Basic Information
Norse mythology is the best-preserved subset of Germanic Mythology. 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 and Hófvarpnir
- Gullveig
- Heimdall
- Hermóðr
- Hlín
- Höðr
- Hoenir
- Iðunn
- Ilmr
- Kvasir
- Lóðurr
- Lofn
- Loki
- Mímir
- Móði and Magni
- Nanna Nepsdöttir
- Njörðr
- Njörun
- Odin
- Óðr
- Rán
- Sága and Sökkvabekkr
- Sif
- Sigyn
- Sjöfn
- Skaði
- Snotra
- Sól (Norse Mythology)
- 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 (Elves)
- Blue Men
- Dís
- Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar (Dark Elves and Elves)
- Dvergar (Dwarves)
- Einherjar
- Jötnar / Jötunn / Frost Giants / Fire Giants
- Landvættir
- Norns
- Sjövættir
- Svartálfar (Dwarves and/or Dark Elves)
- Vættir
- Valkyries
- Vanir
There's a fair amount of ambiguity and blurring of boundaries between the various species, and often this is compounded by all the poetic nicknames used in the myths. For example, scholars still debate whether the Dwarves and the Dark Elves were two different species, or just two different names for the same single species.
Races and Species in Scandinavian Folklore
- de underjordiske
- Fossegrim
- Huldra
- huldrebarn
- Huldrefolk
- Huldufólk
- illvätte
- Nisse
- skogsrå
- Tomte
- Trollir (Troll)
Other mythological characters
- Adils
- Alberich
- Ask and Embla
- Auðumbla
- Aun
- Bödvar Bjarki
- Domalde
- Domar
- Draugrs
- Dyggve
- Egil One-Hand
- Fafnir
- Fenrisulfr
- Garmr
- Geri and Freki
- Gullinbursti
- Gultopp
- Harald Hildetand
- Hati
- Hugin and Munin
- Ingjald
- Ivar Vidfamne
- 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
The nine worlds are connected by the roots and branches of Yggdrasil (The World Tree). Some deities and supernatural beings can travel between them by climbing the tree. The Asgard often use Bifrost (the Rainbow Bridge) instead. Here is the most common list of the 9 worlds:
- Alfheim, world of the Light Elves
- Asgard, world of the Asgardian gods, the world where Valhalla is located
- Jotunheim, world of the Giants
- Midgard, world of humans.
- Muspellheim, world of the Fire Demons (and Fire Giants)
- 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
Some versions or interpretations of Norse myth identify the Dwarves and the Dark Elves as the same species. In such interpretations, Svartalfaheim and Nidavellir are two names for the same place, instead of being two different worlds. These versions generally cast Helheim as the ninth world (instead of just being a location within the world of Niflheim).
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:
- Beasts of Battle Motif
- Christianization of Scandinavia
- Fertility God and Fertility Goddess
- Germanic Ice Age
- Mythology
- Proto-Norse
- Scandinavian Folklore
- Viking Age
- Viking Revival
Sources
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.