and heightened intuition.

Damn. Maybe I was swapped out with a changeling and was returned because they got fed up with me.

Conclusion:

I believe Norse Mythology and other mythologies heavily inspired Stranger Things.

Notes:

More mythology tethers in the near future!

Want more?