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Pre/during/post Viking times

Tales of Asgard

Series that shows some of the early adventures of Thor and how the characters get where they are in the 21st century. All of the actors are much younger initially, growing a bit older as the series go on.

I think Asgardians age about a year for every 120 human years, so if you want Thor to be 16 that's 12 years back from the first Thor movie (Hemsworth was 28)...12 X 120= 1440 years. 2011 - 1440= 571 BCE, which fits the timeline (Viking era was a few hundred years after).

Some episodes are Odin telling old tales that the boys have heard before 'Daaad, we've heard that story a million times', Frigga telling tales, or another adult... or actual adventures... mostly based on the old Norse myths.

The story sections are relatively short, hopefully providing a thematic link to the main story as well as some insight into the storyteller or the characters in the story.

Main inspirations MCU, Marvel animation (mostly Tales of Asgard), Marvel comics (mostly The Warriors Teen) and Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology book.

Tales of Asgard Casting

Asgard:-

Algrim the Strong (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)

Odin's trusted advisor. Lost his entire race in a three way war between Svartalfheim, Jotunheim and Asgard. Odin's father Bor, having defeated the Dark Elves, made peace with the Jotuns. To keep said peace he elected not to stop their march on Svartalfheim decimating the realm and its people. Bor brought Algrim to Asgard out of pity, believing him to be the last of his kind. Algrim then struck up a friendship with Odin.

Balder (Alexander Skarsgård)

The eldest son. A little older than Thor and is an Einherjar in training. The favourite son, Odin frequently asks him for his opinion. Admires his father greatly.

The golden boy. Finds things too easy in general and pals around with Volstagg and Hogun, not taking things too seriously.

He is one of the Warriors Three in the first series instead of Fandral. He gets into the Einherjar despite the Sword of Surtur incident. He becomes more serious after this.

Balder is one of Thor's training partners and becomes his sole, private trainer after the Sword of Surtur incident.

He has his eye on Nanna from the Royal courtiers.

Fandral (Zachary Levi. I just enjoy his performances. Sorry Joshua!)

Son of courtiers, of an age with Thor. Appears sporadically in s1 as a teen. Replaces Balder in the Warriors Three after an episode in s2. Sporadic appearances from parents and sister.

Runs very fast! (Not as fast as Quicksilver). Talks very smooth! Loyal and brave!

Frigga (Renee Russo)

Frigga is more reasonable than Odin and just as wise, we should see that. She can make proclamations and even disagree with him in public. If he is stubborn she uses more subtle methods.

Everyone respects her opinion.

She has taught Loki well, but he wants to know things that Frigga won't teach.

Haldor (?)

Haldier's son. Einherjar in training. Falls for Sif at first sight. Brave and honourable.

Receives Gullenbursti to pull his chariot. Bequeths it to Sif upon his death.

Haldier (?)

Asgardian blacksmith.

Heimdall (Idris Elba)

Guardian of the bifrost. Wise and just can see almost anywhere in the nine realms. Has the gift of foresight, often sees trouble coming.

Hodr (Kristian Nairn? Ha! A tall person)

A member of the royal court. Gentle. Visually impaired.

Hogun (Tadanobu Asano)

Originally a Vanir. Moved to join Einherjar during long established peacetime between Vanaheim and Asgard. Overly serious. A little cynical. A fine warrior. Brave and loyal.

Loki Odinson (Tom Hiddleston/Sophia Di Martino when Loki changes sex)

The troubled middle child. He senses that Odin has never truly liked or trusted him. He envies his older brother Balder who can seemingly do no wrong. He envies his younger brother who is rewarded even when he screws up.

Loki is jealous, devious and mischievous.

Taught by Frigga to shape-shift, he sometimes loses himself in the new form, resulting in some interesting children.

His father took Sleipnir, Loki's foal when he grew big and strong as he was very fast.

His father took Jormungundr, his baby serpent as it grew big and dangerous.

Similary, Odin brought Fenrir back as a pup from a quest in Jotunheim. He gives it to Loki to raise and we frequently see the wolf with him. Only heartache follows once again.

He finds a kindred spirit in Sigyn, who teaches him illusion casting and other dark magicks.

When he changes sex he is played by Sophia Di Martino. Instead of her blond wavy look in the Loki series it is long, dark and straight like boy Loki's.

Lorelei (Elena Satine)

Once Lorelei begins to explore her gifts she loves the thrill of the power it gives her over others.

Punished for taking the menfolk of the nine realms in her thrall and the devastation this leaves in her wake, she takes terrible revenge on the Asgardian royal family.

Odin (Anthony Hopkins)

The all knowing Allfather. Outwardly arrogant and crochety, Odin is feeling the strain of all his secret and not so secret misadventures and conquests possibly coming back to haunt him. Though less warlike than in his younger days he is still prone to rash judgements and sometimes rash actions. He is trying to be more considered as he is genuinely trying to keep the peace. Frigga sees the strain of this task and tries to help him walk the path.

Still has a twinkle in the eye when it comes to adventure, but all too aware of the consequences now. He likes to tell his boys tales of his adventures, but Loki's disbelief and mockery sometimes makes him wish he never started.

Blows hot and cold with his boys. Mostly cold to his youngest, Loki, due his origins.

Hugin and Munin are his crow spies.

Sif (Jaime Alexander)

A strong candidate for the Einherjar, rejected for her dalliance with the Valkyries. Clever and skilled, she is more than a match for Thor. Unfortunately Thor never sees it.

She finds comfort with Haldor, but heartache soon follows.

Tries to bring some much needed wisdom to the Warriors Three without much success.

Replaces Freya in all the tales that feature here. Sister to Volstagg. Daughter of Njord.

Sigyn (Noomi Rapace)

Not high born and fully aware of it. Ambitious in outlook but always feels like an outsider. Naturally drawn to Loki as an "in" to the Royal court, but genuinely likes him and is aggrieved by his treatment at Odin's hand. She undermines Odin to him, getting him riled up about things that Odin and his family have done and encouraging him to be ambitious. She wants Loki on the throne.

An accomplished sorcerer, she teaches Loki illusion casting and other dark magicks. We see her teaching Loki some things that Frigga wouldn't. But where did she learn them?

Sigyn replaces Amora as Sylvie is clearly the MCU's Enchantress.

Siegrold

Friend of Haldor and Sigyn

Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth)

The spoilt youngest. Adores his father and puts too much stock in his tales, believing glory in battle is the measure of a man and a king.

Full of bravado, rash and foolhardy. Has a good heart underneath.

Has his goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, to pull his chariot when he can't use the bifrost.

Volstagg (Ray Stevenson)

Replaces Frey in the old Norse tales that appear here. Enjoys eating, storytelling and a good fight. Sif teases him by saying they used to call him the fairest of the gods. Then he pats his tummy and says, "Is this not a thing of beauty?"

Full of bluster and tall tales, Volstagg is actually a fine warrior when he gets round to it. Loyal and brave.

Brother to Sif. Son of Njord. Captain of Skidbladnir.

Captain Ander (?)

Leader of the Einherjar in s1.

Captain Harokin (?)

New Captain of the Einherjar in s2. At some point after s2 ends, the Battle of Harokin is pretty much started by Harokin's death. When Thor and Sif joke about the battle of Harokin (TDW), Thor can profess that he misses Harokin. He was a fine warrior. RIP.

Elliot Randolph (Peter MacNicol)

Don't actually know this character's Asgardian name.

Tyr (Clive Russell)

Skurge (Karl Urban)

An ordinary soldier in the Einherjar at this point.

+Various Einherjar

Eir (Alice Krige)

Frey (?)

Very beautiful. Brother to Freya.

Freya (?)

Very beautiful. Sister to Frey.

Grace (Eliza Matengu)

Hidegund (Claire Brown)

Nanna (Alicia Vikander)

Recurring guest star. Develops a relationship with Balder over 2 seasons.

Njord (?)

Father of Volstagg and Sif. Taken by Skírnir as a husband, his second marriage.

Skírnir (?)

Giantess. Marries Njord as consolation for the death of her father.

Frey's employee

+Various courtiers

Alfheim - Light Elf

Various female Light Elves in the Lorelei episode, also occasionally appearing in Asgard.

Jotunheim - Frost Giant

Laufey, Thrym, various Frost Giants

Kona Lifandi - Kára, various Valkyries

Midgard - Mostly humanoid

Any humans? Maybe in storytelling

Muspelheim - Fire demons

Surtur in flashback maybe?

Nidavellir - Dwarf

Eitri, Brokk, the Ivaldi bros

Niflheim (inc Utgard for simplification) - unValhallan dead, undead, giant etc

Hela Odinsdottir (Cate Blanchett)

Simply credited as death. Guest stars in the final episode(s?), though she never lets on who she truly is. She enjoys Odin's pain by proxy.

+Various unValhallan dead and the undead.

Hymir (?)

Skadi's uncle. A giant.

Utgardaloki (?)

The leader of Utgard. A giant. A trickster, hence the nickname.

+Various Giants

Svartalfheim - Dark Elf

Various Dark Elves in flashback.

Vanaheim - Vanir

In flashback maybe

From the storytelling sections:-

Creation myth - Vili, Ve, Audhumla, Ymir

Algrim's story - Bor, various Asgardians, Dark Elves and Jotuns

Mead of poetry story - Baugi, Suttung, Gunlodd

En Sabah Nur (Not Oscar Isaac as he is our Steven)

Langobards story - Gambara, Winniles, Vandals

Valkyries story- Sigrún, various Valkyries, Sigrún's family, Helgi, Sigrún's betrothed, Granmarr and various royals/soldiers

Tales of Asgard

Season 1, episode 1

Ginnungagap

Odin, Vili, Ve, creation story, Ymir confrontation and death, the thematic link being that no success comes without hard work and sacrifice.

Odin, Vili and Ve get bored living in Ginnungagap where there was pretty much nothing and no one. They talk of life, the universe and everything and wish for more. Odin suggests they go and ask Ymir for some resources to turn into oceans and rivers and forests and clouds. Ymir didn't know how to do that, so told them to go to Jotunheim instead. They told him they would die there. He told them to go to Muspelheim instead. They told him they would die there. He told them that it made no difference to him if they died or not as they were Audhumla's (the giant space cow) pets and not his. That said, Ymir turned and walked away.

Incensed, Odin stabbed at his heel. It was a pinprick for the giant, but great torrent for the brothers.

Odin saw what had to be done. They stab and tear and hack punch and pummel at Ymir for hours, days, weeks until he finally falls down dead.

Blood rivers, hair forests etc. Almost everything in the universe came from Ymir's smashed up broken down corpse.

(Paraphrased from Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology book here. A wonderful resource for this and an enjoyable read too)

Kids are shocked

L: Where is this giant space cow now?

O: Do you mock me Loki?

L: No Allfather.

O: You call me a liar?

L: No Allfather.

O: Then hold your tongue!

Establish Asgard and all the major Asgardian characters (and Hogun)

Then the plot of Thor, Mighty Avenger comic.

Haldier, a blacksmith, accidentally finds a mythical "Cup of Glory" and stashes it in an old mine where the "Virtue Challenge" is staged. The Virtue Challenge is a beloved Asgardian rite of passage and Haldier muses on the glory the mythical cup will bring him when he "discovers" it. Loki overhears this and manipulates a Virtue Challenge against Haldier's son by insulting the blacksmith. They compete in 3 teams of 3:

Team Thunder (Thor, Sif, Loki), our heroes

Team Járn (Haldor, Siegrold, Sigyn), the blacksmith's son and his friends

Team Einherjar (Balder, Volstagg, Hogun) Einherjar in training, hoping to prove themselves

Loki "discovers" the Cup of Glory in the middle of the challenge and it's corrupting influence becomes clear.

Some changes from the comic:

Team Thor and Team Járn are teens.

Sif's feelings towards Thor are hinted at, as is some hint of a crush from Loki on Sif. This can be the cause of Loki's jealousy toward Sif because of her feelings toward Thor and not him.

Sigyn replaces Brunok's friend Hilda so she can notice and admire Loki's scheming.

Balder replaces Fandral as I want Fandral to join the Warriors Three in another adventure. This also gives Balder more screen time.

Haldor replaces Brunok so he too can pine for Sif and start giving some background to the mention of his name in the Lorelei episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

Thor does not have Mjölnir and Sif doesn't call him "our mighty avenger" because that's too cheesy.

Tales of Asgard

Series 1, Episode 2

Glorious Purpose

Odin's sacrifices; the story of how he sacrificed his eye to Mimir, and hung himself on the world tree (Yggdrasil) and nearly died to gain knowledge of the runes from the fates. All to gain knowledge, wisdom and magic.

The thematic link here being how sacrifice is sometimes necessary (both stories) and not to give up when things look bleak (mostly the 2nd one).

The main story... Loki cuts Sif's hair as a "prank" because of her snub in the previous episode.

In the norse legend Sif is distraught, but we see in the Loki series that she is just angry and confronts and beats Loki herself (here she thinks to ask Heimdall who did it. We see this scene and he asks her if Haldor knows where her heart truly lies).

Then, in the legend, Thor is furious and ready to kill because they are married and they don't initially know who did it. In this version it's Haldor (Sif's new boyfriend) and Volstagg (her brother) that are livid and want to kill Loki after Sif confirms it was him. Thor could initially find it funny but has to physically intervene with Balder so that Loki is not killed. Odin will not allow it. Sif is like, guys it's fine it's just hair and I already smacked him a couple of times.

Loki says he can't do anything about it and is emboldened by the no god killing rule, but Haldor and Volstagg plead with Thor to punish his brother for the deed if they can't or he can't or won't fix things. Thor eventually threatens Loki with violence enough that he travels to the Star Forge in Nidavellir (Svartalfheim in the legend) and tries to trick two groups of dwarves (the sons of Ivaldi, and Eitri from Infinity War and his brother Brokk) into a competition making several amazing gifts for the gods, including new hair for Sif. He hopes these will lead them to forget his transgression.

The tricks are necessary as he does not have the riches to pay for any of these fine gifts nor the time to get said riches. His scheming leads Brokk to demand Loki's head as payment if they win.

Gaiman tells a tale about Loki becoming a fly and trying to distract Brokk, but perhaps we could see three different attempts with varying levels of desperation as a teenaged Loki realises he's in over his head.

The Ivaldis make an enchanted spear for Odin (Gungnir), Sif's hair and an amazing ship that folds into a small cloth (Skidbladnir) for Volstagg. Eitri and Brokk make an arm ring that replicates to increase your wealth (Draupnir) gifted to Frigga, an impossibly fast golden bristled boar (Gullenbursti) that will pull Haldor's (later Sif's) chariot and a hammer that Thor will one day wield when he be worthy (Mjölnir). Mjölnir's handle is a little short from Loki's trickery but has captured Thor's warrior dreaming heart. His vote swings it, much to Loki's outrage. His own brother! Even after he knew it meant Loki's head!

Of course Thor knew Frigga had enchanted Loki against being cut by a blade, but Loki didn't know that. He is no happier when he finds out as they are all laughing at him. The trickster does not like to be tricked. They also tried to teach him a lesson which he also does not like. Odin allows them to sew up his mouth. He's fuming.

This is the episode where Sigyn begins to figuratively pour poison into Loki's ear. Maybe she coins the phrase 'glorious purpose '!

Thor decides to make his sparring sessions with Balder a big public spectacle as he thinks that the adulation will make him more worthy. It will actually do the opposite.

Tales of Asgard

Season 1, Episode 3

Sigrun

Starts with the beginning section of the Tales of Asgard cartoon...

Sif questions the validity of Thor's public training which annoys him greatly. She then bests him with a farm tool, which says as much about Sif's skill as it does Thor's.

Then instead of joining the Valkyries (as she does in the cartoon) she goes to train with them with a view to joining when she is of age. She is conflicted about her unreciprocated feelings for Thor and Haldor's love for her (a decent man and a fine warrior, but pointedly not Thor).

Thor questions his father and asks if the guards have been going easy on him so as not to humiliate him in public. They have. Thor is more annoyed and leaves, Balder follows him. Odin tells Algrim that he thinks it is time for the Odinsleep and that perhaps an answer will come to him then.

Lorelei steps into another part of the court and begins bringing Asgardian men to her thrall using her new found power. This spreads fairly rapidly and ends up including the Einherjar, Volstagg, Fandral and Loki. There is a mild scuffle, leading Lorelei and her new army to retreat to a secret way out of Asgard that even Odin didn't know about and has it sealed behind them.

Frigga manages to leave via another secret way out with some female Einherjar.

This all runs concurrently with Sif's storyline.

Sif spends time with the Valkyries (these are new Valkyries to replace the ones that were slaughtered by Hela, so no Brunhilda), led by Kára. She is told an ancient tale of how they rode into battle to stop an unsolicited betrothal (Sigrun). This would need a tweak from the Norse legend so that instead of her lover killing her betrothed, the Valkyries rescue her from an unwanted betrothal after her lover is killed. She joins the fight and is taken into the ranks of the Valkyrie. The thematic link being that they favour fighting over matrimony and support other women at their time of need. Just what Sif needs to hear. Then word gets to them about Lorelei.

Lorelei is now wreaking havoc across eight of the nine realms (she doesn't get as far as Midgard). The Battle is epic and features Asgardian women led by Frigga and other females from across those eight realms (Dwarves, Light Elves, Vanir, Frost Giants, maybe even a handful of Dark Elves, fire demons, giants and undead). Lorelei's forces manage to push Frigga's back to Asgard and manage to put themselves between the women and Odin's bedroom (also enchanting Thor and Hogun on the way). Lorelei means to enchant Odin too. Balder stands in her way, she must not control the Odinforce. Though it is hard to resist, Balder can't be swayed and has to fight friend and foe alike. Just when he thinks he is done for Sigyn and the Valkyries smash through a window and rout Lorelei's forces from the other side. She is captured and thrown in a repurposed, all female dungeon (prisoners and guards). She vows terrible revenge.

All the women are alternately celebrating the win and reprimanding the men. Sif is brought the news that Haldor was killed in the battle.

Tales of Asgard

Season 1, Episode 4

Warriors Three

The next three episodes are based on Marvel Animation's Tales of Asgard, tweaked to fit my storyline.

It concerns a young Thor and his foolhardy quest to become worthy.

Odin worries about his boys; Thor is too brash and thinks winning battles will make him worthy; Loki is always looking for an easy answer, a clever trick, a chance for mischief; Balder finds things too easy and therefore doesn't take his training seriously.

Algrim suggests he is being too hard on them.

Thor comes across The Warriors Three (Balder instead of Fandral) telling tall tales about their annual quest to find the Sword of Surtur and the adventures that they have in their annual glorious failures (When Volstagg boasts about how many enemies they fought, Hogun could say "why don't you tell them it was 12" as he is so done with making up stories). Balder finds all this uproariously funny.

Thor remonstrates with Balder as he is still angry at the Einherjar's easy training battles for him (see episode 3). Volstagg and Hogun try to cheer him up but he's having none of it and demands to go on their next quest (which they say they are about to embark on). They say they can't, it's against Odin's orders (Thor is forbidden to leave Asgard), they'll never get in the Einherjar.

Thor secretly vows to go anyway. He sneaks into the weapon room and steals a sword for the quest. Algrim finds him. Thor confides that he wants to test himself, to seek the Sword of Surtur.

Algrim knows of the test and warns that trespassing in Jotunheim risks the end of the fragile, hard won peace between the two nations. He also sees that Thor needs to prove himself and agrees to keep things quiet for as long as he can.

There is a short scene here showing the beginnings of Sigyn (taking Amora's scene from the cartoon) and Loki's relationship. She is teaching him to conjure illusions.

Thor interrupts and says he needs Loki's magic to sneak aboard Volstagg's ship (Skidbladnir). Loki doesn't see what's in it for him. Sigyn says glorious purpose. He isn't sure if his magic is good enough. She says it is. She is pleased that Thor is trusting him and encourages the voyage. Plus which, they are defying Odin so Sigyn is fully on board.

Using Loki's illusions they manage to sneak onboard Volstagg's ship (Skidbladnir) and stay hidden.

When Skidbladnir stops, they alight after the Warriors Three and find themselves at a remote tavern.

It turns out the warrior trio were just travelling to remote drinking places and coming up with tall tales to boast of their fake achievements. Thor and Loki announce themselves in the tavern and accidentally start a fight.

In the cartoon they piss of a wolf man called Fenris. This cannot be as it is too like Fenrir and that is Loki's dog. The tavern could hold deities and mythical creatures from other mythologies, so we can find another antagonist. Thor and Loki prove their mettle somewhat, though Thor loses his sword.

After the fight, the brothers blackmail the warriors to take them to Jotunheim under threat of their empty boasts being revealed.

The journey begins.

Odin sees the boys not in bed. Algrim covers for them and counsels Odin, who is still worried about them and their paths in life.

Tales of Asgard

Series 1, Episode 5

Sword of Surtur

Opens with Kára taking Sif around the training facilities at Kona Lifandi. She sees that Sif is still conflicted about joining the Valkyries and tries to convince her.

We then see Thor, Loki and the Warriors Three (Balder edition) arrive in Jotunheim where Surtur's sword (Elderstahl) is supposed to be buried.

Skidbladnir is dashed on the ice and they all just about manage to escape. Thor wonders why Loki is quite calm while the others are all freezing. Loki jokes that he is just tougher.

They disturb a nest of Frost Sprites and are swarmed for minute, but manage to flee. As they wander they begin to grow desperate and begin to give up hope in the quest and wonder if they'll get home. They daren't use the bifrost as that will alert the Jotuns to an Asgardian presence. Thor and Loki have a heart to heart, discussing the inheritance of the throne, how they love the story of how Odin (with his father and brothers and the armies of Asgard) defeated the Jotuns and what their peace deal meant for Algrim and his people. And the one where they defeated Surtur. That story, and Loki's prompting helps them find direction. They find the cavern where Elderstahl is said to be hidden but the ice breaks underneath them.

Meanwhile, in Asgard, the taverner has come to Odin for compensation for the damage to his bar. Odin scoffs and is about to get angry when the taverner shows him Thor's lost sword (see episode 4). Odin starts to realise what his sons are up to.

In the cavern, the adventurers come to. Loki has found the Sword of Surtur (Elderstahl). It is huge and embedded in the ice above them.

Hogun frees it with a throw of his mace. Thor takes it and it magically transforms to the right size for him. He unsheaths it and a great blast from it blows a hole in the cave roof. Loki is worried they will get caught with the weapon in Jotunheim. Thor says no one can stop them with it in their possession. The group are concerned about Thor's attitude. What they don't know is that the sword exerts a malevolent influence over the user, bringing out their worst qualities. In Thor's case, it is his bravado and the need to prove himself.

On leaving the cave, Thor reveals he plans to travel to Kona Lifandi and get winged horses. The group say the Valkyries will never help them. Thor says that Sif will.

Balder takes Fandral's cartoon dialogue here (implying that many Valkyries are his previous lovers) so we will need to see him womanising in previous episodes, whilst seeing that he is genuinely interested in Nanna.

We cut to a Frost Sprite making their way to King Laufey of Jotunheim. They whisper to him and give him a scrap of Hogun's coat. Laufey tells his scouts to follow the scent.

Thor, Loki and the Warriors Three (Balder edition) find their path out of Jotunheim blocked by two enormous frozen guards. Realising there is no other way and with Laufey's scouts visible, they try to sneak past the sentries.

When the pursuing group call out to the guards they break out of their icy slumber and attack. Loki is separated. In trying to defend his brother, Thor foolishly draws Elderstahl. Despite the legendary weapon, the guards continue to approach. Thor swings the weapon and blasts the sentries, destroying one of them and the pass. The other falls into the abyss.

Thor is horrified. This is his first kill, it was somewhat accidental and he underestimated the power of Surtur's sword. Also, it would never have happened if he hadn't gone on the quest in the first place. He is (metaphorically) frozen in place.

Loki is sympathetic but tells him they must all leave. He thinks they should use the Bifrost. Balder says that they shouldn't confirm their Asgardian heritage. Hogun believes that ship has sailed. Balder says they can't take that chance. They leave.

The Jotun scout captain has recognised Loki (Odin's runt). He orders his men to repair the bridge and muses that two others bore resemblance to Odin's sons. He swiftly returns to Laufey and tells him that Elderstahl has been found and that he believes the sons of Odin did it on account of recognising Odin's runt.

Laufey sighs and tells General Geirmarr to prepare to march on Asgard.

Mostly based on...

Marvel Animated Universe Wiki

Thor: Tales of Asgard (Video)

Seeking a true adventure, Thor and Loki, the sons of Odin and princes of Asgard, set off across the nine realms in search of Elderstahl, a w

Tales of Asgard

Season 1, Episode 6

If He Be Worthy

We see the group escape into Kona Lifandi. A temperate jungle set in the branches of the world tree (Yggdrasil). This is where the Valkyries have made their home.

Thor, Loki and The Warriors Three (Balder edition) are climbing up through the branches to get to the citadel. Balder warns Thor that the Valkyries are strictly a female warriors only society and won't take kindly to them being found there. Volstagg jokes that Balder would be in special trouble as he was the ex boyfriend of many of those female warriors. Thor, in no mood for jokes, only intends to find one. The others vow to remain hidden, though Loki is reluctant to let Thor go alone. Thor makes his way through the jungle and manages to find Sif on her way back to the training camp after bathing (in the cartoon she was in the middle of taking her robe off to bathe which seems like a blatant excuse to have a teen female character semi naked). He approaches her with a request for winged horses. She is angry at first but after Thor explains the trouble he is in she relents but says she can't help and he should go before he is captured. He reveals Elderstahl, but before she can respond he is actually captured.

Meanwhile the Jotun King, Laufey, has led a war party to Asgard. Odin goes to discuss terms for peace, with Laufey then revealing that Thor took the Sword of Surtur and killed two sentries in his escape. Odin is shocked.

He then returns to Algrim to relay the grim news and Laufey's terms for peace. The Jotuns want Elderstahl returned before sundown.

Algrim reasons that our heroes are trying to keep their identity a secret and will not call for Heimdall. They do not realise that it is too late. He knows that they will have to make their way through Svartalfheim to get back to Asgard without acess to a ship or the Bifrost. When he agreed that he would keep Thor's quest secret, he didn't think he would get that far. He reasoned that the Warriors Three (Balder edition) would manage to bring him home. He underestimated the boy. He also had no idea that Loki would get involved. Feeling bad about keeping Thor's secret Algrim offers to go to Svartalfheim, despite the traumatic memories of the previous war between the Frost Giants and the Dark Elves there (he lost most of his people including his family). He will go with Captain Ander and a small band of Einherjar.

Back in Kona Lifandi, Thor wakes up in chains and sees that Kára, leader of the Valkyries, has Elderstahl. Sif is conflicted but, for now, stands with the Valkyries.

Kára says that Asgard should not have sent him, even with such a weapon. Full of bravado as ever, Thor says that he did not come alone. Kára simply points upwards to the Warriors Three suspended from the ceiling by their hands ("you were supposed to stay hidden!").

Balder tries to reason with her (he is not flirty with her like Fandral is in the cartoon) saying that the Valkyries were once Asgard's elite warriors, sworn defenders of the throne. She warns him to be quiet as there are many Valkyries who would enjoy taking his head. She says that spies are executed, princes of Asgard or otherwise. She points to the skeleton of Odin's last spy, riddled with arrows, suspended from a nearby column. Sif is having trouble with the thought of this happening to her friends, especially Thor.

Thor tries to be more reasonable:

Thor: Princes would make terrible spies.

Kára: Clearly...I think Odin sent you to control Sif because she left Asgard.

T (spots Loki hiding behind the column and trying to play it cool): We simply need horses. Please, release us so that we may return before it is too late.

K: You may have angered the Frost Giants, but I believe you mean to return this weapon to Odin, to conquer the nine realms once again and any that stand in his way.

T: I am only trying to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

K: Who are you to judge who is worthy?

T: ...

K (the sword is beginning to have an effect on her): Perhaps it will be my sword.

She realises it is missing and sees Loki holding it in front of Thor. He is threatening to unsheath it unless his friends are released. The blade emits a fiery glow. The Valkyries ready their bows. Kára simply states that if he doesn't stop they will kill Thor. Thor concurs and says the sword should never be used again. Loki concedes and gives Elderstahl to her. She then orders them executed (is it the power of the sword?). This is too much for Sif. Kára says she can join them.

Then the Frost Giants attack! They repaired the crossing (see episode 5) and followed from Jotunheim.

Despite resistance from the Valkyries they move swiftly through the citadel.

Big battle sequence here (for Brunhilde read Kára, for Fandral read Balder, for bear read frost beast):

"Just then Brunhilde notices that her breath is cold. She asks what is going on and Loki realizes that it's the Jotuns.

The wall of the camp freezes and a giant breaks through it. The debris crashes into the camp and slams near the Asgardians. One piece knocks Brunhilde out cold.

A group of giants enter the compound. The leader, who chased the Asgardians before, tells them to kill everyone and get the sword. The Valkyries ready their bows. The giants step through the buildings and begin to smash them.

The Valkyries fire their arrows which stick in the giants but to no effect. The leader brings down his mighty ax among the Valkyries. A group of Valkyries fly in on horses but the giants smack them away. More arrows fly at the intruders.

Thor struggles to break the chains as the fight rages behind him. Sif comes to him but stops when the Warriors Three call out for help. She readies an arrow but a bear storms her. She fires and nicks the rope. She then leaps out of the throne room followed by the bear. She lands on her horse and flies away with the bear in pursuit.

The patrol leader makes his way to the throne room. He pushes the Warriors Three out of his way. The giant's shadow passes over Thor as he looks at the sword and unconscious Brunhilde. He renews his determination and eventually breaks the chains.

The giant approaches the sword as the three continue to swing around.

Thor grabs a spear and runs ahead of the giant. Brunhilde wakes to see the giant's foot coming down on her. Thor runs underneath and readies the spear against the ground. The spear pierces the giant's foot and he staggers back, letting go of his ax, in pain.

The giant stops and tells the murdering Thor that he is going to die. Thor and Brunnhilde look down and see Sif leading the bear back into the chamber. She approaches the giant and dodges at the last moment. The bear slams into the giant forcing him out the chamber and into a building below.

Sif flies around and lands. She gets off the horse and runs to Thor. The Warriors Three continue to swing and the rope finally breaks. The bear looks up and the three slam down on its head knocking it out.

Fandral opens the mouth and asks the others to help him get the fangs...

...Outside, the Valkyries watch as a giant forms a giant snowball. He then throws it at the Asgardians.

Loki steps in front of Sif and Thor and casts a spell. The ball turns to water and splashes them all.

The Warriors Three run up and Volstagg says not to show any mercy. But Brunhilde quickly stops them. They turn and see her holding the sword out to them. Thor asks why not let them help with the giants. Brunhilde says that the men assume they cannot defend themselves.

She gives the sword and tells them to take it. She orders Sif to provide horses and escort them to Asgard. Thor fastens the sword to his belt. Sif agrees and they turn to leave. Brunnhilde stops Sif saying that she should only return when she is truly ready to join them.

High above the now frozen Kona Lifandi, the six Asgardians fly away on Pegasus."

Obviously for the Warriors Three read Warriors Three (Balder edition)! Balder takes the fang as a trophy to impress the women back in Asgard. We will later see him give it to Nanna. He has decided after being embarrassed in Kona Lifandi that he will stop womanising and genuinely likes Nanna anyway. His reputation precedes him so he has some work to do!

Kára changes her mind as the Frost Giant attack has given Thor's story credence and he also saved her life rather than take the sword.

Algrim leads a group of Einherjar into Svartalfheim and details the atrocities against his land and his people. They then come across Thor's group and Algrim warns of the impending war. Realising it is his doing, Thor hands Elderstahl to a hesitant Algrim for safe keeping. It begins to corrupt him immediately, releasing his trauma and anger, which turns him against Odin and Asgard. He kills the Einherjar (including Captain Ander). He makes for Asgard on a Valkyrian pegasus. After picking up Ander's sword, the group pursue.

Thor goes to battle Algrim who has gone to kill Odin for his part in the Dark Elves/Frost Giants war. The others hold the Frost Giants back as the deadline has passed.

Algrim gravely injures Odin in battle. After a brief fight Thor captures him, though Elderstahl is loose in the darkness.

Algrim is then apparently killed by Loki with Elderstahl just as Thor was beginning to talk him around.

Loki's first "kill" is an unarmed man by the way, killed in a fit of rage too.

Thor goes to face his punishment from the Frost Giants and finds Laufey is merciful upon Thor offering up Elderstahl.

NB :-

I feel like the sword should be a corrupting influence which brings out your worst qualities (similar to the Challenge Cup) such as Thor's bravado. That would make Algrim's heel turn more understandable.

No Sif kiss/romance (as happens in the cartoon) as she is doubly conflicted and also grieving for Haldor (see episode 3).

We replace the cartoon's Amora with Sigyn as Sylvie is clearly meant to be the MCU's Enchantress.

Volstagg and Hogun are dismissed from the Einherjar for their disobedience and recklessness despite Balder's pleas. Balder is demoted but not dismissed as he is the King's son (nepotism at work).

Once recovered, Odin has Thor try to lift Mjolnir as he recognises his level of maturity has risen.

Because of realising and facing the consequences of his actions, he is worthy. Loki is quietly like, "Srsly? WTF!", and is mad jealous.

End credits - Algrim has secretly escaped (we can see him desperately trying to wriggle free as Thor monologues and uses the flash of Loki's attack to escape into the darkness) he barely survived but dark elves are even hardier than Asgardians.

He starts his search for Malekith.

Source:

Marvel Animated Universe Wiki

Thor: Tales of Asgard (Video)

Seeking a true adventure, Thor and Loki, the sons of Odin and princes of Asgard, set off across the nine realms in search of Elderstahl, a w

Tales of Asgard

Season 2

Some time has passed. They are young adults now.

Balder is much less part of the group now. He still counsels and trains Thor and has taken Algrim's role as advisor to Odin. We see his romance with Nanna blossom over the next few episodes.

Episode 1

Langobards

A tale from Frigga about the "bearded women" (Langobards).

The story is in the above article under attestations.

A group of Winniles, settled in a new country some years past, were given a demand by the Vandals of tribute or battle.

The matriarch of the Winniles, Gambara, thought they should not weigh down their new nation with years of tributes. They had to fight to be free. Though they were brave and skilled, they were fewer than the Vandals.

The Vandals asked Odin for favour in battle. Odin merely stated;

"Those that first catch my eye at sunrise, shall be granted victory."

Gambara sought the help of Frigga who advised;

Come from the East at dawn, bring your long haired women with you. Let their hair down, arranged around the face like a beard"

Frigga made sure to turn the bed around and rolled Odin over to face the east. On waking he couldn't help but notice these pretty bearded folk, saying;

"Who are these longbeards?"

Frigga replied;

"As these Longbeards, as you named them, have caught your eye first, you must give them the promised victory."

The thematic link here is winning with your brain, which of course Thor does not heed. Also a variation on bearded ladies.

Then...

Thor has lost Mjölnir to an unnamed thief (implied to be Loki, but without Thor realising). Thor is at once livid and distraught. Loki becomes a bird (claiming it is the one thing Odin taught him) and "discovers" an Utgard giant (Thrym) has it and wants Sif's hand in marriage as ransom. Sif, of course, flatly refuses so Thor has to pretend to be Sif (in the norse legend this is Freya, but Sif is again swapped in to keep things simple). Loki changes gender (does he look like Sylvie? Because that would bring an extra level of weird to Loki's TV series) to be handmaiden to Thor's heavily veiled "Sif". Handmaiden Loki helps "Sif" to get through the wedding dinner (including excusing "Sif's" extraordinary appetite). Mjölnir is eventually revealed and Thor takes his revenge. At the end, Loki reveals to Sigyn that he secretly got paid for both jobs.

Tales of Asgard

Season 2, Episode 2

Utgardaloki

Thor's journey to the land of the Giants (This will be in Utgard? Niflheim? Perhaps Utgard can be part of Niflheim, just to simplify things)

Preceded by the story of Odin's quest to get the mead of poetry, focusing on Odin's trickery (abridged). In the norse legend there is a war between the Aesir (Asgardians) and Vanir, Frey and Freya are involved and there's another god who gets killed and some evil dwarves who get killed and Frigga and Thor and Loki are there. Complicated...

This version is before Odin has married Frigga, and Sif and Volstagg (who replaced Frey and Freya) and Thor and Loki don't exist yet. There is no mention of the war or the extra god or the dwarves and begins thusly:

Odin is visited by his ravens who tell him of the mead of poetry and how it is kept in a deep dark cave in Utgard where no one but Suttung, the giant, can ever use it. He dons his cloak and hat. He tells the royal family and courtiers that he will wander the world. They know he's up to something but they don't know what. He tells them to build three huge vats and leave them by the gates of Asgard. He asks for the finest whetstone they have and Rati, the finest drill.

He approaches the lands of the giant Baugi, Suttung's brother. He tricks the (giant) farmers who guard Baugi's land into letting him sharpen their scythes with his whetstone to better cut the grass for hay making. They are delighted at the ease with which they can now cut the grass.

When Odin (calling himself Bolverkr) reveals what he is there for (the mead of poetry) they attack him. He nimbly avoids them and the finely sharpened scythe blades mean the guards/farmers kill each other instead.

He then offers to work for Baugi in their place (keeping the means of their death a secret). Baugi is skeptical at this tiny being claiming to do the work of nine giants. But Bolverkr does it and more (secretly thanks to his Asgardian physiology and the Odinforce too).

As a reward he asks to drink from the mead of poetry. Baugi agrees to take him to his brother.

Suttung is not having it, which embarrasses Baugi. So Bolverkr convinces Baugi to steal the mead from Suttung, to bring him down a peg or two. They drill into the mountain with ease (thanks Rati). When they finally break through to the secret cave inside the mountain, Baugi tries to kill Bolverkr (meaning to take the mead for himself). Expecting this betrayal, Bolverkr transforms into a snake and slips down the drill hole. Baugi slinks off hoping his brother never finds out.

Popping out into the cavern where the mead was kept he takes the form of a giant to flatter Gunlodd, Suttung's daughter, who guards the mead of poetry. He convinces her that three sips of the mead would help him create three ageless odes to her beauty. He, of course, takes the lot in three sips and transforms into an eagle to escape. Suttung and Gunlodd are no magical slouches and they transform into eagles too to give chase.

Bolverkr, now unashamedly proclaiming to be Odin manages to spit the mead into the vats at the gates of Asgard as the eagle giants draw close.

Odin takes great delight in telling his boys how he wet farted some foul smelling mead into their faces to throw them off. And how if you hear a bad poet, you know which mead they tasted.

Odin, of course, shared the mead wisely, his intention all along.

The link to the main story being defeating Utgard giants takes some cunning. Odin tells them they have his blessing to go to Utgard for talks, but be careful. And don't beat anyone else up. And don't start a war. And you can't have any Einherjar to back you up. They are busy doing important things.

Thor wants to have words with the Utgard giants as stealing his hammer is not on (notwithstanding he already pulverised an entire wedding party full of giants as punishment).

He assembles a crew (Loki, Volstagg and Hogun). Loki refuses to be part of the Warriors Three, bristling at the idea that he might be thought of as Thor's sidekick.

Balder can't go as he has become more serious about the Einherjar. Sif refuses to go as this is all very machismo, bravado and ego driven.

Undeterred Thor, Loki and the Warriors Two set off for Utgard. They can't use the bifrost as the giants would see them coming. They stop at the last lodgings before Utgard and are reintroduced to Fandral, son of two courtiers. He can run impressively fast.

You can forget the goat eating/resurrecting thing from the legend (little too crazy, little too cruel). Fandral upsets Thor somehow at Loki's tricking and offers to become his bondservant.

Utgardaloki (a nickname I imagine), the trickster giant will use some ruse to see through Loki's illusions. He disguises himself as an even bigger giant to trick the team, but promises to take them to Utgard. Thor feels threatened by the giant giant and bashes him with Mjölnir while he sleeps, to seemingly no effect.

When they arrive at Utgardaloki's house he challenges them to a competition to settle the matter of the stolen Hammer. Loki is revealed as the thief (but not as a Laufeyson). Thor is livid but the gang break it up.

Utgardaloki reveals the theft was in retaliation for the incident where a giant built Asgard a fortifying wall and Loki had to distract his horse so Asgard didn't have to pay him. He did this by becoming a female horse and ended up birthing Sleipnir who Odin would take from Loki as he was a fine steed; strong and fast. The giants felt this was unfair. Loki is upset by this story as he lost his (horse) son to his father. Then Thor teases him for getting pregnant with and giving birth to a horse. Loki is livid, the gang break it up.

Volstagg takes on the eating challenge (Loki in the legend).

Hogun takes the wrestling challenge (Thor in the legend).

Fandral takes the running challenge (a boy called Thialfi in the legend).

Thor takes the drinking challenge and Loki the picking up of the cat challenge.

When they all fail they are shocked and humiliated. Utgardaloki then reveals it was all a trick. He was the giant giant. And reveals that Mjölnir's blows could have killed him were he not a skilled sorcerer and secretly put mountains in the way (there are now valleys beside those mountains where Mjölnir struck).

Volstagg's opponent was fire disguised as a giant. You can't eat faster than fire, though Volstagg came close.

Hogun's opponent was time, disguised as an old lady giant. You can't beat time, though she only got Hogun down to one knee.

Fandral's opponent was thought disguised as a boy giant. You can't run faster than thought, though Fandral kept up well.

The drink that Thor took was secretly from Niflheim's oceans which cannot be drained, though Thor affected the tides.

The cat was actually Jormungundr, the world serpent and impressively Loki lifted a coil of it. Loki is sad again at this as this is another of his children/pets, banished by Odin to the deepest part of the Nifelheim sea as it was prophesied that it would poison Thor at Ragnarök. Learning from his previous mistake, Thor comforts Loki instead of teasing.

Utgardaloki considers the matter settled and vows never to let such fine warriors near his real home.

As Thor reaches again for Mjölnir, Utgardaloki and his home vanish.

Chastened, the gang return home.

As the gang recount their tale to Sif and Frigga, Fandral is released from his bond and welcomed into the Warriors Three for his impressive endeavours. Loki, despite his earlier attitude, is disappointed and a little jealous. He later recounts this to Sigyn and laments the loss of Sleipnir and Jormungundr. She encourages his bitterness.

Thor quietly muses to Sif about recapturing Jormungundr as a surprise for Loki to cheer him up. Sif, astonished, asks him where he is planning to keep it.

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 3, Episode 4

Balder the Brave part I

Sigyn is now in the Palace dungeons for treason. Loki, disguised as a female royal guard is listening to her story.

She recounts the tale of En Sabah Nur (recast as Oscar Isaac is our Steven) (b 8000bc, defeated 3600 BCE) and how he was defeated. In Egypt, a crowd chants to En Sabah Nur, who is using telekinesis to build pyramids as four horsemen watch from nearby. This is a warning not to be a dictator or your followers will turn on you.

Loki is clearly feeling very rebellious towards his father and, by extension, his family. Sigyn will encourage this. Sadly, there is nothing he can do for her.

On his way out another prisoner whispers something to him. Sigyn is too focused on her resentment and we, in turn, too focused on her to truly notice.

We now mostly follow the plot of the comic "The Warriors Teen". Excerpts follow from Wikipedia (The Warriors Teen is the first entry under "plot"). There are some major differences from the comic.

For a start they are all young adults now, not teens.

Also they will wear wearing armour, not tunics. Or seemingly, in Sif's case, bandages. Who sends their best warriors to fight in tunics when you have access to all the armour you need? Especially when two of them are your sons?

"Thor...Sif and Balder, have sneaked into the trophy room..."

We'll say Odin's vault instead of trophy room.

As usual Thor is dreaming about being a great warrior. Balder is more concerned about what it actually takes to become a leader.

Instead of Thor trying to lift Mjölnir (he already has it), they discuss the majestic, legendary weapons, trophies and artefacts. And Loki.

Sif detests him. She has ever since he cut off her hair. And he's only gotten worse as he's grown up. Thor tries to defend him. Balder tries to bring balance to the conversation.

"Three giant spiders enchanted by Loki attack them."

The spiders go for Balder as one unit. Loki is operating on a different level of mischief and snark here. He puts the three in real danger, though it seems Balder was his intended target. He is not seen however.

"Working together, the three young warriors defeat them."

Odin discovers the three and the dead giant spiders. He asks them to clean up and come to the throne room.

Impressed by their handling of the dangerous situation Odin deems his two boys ready for the forging of a "Svadren" blade, the symbol of heirship. The heir is not chosen by age or sex but by qualities revealed in the quest. Odin had planned to send Loki too but he has already ruled himself out of the quest by his actions of late. Loki, hiding in the shadows, quietly seethes.

If you were my daughter, says Odin to Sif, you would be worthy of the challenge too. Instead, as a trusted lieutenant (though not an Einherjar), she will accompany them to help keep them safe.

"Odin decides to send them on a quest to find four mystical elements that will then be fashioned into an enchanted blade. The four items are: a scale from the dragon Hakurei; a feather from the snow eagle Gnori; a jewel from a mine of Jennia; and a vial of water from the Lake of Lilitha."

Each of the items will imbue the sword with a different magical quality.

All parties are asked and agree. Respect is given where it is due, unlike the comics.

The chat on the way to Hakurei's cave (Set here in Muspelheim, rather than Asgard given the arid landscape and the fiery nature of their target) is about how Thor has gotten them lost...Sif and Balder had both been there during Einherjar training and have both offered to navigate...they have to be careful lest they are noticed by fire demons or Surtur himself (I do like "I SAY THEE NAY!" from the comic though, maybe Sif is annoyed that she doesn't have a shot at the sword).

Whilst arguing they stumble on Hakurei themselves. The dragon seems to have known they were coming and sought them out. Caught on the back foot, they are scrambling for survival. Sif's shows great resilience to occupy the dragon while Balder quickly hatches a plan and joins her. Thor and Mjölnir are able to get the position for a knockout blow. Teamwork! They get the scale.

The comic continually refers to how Sif is not respected as a warrior and constantly has to prove herself. In the MCU and the IACMCU I feel she is respected. Had it not been for her unsanctioned trip to see the Valkyries she would be in the Einherjar like Balder. So no need for any defensive comments.

The trio wonder at how Hakurei seemed to know they were coming. Sif says that only Odin knows about the quest. Balder admits that he told Nanna. She is livid, she told no one as they were instructed. Thor admits telling the Warriors Three...Hidden among the rocks, Loki muses that he thought that he was the only other person who knew.

A mysterious figure gazing at them through their magic mirror also knows and makes vague threats (they are monologuingto themselves).

Sometime later they are travelling through Jotunheim looking for Gnori the snow eagle and their feathers. They have been tracking them through the cold for days and they bicker initially and look like they might part ways, but Balder reasons that they would be foolish to separate in the frozen wastes.

Just as they regroup they are attacked by ice pixies. They defeat them, then surmise that it was another trap. And that someone is plotting against them. As it is unlikely that the Fire Demons and the Frost Giants are working together it must be someone else. Sif suspects Loki. Thor doesn't believe it. Balder tries to bring balance to the conversation (he does also love Loki btw, he just shares his father's suspicions).

They are then confronted by Gnori who gives them wise counsel and insists they did not summon the pixies but they don't know who did.

They give grave, but vague warnings to each of the trio. They get the feather.

As Gnori leaves the gang momentarily consider turning back to ask Odin for advice. But then resolve to succeed in their quest.

Loki is revealed (to us) to have been following them.

DUN DUN DUN!

Tales of Asgard

Series 2, Episode 5

Balder the Brave part II

Again, this is mostly taken from The Warriors Teen comic. The main difference being that they are not teens here but young adults. And also they wear proper armour instead of tunics. The storyline was a good fit for where I wanted to take the characters and only needed a few little tweaks.

We join our trio sunbathing and bantering before making their way through the temperate rainforest to the dunes at the edge of Asgard where the mines of Jennia plunge below the surface of the desert.

Unlike the blatant excuse to build some sexual tension in the comics, Sif and the boys go to bathe separately. Loki uses illusion to mimic the boys and Sif and manages to separate them. Thor rushes back to Sif who is dressed and drying her hair. He realises it was a trick and they race to Balder who is being strangled by enchanted vines. They manage to free him in time.

Sif says Loki is here. Balder croakily concurs. Thor is wavering now. He calls Loki. Loki, of course, silently presses himself into the foliage. Balder croaks they should get out into the open.

They go back to get their gear from where they were sunbathing and are worried. If it was Loki, he seemed to be trying to kill Balder. It could be any one of them next. If it's not Loki they possess a very similar skillset. Thor asks why anyone would be trying to kill them? Let alone their brother. Sif says he's no brother of mine.

They warily set up camp in silence. Thor wants to take first watch but Sif insists. The boys have a heart to heart about the current state of their family. Sif tells them to get some sleep.

The mirror user observes the tense trio and notes that Odin's other son is glowering in the treeline. An unwitting ally as she says in the comics.

The next day there are a few quips but the group is not as bantery as before. No sexist comments from Thor like the comic though.

Also, Sif does not suddenly go all girly at the thought of jewels as in the comic.

Then gang are suddenly swallowed by quicksand one by one. Loki approaches and appears to shed a tear as he proclaims it done, though not by his hand. Then he too sinks.

The trio come to in a chamber surrounded by strange childlike creatures with glowing red eyes. Thor, already riled up tries to bat them away and they start to swarm him. They start to creep onto Sif as well. Balder recognises them as the Jennia, keepers of the jewels. The feed on emotion. He advises the others to be calm and rid themselves of emotion. They do and the Jennia retreat, leaving a jewel.

When Sif states that anyone with hatred in their heart would be in for a worser fate, we expect to see Loki engulfed by Jennia. Instead we cut to Loki having been rescued/captured by the magic mirror user who is revealed to be...Karnilla...

Karnilla is the Norn Queen and believes that Odin owes a large unpaid debt to the Fates of Norn as he gained knowledge of the runes without permission.

"Such powerful magic for less than half a soul? We would have charged a much steeper price if we had known."

The Fates (Skuld, Verandi and Urd) warn Loki that Odin will pay a terrible price. Karnilla says "exactly ". Loki tries to pretend he doesn't care. Verandi tells him that he longs for Odin to love him the way he loves his other sons. She tells them to be quiet, how Loki has no love for family. How she has seen him trying to murder both his brothers and their companion.

Urd says he made a pact with hatred.

Karnilla asks her elderly assistant Haag to still their wagging tongues.

K: How hard can it be to destabilise a royal family?

That first ungrateful wench...you give a girl a little power and...

Ah sorry, you can't speak about her at the moment can you?

Then if your foolish wife hadn't actually fallen in love with you this could all have been done by now.

L: Sigyn? You sent her?

K: Where do you think she learned all those things that your mother wouldn't teach you? She thought I was putting you on the throne. I just wanted the chaos.

But she had to get herself thrown in jail defending you. Now I shall just have to take care of things myself.

Cut to the trio in the forests of Lilitha. Thor is nostalgic for swimming and climbing there in his childhood. Balder has noticed the trees seem to be dying.

The comics go in for some love triangle nonsense here. Not us.

Then Loki apparates in, tears in his eyes, genuinely conflicted.

Thor asks him how he has appeared here and why? Has Odin sent him? Is Asgard in trouble?

Loki names Karnilla and tells of her plot to kill Odin and take Asgard with the Utgard giants and the creatures of Niflheim. How she captured him while he followed them and tried to turn him against Asgard. He refused, she admired his previously unobserved backbone and weirdly kissed him. This allowed him to steal a little of her power, which meant he could apparate.

Sif is enraged! She knew Loki had been conspiring against them! How he nearly killed Balder. The spiders...that was you too wasn't it?

Loki lies and says it was all Karnilla.

Sif wants to run him through with her blade. Balder muses that it could be a plot to make them fail the quest.

Thor puts it to him, Loki says no even after everything he still loves father and that he needs them all. They (Thor and Balder that is) choose to believe him.

Loki conjures them horses from the fallen leaves (they are stunned by his magic prowess, this makes Sif a little more suspicious) and they ride to Asgard. Thor stays to finish the quest as Odin may want Svadren for the fight. Loki leaves a horse for him.

He fights a conjured stone golem which he assumes was conjured by Karnilla. He fights with particular fierceness as he has no time to waste. When he finally reaches the lake he sees it is dry. Magically drained. He scoops some into a bottle as a reminder to never fail again then rides like the wind to Asgard.

He finds it under assault by the forces of Niflheim (giants, orcs, ogres and goblins) and storms his way through. This rallies the troops.

Thor finds Sif and Balder and tells them the quest has failed.

Odin battles his way to them and tells them there will be no talk of failure. Defend Asgard!

Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three defend one side of the gate, Balder and Heimdall the other. Odin holds fast in the middle. Einherjar are positioned strategically. Loki is murdering Niflheimers too.

They hold fast. The Utgard Giants et al, see defeat is coming and decide to retreat.

Just as the celebrations begin Karnilla apparates in and shoots Thor straight through the heart with an arrow. Then she apperates into the throne room. Balder warns a shocked Odin that she may go for his vault. Odin grabs Mjölnir, calls for Sleipnir and races upstairs. Epic battle between Odin, Frigga and Karnilla. Odin and Frigga eventually win.

Coming back down they see they have not been able to save Thor.

Odin ritualistically pours the sand from the bed of the Lake of Lilitha on to Thor's wound. He gives a regretful and moving speech while Frigga, Sif and Balder mourn. The Warriors Three cling to eachother for comfort. Heimdall and the Einherjar remove their helmets. Heads bowed.

Then as the tears of Frigga, Sif and Balder mingle with the sand it turns to water and heals the wound. Thor lives! They bottle the rest of the magical liquid.

Just as everyone is celebrating, a dishevelled Karnilla appears holding Loki at knifepoint. If she can't have the kingdom, she will have a sacrifice for the knowledge of the runes. One of your sons must forfeit their lives.

They all show concern for Loki. Even Odin. Karnilla scoffs that their lives would be much easier without him. All the trouble he caused. She blames Loki for all the things he blamed her for. Even the stone golem. That he followed them and sabotaged them because his heart was full of jealousy and hate.

Sif says she knew it. Thor cries out , "You lie, witch!". Balder reasons that this may all be true. But despite all that, knowing the consequences of being found out, Loki chose to do the right thing and saved all of Asgard.

Dialogue from the comic:

K:How can you defend him? His hands are as dirty as mine.

My hands...that will spill blood once more today.

B: If you must take a life this day...take mine.

I forfeit it in exchange for Loki's.

And if the denizens of Asgard hate Loki, as you say, won't my death better satisfy your need for revenge?

K (releasing Loki and pointing knife at Balder): You fool! What kind of man would sacrifice his life for that of his enemy?

B: A man who knows no enemy.

A man who believes in the value of all life.

A man who believes there is good in every soul.

Even in yours, Karnilla.

K (releasing him too): This is not over, Balder.

She apparates away. Odin confirms she is gone.

He vows to have the sword forged.

Sif and the Warriors Three are sent with the four elements to Nidavellir. In a month he there will be a ceremony to bestow the sword upon the winner. That he has much to deliberate upon. Now he would speak to his other son. But Loki is gone.

One month later, at the ceremony, Svadren is given to Balder for his mercy and compassion. Celebrations!

Some time after that Balder and Nanna, Thor, Sif and the Warriors Three return to Lilitha with the last few drops remaining in the vial and empty them onto the lake bed. Slowly, the water returns. The friends swim, splash and horse about. Happy ending!

Post credits - Loki just sitting there in the family home hatred bubbling away under the surface. One of his boys runs through shouting for his father. Sigyn's mum comes and ushers him away as Loki glowers.

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.

Now I just wait for Neil Gaiman to get in touch with me so we can pitch Tales of Asgard to Kevin as an animated series.