Ran is the Nordic personification of the sea, due to there being little information on the Goddess and many interpretations throughout history, I took some liberties while creating her especially for a setting like Smite. While we often hear of the common realms of Helheim and Asgard being the possible homes of the fallen, another fate that may be before you is ruled by the Goddess Ran and her husband, the Jotunn Aegir if you were unlucky enough to be claimed by her while at sea.

While both Ran and Aegir are both the personifications of the seas themselves, they both represent opposing aspects. Aegir being known as gracious and kind to those fortunate to have him as their host, showing the beauty, wonder and calming aspects of the oceans. Ran however is seen as the waters at their most violent and terrifying, as well as the bane of seafarers present in her domain. Ran in old norse means thievery, fitting for a Goddess who spends her days stealing and capturing the lives of any sailors that travel near and drags them down to her watery abode. Sacrifices were a common practice in hopes to gain Ran’s favor before travels. Giving up goods such as riches and weapons. If you were lucky enough to be spared by her and receive her blessing, it was still simply only a matter of time until she changes her mind and slays you as well, with her blessing being out of ambivalence.

It can be said Once in her halls, she can then be seen as a good host beside her husband despite she herself being responsible for their downfalls. She allows the souls to feast and party until passing them on to be with Hel in her own realm. Although Ran is known to be such a violent and ruthless Goddess and her husband being a Jotunn, they are shockingly on very favorable terms with the Aesir Gods and often have bountiful feasts together, traveling to each other realms and never denying an invitation. Ran has a close relationship with the Goddess Hel in particular.

A comic piece I made before the release of God of War Ragnarok depicting Faye and Atreus out for a hunting trip. She didn't have a design yet so I had to create one based on her mural on the wall in Jotunheim at the end of the first game.

Ereshkigal is Queen of the dead and one of the oldest known deities in Babylonian myth. She was Goddess of the Underworld also known as Kur, or Kurnugia (The Land of No Return) among many other names. Ereshkigal strictly rules over this dark and gloomy world from her palace called Ganzir which was set at the entrance of Kur with a tight security of 7 gates guarded by her servant Neti.

Ereshkigal is the older sister of Ishtar and a prominent figure in the poem “The Descent of Inanna” Where Ishtar doing what she does best, selfishly descends into Ereshkigal’s realm under the guise of offering her condolences due to the passing of her husband the Bull of Heaven Gugulanna of which Ishtar caused. In actuality she was there to overthrow her sister.

Ereshkigal already being grief stricken and left alone while pregnant with her now fatherless child, was disgusted when her servant Neti informed her of her arrival. Ereshkigal ordered him to bolt the gates and let her in one by one, stripping her garments of power at each gate until she arrives naked before Ereshkigal much to Ishtar’s confusion and rage. Ereshkigal then unleashed her full fury upon Ishtar, inflicting her with countless diseases and hanging her lifeless corpse upon a meat hook on her palace wall.

Ereshkigal had a reputation for being one of the most feared but also highly respected deities. Despite this, she has known nothing but injustice and misery, mostly due to her sister whom she despises but is also quite jealous of. Even after enacting revenge on Ishtar she is later retrieved with help from the God Enki, thus escaping her sisters wrath and rightful punishment on the pain she caused Ereshkigal.