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| − | Most of the surviving myths centre on Thor's exploits, and from this and inscriptions on monuments we know that Thor was very much the favorite deity of ancient Scandinavians.
| + | Tor is the supreme god of the South-East Island, and is responsible for the constant chaos faced by the residents of that beleaguered land. Tor represents the seductive power of war, and the rewards it gives to powerful men. His influence over the inhabitants of the South-East Island is so great that a realm specifically dedicated to Tor has been founded, named in his honor – Toren. |
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| − | According to one myth in the Prose Edda, Loki was flying as a hawk one day and was captured by Geirrod. Geirrod, who hated Thor, demanded that Loki bring his enemy (who did not yet have his magic belt and hammer) to Geirrod's castle. Loki agreed to lead Thor to the trap. Grid was a giantess at whose home they stopped on the way to Geirrod's. She waited until Loki left the room then told Thor what was happening and gave him her iron gloves and magical belt and staff. Thor killed Geirrod and all other frost giants he could find (including Geirrod's daughters, Gjálp and Greip).
| + | ==Origins== |
| | + | Tor is eternal. He has existed since prior to the beginning of time, in an existence outside our own. |
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| − | According to Alvíssmál, Thor's daughter was promised to Alvis, a dwarf. Thor devised a plan to stop Alvis from marrying his daughter. He told Alvis that, because of his small height, he had to prove his wisdom. Alvis agreed and Thor made the tests last until after the sun had risen--all dwarves turned to stone when exposed to sunlight, so Alvis was petrified.
| + | ==Nature== |
| | + | Tor is an ambivalent deity. He has been described repeatedly as being poetic, and inspiring. Conversely, other sources claim he is full of fury, madness and wonder. Tor gives his blessings to battle hardened warriors who are worthy of his grace, regardless of what realm they inhabit. |
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| − | Thor was once outwitted by a giant king, Útgarða-Loki. The king, using his magic, tricked Thor. The king raced Thought itself against Thor's fast servant, Þjálfi (nothing being faster than thought, which can leap from land to land, and from time to time, in an instant). Then, Loki (who was with Thor) was challenged by Útgarða-Loki to an eating contest with one of his servants, Logi. Loki lost, eventually. The servant even ate up the trough containing the food. The servant was an illusion of "Wild-Fire", no living thing being able to equal the consumption rate of fire. He called Thor weak when he only lifted the paw of a cat, the cat being the illusion of the Midgard Serpent. Thor was challenged to a drinking contest, and could not empty a horn which was filled not with mead but was connected to the ocean. This action started tidal changes. And here, Thor wrestled an old woman, who was Old Age, something no one could beat, to one knee. It was only later that Thor was told that he had in fact performed impressively doing as well as he did with those challenges.
| + | Tor is omnipotent – he has complete dominion over all matters of the South-East Island. However, Tor does not reveal himself or interfere in the acts of men often. Typically only when he feels a realm or noble has honored the violent nature of the island and deserves his blessings, or has violated the traditions of war and deserves recrimination will Tor interfere in the affairs of the island. |
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| − | Þunor gave his name to the Old English day Þunresdæg, meaning the day of Þunor, known in Modern English as Thursday. Þunor is also the source of the modern word thunder. Many writers (Saxo, Adam of Bremen, Snorre Sturlason, Ælfric of Eynsham) identified Thor with Jupiter. The comparison can be borne: both are gods of the sky that control thunder and lightning, are children of the mother Earth and were at some time considered the most powerful of the gods. The oak tree was sacred to both gods and they had mysterious powers. Thor is to kill the Midgard Serpent and Jupiter, the dragon Typhon. Tacitus identified Thor with the Greco-Roman hero-god Hercules because of his force, aspect, weapon and his role as protector of the world.
| + | ==Tor’s Interaction with Men== |
| | + | Though Tor attempts to keep himself out of the affairs of men, he has a great deal dealings with men. Tor is seen by many on South-East Island as the bringer of victory. In historical epics, Tor has been known to occasionally be the instigator of wars, and is said to have been able to start wars by simply throwing down his sword between neighboring armies. Sometimes Tor has influenced the battle toward the end that he desires, when he feels his name has been honored, or denegraded. Tor has even been seen (though rarely) appearing on the battlefield, sitting upon a crystal throne outside of the reach of the warring factions. In the past, Tor has only done this when a battle is so monumental that it likely will change the fortune of all inhabitants of the island. |
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| − | Another noted story of Thor was the time when Thrym, King of the Thurse (Giants), stole his hammer, Mjölnir. Thor went to Loki in hopes to find the culprit responsible for the theft. Loki and Thor went to Freyja for council. She gave Loki the Feather-robe so he could travel to the land of the giants to speak to their king. The king admitted to stealing the hammer and would not give it back unless Freyja gave her hand in marriage.
| + | When a noble has died in the service of war, and has acted honorably in the prosecution of his battles, Tor welcomes the great dead into his hall of the slain. These fallen are assembled and rewarded by Tor for the sacrifices they have made in the name of war, and are granted the gift of eternal peace in paradise. Thus, warriors who fight hard, and with honor are given an eternal gift for their actions by Tor – regardless of the realm they inhabit. Tor has been known to balk at warriors from Toren upon their death, and raise up warriors from other realms, despite Toren’s dedication to his name. Tor rewards people, not just realms. |
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| − | Freyja refused when she heard the plan so the gods decided to think of a way to trick the King. Heimdall, the fairest of the gods and one of the prophetic Vanir, suggested dressing up Thor in a bridal gown so he can take Freyja's place. Thor at first refused to do such a thing as it would portray him as a coward and womanish, but Loki insisted that he does so or the Giants would attack Asgard and win it over if he does not retrieve the hammer in time. Thor reluctantly agreed in the end and took Freyja's place.
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| − | Odin rode Thor to the land of the Giants and a celebration ensued. The king noticed a few odd things that his bride was committing. He noted that she ate and drank more than what he would expect from a bride. Loki whom was in disguise as the false Freyja's servant commented that she rode for 8 full nights without food eager to take his hand. He then asked why his bride's eyes so terrifying, they seemed to be aglow with fire, again Loki responded with the fact that she did not sleep for 8 full nights eager for his hand. Then the giant commanded that the hammer be brought to his wife and placed on her lap. Once it was in Thor's possession he threw off his disguise and attacked all the giants in the room. Due to this ruse the giants were careful not to do the same mistake again.
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| − | Suave, charming, witty, yet ruthless and amoral, Ares often represents, especially in the early seasons, the seductive power of war and the dark side. He repeatedly attempts to lure Xena away from her quest for redemption alongside Gabrielle, and to win her over as his Warrior Queen.[1] He offers her huge armies and historic victories, great wealth and great power, and in later seasons his love,[2] offers which she consistently rejects despite being sometimes tempted.
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| − | Much of Ares' relationship with Xena remains ambiguous, including whether he is at least partly redeemed by his love for Xena, or to what extent Xena reciprocates his feelings. He says several times that he "has a thing" for Xena, and this seems to prevent him from killing her, even when pitted against her in deadly combat.[3] There are some suggestions that he may be her true father,[4][3], yet he pursues her sexually and romantically.
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| − | Their relationship prior to the show's timeline is also a mystery. The dialogue in an early episode strongly suggests that this is their first face-to-face meeting;[1] subsequent episodes, however, establish that at some point in the past he trained her and may have been her lover as well. It is also stated that Ares gave Xena her signature weapon, the chakram.[5]
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Tor is the supreme god of the South-East Island, and is responsible for the constant chaos faced by the residents of that beleaguered land. Tor represents the seductive power of war, and the rewards it gives to powerful men. His influence over the inhabitants of the South-East Island is so great that a realm specifically dedicated to Tor has been founded, named in his honor – Toren.
Origins
Tor is eternal. He has existed since prior to the beginning of time, in an existence outside our own.
Nature
Tor is an ambivalent deity. He has been described repeatedly as being poetic, and inspiring. Conversely, other sources claim he is full of fury, madness and wonder. Tor gives his blessings to battle hardened warriors who are worthy of his grace, regardless of what realm they inhabit.
Tor is omnipotent – he has complete dominion over all matters of the South-East Island. However, Tor does not reveal himself or interfere in the acts of men often. Typically only when he feels a realm or noble has honored the violent nature of the island and deserves his blessings, or has violated the traditions of war and deserves recrimination will Tor interfere in the affairs of the island.
Tor’s Interaction with Men
Though Tor attempts to keep himself out of the affairs of men, he has a great deal dealings with men. Tor is seen by many on South-East Island as the bringer of victory. In historical epics, Tor has been known to occasionally be the instigator of wars, and is said to have been able to start wars by simply throwing down his sword between neighboring armies. Sometimes Tor has influenced the battle toward the end that he desires, when he feels his name has been honored, or denegraded. Tor has even been seen (though rarely) appearing on the battlefield, sitting upon a crystal throne outside of the reach of the warring factions. In the past, Tor has only done this when a battle is so monumental that it likely will change the fortune of all inhabitants of the island.
When a noble has died in the service of war, and has acted honorably in the prosecution of his battles, Tor welcomes the great dead into his hall of the slain. These fallen are assembled and rewarded by Tor for the sacrifices they have made in the name of war, and are granted the gift of eternal peace in paradise. Thus, warriors who fight hard, and with honor are given an eternal gift for their actions by Tor – regardless of the realm they inhabit. Tor has been known to balk at warriors from Toren upon their death, and raise up warriors from other realms, despite Toren’s dedication to his name. Tor rewards people, not just realms.
