Freyja's Sanctuary

My attempt to bring a piece of Norse mythology into dark and gloomy world of Wraeclast.

Intro

...a few exiles in their wanderings came across the abandoned temple. As it became known a little later (thanks to Zana's observations) in this temple unknown predecessors worshipped the goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, wealth, divination and magic whom they called Freyja. Exiles decided that this foreign goddess reminds them of the Solaris, Eternal Sun and without thinking twice they decided to found their settlement here.

Entrance

"The heart" of the temple - sacred Altar of Seiðr which was built by brave scandinavian warriors for the praise Freyja's might and incredible beauty that no man could resist. Exiles settled in the least destroyed temple rooms around an altar.

Map Room

A mighty tree in the corner of this room is Yggdrasil - “the friend of the clear sky” - which is holding and connecting all worlds together by its branches and roots. Statue of Heimdall - "a vigilant guardian of the gods’ stronghold" - is erected next to world tree. Here he watches and listens, ready to waken up and protect this world even at the cost of his own life, or nearly so.

Alley of Valkyries

On the west side of the temple is the Alley of Valkyries - "choosers of the slain" - maiden warriors who who served the goddess Freyja and choose those who may die in battle and those who may live.

Settlers

Everyone found a personal place in this hideout: 

Helena lodged near the roots of Yggdrasil, because its mighty view inspires tranquility and helps her to find composure. Navali joined her but only because she decided that this place is perfect for her learning the Seidr magic associated with runes, the wheel of fortune and other forms of divination.

Einhar cares for animals whom exiles found in this place, especially for mysterious creature he called Icy (probably it's pet of Jotuns - Frost Giants from another world).

As soon as Niko saw the temple, he exclaimed "I could help with the house" and began to make fancy tools which will help under repair.

Zana continues her researches the origins of this place - that is why she fixedly studies each plaque in search of any unnoticed scrap of information.

Jun and Alva spend the most part of time in the center of the alley, ready to open the gates to their own worlds and places.

Most of the exiles are busy with their own affairs - some are fishing, some are raising the children, some are looking after the stable, while the others took the horses and went to reconnaissance, some are repairing the broken cart...not all of them are happy, but each one is safe and alive. What can be better in these dark and horrible times?

Details

I tried to to sustain stylistics of the hideout in the main key points which associated with Freyja: 

- medieval Scandinavian architecture, that means the everything is created from a stone and a wood.

- the wild and untamed forces of nature, therefore we see the ruins which are buried in flowers and trees, but not the luxurious and monumental new temple.