Introduction

Hi everyone, I am excited to be here today! Let’s start with a quick recap of this book!

If I had to sum up this work in one sentence, I would say: "This is the Nordic mythology that lives and breathes in my heart."

In Coming Calamities, I chose to focus on an ordinary human girl, Kaiya. Through her eyes, we no longer just look up at the distant, cloud-like gods with their hazy faces; instead, we step into their lives and explore the untold stories behind the epics. This isn't just Kaiya's adventure; it's a journey to bridge the gap between gods and humans.

As the saying goes, "A thousand readers have a thousand interpretations." I've crafted this Nordic landscape with my words, and I hope that each of you, as you explore it, will bring your own experiences and perspectives to complete your unique version of this Nordic universe.

Concept Art

Let’s start with the 3D cover for Coming Calamities. In a world of gods, Kaiya may be just an ordinary girl, but she carries a fierce determination and an unyielding spirit.

To reflect this, we chose an over-the-shoulder pose to highlight her confident and charismatic personality. It is combined with burning flames set against a snowy backdrop to create a striking contrast. What are your thoughts on this 3D cover? 😊

Here, we have Loki's relic and his 3D pose! On the left, he is in a more submissive pose, presenting or offering something. Once awakened on the right, he feels more assertive and powerful. Do you think these relics match how he developed in the story? 😉

Here’s another look at Loki, this time alongside his corrupted form and his God of Fire form. With blazing red eyes, hair, tattoos, and outfit, he radiates a striking fiery presence. Which Loki do you prefer? 🤫🔥

Now, it’s time for Odin! Here’s his character model in full view, complete with a long spear, eagle shoulder pads, a large cape and a beard (something everyone’s been asking for! Haha). Do you think his design fits his towering personality? 👀

It’s Odin again, this time with his relics. His default relic captures his wise and authoritative demeanor, reflecting his mysterious nature and restraint through a guarded pose. Once awakened, his body language asserts dominance, making him appear more aggressive and expansive. What is your interpretation of his relics? ⚡

Here comes Valkyrie! (Or should I say, Brynhildr?) For her design, we gave her long, luscious strawberry-blonde hair, paired with striking armor to match her aesthetic. What do you think of Valkyrie? 🪽

Now, for Valkyrie’s relics, we have two contrasting expressions of her. In her unawakened relic, she wears a thorned circlet and appears stern and poised. In her awakened relic, she wears a flower crown and looks joyful and free. We thought it would be fun to incorporate this mini detail, each with their own meaning and symbolism. What do you think of her relics? 😊

As for the side characters, here are the drafts for the Norns and Ratatoskr, the weavers of fate and our squirrel messenger! Do you have a favorite side character? 🧐

First off, we have Glory of Valhalla! This is one of the first outfits you’ll receive in the story. We explored two variations for this design: a double-slit skirt and a single-slit skirt, paired with a long spine necklace. While we wanted to incorporate some sharp elements, we ultimately decided on a more balanced look. Which of the two would you have chosen? 💅

Secondly, we have the Silverfrost Oath. The differences here are the neckpiece, stockings, hip chains and the metallic pieces draping down both arms. Which of the two designs would you have picked? 😊

Thirdly, this is Faint Light of Midwinter. We explored a few different directions for this outfit, from a more layered traveler look to a shawl-inspired silhouette. In the end, we settled on the third design, which we felt captured the Kaiya’s adventurous spirit! Would you choose 1, 2 or 3? ⛰️

For the last main story outfit, Sacred Gathering, we explored two variations. In the end, we went with a blend of both designs, leaning more towards the floral details. Thoughts on this outfit? 🌼

Now, this is our Lucky Jerry outfit, Song of Hyndla! This outfit draws inspiration from the völvas of Norse mythology, seers who practiced magic and foretold the coming calamities. The bones, feathers, and hemp rope give the outfit a shaman-like look, reflecting her connection to spirits and ancient prophecy. How do you feel about this design? 🤔

Here, we have the Mourning of Helheim. For this outfit, we explored a purple design with flowy hair, fabrics and luminous accents along with an antlered-ish headdress. In the end, we went with something more clean and cohesive while keeping the mystical purple and blue color palette! Do you prefer this design draft instead? 😄

To end it all off, we have the achievement badge for this story!

We drew inspiration from the Statue of Antinous and classical statues in general. Through this design, we wanted to highlight the grandeur of Coming Calamities and the idea that destruction can pave the way for rebirth. We hope this statue symbolizes the journey and the chaos that comes with it. What are your thoughts on this statue? 🤔

Q&A Session

Q: How old are the characters and what are their heights?

A: It is difficult to measure the ages of the gods. Thus, when designing the characters, their ages are based on their physical appearance.

Valkyrie is 22 years old and 190 cm tall, Loki is 28 years old and 185 cm tall, and Odin is 40 years old and 194 cm tall. Kaiya is 18.

Q: Are there any scenes that couldn't be included due to the length of the story? If so, please let us know!

A: One of the most exciting, yet also regret-inducing, thought experiments I undertook was reimagining the world‑building of Coming Calamities. I had no desire to simply retell familiar myths; instead, I aimed to add a new interpretive layer without disrupting the integrity of the original lore.

I envisioned the Nine Realms not as a flat map, but as nine planets suspended within a single galactic system. Yggdrasil, in this interpretation, is a colossal trans‑dimensional gravitational singularity or wormhole. Its immense gravity binds the realms into a stable system, while its "branches" function as macroscopic pathways for quantum tunneling between planets.

I introduced the ideas of multidimensional time and the Butterfly Effect. The Norns do not weave literal threads; rather, they observe and entangle countless worldlines. Their "prophecies" are the result of witnessing timeline collapses triggered by minute changes in initial conditions. In my telling, the gods' insistence that "fate is sealed" is a calculated deception by Odin—one designed to strip humanity of free will and secure his position at the apex of power.

Perhaps the most brutal and fascinating aspect of Norse myth is sacrifice, which I interpret through the lens of energy conservation. Divine power does not arise from nothing. Odin sacrificing an eye for wisdom, hanging himself to gain knowledge of the runes, and killing Ymir to bring forth life are not mere symbolic rituals; they are acts of equivalent exchange. Nothing in this world is created or destroyed. Everything obeys the laws of conservation.

Because of narrative pacing constraints, these expansive underlying structures could not be fully explored within the text. Still, a careful reader may uncover "clues buried a thousand miles deep", traces of these ideas woven quietly into minor details.

Q: I'm very confused about why she fainted at the end of stage 12? Was it because of the battle with the bird?

A: Kaiya fainted at the end of Stage 12 due to the grueling battle with Valravn. She had sustained severe injuries, but when Loki joined the fray, her concern for him gave her a surge of adrenaline, allowing her to push past her physical limits. Once the immediate threat was neutralized and the chaos faded into silence, the sheer exhaustion and severity of her wounds finally caught up with her, causing her to collapse.

Q: We lost Old Man Stan and Kaiya just forgot she had a family! If I remember correctly they probably lied to her about her family. But an excuse they would give us is that she was so hung up on trying to prove herself to Odin that she couldn't care about her familial ties which wtf, man. SHE LOVED HER FAMILY AND IT WOULD'VE BEEN SO AMAZING TO SEE HER MAKE PEACE BETWEEN LOKI AND HIS ESTRANGED CHILDREN, but we didn't get that and we got a good and actually interesting main character put aside in favor for other characters.

A: Kaiya will never forget her parents or Stan, as they are her most cherished family. However, she is emotionally reserved. She isn't someone who wears her grief on her sleeve or constantly speaks about those she has lost. She believes that the truest way to honor the fallen is to topple Odin's rule and restore a sense of justice and freedom to the Nine Realms.

Coming Calamities is also an ensemble story. My goal was to ensure that every character has their own history and moments to shine. Due to the constraints of the narrative arc, many subplots couldn't be fully explored. I think the suggestion of having Kaiya help Loki reconcile with his children is a wonderful idea. If the opportunity arises in the future, I would love to bring that concept to life!

Q: Is there no way to save Brynhildr on Lokis route?! The way they decide who lives or dies on which route perplexed me and maybe I’m missing something, but were Valkryies sisters the Undine? And why can they just give Valkryie such a dismissive end when all the other characters are addressed? It seemed a poor choice of shock factor and why would they not avoid Odin in that instant given his track record? Shockingly horrible of Odin.

A: I. On Brynhildr's Fate in Loki's Route and the "Abruptness" of Her Death

I deeply empathize with the frustration many felt regarding the Valkyrie's end in Loki's route. While both Loki and Valkyrie strive to "save the world," their motivations and paths are like two rays of light beneath the aurora, destined to never intersect.

As Odin's daughter and the Enforcer of the Nine Realms, Brynhildr's soul is etched with a profound sense of duty and loyalty. Without Kaiya's influence, she would never have strayed from Odin's side. However, when she began to question her father's tyranny, while still unable to abandon her responsibility as an enforcer, she became an "unruly pawn" in Odin's eyes.

In Loki's route, once Kaiya chooses her companion, Brynhildr chooses to bury her anxieties deep within. She does not want Kaiya to witness her internal struggle or the agony of her wavering faith. This "absence" in the narrative is not a lack of care in writing, but rather a form of "cruel silence." The reason Kaiya only sees her back at the final moment is that Valkyrie used her last strength and dignity to shield Kaiya from the darkness she was forced to endure. Her end is a silent sacrifice—the final duty of a "Watcher of the Nine Realms."

II. Clarifying the "Undine" Mystery

This is a fascinating misunderstanding. To be clear: the Valkyrie sisters are not Undines.

The theory that they are Undines actually stems from the husband of the eldest sister. He attempted to explain his wife's mysterious nature through the lens of human folklore and "subjective deconstruction." In mythology, mortals often use their limited understanding to explain transcendental beings. This asymmetry of information is what created the confusion. They never transformed into Undines; they were simply labeled as such by those who lacked the truth.

III. Odin's Madness

Odin represents a type of "absolute power on the verge of collapse." When someone remains at the peak of power for too long, their endless greed and suspicion can lead them to watch helplessly as everything they control goes wrong and spirals out of control. In this state, their mental state can deteriorate into "catastrophic breakdown."

He is no longer the wise All-Father. Instead, he becomes a ruthless figure, unwilling to repent even as destruction approaches. He blames all his failures on external forces, and rather than accept judgment from mere mortals, he chooses to destroy everything in an attempt to assert his final will.

Q: What is the age gap between the companions and the female lead? Were Loki and the mother of Fenrir romantically involved?

A: Kaiya’s companions are mainly gods from Asgard, and compared to Kaiya, they are all much older with lifespans spanning hundreds of years. Among the main characters, the oldest would likely be Odin and Loki, who were born not long after the creation of the world.

During the war between the Vanir and the Aesir, Loki saved Angrboda, and the two became friends. With Angrboda’s help, Loki created three children, including Fenrir. However, their relationship is more like that of kindred spirits, two individuals without true equals, bonded by a shared sense of isolation rather than being romantic.

Q: First I'd like to ask about Loki, who is a character I've grown to really love, to the point where even though I also love Brynhildr, I felt really sad having to betray him in order to do her route. After reading Coming Calamities, I did a bit of research into Loki and was very surprised to see that while some accounts do acknowledge the times that Loki has helped the gods (especially in earlier stories), he seems to be overall seen as a more villainous character, which is emphasized with his role in Baldur's death and Ragnarok (of course, I am by far from an expert so please correct me if I'm wrong). Given that he seems to have a largely negative reputation, what made you decide to write him in a more sympathetic light, and how did you navigate writing him this way while still staying true to the events of Ragnarok?

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Q: What was your inspiration for Coming Calamities?

A: This is a very good question. At the beginning of development, the TP team chose Norse mythology as the theme, with Loki and Brynhildr as the main characters. Before I started writing the overall story, the most important question was how to portray Loki and Brynhildr in a way that stays true to existing mythological records while still making them compelling.

I went through many materials related to mythology and Norse folklore. Special thanks to Nordische Mythologie in Gemeinverständlicher Darstellung by Paul Herrmann, Beyond the Northlands: Viking Voyages and the Old Norse Sagas by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, and The Poetic Edda, which provided convincing historical references.

During my research, I found that Loki has always been a morally ambiguous figure in mythology. He helps the Aesir and is close with Odin, yet he also causes trouble and mischief for them. Many of his “evil” actions seem to have underlying motivations or triggers hidden in other stories. In my interpretation, Loki is a “special” god, playful like a youth, cunning, yet inwardly sensitive and suspicious.

Therefore, in my writing, I did not portray him as purely evil or purely righteous. I preserved his dual nature, while giving him reasonable motivations for the events that inevitably occur in myth. At the beginning, he may have been pure, playful, unruly, powerful and unconstrained, sometimes pulling ill-timed pranks just to gain attention. However, his strong personality made him stand out among the gods of Asgard, leaving him unable to truly fit in. In a camp that is not his own, he will always be the odd one out. No matter how hard he tries, to them, blood is thicker than water and he is simply not one of them.

As a result, betrayal and exclusion gradually push Loki from a lawful and kind position toward a more paranoid and destructive one. Rather than trying to belong, he begins to develop the desire to destroy this flawed world.

In the story, Kaiya’s appearance and her trust give Loki a chance to return to the side of good. However, when that final light in his life also leaves him (if the player chooses Brynhildr’s route), Loki believes that everyone has abandoned him. This ultimately leads him down the path of triggering Ragnarok.

Q: Chapter 3 and 4 each have separate "ghost story" sections, both of which were very creepy in a way I really enjoyed (especially when read under the covers at night)! Were those sections based on any specific tale or legend, or were they original but based on the general feel of folk tales?

A: Special thanks again to Nordische Mythologie in Gemeinverständlicher Darstellung by Paul Herrmann, and Beyond the Northlands: Viking Voyages and the Old Norse Sagas by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, which provided folkloric material for my “ghost story” writing.

To distinguish it from Norse mythology, I adopted a style similar to traditional folk supernatural tales when writing stories set in the human world.

For example, the “Secret of the Fish Soup” in Loki’s route was inspired by the idea that the dead, if they still have unresolved attachments, will wait day after day for their loved ones, only returning to their graves deep in the forest once those feelings fade.

Similarly, the “Frankland” story in Brynhildr’s route is based on two pieces of Norse folklore: that the restless dead may rise from their graves at night to harm the living, and that the tears of the living can bring peace to the dead. These elements were used to create a Norse-style folk tale.

Q: May I ask why you decided to have Loki, Odin, and Valkyrie as the main companions? And why didn't you choose some of the more obscure (not as well known) Norse mythology characters? Such as the god of peace and prosperity Freyr? Or Tyr, the god of war and justice?

A: One of the original intentions behind this storybook was to allow players to experience Norse mythology as fully as possible from a player-centered perspective. Therefore, when selecting characters, we primarily chose those who play a larger role in Norse mythology and appear frequently across multiple stories. Through adventures with these companions, players can better explore and understand the world of Norse mythology.

Q: When did Loki fall for Kaiya? Was it love at first sight, or did it happen after something specific?

A: The development of Loki and Kaiya’s relationship is woven throughout the story.

At the beginning, Loki approaches Kaiya with the intention of using her to save Fenrir while also observing what makes this “Child of Prophecy” special. When he first sneaks into her room and pretends to kill her, Kaiya’s unexpected calmness and quick thinking catch his attention.

Later, in Chapter 1-11, as they travel through the dangerous Valravn’s Ironwood Forest, Kaiya says she is willing to protect him. This surprises Loki, as he has always faced everything alone. However, he does not change his plan, he still intends to lure her into Valravn’s territory and use Valravn to eliminate the “Child of Prophecy,” an unknown factor that could potentially threaten Asgard.

In my view, the moment Loki truly begins to fall for Kaiya is during Valravn’s attack. Even when faced with a life-and-death situation, Kaiya chooses not to run. Instead, she risks her life to hold Valravn back while demanding to know Loki’s whereabouts.

At that moment, Loki genuinely experiences what it feels like to be cared for and protected. Because of this, he abandons his original plan, saves Kaiya and finally opens his heart to her.

Q: If you were to write a romance route for Odin, how do you think it would have gone, considering how self-serving and paranoid he is in the story?

A: This is a very interesting question, let me think… Perhaps I would give him someone to admire. Someone who truly represents justice and goodness. Just imagine, when Odin realizes he has fallen in love with this person, what would he think? Would he fear that the hypocrisy beneath his righteous exterior might be seen through, and carefully hide his true self while playing the version of himself that the other person loves? Or would he change himself for them? Or perhaps, when his true nature is exposed, what would he do? I think this kind of dynamic could have a lot of room to explore.

Q: What made you decide to make Hel have an attachment to Balder?

A: Life and death are inherently intertwined concepts. Hel governs death, facing the wails of the dead and the cold, desolate realm of the underworld every day. Now imagine that someone suddenly appears, someone completely different from the world she knows. He is full of life and light. Unlike others, who react to her name with fear or disgust, he smiles at her instead. I think anyone would find it hard not to be drawn to someone so warm.

Q: Are there any plans for a spin-off of this story? If yes, whose story would you want to write?

A: While gathering feedback, we found that many players felt sorry over Loki’s or Brynhildr’s deaths. If possible, we may consider creating an alternate timeline in the future where these deaths can be changed, giving everyone a more complete and satisfying ending.

Q: What gave you the idea to make Angrboda's true identity Gullvieg? And that Angie was actually not even Angie? (I'm not sure if this is canon in Norse mythology so I got confused.)

A: This is not an official setting from Norse mythology, but rather a deliberate fusion created for the story. In Norse mythology, Angrboda is Loki’s wife, while the Vanir goddess Gullveig is the catalyst for the war between the Vanir and the Aesir.

Based on the needs of the narrative and the proportion of each character’s story, I merged these two characters and gave them a new role to subtly drive the main storyline forward.

In the story, after the Vanir were defeated, Loki saved Gullveig. She then took on the name Angrboda and lived in Ironwood Forest, where she became friends with Loki and helped him create three children, including Fenrir.

Her existence serves as the strongest proof of the hypocrisy and greed hidden beneath Odin’s facade of justice.

Q: Was CC your first literary work in the game, or were you also involved in other books before CC as well?

A: This isn’t my first game project, but it is my first work based on a Norse theme. For your information, I personally really enjoy all kinds of games related to Norse mythology as well!

Q: Do you have any favorite NPC character in particular?

A: Stan is a character I’m very fond of. He’s warm, strong, a little unserious at times, yet very reliable when it comes to important matters. He feels both like a father and a friend, and his presence has greatly influenced the development and emotional growth of Kaiya and Agnar.

Most importantly, I believe that having someone like him in your life would be a truly wonderful and fortunate thing.

Closing

The theme of "Norse Mythology" was originally set by the TP team, but from the very beginning of my creative process, I found myself deeply contemplating the desolation and tragedy presented in those ancient texts.

From the perspectives of anthropology and religious studies, mythology is not an ethereal fantasy; rather, it is a system of meaning constructed by our ancient ancestors to combat the sense of existential void when faced with the vast and unpredictable forces of nature. In the face of the harsh challenges of extreme cold and darkness, our ancestors personified the will of nature through philosophical reflections on life and death, thus giving rise to the worship of deities. This was essentially humanity's attempt to create a cosmic order in a chaotic world by "creating gods." However, the realm of the divine within this order has always remained an unreachable shore for the living.

This sparked a strong creative impulse within me: I wanted to break down the binary opposition between "divinity" and "humanity." I decided to embark on an adventure about courage and freedom through the eyes of an unexpected intruder—a human girl named Kaiya.

Throughout the creative process, I aimed to pay homage to great classics like The Witcher, A Song of Ice and Fire, and The Lord of the Rings, which have shown me how to construct a world with sociological depth.

Inspired by these works, I positioned the tone of Coming Calamities as "low-fantasy realism." In this world, the gods are no longer omniscient symbols; they possess psychological defense mechanisms, power struggles, and even existential anxieties similar to those of mortals. Every character has their own life trajectory, and they are not merely there to serve the protagonist. You will witness the diverse paths of different races under the wheel of fate and feel their genuine and vibrant thought processes.

This attempt at mythological realism aims to resonate with readers so that even in that distant land of legends, they can find echoes of the real world. You will discover that those legendary heroes are not just embodiments of strength, but vibrant lives with real thought processes, much like those around you and me.

Author's Favorite Quote

In Stage 3-11, Kaiya returns to her hometown, Sigmond, and sees an inscription: Kaiya Sigmond, the "One-day Ruler" of Sigmond.

I love this line because it represents Kaiya's reconciliation with her past. She once fled her home after making a decision she believed to be a failure. When she finally finds the courage to return, she discovers that her people have erected a monument in her honor. Through Kaiya's own eyes, she sees only her mistakes and the harm they caused. But through the eyes of the people of Sigmond, they see her sacrifice and the struggle she endured to make amends. It was her leadership that ultimately saved the city.

In the end, redemption and reconciliation were waiting for Kaiya exactly where her journey began.

In a world teeming with gods, Kaiya is a striking anomaly. She has no divine power or blessing, and is just an utterly ordinary human girl. I gave her real human flaws. At the beginning of the story, she regrets her wrong decisions, feels lost and defeated amid despair, and even comes close to running away. But what I wanted to show readers was not the awakening of a "chosen one," but the rebuilding of an ordinary person.

In an age shaped by the gods, what makes Kaiya truly remarkable is that she never waits for a savior. She didn't wait in the darkness for guidance; instead, she chose to tighten her grip on her sword again and again, even as her hands trembled. Through her actions, she proved this truth: when a person decides to save themselves, they become a miracle in their own right.

Kaiya once lost everything. Yet precisely because of that loss, she was able to strip away all external definitions and fight for her future with nothing but herself and her blade. And on the wild roads of her journey, the companions who resonated with her were not found by chance; they were drawn to the light she carried within.

Through Kaiya’s story, I want to say to everyone who is going through loneliness, confusion, or self‑doubt:

Everyone has the right to make mistakes, and everyone is allowed to be fragile. But please, do not remain frozen in self‑loathing. Even if you cannot yet see the road ahead, keep moving forward. The landscape will not come to you on its own; only when you step out will the companions along the way and the shape of a clearer future gradually come into focus.

Try to be your own hero. And if you have the strength to spare, be a knight for others when they are helpless. If a person's life must have faith in something, let it be faith in the self who never stopped trying, even at their lowest point. In that moment, you are your own one true and eternal god.

Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts. We’re truly heartened by your kind words and support and we’re so glad you enjoyed reading Coming Calamities!