The Creation of the Isle of Myst

As with many things created by the gods the beginnings of things

are always clouded with the fog of memories and stories,

but out of this fog the truth is often presented to us.

It is said that when the Gods bound Fenris the Wolf, get of Loki, it was the bravest of all the gods Tyr that sacrificed his right hand in the mouth of the Wolf.

Nothing is known of what happened to that hand. Many say the Wolf ate it. One story told by an old man with one eye, says that the wolf did not eat the hand, but spat it out in defiance of the gods. Before the hand could be found Odin took it and placed it within his jerkin.

With a tear in his eye the Allfather walked to the Bifrost Bridge. Odin cried for Tyr, for now the bravest of the Gods would not be whole, as he once was, but at least his courage, strength, and justice would carry on in a new form.

Standing on the Bifrost Bridge Odin took the hand of Tyr and threw it down toward Midgard. The hand landed in the sea off the West coast of Norsca. An island of great beauty rose from the water. The island had mountains which ran strong with veins of gold, silver and iron. Running down from mountains rushed two great rivers, which on their separate journeys to the sea, pass through valleys of Forests, lakes and low flat grasslands, before spilling out into the sea.

After the first day all the lands had settled and the Island was still, save for the moving of the rivers and winds in the trees, but no life flowed in the Isle. Odin saw this and with his great wisdom realised that the power within Tyr’s hand had been enough to create this island, but not the power to create life or support it.

Odin feared that without life the isle would once more sink back into the sea from where it came. Odin called for his eight-legged steed Slepnir and rode down to the Isle. He rode the many valleys and forests of the Isle thinking of a way to bring life to lands.

Suddenly the Isle did start to sink back into the sea, diving from his steed Odin dived under the sea, where he called forth to Aegir god of the Seas.

With a mighty crash of a wave Aegir appeared riding on the back of a great whale "Yes Allfather, what would ask of me?"

"I ask you to turn your magiks of the sea, and stop this Isle from slipping into the sea." cried Odin as he tried to hold the Isle above the sea.

Aegir using his magiks created a a vortex of water under the isle that pushed it back up, but once more the Isle started to sink, again Aegir created another vortex, which supported the Isle.

"Allfather I can only hold back the forces of nature for a short while, what ever you have in mind must be done with utmost speed."

Odin swam to the surface and mounting his steed, rode for Asgard. Once there he called the Aesir to him.

"I have need of a drop of blood form each of you, to fill this cup." Odin raised a Golden cup in the air. He was the first. Cutting his finger he let a drop of blood fall into the cup.

"Who will be next?" asked Odin to all the gathered Gods.

"Why do you wish our blood?" called Freya.

"I need the blood of life that runs through your veins, to bring life to an Isle that will in time bring our words to the lands of Midgard, ask no more questions of me but give me your blood."

So one by one all the gods gave a drop of their blood to the cup, at last all the gods had given their blood, but the cup was not full.

Ostara, the Allmother, stood forward.

"My Lord, you have forgotten Heimdal, Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge."

Odin travelled back to the bridge where Heimdal gave happily of his blood. Realising that Aegir was stilling holding the isle up Odin rushed to him and ask if he would give of his blood to the cup. Aegir agreed for he was tired of keeping the Isle afloat.

As Aegir let his concentration slack as he gave his blood, there was a great earthquake, which swept the island away and under the seas. Odin sensed the touch of another God in this action.

Odin screamed out "Loki! How dare you interfere!" Once more the Allfather rode through the lands to the base of the World Tree where Loki was chained.

"Ah blood brother I though that might get your attention." said Loki with a sly smile.

"Why Loki? Why did you do this?"

"You must have the blood of all the Aesir and if I am not mistaken, I am still one of you, even all the way down here. You should thank me. Without me, your plan would fail, your work would be for nothing."

Odin sighed and cut Loki’s finger letting one drop of blood fall into the cup, "So be it this cup holds the blood of all Gods, with this cup I will raise the Isle and bring life to it."

Once more Odin rode back to the sea and rode over the waves until he came to the tips of the mountains sticking out of the sea, this was all that was left of the Isle.

Taking the cup Odin poured some upon the mountain tops. The blood soaked into the rock, spread and flowed on,  until the whole Isle was covered in blood and slowly rose up from the ocean floor to surface once more.

Once the Island was on the surface the blood travelled back up the Mountains staining the mountains red, which to this day still glow red with the sacrifice of the Aesir.

The Isle was stable atop the seas. Odin anchored the Isle to the Ocean floor with giant chains, which are said, will break at the time of Ragnarok, and the Isle will float round the seas until the Gods need once more the Isle.

Finally Odin poured the rest of the cup of blood on to the Isle. Where the blood fell, the earth stirred and the Isle came to life. Odin once again walked the Isle, surrounded by birds and animals. He sat under a tree and breathed in the fresh air. This place rivalled the beauty of Asgard itself. Looking to the cup he noticed there was a little blood left. Odin took the cup and poured it into a pool of water nearby. Staring into the pool, Odin summoned the magic of the Runes and speaking words of sorcery, he wove the blood into a spell of great power. At first little happened, but as Odin’s powerful voice rose, the pool of blood stirred and began to form a haze. As he spoke his words of magic the haze turned into a thick mist, which spread out around the Isle covering it in a sea of mist. The mist carried on out round the Isle for several leagues in all directions. Odin wove the mist into a barrier to protect the Isle from the outside world.

As the Mist faded away around Odin the mist over the pool stayed and slowly, very slowly started to form a figure of a man.

The blood from the pool coalesced into the misty figure, breathing in life and creating bones, muscle, and skin.

Once Odin had finished weaving his spell, there before him stood a man. Odin looked hard at the figure and said "You are Myst, and this is your Isle."