The great tree of Yggdrasill was destroyed in the Ragnarok. What remains are meager worlds still in constant stages of recuperation. Earth, formerly Midgard, has been remade as New Asgard, the northernmost realm to the other planets in an ever-growing tree. The civilized settlements already developed include Narvlheim, home of the displaced Vanir and even that of Loki Laufeyson and family; and Dagheim, a hot planet settled by the Seers. King Thor Odinson, a warrior who governs with the heart of a lion and has not yet learned how to garner respect without force, rules the new Asgard.
After the Ragnarok, the outer remnants of the elevated worlds became broken fields of asteroids, some of which are large enough to keep hold of the monsters that attacked against the Aesir. They have since been designated as a place of eminent punishment: a banishment to doom in light of irredeemable crimes. Few have necessitated such a sentence in the time since New Asgard was created, but that is not to say that they are empty.
Thor struggles to keep his people content, not as good with the bureaucratic duties of ruling as his brother, Loki. The two are not true brothers, of course, but they consider one another family despite the years of torment and disagreement between them before the Ragnarok. Loki's family thrives on Narvlheim, named after his fallen son Narvi, who fell into nothing while Asgard crumbled in the Ragnarok. Loki's wife, Sigyn, suffered greatly at the loss of her son, and was not herself for many months after witnessing his disappearance. The only balm for her heart was their other twin, Vali, whom she and Loki hold up as their legacy and ultimate pride. Despite Vali's striking differences from Narvi, he grew into a fine man, and an even more kind soul than his parents thought possible.
Loki and Sigyn conceived another child: Hela, their daughter. She was born a youth of the new Yggdrasill, now strong and confident in her magic and beauty. Her hair is like her father's: deep black with long waves, but she looks more like her mother in the face. Hela is a difficult force to miss on Narvlheim, garnering her many admirers. The young men who fawn over her talent and appearance infuriate her very overprotective brother, Vali, often resulting in lengthy battles of intention. Most of the suitors are easily swayed by his strength and intimidation, leaving Hela lonely, yearning for secrecy in young romance.
Not that Vali is without his own trysts; as son of the King and Steward of Narvlheim, Vali is also difficult to miss. Over the years there have been a few young women in his life, ever disappointed when the love affairs end. Vali continues to become more beautiful and strong with time. A gentleman like his father, he keeps his feelings private, and does not openly welcome the sort of wanton lovers that seem to flock to his side during visits on Asgard; his mother taught him better than that, to appreciate the love and care of a woman, which of course only fuels his need to protect Hela from naive young boys. But Vali does carry heavy admiration for his friend and ally, Ragfrieda, the grown daughter of Asgard's gatekeeper Heimdall.
Brewing in Asgard is a dark cloud of hatred. Thor's adult son, Modi, now old enough to put his anger to action, has manipulated many of the people against his father. He always finds excuses to avoid trainings with Vali; though their parents consider the two to be cousins, the idea alone nauseates Modi. Ever since learning the true Jotun nature of the Lokison family, Modi has grown a harsh vendetta against them all. And how could he not, after being raised to know only disgust for the race, just to be betrayed with the knowledge of their proximity to his bloodline? To Modi, they mar the good name of Asgard and the throne, and should be rid of like the other frost giants destroyed in the Ragnarok.
Modi carries great disdain for his father Thor, who is flailing at the throne's many responsibilities. Once thought to have been born a great leader, Thor's training as a soldier overcomes the compassion necessary to connect with the people in any real way. Though Modi believes he is entitled to a great future as King, desiring the throne sooner rather than later, he is naive to the fact that Asgard's authority is crumbling. So many are now turning to the Stewardship of Narvlheim for advice and guidance, leaving Modi little more than a failing empire to inherit.
The realms of this new Yggdrasill are still forming. So few have real civilization; but, in their creation and the chaos of space, long forgotten creatures have emerged to be reckoned with. Modi lacks magic but has developed a keen sense of words, and he beckons to the enemies of old, conjuring an ultimate army of intent to destroy the lesser folk of Yggrasill.
The time to restore his proper order has come.