#scandinavian lore

[varvargartwork]

“Midsommarafton”

Almost two months too late with sharing this one but sharing it nonetheless :) painted with acrylics by Arteza on their canvas board

[hjbender]

Do you research the things you put into fics? Like your troll one? Or do you just kinda come up with it? I’m wanting to write a Jotun!thorki fic but I want it to be sorta accurate so I didn’t know if you actually researched and found old myths or much like your fics your mind is brilliant and you just come up with it as you go.

Yes, I do apply research to my fics. Some stories require more research than others, depending on what kind of content I’m writing. Those porny one-shots I like so much don’t typically require a lot of research unless it’s kinks or human sexuality or something. But it never hurts to double-check something you’re uncertain about, especially when it comes to non-fiction science or physics or other immutable principles of the universe. (Like researching ion drives for the first chapter of Side by Side. That hurt me. It still does. Just a small mention in the fic, but I feel like I halfway earned a degree in Electrical Engineering just to write it with some level of accuracy.)

If I actually like one of the subjects, most of the time I don’t realize I’m even doing research at all. It’s just pure learning. Example: I bought a book about mushrooms when I was writing The Way to a Jötunn’s Heart. I didn’t really need to because I used zero information about mushrooms, but it was still fun and I ended up learning a lot about mushrooms. Enough to put a chuckle-worthy disclaimer at the end of the story. 😂

The Little Frost Troll has probably been my most researched fic to date, but a lot of that research hasn’t actually made it into my story. (Some has, obviously; like Loki hating the sound of bells, which is a characteristic of heathen Norwegian trolls, and being afraid of lightning. Also the water spirits, or nøkker, of Germanic/Scandinavian folklore.)

But the majority of the ideas (I’d estimate 80-90%) in TLFT are original, or at least modified adaptations and twists on classic fantasy creatures. Like the lore about Asgardian fairies and their gifting culture, the offering pedestals, how they affected Asgard when they were brought there, their relationship with the big folk (less dangerous than the fae of legend), etc. Then there’s the whole nesting culture of the frost trolls, their reproductive anatomy, their customs regarding mating, clothing, food, language (I chose Icelandic), education, and sanitation. I have a lot of fun building worlds, and this is a big one full of endless opportunities.

I research canon mythology, often for the purpose of ignoring it completely. For example, in TLFT, Baldur will never be accidentally killed by Hodur, Váli and Vídarr are not Odin’s biological tools of vengeance, Frigga is Thor’s mother instead of Jord, etc. I mean, canon’s fine, but I’m all about chasing that delightful creature called What If. 

But enough about me. So you’re wanting to write a Jötunn Loki fic—that’s awesome! The great thing is that with jötunn culture there’s very little canon information to go on, so “accuracy” is really kind of subjective. (And we all love to ignore canon, especially when it comes to the MCU.) My pal Chrys over on Twitter is having a blast coming up with all sorts of great headcanons about Jötunheim’s exports and animals:

If you want to base your story on a preexisting myth or comic, of course it helps to read that material and adapt it however you see fit. But for the most part, when it comes to Jötunn Loki, there is no true canon to follow, so the truth is whatever you want it to be. It really is free real estate! Total artistic freedom, complete creative license. The power is in your hands, anon, so wield it boldly and have fun with it! 😊

[amelie-von-krolock]

In scandinavian lore, the Nokken is a male water spirit that resides in lakes and ponds. He  is known to be a splendid violinist, who uses his music to lure people into the water to drown, but he can shapeshift to appeal to his victim as well. The waterlilies that grow in his body of water are his garden and he is very protective of them, so you’d better not touch any of them. ;)

Even though I don’t work with watercolors that often, I totally like how this painting turned out, cause there’s this really cool watery effect. ^^