Post by S.S.A. Erin on Aug 10, 2013 7:13:49 GMT
The Tale of Svartalfheim
Disclaimer: Mortal Ends is an alternate universe based heavily on the Marvel cinematic universe. This universe, thus far, has stayed true to the more mythological side of Asgard than to the often complicated and convoluted comic universe takes. As Svartalfheim is not touched upon in the cinematic universe and the comic version is heavily influenced by Greek mythology and events, Mortal Ends staff have created a history of Svartalfheim completely unique to our universe. This mythos belongs to the Mortal Endverse – this is neither cinematic nor comic canon, but Endverse canon.
It should be noted once more that Mortal Ends is AU after Iron Man 3 – any film released after IM3 is not included in our canon and thus, characters revealed in these films will be taken on a case by case basis. This is brought forward here as Thor 2 appears to take place on Svartalfheim with heavy Malekith influences. Here on Mortal Ends, Malekith was defeated two hundred and seventy years ago. Svartalfheim was overtaken over a course of ten or so years and has been under Thanos’ reign for sixty years.
For nearly two hundred years, the realm of Svartalfheim had known peace and flourished under the hand of the good queen Alflyse. The dread king Malekith had been defeated by the queen’s loyalists and the world was finally beginning to return to its former glory when the first of them came. It was slow at first, attacks at random points, no order or prediction to the targets of choice. The queen’s guard and the armies of Svartalfheim beat off the attacks each time, with varying casualties. It became clear over time that the objective was a narrowing of the ranks and a devastating toll on the citizenry.
A call to muster sounded and the citizens of Svartalfheim moved underground in careful increments until their beautiful spires were abandoned for the tunnels and mines of the underground cities that had suffered the worst in the wars against Malekith. Those who were willing stayed above ground with the queen, choosing four main cities to populate and leaving the rest to fall under the Chitauri invasions.
The four main cities were overtaken, the perceived populace of the Dark Elves enslaved. Queen Alflyse took this all in stride with incredible dignity. The true losses were nowhere near what they otherwise would have been and those who had been sacrificed would one day be honored for their defence of the people.
Day by day, Svartalfheim’s surface world darkened as hoards of Chitauri warships and their contents overtook the abandoned and burning cities. Alflyse was left upon her dais to overlook the destruction of her world and serve as a token to her people – she was flanked at all times by Chitauri of broader minds, never permitted out of their sight and forced, frequently, to bow before Thanos as a show of fealty. Those of her people trapped above suffered in ways she could hardly bear, but for those who thrived below she bowed her back and kept her eyes dry.
Of her five sons, three had come above while two reigned below in their mother’s stead. The twins were fair and just, careful to keep the underworld a secret for the sake of all who yet survived. The damage of Malekith’s reign was nearly faded by the time the sixtieth year of their hidden lives passed by. Above them, the eldest sons of Alflyse suffered in different manners.
The eldest had been assigned to tormenting his own people in exchange for the safety of his younger siblings and his mother. With the experimental minds of Thanos’ team of scientific fiends, he worked on ways to harness the fae power of the Dark Elves into Chitauri weaponry and other such madness. Fae magic and science were not meant to be forced to work as one, but as the strongest of the casters and the most studious of the sons, he had little choice but to try and comply to every command given.
The middle of the three worked on the mechanical end of things, helping to strengthen the armor of the Chitauri and their ships. He folded steel, showed Thanos’ soldiers from other conquered realms how to wrest results from Svartalfheim’s denser ores. He counted himself the blessed one, for he never had to face his people where he worked.
The youngest of the three was assigned to assimilating the queens guard and other survivors of his realm to the army of Thanos. His role, unknown to his ‘overlord’ was to remind the malcontent that their lives were shields for those below. To ensure that the secret of their true people remained hidden and to push his men to bow to those inferior and to those equal to them.
In the thirtieth year, Thanos made use of the third prince and his men in an attack on a plane the likes of which no Dark Elf had ever known. Many chose to lay down their lives in surrender, but those were the cowardly and the weak. The others held on, aided in Thanos’ conquest in order to ascertain they could return to their realm, and continue to protect its most precious secret.
Twice more Thanos sent them alongside the Chitauri and twice more they crushed the nameless and the faceless, forced beneath them those who suffered far greater than they. The Dark Elves grew true to their cold name once more, and when it came time to turn their sights on a realm within Odin’s own view, they knew nothing more than a determination not to fail. Thanos wished now to destroy Asgard itself and its infant plane, Midgard. In this, Alflyse found hope, while her son and her scarred soldiers saw only more battles ahead.
Soon, Svartalfheim will launch an attack on Asgard at Thanos’ command. They will be aided by the Frost Giants and the Chitauri. Whether or not they have the will to turn against Thanos now after so much is hardly relevant – when it comes to survival and protecting their own, the Dark Elves stop at nothing. There is no love in many a heart for the Allfather who turned his back on them during Malekith’s reign and again, with Thanos. The true question is – will the Allfather and his Asgardian’s be strong enough allies to take the risk of aiding them, when the time comes? Or will Asgard be left so much ash as Svartalfheim’s surface realm?