Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Forgotten Myths 1

Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Forgotten Myths 1 is the first issue of the Dark Horse comic book series Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Forgotten Myths, a prequel to Dawn of Ragnarök. The comic, written by Alex Freed with art by Martín Túnica and Michael Atiyeh, was released on 16 March 2022.

Publisher's summary

In this prequel to Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarök, follow Baldr, the valiant son of Odin, on his quest to forge a lasting peace among the realms.

Thor, Baldr, and Heimdall have discovered trouble lurking at Asgard's borders once again. A mighty fire giant from Muspelheim is threatening the land of the Æsir. In the aftermath of the raging battle, Baldr discovers that the Muspels are now massing at the gates of Svartalfheim and begins a journey to bring peace to the realms.

2022 is the fifteenth anniversary of the Assassin's Creed franchise.

Plot summary

Far from home, Æsir brothers Baldr, Thor and Heimdall finally track a Muspel giant that has infiltrated the realm of Asgard. Impatient and uninterested in why their enemy has come, Thor initiates a battle which culminates when he throws Mjölnir into a cliffside to bury the Muspel but, to Heimdall's horror, Baldr is also caught in the rockfall. Thor laughs it off as the boy can not be killed by any weapon known to him.

A villager interrupts the storyteller to point out the story is wrong: It was Týr, not Heimdall, who joined the hunt for what was actually a dragon. The narrator, who introduced the tale as full of lies, reminds the gathered villagers that there is no right or wrong story, they change form "swift as water."

Within the rubble, Baldr laments the death of the giant before he manages to escapes the rubble into a dwarf tunnel. There, he meets an escaped slave whose flight to Asgard brought his former Muspel abductor to Æsir lands in pursuit. As the elderly dwarf guides Baldr back to the surface, he informs him of the Múspellsheimr forces gathering at the gates of his homeland Svartálfaheimr and plants the idea that the Æsir warrior lacks life experience. When they part, Baldr heads for sunlight but turns back to the dwarf only to find a "twist of darkness, slithering like a serpent between the rocks" remains of his companion.

Back at Asgard days later, Týr advises Odin not to worry about Baldr: A hundred men have been sent to dig him out and he'll still emerge without a scar. Odin replies that he will worry about his son nevertheless which catches the ear of the returning Baldr. A feast is held to celebrate. However, as the night wears on, Baldr takes note of his father's missing eye and Týr's lost limb, and exchanges sleep for reflection.

Baldr meets with his father and Freyja, his stepmother, to ask permission to travel the Nine Realms so that he may try to bring peace between the Muspells and the dwarves. He tries to tell his unconvinced parents that he wants to involve himself in affairs that are no concern of Asgard out of gratitude to the former slave who helped him. When Odin presses him, Baldr admits that he feels his immortal existence can bring no glory if he can't die so perhaps diplomacy could prove a worthier challenge instead. Freyja deflects Odin's attempts to stall the boy's departure and Baldr is given leave to make his journey. Alone, Freyja remarks to her husband that the Baldr is hiding "plans within plans."

Baldr sets out on board his ship for the edges of Jötunheimr where he performs a ritual with the strand left behind by the dwarf slave and moves on.

Within some marshlands, Baldr is met by a talking fish who knows the Æsir's purpose and leads him to a dark lake where he is granted visions of the Muspel princess Eysa. If Baldr can win Eysa's heart, the fish explains, he will bring peace. Afterwards, Baldr asks the fish if he will help him in his quest who responds that he has done all he can. The warrior asks aloud if that's true of Loki as well, one who can transform into both dwarves.

His deception revealed, the trickster takes on his familiar appearance. Baldr tells him that he'd like Loki to be his mentor in diplomacy as "none is shewder" than he. Baldr waves off Loki's concern about Odin and his plainly stating that the Æsir would be a fool to trust him by pointing out that the former friend of Asgard has already helped his this far and his belief that the trickster still wishes their people well. And besides, Baldr argues, it's less work to help him honestly and openly.

With a smile, Loki reaches for Baldr's outstretched hand and agrees to teach him how to win a "heart of fire."