Notable deities
Balder, Frey, Freya, Frigg, Heimdall, Hel
Loki, Norns, Odin, Thor, Tyr, Valkyries
There was an enormous chasm
called Ginnungagap that separated the worlds of fire
(Muspelheim) and ice (Niflheim). The actions of these two extreme domains created
a giant called Ymir and a cow called Audhumbla whose milk fed and nourished Ymir.
Ymir was father of all the Frost Giants (the Jotun) and while he lay sleeping
in 
Ginnungagap, Audhumbla
licked the salt in his armpit and formed the first of the gods: Buri.
Buri fathered Bor who married the giantess Bestla and they had three sons, the brothers Odin, Vili and Ve. Together the brothers killed Ymir and from his flesh and blood they made the land and the sea. They took his skull and filled it with sparks from Muspelheim and this became the heavens with the sun, moon and stars. They used the giant’s eyebrows to create Midgard, and on Midgard they created Ask (Ash) and Embla (Elm), the first man and woman, from trees.
The cosmos now consisted of nine worlds: Niflheim, Muspelheim, Midgard (the home of Man), Vanaheim (home of the Vanir), Asgard (or Asaheim – home of the Aesir), Alfheim (or Ljosalfheim – home of the Ljosalfar or light-elves), Svartalfheim (home of the Svartalfar or dark-elves), Jotunheim (home of the Jotun), Nidavellir (the mines, home of the dwarves). Midgard was situated between Nifleim, which became the land of the dead and Asgard, the home of the gods. Asgard could only be reached by crossing the rainbow bridge, Bifrost.
In the centre of all the worlds was Ygddrasil, the world tree. Ygddrasil formed the celestial axis about which the worlds were arranged.
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The Vanir Gullveig was extremely fond of gold, to the extent that she spoke of nothing else (sounds like a stereotypical dwarve). Trouble is the Aesir got a mite fed up with her and tried to shut her up by spearing her and burning her. Unfortunately for them she kept coming back to life. This however upset the Vanir and they declared war on the Aesir.
In some ways this could be seen as the war of Nature against Civilisation – one that neither side could win.
The Aesir found that although they were fierce warriors they kept losing so they decided to call a truce and acknowledge the Vanir as their equals. As a condition of this truce hostages would be exchanged.
The Vanir sea god Njord with his son and daughter, Frey and Freya would go to the Aesir along with the wise Kvasir (who was formed from the spit of both sides to seal the truce (eeee-ew!!)), while in return the Vanir were sent Mimir and Hoenir. At first the Vanir were very happy with Hoenir and Mimir as they both seemed to be extremely wise; that is until they found out that Hoenir only seemed wise because the truly wise Mimir was telling him what to say. As a result the Vanir chopped of Mimir’s head and sent it back to the Aesir – motto: don’t try and deceive the Vanir.
The Aesir however were very happy with Njord and his children and they were offered a place amongst the Aesir (though Njord’s wife stayed in Vanaheim because she was also his sister and incest was frowned upon in Asgard). As for Mimir’s head; Odin kept it, preserved it and due to his skills and magic was able to continue to consult the wise Mimir (Necromancy I presume, though Odin is also seen as a psychopomp so this may not strictly be the case).
Notable Deities
Balder – beautiful and well loved Balder was the joy of the gods. Balder had a prophetic dream that he would die, murdered, and that this would be a precursor to Ragnarok. His mother, Frigg, took action and made all things in the nine worlds swear not to harm Balder. As a result Balder was immune to harm as spears would turn aside rather than hit him. However Loki learnt that Frigg had not asked the mistletoe to take this vow and so he fashioned a weapon of mistletoe wood. Balder and the Aesir played a game where weapons would be thrown at him to test his invulnerability, and true to their vows all weapons turned aside. Seeing his chance, Loki gave the mistletoe to Balder’s blind brother, Hod the god of darkness. Hod eagerly threw the dart at Balder but of course the dart did not turn aside and Balder was killed.
Frigg was distraught and Hermod (Balder’s other brother), rode on Sleipnir to beg Hel to let Balder return to life. Hel agreed provided all things shed a tear in mourning for him. Everything cried in its own way, the sky rained, and all creatures wept. All except a giantess, Thokk, who refused. Balder was then doomed to stay in Hel’s domain, but his wife Nanna had died of grief and he was content to stay there.
Later it was discovered that Thokk was actually Loki and in punishment he was condemned to spend the time until Ragnarok chained to a rock with a viper spiting venom in his face. His wife Sigyn, goddess of fidelity (and to stick with Loki she would have to be) stayed by his side catching the venom in a bowl, but when the bowl was full and she emptied it, Loki still suffered his punishment.
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Frey – one of the Vanir, a god of fertility and joy, Frey also has a hall in Alfheim. In some descriptions he is described as a horned god, though this probably refers to a ceremonial helm. His sister/wife is Freya and his father is Njord. Statues of a sitting figure with an enlarged and erect penis are generally attributed to Frey.
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Freya – sister of Frey, and also his wife in some tales, Freya is a goddess of fertility and is often described as quite free with her affection (well they do say it is the oldest profession). In one tale she coveted the Brisingamen (either a girdle or a necklace) and to get it she had to aggree to sleep with each of the dwarves that had created it. Freya has a chariot pulled by cats in which she travelled and is seen as the goddess of witches and leader of the Valkyries.
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Frigg – Odins wife Frigg is a goddes of fertility and marriage. In Anglo-Saxon myth she is merged with Freya and so Freya is then seen as Odin (or Woden’s wife.)
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Heimdall – guardian of Bifrost, Heimdall has exceptionally acute senses and can see and hear across the nine worlds. He will summon the forces of light to the battlefield by blowing the Gjallahorn at Ragnarok. Heimdall, using the name Rig, is also said to have created the structure of human society. He visited three homes and secretly slept with the wife of each house. Each one bore a son named in turn; Thrall, Farmer and Lord. It is from these that the three classes of mankind are descended.
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Hel – daughter of Loki, Hel is half flesh coloured and half blue. She was sent to Niflheim and there given dominion over those that died of sickness, old age and anything other than battle.
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Loki – adopted brother to Thor, and giantborn. Loki is a god of fire, tricks and half truths. He works to his own agenda, but his skills have at times proved useful to the other gods. He has a number of monstrous children. His daughter is Hel, and he is also father or Jormungandr the Midgard Serpent, that coils round the Earth awaiting Ragnarok, and Fenris the wolf fated to kill Odin himself. His only welcome child is Sleipnir, a horse with eight legs and given to Odin as his steed. Sleipnir is the fastest of horses and can go anywhere. Surprisingly Loki is Sleipnir’s mother.
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Norns – the norns live at the base of Ygdrassil and weave the fates of man and god. Their names are Urda, Verdandi and Skuld.
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Odin – called also Wotan and Woden, Odin is the
all-father, chief of the gods. He gave an eye to gain wisdom and sacrificed
himself to himself, hanging on the World Tree to gain the secret of the runes,
which he then shared with man. Odin walks the Earth in many guises and under
many names, one eyed he is accompanied by the wolves Geri and Freki, while the
ravens Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory) whisper into his ears what they see
when they range through the nine worlds. Odin has a hall,Valhalla
where the souls of noble warriors are brought by the Valkyries. These warriors
spend their days feasting and fighting awaiting Ragnarok when they will ride
forth as the Einharjer.
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Thor – son of Odin by Jord (a giantess) he was a popular god for the common people. He is god of thunder and storms and wields the hammer Mjollnir (shatterer). He is immensly strong but still needs to don his enchanted girdle and gloves to lift Mjollnir. Many followers of Thor wear a Mjollnir charm as a sign of their faith.
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Tyr – god of war and also called Tiw. Tyr is the god of war, but also of honour. When Loki’s children were brought to Asgard, Fenris was found to break all his bonds so a magical binding was prepared but Fenris suspected a trap and would only let them put it on him if a god would put his hand in his jaws. The only god that would do this was Tyr who knew that to do so would mean losing his hand.
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Valkyries – warior maidens the Valkyries collect the souls of those brave warriors slain in battle and take them to Asgard. Half go to Odin’s hall Valhalla and half of them go to Freya’s hall Folkvang.
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Ragnarok is the end of all things. It
is presaged by Balder’s death and the dread Fimbulwinter, a period of intense
winter that lasts for three years without giving way to spring. Then the forces
of darkness will be strong enough to launch an assult on Asgard. The Aesir and Vanir
will fight aided by the Einherjar, the chosed warriors from Valhalla. The
forces of Loki, Hel and the Jotun storm across Bifrost shattering the bridge,
and Heimdall will blow the Gjallahorn to warn of their approach to the
battlefield of Vigrid.
In the battle that follows Odin is swallowed by the wolf Fenris, Thor will perish killing the Midgard Serpent and Heimdall and Loki will battle to their mutual death. Tyr will kill Hel’s hound, Garm, but will also fall in the attempt. Surtur the lord of Muspelheim will slay Frey and then his flames will rise up and burn the universe to ashes.
With this the old order passes but a few humans and gods survive and from the cindered remains a new world is born.
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