Nanna - Tumblr Posts
why would davesprite have to die to ensure there's only one of him of the same explicitly didn't happen to nanna or arquius?
my last ask mgiht have been confusing, so to clarify i’m referring to how you think jaspersprite’s presence means the other sprites that were on LOTAK came to the post-retcon timeline with john. though it seems like post-retcon jaspersprite is alive too, as he didn’t die when LOWAS exploded and i’m not sure what else on the battleship would have killed him.
At this point, we really don’t know what the deal is with the sprites. The only one we know for sure made it to LOWAS is Jaspersprite. But considering Jaspers was able to tag along, it seems reasonable that Davesprite would, as well.
As for any duplicate sprites (we at least know Jaspers is one), one instance is probably doomed, even if they’re still around for now. We haven’t heard anything about Alone!Jade’s Jaspersprite, but it’s probably safe to say Nannasprite kept Jade company. So if Nanna made it to LOWAS, there would be two of her, too. Again, if so, one is probably doomed.
As for ARquiusprite, if there are two of him, there may be an important reason for that. At least one is needed to be trapped in Lil Cal and become part of Lord English. A duplicate may serve another purpose.
It’d be interesting if Erisolsprite survived, though. If in the current timeline, Feferi and Nepeta each end up being prototyped individually, then all 12 trolls will be “alive” in some way. Of the 12, only Equius and Eridan would be…fusions.
Anyway, bottom line is, if Jaspersprite could survive, Davesprite could, as well. Exactly why one of him LOWASploded, we don’t know for sure; we can only speculate. But even if he’s dead in this timeline, some other version of him will be around. His story isn’t finished. He’ll be back.
Thoughts and musings on the upcoming battle
Reflection on the 5/13/15 update with potential strategies, considerations, and predictions.
The best team to face the Becs would ironically be the "least important/effective" characters: Tavros, Jaspers, and the Mayor---plus Jade and GCat.
Jaspers could be a great distraction for them because cat. Actually, there’s probably even two of them around.
Tavros could use his communing abilities to control the Becs, plus potentially GCat to use as a distraction.
The Mayor would probably be safe because PM is his friend. He’s destined to face Bec Noir, anyway.
Jade, either asleep or awake, would occupy the Becs' attention, be safe from them (and protected by them!), and has the same First Guardian abilities.
As long as the Condesce is sufficiently distracted, they'd all be good.
Jack English vs. Dirk, Dave, and possibly surprise Davesprite would make a nice callback to when Bro and Davesprite fought against Jack on LOWAS. Remember how the final prototyping gave him First Guardian powers, which turned the tide of battle?
What if that happens with Jack English, such as obtaining the golden cuestaff and that very same ring? LOWAS (I assume it’s there now) is one of the closest planets to Jack English, too, so the battle could occur in the very same spot!
If Davesprite is around, he risks being influenced by the Condesce like Jade, since he’s part bird.
The idea of Karkat facing his old frienemy Spades Slick is delicious. If anyone can convince Slick to form an alliance, it's Karkat.
Any of the trolls facing the Condesce is probably dangerous because of her manipulation powers. That mostly just leaves the kids.
Nannasprite's probably around. She'd be great as part of the healing team, since she's alt!Jane and has healing abilities, too.
If there’s an extra Nannasprite who tagged along on LOWAS, even better.
Remember Casey's undead army on LOMAX? That has potential to show up again, too. If the Condesce uses her powers to control them, BAD NEWS. If not, allies ahoy! I imagine the golden battleship is still there, too, since Aranea wasn't around to move it; they could use that, as well.
During the fracas, Gamzee will probably escape. (Don't turn your back on the body!) Plus, he most certainly will travel back in time to at least give Lil Cal to CD to create Jack English in the first place. That has to happen somehow, since Vriska apparently didn’t do it. Gamzee might also prototype the final sprite. Who knows what else he'll do?
Vriska is leaving, yes. My guess is to raise the Cherubs, but we really don't know. (She's already hijacked Gamzee's role for practically everything else, plus she has other Gamzee parallels.) What if she returns in time to give the final blow to the Condesce, being the one to officially kill her? It'd mirror her dealing the final blow to the Black King of their session, plus... She'd likely inherit Lord English's curse. Lord English has already been manipulating her and using her to his advantage anyway; the curse would just make it official.
7/3/15 Upd8
I knew it! I totally knew it!
TWO NANNASPRITES! Which means both Jaspers AND Nanna tagged along on LOWAS and survived the retcon. Which makes it even more likely that the other sprites---particularly Davesprite---did too.
Also, Nannasprite seems to be pre-retcon...
NANNASPRITE: Yes, I tended to him and his sister for several years, baked for them, lent a sympathetic ear when needed...
NANNASPRITE: It was quite freeing in a way! I had a wonderful three years on that ship with those lovely children. I thought little of what challenges were ahead.
So the other Nannasprite is post-retcon.
Tales of Asgard
Series 2, Episode 3
The World Serpent
Thor goes fishing for Jormungundr- the world serpent!
Another norse legend which needs a little simplification. In the legend, Tyr's stepfather is another new giant, Hymir. Hymir is the one who has the most suitable boat for catching giant creatures. Tyr is a pretty minor god in my story so far and I wanted to swap him out for a more regular supporting character. Then I remembered that Njörd remarries with a giantess, Skadi, and his children (in the legend) are Frey and Freya.
In my version Sif and Volstagg have taken their place and Hymir could be their step uncle (via Skadi and Njord). Then we could do the fishing story.
Starts with Balder and Nanna's wedding. There is a lot of celebrating. Thor teases Loki about the trick he pulled at Skadi and Njord's wedding to make Skadi laugh. Thor recaps with a little story about the goddess Idunn and the apples of immortality. Loki tricked her and delivered them both as a payoff for the giant Thialfi (disguised as a giant eagle) after upsetting him. When the gods noticed Idunn and the apples were missing Loki had to go and rescue her and the Asgardians killed Thialfi in the conflict that ensued. His daughter, Skadi then showed up and demanded compensation. She wanted Loki's head, but accepted a fitting memorial for her father, monies and a place in the court. In the legend she demands a husband, but here she actually falls for Njörd and they marry. Also in the legend she demands that they make her laugh as she is so sad. Here she simply sees Loki at the wedding and still blames him for her father's death. She says she won't take his head if he makes her laugh. The trick involves a goat, a rope and pain and humiliation for Loki.
Everyone laughs. Balder also laughs, though he is trying not to. Loki reminds Thor that it wasn't a trick, it was the stupidest thing he could think of as he knew it would make simpletons laugh. Silence. Loki and Sigyn leave and the atmosphere is tense.
Thor goes to speak to Loki who is already being counselled by Frigga. Sigyn is antagonising the situation.
L: My family does not care about my pain and humiliation.
F: I do. They do. We do, don't we? (encourages Thor)
T: Um, yes...we do.
L: No you don't.
S: You were making fun of his pain and humiliation just now.
T: I'm sorry...I thought it was meant to be funny.
L: And you teased me the other day about Sleipnir.
S: You know how he feels about Sleipnir.
T: You became a lady horse and gave birth to another horse! It's funny!
L (to Frigga): You see!
F (looking daggers at Thor): You don't understand what it's like Thor. When you spend a long time in another form you can forget who you really are. Loki's love for Sleipnir is real and tender.
T (genuinely realising this for the first time): Loki...I'm sorry...I...
S: Odin gives Thor and Balder everything and only takes from Loki; Sleipnir stolen, Jormungundr cast out. He never taught him to fight like he did the other two and never taught him any sorcery.
F (to Loki, trying to ignore Sigyn): He taught you how to change into a bird.
S: He never taught him how to change back! You did.
F: That's right. I did.
T: I taught you how to fight.
L (warming slightly, despite Sigyn): You did, a little.
T (really seeing Loki's pain for the first time): I don't think I can get father to part with Sleipnir...but I'm going to get Jormungundr for you.
L: Really?!
F: Thor, that serpent is now bigger than Asgard! It is wild and strong and it spits deadly poison! And you will have to go to giant country again to get it.
L: Mother, when we met that trickster giant, I lifted a coil! I held my child in my hands!
And if I can lift a coil then Thor might...he's stronger than me...with Megingjörð he might...
(Megingjörð is Thor's belt that doubles his strength)
T: I've been thinking about it for a few days now and...well...I will try.
Loki hugs Thor. Frigga is despairing. Sigyn is secretly fuming at this show of family support.
When Thor states his aim to Sif, Balder, Nanna and the Warriors Three everyone tries to put him off, it's crazy etc. Sif already told him as much.
All apart from Volstagg who says the only one who has the right kind of boat is Hymir, his and Sif's step uncle. They are related through the aforementioned Skadi who remarried with their aforementioned father Njörd.
Volstagg says he must go with Thor to make Thor look more legit. They convince Sif to come too.
The others can't come as it would be too dangerous for them. Thor must also conceal his identity or Hymir will kill him on the spot for all the trouble he's caused in giant country.
They arrive, placate Hymir with a false identity for Thor (Veor) and then feast. Veor flatters Hymir's fishing ability and claims to be a good fisherman himself. They talk about bait and Hymir mentions giant maggots from the giant oxen dung in his fields. He says Veor should help himself to some bait from the field. Thor secretly takes an ox head (sorry ox, he can't help Loki without it).
The next day they take out the huge boat and catch two whales. Then Veor states his intention to catch Jormungundr. Hymir laughs and says it's not possible. Veor reveals the ox head from his massive bag. Hymir is at once stunned, angered and afraid. Veor thought veor had a bunch of giant maggots but he has killed one of his oxen. However he also knows it is the kind of bait Jormungundr will be attracted to.
The serpent takes the bait and Veor comes very close to success despite Jormungundr's strength and poison. However, Hymir has to cut the line as they were perilously close to being dragged under.
He was impressed by Veor's strength and determination. They talk about going out tomorrow and trying again, what reinforcements they need to make to the boat etc. They have bonded.
Later, Volstagg helps Veor win Hymir's magical beer brewing kettle in a test of strength.
Volstagg secretly admits that's what he went there for in the first place. Sif is livid.
Hymir is initially sad, growing angrier and angrier.
Thor blows his cover when he reaches for Mjölnir in defence and they have to run! Thor takes the cauldron on foot, Volstagg the chariot with Grinder and Snarler, Sif the one with Gullenbursti.
They return triumphant and the court celebrate the coming of the magical self brewing, delicious tasting beer kettle of the land of the giants.
In a quiet moment, Loki pulls Thor aside to ask about Jormungundr. Thor is crestfallen. He apologises and says that he tried his hardest. He also doesn't think he can go back to the land of giants anymore.
Loki is sad, but genuinely grateful that Thor tried to do something like that for him. He tells Thor to go back to the party, he'll be okay. After all, where would he keep a serpent as big as Asgard?
Thor says that's exactly what Sif said. Then Sigyn comes and that's the end of the moment.
THEN FENRIR! In the norse legend, a god called Tyr is close to Fenrir and loses his hand. Loki takes that role here as it keeps the number of supporting characters down and plays very well with the direction I'm taking his character.
Also, another god goes to the dwarves but I'm making it Balder. It gives Balder something else to do. It will be nice to see Eitri again too. He is only too happy to help when he finds out the wolf belongs to Loki.
The night after Thor's fishing trip, Odin dreams that Loki's wolf, Fenrir, kills him. Odin likes to keep his cards close to his chest, so he tells no one.
He calls a court meeting. He says that Fenrir is becoming larger, stronger and hungrier, which is true. Captain Harokin says he consumes too much food, almost as much as Volstagg. Volstagg is doubly wounded, by the jibe and also because he didn't get into the Einherjar. Hogun and Fandral hold him back. Haldor says he played in the smithyard last week and nearly broke the forge. Nanna says, have you seen those teeth? So the other courtiers are all too happy with Odin's plan to bind it and be rid of it.
Thor objects on Loki's behalf as Loki is often skulking around with Sigyn these days and not present for these meetings. Thor says Loki would never agree to the plan. Odin says that if Loki wants to object to things then he needs to be there. Thor asks if they can at least tell him. Odin forbids it.
Frigga says they should send the wolf back to Jotunheim, Loki can take it. Odin says Loki is not to be trusted. Frigga bristles at this.
Thor says Fenrir would only go with Loki. Odin says Loki cannot take the wolf to Jotunheim.
So they agree to trick Loki into convincing Fenrir to be bound with heavy chains (Loeding). They tell Loki that it's a game and he tells Fenrir this and encourages him. Fenrir is actually still quite playful and is also keen to test his strength. He agrees and easily breaks the chains. Fenrir and Loki are proud.
The next day they make the heaviest chains they could forge (Dromi). They could be made from maybe Uru? Vibranium? Adamantium?
Loki is unsure but Fenrir is keen to have another go. It takes more effort, but he manages. Odin is concerned and calls a court meeting (minus Loki, of course).
Balder says they should asks the dwarves for help. Odin agrees and sends Balder to commission a new binding.
The next day the courtiers challenge Fenrir again. But when he sees that the new binding is a ribbon (Gleipnir), he refuses.
F: Where's the challenge in that?
O: No need to be afraid Fenrir. It's just a ribbon. (courtiers laugh)
F: I'm not afraid, it's just that there's no glory in breaking a ribbon.
O: Your pet is scared of a ribbon Loki. (courtiers laugh)
L: ...um...(a little suspicious)
F: ...I smell a trick Allfather. Loki, they're trying to trick me.
L: (to Fenrir) No...it's not a trick.
(to Odin) It's not a trick right?
O: It's a game, no need for all this fuss. A big strong wolf like you Fenrir, it's just a ribbon. Don't be scared. (courtiers laugh)
If you can't break the ribbon, we will set you free. (courtiers laugh)
Still suspicious, Fenrir says as proof there is no treachery one of the royal court must place their hand in his mouth. If they are true to their word, he will release them. If not...
Loki looks at Odin, trying to decide the truth of the matter. Choosing to trust his father, he suddenly steps forward and puts his hand in Fenrir's mouth. They nuzzle.
Frigga objects, Thor steps forward. Odin stops them both and says it is decided.
Loki whispers 'if they don't let you go, I will'.
They bind him. He struggles. Gleipnir tightens. He strains hard. The ribbon tightens again. He strains every sinew and is bound tighter still. Odin chuckles in a 'gotcha!' sort of way.
Fenrir realises it was a trick after all. He looks at Loki. Loki asks Fenrir to wait. Fenrir bites down hard.
The court goes silent. Loki is shocked but reveals he used an illusion and still has his hand.
F: You lied to me!
L: That's not true, I wanted to believe my father, but I couldn't quite bring myself to do it.
Father, you promised to let Fenrir go.
O: This is a very dangerous creature and this was the only way.
L: I could have lost my hand!
O: But you always have a clever trick, don't you Loki?
L: Well I'll just have to untie him myself then. (goes to do it)
O: YOU WILL DO NO SUCH THING!
Captain Harokin and the Einherjar block his way. Loki suggests they move out of his way and draws his daggers. Balder and Loki call on their brother and physically intervene. Odin calls for the Captain Harokin and his men to remove Loki from the room.
Fenrir is vowing revenge, terrible revenge. On Odin particularly, but also the rest of the court too. Another, larger troop of Einherjar who had been waiting nearby come to wrestle Fenris away (he will be imprisoned under the palace with the secret remains of Hela's berserkers. Also Tyr, who is an Einherjar in the MCU, has his hand bitten off in the fight by Fenrir as a nod to the Norse legend).
As he is led away he calls to Loki that he trusted him. Loki calls back that it wasn't him. It wasn't him. He falls to the floor in tears ending the scuffle with the Einherjar.
This is too much for Sigyn who had been muttering away in the background trying not to get herself into trouble. But now she loses it, going on a big rant at how Odin treats his sons so differently, how he called Loki a trickster, a deceiver but he should look at himself first. She says Odin is a liar, he lies to all of Asgard and adds how they never know what he's up to, how they'll never find out what terrible secrets he has buried in the deep.
Odin has her taken away and Loki follows. Frigga follows him. Thor follows her. Balder looks at his father, shocked at his callousness. Not for the trick (which was at least partly his idea), but the way he dealt with the aftermath. For the first time, Balder is disappointed in his father and leaves too.
Chaos in the court.
Odin shouts for order.
Cut to black.
Credits roll.
Tales of Asgard
Series 2, Episode 6
The Death of Balder
Balder the Brave is plagued by bad dreams. World ending dreams, fratricidal dreams, dreams of pain and suffering. One night he dreams of his own death. He keeps trying to pass them off as nothing but Nanna knows better. She goes with him to see Frigga.
Frigga tries to ease his fears but admits the she has also had the dream of his death.
Troubled, she speaks to Odin who resolves to investigate. He disguises himself as Wanderer, son of Warrior. He asks for a seer, an interpreter of dreams. They say there was a wise woman who could have helped you but she is dead. He is directed to a grave site near Niflheim. He casts runes and incants etc, eventually raising a spirit.
She tells him that Balder is coming to the land of the dead.
He asks how, she tells him only something small will hurt him
He asks who, she tells him only someone innocent.
She sees he is not Wanderer, son of Warrior. He is Odin.
He sees she is not the wise woman. She is Angraboda who laid with Loki and birthed Jormungundr, the world serpent.
She says like father like son (hinting that she is the mother of one of his children, revealed in Ragnarok to be Hela, his secret first child).
She disappears.
He returns and tells all to Balder and Nanna outside their home. Frigga has a plan! She will ask all things to swear not to hurt Balder (spoiler alert - she forgets mistletoe).
The others are sceptical so she demonstrates by slinging a stone at Balder. It changes course and flies around him. They laugh.
Volstagg sees and has a try. He calls Hogun and Fandral. Fandral tries. Hogun thinks it's a stupid thing to do, so sits with Sif and Nanna.
Soon the whole royal court and a few others are all having a go using more dangerous methods. Some one has brought mead. Nanna is worried and starts asking them to stop. Balder thinks it's all hilarious.
Loki stands, a contemptuous look on his face. He then spies Frigga talking worriedly to Odin and sneaks over disguised as an old woman. He hears her saying that she forgot mistletoe. Odin says don't worry it's so small and insignificant. She vows to ride to the nearest patch anyway. Odin says take Sleipnir. Of course, when she gets there, Sleipnir is gone. She borrows Gullenbursti and rides to the patch but the patch is gone. She realises and rides back as fast as she can.
We see Loki approach Hodr who is blind asking people what is going on, but they are all too busy playing their new game and many are a bit drunk.
Loki asks why he doesn't join in the fun. He says he can't aim and has no weapon. Loki hands him mistletoe transmuted into a spear. He lines him up and helps him throw then vanishes.
The spear, of course, kills Balder. The merriment dies down as he falls. Nanna screams. Silence.
Hodr asks what's happening, does Balder think it's funny. Nanna asks if Hodr threw the spear. He says yes, did it work? Nanna pulls out a dagger. Odin says no, think of the consequences. She does. Hodr dies without being able to name Loki. She turns the blade on herself. Frigga says no, think of your son. Balder wouldn't want this. She does it anyway. The gods are stunned.
They can't believe Hodr would harm anybody, let alone Balder. And they are shocked at Nanna's reaction. Odin remembers the old lady behind him when they talked about mistletoe. He had never seen her before. Sif hesitantly says she saw Loki with Hodr just before but didn't see the weapon (she knows he will be punished severely if not killed).
Odin orders Loki found. The Einherjar (Cpt Harokin, Tyr etc), Volstagg and Hogun are all too happy to go Loki hunting. Odin allows it. Thor objects, still not believing Loki could truly kill his brother. Frigga says you must have proof. They go anyway.
Odin says we have work to do. He sends Fandral with Sleipnir (fast combo) to Niflheim to plead for Balder's return with the goddess of death. She (Hela, though she doesn't reveal her identity to Fandral) says she'll let Balder go back if all living things in Asgard weep for him. The Einherjar, Sif and the Warriors Three all go about making sure all living things weep for Balder (not hard, everything loved him). But one ornery old Asgardian lady flat out refuses. Of course this was Loki in disguise (Hela knew this would happen and revels in Odin's distress). They later suspect as much but have no proof. Again.
Balder and Nanna's funeral scene (we'll cut Thor's Dwarf murder that is actually for real in the Norse legend).
Someone surely mourns for Hodr as most of the gods believe it was Loki. They are simply waiting for proof. And he is about to give it to them.
They retire to Volstagg's (Aegir in the norse legends) hall to drink from the magically replenishing kettle. The wake in Asgard is sacred (sacred drinking!) meaning no quarrels. Emboldened by this knowledge, Loki gatecrashes. He speaks to Hogun (Eldir in the legend), who is helping serve.
Loki (already drunk): Good evening my fine fellow! What occupies the great Asgardian gods this evening.
Hogun: This is Balder's wake. Your brother's wake.
L: Yes, yes I know all that. But what are the gods discussing over their mead?
H: They mostly speak of Balder...also of weapons and their prowess in war. No one here has anything friendly to say about you.
"Loki says that he will go into the feast, and that, before the end of the feast, he will induce quarrelling among the gods, and "mix their mead with malice". Hogun responds that "if shouting and fighting you pour out on" to the gods, "they'll wipe it off on you". Loki then enters the hall, and everyone there falls silent upon noticing him." (source - Wikipedia)
Fandral (Fimafeng in the legend), also serving, tells him that he is not welcome.
Loki rages at him and insults him.
The gods nearby stick up for the two servers that confronted Loki and says that they are fine servers and Loki pulls a knife on Fandral who is nearby.
Frigga shames him into putting it away.
He does so, mumbling that he "couldn't bear to hear it".
"Breaking the silence, Loki says that, thirsty, he had come to these halls from a long way away to ask the gods for a drink of "the famous mead". Calling the gods arrogant, Loki asks why they are unable to speak, and demands that they assign him a seat and a place for him at the feast, or tell him to leave. Hogun (The skaldic god Bragi in the legend) is the first to respond to Loki by telling him that Loki will not have a seat and place assigned to him by the gods at the feast, for the gods know what men they should invite.
Loki does not respond to Hogun directly, but instead directs his attention to Odin, and states..."
(source - Wikipedia)
L: Do you remember, Odin, when in bygone days
You treated me as your son?
Am I not to be seated at my own brother's wake?
O: ...Let the wolf's father be seated.
(In the Norse legend, Loki is literally the wolf's father. Here it is a jab at the dramatic scenes after Fenrir's capture).
Odin has Thor pour out a drink for Loki. Loki toasts all the gods naming Hogun as an exception.
He then goes on to insult a great number of gods whilst taking care not to make it a quarrel.
Loki, in his own personal hell here, takes his anger and guilt out on all the other gods.
Everyone is greatly offended, not to mention mostly convinced of Loki's guilt.
Frigga tries to shame Loki again, asking him what Balder would think of all this if he were here.
“Ah! Frigg,” said Loki scathingly, “I can see you’d like to know more about my skills. It was I who fixed things so that you’ll never again welcome Balder home.” (source - https://thenorsegods.com/lokis-flyting/)
Pandemonium. Odin shouts for order. He will not have Balder's wake sullied.
"Freyja replies that Loki is lying, that he just wants to "yelp about wicked things" that gods and goddesses are furious with him, and that he will go home thwarted. In response, Loki calls Freyja a malicious witch, and claims that Freyja was once astride her brother Freyr, when all of the other laughing gods surprised her and Freyja then farted." (source - Wikipedia)
Different gods try to get him to shut up and he offends them all in return. He says Njörd slept with his sister too, that Frey bought his wife, reminds Skadi that he was chiefly responsible for the death of her father, and that Heimdall can never sleep or sit (even though he's sitting now).
Sif tries to make peace by refilling his drink and he infers that he slept with her. She goes to smack him but Volstagg catches the fist and says not here, not now.
Thor can't take it any more. He believed in Loki until the last but now he sees the truth. Loki killed Balder.
Thor: ...if it weren't for the sacred nature of this night...I should break every bone in your body and it still would not be enough.
“Look everyone!” cried Loki, unabashed. “Here’s the Son of Asgard (NB changed from Son of Earth)! What a blustering bully you are, Thor." (source - https://thenorsegods.com/lokis-flyting/)
T: I shall not loose Mjölnir, not for your sake, but for Balder's.
For your admission, you know we will come for you. We will be here till morning, you have the night to do as you please. Use it wisely.
"Loki raised one hand and shook his head. “I’ve shown the gods and sons of gods the sharp edge of my thoughts. But because of you and you alone, I think I’ll take my leave now. I know all about your strength.”
Loki paused and looked defiantly around him and then addressed self to his host. “You’ve brewed fine ale, Volstagg, but you’ll never hold another feast such as this.” Loki’s voice was rising. “Flickering flames will gorge on this hall and gut it and destroy everything you own; your body will be flayed by fire.”
Loki turned and was gone and his terrible words still echoed round walls. For a long time the gods and goddesses and elves stared into their ale, shaken and grieving. In silence they sat, and in silence they rose and left Aegir’s hall."
(source - https://thenorsegods.com/lokis-flyting/)
Odin orders Sigyn released thinking that her presence will draw him to the family home. It will, but not for the reasons Odin suspects.
Sigyn is duly released to the family home. She suspects that her release is a ruse. Her mother is upstairs caring for her two sons, Narfi and Váli. Loki is brooding down by the fire. He is using nettle yarn to make a net. There is silence for a while. Then...
S: What did Lorelei whisper to you when you left me in the dungeon?
(Quick flash of Lorelei whispering)
L: ...(Loki bristles)
S: What are you doing?
L: ...
S: Are you making something?
L (without looking up): Yes, obviously I'm making something...
S: Won't you tell me what it is?
L: No.
S: Where are the boys?
L: ...
S: Loki!
L: Upstairs. With your mother.
S: ...
L: ...
S: Lorelei enjoyed talking about Asgard's pain...
L: ...
S: ...because of Karnilla's invasion.
L: ...
S: I know that Karnilla took you as her prisoner.
L: ...
S: She told you didn't she? You know my secret.
L: ...
S: You are angry because you think that my love is a lie.
L: ...
S: I liked you first!
L: I am trying to concentrate.
S: I knew I needed to learn more about sorcery to hold your interest and it is like she knew-
L: I don't care
S: She came to me and taught me all the things she thought you would be interested in-
L: I don't care!
S: And I taught them to you!
L: I DON'T CARE! (goes to leave)
S: Wait! Listen! Karnilla thought it too great a risk to be in Asgard, so she showed me ways to leave. Ways without being seen by Heimdall...
Loki: Tell me more.
Cut upstairs to Sigyn's mum, one of the boys tells her that some people are coming. She shouts down that some people are coming.
Sigyn says go, he throws his creation into the fire and goes without saying what his escape plan is. Out the back, he jumps into Franang's Falls whilst turning into a silver salmon.
When Thor and Sif (taking the place of a god called Kvasir in the legends) arrive at Sigyn's home, there is, at first glance, no sign of Loki. They give Sigyn to the Einherjar to hold but leave the boys with her mother (in the legends they meet a gruesome end because of their father's crimes). They grill her about Loki's escape plan but she tells them he deliberately told her nothing so she there was no chance of betrayal.
Sif spies the ashes of Loki's creation and deduces that it was a net. Loki was trying to figure out how his plan might be foiled so he must have...turned into a fish. He is probably hoping they will leave without discovering his plan as he will have to jump up the waterfall otherwise. Sif has them recreate the net and they cast it in repeatedly to force Loki's hand. It works and he leaps over the net and tries desperately to get up the falls where Thor catches him (he really is a good fisherman!).
"The gods brought their net, and they wrapped it tightly around the fish and carried it between them. The salmon began to drown in the air, gasping for water, and then it thrashed and twitched, and now they were carrying a panting Loki.
"What are you doing?" he asked. "Where are you taking me?"
Thor just shook his head and grunted, and did not reply. Loki asked the other gods, but none of them would tell him what was happening, and none of them would meet his eye." (source - Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology)
They take him and Sigyn to a cave where Odin is waiting. They bind Loki to some rocks. Skadi brings a large serpent which they bind above Loki. Odin explains that the (figurative) poison that Sigyn has been pouring into Loki's ear has led to all this (eg family dysfunction, treason...fratricide). She will now be responsible for preventing the poison from pouring into his ear, he says as he hands her a bowl.
Sigyn: What will I do when the bowl is full?
Odin: Empty it.
S: But the poison will fall on him then.
No answer.
S (realises that's the point): How long?
O: One. Thousand. Years.
As Skadi is preparing the serpent for this end (ie binding it so the fangs are exposed). Loki laments his fate.
Odin (furious): You killed my son! You are lucky I don't have your children tear eachother's guts out in front of you!
(A reference to the gruesome fate of Loki's sons mentioned above)
Loki: I am your son!
O: You are no son of mine.
L: Where is mother? Does she know about -
The first drip of poison lands in Loki's ear. His scream is deafening, agonising. All the gods wince, save Odin who looks on grimly. Sigyn immediately begins to catch the drips.
Sigyn: Please! I think Lorelei had something to do with it!
Thor: Save your lies witch. No one believes them.
S: Loki came to see me in the dungeon, I think she whispered to him on the way out.
T (wry laugh): Loki wasn't allowed to hear any more of your treasonous poison.
Volstagg: No men were allowed near Lorelei.
S: He's a shapeshifter, you fool!
O: Enough.
S: Lady Sif, please. You know what Lorelei is like. I swear it in truth!
O: Enough!
S: Ask Frigga!
O: ENOUGH!
The gods all leave. Save Odin. When the others are gone he tells Sigyn she can leave any time she pleases. He adds that she cannot free him as he is bound with Gleipnir (the same type of ribbon that Fenrir is bound with). Loki tries to plead with him as he leaves but there is no mercy. The bowl is filling up.
Despite the Warriors Three trying to dissuade her and making sure Thor doesn't find out and think she's been fooled by Sigyn's ruse, Sif talks to Frigga.
Frigga senses that there may be something in this (she has a limited ability as a seer). Sigyn seemingly gets thrown back in the dungeon saying they used her to trick Loki. She laments Loki's fate and blames Karnilla and carefully questions how Lorelei discovered her power and how it works and strokes her ego etc etc. And she laments and questions and cajoles and tricks until Lorelei slips up and essentially admits her part and her and Sigyn's connection to Karnilla. "Sigyn" then becomes Frigga and tells the female guards who were waiting outside to come and put the newly invented Asgardian collar on her (the wearer cannot speak).
We then see Thor brooding into the middle distance. Sif suddenly approaches and tells Thor all. He Mjölnirs over to Loki's prison cave, winces at a Loki scream, tries to dismiss the guards, fails, barges in anyway, tries to undo Gleipnir and fight off the guards at the same time, he can't. Sigyn is shocked but continues to hold the bowl. Thor is getting dangerously close to decking the Einherjar guards when Frigga arrives on Sleipnir and harangues the guards for not obeying a prince of Asgard and tells them about the new evidence. Thor uses the distraction to try and undo Loki's bonds again but between his high stress level and his big meaty hands and the enchantment on the ribbon he can't do it. He gets Sigyn to swap with him and she proves more up to the task, releasing him as Frigga uses magic to release the enchantment on the ribbon. He obviously needs medical assistance. Frigga says Eir is coming. Sigyn holds him. Thor is so very sorry.
Epilogue:-
Some time has passed. Sigyn broods out of the window at the family home. Her boys come to comfort her.
Odin sits stony faced on his throne with no joyful courtiers about him.
Frigga grooms Sleipnir and gives him a cuddle.
Sif and the Warriors Three sit by the fountain where they told tall tales in s1. The Warriors Three are telling tall tales again, especially Volstagg, to the amusement of the people nearby. Thor's response is quite muted.
Sif slides up and guesses that he's still thinking of Loki. She points out that Loki has been watching them from the shadows the whole time. Thor thanks her again for going to Frigga, otherwise Loki's screams would still be echoing across Asgard. She says she may not be fond of Loki but she couldn't see someone suffer like that if they might be innocent. If that term can apply to Loki. She still doesn't trust him. But he is Thor's brother...
We cut to Loki watching. Thor comes to join him. Hands him a tankard and pours a drink for him.
They discuss how everything is different now from when they were boys. They talk about some of their past adventures, and for a moment they feel happy and nostalgic. Then Loki falls silent.
Thor: How is the ear?
Loki: It's nearly healed...
T: ...Have you managed to see Sigyn recently?
L: ...After everything that has happened, everything we put eachother through, what Karnilla put us through...we can no longer look eachother in the eye...
My children have become strangers to me. I hear mother visits them though.
T: (nods)...
L: ...
T: ...Has mother has found a cure for Lorelei's enchantment yet?
L: ... ... ...
T: Ah. Not yet.
L: ...
T: ...We may never know exactly what Lorelei said to you...
(FLASHBACK to the whisper:-
Lorelei: Loki...you served me before, remember?
I heard you complaining about Balder. You want him dead, don't you? Me too. Kill him, it will be our little secret...don't tell...)
T (continuing): ...not being able to tell anyone that it wasn't really you, that someone forced you to kill your brother, to make sure that he stayed dead...
L (tears in eyes): ...
T: ...I'm sorry I stopped believing in you brother.
L: ...
T: ...
L: ...
(Thor tops up Loki's drink)
T (mock conspiritorially): You know Sif still doesn't trust you?
L: Why doesn't that surprise me?
T: She never really has since you cut off her hair...
L: ...(smirks)...(smirk fades)
T: ...
L: ...Perhaps she's right. Maybe I can't be trusted...
T: You can always be trusted...(Odin impression) for an easy answer, a clever trick, a chance for mischief.
L (turns into Odin): While you are too brash and think winning battles will make you worthy (turns back).
(They laugh)
L (proposing a toast): To glorious purpose!
T: Glorious purpose!
(They drink. Loki has a mischievous look in his eye.)
END
NB These actions, their consequences, Loki's treatment by Odin and the rest of the court (including Thor sometimes), and the brutal punishment for him and Sigyn (which breaks their relationship to smithereens) all feed in to his persona at the beginning of the first Thor movie.
He will have been out of his prison for some time but will obviously still be bitter despite his sort of exoneration.
Important things to remember going forward:
Volstagg and Sif are brother/sister.
In Thor: Ragnarök, Jormungundr will try to kill Hela out of loyalty to their father, but she kills them first. She then uses their poison to destroy Thor's eye (in the norse legend the serpent poisons Thor at Ragnarök).
Odin falls into his final Odinsleep instead of twinkling away when Hela is released (he is simply too weak to keep her in the underworld, not dead). Loki sucks up to the Grandmaster so he'll keep the sleeping Odin safe. There can be some high jinks with a sleeping Odin, like Weekend at Bernie's or something. Odin awakes in time for the Rainbow Bridge battle and is mauled by a vengeful Fenrir whilst protecting his sons. Hulk takes on Fenrir, but it is too late for Odin who dies with pride in his sons (In the norse legend Fenrir kills Odin at Ragnarök).
Fenrir was Loki's pup not Hela's but was locked up with Hela's already dead berserkers and starved to death. This is a pleasant surprise to Hela, who revives him and uses his hatred of the Asgardians and Odin in particular to set him up as a formidable weapon.
A Very Sumerian Christmas
So, some friends of mine and I were thinking about the utter lack of Christmas-adjacent holidays in Sumerian Polytheism. My brain snagged on the idea of Santa Claus and Nanna's Journey to Nibru. The result? Ma-gur, or the festival of the processional boat. A celebration which starts seven days before the winter solstice. The celebration in question is of the seven who decree fate and the world which they have given us. It's a holiday about family as well as it is about honoring the gods. An - Solemn prayer and many candles to represent the stars. Sanctuary candle is lit and kept lit throughout the days to honor all the gods and symbolize how they guide us. Enlil - wishes for the new years and messages for the gods. Enki - prank war, and a general day of humor and celebration of the world order. Ninhursag - Day of charity and getting out into the world which the gods have created. Inanna - Day of giving to yourself, indulging and giving love to yourself and the gods. Utu - Day of improving the world around you. Fix broken things, commit to a cause, improve your life a bit. Rest and enjoy peaceful time with your family otherwise. Nanna - Gift giving and wild celebration. Winter solstice. Ends, as all the nights do, with offering and prayer to the god in question as well as tribute being given to one's ancestors, followed by the snuffing of the candle as the holiday comes to a close. That's the gist of it. Sounds like a good time either way. This is the slightly crisper version of a list that included things like "Inanna's Day- go clubbing" and "Ninhursag's Day- drag the kids into the mountains for bonding time". Also various ideas like tying wishes to balloons for Enlil's Day, water purification on Enki's Day, and letting some sunlight into my dark den of nerdiness on Utu's Day. Feel free to play with it. Pass it on?
Hohooho "le french laugh", class art dump >:]
I wanna do closeups under the cut but please bare with me, I don't know the magic ways of tumblr.
here's your monthly Nanna from yours truly
Nanna: Princess of Nordion
fe聖戦、20周年おめでとうございます！
今年初プレイでしたがこんなにハマるとは。SRPG楽しくて、キャラも好きでみんな好きになっちゃった！！
