Origins of Asgard
According to Asgardian legend, in the beginning there was nothing, but in time two worlds came into being on opposite sides of the void. The one to the north was named Niflheim, a world of clouds and shadows in whose center surged the fountain Hvergelmir, from which flowed twelve rivers of ice. The one to the south was named Muspelheim, which teemed with rivers of fire. Eventually the warm air from the south carved out the frost giant Ymir from the ice in the north. Ymir became the father of all the giants, and his cow Auðumbla licked out of the ice the first Asgardian, Buri. Buri had a son named Borr, who married the giantess Bestla. Borr and Bestla had three sons named Odin, Vili, and Ve, who were known as the Æsir. Odin and his brothers grew to hate the giants and slew Ymir, and his blood formed a great sea. Odin and his brothers then raised Ymir's body from the sea and created Midgard between Niflheim and Muspelheim. With Ymir's bones they created mountains, and with his hair they created trees. They then raised Ymir's skull upon four pillars to create the heavens. Within the skull contained sparks from Muspelheim, which became the sun, moon, and stars. When Midgard was complete, Odin and his brothers created a home for themselves above it called Asgard. Between the two worlds they stretched a rainbow bridge and called it Bifröst.
Asgard is a small planetary body that serves as home to the Asgardian gods such as Amora, and their ruler, Odin. It exists in another dimensional plane and is about the size of the United States. It is not round like the Earth, does not spin on its axis, and does not revolve around the sun. It is a flat, asteroid-like mass that has a top surface with a gravitational pull, similar to that of the Earth’s, in order to keep the citizens and their cities from floating into the void. The matter on Asgard is also denser and more durable than the matter on Earth. There is an unknown force that keeps the surfaces of Asgard from eroding and from allowing its bodies of water from drifting off into space. Asgard has unknown intervals of day and night, it is unclear as to whether it uses Earth’s sun as a source of light, and there is no evidence that the seasons change.
There are many inhabited areas of Asgard outside of the city, including farms, many of which provide food for the city, and some small villages. There are also several forests, mountain ranges, lakes, etc. Asgard itself is connected to nine other dimensions which form the nine worlds of Asgardian cosmology.
The City of Asgard
Described as the Golden City or the City of the Gods, the City of Asgard, commonly just Asgard, is the home to all of the Asgardian gods and goddess. The empyrean architecture throughout the city appears both elegant and sturdy, practical and ornate at the same time. There are several grandeur structures to serve institutions such as libraries, colleges, temples, etc. There are also numerous houses, inns, and shops throughout the City of Asgard.
The divine residents of Asgard go about their lives much like their mortal counterparts on Midgard would: visiting the markets, talking with neighbors, watching their children play, etc.
Within the Golden City, near the Imperial Palace for protection, is the home of the Imperial Guard. Here every Asgardian warrior in service to the King or Queen is well-housed and fed for their aid to Asgard. There is also a large courtyard adorned with various training utilities for the members of the Guard, where they practice for hours daily.
Other attractions within the city include: Dome of Combat, Giant Bust of Odin, Hall of Heroes, Monument to the Unknown Warrior, Museum of Weaponry, Shopping Center,Temple of Titans, Warlock's Haven, Warrior's Walk, Yggasdral (Tree of Life) Monument
The Imperial Palace
In the heart of the Golden City sits the Imperial Palace of Asgard. Constructed by the greatest of Asgardian and Light Elf architects, out of the finest stones and precious metals, the Imperial Palace is the home of the present King or Queen of Asgard. There are countless hallways and chambers throughout the palace, as well as a formal Dining Hall and many other amenities. Several of the palace's chambers are home to the Asgardian Nobles who have chosen to reside within the Imperial Palace, a honor granted only to those gods who retain the most regal of positions.
The Throne Room - Valaskjalf
Valaskjalf ("the Shelf of the Slain"), more commonly simply the Throne Room, is one of Odin's two massive halls within the Imperial Palace where Hlidskjalf, or the High Seat, stands. From here Odin, or whomever presently rules Asgard, can see into all of the Nine Realms. The Throne Room is also where the King or Queen holds court, receives petitioners and employs official ceremonies. When the King or Queen is present, Imperials Guards stand throughout the Throne Room at all times. Anyone who is not the ruler of Asgard sitting on the High Seat is considered treason, which is punishable by death.
Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods is a verdant expanse of flora and fauna found within the palace’s courtyard. Here flowers and fruits of all colors and exoticism grow year-round, and are pristinely maintained by the palace’s numerous servants. Asgardian Nobles living within the palace are often found wandering through the fabled gardens, enjoying the empyrean beauty of the golden sunlight cast upon the lush, green gardens. There are a number of benches and fountains throughout the gardens where its visitors can stop to relax. The Garden is also where all the fruits and vegetables eaten within the Imperial Palace are grown.
The Dungeons
Beneath the lowest floor of the Imperial Palace are the Dungeons. Here all of Asgard’s convicted criminals are held by their varying levels of offense. The highest levels of the Dungeons house the least dangerous criminals, while the lowest levels, some restricted to all but the ruling monarch and his or her court, contain the most treacherous threats to the Golden City. The entirety of the Dungeons are protected by powerful spells and enchantments to ensure the prisoners stay contained and ensure the guards stay safe.
The King’s Quarters
The largest and most opulent of the living chambers found within the Imperial Palace is the King’s Quarters. The chamber includes a spacious and ornately-furnished bedroom, living room with a small library, and a balcony overlooking the “Sea of Space” which Asgard floats on. It has housed all of Asgard’s rulers since the construction of the Imperial Palace, however the décor has varied throughout its different inhabitants. It is the most heavily guarded room in the palace, with several guards on constant watch.
Asgardian Gods
The Asgardian Gods are the divine inhabitants of Asgard. They maintain a strong visible resemblance to their mortal counterparts on Midgard, however are generally taller and possess several physiological differences.
Asgardians possess the standard physical attributes of: Superhuman strength enabling him to lift at least 30 tons, superhuman speed far superior to that of the finest human athlete, stamina enabling them to perform at their absolute peak for at least 24 hours before even starting to tire, superhuman reflexes greater than a human's, superhuman durability that allows them to withstand powerful impact forces, extreme temperatures and pressures, falls from great heights, energy blasts and high caliber bullets without sustaining injury; and finally, Asgardians' agility is also superhuman. Asgardians also possesses a regenerative healing factor, being capable of healing from injuries such as slashes and puncture wounds in a matter of hours, and mending broken bone within the day. They can't however, regenerate missing limbs or organs without magical assistance.
The Gods of Asgard are also granted certain mystical abilities that in the past have shown to get them the power to change their appearance, transform matter and wield a numerous amount of different energies. Though many Asgardian gods/goddess' have not shown the ability to wield any type of energy or shown any mystic abilities, these powers are inherent to all of their race.
These abilities are only typical of the average Asgardian. There are several other Asgardians who are born with physical attributes or abilities that exceed the conventional traits of an Asgardian.
Halls of the Gods
Many of Asgard's more legendary heroes and figures have their own halls throughout the realm. These halls include:
- Bilskirnir - Thor's hall, located in a region of Asgard called Thrudvangar
- Briedbalik - Balder's hall, meaning "Broad Splendor"
- Glitnir - Forseti's hall, which has golden pillars and a silver roof. All those whom enter Glitnir leave with their legal disputes resolved
- Sessrumnir - Freya's hall, which is so tightly constructed that Loki had to become a needle in order to sneak in. Half of all men slain in battle, and all woman so slain, come to Freya's hall
- Fensalir - Frigga's hall. She spends her time either here or in Valaskjalf
- Himinbjorg - Heimdall's hall, which stands next to Bifrost
- Ydalir - Uller's hall
Other Halls
- Gimli - Located in Asgard. it is considered the most beautiful building anywhere. Prophecy says all the gods would live there in peace after Ragnarok
- Gladsheim and Vingolf - Two of Asgard's communal halls, where the gods assemble to discuss events and occasionally decide important issues
Valhalla
The Hall of the Honored Dead. Valhalla is home to all those slain in battle, the einherjar. It has five hundred and forty doors, each wide enough for eight hundred men to walk through shoulder to shoulder. The rafters are spears, the hall is roofed with shields, and breastplates litter the benches. A wolf guards the western door, and an eagle hovers over it. Every day the rooster Gullinkambi (Golden Comb) wakes the einherjar, and they venture out to fight each other in training for Ragnarok, the final battle. Every evening those killed in battle rise, whole and healed. They feast in the hall from the meat of Saehrimnir, a boar whose flesh renews every day, and mead from Hedirun, a goat that stands atop Valhalla chewing the leaves of the tree Laecrad.
Defenses
The Imperial Guard of Asgard maintain an idyllic level of peace throughout the city at nearly all times. They are warriors carefully selected and trained from birth to be master combatants. They are highly adept at utilizing both their inborn strength as well as any and all types of weaponry.
The weapons used by the Imperial Guard are all crafted on Nidavellir, a world below Asgard and home of the Dwarves, in the furnaces of Asgard. All of these weapons, forged with divine craftsmanship, are extremely durable and near indestructible.
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