Is there anybody on the forums who is keen on Scandinavian myths? I'd really appreciate some feedback on that, Thor and his hammer Mjollnir especially, as I will need those for a game. If anuone can help me, please send those to the email shown in my profile. I'd look on the net myself but just can't now.
Thanks for help in advance.
one scandinavian myth is that all swedish girls have large breasts
And blond hair in plaits? ;)
and that they put out....
i think somebody's making a halo game ;)
Everything you want to know about Scandinavian mythology (and all other major people's myths) is right here:
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/norse/
When I went to Sweden I was astounded to find that about 75% of the women I saw actually did have blonde hair and large breasts...
how do we know you didn't only see 4 women while there?
Quote from: BOYD1981 on Sat 20/11/2004 19:25:53
how do we know you didn't only see 4 women while there?
He spent the trip in his hotel room watching swedish pr0n films
ah no wonder they all had blond hair then, but i didn't think sheep had large breasts...
Quote from: lelev on Fri 19/11/2004 19:44:17
Is there anybody on the forums who is keen on Scandinavian myths? I'd really appreciate some feedback on that, Thor and his hammer Mjollnir especially, as I will need those for a game. If anuone can help me, please send those to the email shown in my profile. I'd look on the net myself but just can't now.
Thanks for help in advance.
It seems like you're "tacking on" this bit about myths to your game. If you ARE taking it on, why make it accurate? It undoubtedly won't fit into the rest of the game. Just make it all up, hell, call Thor something different like DAVE if you want.
I could just see it
Hero: Oh Mighty Thor! I bow before you.
Thor: Look, my name is Roth, some idiot mispelled it and it just stuck. All the other gods laugh at me about it.
Hero: Hit them with that mighty hammer.
Roth: Again, another misprint, I don't have a lightning hammer, I have a lightning fast Hummer.
Hero: Oh.
Roth: Yeah I'm not all that impressive in person am I.
Hero: ...
Hero: I like your pants.
There's no NATURAL Swedish girl with dark hair. The ones you could see would have some foreign blood.
I'm asking about the myths, because I want Thor's hammer to be an artifact the hero's looking for. I will convert it at some parts - I know I will have to. But I want to keep some reality.
Does the rest of the game in any way relate to Germanic myths?
Also: the tales of the god's changed from place to place and it's not like they're real in the first place, so just call the damn thing "Thor's Hammer" and draw a really huge battle-hammer.
What information does the hero have to know exactly? What information are you after? If all else fails, wikipeida it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mjollnir
I'll better say something mor about the story. It's 1940, the Germans have just conquered Norway and are sending some scientist who believes Thor's Hammer exists. If they get it, they win the war. But the British intercept a message about this German guy coming to Norway and send their man (player) to investigate.
That means the hammer is in the centre of the story. That's why I'm looking for as much info as I can get.
Quote from: lelev on Sun 21/11/2004 20:32:23
But I want to keep some reality.
when applied to something like a myth that's sort of an oxymoron, i think you'll get more information from your local library or a google search, but a library is probably best.
Yes. I was already at one library and gonna borrow the books tomorrow.
Saying reality I mean using a base. I think it's smarter and better to use as much material as I can than just making up everything. There already is a lot to make up.
Thor's Hammer, Mjölnir (or Mjollnir... spellings differ), was allegedly forged by the svartalfar (black elves or rather dwarves) Sindri and Brok and was the greatest weapon they had ever made, although during its making they got pained by a fly and stopped working shortly before finishing.
That's why the hammer has a very short handle and therefore needs to be hurled with immense force.
When thrown, it became red hot, never missed and always returned to the thrower who had to protect his hand by a magical glove in order not to become burnt (The glove also had a name and I am not sure if Thor himself even needed it).
While not being in use it became very small and easily concealable.
The blow of the hammer (in Thor's hands) is mighty enough to split mountains.
On the day of cataclysm, the Ragnarök, Thor will slay Jormungandr, the Midgard serpent before dying of its poisonous breath.
After that, an Einherjer (a brave warrior, died in battle and thought worthy by Odin) could pick up the hammer (wearing aforesaid glove) and continue fighting the monsters and giants...
Reading your concept story I would suggest adding first a subquest for the glove.
For further information, it might be of use to look for information about the SS-Division "Ahnenerbe". This was a unit that actually existed and they were indeed trying to find someting in old norse and german myths and stories that would help their aims... (sick, eh?)
If you need any further info, pm me, I might know some more things...
Quote from: lelev on Sun 21/11/2004 20:32:23
There's no NATURAL Swedish girl with dark hair. The ones you could see would have some foreign blood.
That's completely untrue, and actually kind of offensive. I know several Swedish and Norwegian girls with black and with dark hair, who are as Scandinavian as any of their blonde peers. What is a "natural" Swede, anyway? You think there's anyone in Sweden who doesn't have an ancestor from somewhere else? Hah! Just think of the foreign slaves kidnapped by the Vikings. Their descendants have lived in the country for a thousand years or more, and by now probably include pretty much the entire population. Are they not real Swedes? Everyone (except for on Iceland) has foreign blood, there is no "pure race".
And by the way, you're forgetting the Sami people, the native tribes who have lived in Sweden for a lot longer than the Germanic peoples. They are pretty much all black-haired.
So this is like Indy without the Indy?
Snarky - meant no offense and am sorry if any was taken.
Redwall - quite right. That's what I think about the story myself ;)
Isegrim - Wow! You seem to know really much about these. I already thought about adding the subquest for the glove, but I'll have to just call it the Glove, because I did not find the name anywhere. You've already been very helpful and I'm surely going to PM you.
I'm sure you knew about this one already, but decided to add some things
"Megingjardir, Megingiord, Megingarder- The magic belt/girdle of Thor. When worn, it doubled his already tremendous strength"
-----
"After Thors death the hammer was returned to the temple of meridia by thors sons. Where it still resides today this is why when the thunder plain calls to Miolnir the earth tremble beneath your feet . Thors belt and glove have not been found at this time but it is thought that they may be hidden in the temple somewhere."
-----
And also something amusing. These gods should've been in sitcoms!
"Sif, in Norse mythology, the wife of the thunder god, Thor. Sif was a giantess, goddess of grain and fertility, and one of the Asynjur. She was the mother of Ull, god of archery, skiing, and single combat. Sif was Thor's second wife, and Ull was his stepson. Sif's golden hair, which symbolized her connection to the fertility of the land and the harvest of grain, was often praised. She was known to be very vain about its beauty. According to legend, Loki, the mischievous trickster fire god, cut off Sif's hair while she slept (in one version, he burns it off). Thor was so angry that he forced Loki to replace Sif's hair with a wig, crafted by the dwarfs and made of the finest strands of gold."
oh that Loki!
I did not find anyt other information about the glove except for that it is said to be an iron gauntlet.
another funny stopry 'bout Loki:
Once, violent death was prophesied to Baldur, one of the Aesir. The other Aesir were shocked (immortal as they were) and decided to take an oath from every being not to harm Baldur. After some time, the only thing left unbound by oath was the mistletoe. Loki, disguised as a hag advised the Aesir not to care about such a minor plant.
The Aesir then began to try out if the oaths were kept and started to beat Baldur with various things, but he remained unharmed.
Höd, Baldur's brother was sad, because he was blind and the other gods didn't let him participate in the considerable fun they had.
Loki however gave him a mistletoe spear, Höd unsuspectingly threw it and killed Baldur!
That's the most funny norse myth IMO, because the Aesir are shown as a bunch of silly, childish bullies and braggards only interested in beating each other up and sharing a mug of mead afterwards...
Quote"After Thors death the hammer was returned to the temple of meridia by thors sons. Where it still resides today this is why when the thunder plain calls to Miolnir the earth tremble beneath your feet . Thors belt and glove have not been found at this time but it is thought that they may be hidden in the temple somewhere."
Arf. Thor died? Dosn't that mean ragnorok has Happened?
from what I remember when I was studying this Ragnorok has happened and lots of gods have died.. but not really.. but they did...
So I was confused and gave up.
I always liked the idea of Odin sacrificing himself to himself. That and the god who had to put his arm in Fenrir's mouth as a show of good faith while they bound Fenrir in ribbon.
One of the funniest is when a giant Thrym steals Thor's hammer, buries it in the ground and claims he won't return it unless he is married to Freya. Thor and Loki travel to Thrym, both disguised, Thor as Freya and Loki as her female companion. They reach Thrym's house and have a feast. While Thor puts huge amounts of food intio his mouth and drinks a lot from a gigantic horn, Loki explains to Thrym, that Freya was so excited about getting married and so tired after long journey that she had to eat and drink a lot. Then Thor retrieves his hammer and kills Thrym.