User blog comment:Crimson and Darkness/Volume 25 discussion blog/@comment-73.57.25.92-20180430225040/@comment-29963364-20180501010155

The Æsir, Vanir, and Jotunar are indeed just different tribes of supernatural beings, each representing a general aspect of the world.


 * Jotunn - Chaotic/Destructive Nature (Earthquakes, Floods, Storms, etc.).


 * Vanir - Peaceful/Mystical Nature (Growth, Healing, Magic, etc.)

The Æsir are more "war-like" than the other two tribes, because they represent humanity's drive to survive (war/battle) and bend nature to it's will (crafting/building). They first go to war with the Vanir to learn the "secrets of nature" (the Vanir's magic and knowledge of nature). Eventually, they agree to a peacefull alliance. Then, the only thing left is to defend against the Jotunn (this represents humanity's constant struggle againts the destructive forces of nature).
 * Æsir - Civilization (Agriculture, Architecture, Knowledge, etc.)

You'll even notice that the Æsir don't have magic of their own, but learn it from other sources and use magically crafted weapons & equipment (Thor's hammer, Odin's spear, the flying ships, etc.). This is also representative of humanity's capacity for learning and harnessing powers that aren't their own in origin.