Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

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Crossing the Rainbow Bridge

• The Norse Experience
• Justin Sargent

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• Scene 1

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Scene 1 Overview

• The user begins in Asgard, the realm of the Norse
  gods. This area holds the city of the gods,
  including Valhalla, the hall of the fallen
  heroes. It is a paradise. Balder, most beloved of
  the gods, has died, and it is your quest to
  ransom him from Hel.

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Scene 1 Source

• The axis of the world was Yggdrasill. That ash
  soared and its branches fanned over gods and man
  and giants and dwarves. It sheltered all
  creation. One root dug deep into NiflheimA
  second root curled into Asgard. Under that root
  flowed the well of Urd, the spring of destiny,
  where the gods gathered each day and held a court
  of justice. The three Norns lived near by, Fate
  and Being and Necessity. They shaped the life of
  each man from his first day to his last. And
  every day they sprinkled water on the branches of
  Yggdrasill and nourished the suffering tree.

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Scene 1 Objects, Sounds

• Meadows, flowers, Odins Ravens, Valhalla,
  Modgud, the entrance to Bifrost, Bifrost, clouds,
  mountains, the city of the gods (in the
  distance), Modguds chair
• Blissful music, raven calls, wisps of wind

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Artists conception of Asgard www.lowellart.com
Yggdrasill, the World tree
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Ancient Tablet depicting Asgard http//www.pitt.ed
u/dash/stone743.jpg
Asgard, Norse Landscape
Asgard http//home.earthlink.net/norsemyths/place
s.html
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DiVE\Storyboard2.tif

• Scene 2

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Scene 2 Overview

• In order to enter the underworld, you must cross
  the rainbow bridge, Bifrost, which connects the
  many worlds of the Norse Universe. A maiden,
  Modgud, stands watch at the entrance. She will
  question any of the living who seek to enter the
  land of the dead. You must answer her questions
  to gain entry to the bridge.

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Scene 2 Source

• Hermod was stopped by the maiden Modgud, warden
  of the bridge. She raised one pale arm, and it
  gleamed with an unearthly pallor. Before you go
  further, she said, tell me your name and your
  lineage.
• Hermod kept quiet.
• Five troops of dead men came this way
  yesterday, said Modgud. They rode over this
  bridge. But you make as much noise as they all
  made together.
• Still Hermod said nothing.
• I cant say you look like a man who has died,
  said Modgud. Who are you?
• He has crossed this river, Modgud replied. He
  rode over this bridge. But the way to Hel is no
  short way far as you have come, it is still a
  little further northwards and downwards.

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Scene 2 Objects, Sound, Interaction

• Same as Scene 1s objects.
• Same as Scene 1 sounds, Modguds voice.
• The user must speak with Modgud and pass her test
  of questions. Then the user will learn how to
  cross the bridge. The user can also refer to
  Modgud for direction in the larger quest. After
  speaking with Modgud, the doors to Bifrost open.

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• Scene 3

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Scene 3 Overview

• Bifrost, the Rainbow bridge, is perilous. It is
  strong and magical, but it is not accustomed to
  carrying the living to Hel. At times the magic
  will give out, and if you are standing in the
  wrong place when that happens, you will plummet
  down into the abyss below.

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Scene 3 Source

• The two regions were linked by Bifrost, a flaming
  rainbow bridge it was made of three colors, with
  magic and great skill, and it is wonderfully
  strong.
• Sleipnir needed no spurring. He galloped across
  the bridge there it was thatched with gold.

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Scene 3 Objects, Sounds, Interaction

• Bifrost, mist, darkening atmosphere
• Musical ques, rushing wind
• The task in this scene is to cross the bridge.
  There are several possible ways to make this
  interesting and fun. I was thinking that the
  bridge could be composed of patches, or bands of
  color. These patches would fade in and out. The
  scene would move by itself across the bridge,
  forcing the user to change position, as to remain
  on the bridge. If the user falls through a
  missing patch, they would appear again in Asgard,
  to try again. There could be musical ques to
  alert the user to changes.

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• Artists renditions of Bifrost
• www.shadowscapes.com

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Bifrost
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• Scene 4

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Scene 4 Overview

• Youve made it across Bifrost. You now stand on
  the shores of Hel. It is a barren land it is the
  land of the dead. It is populated by shades and
  corpses. In the distance you can see the wall
  surrounding Hels province, and the massive Gate
  of the Dead barring your way.

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Scene 4 Source

• So at last Hermod came to the massive gates and
  towering walls that Hel had set up in front of
  her hall Eljudnir.
• Sleipnir stopped in his tracks and whinnied.
• Hermod dismounted and looked around in the dismal
  light. The gates were locked impassable, it
  seemed, for those not fated to pass beyond on
  their way to dreadful Nastrond, the shore of
  corpses. Hermod tightened his stirrups. He swung
  himself into the saddle and spurred Sleipnir
  fiercely.
• Odins steed galloped at the gates. For a moment
  he seemed to pause, then he gave a great thrust
  with his back legs and leaped clear of the iron
  gates.

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Scene 4 Objects, Sounds

• Corpses, shore of corpses, zombies, shades,
  Bifrost, wall, gate of the dead, dark oppressive
  atmosphere
• Dismal music, faint wind, wailing of the dead

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Hel, ruler of the land of the dead
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• Scene 5

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Scene 5 Overview

• You now stand before the Gate of the Dead. It is
  massive, iron, evil to behold. Your next task is
  to find a way past the wall and the gate. This
  task belongs to another vignette, scene 5 is the
  segue.

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Scene 5 Objects, Sounds, Interaction

• Same as scene 4
• Same as scene 4
• Again, this scene will be the segue into the next
  Vignette, in which the task will be to pass the
  wall and gate.

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Hermod leaping over the walls of
Hel http//www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/mytho
logy/myths/text/baldr.htm
Gate to Hel http//www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth
/rodin/gates-hell.jpg
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Helpful images from modern media
Dead warriors from LotR
Paths of the Dead from LotR
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Refrences

• Crossley-Holland, Kevin (1980). The Norse Myths.
  New York Pantheon Books.
• Colum Padraic(1920). The Children of Odin.
  New York Macmillan Publishing Company.