Norse Mythology
Basic Information
Norse mythology is the best-preserved subset of Germanic Paganism. It covers the myths and folklore of Scandinavia, including the regions of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.
Deities (including both Aesir and Vanir)
- Ægir
- Baldr
- Bil
- Bragi
- Dellingr
- Eir
- Forseti
- Freyja
- Freyr
- Frigg
- Fulla
- Gefjun
- Gerðr
- Gná
- Gná
- Gullveig
- Heimdall
- Hermóðr
- Hlín
- Höðr
- Hoenir
- Iðunn
- Ilmr
- Kvasir
- Lóðurr
- Lofn
- Loki
- Mímir
- Móði and Magni
- Nanna Nepsdöttir
- Njörðr
- Njörun
- Odin
- Óðr
- Rán
- Sága
- Sif
- Sigyn
- Sjöfn
- Skaði
- Snotra
- Sól (Norse Mythology)
- Syn
- Syn
- Thor
- Tyr
- Ullr
- Váli
- Vana and her son Vanlandi
- Vár
- Vidar
- Vili and Vé
- Vör
- Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpa
- Þrúðr
Loki's Spawn
Races and Species in Norse Myth
- Æsir
- Álfar
- Blue Men
- Dís
- Dvergar
- Einherjar
- Jötnar / Jötunn / Frost Giants / Fire Giants
- Landvættir
- Norns
- Sjövættir
- Vættir
- Valkyries
- Vanir
Races and Species in Scandinavian Folklore
Other mythological characters
- Adils
- Alberich
- Ask and Embla
- Auðumbla
- Aun
- Bödvar Bjarki
- Dökkálfar
- Domalde
- Domar
- Draugrs
- Dyggve
- Egil One-Hand
- Fafnir
- Fenrisulfr
- Garmr
- Geri and Freki
- Gullinbursti
- Gultopp
- Harald Hildetand
- Hati
- Hugin and Munin
- Ingjald
- Ivar Vidfamne
- Ljósálfar
- Móinn
- Níðhöggr
- Ohthere
- Ragnar Lodbrok
- Ratatosk
- Sigmund
- Sigurd Ring
- Sigurd
- Skirnir
- Skjöld
- Skoll
- Sleipnir
- Starkad
- Surtr
- Svadilfari
- Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr
- Völundr
Artifacts
- Balmung
- Brisingamen
- Draupnir
- Dromi
- Eitr
- Gjallarhorn
- Gleipnir
- Gram
- Gullinbursti
- Gungnir
- Mjöllnir
- Skíðblaðnir
- Tyrfing
- Well of Urd
The Nine Worlds
- Alfheim, world of the Light Elves
- Asgard, world of the Asgardian gods
- Jotunheim, world of the Giants
- Midgard, world of humans.
- Muspellheim, world of the Fire Demons
- Nidavellir, world of the Dwarves
- Niflheim, world of the primordial element of ice and the dead
- Svartalfaheim, world of the Dark Elves
- Vanaheim, world of the Vanir gods
Other places:
- Bifröst
- Bilskirnir
- Breidablik
- Elivagar
- Fólkvangr
- Fyris Wolds
- Gandvik
- Ginnungagap
- Helheim
- Hlidskjalf
- Hvergelmir
- Kormet
- Leipter River
- Mímisbrunnr
- Náströnd
- Niðavellir
- Ormet
- Reidgotaland
- Slidr River
- Urðarbrunnr
- Utgard
- Valhalla
- Vígríðr
- Vimur
- Yggdrasil
Myths and Events:
- Æsir–Vanir War
- Fimbulvinter- 3 winters in a row with no summer, heralds the end times
- Legendary Sagas
- Ragnarök
Character concepts
Most of these are likely options for PCs and NPCs alike.
- Berserker
- Bear sarker - which may or may not be the same thing as a berserker depending on the magic level of the campaign
- Gothi - chieftain or priest
- Nithe - a villainous sorcery and sexual pervert, possibly a shape-shifter
- Shieldmaiden - a woman warrior
- Skald - a poet-bard
- Viking - warrior who sets out on a ship to raid and trade
- Völva - a norse priestess, it literally means she who carries a Magic Wand
Religious Practices
- Álfablót - sacrifice to the elves made in the autumn
- Blót - sacramental meal, a sacrifice of a pig or horse in october, december, and april
- Galdr - magical singing or incantations
- Hörgr - an altar made of piled stones
- Human Sacrifice
- Kenning - a poetic compound word to describe people and things in a more heroic fashion
- Runestone
- Sacred Grove
- Seiðr - a form of magic
- Temple at Uppsala
- Völse blót - a fertility rite involving the severed penis of a stallion and prayers to a giantess
See also:
- Christianization of Scandinavia
- Fertility God and Fertility Goddess
- Germanic Ice Age
- Mythology
- Proto-Norse
- Scandinavian Folklore
- Viking Age
- Viking Revival
Sources
Bibliography
Game and Story Use
- Prophecy and Fate are big elements of Norse Mythology. Ragnarok (the end of the world) has been foretold, and not even the gods can prevent it. Fate and Prophecy Tropes are right at home here.
- During the Middle Ages, the threat of a Viking Raid is a significant one to cities and towns on the coast or riverbanks.
- As with all Mythological Characters, the gods and giants of Norse myth make great instantly-recognizable characters. For western audiences, they're probably more recognizable than any mythic characters outside of Greek Mythology and Roman Mythology. They do come with some heavy baggage, though, what with that whole "end of the world" thing.
page revision: 13, last edited: 16 Feb 2011 01:25
