Story
After the overture, the Narrator introduces himself, setting up the story (Overture/Tribes of the Black Sea). It starts in
Asgard, home of the Aesir. Heimdall's upset how her father, Odin, doesn't treat her as well as her siblings, while Loki tries
to cheer her up. Odin and Frigg arrive, as Odin boasts how powerful they've become, while Frigg thinks about how much their people
have suffered for it (Sons of Odin). In Vanaheim, the home of the Vanir, Frey and Freya are fishing. Freya muses how tranquil
their lives are, but Frey is cautious, thinking about how danger looms over the horizon. They kiss before heading home as a storm
comes in. Back home, Njord and Vana have a similar debate, where Vana warns Njord not to be so lax (Of Memories Lost and Futures Due).
One of the Vanir, Gullveig, is traveling the world and comes to Asgard. She praises Odin and Asgard. He appreciates the kind words and invites her to eat with them as if she's one of his children. Heimdall
has none of that and tells her father that the Vanir practice incest and witchcraft. Gullveig denies the witchcraft, but does
confirm that her husband is her brother. Odin commands her to leave before Loki convinces him that she's actually a spy. Even
though Gullveig pleads her innocence, Odin impales her with his spear, seemingly killing her. Loki takes her body and carries her
away (Wicked Thoughts and a Troubled Soul). Njord and the rest of the Vanir find out about Gullveig's death. He is finally
convinced of the Aesir's brutality, and Frey leads the Vanir to war (A Storm is Coming).
Frey commands a small Vanir army that overtakes an Aesir patrol, despite ending up in a duel with a skilled swordsman
(Dance of Swords). This leads to the Narrator describing the brutal Aesir-Vanir War, as both sides sing about their deeds and
victories. Alas, Frey disguises himself and Vanir soldiers as merchants who travel to Asgard, while Odin and the main Aesir army
are away at war. They kill the guards, open the gates, and let the main Vanir army inside (In War We Trust). Odin hears about
this tragedy at his camp and takes counsel from his inner circle. After much deliberation, Mime convinces him to approach the
Vanir as equals and to negotiate an equal peace (The Ruling of the Wise). This leaves a sour taste in Heimdall and Loki's mouths.
Heimdall muses how all her deeds in the war meant nothing if they're unable to defeat the Vanir. Loki wonders if his trickery and
manipulations will pan out and pay off (By the Blood in My Veins).
Under a flag of truce, the Aesir and Vanir meet face to face. Odin recognizes the Vanir's valor as equals, and asks them to
return Asgard and to renounce their incestuous ways. Njord appreciates the recognition and is willing to surrender Asgard, but
will not change an integral part of their culture. This boils over as the situation heats up and both sides are ready to kill
each other. Mime steps in and suggests both sides send one person to the other side as a sort of hostage exchange. While Njord
and Hoenir switch sides, Loki guilts Mime into also going over. This impels Frey to go over to keep the peace
balanced, and Freya follows him. As the exchange occurs, Loki starts
to set his secret plan into motion (Now We Are One, end of Act 1).
With Asgard in ruins, Odin tasks Loki with rebuilding the city. He travels to the distant town of the Jotnar to enlist their
help in rebuilding the city. The Jotunn Leader agrees under two conditions: The Aesir help his impoverished people with healing
their sick and elderly, and he wants Freya's hand in marriage. Loki counter-negotiates that they can have that if they can rebuild
Asgard in a month; both agree (Such Great Reward). The traveling poet Kvasir arrives in Odin's court, and the Narrator sings
about him performing the greatest song in the history of the world. We don't actually hear Kvasir's song that the Narrator describes; it
is just a tribute. Kvasir impresses Odin, who invites Kvasir to join his court as his skald (Of Velvet Moons and Crimson Fumes).
Freya is not happy that she was forced into an arranged marriage with a man she doesn't know from a culture she barely
understands. She realizes that she's been passive her whole life, always reacting, and never happy. Inspired by her thriving
people back home, she builds her confidence and hopes to drive her own life (Now is the Time).
In Vanaheim, the Vanir have elected Hoenir as their new chief. Despite his looks and charisma, his leadership skills leave
much to be desired. Vana accuses Mime of setting this up, exchanging their effective leader, Njord, for the himbo Hoenir. Mime
denies this accusation, but Vana leads the Vanir mob against him and they behead him (A Slight, Perceived). While this happens, the Jotnar have been rebuilding Asgard ahead of schedule. Freya is furious,
demanding that Odin do something about it. Odin blames Loki for setting up the conditions of the deal, but Loki assures him that
he has a plan to fix the problem (Stonewalling).
Odin receives Mime's head, and Loki demands that they restart the war to avenge their friend. Odin seeks counsel first, and
Loki invites Heith, a seer, to speak with him. Heith can only tell Odin's future if he gives her his eye. Odin balks at that
suggestion, but feels their future looks bright (Omens and Portents, Part 1). Loki delivers on his promise and sabotages the
Jotnar's rebuilding efforts. After a month has gone by, he admits to the Jotunn Leader that he did it under orders from Odin.
Enraged at the betrayal, the Jotunn Leader rallies his people, and they go to war with the Aesir. Asgard is again devastated,
and many more are killed. Odin sends Thor to kill the Jotunn Leader, but he falters. Before he is killed, Heimdall steps
in, killing the Jotunn Leader. Odin arrives on the scene and mistakenly thanks Thor for saving Asgard
(Forever and Ever).
Despite the victory, Asgard is in ruins again, and more of its people have suffered. Odin starts to crack and finally starts
blaming himself for the devastation. Needing guidance more than ever, he surrenders to Heith's request and plucks out his eye
(A King and a Man). With a new outlook on life, Odin meets with Njord, deciding that it would be better if their people united
under one nation. They agree to the merger, and everybody is happy, except Loki, who is not thrilled at this turn of events (The
Turning of the Tide). With things settling down, Odin finally asks Heith what his future entails. She tells him that his enemies
will be emboldened, knowing that he is not invincible. This infuriates Odin, as he accuses her of lying.
She laughs, as she is not a seer, but Gullveig in disguise. After getting her revenge, Heith/Gullveig leaves the court.
This sends Odin into a spiral, where he realizes that he is a weak, old man. Loki catches up to Heith, but rather than capturing
or killing her, he thanks her. It was Loki who nursed Gullveig back to health after Odin stabbed her. Now, Loki could
discredit Odin, hopefully leading to his eventual overthrow (Omens and Portents, Part 2).
At the end, it is revealed that the Narrator is telling this story to a Journalist in the modern day, who is interviewing him
for a story for a publication, a la Interview with the Vampire. It is ambiguous whether she actually believes the Narrator, who
claims to be an elderly Odin; nevertheless, the Narrator pleads that everyone must learn from Odin's mistakes (In Shades of Light).
