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hahn-dredregrets · 4 years

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Location: Northern Water Tribe Time: After the Siege of the North Playlist: skeletons - keshi SELF-PARA.

aka what happened after Hahn got kicked off the Fire Nation fleet and failed the mission he was leading.

The air was cold, but their stares were even colder, accusatory ice knives homing in on his already battered body. But the coldest thing of all was his own beating heart, slowed to an almost deadly pace: the passion that once burned bright within now snuffed out with a single breath.

He was still clad in the outdated Fire Nation army uniform, now ripped in multiple places, leaving parts of his skin bare to the biting breeze. Yet, he couldn't care less about the shiver that ran down his spine each time the wind blew in his direction, or the way his muscles ached for the warmth of his own home, or even the way he was dredging along the wrecked streets of his home city like an undead just risen. Nothing could push away the blooming self-loathing that had found roots in his mind, telling him just how big of a failure he really was.

Because that was the truth. He had failed. He didn't know what had possessed him when he'd reached Commander Choi (was it Commander Choi?) on that ship hull. Was it complacency? Pride? Foolishness? Or perhaps he had simply wanted an epic battle to be remembered by, to go down in history and be the subject of reverence and awe for generations to come, so his legacy would extend far beyond his mortal frame could. A schoolboy selfishness that really stripped him bare and showed him who he was: a worthless, ordinary boy parading as an extraordinary leader. Whatever it was, he had put months (years, for him) of preparation on the line. And he'd led a dense ball of ice straight into its path, destroying whatever it was that he'd been building for himself with only belated remorse.

News of Yue's quickly made way to his ears, slipping across silent ice sheets to meet him at the ruined walls of his city. It was all that was needed to deal the final blow. It was then that he knew that he had ruined everything. The shockwave of denial reverberated through his entire being, leaving him weak, then the feeling of loss, then sadness and then despair. At the end of it all, he was a crumpled mess on the floor, face tear-stained, clutching the hems of his clothes like a lifeline. Later on, he would think that there was probably guilt too-- that subconsciously he knew it was his fault that Yue was gone, and that his city was in this state, and that he had let slip his dreams from his grubby grasp.

—

There was no warm, boisterous welcome that greeted him or his returning party of ten, only solemn murmurs that hung heavy in the damp air. The pieces of cracked, ice floating in the waters only reminded him of his own state. Merely shattered fragments now, once a beautiful whole he would have been proud of.

He resigned. From work, to the life fate seemed to have bestowed on him.

And he spent the first few nights mourning.

As the sadness of the city began to melt away, Hahn heard stories of how The Avatar had saved his city, how his team had helped them emerge victorious over the Fire Nation fleet. How they’d cleaned up after his mess. They celebrated Aang, throwing feasts in his name, and if Hahn was being honest? He grew bitter. They didn’t see how Hahn had to swim for miles after being throw off the boat, how he’d have to literally drag his comrades’ bodies back to safety, how he had to literally push himself to his physical limit just to get on the Fire Nation boat in the first place. They didn’t see the sacrifices he had to make all this time. So yes, he was bitter that he was somehow taken for granted in spite of all that he’d done, while Aang and his team had simply catapulted into glory because fate had determined them to. They didn’t have to fight to the bone, survive by the skin of their teeth like he had to, and he hated it. Hated how life had dealt him a disastrous hand and left him to struggle for himself, only to push him back down when he’d finally risen tall and throw its head back in laughter. Most of all, he hated how he’d only proven everyone else right: he was no hero, merely an ordinary boy with extraordinary dreams.

But as the sun rose on the fifth day and began to bleed orange, igniting the sky with a warm glow, Hahn felt the fire within him rekindle, too.

—

It’s easy to feel lonely, Hahn thought, when he was alone like this in his home, bathed under the moon’s light. But he’d chosen this life for himself, one of strict regimentation, and perhaps in some sense, alienation. His parents passing had only been months before, but he hadn’t missed them the way he did now. Perhaps the euphoria from anticipating his promotion to tribe chief had shielded him from the heartache of loss, but with his bulwark gone, they came crashing into his battered soul with a strength he only wished he had.

And so, he channeled that pain and anguish, not through intense, physical training, like he would have merely a month ago, but through meditation. He never wanted his emotions to cloud his judgement ever again. So he’d have to learn to control them. Amidst other things, of course.

It wasn’t easy, but nothing on this journey of his had ever been.

Some days he’d lose the thread that bound his emotions to his guiding hands. Other days his body would be curled up on bed, muscles protesting even the slightest of movements because he’d pushed his body a little too far. There were nights where he’d struggled to keep his eyes open for another minute, and he’d wake, bent over his desk, from the light filtering through his window. And living in what was practically self-exile meant he had to struggle with caring for himself, too, with overcooked fish or undercooked plants.

But he got better.

—

Two years later, when the crack of dawn heralded a new age and the end of the Fire Nation’s tyranny, Hahn knew it was time to leave the bubble that had ensconced and protected him from those he’d hurt the most. He was, in some ways, merely a shell of his past self, homing a new spirit within him, though guided by the same light he’d held on to all these years.

This time, he was ready to earn his redemption, and prove he wasn’t the ordinary boy he was years ago. This time, he’d prove himself worthy of reverence and respect.

#aaaah hope self-paras for before the current plot is ok!!#i just wanted to fill in the gaps bc he literally disappeared from the world #.p: 00 #.about #it's so long im sorry its a ramble

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sirtravisjacksonoftexas · 4 years

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Was Jesus a Mythical Figure Based on Odin? Um, NO, and Here is Why:

Odin, aka Othin, aka All-Father (among many other names) was the King of the Norse gods. He was the god of the sky, his eyes symbolic of the sun and the moon (the latter willingly sacrificed). Though he often traveled and took human form, his spiritual essence was omnipresent, filling all of creation. Armed with Grungir, a magic spear that never failed to hit its target, He would ride across the sky on the back of Sleipnir, an eight-legged flying horse. Odin’s thirst for wisdom was legendary, having sacrificed an eye and even his own life in order to attain more of it. From morning to night his raven spies, Muninn (Memory) and Huginn (thought) would fly around earth, later whispering to Odin what they had witnessed. Though highly intelligence, his knowledge came with a price, for Odin knew of Ragnarok, the end times battle where both the gods and the Einherjar (souls of those who died in battle) would fight an army of monsters and damned souls led by Loki, god of fire. The gods would fall, the cosmic tree Yggdrasil would burn, and Odin would be swallowed by the giant wolf Fenrir. However, his knowledge gave him comfort as well, knowing that a new, perfect age would arise afterwards.

Odin is a perplexing character of world myth, a heroic trickster bound by fate. But was he more than this? Was he, as some Jesus Mythicists believe, the inspiration for Jesus Christ?

Let’s tear apart this hopeless boneheaded idea.

1. Creator God?

After Odin and his brothers Vili and Vey slay the frost giant Ymir, they made the world out of his body. They made plants, animals, and the first humans.

Ask, the first man, was made out of an ash tree, while Embla, the first woman, was made out of an elm tree or vine. Odin in particular gave them souls.

Jesus is likewise creator (John 1:1-3). Indeed, when he is called “Word” in a passage that talks about him creating all things (lbid), it harkens back to Genesis 1 where God creates…by speaking things into existence.

In this sense, both Jesus and Odin are creator gods, though while Odin created only some things, Jesus created ALL things.

Does the fact that both were creator gods prove that Jesus was a mythical figure based on Odin?

No.

Keep reading…

2.Born of a Virgin?

No. His parents, the god Bor or Borr and the frost giantess Bestla, had (drum roll) Sex!

Now, Bor himself seems to have been the product of a virgin birth, albeit a strange one. Buri, his father, was the first god, one whom Audhumla, the primordial cow, freed from primordial ice by licking it around him.

Right after being freed, Buri had seemingly given “birth” to Bor. This is quite similar to the birth of the frost giant Bergelmir, who was born by the six-headed frost giant Thrudgelmir. Thrudgelmir himself emerged from the feet of Ymir, the first frost giant.

More emerged from Ymir’s armpit sweat. Thrudgelmir, Bergelmir and Bor were all born by a male frost giant or god, and none of their parents had sex beforehand (they had only recently been created when they gave birth). Given the latter fact, these three births would technically qualify as virgin births. However, though Ymir is considered the mother as well as father of the frost giants, the giants who were formed out of his sweat were not born, but created. Indeed, their creation is similar to Eve’s, who was created out of Adam’s rib. In neither case is a virgin birth involved. They are created, not born. Still, as Thrudgelmir Bergelmir and Bor show us, the concept of a virgin birth was not unknown to the Norse. However, its hard to imagine a connection between these tales and that of the virgin Mary.

3. Incarnate god?

No, Odin was never a god incarnate in human flesh.

4. Son of god?

He was the son of the god Bor. Jesus was called Son of God for two reasons; his conception came about by the power of both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, not a man (Luke 1:34-35), and he was also God the Son, one of three persons within the Trinity. Long before he was born, he was God (John 1:1-3, 8:58).

5. Trinity?

No, Odin was not a person within a divine trinity. His statue, along with one of Thor and another of Freyr, were supposedly in the Temple of Uppsala, but this doesn’t mean that they were members of a trinity; it just simply means that the temple had the statue of three gods. Besides, it’s not known for a fact that such statues were inside the temple.

6. Star proclaimed his birth?

No.

7. Wise men?

No.

8. Survived a king’s purge shortly after he was born?

No.

9. Taught in the temple as a boy?

No.

10. Baptized?

No.

11. Tempted by the Devil?

No, Loki, the Norse equivalent of the Devil, didn’t tempt Odin, let alone in a wilderness.

12. Miracle worker?

All gods were, big deal.

13. Turned water into wine?

No.

14. Multiplied bread and fish?

No.

15. Walked on water?

No.

16. Healed the sick?

Among other things, Odin was the god of healing, although he is not shown healing others in the manner that Christ did in the Gospels. He did keep Mimir’s head from rotting and thus “heals” him (see below), but this isn’t really much like Jesus’ healing miracles.

17. Raised the dead?

After Mimir, one of the Aesir gods (which Odin ruled) was decapitated by the Vanir, another race of gods, Odin used herbs to keep it from rotting and magic to enable it to speak. Thus, Odin “resurrected” Mimir.

Jesus would have called that a half-butt job (Matthew 19:23-26, Luke 7:11-17, John 11:1-44).

18. Cast out Demons?

No.

19. Betrayed? For thirty pieces of silver?

Odin was betrayed, but not for 30 pieces of silver. His son Balder had been made all but invincible, which ticked Loki off. After some investigating, Loki learned of Balder’s Achilles’ heel: Mistletoe. Only it could harm Balder, the god of light. Loki therefore tricked Hodr, the blind god of darkness, into throwing some at Balder. Balder fell, dead as a doornail. Considering that Loki was a fellow god, this was a serious betrayal. However, betrayal is too broad a category for one to conclude that Odin’s myth gave rise to the story of Christ. After all, how many people have been betrayed? How many gods and heroes in world religions have been betrayed? If I get betrayed by someone, would that mean that I am a fictional character based on Jesus or Odin?

20. Crucified?

No, he was hung on the cosmic tree Yggdrasil for nine days.

True, the Bible sometimes states that Jesus was “hung” on a cross (Acts 5:30, Acts 10:39), and metaphorically calls the cross a “tree” (Acts 10:39, 13:29, 1 Peter 2:24), these are just figures of speech, not meant to be taken literally. Now, it’s true that the myth of Odin hanging on a tree predates the New Testament. Nevertheless, the myth has nothing to do with crucifixion and everything to do with sacrificial hangings. You see, sometimes the Norse would sacrifice a person by hanging them from a gallows tree. Being hanged in this way ensured that one would go to Valhalla. This is what the Vikings had in mind when they told the story of Odin hanging 9 days on the cosmic tree Yggdrasil.

Question: why would 1rst century Jews base a hypothetical fictional Christ’s crucifixion on the Norse myth of Odin hanging from a tree (and the Norse practice of sacrificial hanging)…instead of crucifixion, which they would have been at the very least FAR more familiar with?

Now, there are other similarities between the death of Odin and that of Christ, including being stabbed with a spear (Jesus was pierced by a Roman soldier’s spear after he died (John 19:34), while Odin stabbed himself with Grungir), being offered an alcoholic beverage (Jesus was offered sour wine in a sponge (Matthew 27:48, Mark 15:36, Luke 23:36, John 19:28-30) while Odin was offered Mead) and yelling before their demise. Combined with both “hanging” from a tall wooden object…their deaths seem to be quite similar…

Does this mean that the story of Christ’s crucifixion was inspired by the myth of Odin hanging on a tree?

Nope.

Keep reading…

21. Died willingly?

Yes. Though Jesus asked God to have him avoid crucifixion if it was possible, nevertheless he said “…not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42). Just like a soldier who doesn’t want to die, but dies willingly to protect his country, Jesus doesn’t want to die, but dies willingly to save mankind. Odin likewise dies willingly, but does so in order to gain wisdom, not save humanity.

22. Resurrected?

Yes, Odin did resurrect after hanging on Yggdrasil for 9 days. Unlike most supposed pagan candidates that Jesus Mythycists harp about, Odin at least resurrected himself.

A victory for Mythicists?

Um, nope.

Keep reading…

23. Rides a flying horse?

Odin rides the flying 8-legged horse Sleipnir. Sleipnir was born of a fling between Loki (while in the form of a mare) and the stallion Svadilfari.

A male god…taking the form of a mare…sleeping with a stallion.

I’ll give you a moment to process…that.

Jesus is depicted as riding a white horse which flies to the earth in Revelation 19:11-16 (compare with Revelation 1:9-18). Before we read too much into this, let’s remember that the Book of Revelation is rich in symbolism, being in the genre of apocalyptic. Its symbols are not meant to be taken literally. Nevertheless, its not impossible that Jesus will ride on a horse when he comes to fight at the Battle of Armageddon. Perhaps the horse is specially created for this, or perhaps it’s the soul of a horse that has died (Despite both Christian and Jewish doctrine, the Bible doesn’t teach that animals don’t have souls. Indeed, it implies that they do (see Ecclesiastes 3:18-21).

Is this proof that Jesus was a mythical figure borrowed from Odin?

Nope.

Keep reading…

24. Leads an army in an end times battle against the forces of evil?

In Norse mythology, Odin, while riding on Sleipnir, will one day lead an army of gods and Einherhar against Loki and an army of monsters and damned souls at the battle of Ragnarok.

Likewise, Jesus, while riding a white horse, will lead heaven’s armies (who are also riding white horses) against the forces of the Antichrist at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21).

Sounds similar?

Yes…but there are differences as well, the most important being…

…That Jesus wins his end times battle.

Odin…loses.

The gods are nearly exterminated at Ragnarok. Odin himself meets a heroic end when he faces the giant wolf Fenrir (aka Fenris), another child of Loki. Fenris is said to be so large that when he opens his horrendous mouth, his upper jaw touches the heavens, while the lower jaw touches the earth. Despite Odin’s vast powers and his mighty spear, he is swallowed by the colossal wolf.

At the end of the battle, the fire giant Surt sets all creation on fire with his magic sword, bringing about the apocalypse. This latter aspect is strikingly similar to 2 Peter 3:1-13, which describes how the earth will on day be destroyed by fire and great heat.

Makes you wonder where the Vikings got that idea from…

Jesus, however, wins the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19:11-21).

Nevertheless, does the fact that both lead an army in an end times battle against the forces of evil... prove that Jesus was a mythical figure based on Odin?

Nope.

Keep reading…

25. A New Age after his battle?

Yes. While Ragnarok is followed by the creation of a new world, the Battle of Armageddon is followed by the Millennial Reign, when Christ will reign on earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-4). After this (and another end times battle), a New Heavens and a New Earth are made (Revelation 21).

However, while Jesus will reign in both the Millennial kingdom and the New Earth, Odin will neither resurrect nor be resurrected to enjoy the new earth in Norse mythology.

So, Odin does have some interesting parallels with Christ, right? I mean, they share at least nine similarities (not all of them good ones), so there must be a connection, right?

Wrong!

As I mentioned in my previous articles on Thor and Balder, the Norse Myths were first put into print by Norse Christians in the so-called Dark Ages. Before then, the pagan Vikings had long been acquainted with Christians and Christianity. Plus, the New Testament was written in the first century AD, a few centuries before the Dark Ages started and around a thousand years before the Norse were known to put their myths to paper.

I also noted how Christian missionaries would take elements of Norse Myth and combine them with the biblical tale of creation, which helped in their missionary efforts. the Vikings themselves likewise borrowed aspects of Christianity and put it into their own faith. Indeed, Jesus was considered by the Vikings as another god to worship, alongside Odin, Thor and other homegrown favorites.

Now, to be fair, the only similarity between Jesus and Odin that seemingly wasn’t inspired by Christianity was the latter’s hanging on the cosmic tree Yggdrasil. This is because the myth predates Christianity (though not all scholars agree). Indeed, even the part where he is stabbed with a spear while hanging is possibly older than the New Testament (Odin was a spear god). However, not only is the latter idea not known for sure, but scholars note that the story, even if it is older than Christianity, was influenced by the story of Christ’s crucifixion. Even if it was originally as similar to Christ’s crucifixion as it seems in the originally written sources, this doesn’t prove that Jesus was a mythical figure based on Odin, any more than the similarities between the Titanic and the novella “Futility/Wreck of the Titan” by Morgan Robertson proves that the former was a fictional ship based on the latter (which was written 14 years before the Titanic disaster occurred), or the similarities between the sinking of the Mignonette and the novel “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket” proves that the former was a fictional story based on the latter (which was written 46 years before the Mignonette sank). True, one could simply invoke pure coincidence between the story of Christ and that of Odin without also invoking Jesus Mythicist stupidity, though as we’ve seen, scholars note that Christianity influenced Norse Mythology.

Thus, Jesus wasn’t based on Odin.

Jesus isn’t mythology.

Jesus is reality.

Jesus is Lord and Savior.

Sources:

“The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Mythology” by Arthur Cotterell and Rachel Storm, 186-87, 190-91, 199, 210, 216-17, 220, 228, 246-248, 252-53

“The Prose Edda” by Snorri Sturluson (Translated with introduction by Jesse L. Byock, ix-xiv, 11-18, 24-25, 30-32, 46-48, 50-52, 65-75, 116, 119-22

“The Poetic Edda” Translated by Lee M. Hollander, ix-x, 36-37

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/religion_01.shtml

“Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas” by H.A. Guerber, 3-7, 16-18, 22-26, 30-34, 329-37

“The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World” Documentary series by Professor Robert Garland, episode 38 (”Being a Viking Raider).

“The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World: Course Guidebook” by Professor Robert Garland, 262

https://www.ancient.eu/odin/

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Vikings_and_Their_Age/AA7YBgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Odin+Thor+Freyr+three&pg=PA102&printsec=frontcover%C2%A0

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Favorite_Norse_Myths/8ia337txkBAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Balder%2Bodin%2Bfavorite%2Bson&pg=PA5&printsec=frontcover

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Odin-Norse-deity

“The Story of Christianity: 2000 Years of Faith” by Michael Collins and Matthew A. Price, 28-29

“In the Footsteps of Jesus: A Chronicle of His Life and the Origins of Christianity” by Jean-Pierre Isbouts, 263-67

“The Portable Seminary: A Master’s Level Overview in One Volume” by David Horton (General Editor), 281

“Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary: Completely Revised, Updated and Expanded” by Chad Brand, Charles Draper and Archie England (General editors), 79-81

“Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary” by Merrill C. Tenney, General Editor, 49-50

https://sirtravisjacksonoftexas.tumblr.com/post/628627120722198529/was-jesus-a-mythical-figure-based-on-the-norse-god

https://sirtravisjacksonoftexas.tumblr.com/post/629088091319255040/is-jesus-a-mythical-figure-based-on-the-norse-god

https://sirtravisjacksonoftexas.tumblr.com/post/628113211750776832/do-supposed-parallels-between-the-gospels-and

“Encyclopedia of the Gods: Over 2,500 Deities of the World” by Michael Jordan, 196-97

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