South of the Northern Frosts and North of the War Fjords, deep in the Dark North Mountains, we find a fortress town dedicated to the Northern Earth Gods. Skogarthol, known as the Forest Throne to those so-called southern folks. A golden glow rises from the statue of Odin in the Hall of the Gods. Everyone's attention is soon drawn by the sound released by The Horn of Victory, announcing the arrival of an Einherjar.
Priests arrive at the altar and conduct the releasing ritual. Chanting begin as lightning fills the sky, and the golden runic glow condenses, forming into a Valkyrie appearing upon the altar. The striking image of the warrior maiden instills both awe and fear as she holds both great beauty and near-invincible strength on this plane. She reaches out to display the purified soul.
"This chosen is highly favored by the All-Father and Freyja, gather those whom wish to receive a child. Therefore, only those compatible will receive the Einherjar."
The head priest bows and commands the acolytes to hurry the order.
********
1 hour prior
The victory horn resounds throughout the fortress. Couples proceed to gather towards the temple, knowing the acolytes would soon seek them anyways. It was considered a great honor to receive a child sent by the gods. Many such children become accomplished war chieftains and teachers or even ascend to the realm of gods. Having such a child could bring wealth and comfort to any family with such a blessing. It didn't even matter if you were infertile. The Valkyrie or priest could bestow Frigg's blessings, allowing for a smooth pregnancy and labor.
The hall opens as the acolyte usher the budding families of the clan in to be appraised by the soul seer. The single most crucial qualifier is soul compatibility with the parents. If the souls were incompatible, the newborn would have birth defects, possibly even preventing them from ever growing in strength. The weak will never rise in a world of the strong.
After all the families present enter and the doors near closure, a man enters carrying a woman wrapped in a raven's cloak. Seeing the pair, many look on in dissatisfaction. The woman had become afflicted with qi deviation. She fell into a coma due to heart demons from a recent miscarriage. The women here feel them to be greedy as cultivators are known to have harder pregnancies and more likely for the mother to perish, giving all her life force to the yet unborn infant.
A priest stepped forward, intending to block the couple, when the Valkyrie intervened. She had requested all, and she would not be denied her quarry. Power and Pride Radiate from the celestial. Raising her spear and pointing at the sky, golden runes began to flow out, forming an array. After the array was complete, a saintly feeling encompassed the hall applying pressure to the souls within it.
Each began to form a bind rune floating over them, including the Einherjar. Seeing the results, the Valkyrie frowned. Rarely had such a soul arrived in the middle planes, unable to find a compatible host. While many of the men present could be the father, none of the women matched enough to support her.
Thinking of leaving for another village, the couple in the raven cloak approached as the man kneeled, still holding his wife. Then, wondering what offer he will make, she stops momentarily to hear him out.
"Glorious and honorable warrior of Odin, my wife will be no more by the end of winter at this rate. But, if it will save her, I offer her to the Valkyrie so she may provide for our clan. Will you save her?"
The Valkyrie looked at the soul bind rune again and decided to ask Frigg if it was possible. Souls don't like lingering without a body for long, and traversing space-time is also very taxing. So, pulling out a rune-stone, she begins summoning a link with the goddess. She begs a decision be cast.
Frigg received a priority communications request from the soul guardian Valkyrie. She gives permission and immediately verifies the details. Scanning the couple, she finds the husband has a good bind rune. However, the woman's runic pattern is a mess. Nevertheless, she sees promise when she reaches through time and space while diving into the intricacies of her soul.
Delving all the way into her core, she finds an anomaly and stops. Thinking for a moment, she does the same to the soul of the Einherjar. Finding the same anomaly, she falls into contemplation. Unsure if this will be a blessing or a curse, she feels reluctant to make a decision. Suddenly she hears an echo from the All-Father.
"Regardless of fate, all under Yggdrasil shall fight for a future. Many shall fight for their kin and blood and hold to the gods till they ascend themselves."
Since her husband approves, Frigg replies, "I can save her. However, if I do, she will lose all her strength due to the damage to her soul. Only should she truly sync with her child and survive the pregnancy shall she be able to walk the path to Asgard once more."
"Be warned, this child will bear a mark, and your family's future will be tied to your Child. The hardships will truly begin after she is born. Should you falter Ragnason, you will find only the gap awaits. Make your choice."
Without any hesitation, this 2.2 meters tall, muscle-bound, tatted baldy kneels and raises his wife overhead in offering. Then, with tears in his eyes, he pleads.
"Please, great mother, aid us. I take all responsibility and will shoulder the consequences."
Cracking sounds fill the air, and pressure descends upon all present. Unable to move or speak, suddenly, the cracking stops. With this silent moment, time itself stops moving. The goddess walks in from a crack in the void. Leaving only the Valkyrie aware of what will happen.
Taking the woman and sealing her qi and Ki centers, she will now be able to recover her wits. As the woman comes too, the goddess explains the situation and what will happen.
"I, Lija Jokuldottir, understand and agree on my honor."
Getting consent, she rips the runic weave from her soul. Then carefully putting the soul back together and molding it to better fit the Einherjar. Finally, branding a new bind rune that will allow a runic weave to regrow into a better match, she places the soul within her womb, blessing her future birth.
"Thank you, lady Frigg. And safe journeys."
Seeing the sincere concern for her, the goddess was amused. She turns her hand over, and suddenly a book appears. Handing it to the future mother, she leaves her parting words.
"Child, I leave you this manual with the core cultivation for your soul to heal while you are pregnant. After your child is born and reaches the age of trial, should she have difficulty, drip her blood on the cover, and the answers will be clear"
With both the goddess and envoy leaving, time resumes.
Everyone shouts out at the sudden change from aww to underwhelming normalcy. A god descended to the mid realms; this is big news throughout the chaos plain. Everyone can't stop talking about it as the chatter grows with each passing second.
The strong-willed man holds his wife, glad to have her back. Then, the priests snapping out of their revelry, get everyone back to their duties and escort the couple to perform the sacred fertility rite honoring the gods for the gift of life.