These Gods Are Strange

[Balasar]

Ok so I’m a little confused by some of the gods, and was hoping for a little explanation. It’s certainly possible that I’m just not familiar enough with Norse mythology, but there are some things that seem a little inconsistent.

1. Elli controls the aging process of gods and giants, which are both immortal races. So does she use her powers to prevent giants from aging once they reach adulthood, and just not age the Aesir at all? Is she incapable of altering the natural aging rate? Do Idun’s apples render the Aesir immune to her influence? Or is she like Albruna and not believe in altering what’s preordained? With the info provided, it seems like she could end the Aesir/Jotun war pretty instantaneously.

2. Are Frey and Freya considered Aesir or Vanir? I was always under the impression that they were Vanir, and there’s lots of lore listed in LOTA would seem to back that up, but they’re listed as Aesir in the Divine Patrons chapter. Did Frey swear allegiance to Asgard after he was sent as a hostage? Why are Freya and Folkvangr in Asgard instead of Vanagard?

3. Speaking of Frey, how is he the king of the Alfar? If the alfar are crazy powerful beings that came from what’s basically another universe, then why would they make a god their ruler instead of promoting from within? Also, in DOTN, there’s an item called the Favor of the Elf King’s Daughter, and the description talks about the daughter of the lios alfar king and a mortal. Is Frey that same king? The Elf King’s Daughter is actually pretty important for my campaign, so I’m especially curious about this one.

4. Silly question, but if Heimdall can see and hear everything, there are so many questions begging to be asked. How has Hyrrokin managed to infiltrate Asgard? How have the Aesir not discovered the location of naglfar and the guild of nails and sent einherjar hit squads after them? How do they not know Vargeisa is trying to free Loki? Or where Sinmara has hidden Laeveteinn? Shouldn’t he be able to solve Ragnarok right quick? Or is it child’s play to hide something from the sentinel of the gods?

[Panjumanju]

For my two cents...

1. Elli controls the aging process of gods and giants, which are both immortal races. So does she use her powers to prevent giants from aging once they reach adulthood, and just not age the Aesir at all? Is she incapable of altering the natural aging rate? Do Idun’s apples render the Aesir immune to her influence? Or is she like Albruna and not believe in altering what’s preordained? With the info provided, it seems like she could end the Aesir/Jotun war pretty instantaneously.

Sounds like there's a campaign in that question.

2. Are Frey and Freya considered Aesir or Vanir? I was always under the impression that they were Vanir, and there’s lots of lore listed in LOTA would seem to back that up, but they’re listed as Aesir in the Divine Patrons chapter. Did Frey swear allegiance to Asgard after he was sent as a hostage? Why are Freya and Folkvangr in Asgard instead of Vanagard?

You're on the right track. They were Vanir, but in the war between the Aesir and the Vanir, when the Vanir won they...exchanged people. Kind of a cutural exchange; kind of a prisoner exchange to discourage futher hostilities. It didn't really work, though, because the Aesir chose two of the best Vanir gods and the Vanir got the Aesir's cast-offs. This lead to further hostile feelings from the Vanir rather than less. By most accounts Freya now consideres herself an Aesir.

3. Speaking of Frey, how is he the king of the Alfar? If the alfar are crazy powerful beings that came from what’s basically another universe, then why would they make a god their ruler instead of promoting from within? Also, in DOTN, there’s an item called the Favor of the Elf King’s Daughter, and the description talks about the daughter of the lios alfar king and a mortal. Is Frey that same king? The Elf King’s Daughter is actually pretty important for my campaign, so I’m especially curious about this one.

It's a long story, but basically the Alfar (you're specifically talking about the Lios Alfar) don't work well together, and were foolish enough to be manipulated into an Aesir represntitive taking over. From Odin's perspective it was political manuvering for the final battle. If the Lios Alfar could get their heads on straight, politically, they would be a much more powerful force to be recon with. There's more information on the why's and wherefor's of Lios Alfar political structure in Creates of Fairy-Tale and Myth, here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/26 ... story-book

Also, a point of note: the Lios and Svart Alfar did not come form beyond the Veil. (You're thinking of the Aos Si.) The Alfar came up from the void well. What's important is that they have a separate lineage from the Jotuns. (The Vanir and Aesir do not.) THe Alfar are their own strange thing, created from the power of realms meeting. It's complicated, and really wild. See the aforementioned Creatures or the early chapters of the Illuminated Edda, here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/19 ... nated-Edda

4. Silly question, but if Heimdall can see and hear everything, there are so many questions begging to be asked. How has Hyrrokin managed to infiltrate Asgard? How have the Aesir not discovered the location of naglfar and the guild of nails and sent einherjar hit squads after them? How do they not know Vargeisa is trying to free Loki? Or where Sinmara has hidden Laeveteinn? Shouldn’t he be able to solve Ragnarok right quick? Or is it child’s play to hide something from the sentinel of the gods?

I always read it as him seeing things that aren't hidden by magic. All sources go out of their way to say there are certain places he cannot see. Myrkvid springs to mind. You can say his powers are a little trumped up, or, you can make it a thread in your campaign. Sounds like a good hook to me.

//Panjumanju