Asgard

The High Realm

Asgard is the realm of Ve given to his youngest brother to rule. It is the realm of nobility, worship, and celebration.

Asgard is often called the golden city, rumored to have buildings crafted from the precious metals. This makes for an inviting image, but is somewhat exaggerated - made to make Asgard seem to be an endless paradise. Asgard is a place of rolling hills, paved streets, carved stone and woodwork, and intricate tapestries. The roads of Asgard are lined with temples, libraries, armories, and feasting halls. There are many humans who are granted a place to reside in Asgard.

Some often mistakenly believe that Othin’s war-hall, Valhalla, dominates the scenery of Asgard. While Valhalla is an important place, it represents one area reserved for Grimnir's chosen. In truth there are several war-halls in Asgard; one is maintained by Ullr, another by Thor, yet another by Hlinn (reserved for female warriors). Tyr maintains a barracks and training field devoid of drink or revelry.

Frigg and Hlinn both curate impressive libraries that record all the knowledge of the realms, both known and unknown. Ve oversees the temples of Asgard where many Gothheyrandi maintain their worship and fealty for the gods. Thrud and Vuyr attend to the wounded and sick in a hall reserved for healing and recovery.

Surrounding Asgard is a great wall that has protected the gods many times over, and beyond that wall lies the Bifrost, the famous rainbow bridge that leads directly to Midgard. Unlike many popular stories, the Bifrost connects only Asgard and Midgard, no other realms. To the west of Asgard is the forest hollows that lead to Vanaheim, to the east the misted paths that connect to Alfheim. To the north lies the mountain pass to Svartlfaheim.

  • No. While Asgard seems to be a paradise, it is more of a city of plenty than a land of undreamed riches. Those who live there are immortal and contented, but they live common and good lives rather than an existence of endless pleasure.

    There are three primary places that those who move on from our word can arrive, Asgard is but one of those places.

  • No, not at all. Many good people will go to Vanaheim or to Hel. Death does not have an intrinsic moral judgement.

    However, not everyone will be granted a place in Asgard. Asgard is the home of the Aesir gods, they do not welcome everyone to their homes. Those who serve faithfully and are good may be given a place among the Aesir.

    There was a time when the most desired place was Valhalla, Othin’s War-hall. This is a good place for warriors, but there are many other good places to arrive.

  • This is an interesting question, surely it happens that a parent and child might choose different places to be, a person might be granted a place in Asgard and their spouse may not.

    It is not completely clear how these things are handled in the next realms, but there are some hints.

    In her consolations to the warrior Tania, Hlinn assured her that she would be given a place in the honour guard of Frigg, and that her children would join her. In the story of Anat and the elf-king, Anat finds a place among the Vanir in Vanaheim, yet her lover resides in Asgard, they seem to be able to visit each other freely. Finally, it is clear that many residents of Asgard and Vanaheim visit loved ones in Hel on during the Winternights feast.