oo2 || Video

[thralls]

[When the feed starts, Athelstan is in his room, with one of Will's dogs stretched warmly across his lap. Athelstan rubs his fingers against her ears as he looks over the projection from his bracelet- right, recording.]

...'this is the end'. The tree has been- is being?- destroyed. I am not a commander of men, nor am I any sort of leader, but times are dire and I... [His lips press together firmly as he nudges the dog off of his lap- she makes a soft, indignant noise before skittering out of his room.]

Where I come from, the men worshiped these gods. This tree was their world, holding up everything they held dear. We must fight to keep it standing, we must- I can show you how these gods must be worshiped, I can tell stories of their exploits and wit, if that would give you cause to fight for them.

[There's a short pause, as Athelstan lets out a breath, contemplating his next words.] Even if you cannot fight, you must pray. All of your gods have guided men through their trials for hundreds of years- longer, in some of your worlds. They would not abandon us now.

[The words are encouraging, but his voice is hollow, preaching a message he's not sure if he can believe in.]

Comments

[palebee]

I would be honoured to hear you speak of Odin.

[ Though he doubts there's much connection -- haven't they had pantheons enough within their ranks? -- it can't hurt to try. All myths originate from their own forms of truth; factual, and otherwise.

And hell if a historian wouldn't kill for this kind of first-hand account. ]

[thralls]

[He nods.]

Odin- he is a general, but he is known throughout the lands for his wisdom. It is said that Mímisbrunnr- the sacred well of Mímir, located in the roots of Yggdrasil- contains immeasurable wisdom and knowledge of the world. Odin offered his eye to Mímir in exchange for drinking from this well.

[When he speaks, it's soft, hesitant, reciting from memory rather than from a story he knows by heart. Still, he does his best.]

In another event, he hanged himself from the world tree- for nine days and nine nights, he suspended himself from the branches, spears run through his body, in order to give him the wisdom he needed to hold his power throughout the nine worlds. [Athelstan finally looks back up toward the video and offers Albus a little smile.] Knowledge and wisdom are revered in the culture of the North- though not in the same way that many others see it.

[palebee]

[ He nods along as he listens, smiling back. ]

A Mímir has spoken to the city before, [ A serious sort -- if nothing very much like his companion. ] He did us a kindness, but I'm afraid that I know little else of him.

[ 'God of strategy', 'chess', Alice's testimony was helpful, but far from thorough. ]

Knowing and understanding can be quite different that way, can't they? A lucky thing, Asgard, to afford a chance at both. And a chance, of course, to alter circumstance. Thank you for the telling.

The Odin here hangs less literally in stasis; an overextension of his strength. The gods do not know how he might be woken, save to let him lie and rest. Have you heard any stories of like, beyond those nine days and nights?

[thralls]

[Athelstan nods at the words- not entirely surprised that Mímir would be part of this world as well, but curious at the mention all the same. Still, before he can question the other man on it, he's asked another question. With that one, Athelstan has to pause, trying to remember if he'd ever heard a story like that before.

His brows are furrowed for awhile, but after a time, he shakes his head, somewhat confused.]

I have not. That is not to say that there is none, but no such tale has been told to me. Odin's final rest will be when Fenrir slays him at Ragnarök- anything beyond that, I do not know.

[Athelstan purses his lips.]

Still, the trance he is in now is... concerning. The number nine is sacred to these gods and the men who worship them. Whether that means nine days or nine seasons of sleep, I do not know. That's all I can think of that might be of help; I'm sorry.