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WMHSMUN XXXIV

Ragnarök

Background Guide

“Unprecedented committees. Unparalleled debate. Unmatched fun.” Letters From the Directors

Dear Delegates,

Hello and welcome to WMHSMUN! My name is Lauren Wiehl and I will be your in-room director for the weekend. I am excited to meet all of you and have this opportunity! I am a senior originally from San Diego, California and I am majoring in economics and history. I ended up here from the west coast because I wanted to experience seasons for the first time, and I love Colonial American history. The seasons have not let me down! At William and Mary, I am in social sorority, the business fraternity, and a marketing group called Agency 1693. I actually did not participate in Model UN before college - freshman year, a friend convinced me to volunteer for the high school conference here at William and Mary, and I fell in love with it. Since then, I have volunteered for every conference we hold, and I am on secretariat for our college conference in April. I hope that this weekend you’ll come to love MUN as much as I have!

As far as our topic, I am so incredibly excited to direct Ragnarök. I’ve done all sorts of committees, but cool crisis ones are my favorite (I recently directed a conference on the Illuminati!). is fascinating and acting as gods is an important responsibility. In committee, you all will be reacting to crises and battling each other and mythical creatures to save yourselves as the world ends. Be sure to read up on mythology as you research your positions and prepare to fight to the death.

Obviously WMHSMUN will look a little different this year, and Catherine and I are learning alongside you guys! Let us know if you have any questions and we are happy to help you in any way we can. I am super excited to still be able to direct since WMHSMUN is my favorite time of year, and I look forward to spending the weekend (virtually) with you and assuming the roles and the most powerful gods in the world!

Lauren Wiehl [email protected]

Background Guide – Ragnarök

Dear Delegates,

Welcome to WMHSMUN XXXIV! I am honored and excited to be your crisis director this fall and am so ready to see what amazing ideas you all will bring to the table. My name is Catherine Janicki, and I am a sophomore at the College studying Sociology and Music. I’m a huge musical theatre nerd and on campus, I sing in the W&M Choir and an A Cappella group called The Accidentals! I am a vanilla iced coffee fanatic and have an affinity for the color teal. Alongside those interests, I will forever hold a soft spot in my heart for Model United Nations. Model UN was an important facet of my high school experience and I’ve previously staffed two William & Mary conferences as a crisis staffer and chair. I can’t wait to spend the weekend navigating all the directives and crises that will unfold as committee progresses.

While on the topic of crises…as you all know, due to COVID-19, WMHSMUN XXXIV will be virtual. This is going to mean rediscovering Model UN in a way we haven’t before, together. Nevertheless, I’m sincerely looking forward to exploring virtual committee sessions and Ragnarök with you guys! As Norse gods, it’s your responsibility to make it out of the crisis alive with strategic plans and creative solutions. It’s going to be important to spend some time researching Norse mythology and brainstorming some fantastical elements that you can incorporate into committee.

Feeling nervous and overwhelmed is incredibly valid, this year especially. As your directors, Lauren and I are here for you and are always available to talk through any concerns and answer any questions you may have. Get hyped, because this is going to be great and YOU GUYS are going to Ragna-ROCK!!

I’m so excited to meet you guys! Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.

Catherine Janicki [email protected]

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Introduction

Ragnarök is the catastrophic destruction of the world and everything in it, as told by Norse mythology. This is not necessarily the world as we know it, but one entirely controlled by the gods and the powerful fire . Prophecies from long ago come true, and the world enters a very long and very cold winter. This sort of catastrophe is unprecedented and everything that once thrived now faces the biggest challenge in all of time. Surviving is now a battle - each scrap of food, each sip of water is a fight to the death for humankind. Meanwhile, the gods of the universe are watching as not only the world collapses, but the mythical animals that hid in the shadows emerge and unleash their powers. The wolves that hunt the moon and sun finally capture their prey, the at the bottom of the sea is released and the floods with the waters of the sea. All mountains and trees fall and a ship full of giants is released to sail across the now flooded world. These giants are what cause concern for the gods, as they are the only ones that can stop the damage they have caused. The ship of giants is captained by , who is a traitor to the gods. The fire giants, led by Surt, emerge from a crack in the sky and become a threatening presence on earth. This is the moment the gods have feared, as it confirms previous prophecies are coming true. What happens next is up to the gods, who must decide whether to fight to save the world or simply fight the elements to stay alive. The mythical animals are entirely under the control of the fire giants, who utilize the powers of these animals when necessary. The gods, though they have a level of control over the humans on earth and other general elements, are helpless to the advances of the fire giants unless they go to direct war with them. This series of drastic and sudden events put the gods in a very difficult spot, as they know what the prophecies say and that their control of the world could completely slip out of their grasp - not to mention the gods

3 Background Guide – Ragnarök could lose their lives in the process. What should be done to save the world and everything in it? Who will survive the deadly conflict? That is only up to the delegates now. **Disclaimer: This is not a committee about the movies, as excellent as they are. Thor is based on this story, but this deals with the actual Norse myths of the battle of the gods.

Topic 1: Recruiting and Maintaining Gods to Fight

Though the fire giants have generally been content, their recent anger has made the world start to collapse. Wolves and other powerful animals are ravaging the earth, using their powers to destroy everything known to man. The gods must ban together to decide a course of action in this time of extreme need. They must fight a war against the fire giants. However, some gods are abandoning their counterparts and joining the fire gods, as the prophecies state that the fire giants will win. Therefore, some gods and animals believe that they are more likely to survive the war if they instead fight with the fire giants, regardless of how they might be treated afterwards. This causes great problems for the remaining gods, as they have no hope of winning the war without their full numbers and the strengths of each individual god. Attempting to reason with these gods would be a waste of time and resources, and possibly dangerous because of their new affiliation. However, it will also be much more difficult to win without the full support and power of each god. Because of the relationships between various gods, some gods abandoning their counterparts to join the other side might cause a chain reaction among other gods, which would be detrimental for everything on earth. The draw to be a part of the seemingly much more powerful side can become too strong, the gods could lose everything that is dear to them. Any effort put into the fight against the fire giants thus far must be put aside to fix this crisis. A main concern is that if the gods return to their original position, they could return as a double agent of sorts. This would both hinder the gods in that their plans would be exposed and trick them into thinking they have an additional warrior when in fact they do not. Infighting will weaken the gods and their plans, so it is better to avoid this altogether. It could be better to avoid further contact with the gods that betrayed them, but some gods disagree. The risk of a double agent could be worth obtaining more gods to fight the fire giants. They would also regain the powers of those particular gods, which could be very beneficial at any given point. It is unclear how the war will end, and it is difficult to persuade each god that it is worth fighting for their land and their power in exchange for their life. While only a few gods have left behind their powers at the moment, more gods could suddenly change sides at any moment, rendering the fight almost useless. The

4 Background Guide – Ragnarök side of the fire giants is initially compelling, as they are much more powerful than the gods. But with the combined power of each gods, they could defeat the fire giants and regain control of the earth. In what is the most difficult decision of the war thus far, the gods must agree on whether to recruit lost gods back to their side or try to overcome their losses and push forward.

Questions to Consider 1. How do the gods wish to address the deserters? Do they want to confront them and try to bring them back, possibly escalating the conflict, or attempt to without them? 2. How do the gods prevent more gods from leaving? Why is it worth risking one’s life to remain on the side of the gods?

Topic 2: Addressing and Undoing Foreboding Prophecies

Prophecies have been in place for ages - it has always been a matter of time until they came true. The prophecies that have haunted the gods for ages are beginning to take action without warning, frightening the people on earth and threatening the power of the gods. Now that the gods are facing the possibility that they could all vanish off the face of the earth, addressing these haunting prophecies is imperative. In the midst of war that is nearly a lost cause, the gods must look to former prophecies and attempt to undo them. The only way that this can be done is by banding together and using the full power of each god in order to defeat the fire giants. However, this means that all former grievances must be put aside, and all goods must agree on one path forward. If this is done, then it is possible for the prophecy to be undone and the gods could save all of humanity. What makes this difficult is that the gods could also save themselves by attempting to work with the fire giants instead. This would nearly guarantee the destruction of the current earth and all that’s on it but ensure the survival of most of the gods. If they chose to go to battle instead, several gods would likely perish without a guarantee of winning the war. The gods have attachments to others (see dossier below), as many are family or have some sort of romantic relationship and each want the others to live. The guarantee of life is worth more than a successful battle to some. But the gods must keep in mind all that lives below them and all that is in their power. Even if they are spared, the humans, plants, and animals on earth will perish, as well as the land itself. Nothing will exist, deeming the powers of the gods useless. They would be completely under the power of and at the hands of the fire giants, with an unclear future.

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In addition to the fire giants, there are also mythical animals to consider. The wolves that hunt the moon and the sun, for example, are primarily controlled by the fire giants but are not necessarily loyal to them. Therefore, there is the possibility that the gods would be attacked by these external forces, even if they did join the fire giants. These animals pose a more disturbing threat as they are even more relentless than the fire giants and withhold no fear in brutally murdering anyone that stands in their way. These animals, the emergence of whom caused the in the first place, will consistently be a source of fear for the gods. They are not guaranteed safety from the beasts even when working with the fire giants. This decision of whether to survive without question or risk death is a difficult one and is causing infighting among the gods. They must decide this before taking any further steps, but the longer they delay, the more destruction befalls the earth. As chaos ensues and people die by the second, it becomes more pressing to make a rapid decision. With the fate of the entire world and its future in their hands, the gods must decide among themselves the best course of action and prepare themselves for a hard battle.

Questions to Consider 1. Should the gods focus on working together to reverse the prophecy of the fire giants winning and save humanity, or should they attempt to work with the fire giants to save themselves? 2. Think about the power and connections that your position has. Could they be used to help win the war? Could they be used to save the existing things on earth?

Sources

• "Ancient History Encyclopedia.” https://www.ancient.eu/. • McCoy, Daniel. "The Aesir Gods and ." https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and- creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/. • McCoy, Daniel. "Ragnarök." https://norse-mythology.org/tales/ragnarok/. • Short, William. "Hurstwic Norse Mythology." http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/mythology/myths/text/.htm.

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Dossier

Aesir Gods and Goddesses

Odin, God of Wisdom As the leader of the Aesir , is strong-willed and war-driven. Though only able to speak in poems, he is well-spoken and persuasive, as a result of having stolen the of poetry from the giants. One of Odin’s passions is wisdom in both seeking and giving. He once sacrificed one of his eyes and fasted for nine days in order to discover secret letters known as the . To Odin, any limitations to his powers are seen as merely challenges that he must overcome. Equity, justice, and fairness are values that do not specifically concern him. Odin favors intelligent and creative individuals, regardless of social status. He is commonly regarded as the sole beneficiary of many kings and their respective royal lines. Outlaws banished from society respect Odin as their helper, as he is partial towards those who are warrior-like.

Thor, God of Thunder and Agriculture Thor is the warrior god of thunder and agriculture, honorably recognized as the defender of and (the world of gods and the world of humans, respectively). Three extremely powerful items have been crucial to Thor’s defense of Asgard and Midgard. These incredible items are his hammer, his belt of strength, and his iron gloves. Thor is the son of Odin; however, unlike Odin, he often practices kindness towards even the most regular of humans. Thor is honored and loved by humans for his brute strength and exceptional responses to the problems they face. Though he is a god of common sense, Thor is impatient to follow the rule of others. He is virtually incapable of being deceitful or recognizing deceit. Thor’s most notable enemy is the massive sea serpent who surrounds Midgard, Jormungand.

Loki, God of Mischief Loki is the Aesir god most famously known for being a trickster. He is charismatic and able to make any being laugh. He excels in deception and disguise with motivations of self-preservations and pleasure. He is closely allied with both the gods and the giants, siding with whichever team is most advantageous to him at that moment. He is nemeses with Heimdall and Freya. His closest ally is his wife . Loki is a shapeshifter, allowing him to be the father to the of the , the serpent who surrounds Midgard Jormungand, and the wolf , as well as the mother of , an eight-legged horse. Loki also possesses the powers of invisibility, fire manipulation, and the ability to manifest decoys.

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Frigg, Goddess of Marriage and Motherhood is the Keeper of Domestic Arts, Queen of Asgard, and highest-ranking Aesir goddess who practices fate-changing magic known as seidr. In practicing seidr, Frigg has the power of clairvoyance and enhanced intelligence. She is aware of the fate of all beings and is able to easily weave new events into being. Another of Frigg’s magical powers is . She often transforms into a falcon using the feathers she possesses. Though she is the wife of the Aesir leader, Odin, her closest confidant is her handmaiden , who contains many secrets.

Heimdall, God of Foreknowledge Accompanied by his golden horse and golden teeth, Heimdall is “the shining god” who has the power of foreknowledge. He has exceptional hearing and eyesight. Heimdall warns the people of Asgard against intruders by blowing his resonant horn. He is known for being dutiful and responsible, making him polar opposites with his nemesis Loki. Among his allies are his nine mothers. Heimdall is the founder of

Norse social classes and hierarchy.

Baldur, God of Light Baldur is the beloved Aesir god of light, who embodies cheerfulness and sunshine. He is the husband of , father of , and son of Odin and Frigg. His powers include invulnerability, manipulation of both light and love, beauty, and fearlessness. His handsomeness and grace go hand-in-hand with his enhanced charisma. Though Baldur is innocent and pure hearted at first glance, he holds a warlike disposition, too. He is physically invincible to all except mistletoe. A mistletoe handcrafted by none other than Loki strikes Baldur dead, leaving him to dwell in the underworld with the goddess Hel. His unfortunate death is considered a harbinger of Ragnarök. Even though his death is tragic, Baldur is able to continue strengthening and using his powers in the underworld. Perhaps he could use them to develop a plan allowing him to leave the dead and get himself back to Asgard, able to defend against the giants alongside his fellow Aesir gods.

Tyr, God of Law Tyr is the Aesir god who presides over upholding law and justice. He is courageous and once even sacrificed his arm in order to help the chained ferocious and ever-growing wolf, Fenrir, to prove that binding him was not a trick. The notable war gods each take on an aspect of war, with Tyr’s aspect being the principles of justice and making legal decisions. His powers include infallible lie detection, enhanced combat, and war

8 Background Guide – Ragnarök manipulation. Humans and dwarves alike rely on Tyr to maintain justice. He has no true enemies other than the wolf Fenrir.

Vanir Gods and Goddesses

Freya, Goddess of Love and Beauty Freya is the goddess of love and beauty. She is considered an honorary Aesir goddess. She is the twin sister to . Freya values material objects and is in possession of a falcon feather cloak that brings shapeshifting abilities as well as the most beautiful necklace, Brisingamen. In acquiring this necklace, Freya improved her relationships with local dwarves. She grieves for her oft missing husband, Odr. Her powers include manipulation, precognition, and clairvoyance. Freya is thought to have brought the art of seidr, a system of magic, to the Vanir gods. She rules the meadowy Folkvangr where she sees over fallen soldiers.

Freyr, God of Prosperity Freyr is the Vanir god of prosperity. He is considered an honorary Aesir god. He is the twin brother to Freya. In his possession, Freyr has a wondrous portable ship, three loyal servants (, , and ), and a magic sword. He rides a shining boar and has the powers of manipulating the weather and sun and has enhanced endurance. Freyr is loved by all and hated by none. He often receives traditional sacrifices from both humans and , as Freyr presides over the realm, Alfheim. Alfheim is a luminous homeland of beauty. The elves most often have a human-like appearance and magical abilities, such as the power to cure human illness and manipulate nature. Additionally, the elves have strong intuition. Freyr has tight-knit relationships with the elves, as he reciprocates their gifts in abundance.

Njord, God of the Sea Njord is the Vanir god and honorary Aesir god of the sea. He is the father of Freya and Freyr, by , the Vanir goddess of fertility and plant growth. Njord is able to manipulate all waters, money, the winter, and mountains. Njord is talented in both fishing and farming. He was once accidentally married to the giantess Skadi, but the two were completely unable to tolerate the location of each other’s homes — Njord’s a beach and Skadi’s a snowy mountain. He is a widely worshipped god amongst the humans. He carries great wealth, and rich humans often aspire to possess as much money as him.

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Others

Hel, Goddess of the Underworld Hel is the harsh, greedy, and sometimes cruel giantess and goddess of the death and the underworld. Her realm is known as the “Halls of Hel.” She is the daughter of the god of mischief Loki and Angrboda (meaning “the one who brings grief/sorrow”). Hel and her siblings, the wolf Fenrir and world serpent Jormungand, are predicted to cause disaster and trickery. In her appearance alone, which is often described as “fierce-looking”, Hel is incredibly intimidating. She has many powers including , the kiss of death, age acceleration, death enforcement, underworld ice manipulation, disease manipulation. As lord of the underworld, Hel is in control of deceased gods, giants, humans, dwarves, and elves.

Mimir Mimir, meaning “the wise one” is a being of pure, extensive knowledge and the keeper of the Well of Urd. Drinking from the Well is suggested to provide one with great knowledge and foresight. It is unknown whether Mimir is an Aesir god or a giant, as he has connections with both gods and giants. Mimir is a counselor of the gods, in that he provides wisdom in exchange for a . The most known example of this tradeoff was when Odin sacrificed an eye for a sip from the Well. At the end of the Vanir-Aesir war, Mimir was beheaded by the Vanir gods. Though he is separated by head and body in the underworld, Mimir is a key player in Ragnarok, in that his foreknowledge and wisdom allow him to warn any god or giant of their fate, if he so desires. Furthermore, he is able to use his foreknowledge to continue to keep watch over the well.

Fenrir Son of Loki, and brother to Hel and Jormungand, Fenrir is an infamous monstrous wolf. Fenrir is vicious and forever growing. The gods were once threatened by a young Fenrir and his rapid growth, forcing them to bound him in multiple attempts. His anger has only built since being chained. Fenrir, eager to battle, is destined to be released at the start of Ragnarök. His targets are the gods, specifically the Aesir god of wisdom, Odin. Fenrir is a cunning wolf, likely to team with the fire giants. He is determined to get revenge for the years of torture he endured in any circumstance, except for one: if the prophecies foretell his decline as a result. With the mischief from Loki passed on to him, Fenrir is both convincing and able to get any mere beings on his side.

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Skadi Skadi is a giantess and the Aesir goddess of hunting. She lives in the forever snowy mountains as an excellent skier and huntress. She is the daughter of the late Thiazi, a giant killed by the gods. In seeking vengeance for her father’s death, Skadi was offered a god for a husband as compensation. She selected Njord by his feet (under the impression that he was Baldur), thus making her an Aesir goddess by marriage. The marriage was short-lived, as the two could not stand the locations of each other’s homes. Skadi has the power to manipulate mountains and the winter. She is incredibly skilled with a bow and arrow. Her accuracy is beyond comparison. Skadi aligns herself with the mountain wolves and other giants. She holds no true enemies, but her only grievances lie with Loki, whose mischief caused her father’s death.

Jormungand Jormungand is a giant sea serpent, so large that he can surround the Earth and hold his own tail. He is the child of Loki and Angrboda but was taken from them by Odin and tossed into the ocean. When Jormungand releases his tail and makes his way onto land, Ragnarok will begin. Aside from this incredible determination of the future of the world, Jormungand is able to spray poison that fills the skies and the seas. His arch enemy is Thor because Thor once pulled Jormungand onto his boat and slammed his head with his large hammer. Later, Jormungand transformed into a cat that Thor tried to lift but was unable to because of the sheer weight of the serpent - had Thor been able to lift the cat, he would have altered the boundaries of the universe. The meeting between Jormungand and Thor during Ragnarök will determine who walks away victorious after their numerous previous meetings.

Ymir is the ancestor of all the gods, giants, dwarves, and elves. He was brought into existence when fire from the current homeland of the fire giants, , met ice from the underworld, . He is especially powerful, in that it was his flesh and blood that created the Earth and the seas, respectively. Ymir is a being of true chaos. His closest ally is the divine cow, Audumbla, who licked the first god, Buri, out of a block of ice. Buri lived alongside Audumbla and Ymir, before becoming the grandfather of Odin, Vili, and Ve. The three brother gods eventually slayed Ymir, now leaving him to reside with a burning desire for revenge in Niflheim. In Ragnarok, Ymir aligns himself closely with the giants as their creator.

Nidhogg Nidhogg is a dragon that constantly gnaws at the root of the world tree, . His name refers to one who has lost his honor and gained the status of a villain. It is possible that in addition to the world tree,

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Nidhogg gnaws at the corpses of the inhabitants of a nearby village. He has never left the roots of the world tree, so it is presumed he was born and raised there. Nidhogg’s primary enemy is an eagle that lives at the top of Yggdrasil. The two exchange harsh words and insults through the giant squirrel that lives in the tree who acts as a messenger. Nidhogg also rules over a part of the underworld in which perjurers, murderers, and adulterers are punished. Upon the arrival of Ragnarök, Nighogg will leave his post at the world tree and join the other dragons and serpents to fight the gods.

Kvasir At the end of the Aesir-Vanir war, was born out of treaty. He is a mix of the two affiliations, giving him enhanced wisdom. He is graced with the power to brew magical beverages and to grant knowledge through poetry. Kvasir wrote the , which he selflessly gave to the giants. He is known for being able to spot mischief and the disguises put on by Loki. Kvasir is intuitive. He has an answer at the ready for any possible question brought to him. Kvasir spends his days as a traveler, spreading his wisdom to all humans and other beings he encounters.

Lif Lif acts as one of the two human characters in the tales of Ragnarök (the other is Lifthrasir). Lif is female and is told to survive Ragnarök by hiding in a giant forest. She loses everything in the battle, but ultimately survives. Lif does not necessarily choose a side in Ragnarök, but her survival depends on the gods and their powers, which have been maintaining the Earth for the entirety of her lifetime. Lif and Lifthrasir are left to repopulate the Earth after everything is destroyed, as dictated by the prophecies. The gods are aware of those still alive they must protect and hide in order to regain steady control of the world and repopulate it fully. Lif is known for her uncanny ability to find the good in situations, which proves to be beneficial during the war. Her talents with hunting allow her to provide for herself and Lifthrasir in the forest, helping them to stay healthy and relatively energized. She is not keen on the idea that the Earth’s survival depends on her ability to bear children, but she understands this is the responsibility the prophecies have bestowed upon her.

Lifthrasir According to the prophecy, Lifthrasir is the singular male foretold to survive Ragnarök. During the destruction in Ragnarök, he hides in the forest with his female counterpart, Lif. The two are foretold to repopulate the world. He is a regular human, who is known for his abilities in music and social skills. Lifthrasir is skilled with the lyre; his songs are rumored to have entrancing capabilities. Additionally, he

12 Background Guide – Ragnarök possesses enhanced strength, as he once held a tree to prevent it from falling on top of Life. Lifthrasir is selfless and caring, therefore popular amongst other humans. His charisma allows him to rally large groups in a moment’s notice. He holds the knowledge of being one of two sole survivors, making him a key player in Ragnarök. At the moment, his allegiance does not sway in favor of the gods or giants. Both sides, however, depend on him and Lif to keep the Earth abundant with life.

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