#kratos IS atreus' father for real and he knew about him | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

grievedeeply · 1 year

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the less time, the better.

pairing: heimdall x gn!reader

summary: as the child of the greek god of war, kratos— you've fought your fair share of enemies. you've prepared yourself for anything, including an obnoxious aesir god who thinks he knows better.

notes: you are already an adult by the events of god of war (2018), and you are the child of kratos and faye. you were not as affected by not knowing your godhood to the extent atreus was. odin invites you to asgard, NOT atreus.

when you set out to spread your mother's ashes at the tallest peak, you made it your goal to protect your brother from anything that may come across. your father, kratos, insisted that there would be bigger threats out there during your youth. you never doubted him. when your mother died, you realized that his words rang truer than you ever expected them to.

years later, you swear you've seen everything.

the more you travelled, the more you saw and the more knowledgeable you became. you learned quickly, how to take on enemies of all different types and sizes. it became a second nature to you, something that took little to no thought to complete. your mind connected every step together with no effort, and it was wonderful to feel strong.

atreus grew into a strong, capable young man and you couldn't be prouder. he became taller, and it nearly brought you to tears. your baby brother was growing up quicker than you would've preferred him to.

with the death of baldur and the beginning of fimbulwinter, things were looking dire. freya was beginning to show herself more often, putting your family in a risky position. living on midgard in those conditions weren't ideal, but home was always going to be home.

thor and odin showing up at your doorstep made things worse. odin had proposed that you visit asgard— see all it has to offer and more.

of course, you denied without missing a beat. your father was out there somewhere, fighting his son. you wouldn't forget everything he did to mimir— to freya. you knew better. of course you did. why would odin invite you to asgard if he didn't need something from you? his goal would always be to manipulate, to deceive.

it was only when things started getting dire that you even considered visiting.

"i'm thinking about going to asgard," you spoke up after a bite of your food. you weren't too sure what it was. týr had made it, with the help of atreus. you were happy for your brother. he had clearly looked up to him, even though he wasn't as much of a help as you hoped he would be.

your father only looked up at you, and out of the corner of your eye, you saw atreus' worried face. "no." your father replied, his voice as cold as the lands of niflheim.

you knew he would say that. you fell silent. you didn't want to go, but you felt as if the situation called for it. "i'll be a pair of eyes on the inside." you reasoned with pursed lips. you knew it would be difficult to convince him to agree with you, but you didn't need his permission. you were an adult. a capable one, at that.

"i said no."

you bit at the inside of your cheek, glancing over at týr— who sat awkwardly at the other end of the table. your gaze shifted to brok, who clearly wasn't paying attention, happily munching on his food.

"that isn't a good idea." you heard freya's voice call out from her room, and you let out a sigh. "maybe not. but i feel like i should try." you muttered, your voice still heard through the silence of the home. what other option was there? you were at a dead end. everything you've found ended up being nothing. if you were going to find answers, they would be in asgard.

"all odin does is lie," she continued after a pause, "and manipulate. i know better than anyone."

"she is right, y'know." mimir said, and you felt your heart weigh heavy. "you learn a lot about a man after bein' tortured by em every day." he let out a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood with a joke.

"all we're finding now are dead ends. we need something real." you said, turning your eyes back to your father. his expression didn't change. it hardly ever did.

"we need you alive. we need you.. safe." he replied without a moment's hesitation. he cared about you. you knew that, and hearing the desperation in his voice made that even clearer.

you decided to end the conversation there. you wouldn't convince him to let you go, but you reassured yourself. you were an adult. you were allowed to make your own decisions, even if they were dangerous ones. you ate your meal in silence, coming up with a plan to leave that night.

you forced yourself out of bed, slipping on your coat— making sure to take your key of yggdrasil with you. your grabbed your weapons and crawled out of the window in your room, sneaking around the back of sindri's house towards the gateway.

"where are you going?"

you closed your eyes tightly, turning on your heel to be met with the fuzzy face of ratatoskr. "out." you replied, nonchalantly shrugging your shoulders. he shook his head, scampering towards you. "you look.. nervous, master y/n." he continued, not taking your answer seriously. "is there something the matter?"

his concern did put a smile on your face, but you shook your head. "it's nothing. just.. don't tell anyone i went out, okay? i don't want them freaking out over it."

he raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest, but he nodded. "if that is what you wish. do stay safe, yes?" he looked up at you with a stern expression for a squirrel, and you chuckled. "i will. i'll be back, okay?" you said, returning your attention to the gate. you lifted the key to it, setting your destination to midgard, you pushed open the door and stepped onto the branches of the world tree.

'i'll be back.'

your words rang through your mind like a torturous song. would you be back anytime soon? had you lied to him? all he had done was show you kindness..—

it was bigger than ratatoskr. would you be back to see your father? your brother? freya, freyr, brok and sindri? their faces flashed through your mind, and you shook your head. what did you have to worry about? you were a guest. they wouldn't try to kill you.

maybe you did lie to him. maybe you were making the biggest mistake of your life by thinking this was a good idea, but it felt like the only option. you were doing what you thought was best. you pushed away the guilt that was eating at your mind and continued down the path, waiting for the doorway to open.

being stuck with your own thoughts wasn't something you enjoyed very much, you learned. you pushed the door open with your hip, gripping at your sword. you knew hel-walkers would show up sometime soon and it was better to be prepared. you learned that from your father.

you shivered. this was a bad idea.

you didn't know where you were, and you didn't know how to get to asgard. odin never told you how— so you stood in the middle of the forest and called out for his ravens, huginn and muginn.

"i want to go to asgard!" you said, voice clearly showing your frustration. "no one knows i'm out here!" you continued, your shoulders slumping when there was no response.

that was, until there was.

a large swarm of ravens surrounded you, flying around you. their feathers were everywhere, and your vision was blocked by the sheer amount of them. it took a few moments, and then—

you were cold.

the water made you even colder with the added frost from midgard you carried with you, and you cringed at the feeling. you pulled yourself to shore, your arms getting tired from all of the work you'd had to do to get to that point already. so much walking— it felt as if your legs were going to fall off.

you coughed, laying down in the dirt for a few moments to catch your breath. "seriously.." you spoke breathlessly to yourself, pulling yourself to sit up. as soon as you opened your eyes, all of your efforts to catch your breath were put to waste.

it was beautiful. different shades of greens and blues, birds of all sorts flying above you. in the distance, you could see snow capped mountain ranges. you were surrounded by uninhabited highlands. the bridge above you stretched thousands of miles, and you swallowed. it was gorgeous, but the severity of your actions were only just starting to set in.

you walked for what felt like forever, a massive wall obstruction your vision to anything behind it. this was asgard. you knew that well enough.

"figured asgard would be safer than this," you grumbled to yourself as you killed yet another nightmare. the plains were filled with dangers, and your fathers words from your childhood echoed through your mind.

'there will be greater threats.'

the thought of him now was calming. you hung onto it for as long as you could as you walked, your eyes glued onto the massive wall in front of you. it was covered in large, rusted nails. hrimthur did build the wall. you thought of the flaw he had supposedly put in place, and you suddenly regretted not asking freya what he had told her earlier. you pushed it aside. regretting the past does nothing for the future.

you made it to the bottom of the wall, hands at your hips as you stared up at it. it looked easy enough to climb, so long as you don't look down. you felt weak already, but you figured you could make it.

with a deep breath, you forced yourself to begin the climb. as you expected, it wasn't too hard. your hands were sore from the rock, but you found spots that were easy enough to grab and hold onto. your legs ached, but the adrenaline kept you going.

the feeling of solid ground made you laugh in joy, and you decided to revel in it for a few seconds. you looked down and across the plains and at the mountains in the distance. you saw a village below you, and you furrowed your eyebrows. you noticed it when you passed through, but you saw no one. perhaps you were too focused on the task at hand.

your brother would've stopped. the thought made you chuckle. he was too kind. you wished he were with you. you sighed. you were doing this for him— for your father.

with a grunt, you pulled yourself up an awkward part of the wall, practically walking up the section adjacent to you. you extended your hand, finally feeling the top of the wall. you were so close. you inhaled and..—

the feeling of a hand wrapped around your wrist made you look up, and you were met with the face of a man. blonde, tall— eyes purple and strangely beautiful. "hello." he said, and you raised an eyebrow. what was he doing up here, anyway? there were people who monitored this thing?

"what part of the enormous wall made you think, 'oh. visitors must be welcome!'" he spoke sarcastically, looking down at you coldly. "well, there wasn't a gate. so." you replied, slight laughter escaping your lips as you looked up at him. he rolled his eyes.

"i was sent for," you continued after a moment of silence, "by odin." your voice was loud enough for him to hear you over the wind, and he raised an eyebrow. "the allfather sent for you?" he chuckled dryly, a cocky smile on his lips, "then why are you out there.. and not in here?"

"i wish i knew." you shot back, "let's ask him." you proposed, trying to put a friendly smile on your face. you could feel yourself slipping from his grasp, and you had nothing to hold onto. your shoulder was going to pop out of its socket if he didn't pull you up soon.

"what could odin.. king of the aesir, possibly want with the likes of you?" he spat out. his tone was gentle, but filled with venom. "that's between me and him." you told him.

silence, again.

"so.. think you can pull me up?"

"i don't think i will. i think, actually— i'll just drop you." he let you slip even further out of his grasp, and your feet searched for anything below you to hang onto. "wait, wait, wait— please," you pleaded but your words went unnoticed to him.

your other hand desperately grabbed onto his wrist, "think of what the allfather would say.. finding out you killed his guest. y/n of the jötnar.."

his jaw clenched, but his eyes looked down at your hands at his wrist. "the jötnar?" he chuckled just as sarcastically as he had before, "enemy of my people?"

"i am not your enemy."

his eyes met yours, and for a moment you thought he was going to drop you anyways. he groaned, standing up and pulling you with him. you laid on the ground for a few seconds and he stood above you with crossed arms. "i will be the judge of that." he said in response to your previous statement, and you let out a sigh of relief.

pushing yourself up to your feet, you noticed the horn that hung from his hip. this was heimdall. of course he would be the one patrolling up here. the less time you spent with him, the better it would be for you.

"we don't have all day." his voice cut you out of your thoughts, and you nodded. your feet kicked at the rocks underneath you, following a few steps behind him. you noticed the braids in his hair, and the patterns in his clothes. he was loved by these people. you could tell that much.

"now, feel free to drink in the splendor of asgard's beauty. it is a rare sight for outsiders.. especially giants." you rolled your eyes. all aesir really were the same— but he seemed cockier. more full of himself. you walked past a pouch laying on the ground, and you resisted the urge to pick it up. you knew he would lay into you for it.

"ask your questions, already." heimdall pulled the switch, making the platform the two of you stood on move down towards the town below you. "i don't have any questions." you shrugged with pursed lips, looking over at him. he fell silent for a moment, "everyone does. ask them."

you chuckled, "you're not used to people saying no to you, are you?" he said nothing in response, and you raised your eyebrows, amused. you decided to keep quiet. you didn't want to get too playful with him. you wanted to keep him away from you— to avoid being suspicious.

"we are here. off." he gestured for you to step off of the platform, and he moved ahead of you again. he led you down a flight of wooden stairs, that had clearly been made with care. you looked around. asgard was beautiful. you wouldn't deny it. his eyes lit up at the sight of a creature across the small area you'd stepped into, and if it were anyone else you would've thought it sweet.

you tuned him out as he spoke to the animal, and you looked up at the clouds. no signs of fimbulwinter, as far as the eye could see. "are you coming?" his impatient voice rang out from behind you. he had mounted the animal, and he moved his head as a way to tell you to get on behind him. you pulled yourself up, and a set of doors opened.

"it's beautiful." you decided to say, realizing that the silence was beginning to get more awkward. "obviously." he said back to you, glancing over his shoulder to look at you. "i'm being genuine." you told him, able to tell that he didn't believe you, given his body language. "right." heimdall replied, taking on a tone that almost sounded like he were trying to tease you. you shook your head, deciding the silence was better.

"the great lodge— which the allfather built with his bare hands." he informed you, and you nodded. "impressive." you complimented, assuming that your words would help him see you in a more positive light. you knew that he hated the jötnar, as every aesir would presumably. you thought about your mother. you sighed to yourself.

he stopped in his tracks, hopping off of the animal. he slapped it's rear end, bucking you off and making you land in the mud. "what was that for?" you groaned, wiping the mud out out of your eyes. "helmets! i have a practice dummy for you." he called out to the einherjar, who eagerly jumped out in front of you, ready for battle.

"i thought we were going to odin!"

"change of plans," heimdall chuckled, clearly enjoying the show. "you do have treacherous intent. i am not letting you anywhere near the allfather."

you let out a frustrated grunt as you swung your sword, dodging another one of their bifröst attacks. after a few minutes that felt like hours, all of them had been eliminated.

"my turn." he jumped down off of the animal and walked towards you, a cocky smile on his lips as his eyes met yours. you sighed, and he took a quick step at you, only for you to move out of the way.

you adjusted yourself— took a deep breath and..

you opened your eyes. he had lost his footing when you swung and fell back onto the ground. his breathing was shaky, his gaze glued to the fabric of his shirt— torn apart by your blade. he glanced up at you, his mouth agape as he did so. "what..?" he muttered to himself, his gaze desperately flicking between you and his tattered clothing, hoping as though he thought you would have the answers he searched for.

"sorry.. about the- about the shirt." you spoke quietly. you sheathed your sword. he was beaten. there was no need to continue. your weapon tore right through his clothes, and you could see the blood on his abdomen.

his head turned toward you at the speed of light, his face bright red, but he said nothing to you. he slowly forced himself onto his feet, not blinking the entire time. he averted his gaze from you. as soon as he was standing, he turned on his heel and left you alone in front of odin's home.

all you could do was watch him leave. it was for the best, anyways.. right?

why was his heart beating so fast?

heimdall rushed to his quarters, digging through his drawers to find a replacement shirt while his current one gets fixed by the seamstresses.

why was his heart beating so fast?

he could feel it— pounding against his ribcage like there was no tomorrow. your face popped into his mind. the smile you gave him while you were hanging off of the wall, the look in your eyes as he walked towards you. you weren't afraid, no.. no, you were confident in yourself.

what was it that let you hit him?

he was embarrassed. he knew that. he had never been touched by anyone else in a fight before, and the thought of a giant being the one to do it made him angry at himself.

what was it about you? were you special, somehow? immune to his powers?

no. you weren't. he knew that.

did he let you hit him?

no. he didn't. why would he?

why was his heart beating so fast?

he thought of you. he shook his head. no— not a giant. a giant couldn't make him feel this way. it was your father that had killed baldur, magni and modi. you were there. you had to have been there. you had to have seen it all. this wasn't right. why was he thinking of you this way?

he lifted his hands to his hair, tugging at it harshly, forcing his breads out with a clenched jaw. he could still feel the blood seeping through the bandage that covered his wound.

not a giant. right?

why was his heart beating so fast?

your smile, your eyes— no, no, no, no.

his arms fell to his sides, and he looked down at the torn fabric of his shirt, defeated.

not a giant.. right?

AHEM. i wrote this in one sitting. hope you enjoyed and let me know if you want a part two because i'm so down to write it if this does well enough <3 their story doesn't have to end here i'm telling yall right now!!

shoutout to the anon who gave me this idea!! i immediately fell in love with the thought of heimdall being head over heels for someone because they beat him somehow. i hope i did this justice!! please reblog and leave comments!! it really helps me out a lot!!

tags: @graciegizmo3184 @anzanishira @chocokaylarobin @uncoveredsun @caelestis-lyrae @prio-motu | join my taglist!

#god of war x reader #gow x reader #heimdall x reader #heimdall #heimdall gow x reader #gow heimdall x reader

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hewhostrikes · 1 year

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The Pup (Kratos)

A/N: Hello! This is my very first GOW mini fic/one shot/thing and I’m so nervous honestly, especially considering I’ve never written or posted anything serious on Kratos. Anyways, this was requested and honestly, I had a huge debate in my head whether to write this out or keep to bullet points. I settled for writing in the end, and I’d like to apologize for the short wait. I had a few things pop up irl and had to deal with them. But here we areeee. Also IM SORRY THE GIF JUST WORKS SO WELL.

WARNINGS: none! fluff, especially towards the end! ^^, a tiny bit of angst I guess? But like you gotta squint real hard. Old Kratos being old Kratos.

Summary: After hunting, you find a wolf cub not far from what you can assume is it’s deceased mother. Clearly you couldn’t simply leave it to die. The challenge here, however, is convincing Kratos to believe the same.

Holding back the shiver that threatened to take ahold of you proved difficult as the cold and harsh wind bit through your skin, chilling your very bones and surely freezing your brain. You’d been warned not to come along on this hunt, for Kratos had anticipated it to be rather long. At the thought of his name, you held back turning in the sled you currently sat on to look at him, knowing either he or Atreus would ask what’s on your mind/if you were alright. Hell, you were lucky Atreus didn’t notice how red your nose was despite sitting right next to you.

Instead, the boy seemed troubled, brows knit together in slight confusion as he subtly began looking around. You weren’t sure how he would manage to catch sight of anything given how Speki and Svanna were plowing through the snow at near light speed. You had to give it to them- those wolves worked hard. After a moment of watching Atreus become increasingly worried, you did your best to speak up.

“Atreus, are you alright?” Your teeth threatened to chatter as you spoke, though you managed to keep your composure- and gaze- hidden from plain sight. Suddenly, the sled came to a stop, and both you and Atreus looked back to find a tentative Kratos awaiting an answer. It seems your tone came off a bit too worrying. You and Atreus opened your mouths to speak, one intending to correct yourself and the other intending to provide an explanation. Thankfully, Atreus didn’t seem to notice your attempt and beat you to it, assuring his father that it wasn’t anything important.

“I just heard something, that’s all.” He explained, to which his father replied.

“What did you hear?” His voice, deep and true, rumbled about the silence that hung between everyone.

“A cry for help,” Atreus pointed ahead, right where you all were heading. It seemed it was on the pathway home. “If we keep going, we should find it!” His tone sounded hopeful, and it didn’t take a genius to figure what the boy’s plan was. Kratos continued on, however, indulging in his sons wishes.

Every second that passed only proved to inspire the cold to slowly poke through your exposed skin, almost making you regret your words just then. But, you knew that the suffering would be worth it, if this made Atreus happy. Besides, by this point you could hear the faint howling, one that caused Kratos to hesitate.

“Aye, lad… I don’t suppose this wolf would appreciate visitors at this time.” Mimir chimed in. You’d almost forgotten he was with you all.

“No, no, it’s a pup.” The boy replied simply, and, to your surprise, you were the only one to raise concern, at least outwardly. Kratos appeared stiffen up a bit, yet he remained silent.

“A pup? You do know approaching one of those is like stepping right into its mother’s mouth…” you tried to counter, but Atreus only sighed. If Kratos had any complaints by now, he didn’t express them, instead continuing on, albeit slowly.

“That’s the issue, there’s no sign of its mother anywhere. It’s alone and in pain.” He spoke with such confidence that you didn’t bother to press further. Kratos surely trusted Atreus, as did Mimir. It wasn’t that you didn’t, no, but it was in your nature to express at least some concern. Kratos now seemed less tense at the mention of a mother not being present.

It wasn’t long after that you had found it- a wolf pup off to the side, crying more than it was howling, pushing its nose against the neck of its deceased mother. You felt your heart shatter to pieces at the sight, though Kratos remained unmoved. Atreus seemed to be in your boat, leaving the sled, crouching down some, and attempting to approach the child.

“I… what can we do?” He asked, looking back to you and his father for an answer. Kratos attempted to take a step forward off of the sled, but by now the cub had noticed you all and nearly fell backwards trying to keep its distance. Clearly it didn’t want to leave its mother. After all, that was all it had…

“Why don’t we take it home with us?” You suggested, to which Kratos immediately cut in.

“No.” It was harsh, a statement nailed to the ground. You wondered why he would let you all stop here if he was only going to let it die. Atreus opened his mouth to argue, but Kratos spoke up once more. “Nature will take its course, this isn’t our concern.” You and the boy frowned and spared each other a glance, though Atreus seemed to give in easier than you were going to, taking a few steps towards his father.

“We can’t just leave it here..” You trailed off, looking over into the panicked eyes of the cub. It struck a cord in you, unleashed something that would not be swayed. Kratos seemed displeased with your answer, taking another step forward, towards you this time. But you cut him off before he could speak. “We can’t abandon it! There’s plenty of room at the house, and it won’t be too much of a leech regarding food, especially not now.” Your frantic pushing to change his mind earned you a drawn out grunt from the god.

“We cannot save every living thing we encounter. It is a deadly habit.” He argued, standing tall before you now. To this, you scoffed, causing him to narrow his eyes slightly.

“You saved me.” This garnered no response, and at that moment you knew you’d at least done something to make the gears in his head start turning. Atreus was standing a ways away from you two, cheeks puffed out as he quickly looked to his father for the reaction. A moment passed of pure silence, the breeze blowing past you four having long been tuned out from adapting to such weather. Kratos moved to look at the whimpering pup that still cowered next to its mother, then at Atreus, and finally back at you. “Let me take it with us, just this one. I promise you, you won’t regret it.” Another minute passed, as Kratos now looked into your eyes, and it felt as if your soul was constricting and simultaneously being pulled apart and looked at.

Whatever it is Kratos saw in you, it seemed to soften him just slightly, and he gave a curt nod. You and Atreus could barely contain your excitement as you both turned to face the shivering wolf. Atreus was about to approach, when Kratos put a hand on his shoulder. A silent way of saying, ‘this is her life to save.’ Atreus smiled up at him and nodded, noticing how you had already made it over to the pup. It looked awful, patches of fur matted and physique far from ideal.

“Hey, shhh, it’s ok little one…” you gently held out your hand, allowing the animal to sniff. Once it seemed to relax a bit, you turned back to Atreus. “Am I doing this right?” Your words made the boy laugh a little before he nodded and offered you a smile. Standing up straight, you took a few steps back and patted your thigh. “Come on, come with me. I’ll help you.” You explained, and the cub hesitantly began to follow you, stopping once to look back at its mother one last time before continuing on its new path.

“Enough to make a grown head cry.” Mimir chimed in as you now wandered past them in the direction of the sled. That earned a chuckle from Atreus as the three followed along behind you, as did the pup. You slowed down enough to walk beside Kratos, a habit you’d had from the beginning of your journey with him and Atreus. He didn’t seem to mind by now, though you recall a time where he made you walk in front. You teased him about how it was a chance to “check you out,” to which he gave a disapproving grunt and nothing more. You were happy to see him slowly trusting you more and more. Hell, you’d even argue that he seemed fond of you now.

It wasn’t anything grand, the things he did for you. To anyone else it may just come off as kind gestures. But you knew that it meant so much more to Kratos. What started as a simply providing for you so you could be useful became going out of his way to provide not just necessities, but small comforts as well. It was clear now that this little side quest was mostly to spend time with you and Atreus.

“You’re lucky he likes you, lass.” Joked the swinging head at the god’s side, earning a giggle from you, a huff of laughter from Atreus, and silence from Kratos. It was something the god could neither confirm nor deny. For his feelings were complex, especially considering his past love life. Perhaps, however, he would open up his heart to love eventually. His mistake, however, was assuming it would take ages. As you all settled down on the sled, you allowed yourself to open up a bit.

“Gah, It’s a bit cold, huh?” This time your teeth did chatter, but before you could process their reactions a heavy fur coat was being wrapped around you. Looking up, you saw Kratos, who then scolded you slightly for not saying anything earlier before taking his position at the back of the sled once more. The warmth that bloomed in your heart combined with the equivalent to a weighted blanket was almost enough to make you immune to the cold. Atreus merely grinned beside you, though he remained silent.

Again, it wasn’t anything grand, what he had done for you. But you knew it meant so much more than that to the god, and that was enough for you.

BONUS

“What do I call you?” Kratos says, stonefaced as he gazes down at the wolf cub currently panting at his feet.

#kratos x reader #gow x reader #god of war x reader #Kratos showing his affection is subtle ways

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whittywhitty · 1 year

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All-Father!Kratos headcanons because im obsessed.

* kratos attempts to be everywhere at once, constantly trying to broker peace independently. he feels as if he's doing a terrible job at being a mediator for fair discussion when in reality he's trying his best.

* kratos travels around the nine realms DAILY. it's to the point he has a home or a place of rest in each place.

* he once passed out from exhaustion because he's not used to talking to that many people, considering it's been YEARS since he was a spartan general leading thousands. thrúd had to drag him to his bed because she's the only one strong enough to even move him.

* tyr gifted kratos the bifröst eyes after seeing how much effort he's putting into healing the realms. he knew kratos from his youthful days of anger, but seeing him grow? it warranted something more meaningful. kratos accepted the gift. tyr also did the process of inserting the eyes. kratos had to get hammered.

* kratos is a caring parent to huginn and muninn. he cares a great deal about his animals and makes sure they're all fed. he hopes his example spreads to others (COUGH, RAIDERS)

* kratos does have a primary home. it's located in the realm between realms (not sindri's house) - it has a bedroom, kitchen and study but the real kicker is that there's a mini interpretation of the yggdrasil tree in a seperate room, in which there are doors to the each of the nine realms. kratos uses his new bifröst eyes to travel with these rooms.

* kratos has a golden shoulder guard that he slots mimir in during diplomatic meetings. its removed when kratos knows he is going to battle and is primarily used for special occasions.

* like most kind gods, kratos tries to read every prayer and see every offering addressed to him. he attempts to make such prayer come true via blessing, but he isn't used to turing the tides to favour when it comes to peace. he does try, however.

* kratos with glasses? more likely than you think.

* when atreus returns, he sees the progress his father has made and can't help but shed a tear.

* speaking of atreus, kratos always has a room for atreus in his multiple makeshift homes. he misses his little boy :-(

#god of war kratos #god of war spoilers #gow ragnorak #gow freya #god of war ragnarok #atreus #tyr #mimir #fenrir #gow spoilers #i have so many headcanons #headcanon #he loves the people #hes trying his best #he's trying so hard #god of war #god of war 2022

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judyfromfinance · 1 year

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Olden Times. Modern Thinking.

(Heimdall/Modern!Reader)

Summary: You know things you’re not supposed to. You behave oddly. And the way you speak is even odder. Kratos, Mimir, and Atreus have no idea if they should believe your ramblings of another world and of a future they have no way of knowing is real. But, you seem harmless enough. Plus, Faye may rise from her grave if they let a poor woman freeze to death in their forest, right outside their home no less.

~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 4

This new world you found yourself in was so vast, and so so terrifying at the same time. Beautiful but other worldly. Like it shouldn’t be real and yet here you are. Witnessing it with your own eyes. You were walking along the spindly branches of the world tree as you followed Sindri to his home. You stared out into the vast periwinkle void and you could’ve sworn you felt something stare back. You think back to your earlier thoughts. Beautiful yet terrifying. Lovecraftian in a sense, but some of his work was based off of Norse mythology so I guess calling something Lovecraftian that existed before him and even may have given him inspiration was just not right. But hey, it made sense in your head.

After Atreus came back in from his talk with Odin, Kratos showed up a couple of minutes after. They got into a slight argument, as they tend to do, and then Kratos decided that it was best to see what had gotten his boy so wrapped up that it would cause him to lie to his own father. But of course that left you, a mortal that could barely use a sword and could definitely not scale cliffs as easily as the two gods before you. “I can just stay here if you want?” Kratos just shook his before continuing to think. “They might come after you again.” He stated. You shook slightly at the thought. Atreus looked at with concern but you saw a twinkle of something else. Curiosity. He took a couple of cautious steps towards you. “Why were they here? What did they talk about?” He questioned. You knew what he really wanted to ask though. What could those gods possibly want with you? And again, just like when you first met them, you told them the truth.

“They think that I can help them prevent Ragnarök somehow.” You turned on your heel as you paced back and forth. You looked back up at them with a sigh of exasperation. “I don’t know how they knew but they knew! They knew I wasn’t from here. I don’t know exactly how much they know because our conversation didn’t get that far.” You think back to your fear ridden self. Your first thought was to get out of there. Not about possibly getting answers of your own. “I don’t know why they would think that but… I don’t know… I’m just really confused right now. I’m sorry.” You mutter softly. You felt like a burden. Not only are you slightly messing up the timeline, though they don’t know that, but you can’t even help them with their problems. They saved your life. They fed you. They clothed you. They gave you a warm bed and helped teach you about this land and all you can say is ‘I don’t know’ and ‘I’m sorry.’ Maybe… maybe you should finally tell them. But how would you even go about explaining it. ‘Hey your whole life’s a video game for other people’s entertainment!’ just wouldn’t cut it. As your mind began to spiral you heard a soft spoken voice speak up.

“She’ll be safe at our house.” Everyone turns to look at the dwarf in the doorway. Sindri smiled and waved. “All of you are welcome actually. You probably need a new place to lay your heads since this one is… well…” he looked towards the hole in the roof. “Compromised. Heh.”

And that’s what lead you to know. Walking through this mystical looking void, trying desperately not to peek over the edges of the branches. The thought of tumbling over your own feet and falling to your death in an endless void making you sick to your stomach. Sindri turns back around to you and starts up a conversation. “Me and my brother don’t often have visitors so this will be new and exciting. Hopefully? Just uh… wipe your feet off before you enter. If you can?” You nod your head in acknowledgment. “Yea I can do that. I can leave my shoes at the front door if you want? Don’t really need them inside tracking mud and melted snow anyways.” He stops before you, hands on his hips and a slight smile on his face. “That’s actually a great idea. I should implement that. Thank you!” You giggle before gasping in shock. A bright white light in the shape of a door appears before you. Sindri ushers you forward as you slowly push yourself through the mist. It felt tingly. Like when you scrub your sock covered feet against the carpet and go to poke at someone. But instead it’s all over your body. It doesn’t hurt, but it’s quite shocking nonetheless. Sindri follows behind you.

“By they way, I think we may have found some items that belong to you.” You furrowed your brow. Confused on what he could have that might belong to you. “What do you mean?” He goes to open the door of his grand treehouse. Taking off his heavy duty boots as he continued, “Well Atreus told me a lot about you. How you may not be of this world and well, Brok and I have found some…” he swallows as he tilts his head. “Unusual items on some of our scavenging expeditions. So I’m just assuming here.” He turns quickly towards you with his hands raised high as you unbuckle your boots. “Of course I could be wrong so if I am I apologize for over stepping.” You place your boots next to his as you wave your hand at him. “Don’t worry about it dude. It’s fine. But I’d like to see them if you don’t mind.” He nods before another burly voice interrupts him.

“So you’re that weird mortal girl they found on deaths doorstep.” Brok looks you up and down behind his smithing station and huffs. “Yea, you look like you wouldn’t be able to survive a greasy warthog tooting at ya, let alone Fimbulwinter.” Sindri gasps before turning to you. “I am so sorry. I’m sure he didn’t mean anything by that.”

“Like hell I did!” You couldn’t stop the laughter as it burst forth. You grasped your knees as your stomach started to ache. Honestly, what he said wasn’t even that funny but you couldn’t help but feel a slight weight be lifted off of you at his strange behavior and odd idioms. You calmed down before apologizing. “I’m sorry, that was just…” you shook your head as you tried to find words to describe your thoughts. “I don’t know man, that was just fucking funny I guess.” Sindri looked appalled at your foul language as Brok bellowed out a laugh not to dissimilar from your own. “I like this one. Well come on then! We haven’t got all day, you wanna see those odd contraptions or not?” You nod enthusiastically as you make your way over to him. He bends down and grabs a big wooden box. “I can tell one of them is a bag but it’s definitely an odd looking one. Don’t know what’s in it. Didn’t care enough to open it and the other one?” He just shrugs. “Fuck if I know what that damn thing is. It gets bright sometimes that’s all I know.” You nodded as you opened the box.

“Oh my god! It’s all my shit! Holy fuck thank you! How did it even get here? Where did y’all find it?” You shouted in shock and awe. Brok laughed his ass off as Sindri sighed. “Do you always speak like that?” You nod your head but apologized to him anyways. This was his home after all. You grab your pink and blue Little Twin Stars mini backpack. It had dirt smudges everywhere and a couple of claw marks. Looked like an animal tried to get into it but gave up halfway. It wasn’t as pristine as you usually kept it back at home but it was here! In your hands! You push it to the sides for now. As you look into the box and swiped your phone. You could cry. It was your phone! Fuck what everyone else said about the evils of material goods in the modern world. You spent good, hard earned money on these things. Of course you’re gonna enjoy them! You’re a material girl in a material world and that’s all you’ll ever wanna be. And you won’t feel sorry about it either. You turned your phone over and looked at the the pink Cardcaptor Sakura phone case. You looked at your phone charms dangling on the side. Toro Inoue and Pipimi and Popuko. They were dirty but fine. You then look towards the screen. Sadly it was cracked. Starting from the left corner down to about halfway down the screen in a spiderweb like fashion. Thankfully though, you had a screen protector. Your iPhone recognized your face as it opened up and you were bombarded with notifications from all of your apps. You began going through them, not even giving a second thought to how your phone is possibly working here at all. Sindri and Brok flanked both sides of you as they watched your fingers slide across the screen. Moving bright little boxes with words they couldn’t understand. Brok, starting to get restless, slapped your shoulder and asked “What the hel is that thing?” Sindri nodded, “I would very much like to know too.”

“Oh my god I’m so sorry. I just got really excited. Um…” you try to think of a way to explain what a phone is to people that don’t even know what technology is. “How do I put this? This is a phone. It allows me to contact people from far away. So say I was here with you guys and let’s say Atreus was all the way across Midgard right and he uh, he also had one of these. We would be able to talk to each other no problem.” Now that you’re hearing yourself out loud you cringe a bit. Describing how things worked or what things did was never your forte. If anyone back at home were to ask you to explain anything you’d hit them with a “I don’t know. Google it.” Sadly, you can’t really do that here. And you can tell that you explanation wasn’t all that great as they still looked confused.

“How does that work? And how can you control all those things with your fingers? Can it do anything else? One day it stated to make a, in my opinion, grating noise. Why did it do that?” Sindri just piled on question after question. And you felt bad because you didn’t know if you’d be able to answer all of them. Brok noticing your exasperation slapped Sindri on the back as he moved around the table. “Give the girl some room. You starting to sound like an ingreased cog.” Sindri stumbled forward as he turned to glare at Brok. “Ow.” He huffed before Turing back towards you. “I’m sorry.” You shook your head and smiled. “No need to apologize. I get it. It’s something new and interesting. You want to know more about it and I don’t blame you. But even though this is mine I don’t know how everything in it works. I just know that it does.” He shuffles forward towards a small door. “I understand. Here, this used to be a broom closet but we renovated it slightly to be a room. I know it’s not the best thing in the world but it’s a place to lay your head.” You peek into the room with a smile on your face. Definitely still is a broom closet if the mop in the corner was anything to go by. But the bed on the other size of the room that seemed to be the perfect size for you was nothing to sneeze at. “It’s perfect Sindri. Thank you.” You turn towards Brok. “And thank you too.” You grab your backpack and the bag you brought with you from the cabin and set them right next to your bed. You turn towards the door and looked at the Huldra brothers with a fond smile.

“I hope you don’t mind but I think I’m gonna sleep for a bit. It’s been a pretty eventful day.” Brok nodded before leaving. You can hear the sound of hammering start back up on the other side of the wall. Sindri smiles, “Of course.” He goes to close the door before peeking his head back in and saying a quick, “Sweet dreams.” He blushes before slamming the door closed. You hear him mutter something before scampering away. Brok lets put a hefty laugh, making fun of his brother’s embarrassment. You lay down and stare at the ceiling. You hear Sindri leave through the front door. Most likely to bring Kratos and Atreus back to their newfound home. You bring your phone back up to your face. And open it. You click on an app that you know all too well. As you scroll through all the different fanart of the very same characters that you are sharing a home with your struck with the sudden fear that your gonna have to come up with some way to help these people. You can’t let any of them die. But again, what can a mortal do amongst gods? You have the advantage of knowing what is going to happen and when. But how good is that when these gods can easily over power you and kill you. You have to tell them. You have to tell them everything. They’ll be able to help you come up with a game plan. You sigh as you turn off your phone and turn to your side. Staring at the stationary mop and bucket of water. You just hope that Kratos will listen to you. You hope that they all will. And maybe, maybe they won’t be mad. God help you.

Sorry this took so long y’all. My sisters been letting me use her pc and I’ve been playing Stardew Valley with a bunch of different mods and loving it! There’s a mod that make Toshinori Yagi a marriageable character and AAAAAAA I love him. Anyways hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Let me know what y’all think in the tags or the comments. Thank you~

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#Olden Times. Modern Thinking.#heimdall x reader #god of war ragnarok x reader #god of war x reader #heimdall gow x reader #gow reader insert

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thaboah · 1 year

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God Of War characters during a party!

Well I'm in class, bored as hell and tonight I had this idea. I haven't seen anyone writing something like this but it could be funny.

Here is almost every character mentioned, but due I'm going to mention alcohol, drugs and violence, and Trùd and Atreus are kids. I'm not going to mention them. Let's just say that they're on a "kids zone".

TW: Alcohol, drugs and violence mentions, please if you're minor do NOT read this.

🎟️,, ~ Let's start!

The night had just started and everyone still sober, the music starts playing and it's time to have fun.

Mimir, since he's just a head and can't dance, it's with Sindri taking care of people stuff, like the weapons. To make the party a safe place everyone has to leave their weapons at the entrance.

Brok is the one who attends the bar, he makes cocktails and give "advice" to drunk people.

Let's be honest, he's not the best person to ask for advice, but there's anyone more besides him.

His tips are simple, if you like someone, go ahead and kiss them and try to conquer them. If someone It's annoying, then punch them in the face!

Thor is the one who recieves this last advice, he has been annoyed by Heimdall like always, so now he's drunk, he finds that idea very interesting.

Well, Heimdall is leaning against a wall, he's not really drunk, but he's a little affected by alcohol, so when he sees Thor reeling towards him, he looks at his eyes and immediately knew what was going to happen.

Thor tried to punch Heimdall, but he dodges every single blow that Thor tries to give him.

H: "I'm sorry, did you just tried to hit me? You idiot."

T: "DOn't YOu dARe to CALl mE IDioT!"

H: "Okay! You drunk monkey!"

T: "WhaT DId yøU JÛsT CæLl Me?!"

At this point a good amount of people just formed a circle around these two.

Odin was staring at them like "What did I do to have this pair of idiots as sons"

Some people like Freyr were too drunk to understand what was happening and they were just screaming: "Fight, fight, fight!"

The fight was lame, and when Tyr (The real one) arrived, he really tried to make them stop.

Tyr tried to calm down Thor, and Heimdall just walked away.

And Sif, Sif was mad as hell at Thor, she and Thor left the party soon, as Sif said: "You have done enough"

And Kratos... Well, he's there, but he's not even drinking, he's just there making sure that his friends are okay and Odin doesn't try something when they're drunk.

He weren't planning to go but Freya ask him to go with her and he thought it could be interesting and maybe he could learn something about Odin or his plans.

Freya was enjoying the party, she's not the heart of the party, but, you know who it is? Freyr.

Freyr is having the BEST time of his life, he's drinking, dancing on the floor like he was at the end of the world.

Baldur was there too, dancing with Freyr, he can't get drunk, but he's trying really hard, he's drinking everything he sees (and doing some drugs) he really WANTS to feel something.

The party starts going out of hands, someone, ahem, ahem, Odin, put something on the drinks while nobody was seeing.

Everyone starts doing things that normally they wouldn't do. Even Tyr and Freya are giving everything on the dance floor.

Heimdall wasn't drinking anymore, he knew what Odin has done but he's not going to question the all-father's behaviour.

Kratos it's fine too, he haven't drunk anything on the entire night, but he's having a great time anyways. There's no need to get drunk, you can have fun without alcohol.

Sindri, Brok and Mimir once everyone is too busy doing things that they will regret tomorrow. They meet together at the bar, Sindri is worried, he thinks that the party has gone out of hands, but Brok tell him to relax, anyone is dying.

When the party is over everyone ends sleeping where they can. Kratos takes Freya to her house but leaves the rest to his own luck.

Freyr and Baldur during the party were like best friends and they wake up next to each other lying on the ground. (Nothing weird, they fell asleep dancing)

Odin left after Kratos, but Heimdall stayed there annoying everyone.

Heimdall wakes up on the entrance of the party, he was so annoying that when he fell asleep everyone agreed on getting ride of him.

Sindri and Brok left and gone home leaving Mimir on the bar.

Everyone left Mimir :(

The next morning everyone woke up with a headche.

Baldur, Freyr and Heimdall found Mimir on the bar.

Mimir would definitely tell them about everything that happened last night, everyone feels a little embarrassed.

But at the end was funny and nobody was hurt.

🎟️,, ~ End

(WHAT WITH THIS GIF I LOVE IT)

That was funny! I spend alomst 2 hours writing, maybe more, maybe less but I hope all liked it :)

And if someone read this and is a minor, bad! I told you this wasn't for kids! But don't worry I understand you, when I was a kid I did that too and I'm normal haha.

Jokes aside, you don't need of alcohol to have fun and this is a fanfic, it's not real and it's not a good example or parties!

Have a nice day :)

#god of war x reader #gow ragnarok #heimdall headcanons #god of war ragnarok #god of war #heimdall god of war #kratos #kratos gow #freya gow #freyr #tyr gow #thor gow #odin allfather #odin gow #gow x reader #headcanon #gow headcanons

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the-broken-truth · 1 year

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Hi hi hi! I was just thinking about what if Björn makes a blood connection with Magni and Modi before they died. Like, the three of them cut their hands and they hold each other’s hands, like that they believe that now Björn is their brother cause they are connected by blood.

Imagine if Baldur and Björn does the same thing. Basically it would mean that Björn (and also Revna) are connected with Baldur, Magni and Modi by blood, making them siblings.

Imagine Kratos and Atreus going feral when they discover about it.

[BLOOD CONTRACT WITH THE SONS OF THOR] [MIDGARD - ON THE EDGE OF THE FOREST]

The sun sat on the edge of the horizon as it began setting from the sky to give light to the other side of the world, but the golden eyes of the son of the Ghost of Sparta looked at the glowing orb of light with tiredness in his eyes - he was exhausted from his training with his bloodless brothers - Magni and Modi - the Sons of Thor. It was month 3 or 4 of Bjorn's Training in swordsmanship and channeling his lightning magic through his hand and through his sword but it was still draining for the young bear when he was training from sunrise to sunset, he was finally given a moment to breathe before he had the return home and deal with the overprotective nature of his father and older twin brother. Oh, how he wished that Magni and Modi were his real brothers, along with Baldur; if only fate had been kind to him and birthed him into the Family of Thorsdóttir.

"You seem distracted." A powerful voice called from behind Bjorn, causing him to look behind him and his golden eyes locked with the electric blue eyes of Magni, the older of Thor's Sons & the taller one. "What's going on through your mind, Little Bear?"

"It's nothing to concern yourself with, Magni; sorry if I was bothering you with my thoughts." Bjorn said as he looked back at the sun. Magni knew something was wrong with the younger warrior and sat beside him as he looked at the sun as well and the two of them sat in silence before Magni looked at Bjorn again and reached over to place his hand on his shoulder, making the boy look back into his blue eyes.

"You're becoming a splendid warrior, Little Bear, but a skilled warrior needs a clear mind and I can tell that your mind is clouded with something. Tell me, Little Brother, what is bothering you so much?" Magni asked again, the title 'brother' made Bjorn look to the ground before he looked into Magni's eyes again.

"That's the thing - I want us to be brothers - blood brothers - you, Modi, and Baldur have been like the brothers I never had but always wanted: you train me, you understand me, and you actually want me to get better unlike my father and Atreus. I wish that it was your blood I carried in my veins instead of theirs, I wish that Lord Thor was my father… I sometimes wish that I was an Aesir instead of a Spartan." Bjorn closed his eyes at the last sentence before he exhaled and looked back at the sun, "But the fates aren't kind like that…Are they, Magni?"

"No. No, they are not kind enough to put your in our family where you belong but that doesn't mean we can't make it happen, Little Brother." Magni said, causing Bjorn to look at him with confusion in his eyes.

"What do you mean?" The bear asked.

"Have you ever heard of a blood contract?" Magni asked but Bjorn shook his head and Magni smiled, "A Blood Contract is old magic - when two or more people want to be joined by the kinship of blood, they would cut their hands and join them together, the idea was that the magic would bind them together as blood family for the rest of their lives."

"Are you serious?" Bjorn asked with hope sparkling in his eyes.

"He's right, you know." Modi said as he appeared on the other side of the bear cub and took his seat their and smiled at the boy, "If you want to be our little brother, we can do a blood contract and we'll be bound by blood for the rest of eternity." Modi said as he held out his hand to Bjorn, who looked at him with a smile on his face.

"Yes. Yes, I want to be your blood brother. How do we do this?" Bjorn asked as he looked at Magni, who produced a knife from his pocket and cut the palm of his left hand before passing the knife to Modi who cut the palm of his right hand, they handed the knife to Bjorn, who looked at the blood-soaked blade for a while before the thought of them being blood-related crossed his mind again and he took the knife and cut both of his palms before setting the knife down. All 3 of them looked at the sun as Bjorn placed his smaller left hand in Modi's hand, the blood mixing, before doing the same with Magni; a warm feeling coursed through all of their bodies as they sat in silence and looked at the sun, letting their blood bond settle. Magni and Modi closed their hands around Bjorn's smaller hands, allowing their wounds to touch and their blood to get even closer.

[BLOOD CONTRACT WITH BALDUR - SON OF FREYA]

Bjorn dodged Baldur's attack before throwing his fist out, connecting with Baldur's face, making the taller man move back for a while as the bear panted but kept his guard up. Baldur wiped the blood from his lip and smiled at Bjorn, who smiled back at him but the match was stopped when Magni called out from the sidelines.

"Enough. My little brother needs to rest for a while, Baldur." Magni said as he unfolded his arms and walked over to Bjorn, "That's enough for now, Little Bear, you need to take a breather."

"But, Elder Brother, I feel fine. I feel like I can handle more that I usually do." Bjorn explained as he looked at his hands, mainly, the scars on the palms of his hands from the blood contract he partook in a week ago. Magni placed a hand on Bjorn's shoulder and smiled at him.

"I know, Little Brother, but you don't want to burn yourself out during a fight so you neeed to take a breather before you continue to your swordplay." Magni explained befor walking off to the side with Bjorn following behind him but Baldur walked over to them and asked.

"What is it with all this 'Little Brother' crap, Magni?" Baldur asked with a raised eyebrow.

"A week ago, we did a blood contract; Bjorn is my little brother now." Magni said as he placed at hand on Bjorn's head, ruffling his hair, causing the boy to smile.

"You both did a blood contract? Do you know if it worked?" Baldur asked as he looked at Bjorn.

"Well, I've been feeling much stronger than I used to be before I did the blood contract. I think it worked." Bjorn said as Baldur kneeled before the boy.

"What about me? Aren't your brother too?" Baldur asked, making Bjorn raise his eyebrow.

"Of course you are, Baldur. You're the one who introduced me to Big Brother Magni and Big Brother Modi. If I could, I would have done a blood contract with you too." Bjorn said with a smile.

"You can…" Magni said, "If you want to be bound to Baldur as well, preform the same blood contract we did together."

Baldur and Bjorn looked at each other before nodding - Bjorn pulled out Magni's Knife - Magni let him have it after the blood contract last time - and cut open the scar on his left hand before hand the knife to Baldur, who cut the palm of his left hand and the two of them held hands - this time, a cold feeling coursed through Bjorn's Body.

"From this day on, we are brothers." Baldur said with a smile.

"Big Brother Baldur. Now I have 3 brothers that care of my power and I shall make you all proud." Bjorn said with a smile. Time to get back to training.

[KRATOS AND ATREUS FINDING OUT ABOUT THE BLOOD CONTRACTS]

"Father! NO!" Bjorn cried out as Kratos broke Baldur's neck and threw his body to the ground; the little bear ran over to the body of his fallen brother and looked into his blue and red eyes and placed his smaller hands on Baldur's body, shaking him as if he was asleep.

"Baldur! Baldur! Please, don't leave me… Please, don't leave me like they did…" Bjorn's eyes began to water.

"Bjorn, don't touch him." Kratos tried to pull Bjorn away from Baldur's body but the young bear roared at him and pushed him away.

"YOU KILLED MY BROTHERS! ALL OF THEM! MAGNI, MODI, AND BALDUR! YOU KILLED MY FUCKING BROTHERS, FATHER! I BEGGED YOU NOT TO DO IT, HE WASN'T GOING TO KILL HIS MOTHER…He wasn't going to kill her…You killed him for nothing…" Bjorn cried as he looked at Baldur, who was now being cradled by Freya who was sheding her own tears.

"Why did you call them your brothers? Atreus is your only brother." Kratos said.

"No… No he wasn't, not anymore. I did a blood contract with Magni, Modi, and Baldur - they became my blood brothers - I was linked to them by blood and now you took that away from me." Bjorn said as he glared at Kratos, who glared back at him.

"YOU TAINTED THE BLOOD IN YOUR VEINS WITH THEIR BLOOD?! THE BLOOD OF MYSELF AND FAYE?! HOW DARE YOU, BOY?! WHAT EVER WERE YOU THINKING?!" Kratos demanded to know.

"HOW DARE I?! HOW DARE YOU?! YOU TOOK THEM AWAY FROM ME - THE BROTHERS THAT SAW MY POTENTIAL AND TRAINED ME TO BE THE WARRIOR I AM NOW! YOU TOOK THEM AWAY FROM ME, GHOST OF SPARTA, AND I SHALL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR THIS!" Kratos suddenly grabbed Bjorn's arm tightly, "LET GO OF ME!"

"YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR, BOY! YOU TAINT YOURSELF WITH THE BLOOD OF OUR ENEMIES AND NOW THEY ARE WITHIN YOU! YOU ARE NEVER LEAVING THE HOUSE AGAIN AND I SHALL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON YOU FROM NOW ON!" Kratos yelled as he pulled Bjorn away from Freya and Baldur with tears in the little bear's eyes as he cried for the last of his fallen brothers.

#god of war ragnarok #the might bear au #male reader/björn #magni #modi #baldur

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stupid-sloot-headcanons · 1 year

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Had this elaborate weird GoW dream where I was arranged to marry Týr, then helped him in his plans but had to erase my memories of it all to keep me safe in case Odin managed to capture me.

Imagine Týr working with one of the Giants to use a combination of Aesir, Vanir, and Giant magic to prevent Odin from easily figuring out how to unravel the spell. But this goes VERY wrong, maybe due to Odin or his allies/minions interrupting the spell. Týr's s/o now has no memories at all, with just vague intuition and flashes here and there when she sees or hears something or someone familiar. Týr is kidnapped but manages to send his beloved somewhere secret while they're unconscious.

They don't know where they are or who they are, but they manage to remember little bits over time after coming across the Giant prophecies and statues of the gods. They knew Týr, and they think they were very close with each other. And when Odin finds them years later, they're still not entirely all there. But with Týr imprisoned, Odin takes on his form and--once Kratos and Atreus "rescue" him--he insists on finding his beloved so they can't fall into Odin's clutches.

Kratos and Atreus manage to find Týr's amnesiac s/o, and when they all return to Sindri's home, s/o can't help but feel strange about reuniting with their husband. They hoped they'd get their memories back entirely after seeing him again, and while some DO come back it isn't that clear. He's very kind and warm to them, but whenever he talks to them or touches them...something feels off about it. Would the Týr in their scattered memories really say or do something like this?

Tyr admits he'd changed drastically due to the trauma he endured as Odin's prisoner. But he's so happy to finally be with them again. He spent so many years worrying about his beloved, hoping he was able to keep them safe and far from Odin. And now, they're together again! With his and his allies' help, their memories (and secrets) can definitely be restored somehow.

I'm just imagining the fucked up aspect of Odin disguised as Týr using his son's wife to try and find out what Týr's been hiding. And at first it's just a strategy to get what he wants, but a part of him (a part he would call "soft" and "sentimental") would enjoy having a wife again. And this one's much more compliant and trusting thanks to their amnesia and dependence on him to get their memories back; plus, they're a good fighter, and knowledgable of some magic and other things not even he knew about. Týr must've inherited his father's attraction to intelligence, among other things. Odin has no doubt that Týr's s/o taught things to Týr the same way his Frigg taught him, but unlike Frigg, Týr's wife couldn't betray him.

Hm. His main priority is getting the mask, but enjoying a happy marriage/do-over courtship for the first time in years is a nice bonus. He keeps finding ways that they remind him of his great love Fjörgyn. Despite his hatred for the Giants, he loved her more than anyone in the Realms; and despite how much he hates Týr for betraying him worse than a son ever should betray his family, his wife is so loyal. That kind of love is a precious thing, and if the real Týr can't experience it, then Odin is happy to do so in his place. It's an extra punishment to his traitorous son on top of everything else.

Also: Brok finds all the affection and cutesy glances and all form of romantic shit on Tyr's part to be vomitous and overly sappy. The fuckin god of war better not bang up him and Sindri's broom closet too bad, but it's not like there's any other place Tyr and his memoryless wife can get up to anything alone. Hell, how d'you give a lady some of your branch when you're the size of a whole fuckin' tree? Freya better know some spells on how to heal a broken pelvis, assuming Tyr isn't as cowardly and peckerless as he acts around the others. Brok just reckons he's lucky most of HIS lady friends were always taller than him, as opposed to the other way round.

#like on a scale of 1-10 of fucked up shit odin's done #where do you put 'assumed his sons identity and seduces his amnesiac daughter in law'#and 'is partially attracted to how (among other things) theyre reliant on him due to their memory loss'#.god of war #yandere god of war #.odin #yandere odin #tw: dubcon #.myshit

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lokis-wager · 1 year

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Does Atreus ask Kratos for nudes or sexy pics too ??? This is the real question the people need to know

Anon you've inspired me. Here's a short story about it lol.

Atreus was surprised when his phone dinged in the middle of class with the signature chime for texts from Kratos. His father knew his schedule, and wouldn't regularly text him during class. Wondering if something was wrong, he grabbed his phone, taking a look.

'i have a video for you'

'like you wanted'

Atreus blinked. "Really?" He breathed aloud. He had been begging for weeks to get something in return for the saucy pictures and lewd videos he had been sending. Just knowing his father was still thinking about his naked body made Atreus feel hot and sticky. Knowing that he was about to get evidence of his father's arousal was amplifying the heat inside.

Some of his classmates looked over at him, so Atreus quickly walked out of the room, heading to the bathroom.

'SEND IT TO ME NOW!!'

He quickly typed back, pushing open the bathroom door and plopping down on a seat. By then, he had a response.

'you'll need headphones'

Atreus could have swooned. There was no way he was getting this lucky. Digging into his pocket, he took out his earbuds.

'Give it to me already! I wanna see your cock, Daddy 🤤'

The next message was a red heart. Then, a video file.

Atreus clicked on the video, his heart racing with anticipation, squirming in his uncomfortable seat.

The video started with their bed, sheets wrinkled, with Kratos' legs stretched out. A few shuffling noises as Kratos adjusted the angle - and then, his broad, pale hand pushed down his boxers. Atreus had to cover his mouth, his eyes going wide as he watched Kratos slide out his flaccid cock.

A few strokes of his hand brought it to stiffness, his voice quiet as he spoke. "Atreus... "

Atreus almost whined, barely able to hold back his voice as he heard Kratos speaking. He squirmed, unsure of whether to start masturbating now or to wait until he was back in his room.

Slow, strong strokes got gradually faster, Kratos' breath coming in pants. His hips surged, thrusting into his hand. Atreus was already in heaven, his dick pressing heavily against the crotch of his pants. This felt too good, his whole body squirming as he tried to hold back.

"Ahh... I'm gonna cum." Kratos sounded breathless, his whole body shaking, the camera's view shaking with him.

Atreus nodded, his voice a low whisper. "Yes, fuck, I want your cum... "

Kratos' cock erupted, cum splashing over his hand, staining his underwear and the sheets. He let out a loud, lewd moan, startlingly loud, make Atreus pant. Sitting there on the toilet, Atreus felt hot, his head spinning and face flushed.

Closing his eyes, he leaned back, expecting the video to be over. He was surprised when Kratos' voice cut into his thoughts. "Atreus. When you see this, you'd better start squeezing that little dick of yours until you cum. Do it, now."

How could Kratos have sent this to him in the middle of class? That man had been trying to distract him. Atreus had to do what he was told, and opened up his pants. He tried to keep his voice down in case anyone came in, but in all honesty, he wouldn't have stopped. He couldn't stop. He needed to cum, like Kratos had told him.

Atreus got lucky, as no one came in. His cum splattered on the wall of the stall, and he panted, staring at the splash mark as it slowly dribbled down. Grabbing toilet paper, he wiped it up, letting his heart rate and breathing settle. He was spoiled rotten, missing out on class time due to Kratos' naughtiness.

He turned to his phone. 'You. Fucking. Bastard.'

'language'

Atreus rolled his eyes. 'I'm going to fuck the shit out of you this weekend.'

It took a few minutes for Kratos to respond. In that time, Atreus cleaned himself up, and went back to class. He tried to act casually, slouching back to his seat. Opening his phone, he checked his texts again.

'I'll be looking forward to it.'

#loki writes stuff #loki writes: gow modern au #lol

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disgustingtrash · 3 years

Text

God of war thought vomit

Pls don’t bully me for all of my half baked

“ theories “ or my HORRID spelling...

Why did the giants break the Atreus healing/killing kratos drawing so much? Change of prophecy? Faye not wanting to accept it ? Thor was at the giants place and ruined wanting to take kratos life for himself? Most of the drawing is ruined and we can’t see what else is to happen beside Atreus healing/killing Kratos. Not only is most of the drawing ruined but it is also COVERED!!! It’s covered by a curtain. Why? Why would whoever ruined the drawing want to cover it up? A change in fate so last minute the giants tried destroying the evidence but they were rushed for some reason and covered hoping no one would find it? Why is it covered!!!!! Another thing , the door that leads to the highest peak. That bit is smashed in , so I assume the room was just a room maybe for worship or was created by Faye to tell a story. At some point tho the door is created and we miss the part that is smashed in. The part is smashed for a door, than why is the Atreus kill/heal part also smashed? For what purpose? Every other part of the mural is fine beside a few non interfering cracks but the kill/heal is almost all gone. Another door to somewhere? Hidden secrets perhaps

Atreus and Kratos healing drawing. Healing? Is Atreus donating some of his own soul to his father to revive him? Or is Atreus stealing kratos’ soul?

We fight freya in her Valkyrie form! Talks about how she wants her wings back, and how much she wants to kill kratos. Maybe if kratos kills thor she gets real pissed and talks w Odin saying that if she gets her wings back she can kill kratos.

The giants called Faye their guardian and she would “ return” in their time of need but she didn’t really guard or protect shit. shit. Maybe her ashes will revive the giants since they were all glittery. The return of Faye could also mean just re uniting with her people as ashes. Could as be that she left the guardian of giants role bc she chose a life with kratos hence the argument with the giants. OR could also be the guardian of giants with Atreus , who is part giant and will let the giant race live on.

Kratos killed the sisters of fate in his own land, he can change his fate how ever he wants. Kratos is not of Norse decent so he is not bound by the fate everyone there is ( if fate does exist in cold ppl world ) , perhaps fate of Norse lands did not expect Kratos who is not bound to their rules of life progression. Kratos can fuck up Norse mythology however he wants.

What if Faye was the one who made all the drawings in the ending room? We know she knew that they got there since her gold pathing is on the rocks. Nowhere BUT in the end is kratos mentioned, I would think some random god from another land fucking everything up would be very important to write down somewhere but it isn’t. Unless I’ve missed lore , the only place kratos is told of is in the ending drawings. Maybe the giants did not see kratos coming , and only Faye knew? The room is opened with all the carvings made by the dead giants , maybe Faye was the last and when she got to the giants land she tore down the past depictions of ragnork and re made them to include kratos since he did make ragnork happen like 100 winters early or something like that. This would explain the broken wall where kratos is seen held in the lap of Atreus. She was making the drawings in a rush and couldn’t complete the rest of the wall.

Pls go to the end of this specific “ theory “ I kinda debunked it 😔😔

Can tyre time travel??? I feel like I should remember something like this :/ In tyre tomb we see the Greek pot with kratos depicted on it , him and the blades. So I’m gonna guess this is by the time kratos is the new god of war ( 28 yrs old according to the wiki ) and ppl r worshiping him ( like how they worship all gods). If Tyre was alive when kratos was the god of war surely Tyre must’ve been young when he died since kratos is like what? 50? And Atreus is 10 or 12? So all of the messy shit must’ve happened when kratos was traveling to Norse lands. But that dosent make sense since everything is talked about as if it was forever ago. So... did kratos time travel??? Bc in game he thinks time travel is crazy but is somehow around for all dis other shit. Tyre being able to time Tavel dosent explain how kratos is so young in GOW4. Just remember kratos IS super fucking old and cannot die from old age despite not being immortal. If I remember right Zeus was like “fuck you

* stab *, now you aren’t immortal lmao “ .

:/ now this “ theory “ is very dumb, pls ignore 😌 don’t wanna remove tho so I can come back incase something else is reviled

Not really a theory , but I think Atreus is gonna have a good/ hero type arc. A lot of people r making it out for him to be evil and that makes a ton of sense seeing real Norse mythology, but I think kratos will be a better dad and instill some yummy good people traits into Atreus. This has no evidence which is why I’m not calling it a theory!

About the actual giant drawing itself , what if kratos is putting something into Atreus instead of Atreus bestowing something upon kratos? What if Kratos is giving up his life for Atreus? Not likely since the body is very weak obv .Another thought , what if Atreus is sharing knowledge with the corpse who I’m assuming is kratos even tho my only evidence is 1- Atreus sad and 2- beard. OOO what if kratos is gifting Atreus his god powers? Making Atreus Loki and the god of war( I guess the Greek god of war but beside the point ). So the world servant is Loki’s son. And the drawing kinda looks like the world serpent even though I believe it’s words and not a snake let me throw some shit out there. What if this is not kratos ( or is idc ) and Atreus is using the body as a vessel to birth the world snake? Maybe stealing the persons life to bring about the ending or ragnork in the form of snake ?

It might not be kratos on da wall. The skirt color is off , looks like he’s kinda wearing an eye patch ( unless his eyes were gauged out ) , and his missing foot. But you go “ it was smashed out! We can see it!” Perhaps not. If you look at the leg , the smashed bit is LINED!!! His missing leg is definite and inked , unlike the arm which was smashed out since it lacks the defining outline. I don’t know of anyone with a missing leg or is super close with Atreus that he’d be crying over it tho. Also , on the farther leg from us , it looks like on the inner thigh there is a tattoo, unless this is like a pouch idk if Kratos is hiding a sexy sexy leg tat. To add , we never see kratos shirtless in GOW4 , or without shoes or pants and in the drawing he’s both pantless , shoeless and shirtless.

This is also not a theory , just over thinking. What if Atreus never turned out to be a warrior? What if he took more of tyres path gathering knowledge and not fighting skill. Would kratos still love him? Faye WAS a warrior. Atreus eventually becomes very useful and is super strong by the end of the game since we murdered baulder together. But like... what if Atreus just didn’t? Does kratos love Atreus cause he’s his son or because he becomes capable? Ik I’m digging to far In but I love hurting myself with ‘ what if’s ‘.

#god of war #god of war ragnarok #god of war 4 #god of war 5 #god of war theory #Atreus #kratos

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midas-or-khaos · 3 years

Text

Wrong place, Wrong time. Part 1

God of war x borrower oc story

“-And remember, DON’T touch anything! Reavers aren’t exactly a clean bunch,” a gurgling followed. “Ugh, really bad at keeping anything clean in fact.” The poor man really could be a worry wart at times (and a clean freak as always).

“Sindri, I’ll be fine. I promise! Cross my heart and everything. The whetstone will probably be kept somewhere safe if it’s precious enough to be stolen, so it’ll hopefully be clean when I find it.”

“Oh. Well, I hadn’t thought of that. Just...stay safe ok? And don’t get caught!”

“I won’t, I never do. See you soon!”

Reluctantly the dwarf answered,“See you soon jojo.” But the poor dwarf’s knee couldn’t stop shaking, thinking about worst case scenarios. Jojo knew he’d just have to prove poor Sindri wrong once again. Maybe one of these days he’d actually learn there was no use worrying himself into a frenzy. Taking off, the 5 inch figure wasn’t stopped as he scurried along natural ledges in walls, and began his descent into the heart of the earth.

Jojo didn’t see what all the worry was for. One of the few perks of being a borrower was often big folk like Reavers or monsters were always too busy looking ahead for bean sized people, that they never looked far enough down to see him. He knew the dwarf didn’t like asking him for help, even though the boy often came to Sindri’s shop outside ‘Fafnir’s storeroom’ (or whatever he called it) asking for challenges and new borrowing spots.

Most borrowers would call it suicide to be talking to beans and other big folk, ESPECIALLY with all the new monsters that have started popping up recently. Hel walkers they’re called apparently. But Jojo wasn’t most. He’d sought out his favourite Dwarf and brother when his parents died drowning in the lake of nine when the waters suddenly flooded, leaving their 8 year old son to fend for himself. Not immediately, obviously. No, at that point he was still a weedy little scaredy cat himself, not able to be even in the same area when footstep started to shake the earth. It could only last so long though. He hadn’t been old enough to be taken out borrowing before being left alone, and supplies ran low quickly. So, spurt of the desperate, when he saw the two set up shop outside his home in the foothills, the child decided to stride right out into the open and ask for food.

4 years later and he still never regretted that decision. Still scrawny, “the side effect of being young” said Brok, but definitely more confident. Brok taught him a lot of that confidence (and a whole lot of swear words too, despite Sindri’s attempts to undo his brother’s work) and Sindri taught him kindness and generosity. The generosity was only spent on the brothers, because who else was he going to see? No borrower would trust another that hung around beans, and Sindri wouldn’t let him be found by anyone if he had anything to say about it, but kindness he tried to show all IF he could without getting sliced in half.

Gathering focus for the change in environment, the world became darker. White, natural light was flittering out, slowly being replaced by the ethereal glow of blue crystals bouncing off liquid smooth stone corridors leading into a fatal drop. An underground ravine. Nothing had shown its face yet, though the odd grunt of some undead beastie would make itself known now and then. Being so small meant there was no need to cross the water below, or find ways to get the chain ropes down so as to climb across. All he had to do was stick close to the roof where stalactites could be leapt between till he reached some valley in the wall to rest. Nothing too hard. Looking for the fist place to jump, a low hanging spine was just a couple of feet away (to Jojo); taking a leap of faith, the boy managed to snag the tail end. Right, next one. Leaping like a lemur the drop was easily avoided, and soon something came into view. Sunlight yellow was beginning to mix with the unnatural blue, and Jojo knew there was an opening into the outside world around the corner. Good, finally he would be able to see, though he would be easier to spot in the illumination of day.

Sindri

How had Brok convinced him to let Jojo go treasure hunting alone? So many traps, monsters, ancients even! “He’ll be fine” said Brok when the two had discussed it together during one of their rare ‘chats for important matters’. So nonchalantly Brok threw out, “Kid’s never been seen before, he ain’t gonna be now!” We’ll that was just testing fate wasn’t it! The rhythmic thumping of hammer to metal was doing nothing to take his mind off the matter, and a few too many near misses to his thumb told Sindri he wasn’t going to get any real work done at this rate. Perhaps he should have a break and go visit Ivaldi’s workshop?

“Hey Sindri!”

“Agh!!!!” Both hammer and work went flying overhead, just missing the flat of his skull. The lithe boy in question at least had the gall to go red, abashed as he walked over to the Dwarf’s workbench, scratching at the buzzed fuzz across the side his head.

“Sorry.”

“Well you should be! That could’ve hurt you OR me, and all the infections that could get in-”

“Boy, be careful.”

The source of the voice sat further back up the slate corridor, hidden in shadow, hawkish gold glowed beneath a heavy brow.

“Sorry father.” Atreus called back to the hidden figure.

With meaningful strides, the figure came into the light of day, bleach white skin, jet black beard and a crimson tattoo striped across an eye setting the figure apart as none other than his worst fear. Kratos. Why? Why were these two here?

“What brings you two to my place of work to scare me?”

Leaning on the edge of his (freshly cleaned) work bench, the spritely youth explained with excitement, “We’re gonna get that whetstone you wanted!”

Shit! He’d mentioned that to them, hadn’t he? Why had they come to fulfill that promise now, when they seemed so disinterest in before?

“O-o-ooooohhhhh yeahhhhhhh, THAT whetstone. Well...”

Atreus leaned in with a head tilt and a brow lifted, “...well? What’s wrong, did you find it already?”

“No-“

“-No? Then what’s the problem?”

“Speak clearly, we have come for the promise of improvements.” Straight to the point, both father and son were on edge now.

Damn it, he was digging a hole for himself again. Stupid mouth. Obviously, if the two of them went in those mines, there was a chance his kid would get spotted and wearing that rat skin outfit, either of the pair could mistake Jojo for an actual rat and hit him with something. Oooooo, that’s horrifying, don’t think about that! Ughhhh don’t vomit! Don’t-...But On the other hand, there was a chance that the father/son duo could clear the way and make it safer for his boy to get back. And more searching eyes makes for less work. Sindri would just have to encourage them not to be too... liberal with their killing.

“Yes the offer is still there, but you must heed this warning.”

“You mentioned no warning before, why?” The irritation lacing the bestial man’s tone didn’t keep itself hidden, growls billowing out that barrel chest. The dwarf didn’t shirk away like a turtle. Not at all.

“O-oh-well-I didn’t know before. Bbbbut I got new information...from Brok. He said not tooooooo... kill the ratssssss?”

The growls took a higher pitch.

“Errrrr, ok? Are the rats protected are something?” Quizzed Atreus, bringing the blacksmith off the subject of the terrifying god before him. A perfect excuse.

“YES! Yes, sorry, the rats are the protected subjects of Freya. Wouldn’t want to upset her right?!”

“Oh! Well, she never mentioned that when we met her.” These two met FREYA! Of course they had, who was he kidding, they’d met everyone and probably started a fight with them too.

“Must’ve slipped her mind, now hurry up! Don’t want any drauger or wolves to get their disgusting hands all over it! Otherwise it’ll be so dirty even I won’t be able to clean it!”

The excuse was enough. The two turned (but not before the kid’s enthusiastic good bye) and disappeared below the cramped passage into the inky black mines, their footsteps echoing out.

“Please let this be the right idea.” Huffed out Sindri with stale, held breath, shaking his head at his own recklessness.

Jojo

Making the last of his descent down the sheer cliff walls, vibrant green broke the dead stone and made life at the edge of the darkness. The sweet ache from overworked tendons and muscles began the slow process of slipping away, fresh air and bird song rejuvenating the boy’s ambition to find his prize, a grin pulling at bubbly cheeks. He was halfway now! Strolling through the ivy, form barely making a rustle, sunlight illuminated the boy’s way through the thickets. Brok mentioned that before he reached the main chamber where the actual traps and treasure was kept, there was a ‘small’ field for him to cross with bits of precious metals along the way. Jojo knew he’d need to make height soon in order to know where he was going, but this time it’d have to be calculated; all black stood out in all this greenery. Now where to go? Rocks. He could use the rocks as an outpost to look out: dark coloured, easy to climb and easy to blend into. Just a matter of reaching it. Strolling through the ivy, the speckled light beaming on the crumbled earth was just enough to guide the way forward, boots barely making a sound.

Squawk

Stopping dead, a cold trail prickled along his back. The boy made the slowest tilt back possible to peak throught the canopy, trying to avoid detection. Too late, looking with a ghostly green eye, a monsterous raven was stalking with keen interest, perched almost serenely upon it’s watch point. Ravens weren’t notorious borrower hunters, seeing people like him often as a chore to catch and consume. But rats...rats were their favourite.

And he was dressed as one.

Atreus

“Father, what do you think had Sindri so shook?”

“Anything, boy. The dwarf has a talent for fear.” No denying that, agreed the doe eyed boy. Sindri did fear just about everything.

Crouching did nothing for the chalk giant, disgruntled grunts sounding out amongst the overhead drips of droplets every time his bald head scraped the sandpaper rough ceiling. It’s one of the few examples in life that made Atreus happy to be short. Yowls were coming from further into the mineshaft, but drauger were a minor setback, easily dispatched.

“Be on your guard boy, we are nearing danger.”

Jojo

“Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck-“ How could one bird be more persistent then all the drauger in the world?

SSSSSQQQQUUUUUAAAAAARRRRRRRKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!

Too close! Every attack was only wearing the borrower down more; the saving grace from this endless stream of dive bombs was that in the bird’s haste, it made enough flapping to give its location away at all times, making it easier to dodge. But now Jojo was lost, lost and close to just falling down if his quaking limbs were anything to go by.

Atreus

“Well that was easy.”

A sagely look was drawn toward Atreus, not angry, but not impressed, “Easy because there are two of us, boy, but don’t let your guard down because you perceive an enemy as ‘easy’.”

Always one to lecture. “Yes sir.”

The cave entrance as coming into sight, stoic father and brash son walking side by side. With electrical arrows at the ready and frosty axe drawn the odd pair walked into daylight, sun illuminating the thick blood staining their skin and wares. Both were ready for any kind of battle ahead, be it fierce or simple.

Well, except for the kind of battle that they stumbled onto.

“Father? What’s wrong with that bird?” Quizzed Atreus, looking up, but Kratos was busy scanning the wooded field

“It hunts for prey boy, pay it no mind.” No beating around the bush.

“But it looks like one of Odin’s crows.”

The barely there expression of strained, chalk temples and widening, heavy set eyes might as well have been a scream.“Shoot it down.”

This rarity was not lost on the boy, heart pounding in response. If his ever-stoic dad was frightened, this was more of a danger than he had anticipated. Wasting no time, Atreus locked on as the bird went for another dive, and let loose a wizzing arrow. It fired true puncturing the breast and punching through to the other side with a resounding crack of the rib cage. The creature never hit its mark, breaking apart in a surprising burst of green flame, but never actually setting anything on fire. The witchcraft of Odin was strange indeed.

The boy couldn’t feel pleasure out of his elegant kill, still too shaken by what he’d seen. Atreus knew better than to ask his father what was wrong, the man would switch on him like a rabid dog driven mad by rabies if any fear was ever acknowledged.

“We go on, boy.”

Kratos took the lead, heading further uphill into the tree trunk horizon, sun spilling over the crest and illuminating some of the lower valley where the boy stood. Atreus made no move to follow. If he was to get answers, it would have to be now whilst his father charged on unaware. Tip toeing over to where the bird would have fallen, eyes trained on his father, the archer found his arrow wedged fast into the soft earth with wandering hands. Turning his gaze for just a moment to inspect his find, there were signs of burns, suggesting that the animal must’ve been made of pure magic; probably a spy of some kind if Odin had anything to do with it, the man was notoriously suspicious and crafty (even all seeing as his mother had mentioned) so would want to know at all times what was going on in midguard. Hold on... pulling the tip of the spear out, a rat skin sat pierced at the end. Weird thing was though, it was clean, even looking tanned on the inside like some kind of weird miniature hooded tunic! This wasn’t an animal the crow had caught and killed, but clearly was worn by the thing that the bird was after on the ground. Wait... Sindri mentioned not killing any rats, but this one was allowed to die and be made into clothes, meaning Freya wasn’t protecting the rats at all. Sindri was lying, he was protecting whoever wore this tunic-

“BOY! COME!”

Oops. He’d zoned out too long.

“Father, I think Sindri was lying!”

Footstep were coming down behind him in a charge. Curiosity wouldn’t let him leave, but flight was making his feet flitter and shake, ready to take off from the raging bull behind him.

“Did I just not tell you to follow?! The dwarf is of no concern-“ Fighting curiosity won over.

“DAD! Just. Look.”

Turning back and presenting the tunic to the man who’d finally reached him, the golden hue burned brightly with hatful embers down at the find. Just as quickly the gaze focused back on the child. He neither cared nor understood.

“It’s a tunic, made from the skin of a rat. Sindri said the rats here were under the protection of Freya, but if that were true, this one wouldn’t be dead and Odin’s ravens wouldn’t dare go after it. Sindri’s hiding something.”

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storiesofwildfire · 4 years

Text

Voices

{ closed GOW starter for @thisforgottenlore }

♔—- Traveling with their father had never been a particularly easy thing. Atreus loved to talk and talk and talk and their father was very much the opposite. Most days, it was a struggle to get Kratos to hold even the briefest of conversations and when they’d been younger, they thought it was a sign of how much their father did not like them or wish to be around them. Now, however, they understood that it wasn’t Kratos’ disdain or annoyance ( okay, sometimes it was annoyance. Atreus could be a lot and they knew it, especially when boredom crept up on them. They could definitely get carried away... ), it just came with their father. He wasn’t one for much idle chitchat and he much preferred listening to his child than trying to entertain them with stories that were, admittedly, awful.

Carting Mimir around helped alleviate the constant quiet, though, and his stories were always engaging. They usually kept Atreus quiet for a little while, at least until the countless questions poured through. Mimir always had such interesting and useful information, but it always made the young Godling more curious, if nothing else.

But as they grew older and they faced more and more trials sent at them by Odin, King of the Aesir, their travels grew more and more stressful. Not only was Atreus growing into a young... adult--they really didn’t want to dive into the whole gender thing right now. While they did believe Kratos had sort of caught onto their shift in preferences for the few times they winced at being called or snapped at by the ever-loved ‘boy’, Atreus hadn’t actually gotten around to admitting to their father that their identity unfolded to be much more complicated.

And, in truth, they were still confused about it themselves, so how could they have a conversation with someone who didn’t really converse much? It seemed silly to be so conscious about something that they knew Kratos likely wouldn’t care about or scold them for, but they worried nevertheless. The pair put so much work into their relationship and actually getting to a healthy spot where they were not only comfortable with one another but happy despite their chaotic way of living and the danger that kept following them no matter where they went.

To have something ruin that... it frightened the poor Godling more than they wanted to admit.

But that only scratched the surface. As Atreus grew older, their magic grew at an alarming rate, quickly proving that its potency mixed with the seemingly endless range they actually possessed were a force of nature, something that most would not want to stand against, if only Atreus could keep such power under control. Sometimes they felt like they were making good progress, but there were always incidents where it ran away from them and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

Kratos could help with certain aspects. After all, some of Atreus’ abilities came straight from him, especially their manipulation of fire, but it became evident very quickly that Atreus’ abilities surpassed that of what Kratos could do. Much of Faye’s magic lived on in her child and they were sorely lacking a proper mentor for everything that their father could not touch them. Sometimes, that definitely manifested a serious problem.

And then there were the voices...

Sometimes--most of the time--it was just emotion that they picked up on. Deducing certain situations or dangers purely from the mood of a person or creature became like second nature to them, but other times, it wasn’t just a feeling of great emotional response. Voices manifested in their mind from time-to-time and it was always a terrifying experience. Were they losing their own mind and losing grip on reality? Were the voices their own? Were they even real? Or did they come from an outside source? They’d already experienced Odin and other undesirable voices pushing their way into their mind and a few times, that manipulation was even enough to get them to act out, especially before they realized what was happening or how to combat it.

Putting up mental barriers wasn’t an easy task by any means, but it did... help. Sometimes, but Atreus needed to be focused and on guard at all times for them to be practical and oftentimes, they simply didn’t have the energy to do so. Perhaps they’d learn a better method of protecting their mind in the future, but the maybes always seemed so far away at best and impossible feats at worst.

Besides, some voices, despite not fully understanding where they came from or even if they were real, were good company. They weren’t all malicious and sometimes they even called for help or simply sought a companion.

One voice in particular--or rather, a group of voices--drew Atreus in, making them forget most of their worries about the intrusion in their mind. The Vanir, they knew, like Freya! They heard multiple voices, but a few always came to the forefront. A woman who often commented on how beautiful they were or how beautiful their magic was. Could they see them, Atreus wondered? A few other female voices cropped up frequently enough for Atreus to recognize them, but the one who spoke with them the most was a male, much younger than the others, more appropriately aligned with their own age.

They often offered Atreus guidance or warning to dangers that they had yet to face. Sometimes they even gave tips on magic and how to perform certain spells without the risk of harming themselves or someone else. While that voice was very helpful, there were also times where Atreus would be lying down beside the fire at night and he would just want to... chat with the young godling.

Heimdall, he eventually introduced himself formally. Atreus supposed that after a time of their growing connection, he grew confident enough to trust them with more personal information. Or, alternatively, if they were imagining this person, perhaps they were just projecting a personality and history onto the voice? Gut instinct told them that wasn’t the case, though. Every bit of information, every warning, and every time advice was offered, it turned out to be true. How could Atreus make those things up when they were so far outside of their own knowledge or understanding?

Atreus didn’t tell Kratos about Heimdall, though. For the most part, they were rather transparent with their father about the voices, especially when their delivery wasn’t just evident, but too painful to hide, but Heimdall was different from most of them. Personally attracted to the sound of them and often deeply engaged for hours when Kratos wasn’t awake or around to watch them too closely, Atreus truly felt as if they’d grown close to this person despite never meeting them in a physical sense.

Heimdall seemed particularly chatty tonight. He kept trying to get Atreus’ attention despite Atreus sitting across the fire from his father, cooking dinner over the open flame for them. After about twenty solid minutes of trying to focus on what their father said while Heimdall’s alluring voice bounced around their skull, they sighed and slowly pushed themselves up.

“The stew’s ready,” they announced. “But we’re out of water. I’m going to walk down to the creek to refill our canteens. Be back shortly.”

Before Kratos had time to oppose or invite himself along, Atreus skipped away from their impromptu camp and made quick work of dashing towards the creek which was more of an actual river than a creek.

“That lad is definitely hiding something,” Mimir commented as Atreus disappeared into the settling darkness. “You know that, don’t you? Perhaps you should try talking to them...”

Fortunately, Atreus was far enough away to not overhear that little exchange. All of their attention shifted to Heimdall anyway. Kratos could have followed after them, called out to them, and they likely wouldn’t have heard him.

“I’m sorry,” they whispered, and while they did mutter it aloud, they knew they didn’t actually have to for Heimdall to hear them. They’d had plenty of conversation in the middle of the night when Kratos was asleep right beside them and they had to keep themselves quiet so he wouldn’t wake up and interrupt or, rather... catch them. The idea of catching them in the act almost felt on par with other unmentionable pleasures that a child would never want their parent to see or suspect.

“My father and I settled into camp late tonight. We haven’t wrapped up dinner yet, but I managed to peel myself away, for a bit, anyway. Are you all right? You aren’t normally so eager if I don’t answer straight away.”

Not that Atreus ever really kept Heimdall waiting. They always tried to find an excuse to speak with him and they even went as far as to set up a schedule with Heimdall when he could speak without fear of Kratos or Mimir interfering.

“Did you miss me?” they teased and grinned to themselves.

#thisforgottenlore #c; kratos #c; heimdall #( main verse ; god of war ) a child born of two worlds #( thread ) voices #( ship ) loki x heimdall #( long response ) if it were easy everyone would do it #closed starter

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everythinggodofwar · 5 years

Text

The Treasure of Koninsgard (part 10)

“Sigyn.. Sigyn?”

Atreus’ voice and his snapping in front of Sigyn’s zoned out eyes pulled her out of her daze. Her eyes lit up with attention and looked up at him like she didn’t know why he was doing that. “What?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine... Why?”

“You wouldn’t respond for a minute.”

“Oh..” she shook her head and looked around at the familiar surroundings of the realm between realms. “Sorry... this place just brings back bad memories.”

“Oh..” He glanced at Kratos, who was waiting impatiently for Sigyn to show them how to get to her home. “Do you.. need to talk about it?”

“Another time, boy.. We should remain focused.” Kratos reminded the both of them. “We are here. Do what you must.”

“Right..” Sigyn nodded and pulled the little wooden bear out of her pocket. She tried to twist it open like she’d always done; she tried and tried, but the thing wouldn’t budge. “Ugh.. it’s stuck.. could you -um- would you mind-”

“Mm.” Kratos groaned impatiently and took the object.

“You just-” Sigyn began to explain it, but Kratos seemed to get the idea as he just popped it open. “Yep. Thank you.”

She motioned for Atreus and Kratos to stand back as she set the stone on the ground.

“Watch this.” She said with a smirk. “Stefna.”

Atreus watched with excitement as the stone lit up like a star and began to spin until it was airborne and carving the magic doorway out of thin air.

“Good thing we didn’t leave that in Koninsgard!” Atreus exclaimed.

“Yeah..” Sigyn’s eyes shifted away as she grew thoughtful. “Good thing..”

Atreus glanced at her, taking note of her apparent discomfort. Kratos did too..

Sigyn shook her head and held out her hand to catch the stone when its light dimmed and it fell from the air. Without a word she stuck the travel stone back in its hidden compartment, put the bear back together around it, and shoved it in her pocket. “Let’s go.”

Sigyn was the first to step through the portal; Atreus followed without hesitation.

“Boy!” Kratos lunged and reached out to stop Atreus from rushing in without caution, but wasn’t quick enough. “Rrnn.”

“It’s alright, brother.” Mimir said in some effort to reassured Kratos. “He’ll be fine.”

“He is being reckless.”

“Aye, that he is.. can you blame him, though?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well. I’m sure you’ve noticed how much of a liking he’s taken to her...”

“And?”

“All I’m saying, brother, is that having a girl his age around might prove a bit -let’s say- distracting for him.”

“Yes..” Kratos had already realized that of course. Along with the list of others, this was a reason he was so adamant about getting her back to her mother. Atreus did not need any more distractions.

As Kratos stepped into the area beyond the magic doorway, he observed Atreus staring out at the impressive structure and Sigyn leaning against a lamp post, waiting patiently for the others.

“You lived here?” Atreus asked in awe.

Sigyn nodded. “Till mother and I left.”

“After her fight with Dagny..”

“Right..”

“It’s huge!”

“Yeah.. I don’t really know why they made it so big. I mean- there were only three of us!”

“There aren’t any windows.” He noticed. “How come?”

“Mother and Dagny put a bunch of bifrost windows inside. That way we didn’t always have to look at what’s actually outside.”

“Bifrost windows? That’s what Freya has in her house, Father! The one that shows Vanaheim.”

“Wh- Wait.” Sigyn shot a concered look at Atreus. “Freya?’”

“Oh.. yeah, she was the one who helped you when you got sick.”

Sigyn just blinked at Atreus in shock. “Freya?? As in.. the leader of the Vanir? That Freya?”

“Once, lass.” Mimir corrected, taking note of the fact that she thought Freya was still the leader of Vanaheim. “Not anymore.”

“You know about her?” Atreus asked.

“Obviously! But... why isn’t she the leader of Vanir anymore?”

“That, lass..” Mimir began, “is a long story... I will say things started going downhill for Freya when she married your father.”

“She... married Odin?”

“Aye..”

“Why would she do that?” She grew thoughtful. “Why would Odin do that?”

“Regrettably, it was mainly my doing.”

“You? How?”

“You probably can’t tell just by looking, but I was once Odin’s chief advisor!”

“I knew it!” She exclaimed as they continued along the path. “You are that Mimir!“

Mimir chuckled. “The one and only smartest man alive!”

“How did you end up like... that?”

“What? A decomposing head dangling off the belt of a Greek god? Why do you ask?”

“Head..” Kratos groaned, reminding Mimir to not be coy.

“I’m just having a bit of fun, ya big grump.. After a bit of a -mm- disagreement between I and Odin, he bound me to a tree and enchanted it so that no weapon nor magic could release my body.. luckily I didn’t need my body! Our friend here so kindly chopped my head off and brought it to Freya. She resurrected me, not without spitting in my face to remind me of her enduring hatred for arranging her marriage to Odin.”

“Wow.. I still can’t believe it..”

“Which part, lass?”

“That they were married! I just.. The way I imagine him I couldn’t see that ever happening.”

“Aye, lass... Your father sought council from me on many an important occasion, so I happened to be the one to convince him and the great leader of the Vanir that marriage was the best way to broker peace... Not one of my finest moments I’ll admit..”

“I see.. So.. Odin married Freya, but.. how do you guys know her now?”

“Well.. after a sequence of events, on which I’ll spare the tedious details, Freya broke off the marriage.. In his rage -and paranoia- he stripped away her fighting spirit and banished her to Midgard, where she now lives in hiding.. These two met her after mistakenly shooting her friend.”

“What??”

“Her ‘friend’ was a boar.” Kratos pointed out.

“She’s friends with a boar?”

“And a giant tortoise!” Atreus exclaimed. “She lives under it.”

Sigyn laughed. “Wow. I’d like to see that someday.”

“Unlikely.” Kratos declared.

“Oh? How come?”

“Freya’s pretty mad at us.” Atreus explained. “We killed Baldur, and after that she got really angry.”

“Who’s Baldur?”

“Oh right.. He was her son.”

“Her’s and Odin’s, lass..”

“Oh... so.. kind of my brother?”

Atreus grew thoughtful as he came to that realization for himself. “Wow. I hadn’t thought about that.”

“We did only what we had to.” Kratos stated. “He would have done the same to us or to Freya given the opportunity. You mustn’t-”

“Oh! I’m not sad! He wouldn’t have really been my family.” Sigyn declared. She looked ahead in sad contemplation at the house as they neared the front door. “Mother’s my only real family.. She’s the what matters.”

Kratos stopped when they reached the front door and looked down at Sigyn. “Girl.”

Sigyn just nodded obediently and stepped forward. She hesitated before knocking, fearful of what lay ahead. What if Dagny was inside? Oh, of course she would be inside; this is where she always was.

Part of her wanted to turn around -to just go back to Midgard and forget about Dagny.. about mother- but she knew a part of her would always be missing without them, even after everything that had happened. Besides.. Kratos would never allow her to turn back now.

She took a deep, nervous breath, and she knocked. Three times to announce her arrival. Then she opened the door and led the others inside.

Almost immediately, Atreus took interest in all the bifrost windows surrounding them. A couple he recognized as Alheim, one was Helheim, another Muspelheim, none of Niflheim. “Where’s that?” He asked, pointing to a window that led to particularly lush forest area with giant trees with bark ranging from as dark as the night sky and as light as the clouds. A bright assortment of colors of flowers dotted these trees and the bushes below, bringing a warm, pleasing feeling to the onlooker.

“It’s Asgard.” Sigyn replied mournfully. “That’s the only window we have that leads there.”

“Wow. It’s kind of beautiful.”

“Yeah.. I guess..”

Kratos studied the room as he stepped forward towards the staircase. He took note of the runes on the floor, which he recognized as the runes Atreus said represented the Nornir, and grimaced. Anyone that associated themselves with the fates was no friend of his.

“Where is everyone?” Sigyn muttered to herself.

“Hello?” Dagny’s familiar voice rang from upstairs.

Sigyn froze.

Kratos pulled his axe out and braced himself for an attack as the tall, slender woman with dark hair with gold rings and cloth braided into it stepped towards the staircase. In her tattooed arms she held a thick book with silver runes lining the leather cover. Atreus mimicked Kratos and pulled out his own weapon; though, he didn’t see why his father was being so defensive.

“You’re here..” She exclaimed quietly to herself. She set the book down on a nearby table, stepped forward, and smoothed her brown top in a manner that may have appeared nervous to anyone who didn’t know that Dagny doesn’t get nervous. With a warm smile, she made a welcoming gesture with her hands. “You’ve nothing to fear, friends. I’ve been expecting you.”

“Expecting us?” Atreus began. “How?”

“Oh, dear child!” She laughed in amusement at his childlike wonder. “You aren’t the only one blessed with visions, Atreus.. Or do you prefer Loki?”

“But..”

“I suppose I should thank you for bringing my niece to me safely!” Dagny declared to Kratos and took one step down. “How dearly I’ve missed her!”

As Dagny continued to slowly descend down the stairs, Kratos stepped to the side to where he stood in front of Sigyn and held his arm out in front of her as to defend her from her aunt.

Dagny halted at seeing him do this. “Oh?” Her pleasant expression quickly transformed into a scowl directed at Kratos. She forced a short, airy laugh as she straightened her posture in an almost challenging motion. “I’m pleased to see Sigyn has been in the company of such a protective guardian.”

“What do you want?” Kratos demanded.

“‘What do I want?’ Hmm.. Well, a civilized conversation would be nice; assuming you’re willing to put your weapons away for the time being?”

Kratos glanced at the axe he was gripping. In all honestly he had entirely realized he had it out. For a man like him, having a weapon in his hand in a potentially dangerous situation was merely second nature to him, so this wasn’t surprising. Kratos stood silently, unmoving and unwilling to let his guard down.

“It’s like I said.” Dagny said with a sigh. “You have nothing to fear from me.. I swear it by all the gods of every realm.”

Kratos didn’t respond, still unconvinced.

“If I were going to attack you I would’ve done it by now.” She smiled ever so mischievously. “Besides, it’s not like I’m any stronger than the Ghost of Sparta himself.”

Kratos visibly tensed and growled silently at hearing that name.

Perhaps Sigyn would have recalled reading the book that mentioned the “Ghost of Sparta” all those years ago had her mind not been swirling with panic and visions of what Dagny might do to her this time. She just stood by Atreus, frozen, mute, and barely able to as much as look at her aunt.

“I meant no offense.” Dagny put her hands up on a peaceful gesture. “I only meant to prove a point... Please put the weapons away so we can have a civilized discussion. I have so much I want to talk to you about.”

After a moment of hesitation, he put the axe away and nodded to Atreus to do the same. “Boy.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Thank you.” Dagny smiled and gestured for them to follow her up the stairs. “I have the perfect gift to thank you!”

“Father?” Atreus whispered as dagny ascended up the stairs and started towards a corridor

“What?”

“She cursed Sigyn..”

“She did.”

“We can’t trust her!”

“You only know half of the story, boy. What have I told you about making assumptions?”

“So.. we can trust her?”

“No.”

“Oh.. Are we following her?”

“.. Yes.”

Atreus turned to Sigyn, who stood completely frozen, all the color having left her face and her eyes wide open staring straight ahead. He said nothing to her, not wanting to risk upsetting her more; he simply reached out his hand with a gentle smile as to let her know she was safe.

Sigyn blinked and looked over at his outstretched hand. She hesitated; she trusted him, of course, but did they really know what they were getting into? They might be gods, but how well would they defend themselves and her if Dagny pulled another one of her tricks?

Her gut told her not to, but she allowed him to take her trembling hand in his. She took a leap of faith and trusted that Kratos would not lead her into a trap.

Atreus led Sigyn by the hand up the stairs with Kratos, who made sure they were walking right by his side.

Dagny pushed open a set of double doors, leading to a large room with shelves stacked full of every sort of magical necessity and potion ingredient lining the walls. In the center of a room was a round table with a intricate lantern in the center and a large iron chandelier hanging above; on the table sat a small wooden box with the lid removed and sitting next to it. Inside a red sack full of some powdery substance could be seen.

Dagny stepped up to the table and took the sack out of the box. “Let me see that axe of yours.”

“What?”

She calmly reached in the bag and removed a handful of the grey, dust-like powder. “Just hold it out?”

“Why?”

“This is my gift to you.” She stated with a tone of annoyance. “To thank you.”

He hesitated; obviously he couldn’t trust her, but whatever she had for him could be useful. Finally, he groaned and held the axe out for her. “Fine.”

Dagny smirked proudly and held the dust up near her face and whispered, “festa.” The plain, grey dust lit up and started glowing a yellow hue when she spoke; it almost seemed to have become electrified at her voice as the particles began to fly zip around each other in a mesmerizing pattern.

She held her hand out and blew the dust away. They watched the particles gather around the metal of Kratos’ axe, light up brighter and spin for a brief moment, and then disappear into the air like their purpose had been fulfilled.

“What did you do?”

“It’s better.” Dagny explained vaguely with a smug smile.

“How?” Kratos asked with an impatient, irritated tone.

“I made the enchantments stronger.”

“Mm.” He studied the axe; there were no apparent physical changes, but in a way he could feel that it was somehow.. stronger. After a moment of contemplation he nodded in approval and hung it back on the hook.

“You’re welcome.” Dagny placed the bag back in the box and closed it, then took it over to place it on one of the shelves for safe keeping. “But I trust you didn’t come here for something your dwarves could do.”

“No.”

“Hm.” She spun around and clasped her hands politely in front of her. “Pray tell, friend.”

“You know why we’re here.”

She chuckled. “Maybe.”

“We are bringing the girl to her mother.”

“Ah Yes. My dear sister Alva.” She smiled coyly. “Are you entirely certain she’s the one you want?”

“Where. Is. She?” Kratos demanded, growing impatient with Dagny’s avoidance of his questions.

“Oh. I haven’t the foggiest.” She shrugged nonchalantly and smirked. “I’m sure she’s off enjoying her immortal life free of her family as well as any and all consequences for her actions.”

“But you said-” Sigyn finally spoke up in barely a whisper, “you said-”

Dagny turned her gaze to the terrified child. “I said what, dear?”

“You said-” she began much louder this time. “You guys said she was your servant for eternity.”

“That’s right.”

“You have to know where she is!”

“My love, she is my servant, and I quote, ‘should I require her services,’ and so far I have not.. Having her magic has made sure of that.”

“But..” She shook her head and tried to ignore the fact that her tightening chest was making it hard to breath. “I need her!”

“Need her?!” Dagny scowled, appalled by what she was hearing. Fury began to swell up in her; not anger at Sigyn, but rather at that fact that she was thinking that way. “You’re Mother is a good for nothing monster! Everything she did was for herself. You’re better off without her and you-”

“At least she was there for me!” Sigyn shouted. Tears were falling down her face, but finally past the fear and at the point of fighting. “You abandoned us! You say you love me but if you loved me you wouldn’t have made us leave!” She stopped to take a shaky breath and swallow the lump in her throat. “You wouldn’t have cursed me.”

Despite the past centuries of trying to convince herself that she’d done the right thing, all the shame and guilt that she’d been pushing away flooded back into Dagny’s heart. Her expression softened as she forced back tears. “Sigyn,” she found herself unable to finish. Nothing she could say would make her understand or feel any better.

“You said I wouldn’t feel anything.” Sigyn cried. “But I did.. You knew I would. Didn’t you?”

“I..”

“Everything that happened to me: I could feel it. I could feel time passing by. I knew the world was going on around me. I knew when people were around me. I could feel when they touched me, when they-” she had to stop to keep herself from sobbing. “When they tried to destroy me... I could- I knew when I was alone. For so long, Dagny. I was alone for so. long. But then...” She glanced at Atreus and Kratos, who were standing silently nearby just watching. Atreus’ eyes were wide with horror and red with tears threatening to fall. He could feel her pain, everything she was going through he could feel it. Just like how he could feel the fear of Brok’s beast when they first met him, and just like he could feel that she was scared and lonely when they first found her, he could feel her pain and fear and sadness.

“Then they came.. Finally he broke the curse that you made.”

“Sigyn, I-”

“Why, Dagny? Why did you do it? I- you said I was safe.. you said you’d protect me. So why? Why did you have to put me through that?”

“My love, there is so much you don’t understand. So much I can’t explain.”

“Try.” She begged through the streaming tears. “Please try.”

Dagny struggled to find the right words, but there were none. There could never be words good enough to explain everything, and there were certainly no words that could keep Sigyn’s heart from breaking once she understood the truth. But she would try. She had to try.

“It was part of the pact we made.”

“H- what?”

“That was part of the -erm- arrangement between us. That was her condition. Even before any of it your mothere, before you- before I made you both leave, she had asked me to do it.”

“I don- I- I don’t understand.”

“That was the primary reason I made her leave.. I wouldn’t- I couldn’t do it.” She sighed mournfully and leaned against the table with her head hung low. “She was persistent, so I forced her to leave. I didn’t want you to go, but she took you with just to spite me. I would never have given her a way back in if it weren’t for the fact that you were going with her, so I gave you that travel stone. That way at least you could find your way back someday.” She laughed humorlessly. “And you did... Unfortunately for you.”

Sigyn struggled to process what Dagny was telling her. That couldn’t be true.. “That means..” That her mother had been planning the curse out for a long time? For most of her short life most likely? That mother didn’t love her? She shook her her head, refusing to accept that. “No.. You- you’re lying.”

“Sigyn, you know I’m not.”

“She wouldn’t do that to me!”

Dagny went to Sigyn and knelt down in front of her. She placed her hands gently on her shaky shoulders, surprisingly with no resistance. “I know it’s hard, Sigyn, but please try to understand your mother wasn’t well. She was never the same after Odin; maybe once she could’ve been capable of fully loving a child, but something inside of her broke.”

“no.. no you’re wrong.”

Dagny gently wiped the tears from Sigyn’s cheeks. “My dear girl, I’m so sorry.”

“No.” Sigyn’s expression hardened as she shook her head in denial and pushed Dagny away. “You’re just trying to make me give up on her.”

Dagny sighed and lowered her arms in defeat. “You don’t have to believe me. I understand why you don’t.. Believe me when I say that I haven’t known her whereabouts since the last time we were all together.”

“Then find her!”

Dagny was taken aback by the demand. “I- I.. can’t, Sigyn.”

“No.” She crossed her arms over her stomach and pleaded with her eyes. “If Odin can track me by my magic then you can track mother by hers! I know you couldn’t have taken all of it!”

“Well.. you’re right that I didn’t take all of her magic, but, Sigyn.. Odin can’t track you.”

“Wh- What?”

“Odin can’t track your magic, and I can’t track Alva’s.”

“But- but mother said-”

“That your powers give off a ‘unique signal.’ That if you ever use them he could find you more easily.”

“... yeah?”

Dagny shook her head in disapproval. “All lies, my dear.”

“But.. why? Why wouldn’t she want me to use my powers?”

“That, sweet girl,” she took Sigyn’s trembling hand in her own, “is so very complicated.. Are you sure you want to hear it?”

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sevi007 · 6 years

Note

Atreus teaching his half sister how to shoot a bow and arrow. She isn't so sure she can at first because...well because she just has no muscles at all, not like her big brother (and Atreus is still getting used to being called that), and CERTAINLY not like their dad. Atreus just laughs a little and says that archery doesn't take too much muscle, "Just a firm grip." And Faye, who is standing a bit away, tries not to cry because her son used the very same words she told him (1/?)

And she has a harder time not crying when she keeps watching a little longer because Atreus is showing so much patience and levelheadedness when he teaches, carefully showing Calliope where to put her hands in the same way has was shown, her tiny hand eclipsed by his barely grown one. Deimos surprises her gently by coming up behind her and praising her on how well she taught the boy. She laughs, quietly wiping at her tears, and asks why he didn’t think Kratos taught him? (2/?)

Deimos laughs, the Kratos he remembers didn’t have the patience to teach a cat how to catch a mouse. “The Kratos you knew was but a boy, a child.” Deimos stills, and then sighs, “Yes, and he has grown since then.” He smiles at her, “In no small part because of you. I don’t think I thanked you for that yet.” Faye shakes her head, “I did nothing that needs thanking.” She looks away, “He simply needed someone how didn’t…wish to use him.” She frowns, “And I barely managed even that.” (3/?)

Deimos doesn’t say something for a moment, before shrugging, “Fate has never held down my brother for too long, he has this issue about people dictating his life for him.” Faye’s face grows grim, “The Norn are significantly more troublesome than the sisters.” Deimos laughs again, “Nothing Kratos hasn’t dealt with before, right?” Her brother in law smiles at her for a moment before heading off to join Atreus and give a few tips of his own. Faye stays where she is, smiling at her family (4/4)

(I barelydare to add anything here because this is so perfect and I’m sniffling a bit)

The firstarrow Calliope releases swerves ever so slightly in its flight, hitting not thebullseye of the target they have set up for her but a good two inches to theright.

Calliope’sface falls, but before she even can comment on what she thinks to be a failure,Atreus exclaims with nothing but sincerity, “That was good!”

“We mightjust make a warrior out of you, little one,” Deimos chimes in, gently pattingthe girl’s small shoulder.

“But…. Imissed…”

“But only this much!” Atreus shows her, fingersalmost touching as he signals the distance, making her giggle. “The first timeI tried? I shot the arrow into the ground waybefore the target.”

“You did?”Calliope gapes at him. She has seen her brother – and isn’t that a dizzying,wonderful thought, she has a brother now- shoot arrows as quick as lightning and with an aim that never seems to failhim. Anything but hitting everytargets he goes for seems impossible for him.

“I did,” it’shard to not believe Atreus anything when he nods as serious as this. “I had totry again and again until I could aim and pull the string at the same time.Until then, I missed the target by miles!”

“That’snothing,” Deimos grunts, unfolding himself from crouching and standing to hisfull height as he grins down at them. “First time I tried the bow, I ended upalmost shooting your father in the foot!”

“What?!”

“No!”

“It’s true!He sidestepped it, though. Gave me a look as if I had done it on purpose, too –right, brother?”

Faye doesn’teven startle as she hears the answering hum right at her back, having feltKratos’ presence for a while now where she was watching their family. So shemerely tipped her head back, grinning at him. “Did he really?”

Kratos’eyes meet hers as he nodded ever so slightly. He seems for it to be only apassing glance, but he halts, eyes locking with hers. There’s a strange mixtureof emotions in those amber eyes – amusement, yes, but mostly still sadness, aglint of disbelief and oh-so-fragile hope, and Faye’s heart does a painfultwist in her chest.

He still thinks this is going to vanish on himat any second.

He thinks weare going to vanish on him.

She canbarely stand it to see that look. See it again– because she has seen it on him before, seen it whenever Kratos has held hisnewborn son in his arms, so unbearably gentle and hesitant and…

Fierceprotectiveness wells up inside Faye, mixed with nothing but love for thisbroken man she just wants to put back together.

Mind made up,she sways back and sideways, leaning seemingly casually into Kratos’ side.

“And youreally thought he would have done that on purpose?”She continues on as if nothing has happened, as if that moment hadn’t justpassed between them.

Willing himto understand. We’re right here. We’renot going to simply leave you again.

(If anyonebeside her notices how Kratos stiffens, startles, seems almost surprised by therealness and warmth of the sudden contact, then nobody comments on it. If theyalso notice him relax into it, slowly, with a deep breath, they know betterthan to comment.)

“…I’m stillnot fully convinced he didn’t mean todo that,” is Kratos’ slow answer after another beat, gaze lifting from thewoman by his side to his brother.

A brotherwho splutters, throwing his hands up in faked outrage to conceal his ownamusement as the children start laughing. “Did it on…?! After all this time, this is how you remember me?! As someonewho would… Brother, you wound me!”

“Either onpurpose,” there’s a rumble in Kratos’ voice, words brimming with emotion, butthe only thing showing on his face is a crooked, tiny smile. “Or your aim wasjust that horrible.”

“That’s it,”Deimos declares, turning around and crossing his arms, showing them his back.Shoulders shaking with barely withheld laughter that matches the way Atreus andCalliope are doubled over in mirth by now. “Never in my life – and afterlife! –has my honor been doubted like this. And by my own brother! I shall neverrecover from this! ”

And Fayestarts laughing, too, shaking as she presses a hand to her mouth to hide thelaughter but fails miserably at it.

Behind her,next to her, she feels a tremor going through Kratos, and she beams up at himas she recognizes his silent, withheld laughter.

For onemoment in time, somewhere between life and death, they are all together.

And theyare alright.

#ask #rex101111 #god of war #fanfic #my writing #partly mine #faye #deimos #kratos #atreus #gow #calliope #headcanon #it's rex' fault made me do it #gow afterlife au

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shade-without-color · 6 years

Text

Stolen Chapter 5: The realm that was lost

Note: So hello again!, apologies for the delay, as the past few weeks I have some fatigue due to dealing with real-life stuff (ETC crazy big events) and me focusing on Icarcus the novella editing. Thanks for staying by me through all my craziness, so the next chapter will be the last of that fanfic which I will just focus on editing my novella and shorter drabbles. Of course, I have something for Kratos and Faye coming up...

If you are wondering if it is going to be published on fanfiction, I am going to do this chapter and next together once I am completed with the next chapter, as usual feedback and comments are always appreciated.

All that is left from that brief conversation with the tricky Norns, but a reflection of water that ripples that moved back and forth. Mimir heaved slightly “Seems our sisters are interested in giving us a hard time…” He nodded silently to the pair “Come let’s make our next move…” They walked to Tyr's temple. Atreus seems to walk calmly to the pathways. He looked over the changing landscape of the Lake. Sigyn ran towards the travel room with Atreus, as he pushed the doors out upon the hulking room.

“Well do you remember what the sisters said to you…”

Sigyn nodded quietly, as she walked towards the travel dial. In her heart she mentioned the word “Breath…” and somehow she swung gently back to the following tower. She could glimpse at the rune of the tower. She could recognize that word. It was nature, the one which connected the entire world in a palm of their own hand. And slowly the roots moved back and forth to their destination. And soon Sigyn could feel the rush of energy coming back and forth in the travel room.

“I wonder how Freya managed to get back to her homeland to set Father, thought Odin laid a curse on her.”

Mimir shook his head "Not quite much…maybe if she is ever cunning…I know who she will go too.” Suddenly a click is heard at the distance. Atreus’ eyes widened slightly “Who…” somehow the leaves of the tree seems to stop growing, and roots slowly formed the path to that particular room which shimmered a strange copper-green glow.

“I wish you will never cross paths with him…”

“Why?”

Mimir heaved slightly “It is a long way up, but I will see my old friend Njord will agree to help us…"

Atreus quickly opened up the door to Vanaheim, a faint aroma of fern greeted the trio. “Seems we reached our destination quicker thanks to the sisters, though I will say the sisters are one step ahead which is good because…” Mimir watched the lands again shimmered eerily back and forth, it reminded him of a time which he walked with Odin to receive Freya as his bride (Though that time he had legs to walk those mossy paths), he still marvels at those lands with awe on its sun-kissed plants and unusual fauna created in their beauty. “It is a tricky destination and thankfully you have me…” He watched Atreus withheld his breath. “Otherwise you will be lost by its magic. A surefire way to keep unwanted visitors at bay. After all the Vanir do have magic which will be difficult to explain unless we…"

“What are you waiting for? let’s go…” Sigyn mummer quietly “I do not like the sound of it.” as she heard horrid buzzing noises, it is not as pleasant as the cricket sounds at Sif's lands. There she could see a pair of shimmering eyes following them. And it slowly grows into a figure she knew too well. Queen Sif. Her proud look haunting her mind. And that scorching heat makes her even more menacing than ever.

Mimir nodded quietly “And that my lady I agreed… we have to figure out what is the key fast…” Sigyn trembled slightly when she glanced at Atreus formed by the vines, who look slightly smaller then, holding a small candle to a table lying a person, he perhaps lost someone he loved. She could feel him, sniffing from his tears as he let it linger for a moment. His voice slightly cracked, muttering the prayer “Lo do I see my mother…” She withheld her tears as he muttered those words again “Lo do I see my mother…”

“Is she ready?”

That urge to hold Atreus hand overwhelmed her. He seems to smile at adversity as she nearly caressed it. She heard a squishy sound from her feet. Mimir smelt something warm, “Come it is not too far…” and there they passed through the swamp. Sigyn cannot help but wince at the hem of her dress being dirtied. Atreus shouting the words, like Freya to remove the vines that blocked the way “Where are we…”

Somehow the smell of the sea came over them, and Mimir glanced at an old man dressing rather elegantly in grey and blue. His eyes staring at the reflection of the rivers. Somehow that summer heat did not bother him that much.

“Cross your fingers that my old friend, do not hate me, after all, they do have the right to hold a grudge against me alongside Freya…”

Sigyn’s eyes widened to see an aged figure. He seems to hold small trinkets in his hand, watching it glimmer and glow. “I knew I can recognize that voice…” Sigyn noticed the solemnity of his face, as he plucked the fish out from the vast lake.

“Hello, old friend…” Atreus did not hesitate to remove Mimir’s head from the back to show it to Njord. Njord withheld his shock, by biting his lip quietly. Mimir bowed his head quietly. Atreus know of the tales of Njord, but it seems contrary to the wildness of him. He embodies the sea with his intense gaze, watching over the ports at the distance. “Heard that you may cause some trouble in Asgard, I am shocked that the great councillor is led to that…” Mimir nodded sadly “Aye Njord… I suppose you are unhappy with your daughter’s choices.”

Njord cleared his voice “It is all in a good placement in your side, her heart is for us to end a war, but it was that softness that failed her.” as he laid down the charms, all stepped in magic. “I knew that Odin was a crafty bastard.”

“That I agreed. So how is Freyr doing Njord, I suppose he is bent in hatred over his sister’s choice.”

“In contrary, much worse…”Njord shook his head slightly “He is angered by her banishment and he made that effort to protect women in our lands since he is unable to save her.” Njord cracked his fingers slightly “I suppose you want to find something…” slowly he parted the lakes unto a small building. Atreus walked sheepishly alongside with Sigyn as he heard him command the gates to open silently. Njord gestured Atreus to pass him the head. Atreus followed suit as he passed the reanimated head to that aged god. "Seems my daughter can still recall the Old Magic of reanimating things.." as Njord observed the cut of the head "At least you are no longer a rotting corpse."

“And I guess it is related to the person who holds your head.” as Njord glanced over Atreus who is admiring the sun-soaked landscapes. Mimir nodded quietly. “It is about the boy’s father, you know a red and white god that came to your lands."

Njord grew silent upon that revelation. "Oh I wish Mimir, I only watched what justice could be done or not..." Njord swallowed slightly on that lingering thought. "If you are trying to exploit my magic like Odin's, you know how it ends..."

"Aye..."

Njord heaved slightly, as he brought them across to another building "Perhaps you can find it in our library. " Njord opened the elevated doors gently "I never access it unless, it is desperate.. it was my son's archive. Not as vast as Tyr's vault but I assure you..." Mimir nodded slightly "that will be enough friend, can you pass my head to the lad please..."

"Which one..." Mimir nodded to Atreus whom by now kicking the leaves back and forth. Njord passed the head gently to Atreus. "Whenever you do, never touch a small book, my son created this with our magic, even I could never reverse it.."

“What beckons of that..."

He slowly spoke some magical words, which Atreus could recognize it as the calling of his light arrows "Something which I am bound to this world, not to tell you…” Njord walked through the library “But be warned.. he may not be as paranoid as Odin, but my son…”

Mimir mummer sadly “I know…” quietly he muttered something, and slowly it formed a glowing boar at the steps of the caving library. “Take this Mimir, this is one of the parting gifts between that alliance, a glowing boar. He will lead your way to Freyr, and please put sense on him, if you ever find…"

Atreus stroked the bristles of the boar. He closed his eyes quietly.

“Lead us the way Gullinborsti”

And slowly the boar slowly glowed amidst the darkness. It shimmered back amidst the light.

"How do you know his name..”

Atreus smiled quietly as he followed his pathways “I always have an intuition over animals and I can sense that he is mourning over his former owner Freyr..” Sigyn pondered quietly about the silence. “He said that he recently came back from Alfheim, as we are descending down…” Sigyn’s heart sank slightly as he reinterpreted his words. “It seems he is pulled into something dark…so…”

Mimir shook his head slightly “It sounds like something but now we better find your father.." As they look through the archive, Sigyn glanced over a small book. "Hey let's check this out..." She slowly flipped through the words of a certain book illuminated by the boar's fur.

A voice came over her head.

“I am...”

For that moment Sigyn seen The Norns smile wickedly at Sigyn. “And you Aesir, what price you must pay to save someone...” She saw them bounded by a shimmering thread, flashes of a lonely life, Sigyn weeping tears into the floor. She glanced at that moment, which he watched two toddler sons walking by, that strange man looking at him proudly as he picked one up to teach him archery, following by monstrosities which she laughed. No there is another figure that caused her grief, a woman which he sided by, in the end. No. That cannot be. She held the bowl that poured to Atreus, as he writhed in pain. No, I cannot. But it came again, to a giantness and a strange man that she seen in the caves. They seem to watch the flames engulfed the lands, and the children so monstrous storming through the burning fields of Midgard. And that kind face she knew, become cold and frightening.

No, I cannot. “You are bound to him. You will face pain and suffering, along with his path.”

“...He is mine…”

Suddenly she saw a faint resemblance of the man with swirling tattoos fighting off the demons, and that moment Sigyn fell a rush to call out his name “Kratos….” He turned back to her, however, a giant wolf hovered its fangs “Who are you…"

And soon a flood of energy came back to her,"Where am I...". The book becomes suddenly blank, except for a few illustrations of her wandering about. She gulped slightly.

Would it be her fate?

"Are you all right..."

Cold sweat beaded down her forehead.

"I should be alright..." She used the boar, to lift herself up "I think we should move... this place is giving me the creeps..." At that moment she glanced at the stream of dead guards. "Light elves..." Atreus muttered quietly, as he could recognize those faces. "Let me take a look at that lad..." Atreus brought his head forward. "Ohhh... I think we are not alone in the archive..."

“My queen...”

Sigyn could recognize Sif even with her hair back to her glory. Her eyes crossed and her hands wrought her neck “You little bitch..” Sif snatched the Bifrost from Sigyn's trembling hands. “I banish you to wander. You will find no warmth, no comfort...” Sif could hear a scream at the distance. Atreus reached his arrows and screamed loudly “I won’t let you hurt her!”

Somehow Sif glanced at the boar, quickly swiped it and let the arrows stabbed him. “To be damned the Vanir.” And that next moment Sigyn felt a pulsing force, she glanced at the sea of realms surrounded by the horrors of Sif's mind. They all clawed for her blood. Sigyn barely stretched her hand to Atreus whom by now, protested angrily "No... no... no..."Her eyes streamed with tears as she saw a figure gnawing her leg. “I will come back! I will come back! I will come back…whenever you do.." Atreus tried to hold back the tears and soon she disappeared into the tear of the realm “Fight my queen for me. The battle is not…”

Her eyes widened in horror when she was flung out to the realm holes Sigyn was left alone in the blackness. Her tears welled up in fear. Her mouth dribbled with blood. Her mind flashed to nebulous forms, of her holding his hand amidst the secrecy of the forests. Her heart fluttered with pain as she watched another memory unfold, of Atreus fighting over the horrid forces, with Mimir yelling loudly "Right flank little brother."

She clasped her hands in prayer. “Whoever came to me, who came before me. Please protect...” and soon she passed out. Her mind writhed to Atreus.

A boy who watched her strength.

She is his.

Somehow she was in the sea of realms all shoot with galaxies and creatures untold, she glanced at the red and white god as Mimir described him vaguely. He indeed burnt of fire. A fire to find his way back to his loved one. his eyes set towards the next drauger. Her eyes determined to bring Kratos out from the realm as he tears the monsters to shards “Who are you woman?”

“Trust me..” Sigyn spoke hurriedly as she tosses Kratos out to the gaping hole. She could only see for that moment is the wave of enemies coming towards her. Her heart is no longer set on her queen Sif. Long the days where she will bow down in submission. The courage to rescue a boy from drowning in the lake. The courage for refusing to submit orders. The courage to fight a stranger's demons

For the reanimated head, a former councillor of Odin. For that red and white stranger.

Her heart set to defeat it, for the sake of Atreus. She is her own strength, and this will carry her along the way.

“I will come for him," Sigyn spoke firmly.

Kratos heaved hesitantly as he stumbled upon the land, as he watched his son shooting electrical crows to Sif and her monstrosities in her mind. “No!". Sif stood herself highly against the corner. “We are not done yet..” Atreus stretched his bow to her “Oh I am…” Atreus stretches his quiver and screamed “Pruma!”

Atreus’ heart raced angrily “She did not do anything wrong! “ Kratos shielded him silently “Boy your emotions...” And before long Sif used her spear to tackle Kratos and it fuelled his anger. The blood from the boar made it even more difficult for them to hold their ground. Flames burnt over his body and soon he wrestles with the Aesir goddess, with all of the creatures caving over at his side. Kratos heaved angrily as he swops them with the Blades of Chaos and swirled it around the creatures. Mimir warning them about an incoming attack. All in the frenzy on the cramped corridor. Blood and bodily fluids swung around madly like an endless dance.

And soon Sif is down, Kratos glanced at the cold grin of Freya at the distance. For that moment Kratos could see her changed so quickly to something else. “See how love consumes you. Loyalty become last...” Sif laughed coldly before she heaved her last breath. Kratos shook his head quietly, he thought about Faye’s death and the mere reach of her presence.

"She is used..." Mimir regretfully mumbled at the body. "Her vanity drew her to that madness. And I think you will cause even more strife with Asgard thanks to Freya." Atreus heaved painfully as he rubbed against his arm, thinking about Sigyn "I am glad you are safe Father..."

Kratos grunted a little, as he tried to stabilise his body with the Leviathan Axe. and all of the sudden they saw a young man at the distance. His breaths seem haggard like Kratos expect that he stared over the bloodied corpse of the boar. "Take it, easy father.” Atreus mummer slightly as he held Kratos by the shoulders “as they watch the debrief slowly unravel in the archive.

Mimir remarked quietly “I agreed with the lad, we barely saved you. After all, this boar is our ally and perhaps a way out” Atreus’ heart sank knowing that Sigyn is lost in the sea of realms. Mimir looked sadly at her “Another is lost.” Atreus gripped the arm-ring quietly. “There is no way we can retrieve her back, Vanir magic…”

“I know…tricky…”

And that moment all hope seems lost. Expect for a glimmer in that young man's eyes, bright blue and filled with tears, groans softy fighting amidst the pain. “Unless there is something that bounds in you, and her…” He mumbled softly.

"Let me see him.." Atreus swung his head to the lifeless body. "Sweet Ran's nets Master Freyr!"

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odanurr87 · 5 years

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2018: My year in games

2018 was another good year for gaming as far as I’m concerned, provided you haven’t played Fallout 76 that is. Sony’s still releasing great exclusives, to the point I’m left wondering whether they can keep it up, and we’ve had some interesting releases on PC as well. I don’t have a clue as to how Microsoft is doing, but their one exclusive title I might’ve been interested in, Sea of Thieves, had a messy release and is only available on the Windows 10 store (no, thanks). Notably absent in the release schedule this year was EA’s BioWare, who have been working to release Anthem come February 2019, a title I have little hopes for considering how much it departs from the games the developer is known for as EA tries to embrace the Destiny “live services” crowd everyone is so keen on getting these days (*cough*Bethesda*cough*). CD Projekt RED is also on standby as they continue to work towards Cyberpunk 2077′s release... sometime. Well, at least we know we’re probably getting it sooner than Star Citizen or Half-Life 3. Thankfully, it was a year absent of controversies, like, say, a studio using a franchise to cash in on the battle-royale rage with minimal effort, or a company mocking consumers and telling them not to buy their game... Oh... Well, shit, guess no year is absent of controversy then, but it’s nice to see EA’s spreading the love.

But enough remembrance. You’re here for the list of my top games of 2018, or whatever category I come up with to sort them into, and that’s exactly what you’re going to get. 100% guaranteed, no microtransactions included. This year I’m going to try something different, listing the best games I played this year without ranking them, then selecting my favourite among these, my GOTY if you will. It may be rather unusual, and we all enjoy debating whether this game is the best or that other, but, on the plus side, it builds suspense for my GOTY, doesn’t it? After all, once you see a number other than 1 next to a title, you already know it won’t be my #1 choice. That and I’ve had a tough time trying to rank these games, especially the ones I’ve only just played. Perhaps I’ll change my mind later, but, for now, let’s what games were deserving of some praise this year, shall we?

PSA: This list won’t feature Red Dead Redemption 2 in any way, shape, or form, largely for two reasons: 1) I haven’t played it; and 2) it doesn’t particularly appeal to me, and its large runtime is one of the reasons why.

Let the epicness begin to this theme!

youtube

Best Aesthetic

Let’s start with a classic. Last year, the award went to Abzû for its excellent blend of pastel colours, pleasant gameplay, and wonderful soundtrack. It’s only fitting then that this year the award go to the game I recently called “2018′s Abzû”...

Released only a few weeks ago, Gris is another great example on how a game can exquisitely combine gorgeous artwork with an infinitely beautiful soundtrack, and provide an engaging, and rather creative, gameplay experience. Indeed, I'd go so far as say that is one aspect where Gris actually stands out over Abzû, with puzzles that are quite simple, but may require some lateral thinking from the player at times. The level design is fairly intuitive and I was hardly ever stumped as to what to do or where to go to next. Or maybe I was too busy enjoying the watercolour landscapes to pay much attention to where I was going. While Gris won't take more than 4 to 6 hours of your life, depending on whether you've found all collectibles, it is a visual and auditory spectacle well worth your time.

Runners-up:

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Forgotton Anne

The PlayStation Exclusives

A Telltale-like game on steroids with spectacular visuals, thanks to an insane amount of mocap, and a great soundtrack, Detroit: Become Human really pushed the envelope in regards to choices and consequences within a narrative, so much so that every chapter has a story tree that shows the choices you made as well as the different branching-off points. Our story takes place sometime in the future of Detroit and explores the onset of an android revolution through three different characters, all of them androids: Kara, a housemaid android who runs away with a little girl called Alice; Markus, a domestic android turned rebel leader; and Connor, an advanced prototype specifically designed to help the police track down deviant androids.

Gameplay-wise, Connor’s story is definitely the best of the three, as it allows for more input from the player as Connor has to solve cases with his partner, Lt. Hank Anderson, played by Clancy Brown. These sections of the game are similar to the ones in the Arkham games, requiring you to analyze the scene and put together the clues to recreate past events. At times though, you’ll be placed in adrenaline-filled chases of suspects that make an impressive use of QTEs. As much as I loved this human-android crime-solving duo, the award for most dramatic and emotional story has to go to Kara and Alice’s odyssey to find a new home in the midst of all the chaos. I couldn’t help but feel immediately protective of Alice so I naturally roleplayed Kara as a mom, trying to set a good example for her through my actions. My one regret about this story concerns a decision the developers made, that takes place towards the game’s end and chips away a little at the significance of their relationship for no real value. As for Markus, he felt the more underdeveloped of the three, perhaps because he’s written more as a symbol than a person, becoming the Messiah for all androids (the game’s anything but subtle about this). He’s given a romance arc with the gorgeous Minka Kelly that, sadly, feels unearned, as her character, North, doesn’t have that many intimate moments with him.

Damn you for so obviously pulling at my heartstrings you two!

No story is without flaws and Detroit: Become Human is no exception. While it does feature humans interacting with androids here and there, I was surprised that the android revolution was 100% human-free, what seems rather disingenuous. The game also does little to explain android deviancy and actually muddles the issue by giving its Messiah a unique ability that ends up being not so unique after all. Furthermore, the story doesn’t explore at all the possibility that, even after going deviant, some androids would prefer to stay with their families rather than join Markus’ uncertain revolution. The game’s not particularly subtle in its depiction of android segregation in human society, to the point some of it struck me as more than a bit ridiculous (exclusive stairs for androids?), but I rolled with it thanks to the strength of some of its characters.

Clocking in at around 12 hours, give or take, this is one game that encourages multiple playthroughs as you read the decision trees to figure out where exactly you want to take the characters next and how to do that. A blind first playthrough is encouraged, especially if you want to end up an emotional wreck. For my part, Detroit: Become Human scratched my sci-fi and Telltale itch this year, and that’s why it makes it on my list.

A solid action-adventure title, and one that further disproves EA’s bold, but dumb, claim that single player games are dead. While perhaps not as visually striking as titles like Horizon Zero Dawn or Assassin’s Creed Odyssey -probably due to do the muted colour palette used to depict this world-, God of War remains engaging gameplay-wise, throwing in a healthy mix of satisfying combat and puzzles that will put Kratos’ skills to the test, as well as interesting side quests that never feel like a chore to play, thanks to how well integrated they are to the game’s theme and main story. The customization system is simple enough to understand and use, what is always welcome, and plays a key role in ensuring you will survive your journey, allowing you to upgrade your weapons, craft unique armours, and further tune the both with enchantments, through the tireless efforts of the best side characters in the game, the dwarves Brok and Sindri. The only fault I can find here is related to progression, and how the better armours in the game are available a little too close to the end. By that time, I had three great sets of armour to choose from when I could’ve used at least one of these earlier.

For those new to the franchise, as yours truly, you play Kratos, voiced by none other than Christopher Judge (Teal’c!), a Greek God (with a capital G) who has decided to exile himself to somewhere around Scandinavia after the events of the previous games. The game’s premise centers around trying to fulfill your deceased wife’s last wish to spread her ashes from the highest peak of the mountain. Along for the journey comes your BOY, Atreus, who does his best to connect with a father he rarely knew growing up, what strikes me as odd. Being a Spartan, and given his background, Kratos is more tight-lipped than I would’ve preferred, what makes communicating with his son rather difficult, at least in the beginning. While I understand and welcome what they tried to do with the characters here, I feel the father-son relationship could’ve used further development, especially in regards to a radical personality shift Atreus experiences out of the blue mid-way through the game and is gone just as quickly.

Infused as it is in Norse mythology, comparisons with 2017′s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice seem inevitable, but whereas that game retells the myths via a great narrator, in God of War you actually get to partake in this mythical world and explore some of them. Perhaps precisely because I had previously played Hellblade, most of the twists didn’t come as a surprise, but that doesn’t make them or the story any worse for it. I also have to give the game credit for its ending, which avoided some of the more cliché options available to it. Given the running theme, it would’ve been easy to turn it into something else entirely, and a few minutes leading up to it, I feared that’s exactly what the game would do, but was pleasantly surprised to find out otherwise. It even went the extra mile of hiding away the post-credits scene where one could expect to find it.

In the end, despite a few flaws in its storytelling, God of War is a solid entry in the single player action-adventure genre that I can easily recommend to anyone. If Hellblade didn’t scratch your Norse mythology itch, then God of War most assuredly will.

I don’t think it’s a stretch to say this game has done for Spider-Man what the Arkham series did for Batman. Marvel’s Spider-Man is a great Spider-Man story and a very entertaining superhero game, that truly makes you feel like the highly acrobatic, web-slinging, joke-cracking, crime fighter. Swinging your way through NYC was a great rush, reminding me of Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst’s best parkour moments. But Spider-Man is only half of what makes the character great, and the other half, Peter Parker, is perhaps the best adaptation of the character I’ve seen to date, foregoing the tale of his early days as a superhero and reporter for The Daily Bugle, instead focusing on his career as a research assistant under Doctor Otto Octavius. He’s still broke as fuck though.

The story throws you right into the action at the onset, as you ensure Wilson Fisk finally goes to jail for the many crimes he has committed. It doesn’t take long before a new criminal group moves into town however, one that is far less concerned about civilian casualties and is determined to bring down the mayor of NYC, Norman Osborn. So begins a rather complicated web of lies and secrets that both Peter and Spider-Man will have to untangle as the city is slowly engulfed in chaos. Joining you in this fight are NYPD captain Yuriko Watanabe, Mary Jane Watson, now a reporter at The Daily Bugle, and even Miles Morales. Of the three, I liked Yuri the best and felt we could’ve used more time bonding with her. I know very little of Miles’ run as Spider-Man and, while I welcomed his addition to the game, it felt a little lazy to make him such a carbon-copy of Peter. As for MJ, she thoroughly annoyed me with her shtick of getting mad at Spider-Man for constantly saving her, moreso considering how she recklessly puts herself in extremely dangerous situations to begin with.

Less MJ and more Yuri please.

The game features an open world that gets layered with side activities the more you progress through the main campaign. It’s a good idea so as not to overwhelm players with a ton of busy work right at the beginning, and I’ll admit some of them give the player more insight into Peter’s past and Harry Osborn’s character. However, busy work they remain, and you’re obliged to tackle at least some of them if you want to buy suits or upgrade your equipment. While often creative, especially Harry’s research stations, their abundance highlight the lack of more (and more interesting) side quests (the amount of loading screens doesn’t help either). Furthermore, teases like Felicia’s Black Cat returning to NYC or even Silver Sable’s introduction were begging for side quests of their own. Even so, the game’s worst sin by far is how it forces you to play scripted “stealth” sections with Miles and MJ that I kept wishing I could skip. I’m a huge fan of stealth games, but these sections felt extremely forced, perhaps done out of a need to give these characters some agency.

In the end though, Marvel’s Spider-Man is one of the best superhero games to date, and perhaps the best story we never got to see on the big screen, but it naturally benefits from a running time longer than 2 hours. Ironically, it’s similar to the recently released Aquaman, in the sense that it throws a lot of familiar faces and action-packed set pieces at you, particularly towards its emotional third act, unfortunately sacrificing some villains (in terms of storytelling) in the process. Furthermore, this final act feels a little rushed, as if it were missing a cutscene or two in the beginning, and likewise in the end to explain the state of the world. Yet for me, Marvel’s Spider-Man’s crowning achievement remains making me feel like one of my favourite Marvel superheroes as I parkour, fight, and web-sling my way through New York City.

Best Soundtrack

This was not an easy choice to make as there were several titles with solid scores this year, such as Detroit: Become Human, created by three different composers for each of the characters, Peter Due’s Forgotton Anne, or even Joe Haisashi’s Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom. Even John Paesano makes a comeback from his average work on Mass Effect: Andromeda with an excellent main theme for Spider-Man as well as a few other great tracks like “City of Hope” (which plays every time you traverse the city), “Responsibility” and “Behind the Mask.” But the difficulty in choosing one of these increased exponentially when Gris released to an absolutely mesmerizing score by Berlinist, putting me in a similar predicament as last year. In the end though, only one gets to take home this prestigious award, and that game is...

This one was almost a toss between Gris and Detroit, but, in the end, I have to give it to the latter for the sheer amount of work put by Philip Sheppard (Kara), Nima Fakhrara (Connor), and John Paesano (Markus) into crafting three separate and distinct scores that not only feel authentic to each of the characters but are also wonderful to listen to on their own, effectively elevating the source material, something not many titles can boast. If you were to force my hand right now to pick between one of the three, I’d naturally have to go with Philip Sheppard’s score, as his Kara leitmotif was the one that stuck with me the most throughout the game. It’s a simple string composition but the things he does with it, the way he builds upon it, it’s something truly wonderful. It doesn’t hurt that I loved Kara and Alice’s story the most, from an emotional standpoint, and Philip Sheppard’s score plays no small part in this. Having said that, I also have to congratulate Fakhrara’s Connor score, far and wide the one that feels more at home in this sci-fi world, and Paesano’s work in elevating Markus’ character through his music, with great tracks such as “Something You’ve Never Seen Before” or “Markus’ Speech,” to mention a couple. Like last year’s NieR:Automata, Detroit: Become Human’s score is definitely worth a purchase.

Runners-up:

Gris

Forgotton Anne

The Animated Adventures

Of all the games in this list, none fit the category of “family game” better than Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. Everything from its bright and colourful art design that could be lifted straight from a Studio Ghibli production at times, imaginative world and characters, and cheerful soundtrack, made this game a delight to play from beginning to end. It was truly refreshing to play such a straightforward and sincere story about a young prince who wishes to unite the world in peace, working together with his mentor and a motley cast of allies from all corners of the world. The story is framed as a series of chapters, with opening slides and even a narrator to close each one, and it follows Prince Evan as he's exiled from his kingdom after a coup, yet finds the strength in his newfound commitment to bring peace unto the entire world. As such, he founds a new kingdom that you get to micromanage throughout the game, building and creating different facilities, undertaking research or crafting new weapons and armour, finding new recipes for your cook, or scouring the world for people keen on becoming the first citizens of your new kingdom. Unless you’re planning on rushing through the main story, kingdom building will take a good deal of your time, as you’re sent on quest after quest to gather ingredients, find missing people, or engage in battle from time to time. To give an example, it took me 37 hours to beat this game and I still had a ton of things to do on my quest log!

As perhaps one would expect from such a kid-friendly game, Ni no Kuni II is surprisingly easy to play, so much so that people actually complained it lacked difficulty levels, which were eventually added in a patch. If I had to criticize it for something, it would have to be for its world map exploration, which looks similar to Worlds of Final Fantasy, a design decision that clashes with the vibrant Ghibli-like art that is prominent throughout. Perhaps it was outsourced to a different studio than Level-5? Also, the amount of side content in this game can get a bit overwhelming and more than a little repetitive, but if my runtime proves anything, it’s that you can engage it at your own leisure (indeed, it takes 90 hours for a completionist run), or not. The game also features a sort of in-world Facebook/Twitter where you can check posts with pictures of events that have transpired, people looking for new jobs or challenges (a nice way to search for citizens), or even examples of the world’s flora and fauna. It’s a nice little feature that makes the world feel a little more alive and reactive than it really is. As for its score, composed by Joe Hisaishi, while it does have great tracks such as “The Curious Boy” (my personal favourite), “Kingmaker’s Theme,” or “Happily Ever After,” not to mention its main theme, and is solid overall (more so than other titles in this list), it’s probably not one I’ll often find myself listening to, which is why I didn’t award it with my Best Soundtrack award.

All in all, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is a title I’d heartily recommend to anyone who wants to experience a charming and colourful bedtime story in a little country a long, long way from here...

Developed by ThroughLine Studios and released by Square Enix earlier in May, this game wasn’t even on my radar, but, like Ni no Kuni II, Forgotton Anne is a game brimming with imagination, that pleasantly surprised me with its great voice acting and soundtrack. Unlike Ni no Kuni II however, the game maintains its beautiful, hand-crafted, aesthetic throughout, making you the protagonist of an animated adventure with high production values, as you take on the role of Anne, a human tasked with enforcing the law in a world of forgotten objects turned sentient, called Forgotlings. When a group of rebel Forgotlings strike a power plant, Anne will have to track down the mysterious rebel leader and uncover the truth about herself and this world. Forgotton Anne is a game that allows you to roleplay a ruthless Enforcer as well as one that prefers more peaceful means of resolving conflict and these decisions are acknowledged throughout the game. Equipped with the Arca, a glove that allows you to manipulate anima (or soul energy), Anne will often be presented the choice of 'distilling' Forgotlings or sparing them, opening or closing certain doors for you.

The game plays as a platformer with puzzles that revolve around your use of the Arca to open doors, power up consoles, etc. These are not terribly difficult but you may find one or two that leave you scratching your head for a bit. Exploration is encouraged by way of collectibles and, in fact, a feature is introduced at the end of the game that allows you to travel back in time and replay certain levels in order to track down memorabilia and unlock achievements. It's a neat way of allowing replayability while in the context of the story and it gets extra marks from me for the additional effort.

While the story is largely predictable, it's by no means any less good for it and was, to my mind, perfectly executed. One lingering issue I have, nonetheless, is how the game makes a reveal halfway through, believing it'll have more impact than it actually did as I'd already been playing under the basis this was true. Perhaps they should've made more of an effort to hide it in the beginning. Then again, maybe that would've drawn more attention to it. Another issue I had storywise has to do with how underdeveloped, and slightly contradictory, I felt one of the endings was. It's a feeling I also had when playing the original Life is Strange and realizing how much more effort was put into of the endings as opposed to the other.

When all is said and done, Forgotton Anne is a charming animated adventure that will undoubtedly pull at your heart strings, but also make you smile merely for being allowed to partake in this world of ill-tempered teddy bears, trigger-happy guns, and Shakespearean mannequins, and it’s a definite recommendation.

Lara’s Final Chapter

Shadow of the Tomb Raider delivered almost everything I wanted from a new entry in the Tomb Raider series, but not all I would’ve expected from Lara’s final chapter. Together with her friend Jonah, Lara must stop Trinity from finding an ancient artifact in South America that has the power to reshape the world. However, in her rush to beat Trinity to the finish line, Lara may have inadvertedly set in motion a series of events that threaten to trigger an apocalypse. As a result, Shadow of the Tomb Raider turns out to be a darker game than its predecessors, a fact highlighted at several points throughout the game, but never sufficiently explored, though I give it credit for acknowledging it. Sadly, while Shadow tries to tie together the Trinity storyline from Rise, we learn very little in terms of the composition and overall goals of this shadowy organization, that is now practically reduced to providing cannon fodder for our favourite Croft. The main villain is a little more nuanced and sympathetic than previous ones, and for once the series doesn’t tie your hands behind your back during the final boss fight. Unfortunately for the game, I was more invested in fighting his lieutenant, who gets killed in a cutscene.

In terms of gameplay, Shadow doubles down on tomb raiding, adding underground and underwater exploration, but one can’t help but feel its maps are more constrained than in Rise, favouring the Uncharted series’ more linear approach, particularly when it comes to the game’s combat sections, which feel more scripted than ever before. Perhaps by way of compensation, the game introduces a new stealth mechanic that allows Lara to camouflage herself, thus getting insanely close to her enemies, and the ability to hang enemies from tree tops a la Arkham series. The crafting system now allows you to harvest insects to craft poison grenades or special arrows that turn your enemies against each other, though, regrettably, these are introduced rather late in the game. Weapon customization also makes a comeback as does Lara's ever-increasing wardrobe. Shadow also tries something new by introducing side quests, but thankfully never so many as to feel burdensome.

This game looks pretty to boot too.

The music is mostly unremarkable, working to great effect immersing you in the setting and building on the game’s atmosphere, as I’m sure was Brian D’Oliveira’s intention, but there's nothing that'll stick with you after you're done tomb raiding your way to the end. The pieces that stood out to me the most are “Lara's Dream” and the end credits song, “Goodbye Paititi,” but that’s about it. This might partially explain why Lara’s final chapter lacks emotional resonance; a lot of the emphasis is placed on the action, few, if any, leitmotifs or themes are introduced, with (maybe) only the main theme carried over from previous games. It would be wrong to lay the blame entirely at Shadow’s feet when the first game didn’t establish a musical narrative beyond Lara’s theme though. I don't recall a Jonah theme or a Trinity theme, for instance. Perhaps if the series had maintained a coherent musical narrative with its score the story beats would've been more impactful.

Our story ends in an uneventful note that I feel doesn’t do the series justice. It’s not a bad ending, but it doesn’t pack the same punch as, say, Uncharted 4 did. In a way, this is a curse of its own making, as the Tomb Raider series is tonally different from Uncharted; and whereas the strength of the latter rests in Nate’s interactions with his friends and family, Lara has always been terribly isolated in these games, Jonah notwithstanding. Thus, while not exactly the swan song our tomb raider deserves, if you played the previous two games, Shadow of the Tomb Raider is definitely not one to miss.

Best Side Content

I don’t think any other game I’ve played this year has come close to making its world come alive nearly as much as this game did. With plenty of side quests and side activities, it would be easy to make them seem like busy work, but this game somehow manages to turn them into events the player can look forward to, building the world these characters live in, making it feel real. Some are so entertaining that I found myself delaying the main campaign so I could play more of them. No game released this year did this better than...

While the game shows some signs of its age (it was originally released in 2015 in Japan), what it lacks in visuals it more than makes up packing its world full of fun things to do. Do you want to go out for drinks and do some karaoke? You can do that. How about some batting practice? You can do that too. Dinner? Sure. Car racing? You bet. Can I rock the dance floor? Like freaking Travolta. You can even play games at your nearest SEGA arcade, bet big on an underground fight ring (there are two), get into real estate or manage your cabaret club, by far the mini-game I had most fun with. The amount of detail put into some of these mini-games is beyond ridiculous and would definitely justify having a game of their own. Beyond these activities, you also get to meet a lot of interesting NPCs that have their own unique stories to tell and that you always feel glad to have helped at the end of the day. You can help a mother rescue her daughter from a cult, have the Chinese mafia fake a ring for a guy’s girlfriend, teach a dominatrix how to be better at her job, or even share your stories with a radio programme to win a prize, to mention a bare few. You can also have a few laughs at how bad Majima is tailing people and trying to hide from them.

Yakuza 0 is an example of side content done right, that foregoes the modern-day open-world formula, opting for a more constrained setting a la Deus Ex: Human Revolution, but that feels big and rich thanks to its content and characters. And on that note, let’s give it up for Judgement Kazzy!

Runners-up:

God of War

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

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Assassins No More

Last year, Origins made it into my list through sheer spectacle, the lure of exploring Ancient Egypt, and the promise of a return to the modern storyline of the Isu with the introduction of a new set protagonist, Layla Hassan. This year, Odyssey ups the ante by delivering a story that, while still revolving around a family drama, no longer makes revenge the driving force of the narrative. Indeed, for a good chunk of the game, our character’s motivation (Kassandra, in my case) is a blend of making a living as a mercenary and exploring the world beyond her small island of Kephallonia. Given how beautiful and colourful the world in Odyssey is, I’d say it was a smart choice. The game also introduces more interesting side quests than its predecessor did, and better tied to the main campaign, with one of my favourites being the Silver Islands arc; perhaps in no small part thanks to how cute the rebel leader, Kyra, is. In fact, Kassandra can romance a TON of people as she explores the world and runs errands, but, sadly, no relationship is as well crafted as, say, your relationship with Triss or Yennefer in The Witcher 3. Some might come close to being as impactful, such as your relationship with Daphnae, one of the Daughters of Artemis, but they’re all mostly just one-night stands, with one particular relationship coming out of the blue as the game ends that I wished the game had set up and built further.

I know I said cute, but hot works too.

Gameplay-wise, Odyssey plays very much like Origins, with a more streamlined crafing system, that requires less variety (but still tons) of resources to upgrade your gear, but with blocking gone after the shield was removed, an odd design choice. You still get to level up your character, though the leveling-up curve is rather steep at the beginning, forcing you to play much of the side content that would qualify under busy work. It doesn’t help that the in-game store sells a Permanent XP booster that gives you an additional 50% XP for $10, as well as materiales to upgrade your gear, and has the balls to outright call them “Time Savers.” Ubisoft further pushes the in-game store and Helix credits by introducing a new currency in-game, necessary to buy crates with random legendary gear drops from a special vendor, that you get at a much slower rate than your usual credits. I’m not too mad about this, given that the game does reward you with some great-looking armours through normal playthrough, but it’s something we should be on the lookout for future titles.

Naval battles make a return and, simple as they are, I welcomed the distraction and opportunity to sail the Aegean Sea and discover new locations and secrets. At times, Odyssey manages to replicate the sense of wonder and mystery I experienced when playing Skyrim. On the other hand, Conquest battles, its newest addition to the franchise, fail to live up to the expectation. Beyond their limited scope, the worst sin they commit is how inconsequential they are, having no impact in the world around you beyond what banner the closest fort will fly. Curiously, these battles are missing from the main story's end content, what seems odd considering they would've been a perfect fit for the story. In fact, there's a stark contrast between Chapters 1-7 and 8-10, with the latter chapters moving at a brisk pace that is not necessarily justified. On the plus side, Ubisoft has seemingly embraced the Isu civilization, what has allowed them to include mythical creatures like the Minotaur or Medusa, and even throw in Atlantis for good measure. I only hope they’ll go the extra mile and throw in some Greek Gods as well.

The game has some well-placed humour as well.

For all the things it does better than Origins however, I feel Odyssey takes a few steps back, especially insofar the modern-day storyline is concerned. While Layla Hassan makes a comeback, her story is so short and uneventful that it comes across as an afterthought, jumping ahead in time and introducing a whole host of new characters we have never met and referencing events we know nothing about. Layla herself experiences a radical transformation from being skeptical of the assassins’ intentions to becoming one of their strongest supporters. Nothing about the modern-day storyline makes a lot of sense, with many gaps that are probably filled in with other material such as comics and novels, but I’ve always believed that to be the hallmark of lazy and poor storytelling. Either commit to the modern-day storyline or don’t, Ubisoft, you can’t have it both ways.

Overall, I feel like Odyssey is an improvement over Origins, and that’s why it makes it on the list. I am however, skeptical that Ubisoft will pull it off a third time before the charm and novelty of an open-world Assassin’s Creed game wears off -it already is thanks in no small part to its side content-, or before they push the Helix Store so hard down our throats that they have their own Battlefront 2 controversy. Perhaps they still have a shot with a game set in Japan or China. Only time will tell.

My favourite game of 2018

This wasn’t a particularly easy choice to make considering the different strengths and weaknesses of the games in this list, not to mention their different approaches to storytelling. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey is a strong contender, but its world is so filled with busy work, its modern-day story so underdeveloped, and the push of the Helix Store so blatant, that I cannot in good conscience say this was my favourite game of 2018, let alone GOTY. Likewise, Shadow of the Tomb Raider was initially well-positioned in my mind to take it home, but it just didn’t stick the landing for what it’s supposed to be (but hopefully isn’t) Lara’s final chapter. Another single-player action-adventure title, God of War, gets almost everything right, but I couldn’t connect with the story of Kratos and Atreus in the same way I did, say, Kara and Alice in Detroit: Become Human. I could go on knocking out competitors, but I’d rather talk about my favourite game released in 2018...

Yakuza 0 is not a perfect game, but it gets pretty close at times. Set in the 80s, Yakuza 0 follows the characters of Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima, two rookie Yakuza who, for different reasons, have fallen in disfavour with their respective families, and need to figure out whether they have what it takes to return to the fold. That’s about as much as I can reveal without talking spoilers. No story in any of the games I played this year gripped me nearly as much as this one did (some moments in Detroit: Become Human come close), not only because of how well-written the characters are across the board (including the villains who come across as fearsome opponents), but also because of its many twists and turns that will keep you guessing what the real goal of the different players you find yourself involved with is. Your character, be it Kiryu or Majima, and his understanding of events by the game’s end, is radically different from his starting point, as you unveil plots within plots within plots, a result of the many and varied agendas at play here. To say this game has as many layers as an onion would be high praise... for the onion. Both Kiryu and Majima are powerful characters in their own right when fighting thugs, as demonstrable by the gameplay, but Yakuza 0 is quite ruthless in showing you exactly how out of their depth they are when they decide to take on... bigger opponents. You would think this is because Kiryu and Majima get beat up, and they do, a lot, but I actually found it’s the conversations they have with other characters, the villains in particular, that’s the highlight of the game. Yes, characters in Yakuza 0 talk, a lot, so you’d better get used to it, but these conversations, excellently voice-acted, fill the atmosphere with so much tension, dread, or sometimes anticipation, that you can’t help but be absorbed by them, as you can never guess what the other party might say that will surprise you. And this game surprised me a lot.

Man, the conversations in this game...

Having said that, it is true many of the twists and turns that were a surprise in the beginning started to feel a bit trite when they’re re-used in the final chapters. One that annoyed me in particular was the game’s use of the “Your Princess is in Another Castle” trope (incidentally, God of War also does this to some extent), sometimes forcing events a little much to pull it off. I suppose this has to do with the fact that this “Princess” becomes the sole motivation for your two characters towards the end, getting shuffled around so both Kiryu and Majima can get a crack at the villains. It works thanks to the strength of the characters and their dialogue, but I would certainly take issue with a lesser game that kept me running around the place for 4 or 5 chapters straight. I also felt that, of the two leads, Kiryu’s ending is the one that feels more natural to his character, as opposed to Majima’s, who experiences an odd personality shift that doesn’t seem to jibe with what we know of him. It’s possible this has to do with the fact that, while Yakuza 0 is the starting point in the series for our two protagonists, it’s not the first game in the series. As a matter of fact, there were 5 Yakuza games, released over the space of 10 years, prior to Yakuza 0.

Having previously awarded it with my “Best Side Content” award and praising it for its world-building, despite not being an open-world game (yes, you can have invisible walls and still make a great game!), Yakuza 0 only needed to deliver on its story and characters, and it did that in spades.

And that’s it for my list of the best games I played in 2018! It’s a bit of a long read, for sure, but I could hardly have done these games justice had I written less, and in some cases I probably didn’t write enough. What about you? What are some of the best games you played in 2018?

#best games of 2018 #gaming #gris #detroit become human #god of war #spider-man #ni no kuni 2 #forgotton anne #lara croft #shadow of the tomb raider #assassin's creed #assassin's creed odyssey #yakuza #yakuza 0

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