The Children of Yggdrasil
Die Kinder Yggdrasils
Plot Summary
Following the destruction of Ultima Thule, Max von Valdec and Queen Mandorla observe the aftermath from a Ringo spacecraft. They realize Growan terGorden had a defense program tapping into Space II, causing the freezing. After a warning shot from a hidden laser emplacement, Valdec orders a retreat, deciding to survey Greenland's defenses and eventually destroy the Palace. Meanwhile, David terGorden and Asen-Ger emerge from the wrecked FENRISWOLF, noting the withdrawal of the Gray Guard. David expresses frustration with the lack of organized Terranauts and their inability to effectively resist the Council. They decide to focus on protecting Yggdrasil and gathering information.
Asen-Ger interrogates Percott, a Gray Lodge Master who helped him escape Valdec's dungeons. Asen-Ger offers Percott asylum on Zoe in exchange for information about the Guard and the Council. Flint, a deserted Gray Guardsman, demands Percott obtain the Alpha Code of the Guard as proof of his sincerity. David and Llewellyn 709 venture into the Holy Valley to connect with Yggdrasil. Llewellyn removes his straps, allowing David to enter Space II. There, they encounter a woman resembling Myriam terGorden, who reveals that Yggdrasil is exhausted from protecting Earth and advises David to seek her out in space and flee to Rorqual.
In Berlin, Valdec convenes a meeting with his scientists and Manags. He introduces Shawn, a former Biotroniks biologist, and tasks him with finding a way to destroy Yggdrasil's consciousness without harming the mistletoes. David and Llewellyn return to their reality, finding that hours have passed. Carlos Pankaldi, a GeneralManag of the Green Hill Corporation, convenes a meeting with other Manags to discuss the Driver unrest and Valdec's actions. They decide to advise Valdec to cease his operations. Percott, now working for Asen-Ger, informs him that the Council has turned against Valdec. However, Chan de Nouille discovers Percott's betrayal and captures him, planning to offer him to Valdec as a "reconciliation gift".
David, Asen-Ger, and Narda are invited to Blumenau for negotiations with Pankaldi. As they prepare to leave, Flint attempts to sabotage the meeting, attacking the Drivers with a blaster. Asen-Ger kills Flint to prevent further bloodshed. The Drivers arrive in Blumenau, but David receives a telepathic message from Llewellyn warning him that Yggdrasil is in danger. Shawn and other scientists from the Kaiser Corporation are in the Holy Valley, ostensibly to help Yggdrasil, but in reality they are poisoning it. David, Asen-Ger, and Narda flee Blumenau to return to Greenland.
Llewellyn is contacted by the spirit of La Strega, who confirms that the Kaiser Corporation is trying to destroy Yggdrasil. Llewellyn and Shakram try to warn the other Drivers, but they are not believed. David, Asen-Ger, and Narda return to Greenland and confront Shawn, who admits that he has been ordered to destroy Yggdrasil. Valdec learns of Shawn's failure and prepares to launch a full-scale assault on Ödrödir. Aishi, a former lover of Chan de Nouille, defects and warns the Nomans about the impending attack. The Grays launch a gas attack on Ödrödir. Asen-Ger creates an illusion of Driver ships fleeing, drawing the Grays away from the Holy Valley. David, Narda, Rollo, Greeny, and Whity flee to Merlin's glider hangar. Lithe appears and tells David to flee to Rorqual with the seeds of Yggdrasil. Asen-Ger and the other Drivers create the illusion of fleeing ships to distract the Grays. Valdec outlaws David terGorden.
Key Events
- 01 Ultima Thule is frozen by a defense program tapping into Space II.
- 02 Max von Valdec orders a retreat from Greenland after a warning shot.
- 03 David terGorden and Asen-Ger emerge from the wrecked FENRISWOLF.
- 04 Asen-Ger interrogates Percott, offering him asylum on Zoe.
- 05 David and Llewellyn 709 enter Space II and encounter a woman resembling Myriam terGorden.
- 06 Myriam advises David to seek Yggdrasil in space and flee to Rorqual.
- 07 Valdec tasks Shawn with destroying Yggdrasil's consciousness.
- 08 Pankaldi convenes a meeting with other Manags to discuss the Driver unrest.
- 09 Percott informs Asen-Ger that the Council has turned against Valdec.
- 10 Chan de Nouille discovers Percott's betrayal and captures him.
- 11 Flint attempts to sabotage the meeting in Blumenau, and Asen-Ger kills him.
- 12 David, Asen-Ger, and Narda flee Blumenau after receiving a warning from Llewellyn.
- 13 Llewellyn is contacted by the spirit of La Strega, who confirms the Kaiser Corporation's plan to destroy Yggdrasil.
- 14 David confronts Shawn, who admits to poisoning Yggdrasil.
- 15 Aishi warns the Nomans about the impending attack.
- 16 Grays launch a gas attack on Ödrödir.
- 17 Asen-Ger creates an illusion of Driver ships fleeing.
- 18 David flees to Merlin's glider hangar with Narda, Rollo, Greeny, and Whity.
- 19 Lithe appears and tells David to flee to Rorqual with the seeds of Yggdrasil.
- 20 Valdec outlaws David terGorden.
Characters
David terGorden — The heir of the Mistel Corporation and a Terranaut. He leads the Drivers in protecting Yggdrasil and seeks to unite them against the Council. He is instructed to flee to Rorqual to protect the seeds of Yggdrasil.
Asen-Ger — A Lodge Master and leader of the Terranauts. He interrogates Percott and helps David in his mission to protect Yggdrasil. He creates an illusion of fleeing ships to distract the Grays.
Max von Valdec — The Chairman of the Council and Lord Colonel of the Gray Guard. He seeks to eliminate the Drivers and control Yggdrasil for the Kaiser Corporation. He outlaws David terGorden.
Chan de Nouille — The Commander-in-Chief of the Gray Guard. She captures Percott and plans to offer him to Valdec. She supports Valdec's plan to destroy the Drivers.
Llewellyn 709 — A mysterious Riemenmann and Terranaut. He helps David connect with Yggdrasil and warns him about the Kaiser Corporation's plan.
Narda — A twelve-year-old Driver girl with strong telepathic abilities. She helps David and Asen-Ger by reading the minds of others.
Percott — A Gray Lodge Master who helps Asen-Ger escape Valdec's dungeons. He is later captured by Chan de Nouille and offered to Valdec.
Queen Mandorla — Commander-in-Chief of all the Gray Guards of the Kaiser Corporation.
Growan terGorden — The murdered owner of Biotroniks.
Shawn — The Biotroniks biologist who betrays his dead General Manager and works for Valdec. He is tasked with destroying Yggdrasil's consciousness.
Flint — A deserted Gray Guardsman who joins the Terranauts. He attempts to sabotage the negotiations in Blumenau and is killed by Asen-Ger.
Carlos Pankaldi — The GeneralManag of the Green Hill Corporation. He convenes a meeting with other Manags to discuss the Driver unrest.
Lithe — Merlin's daughter. She warns David to flee to Rorqual with the seeds of Yggdrasil.
Aishi — A former lover of Chan de Nouille who defects and warns the Nomans about the impending attack.
Locations
Greenland — The location of the Holy Valley and Yggdrasil. It is the site of the Driver rebellion and the target of Valdec's attacks.
Ultima Thule — The former capital of Biotroniks, now frozen and submerged.
Berlin — The headquarters of the Kaiser Corporation and the seat of Valdec's power.
Blumenau — The seat of the Green Hill Corporation and the location of the negotiations between the Drivers and the Manags.
Space II — An alternate dimension where David connects with Yggdrasil.
Holy Valley — Location of Yggdrasil.
Ödrödir — Area in the Holy Valley surrounding Yggdrasil.
Zoe — A planet where Drivers can receive asylum.
Rorqual — A mysterious world mentioned in Driver legends and by Yggdrasil as a place of refuge.
Ships & Vehicles
FENRISWOLF — A Driver spacecraft that crash-landed in Greenland. It serves as a base for David and Asen-Ger.
Ringo — A Kaiser Corporation spacecraft used by Valdec and Mandorla to observe Ultima Thule.
Technology & Concepts
Yggdrasil — The Primeval Tree, a giant plant with a vast root network that is central to Driver culture and space travel. It is believed to possess a consciousness and is the target of Valdec's attacks.
Terranauts — A secret resistance movement among the Drivers who seek to protect Terra and Yggdrasil.
Space II — An alternate dimension that is connected to Yggdrasil and used for Driver space travel.
Kaiser Force — A technology developed by the Kaiser Corporation as a replacement for Driver space travel. It is considered dangerous and is opposed by the Drivers.
Alpha Code — The supreme command code of the Guard.
Gray Guard — The military force of the Kaiser Corporation.
Mistletoes — Blossoms that grow on Yggdrasil and are essential for Driver space travel.
Drivers — PSI gifted humans who use mistletoes to navigate spaceships.
Lodge Masters — Leaders of Driver Lodges.
Summacum — A high-ranking position or title.
Triadic Monochord — The symbol of the Drivers.
Kaiser Projector — A technology used to manipulate Space II.
Themes & Notes
This booklet explores themes of environmentalism, corporate greed, and the struggle for freedom against oppression. The tone is dark and suspenseful, with elements of mysticism and science fiction. The narrative style is fast-paced and action-oriented, with a focus on the characters' internal conflicts and motivations.
Connections
Continues from: Die Terranauten 006
Leads into: The story threads involving David's escape, the fate of the Drivers in Ödrödir, and the conflict between Valdec and the Council are left open.
Related booklets: Booklets focusing on the Terranauts, the Kaiser Corporation, and the Drivers would be related.