Lower your thunderstick, stranger, be seated and head my words. The elders of my people speak of a time when the world was not thus. When light without flame could be summoned with the touch of a rune or the sound of a clap, when goods were hauled by sleds without beasts, when men flew like gods and the true faith had all but disappeared.
Then came the first stage of the Fimbulwinter. In the fullness of spring, man did turn the fires of Muspell upon his brother and smote the very skies…. Ah, I see this is not unknown to you, Elder. Hold and allow me to finish my telling, that you will not act in the rashness common to that age.
These fires hurled the earth into the sky and the first winter was upon us. And though men warred with their neighbors, brother helped brother to eat and stay warm through this unnatural season.
Then the stone fell.
The eldest of our elders call it Hast’roid. They claim it was but the largest of a cloud of such demons to surround the world. We know better, for t’was the second of the Fimbulwinter. Like the fires of Muspell, the Hast’roid hurled the earth back into the sky, returning winter to all Midgard. This time the stocks ran low and brother turned upon brother in desperate need of fire, fuel and food.
And lo, the earth returned from the sky and the light of Sol was once again able to shine upon the shame of men. Yet our troubles were not ended for once more winter came and this time husband fought wife, parent fought child and all were nearly lost.
When the Fimbulwinter ended many things began to happen at once. The wolves Skoll and Hati finally caught their elusive prey, signaling the gods, giants and other folk that it was the time of endings and beginnings. The hosts of Valhalla poured fourth from their golden halls, streaming upon the plains of Midgard. The Jotuns arrived from the north of the world, and from the south as well, in great ships that soared through the sky unlike bird or man. The evles and dwarves rose up from their secret places, emerged from the branches of Yggdrasill, and joined their chosen sides.
The fighting lasted for three springs, though few noticed. The earth shook, fire rose from the ground, wind funnels felled forests and mountains, the sea rose and drowned the land and the land rose out of the sea. Finally, Fenrir consumed the All Father and was slain by the son. Finally, in the time of my father’s youth, the great war came to an end; the land was much changed, with the sun and moon vomited forth from the bellies of the wolf brothers, the few survivors struggling to continue, and the shamans had returned in power and glory.
Yet there were true remains. Even now, near the entries to Yggdrasill, one can find the cities of man. Sealed behind walls of great power, walls like glass that remains unbroken, walls strong as stone yet weightless, lie the remains of the arrogance of men. They will not last, though, for they cannot thrive outside their domes. Then there are the sleepers. Preserved by magic, night elf poisons or the Techngy of old, those such as you rise from the bowels of the earth to return to a world you do not know.
Be careful stranger, lest you raise the ire of the Thokenfild. Your thunderstick may strike me down but it will avail you little when my cousins collect the weregild from your breast. Come quietly and you might live to see the feast you will attend.
Thoughts?
True20 Adventure RoleplayingTrue fun, true excitement, true adventure: True20! YOU Build The Setting...Moderator: The Mod Squad Yggdrasill
True Star Wars (playable)
Monster Roles for easier Narrating. I often come across as a big jerk. This is completely unintentional.
Sitting down from standing ovation.
man oh man. That is it! mass psot needs to go out to all about this. I feel you took out Thrym with Mjollnir!! "In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus
Title suggestions anyone? Mine are below
Yggdrasil or Hoddmimir's Wood Ragnarok: Doom of the Powers Gotterdammerung Midgard "In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus
Here's a title suggestion:
Firarok: The Fate of Men This is a play on the work Ragnarok, which means "Fate of the Gods" in Old Norse. Whereas the fate of the Gods has been decided after Ragnarok, perhaps the fate of men is now the primary focus of the world?
I notice that the word "cycle" is used to describe epic series like the Volsung Cycle or the Tyrfing Cycle. Perhaps this could be used in the setting's title?
The Norse Sagas often speak of "the tales of worthy men", so perhaps this could be a sub-title? It's a bit-sexually biased though. Aaron Infante-Levy
Midgard Cycle: The Tales of Ragnarok
"In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus
Only problem with this title is that the setting is post-Ragnarok... which is an interesting twist on things... especially seeing as the premise indicates that Ragnarok happened sometime in the mordern age. Hmmm... this just reminded me of a question I have? Since it seems we are assuming that Ragnarok has happened in modern rather than dark age/medieval times... when did it happen is it in the worlds near future? distant future? or in the past (due to the Third Reich?) Is the "date" of Ragnarok something we want to vote on with the forllowing dates: Ancient (Greek) Ancient (Roman) Dark Age Medieval Renaissance Industrial WWI WWII Modern Near Future Far Future I'm fine with any of these time periods, it'll just help clarify what possibilities are available to work with and it might help us find a good title too 
If you look at ValhallaGH's introduction to the setting. it references "thunderstick" (a gun of some sort), sleds without beasts (vehicles), men setting the sky on fire (nuclear war), walls of glass strong as stone (nuff said), sleepers in stasis (cryogenic or magic), and the word Technology is mentioned.
So we are looking at Near Future. I choose the title based on some discussion with a few of you, that what does time mean to the gods? Ragnarok could still be happening. The introduction leaves out the peaceful time that Midgard is suppose to be in when all is said and done. It also could be a story told to a sleeper after Ragnarok. My thoughts. "In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus
Okay... I mainly asked because those are things that could be in an alternate history based on an earlier time period and I just wanted to make sure.
I see... I got the feeling that Ragnarok had happened, but instead of the time of peace that was promised a time of troubles ensued... one with a dire need for heroes of all sorts. Last edited by jaldaen on Mon Aug 07, 2006 11:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
Exactly sir, exactly. I have an image in my head of heroes coming upon farmers running from a fight between two giants in an open farm field. However, there are more people involved here in the post, so if the magority agrees we'll press forward. "In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus
I was leaning towards a near-future begining for the apocalypse. Some forcefields are around the "dome cities", guns existed and still do to some degree, nukes were used in the past and may be hidden in various ruins, and men used to fly through the air in machines. Then Ragnarok began, magic returned, and most technology got used up in the various wars.
I stole a little bit from the Deadlands Hell on Earth setting for some of my ideas but I really wanted to stay true to the low magic Norse post apocalypse. My idea is that any high-tech elements can be added in, without being out of place, if the narrator wants to use them but they aren't common to the setting, which is mostly a dark ages norse setting. After Ragnarok there is supposed to be a time of peace and prosperity, but I was assuming that this time has not yet come to pass and may not do so until all humans are dead and Lif and Liftrasir can come forth and repopulate the world. Of course, the gots that are supposed to bring about the peace and plenty could simply be late. Silly gods, not operating on a mortal time scale. True Star Wars (playable)
Monster Roles for easier Narrating. I often come across as a big jerk. This is completely unintentional.
Good points ValhallaGH.
We all ready to start fleshing this thing out? I think a good title will come to us as the creative process gets under way. "In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus
To move this forward the next step would be:
Kingdoms and Rule Keeping with our Nordic Low Magic and Post Apocalyptic setting, this should be intresting. I think there should be a representation of all the nine worlds previously held together by Yggdrasil. Need your help to make this setting original, entertaining, and extremely cool. "In the vast reaches of the dry, cold night, thousands of stars were constantly appearing, and their sparkling icicles, loosened at once, began to slip gradually toward the horizon."
Albert Camus
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