The Austri Stones: Catalysts of a New Path
Obsidian stone pendants for 'The Midgardians' fantasy novel. Twin magical artifacts with green and orange glows. Norse mythology inspired jewelry. Yggdrasil World Tree connection. Andrew and Tessa's power.
Welcome back to our in-depth exploration of the Nine Realms cosmos. In a universe defined by ancient artifacts and divine power, few objects are as unique or pivotal as the Austri Stones. Unlike the powerful Yggdrasil Resonance Keys, the Austri Stones are naturally occurring stones rather than crafted artifacts from the petrified bark of the World Tree's oldest roots. Still, they are the literal catalysts for a new path for all the realms, from a universe in peril reaching out for help.
The Austri Stones are rare, naturally formed artifacts made of obsidian and shimmering with veins of silver and gold laced through them. They're two halves of a once larger whole, and were once prized above almost all other artifacts by beings across the realms. Their precious and unique nature has made them some of the dwarves' most valued treasures in Svartalheim. The stones themselves are not inherently powerful, but gain their energy when the pure essence of the World Tree is channeled into them, imbuing them with its power. Due to this, they are somewhat unique among the realms due to being of natural origin and imbued with power rather than being crafted and forged with the raw materials from across the realms.
The instant that Andrews and Tessas' skin makes contact with the Austri Stones, they act as catalysts, flooding them with ancient energy and granting an instantaneous, intuitive understanding of all the languages of the realms. More profoundly, they imbue a unique power manifested from Yggdrasil as a desperate act of self-preservation caused by its distress from Lyra’s corrupting influence. Their power aligns with the essence of the "Eastern Pillar of the Cosmos,” also known in the ancient tongue as “Austri.” It is one of the four core pillars of the World Tree, symbolizing dawn, new beginnings, and primal clarity.
Andrew and Tessa, unbeknownst to them, are the prophesied "flesh of Midgard," and serve as the vessels for this power. Like the stones, the awakened Gifts are two halves to a whole and complement each other. Andrew manifests as being able to trace the veins of power laced through the stone around him, allowing him to perceive Yggdrasil's roots' physical resonance and structural integrity. In contrast, Tessa's gift manifests as her being able to hear and interpret the ethereal song of the World Tree and view its magical currents, giving her brief glimpses into events happening across the realms. In time, they find their combined powers are crucial for navigating the volatile and often corrupted pathways between the realms and countering Lyra’s dark magic.
The acquisition of these stones sets in motion the central conflict of our story, fulfilling an ancient prophecy that foretells of a choice: "to mend the fractured worlds or unleash the ancient dread." The Austri Stones are more than just plot devices; they embody the World Tree’s will to survive against the encroaching chaos of a forced and premature Ragnarok, and serve as beacons of hope for the realms.
