Norse Lands

An earthquake shatters Fenrir's invincible chains. The great wolf swallows the sun, and winter covers the earth for three long, cold years.

Then a mighty blast from the horn of Hemidall, guardian of the gods' home, echoes across the world. The golden cock atop the World Tree crows loudly in reply. These are the signs. Ragnarok, "The Twilight of the Gods," the ultimate battle, the end of the world has arrived.

When Ragnarok comes, gods and giants will clash. The world serpent will rear up, spew out poisonous fumes and cause a tidal wave. Thor, the thunder-god, the champion of the gods, will raise his mighty hammer and strike the serpent dead — but then fall dead himself from the creature's fatal venom. Odin, the god of death, the most powerful of all the gods, will mount his eight-legged steed and charge against Fenrir — but the wolf will devour him. Odin's son will tear open the jaws of the vicious wolf and shove a sword down to his very heart.

One by one the gods will fall in unspeakable battles. The world will be engulfed in cataclysmic flames. Even the stars will fall. Ragnarok: when everything will be lost in a fiery blaze.

The Vikings lived in a world that was harsh and dangerous. Their mythical world was just as threatening. Sky gods fought earth gods. Giants were always lurking. The violent end of the world was inevitable. Even Odin and Thor, the most powerful gods, were doomed to destruction at Ragnorak, the final, violent battle.