Team Members: 

Daniel Ruiz – Graduate

Queue:  Guests leave behind a small Viking village in medieval Scandinavia and enter the long home of the village’s oldest member and keeper of Viking history. Passing along weapons, paintings, clothing, and pieces of armory brought back from past battles as Nordic war tunes made from woodwind instruments fill the air.A fire pit at the center of the house, where meat hangs to cook, provides some light as the guests walk to the back.

Scene One/Pre-Show: Waiting in the back is Unleog the Storykeeper, an older man with greasy long silver hair, dirt on his skin, scars along his arms, and a cloak made of fur wrapped around him to keep him warm during the harsh winters. His eyes are glossed, telling the guests of his blindness, but those in the village know although he cannot see he still knows all. “Ahh, visitors,” he begins “come to hear the story of Odin?” Behind him, a large framed painting of some kind of battle begins to move as Unleog speaks. “The All-Father was the god of many things, including the God of War. Many stories over the years have proven his godliness but among them all, the story of Ivar Modig has been told the most…” Unleog continues to explain who Ivar is and what he was famed for as the painting behind him continued to move and change its artwork based on his spoken words “But let me not just say his story with words,” he gives a slight smile as thunder claps outside the home “ah Thor speaks…exit my home and you will find ships waiting for you along the water’s edge, journey down and you will experience the tale of Ivar Modig, the Viking who protected Earth by saving Heaven.”

Scene Two/Load: The guests walk out of the back of the long home and make their way to a water bank where smaller-scaled Viking warships rock awaiting their boarding. Shipmates help the guests to their seats and once boarded, a loud horn is blown. From the sides of the ship, oars begin to rise and move causing the ship to begin its journey down the river. Fog hides the path ahead and a strong deep voice begins to echo around “Have you come to hear the tale of the Vikings?” A raven flies above the ship “and how one among them saved both Midgard and Asgard alike.” The fog begins to clear and on the shores of the river the raven calls out catching the attention of the guests aboard. They notice the bird sitting on the shoulder of an older man, his head hung low, with war-torn clothing and a large branch to help keep his balance. He lifts his head as the ship reaches past him, covering his left eye with a gold metal patch that twinkles. Odin. “But be warned, for the journey that lies ahead is filled with dangers around every corner.”

Scene Three: Down the river the ship leads to the mouth of a cave, dark and damp the guests onboard are filled with both confusion and curiosity. Quickly, bright lights come on and a pastel landscape made up of hills and long homes, filled with tinny Viking puppets, appears as they begin to sing an obnoxious little tune. The cringe-worthy scene goes on, puppets continue to sing and dance, and the guests know they won’t be able to keep the irritable tune from getting stuck in their heads. “The Life of a Viking, the Wonderful Life of a Viking….” Just as the guests think the children’s style song couldn’t get any more annoying and the puppets any creepier, a bright flash appears followed by the sound of an explosion and pieces of puppets flying everywhere as crazed Vikings come in shouting, waving their weapons in the air.

Scene Four: Safely making their way out of the exploding invasion, and semi-glad that the song is now over, the guests find themselves in the middle of a full-on Viking Invasion of an English settlement. Vikings and English warriors fight, as tents and English flags burn all around. The guests begin to question if they are safe on the ship, but in the middle Odin hides in plain sight reassuring their ship is protected from any dangers. Arrows are shot in the air as lightning crackles in the sky above, the Vikings shout with great spits knowing the Gods are on their side.

Scene Five: Soft music from wind instruments slowly play as the ship continues its way down the water and transitions from an invasion to an aftermath. Vikings drink pints of mead, as some lay on the ground from having a little too much of it. A few flirt with spared English women, and large animals sit over a fire roasting, as Odin watches from afar. “Look just over near the great fire, there you will find Ivar Modig.” Standing just where the guests were told, a tall man with muscular features, a great beard, and long brown hair with a few strands tied in braids to match his beard, wears a mix of battle armor and animal skin just as others sit around him to praise in their victory. “Today,” he announces, “is a grand victory not just for us, not just for our people, but for Asgard as well!” The crowd cheers “and tomorrow we begin our voyage home to rejoin with our families and celebrate together!” The guests on the ship share a sense of pride with the Vikings, excited to see where the journey will continue…which currently is the inside of Ivar’s sleeping tent where Ivar is, well, sleeping. Instantly, however, the little light provided is snuffed out and all around the voices of three different women begin to speak in unison. “Ivar Modig,” they announce, “you begin your journey home, but unknown to you there will be no one left to go to,” they cackle in evil, “the Gods will not be able to help you, and soon all the realms will fall.” Within the darkness three figures of smoke appear, two on either side of the guests and the other floating above, revealing who has been speaking in the dark, Volvas, Norse Witches. The ship passes through the one at the front, “at the hands of Surtr, the first of the fire giants to emerge from the realm of fire” loud banging of war drums begins to play as flames ignite along the edges of the water, the guests can feel the heat on their skin but are too preoccupied to notice as in front of them in the sky a giant constellation forms to reveal the figure of a monstrous entity with horns on their head and claws for hands. Surtr. The Volvas’ laughs echo once more as once again the lights go out and slowly torches come back to life, a breathless Modig sits up in his cot within his tent awoken by the nightmare everyone experienced.

Scene Six: Just outside of the tent smoke from dying fires whisps in the air, some Vikings gather weapons and battle souvenirs as the ship, on which they came, prepares to set sail.  The ship’s long wooden frame resembles the body of a fierce dragon, with the head carved at the bow detailed with a split tongue sticking out from its mouth. Shields mount the sides of the ship while one single, yet immensely large sail drops down, painted with red and white stripes. Modig shouts “Forward.” Alongside the guests the Viking ship begins to go down the open waters, giving the guests a sense of inclusion with the Vikings. Down the sea, the opening of a mountain cavern appears, fog and darkness looming from within, but with no way around the only way is through. Both Guests and Modig’s ships continue on, the fog slowly surrounding the vessels, an eerie feeling climbing over the guests. Echoing within the mountains laughter from the Volvas. “Come to see his rise?” One of them appears standing on a cliff. “His body of heat, his eyes of fury,” another appears. “And soon all that will be left will be nothing but ash and ruin,” the last Volva appears. “Weapons at the ready,” Modig calls from his ship. “Now rise, rise Sutr, RISE,” all thee in unison shout and instantly the Earth begins to rumble, the oceans waves hit the side of the ships with great ferocity some guests begin to worry they might flip over. From the mountain peaks cracks begin to open as molten lava escapes and slides down the mountain side. From one side of the mountain it seems as though two eyes are slowly opening, awakening from a deep slumber, its piercing golden gaze made up of pure heat stares right as the ships as Surtr begins to come alive. “ODIN HEAR MY PRAYER,” Modig shouts and soon everything goes dark and silent.

Scene Seven: “Odin but I am a humble warrior, chief, and great leader in battle. Modig’s words are spoken in the darkness. The guests ship continues on and it seems that they have made their way onto Modig’s ship as one singular point of light points at him, one knee on the ground, battle axe on his side for balance. “Odin hear my call, your help with that of the Gods of Asgard is needed on this day.” For a moment it seems as though Modig’s words are only being heard by those near him, that is until another point of light appears. Odin steps forth with a cape made of gold, a breastplate of bronze, and a deep black raven on his shoulder. “My boy,” he begins, “It is you alone who must defeat Surtr.” Odin continues to explain who the fiery giant is and how it is Surtr who will bring the end to all 9 realms and begin the dawn of Ragnarök. “It was the God Frery who was destined to defeat the giant but foolishly went into battle weaponless and thus was slain,” Odin explains “But you must take his weapon, the sword of Frery, and stop Surtr before he destroys the 9 realms, take the sword, and prevent Ragnarök. One fatal blow with it and the giant’s inferno will die out.”

Scene Eight: Light appears again, Odin is gone, and the guests are beside the ship again. In front, however, a monstrous giant stands before them with horns of iron, a beard of lava, and skin made of volcanic rock. Surtr roars and the guests shake in anticipation of Modig to do as Odin said. Arrows fly from the ship, but barely damage the giant, in fact, it seems to only tickle him as he laughs in a cocky manner. Roaring, the monster slashes its molten blade down, pushing the water to thrust the guest’s ship forward and through the giant’s legs. The ship spins to face the giant who turns around and is ready for a second blow. In the water, Vikings who fell off the side of their ship swim away for safety or towards their ship to fight back. Modig jumps to the port of his ship, sword in hand “Surtr,” he shouts, “this may be your beginning, but it is also your end!” The guest’s eyes widen as they watch Modig jump, sword forward, and land right at the giant’s chest. Instantly the heat in the air begins to cool, as Modig slides down the middle of the Surtr, holding on to the sword as it cuts open a deep gash in the middle of the giant’s body.

Scene Nine: Its cold body now lies in the middle of the ocean, its molten lava begining to cool, its eyes are closed as its rocky structure now creates a new mountain range. The guests watch as Modig stands near the giant’s once-furious face and plants the sword on the ground. “Thank the Gods, Thank Odin.” A raven appears and flies around the guests, they watch to see it land on Odin’s shoulder who stands tall and now seems a few feet taller. He nods graciously and leads a gentle hand toward a set of golden doors which seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. The doors open, and a bright light shines through as angelic music slowly comes to life.

Scene 10: “Welcome,” Odin speaks with a voice that is so loud it can be heard for miles, “to Asgard.” As the guest’s eyes adjust from the sudden brightness, they widen at the beauty surrounding them. Doves fly around and gardens are made up of some of the most colorful trees with waterfalls coming from the sky. Marbled and gold buildings float around, as Gods and Goddesses seem to float on around Asgard. The ship passes through an archway of statues of some of the more prominent gods from Odin and Thor to Frigg and Balder. Guests point at Valkyries who sit guard on their winged horses, who nod at the guests as they pass. The water which carries the ship flickers and shimmers as it changes colors from red and orange, yellow and green, and even blue and indigo. Up ahead a group made of a few Gods and Goddess stand watching as the guests get closer. They wave as the ship passes by and out through another set of golden doors where the guests are coming back to where they started, the village where Unleog lives. “Now that you know the story of Modig and have seen the heavens yourself,” Odin stands at the edge of the waters but as the ship passes his shape changes and it revealed he and Unleog are the same person “Pass along the story, and who knows maybe the Gods will be needing your help.”

Unload: We leave Unleog behind and return to the village where the guests are assisted off their ship and led back to explore more of the Viking’s stories.