It has not been a short while that humans have wondered what lies on the ocean floor. What resides in the deepest, darkest, part of the ocean that surrounds them? Why do they feel as if they are being watched whenever sailing across the blue expanse?
The Mer are a race that originated in Niflheim. They are covered, from head to toe, in shining scales. When submerged in water, and in their most natural form, they sport a powerful tail that resembles that of the fish in Midgard.
How they came to be in Midgard is not known by the humans... seeing as contact with them is extremely limited. The Mer, while not as reserved as the Fae and not as outgoing as the Demons, prefer to observe before approaching. Their observations of the Magick Explosion and the human reaction has kept them bound to their aquatic habitat.
Mer society is something of great interest as well. It is full of long-held traditions, which most Midgardian Mer do not even remember the basis or origins of. The society is strictly matriarchal. The Mer are ruled by a Queen, who is not elected but is born into the position. Only a Mer born on a leap year’s lunar eclipse may be crowned Queen.
The Queen has many duties... her presence practically dictating how the Mer she commands function in the society. Traditionally, it is the Queen who makes the matches of the Mer. The Queen finds a suitor for each Mer that is of mating age, and then she confirms the match. There need not be any courting involved. If the Queen states it shall be, it will be.
The Mer society is also primarily made up of mermaids, of females. The presence of mermen did not occur until human males were transformed and took up the life of the Mer. These mermen did not exist naturally. Therefore, the Mer do not require “males” to mate. Mating typically occurs between two members of the society, once approved by the Queen.
It should also be noted that the Mer, while perfectly capable of reproduction, mate only once... and to only one mate. The first, and last, pregnancy of a Mer is then usually very long and tedious. The offspring from such a pregnancy is also very substantial. It is extremely uncommon that a Mer has only one youngling from a pregnancy. If that happens, something is usually amiss with the Mer that mothered the single youngling. The typical offspring amount for the usual pregnancy is typically from three to nine younglings.
There have been some Mer that have headed for shallower waters... simple curiosity about humans that has drawn them above water. It is said from these Mer that the practice of consuming wayward humans began. Sailors are often the most common choice of these Mer. While the shallow-water Mer chose humans as their main dietary food source, the deep-water Mer feast on whales, giant squid, and octopi.
In the center of their most renowned kingdom, where the Queen resides, is where the Kraken lives. Hailed as a god by the Mer, the Kraken is served just about anything it wants... and it lives peacefully with the Mer as a result. The Kraken, as with many of the great creatures inhabiting Midgard, is a by-product of the Magick Explosion.
The formations of one’s landscape are what define the physical quality of a world. At first glance, what can be seen? What is noted? What stands out? What requires a closer look to be noticed? What makes a world truly unique from others?
Asgard serves as the home realm to the reigning deities, the Aesir. Asgard is located directly above Midgard, at the center of the world. Geographically Asgard is beautiful. The flora is plentiful, but not overbearing. The rock formations all have a sort of artfulness about their placement, and the fauna are completely docile. The highlight of this realm is the castle placed in the center, surrounded by a circular hole in the realm. This hole is crossable, but only with the proper tools and magick. If one falls through this hole, they will most likely end up in Midgard... but as a corpse.
During the Magick Explosion in Midgard, the Aesir welcomed a select number of creatures into their realm. They accepted the Hydra, placing it at the foot of the Bifrost. They had to coax the Alicorn to join them, as it originally intended to head to Alfheim with its brethren, the Unicorn and Pegasus. Eventually, the wise and noble creature realized it was likely best it tried to stay on the good side of the Aesir and joined them in Asgard. The Aesir royalty ride on the backs of the Alicorns whenever they are leaving the city so that they can easily cross the hole in the realm.
Midgard, the realm of the human race, rests in the very center of the world. It consists of a vast ocean, which is littered with islands of varying sizes. These islands are ruled by the human nobility... which is vast and often wars with itself. The ocean is surrounded by a large serpent that is so long it must bite its own tail to completely encompass Midgard.
Midgard is the realm in which the Magick Explosion took place, and is home to the largest number of frightening beasts and powerful creatures. One of the island kingdoms currently uses a Minotaur to guard its people. They can be seen wandering the borders of the island. As a result of this choice, all of the towns are protected by walls and travel between towns is hazarded against unless accompanied by a group of elite militia. Another kingdom has placed a couple of Naga in their dungeon. The prisoners dropped into these dungeons are often never heard from again. The majority of Dragons still remain in Midgard, though they have taken refuge on the highest mountain peaks and in the deepest caves.
Those are just a few prime examples of the creatures inhabiting Midgard... and how the humans living with them have adapted to their presence.
Alfheim is the realm constantly lit by a soft, golden, light. The realm is physically the fullest of life. The vegetation here flourishes, and the light elves see no reason to attempt to reign it in. Nature is one with everything that resides in Alfheim.
Reserved for the light elves and placed on away by itself, this realm seldom has any visitors. The light elves themselves are receptive to visitors... but they do not encourage such things. They will share their knowledge... but they will not freely hand it out. However... they can be swayed to do so through an exhibition of either art or music. They may be borderline hermits... but they are patrons of the arts.
Because of this peaceful beauty, a few of the creatures created in Midgard when the Magic Explosion occurred have taken refuge here. These creatures are the more intelligent of the bunch. They have acquired a conscience and have been imparted a vast wisdom. A few of the creatures to escape here are Unicorns, Pegasi, Griffins, and the majestic Silver Dragons.
The realm of Muspelheim is constantly changing. The world is hot… so hot it would burn the skin and flesh right off of a human if they dared to step inside. The scenery is blackened and the sky is covered in dark smoke. Volcanoes are constantly erupting, and the vibrantly colored magma is always seeping across the ground. One look at it and many a human dubs it hell. A place where none should be able to survive, and if they do not, they are surely monsters.
The inhabitants of this realm surely fit that bill though. Lacking a soul and pumped full of magical energy, the demons that live there are nothing short of frightening.
After the Magick Explosion, a majority of the Fire Dragons fled to this realm. The heat did not affect them strongly, and they need not fear attacks from the demons as they had the humans.
Vanaheim is the home of the oldest gods known to this universe, the Vanir. It is here that they have “retired”, so to speak. These gods are experienced with the gift of foresight. They will teach it to those who come... but only after they have proven themselves worthy of such a powerful magick.
The realm is filled with climbing peaks and lush forest valleys, with a lake at the center of it all. It is in this lake that the old gods rest... and there that a summoning ritual must take place if one wishes to request a council. Those doing so must bring suitable offerings- usually a limb or even the head of one of the Aesir. The Vanir will then depart the most ancient of magicks to the adventurer.
Such a task is nearly impossible to complete, seeing as the island where the lake is located is placed in the middle of a raging sea, where deep water currents and maelstroms are always present. The sea is also constantly under attack from an intense storm. Few have ever survived to reach the island.... and even fewer have survived a meeting with the Vanir.
Jotunheim serves as the home for the Giants. This race is not exactly on friendly terms with the current powerful gods, the Aesir. This realm consists of rocks, wilderness, and dense forests. Lake and river formations are also present, and teeming with life. The Giants live off of fish that have been caught from these bodies of water, and what animals they can trap in the forest. For all its vastness, Jotunheim holds no land that is suitable for farming. The dirt is devoid of any nutrients.
When the Magick Explosion happened, Basilisks made Jotunheim their home. They entered into a never-ending fight with the Giants that occupied the realm, both battling it out for complete control. Currently, the two are at a stand-still, the Basilisks having claimed the mountain peaks, and the Giants contented to stay by the forests and water where they can feed themselves.
Niflheim, the realm of mist and fog, is arguably the coldest and darkest realm of the nine. Its shores are often covered in mist, as the temperature difference of the water meets that of the frozen tundra. Foliage is bountiful but often covered with a thick layer of frost. It is speculated that Niflheim was not always frozen over... but how exactly it reached such a state is still unknown.
How the Merfolk inhabited such a place, is merely speculation. The Merfolk that have migrated to Midgard no longer speak of their home realm... having long forgotten about it under the gentle rays of Midgard’s sun.
The Magic Explosion brought two kinds of dragons to Niflheim: the Water Dragons and the Frost Dragons. Some of the Water Dragons remained at Midgard, but when the humans started to hunt them many chose to flee instead of cowering in constant fear.
Helheim is a place devoid of light, spare a single moon that hangs in a clear ring in the sky. This moon serves one purpose: to guide the dead to the darkest depths within, where they will spend the rest of their time as spirits before they are reborn. Helheim is inhabited only by the souls of the dead and two gatekeepers, both statues that have been brought to life. Anyone who ventures into this realm with the breath of life still in them will perish within seconds.
Svartalfheim, the realm of the dwarves, is dark and full of caverns. The dwarves that live here are miners and metal workers. They have extremely good vision... though if they leave for the surface they are instantly, and permanently, blinded by the brightness.
It is here, in the realm of the dwarves, that all the other races tend to seek out weapons. The dwarven craftsmanship is not revered without just cause.
After the Magick Explosion, the dwarves allowed the Earth Dragons to live with them in their mighty tunnels. These dragons have settled in quite peacefully with the jolly metalsmiths. The two have come to a sort of agreement, and cohabitation has never been easier.
When the air throbs painfully with magick, it cannot be assumed that nothing unordinary will happen. It is quite the opposite. The extraordinary is much more likely to come into fruition.
Shortly after the Mages came into existence, the presence of magickal energies in the air was at the highest it had ever been. Magick thrived in this period.
Magick was suddenly freely in the grasp of many, the world bloomed. Life was found beyond imagination, in every nook and cranny. The magick-laden air, ingested by the organic flora of the world, was capable of performing spells as well. Never forget that magic itself lives... it is not static, waiting to be used. It thrives, it moves and throbs, even against the summoner’s will. The magick floating freely came upon the plants, the trees, the stones, the very lifeforce of the realm of Midgard, and animated them. Trees now moved of their own will and dryads, a type of the newly created nymph, filled the forests. Naiads clustered around the river’s edge, hyriads joined the Mer in the oceans. Leimoniads dove into the lush fields of the wild meadow beds.
However... the flora were not the only beings influenced heavily by the constant magical presence. Fauna was also touched by this living force... and the results were not always as light-hearted as that of the flora. Great beasts sprung out all over the land... some gifted with a conscience and migrating between realms as they saw fit. When the humans adapted and captured the favor of some of these beasts, they could be seen guarding the most prized possessions of their “masters”. Sphinxes were placed in front of sacred burial places, Hippogriffs lent their backs in times of battle, and Griffins watched over kingdoms from mountain perches.
Dragons soared over the sky, sometimes wreaking havoc and sometimes just passing by. In the depths of the ocean a particular octopus absorbed a catastrophic amount of magickal energy... and thus the Kraken was born.
The event that brought all of these creatures into existence was called the Magick Explosion, a title fitting of the nature of the event.
Who was it that came up with the idea to fear the dark? How is it that the smallest of children are so wholly terrified of something that their guardians cannot see? It is simple. They don’t want to be seen. Fear... fear is an easy motivator to those on the hunt.
Demons themselves are not reclusive and like to get out and do things. Whether it's forging a deal, a contract per say, with an unfortunate human, or just traversing Midgard, they are constantly up to something regarding the being that so deeply fascinated them. Their distaste for the Faerie involvement with humans is often clear in how they interact with human mages… or those with magic in general. The Fae gave them something- made them into something. It’s repulsive to the demons. Afterall, the power of destruction is their most natural gift.
Demons like humans. They like how malleable they are… how fickle… how easy to manipulate they are. It is so easy to back a human into a corner and watch as they thrash around, trying to break free. The expression of fear and nervousness in their eyes is simply exhilarating.
But, the most enchanting part of the human was the strands of light that sat within their body… the essence of their very being. Their soul. The demons were fascinated by it… something that was completely unique to the human race. A few overly-curious demons decided on day… to just take the light that shone so brightly within them. They wanted it, after all. Why shouldn’t they just take it?
The taste was like nothing they could have imagined. It was like an aphrodisiac…. Like a drug… it was simply addicting. Once they had a taste… they craved- needed- more.
As a result, the demonic war took place. The demons lost all control and broke out of Muspelheim in gigantic hordes. Their blood was burning, and their eyes honed on the essence of humanity. The humans were caught off guard. They were completely unprepared for the onslaught of thousands of beings they did not even know existed. These beings knew everything about them... they predicted their every move. It seemed like the end.
However... humanity has an odd way of sticking around... even when you feel they have been defeated.
The demons, high on their "victory", made one very big mistake.
They underestimated the humans.
The humans were not as stupid as the demons had accounted for. Sure, human intelligence was still lacking compared to the vast knowledge the demons held, but the human has tenacity, it has an extreme power of will. The humans determinedly did the last thing that they could think of doing to save themselves- they summoned the Fae.
The Fae, self-appointed protectors of their favorite source of amusement, responded to such summons… and when they discovered the chaos and mass destruction caused by the demons… well… let’s just say that their fury knew no bounds. The demons were quickly rounded up. Their energies were spent, and their beings gorged on souls. They stood no chance against the wrath of the Fae. They were ungraciously bound, and thrown from Midgard…. The door practically slammed shut behind them. The Fae placed a seal on Muspelheim as punishment for their actions. They would not be able to easily circumvent such a powerful magic.
Because of this event, the presence of demons in the world significantly diminished. Currently, only powerful demons can escape the seal the Fae placed on Muspelheim and enter Midgard once more.
It should be noted that the demons went through a “reconstruction” phase after their banishment. They indeed reflected on their actions... not repenting... oh no... they were seeking a way to do so again... but without inciting the authority of the Fae. They developed a code- a group of “laws”- regarding the consumption of human souls. They must be earned… through a deal. The human must consent to it. This way, the Fae cannot protect that human.
