Lake of Nine
the frozen heart of Midgard
The Lake of Nine was the great central lake of Midgard, ringed by the towers of the Nine Realms and crossed by the World Serpent. It served as the hub from which Kratos and Atreus reached the far regions of the realm.
The Lake of Nine lay roughly at the center of Midgard and served as the hub from which the other reaches of the realm could be reached. Around its coasts stood eight of the nine realm towers, with Tyr's Temple rising at the lake's center. It was here that Kratos and Atreus first met the World Serpent Jormungandr, and the lake remained the crossing point for much of their journey.
The hub of Midgard#
The Lake of Nine sat at the heart of Midgard, and from its waters the far regions of the realm could be reached. Eight realm towers lined its coasts, with Tyr's Temple standing at the lake's center. The name referred to the nine towers that had once ringed the lake, though after the disappearance of the Jotunheim tower only eight remained. Kratos and Atreus first came to the lake soon after meeting Freya, rowing out onto the water in her boat.
The emergence of the World Serpent#
When the pair first arrived, much of the lake and its surrounding coasts were flooded. Atreus remarked that the sea stank, and as they rowed they noticed what looked like the head of a statue rising from the water. An old inscription told Kratos to cast his weapon into the center of the lake, and he obeyed. From the depths rose Jormungandr, the World Serpent, who spat the axe back out. The serpent's emergence caused the water level to fall sharply, and the long submerged Tyr's Temple at the lake's center became reachable. Jormungandr remained in the lake's waters from then on.
The frozen lake#
With the arrival of Fimbulwinter, the great winter that preceded Ragnarok, the lake began to take in snow until its surface froze solid. Three years later Kratos returned to the frozen Lake of Nine alongside Freya, crossing its ice during their search for the Norns after Atreus went missing. By then the open water that had once carried boats across Midgard had become a field of ice.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Lake of Nine?
- The Lake of Nine was the great central lake of Midgard, lying roughly at the realm's center and serving as the hub from which its far regions could be reached. Eight realm towers lined its coasts, with Tyr's Temple rising at the lake's center.
- Why is it called the Lake of Nine?
- The name referred to the nine towers that had once ringed the lake. After the disappearance of the Jotunheim tower, only eight remained around its coasts.
- How did Jormungandr emerge from the Lake of Nine?
- When Kratos and Atreus first arrived, much of the lake and its coasts were flooded. An old inscription told Kratos to cast his weapon into the center of the lake, and when he obeyed, the World Serpent Jormungandr rose from the depths and spat the axe back out, causing the water level to fall and revealing the submerged Tyr's Temple.
- What happened to the Lake of Nine during Fimbulwinter?
- With the arrival of Fimbulwinter, the great winter preceding Ragnarok, the lake took in snow until its surface froze solid. Three years later Kratos returned to the frozen lake alongside Freya, crossing its ice during their search for the Norns after Atreus went missing.
Gallery
Images via God of War Wiki
Sources
- WikiLake of Nine — God of War Wiki entry
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Related entries
Jotunheim
Jotunheim was the homeland of the ancient Jotnar, hidden away by Tyr after Odin's genocide drove the giants to the brink of extinction. It became the tomb of their race and the final destination of Kratos and Atreus on their journey to scatter Faye's ashes.
Midgard
Midgard was the realm of mortals, shaped by Odin from the body of the giant Ymir and set between Asgard and Helheim. It was the home Kratos chose after leaving Greece, the land where Atreus was born, and the realm where the great winter of Fimbulwinter fell.
Tyr's Temple
Tyr's Temple was a great structure raised in Midgard as a gateway between the Nine Realms. Built for the Aesir God of War by every people of the realms, it was twisted and sealed by Odin, sunk beneath the Lake of Nine, and at last reopened by Kratos and Atreus.
Tyr's Temple: the gate between realms
Tyr's Temple was a magnificent temple in Midgard dedicated to the Aesir God of War, built by all the races of the Nine Realms to allow travel between them. Hidden beneath the Lake of Nine, it was revealed by the stirring of the serpent.
Atreus
Atreus was the son of Kratos and the Jotunn Faye, born in Midgard and given the hidden name Loki. Across two great journeys he grew from a sickly boy into the prophesied champion of the Giants, the god of mischief whose fate was bound to Ragnarok.
Fimbulwinter
Fimbulwinter was the great three-year winter that fell upon the Norse realms after the death of Baldur, foretold as the herald of Ragnarok. Its blizzards froze Midgard, weakened ancient magic across the realms, and lifted the curse that had bound Freya.
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Asgard
Asgard was the realm of the Aesir gods, perched in the crown of Yggdrasil and ruled by Odin from the hall of Gladsheim. Behind the great wall of Hrimthur it stood as a fortress against the prophesied doom of Ragnarok, until Kratos breached it and the realm fell.
Atreus
Atreus was the son of Kratos and the Jotunn Faye, born in Midgard and given the hidden name Loki. Across two great journeys he grew from a sickly boy into the prophesied champion of the Giants, the god of mischief whose fate was bound to Ragnarok.
Fimbulwinter
Fimbulwinter was the great three-year winter that fell upon the Norse realms after the death of Baldur, foretold as the herald of Ragnarok. Its blizzards froze Midgard, weakened ancient magic across the realms, and lifted the curse that had bound Freya.
Jormungandr
Jormungandr was the World Serpent, a Jötunn so vast he encircled all of Midgard within the Lake of Nine. Sworn enemy of Thor and fated to clash with him at Ragnarök, he aided Kratos and Atreus and was revealed to be a giant reborn from a serpent and cast backward through time.
Jörmungandr: the World Serpent
Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, was a colossal Jotunn serpent who grew so vast that he encircled all of Midgard. Awoken from the Lake of Nine by Kratos and Atreus, he became their ally, and was destined to fight Thor at Ragnarok.
Light Elves
The Light Elves, or Ljosalfar, were one of the two elven peoples of Alfheim, luminous beings who claimed to be the rightful masters of the Light. Their endless war with the Dark Elves for control of that power ended only when Freyr returned to unite the two races in the days of Ragnarok.
Midgard
Midgard was the realm of mortals, shaped by Odin from the body of the giant Ymir and set between Asgard and Helheim. It was the home Kratos chose after leaving Greece, the land where Atreus was born, and the realm where the great winter of Fimbulwinter fell.
Njörd: Vanir god of the sea and king of Vanaheim
Njörd was the Vanir god of the sea and the ruler of Vanaheim, father of Freyr and Freya and grandfather of Baldur. He fought in the Aesir-Vanir War, losing his wife Nerthus to the sons of Thor and his daughter Freya to a marriage with Odin.
Shores of Nine
The Shores of Nine were the great body of water and surrounding coast at the heart of Midgard, ringing the Lake of Nine and the Realm Towers. They served as the central crossroads from which Kratos and Atreus reached the far regions of the realm.
Tatzelwurm
The Tatzelwurms were serpentine, feline beasts of the Nine Realms that tunneled through the earth to ambush their prey, striking with sharp claws and teeth and a venomous barb in the tail. They roamed the wilds in packs.
Thamur's Chisel
Thamur's Chisel was the great stonemason's tool, frozen within the head of his fallen corpse in Midgard. A shard of its magic tip could carve the secret rune that opened the way to Jotunheim, making it the key to the last hidden road into the realm of the Giants.
Thamur's Chisel: the giant's tool that carved the way to Jotunheim
Thamur's Chisel was the great mason's chisel of the dead giant Thamur, frozen with his corpse in Midgard. A fragment of it could carve the travel rune to Jotunheim, making it the key Kratos and Atreus needed to reach the realm of the giants.
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