Legends of Wodyn

Kaela or Bran's Stories

The Tale of Mara and Wodyn: The Curse of the Shadowleaf Grove

"Long ago, when the world was young and the gods walked among us, there was a time of great strife between the forces of nature and the spirits of darkness. In the heart of the vast and untamed wilderness, where the towering trees reached for the heavens and the rivers ran clear and swift, the goddess Mara held dominion. She was the guardian of the forests, the mother of all living things, her presence felt in every rustling leaf and every whispering breeze.

Mara's power was unmatched, but even she had a foe she could not easily vanquish. Deep within the Shadowleaf Grove, a darkness took root. It was a malevolent spirit, born from the remnants of the ancient war between heaven and hell. This spirit, known as Nidhogg, was created by a demon to corrupt the land and twist nature to its will, spreading fear and decay wherever it went.

Desperate to protect her beloved realm, Mara called upon Wodyn, the wise and fierce walker of 9,000 paths, the wise and war-worn. Wodyn, with his one all-seeing eye and his spear Gungnir, answered her call and descended from his hall in the heavens to aid her.

Together, Mara and Wodyn ventured into the heart of the Shadowleaf Grove. The trees there were twisted and gnarled, their branches clawing at the sky like the talons of some great beast. The air was thick with the stench of decay, and the ground was littered with the bones of those who had dared to enter before them.

In the deepest part of the grove, they found Nidhogg, a serpentine creature of immense size, coiled around the roots of an ancient tree. Its scales were black as night, and its eyes glowed with an unholy light. With a roar that shook the very earth, Nidhogg attacked.

Wodyn fought bravely, his spear striking true time and again, but Nidhogg was powerful and cunning. As the battle raged, Mara used her powers to call upon the spirits of the forest, summoning vines and roots to bind the beast. Yet, even as they struggled, it became clear that Nidhogg could not be destroyed by force alone.

In a final, desperate act, Mara sacrificed a part of her own essence to weave a binding curse. She intertwined her spirit with the very fabric of the grove, creating an eternal prison for Nidhogg. The serpent was bound, unable to escape, but at a great cost. The Shadowleaf Grove became a place of darkness and mystery, a reflection of the battle that had taken place. This is where the first of the Basilisk come from and why they do not leave the forrest.

Mara's power was diminished, but her sacrifice ensured the safety of the world. Wodyn, grieving for his beloved ally, honored her sacrifice. He placed a great standing stone at the edge of the grove, inscribed with runes of power to seal the curse and remind all who saw it of the price that had been paid.

Moved by her sacrifice, and she moved by noble bearing and wise words, Wodyn and Mara coupled, their union bringing forth the first of the Eifer, a strong and noble people. From this union, Mara gave Wodyn the name Allfather, for he would birth nations and guide them with wisdom and strength.

To this day, the villagers of Gwyndara speak of the Shadowleaf Grove with hushed voices, remembering the tale of Mara and Wodyn. They honor the goddess of nature with offerings and respect the grove as a sacred, albeit dark, place. And on moonless nights, if you listen closely, you can hear the whispers of the forest, telling the tale of the great sacrifice and the birth of a people who saved the land from the clutches of darkness."



The Tale of Wodyn's Quest for The Awnser

"In the time when gods and men walked the earth together, there lived Wodyn, the Allfather, the wise and fierce Nephalim of sky, wisdom, and war. Wodyn, known for his insatiable thirst for knowledge and understanding, embarked on a quest that would span centuries, a quest to uncover the secrets of the universe and the very nature of existence.

Wodyn, with his one all-seeing eye, traveled the realms of gods and mortals, seeking out ancient tomes, hidden scrolls, and forgotten spells. His journeys took him to the highest peaks and the deepest caverns, across the vast deserts and through the thickest forests. He consulted with sages and scholars, bargained with spirits, and even sacrificed part of his own essence to drink from the well of wisdom.

Through his tireless efforts, Wodyn discovered 9,000 spells, each more powerful and intricate than the last. He learned to bend the elements to his will, to heal the gravest wounds, to see into the hearts of men, and to commune with the spirits of the dead. His knowledge became unparalleled, and his power grew immense.

Yet, despite all his wisdom and the countless spells he had mastered, there was one truth that eluded him. Wodyn could not find the spell that would reveal the answer to the question that haunted him most: for what purpose does he exist?

Determined to find the answer, Wodyn sought out the giantess Seraphiel, known for her wisdom that spanned the ages. Seraphiel told him that the purpose of existence was to create life, to nurture and bring forth new beginnings. Unsatisfied, Wodyn continued his search and traveled to the south, where he found another giant who lived among the people of the Broken Sun. There, he was told that the purpose of existence was to build great works, to leave a legacy that would stand the test of time.

Still, the answer did not satisfy Wodyn. In his desperation, he bound demons and angels, forcing them to reveal the truth of existence. Each revealed fragments of a singular knowledge: there was once a God, a wholeness of being, who was shattered in a primordial event, giving birth to gods, demons, angels, and men. This shattering gave rise to the lore of the universe, the very fabric of reality that Wodyn sought to understand.

Wodyn realized that he sought the singular voice of Annu, his Greatfather, the original wholeness from which all existence sprang to being. But despite all his efforts, Wodyn never found Annu. Annu was dead, his essence scattered across the cosmos, and the voice Wodyn longed to hear was forever silent.

Wodyn, the Allfather, wise beyond measure, came to understand a bitter truth. If even he, with all his power and knowledge, could not find the meaning of existence, what hope did mortals have? Wodyn's quest became a lesson for all: that meaning is not given, but made. It is through our actions, our creations, and our legacies that we find our purpose. Wodyn waits in his halls, when we die and go there in glory, that is purpose, to fight in the return, conquring Hell and destroying the void, so that Annu's voice could be heard again.

So, we honor Wodyn, not for the knowledge he possessed, but for the endless quest for understanding and for giving we, the Eifer, knowledge of the beyond, for giving us a purpose knowing God is dead."