Norse
-
Bifrost/Asabridge/Asbru
The Bifrost is a magical location from Norse mythology. It’s translated as “rainbow bridge” or “the trembling way.” It’s thought to connect the earth, Midgard, to the world of the gods, Asgard, by spanning across the sky. It’s constructed of three fragile-looking strands of air, fire, and water, though despite its weak-looking structure it’s impossibly durable. It’s believed that the god Heimdall guarded the bridge to prevent the Jötnar from crossing. He was given this duty due to his remarkable senses, and since he has a magic horn to alert the entire nine realms of danger. Most all the gods use to bridge to travel on horseback, aside from Thor…
-
Wraith
Wraiths have old Norse origins. Their name is derived from word “vörthr” which means “guardian” or “watcher.” They appear as living people, foretelling that person’s death. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006
-
Sköll
Sköll is a giant wolf from Norse mythology. His name means “repulsion” and he chases the sun trying to devour it. He is a son of Fenrir and is paired with his brother Hati. The giantess Iarnsaxa feeds him the marrow from adulterers and murderers. Eclipses are caused when he or his brother nearly succeed, and people would make loud noise to scare them off. It is thought that at Ragnarok both will succeed and devour the celestial bodies, setting off three years of winter. Citations: Dougherty, Martin J.. Norse Myths: Viking Legends of Heroes and Gods. United Kingdom, Amber Books Ltd, 2016. Guerber, Hélène Adeline. Myths of the Norsemen:…
-
Hati
Hati is a giant wolf from Norse mythology. His name means “hatred” and he chases the moon trying to devour it. He is a son of Fenrir and is paired with his brother Sköll. The giantess Iarnsaxa feeds him the marrow from adulterers and murderers. Eclipses are caused when he or his brother nearly succeed, and people would make loud noise to scare them off. It is thought that at Ragnarok both will succeed and devour the celestial bodies, setting off three years of winter. Citations: Dougherty, Martin J.. Norse Myths: Viking Legends of Heroes and Gods. United Kingdom, Amber Books Ltd, 2016. Guerber, Hélène Adeline. Myths of the Norsemen:…
-
Hamrammr
The Hamrammr are Norse warriors with supernatural abilities. They wear animal skins to gain the animals power or form while in battle. The power of these creatures grows the more they kill and eat, and they can potentially get to the point that they are completely unkillable. Sometimes their very presence scared enemies off the battlefield. Often a Hamrammr attempting this would end up dying due to their overconfidence. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
-
Flugdreki
The Flugdreki is a form of dragon from Norse myth. Its name translates to “flying serpent” and is separate from the Dreki and Ormr. They have been known to attack those out at sea and can often be killed like any other creature. Citations: Fee, Christopher R.. Mythology in the Middle Ages: Heroic Tales of Monsters, Magic, and Might. United States, Praeger, 2011. Vídalín, Arngrímur. The Supernatural in Íslendingasögur. Iceland, Tower Press, 2012.
-
Fenrir/Fenris Wolf/Hródvitnir
Fenrir is a giant monstrous wolf from Norse mythology. Fenrir is a wolf so large his jaws stretch from the ground to the sky. He was born as one of the children of Loki and Angrboda. Some believe Fenrir embodied the chaotic and destructive aspects of nature, and represented subterranean fire. Some see the binding of Fenrir as symbolic of humanity trying to contain nature. Fenrir was taken to Asgard by Odin, with the intent of taming him. He grew to remarkable size and ferocity, so much so that almost all the gods were too afraid to approach him. Tyr was the only one not afraid, and was the one…
-
Eigi Einhamr
The Eigi Einhamr are shapeshifters from Norway and Iceland. Its name translates to “not one-skinned” and they are believed to be capable of taking the form of any animal whose skin they wear. Sometimes it is believed that their shapeshifting is rather them sleeping and astrally projecting themselves in the form of various animals. They can switch between human and animal voluntarily and retain all intelligence and morals between their different forms. Some believe their powers of shapeshifting are gifts from the god Odin. Citations: Maberry, Jonathan. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us. United States, Kensington Publishing Corporation, 2006.
-
Dreki/Drekar
The Dreki are a form of Dragon present in Norse myth. They were often thought to be capable of flight, could breath fire from their mouths or nostrils, and may be described as having only two clawed front limbs. The Dragon Nidhogg from Norse myth was often referred to a Dreki instead of other kinds. The Dreki is depicted on viking ships, likely for the purpose of sympathetic magic. The Dreki are distinctly different from the Ormr, another form of Dragon in Norse myth. Citations: Fee, Christopher R.. Mythology in the Middle Ages: Heroic Tales of Monsters, Magic, and Might. United States, Praeger, 2011. Jesch, Judith. Ships and men in…
-
Draugr
The Draugr are undead creatures from Norse myth. They are thought to be evil spirits possessing the corpse of deceased Vikings. They protect the treasure they’re buried with and collect more treasure by robbing other graves. They are capable of controlling weather, most often causing storms and thick fog. They can also take the form of predatory birds or wolves and possess supernatural strength with an invulnerability to weapons. They rise in the middle of the night to attack sleeping people, consume their flesh and blood, and bring back their bones to gnaw on in the grave. To kill a Draugr, someone who is pure of heart and in good…
