Baðmrfólk

A term for the common folk of Asgard and Vanaheim. There is disagreement among academics as to whether they constitute a sepperate species from Asgardians.

According to myth, the first Baðmrfólk, Ask and Embla, were created by Buri from trees in order to be companions and helpmeets to his son Bor the Elder. If true, this would make Baðmrfólk indisputedly a sepperate species. However, Baðmrfólk are physiologically almost indistinguishable from the descendants of Bor, and are capable of interbreeding with them, implying they are, at the very least, as closely related to the descendants of Bor as most Giants.

One popular theory is that Ask and Embla (either both or only one) were Bor's younger siblings, and the tree myth was created later in order to justify Bor's appointment of himself as an absolute monarch. In this theory, the increased magical potential, enhanced strength, and longer lifespan of the royal family is due not to a difference in their creation, but to the fact that many kings of both Asgard and Vanaheim have married Giantesses, something which is relatively rare Baðmrfólk.

The name Baðmrfólk translates as 'tree people', referencing their creation story.

Genetic Ancestor(s)