Subject: MYSTARA-L Digest - 31 Dec 2003 to 1 Jan 2004 (#2004-2)
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Date: 02/01/2004, 19:00
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Reply-to: Mystara RPG Discussion
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Topics of the day:
1. Extended Northmen Pantheon ver. 1.5
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Date: Fri, 2 Jan 2004 09:53:53 +0800
From: "Francisco V. Navarro V" <fvnmd@INFO.COM.PH>
Subject: Extended Northmen Pantheon ver. 1.5
Hail Mystarans!
Thank you for your generous comments on my mythological treatise!
I've edited my work and incorporated the comments in the changes. So not so
very long after the original version 1.0, here's a version 1.5! (Hmmm...
Seems like a familiar pattern in RPGs games, isn't it?)
Kit Navarro
Mystaran Mythologer
==========
The Extended Northmen Pantheon
By Kit Navarro
The Immortals of the Northmen are known for their common interest in the
realms of Ostland, Vestlands and Soderfjord. Among them, Odin, Hel, Thor,
Frey and Freya, Loki, and lastly Forsetta are the seven most worshipped
patrons of the Northmen. But in recent years, other Immortals have played
more active roles in the roles of mortal men and their cults are rising into
prominence in the Northern Reaches.
Njord, Patron of the Sea. (Protius) All seafaring cultures worship the Old
Man of the Sea in one form or another, and the Northmen are no exception.
This ancient yet temperamental Immortal rules over the seas and oceans,
sometimes placid and generous of its bounties, often times tempestuous and
dangerous. He is also the bringer of storms, and Northmen sailors offer to
him to placate his wrath.
The Norns are three eldritch and fearful Immortal crones that mysteriously
appear to a mortal at the time of birth and death, though Northmen myths
tell of heroes and even Immortals, who seek out the Norns in the remotest
mountain crags for their wisdom, their power, and their prophecies. By
tradition, the Norns are known as Skuld (Khoronus), Keeper of the Unchanging
History, Patroness of the Past; Urd (Ordana), Mistress of the Manifold
Paths, Patroness of the Present; and Verthandi, She Who Sees the
Unforeseeable, Patroness of the Future. Modern legends say that in a dark
cave atop a high and rocky peak in Norwold sit the Norns (or at least their
mortal avatars), where the locals known them as the Crones of Crystykk.
Odur Sun-Lord. (Ixion) Though far less exalted than Odin All-Father, the
Patron of the Sun has a following in the Northern Reaches, as he does
elsewhere throughout Mystara. The Sun-Lord brings warmth, light, and life to
the otherwise dark and bleak existence of the Northmen, and the passage of
his sun-chariot across the skies mark the time for planting, growth, and
harvest.
Frigga (Valerias) may actually have been an earlier more primitive Immortal
of fertility and nature of the ancient Neathar, whose worship was later
subsumed by the more civilized cult of Freyja. But in recent years, Frigga
has regained her popularity, in no small part due to the identification with
the highly popular Thyatian Immortal Valerias. Nowadays, she is also
worshipped as the Patroness of Romance, Marriage, and Womanhood,
particularly by women who do not fight with the sword-but use other means to
express their passions and fury. Some cultists of Frigga have scandalously
suggested that she is the mate of Odin, a grave heresy in the nation of
Ostland where the worship of Frigga has been outlawed!
Asgrod, Patron of Travelers and Merchants. (Asterius) Only one myth ever
mentions the nimble Immortal Asgrod, who served as a messenger of Odin from
Asgard. So quick in wit and feet was Asgrod that he could journey to the
darkest depths of Hel unscathed. He was never truly worshipped, until recent
cults imported by traders from Thyatis, Minrothad, and even far-off Darokin.
Asgrod ensures safe, swift travel, and fair trades, but unlike his foreign
counterpart, he wards against theft and trickery-misdeeds inspired by Loki!
Baldur, Patron of Rebirth and Renewal. (Razud) Baldur is portrayed as an
eternally young, handsome man with bright green eyes, and he rewards those
who are self-sufficient, self-reliant, and enduring through hardships. His
worship began in the Alphatian colonists of Norworld, but was eventually
introduced to the Northern Realms. His curious myth revolves around his
Immortal death, which will herald the end of the world or Ragnarok. But
disaster is averted as Baldur always returns, reborn and renewed! Many
Northmen elders discount this myth as mere allegory: the eternal cycles of
nature, the resilience of life, such as evergreen through the harsh winters
(Baldur's holy symbol is the mistletoe.), while the more politically-minded
interpret Ragnarok as the invasion of the Alphatians. But the godi of Baldur
have demonstrated their Patron's will with miraculous powers of restoration,
renewal, and even resurrection-a feat which has elicited mixed and powerful
reactions. (Northmen consider returning from the dead as cowardly and even
morally wrong, preferring to die courageously and enter Valhalla. Raising
the dead and reincarnation are also the domains of the sinister Immortal
Hel.)
Tyras, the Immortal Bard. (Tiresias) Compared to most of the grim and gloomy
Immortals of the Northern Reaches, Tyras is relatively cheerful and
carefree. His role is to bring song, poetry, music, and dance to the world,
but he also composes epics tales of legendary deeds-or grand eulogies for
heroes in Valhalla. On occasion, Tyras is known to let slip divine secrets
or knowledge of the future.
Vuller (Zirchev) is the patron of hunters and archers, and also protector of
wild beasts and game. He was never recognized as a full Immortal (He was
merely known as the huntsman of Frey), until the influence of the Alphatians
and other worshippers of Zirchev from Norworld and Thyatis. Sentient forest
creatures, as well as werewolves, werebears, wereboars, and other
lycanthropes, also pray to Vuller to protect them from human incursions.
Northmen Name
Common Name
Alignment Area of Concern
Odin
Odin
LN
Sky, Wise Rule
Thor
Thor
N
Honorable Warriors, Thunder
Frey
Frey
LG
Intelligent Warfare, Heroes
Freyja
Freyja
LG
Women Warriors
Hel
Hel
NE
Death, Reincarnation, Entropy
Loki
Loki
CE
Mischief, Betrayal, Trickery
Forsetta
Forsetta
LG
Law, Justice, Rulership
Njord
Protius
N
Seas and Seafaring, Storms
Skuld
Khoronus
N
Time, the Past, Fate
Urd
Ordana
CN
Time, the Present, Destiny
Verthandi
Verthandi
LN
Time, the Future, Prophecy
Odur
Ixion
LG
Sun, Harvest
Frigga
Valerias
CN
Fertility, Marriage, Women
Asgrod
Asterius
CN
Travel, Trade
Baldur
Razud
NG
Youth, Renewal, Rebirth
Tyras
Tiresias
N
Poetry, Songs, Bards
Vuller
Zirchev
NG
Hunting, Archery, Beasts
==========
Notes:
1.. The first seven Immortals are canon, thus not discussed further.
(Forsetta is mentioned in Wrath of the Immortals with a reference to X3
Curse of Xanathon. The other Immortals were inspired by Deities & Demigods,
both the 1st edition and the 3rd edition.
2.. The Norns: Verthandi has always been a mysterious Immortal from the
Sphere of Time, and his name clearly comes from one of the Norns of the
Norse Pantheon. By adding two more Hierarchs of Time (and a little Immortal
sex change à la Nyx), we have the Mystaran Norns! In CM1 Test of the
Warlords features a very similar trio of mysterious and powerful hags, the
Crones of Crystykk, who can easily be identified with the Norns of the
Northmen.
3.. Odur/Ixion: Ixion's worship is universal throughout Mystara, and the
Sun-Prince figures in cultures even when he is not the chief patron (i.e. as
Horon in Nithia, Solarios in Thyatis).
4.. Frigga/Valerias: As with Ixion, Valerias must have her finger in every
pie, especially with her recent rise in popularity in Thyatis and Glantri.
The problem is which Norse goddess could be identified with? The wonderful
thing about Valerias is that her portfolio (compared to the original entry
in Dawn of the Emperors) has expanded from a patroness of love and war (like
the Babylonian Ishtar or Sumerian Inanna) to a patroness of fertility and
womanhood. Chaotic and ambitious, Valerias could easily take on the role as
Odin's peer and equal (especially with that little Freyja in the way)!
5.. The Asgardian messenger god is named Hermod, which sounds like the
Greek. Asgrod is patterned after the Thyatian Asterius.
6.. Baldur/Razud: Baldur is one of my favorite mythological deities, and I
just had to find some Immortal to take on Baldur's role. Some have pointed
out that resurrection is not favorably viewed by the Northmen, and I have
adjusted Baldur's description based on these comments.
7.. Tyras/Tiresias: His bardic portfolio fits with the Asgardian/Northmen
pantheon, and his name is derived from the Norse god Tyr.
8.. Vuller/Zirchev: The name is derived from the Asgardian god Uller, with
some spelling change.
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End of MYSTARA-L Digest - 31 Dec 2003 to 1 Jan 2004 (#2004-2)
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