Nordic Northrend

Опубликовано 2009-04-06 в 16:17 ArgentSun

Nordic NorthrendSome of the Northrend sections of the blog will contain (mild) spoilers about the game. I have tried to reduce them to minimum.Aesir

Nordic - The Aesir were the upper class of Gods, so to speak. They lived and ruled from Asgard, a place more or less equivalent to Heaven. They were (im)mortal enemies with the Vanir.

Northrend - The Aesir, also known as Storm Giants, are a class of Titans. The Vanir (Earth Giants), the second class of Titans, are not their mortal enemies, but there is a clear distinction between the two (the Aesir are more powerful mentally, while the Vanir are physically tougher). More famous Aesir are Norgannon, the Titan overseer of arcane magic and the one who gave Malygos his powers of an Aspect, and Aman'Thul, often considered the leader of the Pantheon.

Angerbda/Queen Angerboda

Nordic - Angerbda was an evil Ice Giantess and mistress of Loki. She gave birth to monsters like Fenrir, Jormungand and Hel.

Northrend - Angerboda was the wife and queen of king Ymiron. She is clearly evil, but by no means an Ice Giantess (but Ymir, Ymiron's prototype was an Ice Giant). Спящий король asks you to slay her and interrupt the ritual she is using to wake Ymiron from his eternal slumber.

Bor

Nordic - Bor was the grandson of Ymir and Audumbla. Bor's most famous act was fathering Odin, the head of the pantheon.

Northrend - A sub-zone in The Storm Peaks is called Bor's Breath, and looks like a canyon of ice/frozen river (connects K3 and Valkyrion).

Brynhild, Brunnhilde/Brunnhildar

Nordic - Brynhild was the most beautiful of all Valkyries. She was the only one Odin could not have his way with, which is why he put her asleep in a ring of fire on top of a mountain. She was (sort of) rescued by a hero named Sigurd.

Northrend - Brunnhildar is a village in the Storm Peaks, inhibited by female frost vrykul known as hyldnir. Here they train to become skilled warriors, but in a noble way, unlike the Vrykul and Val'kyr in service of the Lich King. The wage war against the Sons of Hodir, because they believe the Sons are betraying Thorim, to whom the Hyldnir remain loyal. Two of the NPCs there seem to be named after Sigurd - Sigdis the Trader and Sigfinna.

Freya

Nordic - Goddess of Love, Fertility and...Desire. She's also a feisty warrior and Queen of the Valkyries. She liked flowers very much...or at least liked them when she was not busy seducing men, dwarves and Gods alike.

Northrend - One of the titanic Watchers, Freya is also known as a Daughter of the Titans. She seems to be overseeing the life on Azeroth, and plants in particular. She was also tasked with watching over the imprisoned Yogg-Saron from her Temple of Life. Currently corrupted by Yogg-Saron, and located in Ulduar's Conservatory of Life.

Hod/Hodir

Nordic - The blind god of Darkness and Winter, Hod was son of Odin, twin brother of Baldur god of Peace. Loki tricked Hod into killing Baldur.

Northrend - Another one of the titanic Watchers, Hodir used to watch over Yogg-Saron's prison from his Temple of Winter. Currently corrupted by Yogg-Saron, and located in Ulduar's Halls of Winter.

Jormungand/Jormungar

Nordic - The World Serpent, child of Loki, a beast of great prowess, fated to fight in Ragnarok, the final battle between Gods and Giants.

Northrend - Worm-like creatures native to Northrend. They are said to be children of Loken.

Jotun, Jotunheim

Nordic - Jotuns were a class of giants, enemies of the Aesir. Jotunheim was their home, but they were also known to reside in Utgarde.

Northrend - Jotun, <The Curse Bearer> is a giant (or perhaps even a cursed titan?) who walks up and down the Path of Titans in the Dragonblight. Jotunheim is a Vrykul city in Icecrown, where the Vrykuls train, so they can fight in Valhalas. The winners from Valhalas are sent to Ymirheim, to become Ymirjar; the losers are transformed into Val'gur, undead Vrykul.

Loki/Loken

Nordic - Son of giants, trickster, shapeshifter, he was one of Thor's closest friends. He is known to be notoriously mischievous.

Northrend - Sentinel, Keeper, Prime Designate, Loken was charged with ensuring that Yogg-Saron didn't escape. Recently Loken has been corrupted by the Old God, and has started betraying, capturing and killing his former colleagues, the titanic Watchers. He is a shapeshifter, and sets players on their path of redeeming Thorim, but ultimately bringing him into Loken's hands. He tricked Thorim into believing that the Frost Giants had killed his wife Sif. He was a titanic Watcher at the Temple of Wisdom. Currently located in the Halls of Lightning—killable (and killed) by players.

Mimir/Mimiron

Nordic - Mimir was god of Wisdom and Knowledge. He was very close to Odin, even in his current decapitated state.

Northrend - Mimiron is a mechagnome, an inventor, thinker and tinker of great knowledge. He was a titanic Watcher. Currently corrupted by Yogg-Saron, and located in Ulduar's Spark of Imagination.

Mjolnir/Krolmir

Nordic - Thor's thunder hammer, crafted by dwarves, Mjolnir was a gift from Loki. Thunder fell wherever it struck.

Northrend - Krolmir was the hammer of Thorim, which he discarded at Thunderfall in the Storm Peaks, when he threw the hammer to the ground with all of his rage. Artifacts of the hammer's power can still be seen in Thunderfall - giants and runed dwarves, frozen mid-fight.

Niflheim/Dun Nifelem

Nordic - The realm of ice, home of the Frost Giants. Origin of Ymir.

Northrend - Home of the Sons of Hodir, a faction of Frost Giants.

Sif

Nordic - The Goddess of Harvest, Thor's wife Sif was known to be very beautiful, and her golden hair was more than remarkable. One night Loki sneaked in her bedroom and stole some of her hair. When Thor heard about that, he beat Loki pretty badly...

Northrend - Sif was Thorim's wife, before she was killed by Loken, who blamed the Frost Giants for her death, knowing that Thorim would act hotheadedly. When players start the quest chain to lead them to Thorim, Loki, masked as a female Vrykul, attaches a strand of hair to the player's head.

Skadi

Nordic - Giantess, Goddess of winter, hunting and...skiing.

Northrend - Skadi the Ruthless is a male here, and perhaps the only similarity is that he is a Frost Vrykul, and he looks like somebody who would enjoy hunting.

Thor/Thorim

Nordic - One of the most famous Norse gods, Thor is the guy with the hammer, son of Odin and Jord, god of Thunder, riding through the storm clouds in the sky, summoning lightnings with his hammer Mjolnir. He was a good friend with Loki, and the Trickster often used the fact that Thor was not especially bright to pull jokes on him. Sif was Thor's wife.

Northrend - One of the titanic Watchers, charged with overseeing Yogg-Saron's prison from his Temple of Storms. Long time ago Thor was tricked by Loken, his twin brother, into believing that the Frost/Ice Giants (whose offspring are the Sons of Hodir) murdered his wife Sif, while in reality it was Loken who did it. Thorim, enraged by what he thought the Giants did, broke his promise to watch over the races of Frost, threw his hammer Krolmir away and retired to the top of his Temple, falling prey to depression and haunted visions of Sif. Currently corrupted by Yogg-Saron, and located in Ulduar's Clash of Thunder.

Valhalla/Valhalas

Nordic - Valhalla was more or less the Paradise for all slain warriors. After they die, Valkyries would descend to them, and if deemed worthy, would fetch them to the Halls of Valhalla, where warriors could eat, drink, fight (to the death) and make love to their hearts content—In a cycle that would end only at Ragnarok, the End of the World.

Northrend - Valhalas is a Vrykul arena in Jotunheim, Icecrown. Vrykuls from all over the continent are trained hard so they can get a chance to fight in Valhalas. The winners from the arena are sent to Ymirheim, where they become the elite Ymirjar warriors; the losers are transformed into Val'gur, undead Vrykul. The battles are overseen by the Val'kyr, female Vrykul transformed into angel-looking creatures, serving the Lich King directly and loyally.

Valkyries/Val'kyr

Nordic - The Valkyries collected warriors fallen in battle and brought them to Valhalla.

Northrend - The Val'kyr observe the Vrykul warriors and judge their worthiness - they play the role of the eyes of the Lich King; kind of like supervisors of the Vrykul.

Vanir

Nordic - The lower class of Gods, the Vanir are known to be physically tougher than the Aesir. They used to be enemies with the Aesir, but later some form of agreement has been reached, and the two factions are no longer in an open war. They live in Vanaheim.

Northrend - The Vanir are the second class of Titans, the Earth Giants. Earth Giants, Stone Giants, Earthen, Dwarves and Troggs are offspring/creations of the Vanir. More famous Vanir are Sargeras and Khaz'Goroth, the Titan who imbued Neltharion (later - Deathwing) with his powers of an Aspect.

Yggdrasil/Nordrassil, Vordrassil

Nordic - Yggdrasil is the world tree, a huge ash tree that supports the Nine Worlds. Its roots run as deep as the Well of Knowledge. Nidgogg the Dragon parasites on the tree and calls it home.

Northrend - The original world tree, Nordrassil was located in Mount Hyjal, its roots going to the Well of Eternity. Vordrassil is a World Tree in Grizzly Hills, corrupted by Yogg-Saron (similarly to Nidgogg's parasitism on Yggdrasil).

Ymir

Nordic - Ymir was the first Frost Giant, born in the icy chaos of Niflheim. His sweat created the first man and woman, and his body was material for the world. His grandson Odin slaughtered him in his eternal sleep and used the body to shape land, sea and sky.

Northrend - Ymiron is the king of the Vrykul. A long time ago he felt betrayed by the Titans, and in his anger commanded the weak and deranged offspring of the Vrykul race - the humans - to be exterminated. Some families decided to preserve their children. So in a way, he and Vrykul were creators of all humanity.

Сделка с КаргойLok'lira the Croneknown as a Yrkvinn, a practitioner of illusionsПрощальный подарок Лок'лиры

Комментарий от Neutronimity Awesome work, ArgentSun! I guess it was pretty hard compiling all the lore background information!
Will score an entry in the W-R! Комментарий от Limbero Great blog Argent! Комментарий от bedlam123 i think that ragnaros is a refrence to the ragnorak
fenrus the devourer is related to one of the wolves at the final ragnorak as well.
clearly somebody at blizzard likes norse mythology as well.
also if you like vikings so much try listening to Amon Amarth (they are an awsome viking metal band) Комментарий от ArgentSun
also if you like vikings so much try listening to Amon Amarth (they are an awsome viking metal band)Комментарий от dhampir1989 It's horribly inacurrate, sorry.
For a start "Nordic" is an understatement. The Germanic tribes that follow this religion spread far further than just Norway or even Scandinavia. Germany, Poland and areas further East and South.

The Aesir and Vanir were not at war, nor were the Aesir the upper class. It differs from region to region, but the Aesir were normally War deities, and the Vanir, Nature deities. There was quite a bit of cross-marriage. The Aesir and Vanir were "at war" with the Jotun, Chaos gods, not frost giants. (although the nature of the Jotun varies.)
Mjollnir was not really a gift, and Loki was half Jotun.

Valhalla's only entry requirement was that you fall in battle, and a lot of the imagery associated with valkyries in WoW comes from non-contemporary sources such as The Ring of the Nibuleinigung(spelling NOT correct) Комментарий от Rauno I wonder if we'll ever see an Item, NPC or event referring to "Ragnarok" in World of Warcraft ... I know plenty of other video games with Ragnarok somehow included in them.
It could be epic sword (like in final fantasies etc.) or just an event or boss..

Anyways, nice Blog. I enjoyed reading it as Im from scandinavic culture myself I enjoy viking tales and mythology too very much.

PS. Sons of Hodir quests/quest chain is by far the best quest chain in WoW so far. Truly epic story there. Комментарий от Morec0 Northrend is my favorite area so far - mostly because it deals head-on with the Scourge in most parts.

The only thing about Wrath that I have not ejoyed is that the weapons in Northrend - both from quests and drops - look archaic (spelling?). It just dosn't fit my DKs style, if you know what I mean.

But what are you going to do? Комментарий от BornOfAshes http://www.wowhead.com/?item=17182
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=17982
http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=11502
http://www.wowhead.com/?npc=17285 Комментарий от dhampir1989 Oh, by the way Brynhild is a character in the Ring. Комментарий от Loosa What's that? I'm Scandinavian and thus this is twice as awesome for me?

Awesome. Комментарий от ArgentSun It's horribly inacurrate, sorry.
For a start "Nordic" is an understatement. The Germanic tribes that follow this religion spread far further than just Norway or even Scandinavia. Germany, Poland and areas further East and South.

The Aesir and Vanir were not at war, nor were the Aesir the upper class. It differs from region to region, but the Aesir were normally War deities, and the Vanir, Nature deities. There was quite a bit of cross-marriage. The Aesir and Vanir were "at war" with the Jotun, Chaos gods, not frost giants. (although the nature of the Jotun varies.)
Mjollnir was not really a gift, and Loki was half Jotun.

Valhalla's only entry requirement was that you fall in battle, and a lot of the imagery associated with valkyries in WoW comes from non-contemporary sources such as The Ring of the Nibuleinigung(spelling NOT correct)Nordic Комментарий от dhampir1989 Oh, I agree, the sentiment is good, but as a member of the Hellenic Reconstructionist community, who has a number of friends who are members of the Germanic Reconstructionist community, I feel very strongly about accurate portrayal of both mine and my friend's religions.

I certainly am not looking for an arguement, apologize if my tone suggested such, but I felt I should at least attempt to correct you.

That and Malygane told me to in IRC :P Комментарий от Talawa Im scandinavian myself, so its really cool with all the references to the nordic mythology in WoW.
My personal favourite ingame reference is not a thing from that though, my favourite is the quest chain in Un'goro Crater with the little gnome Linken, who lost his sword, in it. Really awesome quest chain. Комментарий от Geekos I actually registered just for this, feel honored :P

Anywho...

The thing with Loki, Thor and Sif isn't as you described it. Sif had regular hair, Loki cut it off, Thor went furious and Loki had golden hair made for her (the rest of that part fits).

There are several other details I could pinpoint and correct but I really don't feel like doing it... the one thing I DO feel like correcting hwoever is that Odin weren't alone in slaying Ymir and using his body (blood, bones, brain, everything!) to shape the world with.

I'm a nordic guy and love the mythology of my ancestors (as well as the greek but that's aonther story) so I know quite a bit about it, having read several books on the matter :)

Long ago I noticed the small parts of it, like Loken/Loki, the world tree, Thorim... I'm glad someone took the time to inform others of it in a detail way though :D Комментарий от Maviellas While I am not very familiar with the mythology that Northrend is based off of, I have always had an innate fascination with it. This article is making me want to learn more about the actual myths.

One thing that has been bothering me is how to pronounce the names. Seeing as how many of them are pulled from actual words/names in other languages, there must be proper pronunciation. I would appreciate it if someone familiar with these names gave some tips so I don't go around butchering them =) Комментарий от Geekos Maviellas, the names are generally an attempted translation of danish/swedish/norwegian names or words.

For example in danish, Loki is Loke. Thor can be spelled Tor as well...

Btw Mimirs head (still alive) floats in the well of wisdom, Odin often seeks him and the well if he needs additional knowledge :)

Oh and Mjolnir (Mjølner in danish) was, correctly, made by dwarves, on Lokis request, for Thor. However it was the last among 3 artifacts (Odins spear, a ring I can't remember the name of right now and Mjolnir) and he had made a bet which he was going to lose if the hammer turned out well.
One of the dwarves was making sure the fire kept burning equally intensely, not even for a second swaying the least. This in order to make the hammer perfect, with a long shaft. Loki turned into a bug (can't remember which) and started annoying the dwarf, trying to make him stop his work for even a moment... for the most part it didn't work but in the end he had the dwarf stop for a moment thus resulting in a hammer with a very small shaft... Thor was satisfied however and Loki still lost the bet :)

God I love norse mythology... I really should read that book again... (It's a collection of different myths :D) Комментарий от nephthyswanderer While I appreciate Blizzards fancy for borrowing pop-culture and the like, I can't help but be totally disgusted at the immense rip-off of the Nordic mythology. True that no one owns the trademarks to the names or stories, but FFS Blizzard, do your own work.

I had no idea they had ~~plagiar~~ borrowed so much. Комментарий от elstor Don't forget Teldrassil, to go allong with Yggdrasil, Voldrassil, and Nordrassil. Комментарий от vexis58 I wonder if we'll ever see an Item, NPC or event referring to "Ragnarok" in World of Warcraft ... I know plenty of other video games with Ragnarok somehow included in them.
It could be epic sword (like in final fantasies etc.) or just an event or boss...Комментарий от Procul Good job, ArgentSun. I have always loved Norse mythology...

1 2 3 4

Далее › Конец »

« Следующая новость

Предыдущая новость »

Nordic Northrend

Комментарии

Написать комментарий

Nordic Northrend

Связанные статьи

Комментарии

Написать комментарий