Shores of Nine
The Encircling Coast of the Lake 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.
The Shores of Nine were the broad waters and encircling coast that lay at the heart of Midgard, ringing the Lake of Nine and the towers that stood around it. The region was a great crossroads, touching the shores of many of the realm's other lands and giving passage to them, and Kratos and Atreus crossed it again and again as their journey carried them across Midgard.
The heart of Midgard#
The Shores of Nine encompassed the waters of the Lake of Nine and the coast that surrounded it, forming the central hub of Midgard. The region technically took in several shores belonging to the other lands a traveler could reach upon the lake, and it included the Realm Towers that ringed the water, though it did not extend to Tyr's Temple standing at the very center. By boat across these waters, Kratos and Atreus could pass from one region of the realm to the next, making the Shores of Nine the point from which their travels through Midgard radiated.
The Realm Towers and the falling waters#
Around the edges of the Shores of Nine rose the Realm Towers, great structures each tied to one of the Nine Realms, among them the Niflheim, Alfheim, Helheim, Muspelheim, Svartalfheim, and Vanaheim Towers. They could be climbed for passage and for the discoveries kept atop them. The region did not remain unchanged. The level of the water in the Lake of Nine fell over the course of Kratos and Atreus' journey, and as the waters receded they laid bare new shores, docks, and tunnels that had been swallowed beneath the surface, opening routes to places that had been beyond reach before.
Frequently asked questions
- What were the Shores of Nine?
- The Shores of Nine were the central hub region of Midgard, encompassing the waters and surrounding coast of the Lake of Nine. They connected to many of the realm's other regions and included the various Realm Towers around the lake, though not Tyr's Temple at its center.
- What were the Realm Towers on the Shores of Nine?
- The Realm Towers were great structures ringing the Lake of Nine, each tied to one of the Nine Realms, among them the Niflheim, Alfheim, Helheim, Muspelheim, Svartalfheim, and Vanaheim Towers. They stood along the shores and could be climbed for passage and discovery.
- How did the Shores of Nine change over time?
- The level of the water in the Lake of Nine fell over the course of Kratos and Atreus' journey, and as it receded it uncovered new shores, docks, and passages that had been hidden beneath the surface, opening routes to places previously unreachable.
Sources
- WikiShores of Nine — God of War Wiki entry
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Related entries
Alfheim
Alfheim was the realm of the Light and Dark Elves, divided by a centuries-long war over the Light of Alfheim, the source that powered the Bifrost. Kratos and Atreus came to claim a portion of the Light and ended up turning the war once more.
Helheim
Helheim was the realm of the dishonorable dead, a land of unyielding cold where no fire of the Nine Realms could burn. Ruled by the eagle Hraesvelgr, it was the destination of those who died of age, disease, or mishap, and a place even Odin feared.
Lake of Nine
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.
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.
Muspelheim
Muspelheim was one of the Nine Realms of the World Tree, the fiery homeland of the Fire Giants and the source of all heat in the realms. From it Ragnarok was prophesied to arise, and from it Kratos sought the aid of Surtr.
Niflheim
Niflheim was one of the Nine Realms of the World Tree, a frozen world of fog, ice, and endless mist. Once cursed into a poisonous fog by the Dwarf alchemist Ivaldi, it later returned to its frigid state and held a secret prison of Odin.
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