Ballad of Thialfi-- The Denizens of Midgard

This time, I will be discussing one of the most important aspects of Norse myth, yet also undervalued; the race of Men, the denizens of Middengard or Midgard or even Middle-Earth. 

That's right, I said Middle-Earth; the Anglo-Saxon name for the world of people. Though Midgard actually means middle-ground, which places Earth as the middle realm. 

Humans-- Homo sapiens, people, men, women, whatever you want to call them. Humans make pretty much the entire population of the most important Realm to the Aesir and Vanir, Midgard. It is from humans that the Gods receive their strength through prayer or even through great deeds in battle. Sadly, compared to all the other races in the Nine Realms humans are pretty much as helpless as newborn babies in terms of pretty much everything. The irony is even though the Aesir and Vanir are stronger than any human around, without their human worshippers they would be powerless. 

However, what they do lack in physical power or even magic, they more than make up for it in brain power and in determination. Humans are not often mentioned in many of the Old Norse sagas, and if they are it is only in tales of great heroes such as Sigurd the Dragon-Slayer, the Volsung Sagas or even in the oldest story in the English language; Beowulf. 

Constantly plagued by outside forces beyond their comprehension, the race of Man often look to the Gods for inspiration and for help. Yet some ancient traditions never last, for a new faith is spreading across the lands of Midgard like a pack of ravenous wolves devouring everything in its path; Christianity. 

Though believed to be a faith of peace, many of its followers have fallen to fanaticism and have begun enforcing Christianity through the sword. The pagan followers of Midgard are now faced with an epic choice; to hold onto their traditions and trust in the Gods of their ancestors or embrace the teachings of the Messiah, like the rest of Europe. 

Which will it be?