This is a contribution to a Reason contest. Only the hybrid software synthesizer Algoritm by Reason Studios is in use.

In Midgard, there are two items, which are more powerful than a mighty axe. More dear than a lock of hair from a lover. More sacred than the words of a priest. More important than the ship from which you conquer the world.  When combined, they create life, where others bring death. Growth, where others bring decay. Joy, where others bring agony. They sign the basic pact between man, gods and nature, and no man would be without them.

The Plough and The Sickle (Reason Algoritm contest)

At the root of Yggdrasil the norns are weaving the destinies of men and women. Some patterns are stable, some are wild and unpredictable, some are filled with happiness and joy and others with sorrow and agony. They were there the day you were born to decide whether your life would be glorious or end in sickness and early death. If you happen to get old, you may meet them: If you one day hear a whisper from the dark, turn your head and see the face of a long lost mother, a sister or a lover, you will know it is the face of a norn and that your time is near. You have just been granted the privilege to prepare.

Norn Song

Among the bravest of animals in Valhalle are Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, the goats that pull Thor's chariot across the sky and cause the deep rumble before Thor throws his hammer in a violent thunderblast. Like the beast Sæhrímnir, they have let themselves slay and resurrect countless of times to feed their master. Not even a tamed dog could show greater loyalty and devotion. If the Gods of Valhalla deserve praise, so do their holy animals who lend them the flesh from which they feed.

Thunder Goats

Jotuns. Scary, strong and worthy enemies of the Gods. Or at least that is what they would like you to think in Valhalla to dramatize their ongoing battles. However, in Freya's Folkvang we know that apart from a few powerful ones, most are rather patethic than dangerous inhabitants of Jötunheimr. Dull and singleminded from birth. Give them pork and ale in their bellies and they are all pacified. Problem is when they multiply beyond their ressources, then they will march and will have to be taught the samme lessson again and again till the day they are all exstinguished in Ragnarok. They are born to lose. Thus, we may not forget to pity them though we fear them in large numbers.

Jotuns (Featuring Vurt from KVR)

In a cave in Jotunheim the giant wolf Fenrir is tied to the ground by the magical chain Gleipner. A sword is stucked through its mouth to prevent it from biting the Gods. Every day you can hear its rage and mourns. Endless torment and suffering. Who would have thought that this mighty creature, who are destined to swallow Odin himself at Ragnarok, once was an innocent little wolf pup suckling at the breasts of its mother Angrboda? Let the story of Fenrir remind us that even the most broken and vicous beings were innocent when they came from the womb. It is the scars of life  that shape us, not whether we were born God, man or wolf.

Lullaby for Fenrir (Featuring Jan Civil from KVR)

Raise, fallen Einherjars. The Valkyries have left us at the foot of Bifrost, the rainbow road to Asgard. Let us enjoy our last travel in life until we face the gates at Bifrost´s end.

The Gates at Bifrost's End

There is no love greater than the love for our children. This regards man as well as god. Thus, the greatest of all gods, Odin, rode to Hel through many dangers to investigate the nature of the nightmares of his son, Baldr. He finds the corps of a Vølva and brings her back to life. Under false name, he asked about Baldr's dreams, and that is how Odin came to know the prophecies of Ragnarok and the end of his own existence. Be careful what you ask for is the lesson for man to learn from this. Some things are only for the gods to know, and some things are not even for their ears.

Odin's Ride to Hel

Every realm has its Guardian. Hel is no exception. Thus, when Odin rode to Hel to learn about the nightmares of his son, Baldr, he encountered Garmr, the bloodstained guardian of the gates to Hel. Fortunately, Odins horse Sleipner was too fast for even Garmr, so he could only howl from afar while Odin rode through the gates. Even the mightiest of gods knows when a fight is won by avoiding the fight. Cleverness and stealth are among the most important weapons of the wise.

The Bloodstained Guardian

Below the roots of Yggdrasil is a world much different from Midgard and Asgard. The christian crusaders call this “Hell” and claim it is a place of eternal fire and heat where men will be punished for their crimes towards the Christ-God. They are right that there is a world below. However, it is not a place of fire, but freezing cold. The realm of dead is called Hel, which is also the name of the goddess who rules it. It lies deep within Niflheim, realm of ice and mist. You reach it by traveling by Helvegr: Road to Hel. The first thing you will notice when you enter is the ice cold touch and sounds of the misty winds that strike your face. Soon dark tales they shall whisper to your ears. Underworld whispers.

Mist of Niflheim

The sailors of the seas of Midgard have navigated through storms, giant waves, thunder, lightning and icy winters. Their soul and bodies have long been hardened by the elements. Nevertheless a sailor should always fear the sea, for right under it, wrapped around Midgard, lies Jörmungandr the Midgard Serpent, and no ship or hardened heart will save the sailor from certain death should he ever encounter it. The Midgard Serpent is son of Loki and the giantess Angrboda and brother to the Fenrir wolf and Hel, ruler of the underworld.  In the underworld Odin learned that his son Thor and the Midgard serpent will kill each other at Ragnarok.

Jörmungandr of Midgard

Odin´s praised and beloved son Baldr had dreams about his own dead, which depressed him. His mother, Frigg, had the same dreams. Odin travelled to the underworld and learned about the prophecies of Ragnarok, including Bladr´s and his own death. To prevent it, Frigg made every material in the world promise her that nothing would ever harm Baldr. It worked, and the gods found it entertaining to sometimes shoot arrows or throw stones, axes and spears at Baldr, since they could not harm him. However, Frigg had forgotten to ask the mistletoe, which she thought was too harmless. Therefore it had not taken the wow. Loki, who was envious of Baldr, heard of this and crafted a magical spear from the plant. He brought it to the place where the gods were hurling objects at Baldr. Loki gave the spear to Baldr's brother, the blind Hodr, who accidentally killed his brother with it. The sudden death of Baldr brought him to the underworld, from which Hel would not release him. However, Odin also learned that Baldr would survive Ragnarok and return from the underworld to rule a new age of peace and prosperity together with his brother Hodr .

Baldr´s Return

Travelling by Helvegr to the gates of Hel, you will encounter a side road that seemingly leads to a valley whose beautiful white shimmering lights will attract the curious traveller. Do not take the road. Those lights are reflections from souls, not dead, nor alive, but trapped in frozen memories of what has been, living the same events again and again. Most memories are filled with grief, regrets and agony, but sometimes a happy memory lights up the valley for a second, just to fade again and reappear when the same line of thoughts are repeated endlessly. Stay on the main road, for the Valley of Frozens Souls is a time trap and a place of eternal suffering. If you have ever heard a saying about letting the past rest and live in the present, this is the time to remember it.

Valley of Frozen Souls

No animal, man, god or even the god of gods, Odin, can avoid being struck by the grace of the surface light when escaping the underworld. The light from the sun, the heat from the gentle breeze, and the birds singing their summertime love songs. It is almost impossible to word the relief and the longing to just go home and be reunited with your loved ones.

The Grace Of The Surface Light

When Odin raised the Vølva in the underworld, he was foretold the end of the world in the event called Ragnarok. Ragnarok starts with Fimbulvetr, also known as the The Great Winter. The world will turn cold, the skies will darken because the sun disappears, and the fields and woods will freeze and no longer be able to feed the living. This invokes a war between the Gods. The Fenrir wolf will break its chain and eventually swallow Odin in a final battle between the gods. He will lose his life along with his sons Thor, Tyr and Heimdall. The world will be destroyed by series of natural disasters and eventually burned and buried under water. After Ragnarok the world will rise again from the waters and be repopulated by two surviving humans Líf and Lífþrasir. The remaining Aesirs reunite at Iðavǫllr, a place they used to meet to play games and decide the life of mortals. When Odin returned from the underworld, he had nothing but sad tales to tell from his vision.

Visions of Ragnarok

Rise of The Vanir (Featuring Johann Burkard from Gearspace)

Gullveig´s Three Resurrections (Featuring Jpro600k from Gearspace)

Call of Vanaheimr (Featuring Bata_ from Gearspace)

Return of The Ships

The Firedawn March

Berserker Trance

The Treaty

The Siege

The battle is over. You are lying wounded on the ground among cries, agony and broken weapons of fellows and foes. You are in pain too and know you are about to die. You do not know who won or lost the battle, and it does not matter anymore, for you know what shall happen. Eventually you hear them; drumming, singing, yelling. You look to the sky, and in blast of light, you see them come down towards you. A sight for the dying only. Hundreds of them. Valkyries. Ten thousand mortal men from Midgard would not stand a day against a single one of them. Your heart beats faster as they approach, for you know they are here to judge you. You shall either be picked among the bravest of warriors, the Einherjars, to sit at Odin’s table in Valhalla, or you shall live like a common man in Folkvang, the holy land of Freya. However, if they condemn you as a coward, you shall be sent to Hel in the underworld. In a flashback, you recall all the incidences in your life where you have treated a woman miserably, considered her weak and taken advantage of your physical superiority. You taste your blood as you swallow a blob of it. Yes, great warrior: You better gather what is left of your courage, for if you want to go to Valhalla, this is not the right time to sht your pants.

Valkyrie

Valhalla, Valhalla, Valhalla. Every man wants to go to Valhalla. But what do they do there? They drink, eat, and slay each other each day just to be resurrected by the Valkyries the next morning to continue their preparations for Ragnarok. Where is the poetry, art, craftsmanship and spirituality in such simple ways? In Freya’s Folkvang, we enjoy the fruits of peace and prosperity. And today is a very special day, Freya’s  day, where she shall show her love for her people with a dance for which there are no words. She shall be dressed in the gold of the sun, the silver of the moon, the glimmer of the stars and the colors of the rainbow only. Let them brawlers in Valhalla brawl and cling to their illusion that their swords are the most lethal of weapons. Had they been sober enough to embrace such a vision, they would instantly die from longing.

Freya´s Dance

Tribe of Hofund is a medieval/folk inspired electronic duo that consists of Gothi (synthesizers, electronic percussion) and Peter Siegmund Wildling (guitars) from Denmark. We find inspiration in the voices of our ancestors in form of nordic mythology and religion. We make use of acoustic guitar, synthesizers and samplers. We try to combine our training and interests in classical and mundane music of the past with the electronic sound of present and future.

Tribe of Hǫfuð

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