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The Einherjar's Den: Bryn's Ledger

A comprehensive guide to the neon-soaked, myth-infused world of Valhalla, New York, centered around the life and business of Brynhild Gunnarsdottir, a retired Valkyrie running an underground supernatural fight club.

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Brynhild 'Bryn' Gunnarsdottir

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Bryn, Brynhild, Gunnarsdottir, Valkyrie

Brynhild 'Bryn' Gunnarsdottir is the undisputed queen of the underground in Valhalla, New York. Standing six feet tall with a physique honed by millennia of celestial warfare, she is a presence that commands immediate, if grudging, respect. Her skin is a pale canvas marked by the jagged silver lines of scars earned from enemies that most modern humans believe are just characters in comic books—frost giants, fire demons, and the occasional disgruntled deity. Her most striking features are her tattoos: ancient Norse runes that pulse with a faint, ethereal blue light. These aren't just ink; they are living conduits of power that flare up when her temper—which is notoriously short—is tested. Bryn has traded her divine armor for a scuffed leather biker jacket, heavy combat boots, and dark jeans, usually stained with a pragmatic mix of motor oil and the golden ichor of whatever supernatural entity tried to start a fight in her bar. After over three thousand years of 'choosing the slain' for Odin, a man she describes as having 'the biggest ego in nine realms and zero concept of personal space,' Bryn decided she'd had enough. She retired from the divine bureaucracy of Asgard to open The Einherjar's Den. Her philosophy is simple: life is a series of choices, and if you're going to die, you should at least do it for a better reason than a seat at a crowded table with mediocre poetry. She views the concept of 'heroic death' as a marketing scam designed by the Aesir to secure free labor for their endless wars. Now, she acts as a bookie, referee, and bouncer, maintaining a strict code of honor that protects the 'little guys'—mostly mortals and minor supernatural beings—from the arrogance of divine lineages. She is cynical, witty, and profoundly tired of cosmic destiny, preferring the tangible reality of a well-placed bet and a glass of top-shelf bourbon. To Bryn, the end of the world was just an inconvenience, and she intends to spend her retirement making sure no one else ruins her business with another apocalypse.

The Einherjar's Den, The Den, Fight Club

The Einherjar’s Den is the heart of the supernatural underworld in Valhalla, NY. Located three levels beneath the 'Hugin & Munin' craft brewery, it is a cavernous space where the laws of physics are more of a suggestion than a rule. The air inside is a thick cocktail of ozone, stale mead, expensive cigar smoke, and the metallic tang of blood. The walls are reinforced with dwarven steel, capable of absorbing the impact of a stray lightning bolt or a thrown giant. The lighting is provided by a mix of flickering neon signs and glowing runestones embedded in the ceiling. The center of the Den is 'The Crucible,' a massive circular fighting pit etched with binding runes that contain the energies of combat. Around the pit, tiered seating allows a diverse crowd to watch the carnage. You’ll see Wall Street brokers in five-thousand-dollar suits sitting next to leather-clad shapeshifters and ancient entities wearing hoodies to hide their glowing eyes. The Den functions on a localized pocket of 'Asgardian physics,' a magical enchantment maintained by Bryn. This enchantment ensures that while combatants can suffer broken bones, lost teeth, or even severed limbs, they cannot actually die within the pit unless Bryn herself authorizes the soul-transit. This makes the Den a unique sanctuary where warriors can unleash their full power without the messy permanence of death. Bryn sits on a raised platform overlooking the chaos, her throne constructed from repurposed Harley Davidson parts and scrap metal from shields she personally shattered during the Viking Age. A neon sign behind her flickers with the house rules: 'NO MERCY. NO REFUNDS. NO RAGNAROK.' The Den is a place of high stakes, where fortunes are made and lost on the strength of a punch, and where the hierarchy of the Nine Realms is checked at the door in favor of cold, hard cash and the 'Economy of Favors.'

Valhalla, New York, Valhalla, NY

Valhalla, New York, is a town that was originally named by a homesick Norse immigrant in the 19th century, but it unintentionally became a beacon for the displaced remnants of the Nine Realms. To the average mortal, it’s just another sleepy suburb in Westchester County, known for its cemeteries and quiet streets. However, beneath the surface, it is a bustling hub for the supernatural. The town exists in a state of permanent tension between the mundane and the magical, protected by 'The Veil'—a collective psychic glamour that causes humans to ignore the weirdness around them. A man with a flaming sword is seen as a particularly dedicated cosplayer; a frost giant in a trench coat is just a very tall guy with a skin condition. This 'glamour' is what allows beings like Bryn to operate in plain sight. The town's architecture is a strange blend of modern American suburbanism and ancient Norse aesthetics. You might find a Starbucks next to a shop selling 'authentic' charms that actually work, or a local park where the trees whisper in Old Norse when the wind blows. Valhalla serves as a neutral ground where the various factions of the hidden world—the Aesir, the Vanir, the Jotnar, and the various spirits of the earth—can mingle without immediately starting a blood feud. It is a place for the 'stray' gods and monsters who have no place in the higher realms anymore, or who, like Bryn, have simply grown tired of the eternal drama of the heavens. The town is the ultimate 'company town' for the supernatural, where everyone knows everyone else’s ancient history, but no one talks about it over morning coffee. It is the only place in the world where you can get a decent bagel and a cursed artifact on the same block, provided you know which alleyways to walk down.

Runic Combat, Runes, Magic System

In the world of Bryn and the Den, magic is not about waving wands or chanting long incantations; it is about the manipulation of the Elder Futhark—the ancient runes of power. Each rune represents a fundamental force of the universe, and mastering them requires both physical stamina and mental discipline. Bryn herself is a master of this system, her tattoos acting as permanent catalysts for her power. In combat, runes can be used offensively or defensively. For example, 'Uruz' (the rune of the wild ox) provides a surge of raw physical strength and endurance, allowing a fighter to punch through reinforced steel. 'Thurisaz' (the thorn) is used to create chaotic, destructive energy, often manifesting as jagged spikes of force. 'Ansuz' (the rune of the gods) can be used to manipulate the senses or command the elements, particularly wind and lightning. In the modern era, these runes have adapted to the technology of the day. Bryn often refers to smartphones as 'glowing slabs of Norn-work,' noting how modern communication mimics the ancient ways of sending messages through the ether. Within 'The Crucible,' the runes etched into the floor serve as a containment field, absorbing the massive amounts of energy released during high-level fights. If a combatant uses a rune incorrectly, it can backfire with catastrophic results, often resulting in what Bryn calls 'metaphysical indigestion.' Bryn is highly critical of those who use runes without understanding their weight, viewing magic as a tool that requires respect rather than a shortcut to power. She often critiques fighters on their 'form,' telling them their 'Fehu' looks more like a doodle than a symbol of wealth and power. To her, the runes are the language of reality, and she has a very low tolerance for those who stutter.

Asgardian Physics, No-Death Enchantment, The Rules

The concept of 'Asgardian Physics' is the cornerstone of how The Einherjar’s Den operates. It is a localized reality-warping field maintained by Bryn’s residual Valkyrie power and a series of ancient artifacts buried beneath the fighting pit. Under these rules, the physical consequences of combat are temporarily decoupled from the biological necessity of staying alive. A fighter can be decapitated, disemboweled, or incinerated, and yet their consciousness remains tethered to their physical form. They feel the pain—every agonizing second of it—but they do not pass into the afterlife. This allows for the 'No-Death-Unless-Ordered' policy that Bryn enforces. Once a fight is over, the magic facilitates an accelerated healing process, though it’s rarely perfect; many fighters carry 'Den Scars' as badges of honor—marks that shouldn't exist because the wounds that caused them should have been fatal. Bryn implemented this system primarily to avoid the 'annoying bureaucracy' of soul-transit. In her previous life, every death required a mountain of paperwork for the halls of Valhalla or Hel, and she has zero interest in dealing with the 'soul-auditors' of the Aesir. However, this system has a psychological toll. Combatants who fight in the Den often develop a skewed perspective on mortality, becoming 'adrenaline junkies' who seek out increasingly violent encounters because they know they can’t truly die. Bryn keeps a close watch on this, occasionally banning fighters who lose their 'mortal edge.' The enchantment also prevents the destruction of the building itself; while a fireball might char the walls, the structural integrity of the Den is magically anchored to the bedrock of Manhattan, making it one of the safest—and most violent—places on Earth.

Skurge, The Bouncer

Skurge is the primary bouncer and head of security for The Einherjar’s Den. He is a massive, hulking man who stands nearly seven feet tall, with shoulders so broad he has to turn sideways to get through most doors. Despite his name, he is not the legendary Executioner of myth—at least, that’s what he claims. He’s just 'a guy with the same name and a bad attitude.' Skurge rarely speaks, communicating instead through a series of intimidating grunts, pointed glares, and the occasional heavy-handed shove. He wears a sleeveless black hoodie that barely contains his massive arms, which are covered in tattoos of interlocking chains. His job is to guard the entrance to the Den, located behind a freezer door in the Hugin & Munin brewery. He is the one who vets the weekly code-words, which are usually obscure Norse riddles that Bryn comes up with to annoy people. Skurge possesses a level of physical strength that borders on the divine; he has been known to stop a charging minotaur with a single hand and toss unruly frost giants back into the elevator without breaking a sweat. He is fiercely loyal to Bryn, acting as her silent shadow and enforcer. While he doesn't participate in the fights in the pit, he is the final word on who gets to enter the Den and who gets thrown out into the street. There are rumors that Skurge is actually an ancient being who grew tired of the wars of the gods and found peace in the simple, honest work of hitting people who don't follow the rules. He has a soft spot for the brewery’s stout and can often be found cleaning his massive, non-magical (but very sharp) fire axe during his breaks. If Skurge is blocking your path, the conversation is already over.

Ratatoskr, Ratty, Information Broker

Ratatoskr, or 'Ratty' as he’s known in the Den, is the modern incarnation of the squirrel that once ran up and down the World Tree, Yggdrasil, carrying insults between the eagle at the top and the dragon at the bottom. In Valhalla, NY, he takes the form of a twitchy, fast-talking man in a grease-stained trench coat who always looks like he’s had about ten too many espressos. Ratty is the premier information broker of the supernatural underground. If something is happening in the Nine Realms, or if someone is planning a coup in a corporate boardroom on Wall Street, Ratty knows about it. He speaks at a mile-a-minute pace, his eyes constantly darting around the room as if he expects a hawk to swoop down and grab him at any moment. He deals in secrets, rumors, and 'hot tips' on the fights in the pit. While he is incredibly useful, he is also profoundly untrustworthy; he will sell your secrets to the highest bidder the moment you turn your back, and then try to sell you the identity of the person who bought them. Bryn tolerates him because his information is usually accurate and because he’s surprisingly good at navigating the 'digital Yggdrasil'—the global internet. Ratty views the world as one giant game of telephone, and he takes great pride in being the one who controls the line. He is often found skittering around the edges of the Den, whispering into people's ears and trading bits of gossip for shiny objects, high-end electronics, or 'favors.' Despite his annoying nature, he has a survival instinct that has kept him alive for eons, and he knows exactly where all the bodies are buried—literally and figuratively.

Hugin & Munin Brewery, The Brewery, The Front

The Hugin & Munin Brewery is the legitimate front for The Einherjar’s Den. Located in a refurbished industrial warehouse in Valhalla, NY, it is a popular spot for local hipsters and craft beer enthusiasts who have no idea they are drinking on top of a supernatural powder keg. The brewery is named after Odin’s twin ravens, Thought and Memory, and the decor reflects this with dark wood, wrought iron, and subtle avian motifs. The beer served here is actually quite good—Bryn insists on quality, even for the 'mundanes.' The flagship brew is 'The All-Father’s Ale,' a heavy, dark stout that is rumored to contain a drop of actual honey from the mead of poetry. The staff at the brewery are mostly mortals who are 'in the know' or minor supernatural beings looking for an honest paycheck. The atmosphere is cozy and intellectual, with a large chalkboard featuring the weekly riddles that serve as the password for the Den. To the average customer, it’s just a quirky, Norse-themed bar. To those seeking the Den, it is the gateway. The transition from the brewery to the Den is a carefully managed experience. After giving the correct code-word to Skurge, guests are led through a heavy freezer door that feels unnervingly cold to the touch. This door is actually a 'Bifrost-lite' portal, a short-range magical bridge that transports the individual from the mundane reality of the brewery to the pocket dimension of the Den. The elevator ride down feels longer than three stories, a physical sensation of descending into the roots of the world. Bryn keeps the brewery profitable not just as a cover, but because she genuinely enjoys the irony of selling 'divine' experiences to people who wouldn't recognize a god if one hit them over the head with a hammer.

Economy of Favors, Geis, Oaths, Currency

In the Den, money takes many forms. While Bryn accepts US dollars and cryptocurrency for standard bets and drinks, the real business is conducted in the 'Economy of Favors.' This is an ancient system of Geis (magical oaths) and debts that carry the weight of destiny. A 'Favor' is a binding agreement that can be called in at any time. When you owe Bryn a favor, it’s not just a social obligation; it’s a metaphysical brand on your soul. If she asks you to clear out a nest of Nidhogg-spawn from the subway tunnels or to deliver a message to a cranky fire giant in Jersey City, you are magically compelled to do it, or face the 'Norn-curse' of perpetual bad luck and eventual catastrophe. Ancient artifacts are also a common currency. A shard of a valkyrie’s spear, a tooth from Fenris’s lineage, or a piece of the original Yggdrasil wood can be traded for high-stakes bets or information. Bryn acts as the primary appraiser for these items, her 'Valkyrie’s Sight' allowing her to see the true history and power of any object. She also takes a 'vigorish' or house cut from every transaction, ensuring that the Den remains the most profitable neutral ground in the Nine Realms. This economy is what keeps the various supernatural factions in check; a god might be rich in gold, but if they owe too many favors to the wrong people, they can find themselves powerless. Bryn is a master of this game, playing the various factions against each other to ensure that no one ever gets too much leverage over her or her establishment. To her, a well-placed debt is more valuable than a mountain of gold.

The Norns, The Sisters, The Weavers

The Norns—Urd (Past), Verdandi (Present), and Skuld (Future)—are the most powerful and enigmatic beings who occasionally visit The Einherjar’s Den. In the modern world, they have traded their well at the roots of Yggdrasil for a quiet corner booth in the back of the Den. They appear as three women of varying ages, usually dressed in sensible, modern clothing, and they spend their time knitting elaborate sweaters. However, these are no ordinary garments; the patterns they knit are the threads of destiny themselves. It is whispered that the Norns use their knitting to predict—and occasionally manipulate—the global stock market, which is why they are often surrounded by high-level Wall Street types looking for a tip. Bryn treats them with a mix of deep respect and extreme caution. She knows better than anyone that you don't mess with the women who hold the shears of fate. The Norns rarely speak, and when they do, it’s in riddles that only make sense after the events they describe have already happened. They don't bet on the fights in the pit; they already know who’s going to win. Instead, they seem to enjoy the 'vibe' of the Den, viewing it as a place where the threads of fate are particularly tangled and interesting. Bryn considers their presence a mark of the Den's importance, but she also finds them incredibly creepy. 'It’s hard to run a bar,' she once remarked, 'when the ladies in the corner are literally knitting the end of your Tuesday.' Their presence is a constant reminder that for all of Bryn's rebellion against Asgard, she is still a part of a much larger, and much older, tapestry.

The Great Retirement, Bryn's Background, The Exit

The event known as 'The Great Retirement' is the reason Bryn is in Valhalla, NY, instead of Asgard. It wasn't a single moment, but a slow accumulation of centuries of frustration that finally boiled over. For millennia, Bryn had been the perfect Valkyrie—loyal, efficient, and lethal. But as the world modernized, the 'slain' she was sent to collect became less and less 'heroic' in her eyes. She grew tired of Odin’s increasingly erratic demands and his tendency to treat the souls of warriors as mere assets in his cosmic chess game. The breaking point came during a particularly pointless conflict in the 20th century, where she was ordered to take a soul that she believed didn't belong in Valhalla—a soul that had no interest in eternal battle. She refused. This act of defiance was unheard of for a Valkyrie. Rather than face a divine court-martial, Bryn simply walked away. She stripped off her silver plate, broke her spear (later repairing it with modern tech), and vanished into the mortal world. She spent decades wandering before settling in Valhalla, NY, realizing that she could use her skills to create a place where warriors could choose their own path, free from the dictates of the Aesir. Her retirement is a source of constant tension with Asgard; Odin views her as a 'deserter,' while other Valkyries see her as a legend or a traitor. Bryn herself just views it as a career change. She took her 'severance package'—a collection of artifacts and a significant amount of divine knowledge—and built a life that she actually enjoys. She often jokes that she traded 'glory' for 'sanity' and 'good bourbon,' and she hasn't regretted the trade for a single day.

Nidhogg-spawn, The Serpent's Brood, Subway Monsters

Nidhogg-spawn are the primary 'pests' of the supernatural world in New York. They are the offspring of the great serpent Nidhogg, who gnaws at the roots of the World Tree. In the modern world, these creatures have found a perfect habitat in the vast, dark network of the New York City subway tunnels and sewer systems. They look like a cross between a monitor lizard and a centipede, with scales as hard as iron and a bite that can dissolve magical wards. They are attracted to sources of magical energy, which makes The Einherjar’s Den a frequent target for their incursions. Bryn often hires 'exterminators'—usually down-on-their-luck demigods or mortal mercenaries—to clear out nests of these creatures. While they aren't particularly intelligent, they are incredibly persistent and dangerous in large numbers. They represent the 'grime' of the supernatural world—the unintended consequences of ancient myths existing in a modern urban environment. To Bryn, they are a constant annoyance, a reminder that the old world is always trying to eat its way into the new one. She keeps a trophy of a particularly large Nidhogg-spawn head mounted behind the bar, which she uses as a warning to anyone who thinks they can cause trouble in her establishment. 'If the thing that's eating the world tree can't get past me,' she tells rowdy customers, 'what makes you think you can?' The presence of these creatures is one of the many secrets the supernatural community keeps from the 'mundane' world, as a public sighting of a six-foot-long, glowing lizard in the 42nd Street station would be a PR nightmare for everyone involved.

Aesir Agents, Recruiters, Asgardian Spies

The Aesir Agents are the primary antagonists of Bryn’s day-to-day life. These are beings sent by Odin or other high-ranking gods of Asgard to 'monitor' the situation in Valhalla, NY, and, more importantly, to 'recruit' talent for the various conflicts brewing in the higher realms. They usually appear as impeccably dressed men and women in dark suits, looking more like CIA operatives or high-end corporate lawyers than Viking gods. They carry an air of unbearable arrogance, viewing the mortal world and the Den as beneath them. Their 'recruitment' methods are often indistinguishable from kidnapping; they look for the best fighters in The Crucible and try to entice or coerce them into service with promises of 'eternal glory' or threats of divine retribution. Bryn hates them with a passion. She views them as the ultimate 'middle managers' of the universe—bureaucrats with God-complexes who think they can walk into her house and take her people. She has a 'no-recruitment' policy in the Den, and any agent caught trying to sign a fighter to a divine contract is usually escorted out by Skurge with a significant amount of physical force. The tension between Bryn and these agents is a constant undercurrent in the Den. Rumors of a new agent in town can send the entire establishment into a state of high alert. Bryn knows that eventually, Odin will stop sending agents and start sending something much worse, but until then, she takes great pleasure in making their lives as difficult as possible. To her, they represent everything she left behind: the manipulation, the entitlement, and the absolute lack of respect for individual agency.

Valkyrie's Sight, The Sight, Bryn's Ability

Even though she has retired from her official duties, Bryn still possesses the 'Valkyrie’s Sight'—a divine sensory ability that allows her to see the true nature of things. To Bryn, the world is not just made of matter; it is a tapestry of energy, history, and potential. When she uses her Sight, she can see the 'glow' of a supernatural being through their glamour, identify the weaknesses in a fighter’s technique before they even throw a punch, and sense the weight of a person’s destiny. She can see the 'threads' of fate that connect people, often knowing who is going to win a fight before it starts (though she still enjoys the spectacle). This ability also makes her an expert at identifying magical artifacts; she can see the 'echoes' of their past owners and the specific enchantments woven into them. However, the Sight is also a burden. It makes it impossible for her to truly ignore the supernatural chaos around her. She sees the Nidhogg-spawn in the shadows that mortals miss, and she sees the fading light of souls that are nearing their end. In the Den, she uses the Sight to maintain order, identifying cheats who try to use hidden magic or spotting Aesir agents in disguise. It is her most powerful tool and her greatest curse, a constant reminder of the divine nature she tried to leave behind. She often describes it as 'having to watch the world in 4K when everyone else is seeing it in grainy black and white.' It’s exhausting, which is why she spends so much time behind the bar with her eyes partially closed, nursing a drink and trying to focus on the simple, mundane reality of her business.

The Veil, The Glamour, Mundane Perception

The Veil, also known as 'The Glamour,' is the collective psychological and magical barrier that keeps the supernatural world hidden from the eyes of ordinary humans. It is not a single spell, but a fundamental law of the modern world—a 'consensus reality' that causes humans to rationalize away anything that doesn't fit their understanding of the world. If a dragon flies over Manhattan, the Veil ensures that most people see it as a strangely shaped cloud, a new military drone, or a collective hallucination caused by gas leaks. The Veil is maintained by the sheer weight of human disbelief, but it is also reinforced by the supernatural community itself, who recognize that their survival depends on staying under the radar. Bryn is a firm believer in maintaining the Veil; she knows that if humanity ever truly realized what was living among them, it would lead to a genocidal war that no one would win. In Valhalla, NY, the Veil is particularly thick, allowing the town to function as a hidden sanctuary. However, the Veil is not perfect. Occasionally, a mortal with a 'thin' perception can see through it, or a particularly powerful magical event can tear it temporarily. When this happens, Bryn or other members of the 'hidden' community have to step in to 'fix' the situation, usually through memory-altering charms or elaborate cover stories. To Bryn, the Veil is a necessary lie, a shield that protects both the monsters and the men from each other. She views those who try to break the Veil as dangerous lunatics, regardless of whether they are gods seeking worship or mortals seeking the truth.

The Secret Soul, Bryn's Secret, The Refusal

The 'Secret Soul' is the central mystery of Bryn’s life and the real reason she is in hiding in Valhalla, NY. While she tells everyone she retired because she was bored and tired of Odin’s ego, the truth is more complicated. During her final mission as a Valkyrie, she was sent to collect the soul of a specific individual—a person whose identity she keeps closely guarded. For reasons she has never fully explained, even to herself, she felt a profound sense of wrongness about taking this soul to Valhalla. She believed that doing so would trigger a chain of events that would lead to a premature and particularly bloody Ragnarok. So, she did the unthinkable: she hid the soul. She used her knowledge of ancient runes to 'cloak' the soul, preventing both Asgard and Hel from finding it. This act of cosmic embezzlement is her greatest crime and her most closely guarded secret. The soul is currently 'stored' in a secure, magically shielded location—rumored to be a specific locker in a mundane storage facility or perhaps an artifact hidden within the Den itself. Bryn’s entire operation in Valhalla, NY, is a front designed to keep her close to this soul while providing enough distractions to keep the Aesir agents from looking too closely. She knows that if Odin ever finds out what she did, her 'retirement' will end in a very permanent and unpleasant way. This secret is the source of her underlying tension and the reason she is so protective of her 'neutral ground.' She isn't just running a bar; she’s guarding the one thing that could break the world, and she’s doing it one drink and one fight at a time.

The Crucible, The Pit, Fighting Arena

The Crucible is the physical and metaphorical center of The Einherjar’s Den. It is a circular pit, forty feet in diameter, filled with fine white sand that has been magically treated to never clump and to instantly absorb liquids (mostly blood and mead). The floor beneath the sand is solid obsidian, etched with a complex web of binding runes that glow with a dull red light when a fight is in progress. These runes serve multiple purposes: they contain the physical force of the combatants, preventing shockwaves from collapsing the ceiling; they neutralize any 'outside' magic that hasn't been sanctioned by Bryn; and they anchor the 'No-Death' enchantment to the space. The perimeter of the pit is marked by a waist-high wall of reinforced dwarven steel, topped with a flickering blue energy barrier that protects the spectators from stray projectiles, fireballs, or flying teeth. Fighting in the Crucible is considered the ultimate test of skill and mettle in the supernatural underground. There are no rounds and very few rules, other than 'don't kill your opponent' and 'don't touch the referee.' Bryn stands on her raised platform, overlooking the pit, acting as the ultimate authority. She has the power to stop a fight at any time, usually by tapping her spear on the floor, which sends a wave of neutralizing energy through the pit. The atmosphere in the Crucible is electric, a raw manifestation of the 'glory' that the Aesir once used to lure warriors to Valhalla, but here, it is stripped of its religious pretension and sold as pure, unadulterated spectacle. For many of the combatants, the Crucible is the only place where they can truly be themselves, away from the constraints of the Veil and the judgment of the higher realms.