Þorlæif

| She/her | Artist | Musician | Germanic Polytheist |

[thorlaeif]

I felt like taking a break and drawing my OC Isveig performing seiðr, since she's a völva. This isn't intended to be a historical reconstruction of a seiðr ritual, but rather my own interpretation based on what I've learned.

Here, she's attempting to divine the future using rune-inscribed wooden tablets, each bearing a written word. She wields a special staff threaded with a red cord symbolizing fate. Beside her is an herbal brew that helps her enter a trance.

[thorlaeif]

OMG look what I just found in my old folder! I hope it comes true, guysss! This was me being obsessed after season 2, so I made this couple in The Sims 4 to heal my broken heart.

[thorlaeif]

When building my world, I try not only to follow certain established canons, but also to recreate the spirit of those canons, otherwise it’s impossible to integrate something original in a believable way. After another revision, I arrived at a more coherent explanation of how my characters became the deer of Yggdrasil and what their roles are, while preserving the mythic feel, so I ended up redesigning them again as well.

In the myths four deer are mentioned by name only once (Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, and Duraþrór), and only in connection with the fact that they eat the leaves of Yggdrasil. In my version, after the four dwarves became the pillars of the cardinal directions, the others decided that the pillars of the world needed guardians and turned to the gods. Frigg asked the dwarves to craft four deer hides and bring them to the Norns so that they could choose guardians without a fully defined fate. Those selected, when donning the hides, become deer (in a way similar to úlfhéðnar and berserkers), feed on the leaves of Yggdrasil, and spit them into the cauldron Lífgjafi, where they brew mead. They sustain themselves with it and also feed the giant-dwarves, so that the sky does not collapse upon the earth.

[thorlaeif]

Have you ever thought about having a song written about you, forest dreamer? Well, now there is one! Honestly, I thought the vibe would be different, but it turned out the way it did.

[thorlaeif]

I just finished drawing my main characters' designs. I might change them a bit later, but I’m happy with their main silhouettes. They represent the stags Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, and Durathrór in my story based on Norse mythology. Their names were discussed with professors from Norway and Iceland because I care deeply about the meaning behind how they are named.

[thorlaeif]

I can finally share my Dungeon Synth album with you!

I created this album out of a very deep love for Norse mythology, seen through my own perspective and the stories of my characters.

You will travel from the top to the bottom of the Yggdrasil tree, beginning with Asgard and ending with Hel.

There are nine tracks because "9" is a sacred number, but I do not believe that there are exactly nine realms. However, for convenience and common usage, I structured the tracks according to the standard system. The music and the artwork were done by me.

Yes, I will release this album on other platforms later this month. <3

[thorlaeif]

A final illustration for my music album, depicting Asgard. It is a truly versatile place where it’s impossible to show everything at once, but I tried to capture some of its essential elements. I’ll finally be releasing the album soon, and I’m already looking forward to drawing my characters for this universe and fully immersing myself in the creative process, refining my own vision of Norse mythology.

[thorlaeif]

I'm getting close to releasing my Dungeon Synth album. This time I worked on Hel. Asgard will be the final track and illustration.

To me, Hel is not necessarily a hostile place. It may be dull, dark, quiet, and cold, but it is mostly a place of peace, to each their own. In Norse mythology, Baldr received generous hospitality there, and some sagas describe it as a place where people reunite with their families. However, there are also a few places of punishment for those who committed serious wrongs.

Hel is a controversial and complex topic. Sometimes the word does not even refer to a specific realm, but rather to the general place where people go after death.

I might even share one of the tracks this time, feel free to like and comment!

[thorlaeif]

I continue working on my Dungeon Synth album. This time it’s an illustration for the Vanaheimr track. ✨

For some reason, I imagine it in pink-green and orange tones - beautiful, fertile, and fragrant. Although the Vanir are not necessarily gods of fertility, I choose to depict it this way. In my worldbuilding, Vanaheimr borders Alfheimr and Asgard.

[thorlaeif]

A small sketch of how I plan to depict the Gods and the Jotnar in my story. They are a single species that has intermingled with itself since the very beginning of their existence, so I decided to give the Jotnar, the Vanir, and the Aesir a pearlescent sheen on their ears. This sheen symbolizes their direct descent from Ymir and Audumbla and reflects the myth of the interaction between Muspelheim and Niflheim in the abyss of Ginnungagap. This decision does not contradict the sources, is easy to visualize, and emphasizes the unity of the species. Skin color will also be variable, using an atypical palette, though not necessarily bright. I suffered.

These are my Odin's and Tyr's prototypes on a sketch.

[thorlaeif]

I'm literally losing my mind over my story. Even the smallest details, ones you might never notice, have to be thoroughly thought out. This is one of my OCs and a little peek at her design. She is the daughter of Skadi and Njordr in my story. Her name is Isveig, but I might change her name later. She is one of my dearest characters, representing one of the the four deers of Yggdrasil.

[thorlaeif]

Now I drew a piccie for my sixth dungeon synth track dedicated to Midgardr - the Kingdom of people, where life reaches its peak and takes many different roots. Here is presented a forgotten great warrior, a distant ancestor of my main character, whose family was damned because he did not keep his promise to the gods. He was not buried; he chose to remain with his kin, even though no happiness would ever meet his descendants.

[thorlaeif]

It's time for Nidavellir, a glorious realm of the dvergar! Their whimsical trails will lead you to hills with treasure-filled halls and ancient secrets of craft you will never find anywhere else!

[thorlaeif]

My new avatar piccie! An image of my OC, a skald of The Norse Myth Realms in the distant future.

[thorlaeif]

It’s time to chill in beautiful Alfheim - and, ah yes, check out that whimsical social web of the Norse Myth Realms!

[thorlaeif]

Muspelheim is hot, that's right. Poor goat, not handling that temperature with all of her fluff.

[thorlaeif]

Drew my spiral girl, loving her design a lot.