00:15The news of the Isis battle and creation echoed throughout the nine realms until they shook the
00:21lands of Vanaheim, the realm of the Vanir. Freya, a sorceress and the most powerful of the Vanir,
00:30looked to the horizon and saw the glowing golden top of Valhalla above the green lands of Midgard.
00:37Wasting no time, she travelled to this new realm. When Freya reached the creation of Odin
00:44and his brothers, she saw great forests and the world tree, Yggdrasil, scraping across the clouds
00:51of the sky. Great waterfalls fell from mountains and coursed in rivers along which stood the
00:58villages of mortals. Freya introduced herself and the locals were in awe at the stranger who could
01:06summon fire from her hands, blow a destructive gale from between her lips and summon wildlife
01:12with but a gesture. With the lead of Freya the Fertile, the other of her kin, Frey the endowed,
01:21Yord, the wealthy, and Odru, the inspired, travelled from village to village, bringing excitement and
01:28wonder to the new inhabitants of Midgard, even selling their services of magic to those who had
01:34something of interest to barter. Kings, queens and ministers traded gold, animals and honey for favour
01:43and curses against their opponents, and the unwavering loyalty of their people. The exploits
01:50of the Vanir did not go unnoticed by the Isar, who called the sorcerers to the golden halls of Valhalla
01:57in Asgard. The wielders of magic were delighted to have been noticed by the lords of the realm,
02:04but their glee was turned to dread once the great doors of Valhalla slammed shut behind them,
02:09and a troop of Isar emerged from every direction to encircle them. Thor raised his magical hammer,
02:18Mjolnir, against the Vanir, while his sons, Modi and Magni, stood by his side.
02:26The two youngsters were mighty and broad, but not as large or powerful as their father. Tyr,
02:33the one-handed, came forth with his long sword, which he held aloft with ease, while Loki stood,
02:41smirking in the shadows, watching the drama unfold. Last appeared Odin, whose single eye glared with
02:50power and anger at the four Vanir before him. The great old man in long robes, bade the sorcerers to
02:58the balcony. With wary steps, they followed. From the balcony, Odin pointed to Midgard below.
03:07Villages were smoldered with the fires of war, while armies of men marched from one corner of
03:14the land to the other, bringing destruction and death in their wake. The land was in turmoil,
03:20and the Allfather was not blind to the magical influence behind the sudden chaos. He made it
03:27clear to the Vanir, that such madness could not exist in the perfect world he and his brothers had
03:33created, and the trespassers would be punished. The Vanir argued their case. They sought to bring
03:41excitement and wonder to the otherwise mundane denizens of Midgard. What men did with their gifts,
03:48was their own responsibility. Odin was taken aback by the strong will of these sorcerers.
03:55At first, he thought the robed pale beings before him were sniveling wastrels who would cower at the
04:02sight of strength. The king of the Aesir made his judgement. The Vanir would be welcome in Asgard,
04:10but no longer may they influence the lives of mortals who would use their magic for petty personal gains.
04:16So the Vanir lived in the court of the Aesir as guests and shared their knowledge of the magical
04:23realm. Their whimsical ways brought colour and wonder to the rigid court of the Asgardians.
04:30Even the most strict and hard-headed were delighted by the lively sorcerers. Not only were the Vanir powerful
04:38mystics but also sharp of tongue, quick of wit, and seductive beyond reason. The Aesir were enraptured
04:47by their new companions, each vying for their attention and favour. An Aesir was worthless against
04:54another who had the favour of a Vanir. So, each of the honourable lords of Asgard would climb over hill
05:02and
05:02obstacle just for a single boon from one of the sorcerers, thus being one step ahead of their
05:08rivals. The Aesir looked sideways at one another, fearful that their compatriot had more influence
05:16or more tricks than they. A sleight of hand there, a spell of forgetfulness, and an illusion or two,
05:24and you had the upper hand. The honourable lords of Asgard turned to seclusion and distrust,
05:32hidden in their chambers, watching carefully for any sudden spark or clink. Silence and fear reigned
05:40over the once golden halls of Valhalla. The Vanir looked for their hosts, but none of the Aesir would
05:47see them, in fear of a rival of theirs, trying another horrible trick. Odin was no fool,
05:55and saw that all the troubles were because of their dishonourable guests, and summoned forth his kin.
06:02Every Aesir burst from their chambers at the call of Odin, and rallied in the central hall.
06:09Fathers stood by their sons, and all stood around the lord of Valhalla. All blame was placed upon the
06:17heads of the sorcerers, and the witch-hunt began. Freya was caught off guard, in the halls, falling to
06:25the first strike of Tyr's sword, and burnt into a pile of ash. With the power of her magic, she
06:33rose from
06:33her ashes, but only to catch a blow from Mjolnir, turning to ash once again. Thinking they had bested
06:41her, the Aesir turned their attention elsewhere, allowing Freya to be reborn, and escape once again.
06:48She reached the balcony, only to be attacked a third time, stabbed in the back by the hiding Loki.
06:56As she turned to ash, the wind carried her remains to safety.
07:01Girl vague, they cursed after her, which means gold greed in the tongue of Asgard.
07:07The Aesir took to arms, and charged against the rest of the Vanir upon Midgard. Swords clashed,
07:15and men fell to their deaths, when the lords of Asgard rushed against their foes.
07:20The sorcerers of Vanaheim lacked martial prowess, but their powers beyond the natural world,
07:27granted them the agility to dodge the deftest swing, block the most fearsome fall of an axe,
07:34and blow winds to swerve the mighty Mjolnir from its course.
07:38The war of the Aesir and Vanir cracked Midgard down to its core, bursting the fiery blood of
07:45Ymir from its depths. The blue sky turned black, and destruction marred the land. The lakes and rivers
07:54broke their banks, red with blood, and every speck of grass was covered by a mound of the dead.
08:01The black smoke of battle, surrounded Odin, bringing him back to the dark memory of Ginnunga Gap
08:08and the wanton chaos, wrought by Ymir. All he had built with his brothers, lay broken and ruined.
08:15He commanded the Aesir to stop, and called for a truce.
08:20Both sides had caused wounds and grief to the other, and reparations had to be paid,
08:26according to the customs of Asgard. Hostages were shared between the Aesir and Vanir.
08:33Freya, Frey, and Yord were to live in Asgard, while Mimir, the All-Knowing, and Hoenir,
08:41the creator of man, went to live in Valheim. The scars of war lingered long in Midgard.
08:49Even after every crater and scar was hidden by the dirt of the ages, the soul of the world would
08:56forever bear the evil memory of the first war between the divines.
