The Nine Worlds

Norse mythology and vikings done right. Putting the peices of norse mythology into a plausible and comprehendable cosmology. No contradictions, and my imagination fills in the gaps.   Most evidence of the gods of the Aesir and Vanir have long since disappeared. The spirits of midgard have become increasingly unrestful and the climate is getting colder. And just what are the giants planning?   The shamans of Midgård are the völvas and berserkers. They practice the art of seidr, which means entering an ecstatic trance state to tap in to the spirit realm, travelling though the Nine Worlds or evoking the spirits to help them. The völvas, mostly women, are usually healers, who focus on weaving, which means to weave the threads of fate often resulting in a prophecy, a blessing or a curse., Male berserkers enter a trance state, evoking the spirits of bears or wolves to help them, resulting in a fighting frency. The mightiest berserkers, however, remain in their tents while their spirits do their fighting for them. The shamans learned the gift of seidr long ago from the gods Odin and Freya.   The story is mostly set around the valley of Eyja (Eyjadalen). This is a remote part of the world and very far north. The only way to get here is by boat to Björnvik. Eyjadalen lives on trade of metals and timber and is dependent on trade to get enough food, and this is a large problem during the winters when the harbor is frozen.   The two tribes of gods, Aesir and Vanir, have been increasingly distant and have now withdrawn from the world of Midgård. The other creatures (elves, dwarves, giants) are also very rare these days, even though they still live around Midgård, but most people do not believe they even exist anymore.