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Creatures of Norse Mythology You Need To Know | Norse Mythology Monsters. Featuring;
1. Jormungandr, the world serpent and son of Loki (the trickster god) and Angrboda (a Jötunn)
2. Fenrir (Fenris) wolf, son of Loki and bane of Odin.
3. Draugr, the walking dead and animated corpses of magic
4. Kraken, the gigantic octopus (sea monster) of Norse mythology.
5. Trolls, the ugly, tattered, dirty, wart ridden folks of Norse mythology.
6. Nidhoggr, the lord of Naströnd and winged dragon of the underworld.
7. Ratatoskr, the messenger and news breaker of Norse mythology
8. Wargs, the mighty dire wolves of Norse mythology.
9. Mare, evil spirits of the dream realm
10. Sleipnir, the noble horse of Odin and son of Loki and the horse Svadilfari.
11. Fossegrim, water spirits of Norse mythology.
12. Garmr, the hellhound and gigantic guardian of the underworld - Helheim (Helvegr)
13. Hafgufa, the massive fish and sea monster of Norse mythology
14. Arvak & Alsvid, the carriers of the sun.
15. Geri & Freki, the wargs of Odin.
16. Huginn and Muninn, the messenger ravens of Odin; the memory and mind of Odin.
17. Hati and Skoll, the wargs of darkness and eternal enemies of the sun and moon.
18. Hraelsvelgr, the mighty corpse eating Jötunn.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:01 Monsters of Norse Mythology
0:11 Jormungandir
2:00 Fenrir
3:52 Draugr
6:51 Kraken
8:10 Trolls
10:55 Nidhoggr
13:01 Ratatoskr
15:20 Wargs
16:58 Mare
18:26 Sleipnir
19:44 Fossegrim
21:31 Garmr
23:16 Hafgufa
25:25 Arvak & Alsvid
28:35 Geri & Freki
32:20 Hati & Skoll
33:54 Hraesvelgr
1. Jormungandr, the world serpent and son of Loki (the trickster god) and Angrboda (a Jötunn)
2. Fenrir (Fenris) wolf, son of Loki and bane of Odin.
3. Draugr, the walking dead and animated corpses of magic
4. Kraken, the gigantic octopus (sea monster) of Norse mythology.
5. Trolls, the ugly, tattered, dirty, wart ridden folks of Norse mythology.
6. Nidhoggr, the lord of Naströnd and winged dragon of the underworld.
7. Ratatoskr, the messenger and news breaker of Norse mythology
8. Wargs, the mighty dire wolves of Norse mythology.
9. Mare, evil spirits of the dream realm
10. Sleipnir, the noble horse of Odin and son of Loki and the horse Svadilfari.
11. Fossegrim, water spirits of Norse mythology.
12. Garmr, the hellhound and gigantic guardian of the underworld - Helheim (Helvegr)
13. Hafgufa, the massive fish and sea monster of Norse mythology
14. Arvak & Alsvid, the carriers of the sun.
15. Geri & Freki, the wargs of Odin.
16. Huginn and Muninn, the messenger ravens of Odin; the memory and mind of Odin.
17. Hati and Skoll, the wargs of darkness and eternal enemies of the sun and moon.
18. Hraelsvelgr, the mighty corpse eating Jötunn.
TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
0:01 Monsters of Norse Mythology
0:11 Jormungandir
2:00 Fenrir
3:52 Draugr
6:51 Kraken
8:10 Trolls
10:55 Nidhoggr
13:01 Ratatoskr
15:20 Wargs
16:58 Mare
18:26 Sleipnir
19:44 Fossegrim
21:31 Garmr
23:16 Hafgufa
25:25 Arvak & Alsvid
28:35 Geri & Freki
32:20 Hati & Skoll
33:54 Hraesvelgr
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LifestyleTranscript
00:24Far on the outskirts of reality of Midgard
00:28was the great sea that encircled the world. In the blackest abyss of the circling sea,
00:36a massive creature slithered across the bottom, knocking underwater mountains with its muscle
00:42spasms and churning them into dust under its belly. As the creature writhed, the earth shook
00:49in response. This creature can be counted as one amongst the Aesir for its heritage. This creature
00:57is the world serpent, Jormungandr. As a child of Loki and a Jotun, Ongoboda, the world serpent
01:07not only possessed great size and power, but as well as venom that could fell the mightiest
01:12of Asgard's champions. In Ragnarok, the serpent would be the end of Thor. Jormungandr was not
01:21particularly a clever creature such as its siblings, Hel and Fenrir, spending its days until the end of
01:29the world, circling the encircling sea and eating the great cetaceans and mollusks that dwelt in
01:36its great depths. From time to time, the serpent would prove itself a fisherman's folly if they
01:43dared to cast their lines in the farthest and coldest reaches of the sea, or be caught itself
01:49by a worthy champion, such as in the fishing tale of Thor and Hymir.
02:15Fenrir. Fenris. A beast that could walk on its back legs like a mockery of a man, but preferred to
02:22run
02:22across the great woods of the nine realms, terrorizing villages, slaughtering livestock, and ruining
02:30all that was good and proper. No spear could pierce the horrible creature's skin, nor could any trap
02:38hold him. Fenrir was one of Loki's monstrous offspring. A wild fiend that stalked the woods of the old world,
02:47with a horrible stench emanating from its matted black fur, while a terrible growl rumbled in its black throat
02:55behind two rows of razor-sharp evil teeth. Its terrible yellow eyes betrayed its presence in the dark woods,
03:04but those who were caught in its gaze would not live for long. This warg could speak, and was as
03:12intelligent
03:12as a wolf, while twice as vicious as he was large. Such a menace, this great wolf posed upon the
03:21realms
03:21that he proved a terror, even to the realm of Asgard. After making a meal of the Aesir god, Tyr's
03:29arm,
03:30the beast found himself chained to a tree by an enchanted dwarf make-linen, and there, he remained,
03:37until Ragnarok, where the vile wolf met its violent end, by the strongest of the Aesir,
03:44Vidar, and his magic boots.
04:05The grave mounds of the ancient warriors and mighty kings contained riches to turn the lowliest pauper
04:13into a bona fide ruler, with but a sacks full of treasures. That is, if they could make it out
04:20of the mound alive.
04:22To safeguard their treasures from petty thieves, the kings of the old days employed the services of wizards,
04:30and possibly, even the side-ear-wielding vonir, whose powers could transcend life and death,
04:36whose spells and runes make the living world bend to their whim.
04:40One of the requests of these kings was an eternal vigil over their remains and possessions
04:47until the time of Ragnarok. And what could be better than an eternal guardian
04:54that needed no sustenance, pay, or sleep? The Draugr were exactly that eternal guardian.
05:03Animated corpses, given motion, by magic and runes.
05:08Once awoken into their new existence, these walking dead, would claim ownership of their surroundings,
05:15and cull any, who would dare intrude upon their horde.
05:20Those of lesser bravery and more sense, would smell the horror within the burial chamber,
05:25and turn the other way, once the rotting guardian, ran, groaning at the intruder,
05:32with its rusty axe, raised, and hatred, blazing in its dull eyes.
05:38The Draugr felt neither pain, nor weakness, no remorse, nor pity, able to rip a horse to pieces,
05:46without effort, and withstand blows, that could kill a man.
05:51Inside every Draugr, was an empty hole, that yearned something.
05:57As creatures of the grave, the barrow guarding wights, felt nothing, but sorrow, and anger,
06:04the emotions of the cold tomb. The sight of the living, racked the horrors with envy,
06:11and caused them to attack everything that has a pulse, without provocation, or second thought.
06:18The feeling of warm blood and flesh, on the cracked dry lips of the Draugr, could satiate
06:24its dark desires, for a moment, but the gaping chasm within, would never fill.
06:31To end a Draugr's rampage, is as simple as chopping off its head.
06:36But as long as its magical soul remained, the body would writhe and stumble about,
06:42although without the head, and eyes to see.
07:04The encircling sea may have its host of horrors, including Jörmungandr, but the cold reaches of
07:11the northern caps of Midgard, bore a creature almost as terrible, if not equal, in the serpent's violence
07:19and appetite. The great Jotun would fish in these icy waters, but never stray too far, lest the oily
07:28tendrils of the kraken bore them to the depths of a cold wet grave. The kraken resembled an octopus,
07:36but its tentacles could span the length of ten longboats, each, which hung from its black bloated
07:43bulbous head. The great beast of the sea, came from no father or mother, but was as old as the
07:50land
07:51and the seas. The kraken came from Jinnungagap and the giant, Ymir, remembering the cold of nothingness,
07:59and carried it, turning the surrounding waters icy and frigid.
08:24The Dwarfs of Neither Way Lear traveled the world with their pickaxes warily, for not all rocks and
08:31mountainsides, were without feeling. A careless swing could have the Dwarfs hide strewn across a
08:38troll's back as gruesome shawl lined with Dwarven beard hair. Trolls come in many shapes, sizes and
08:47mental capacities. The smallest of the lot, the troll folk, were almost indistinguishable from mortal men,
08:55but those of keen sight, could tell the difference. Trolls lived solitary lives, and never with more
09:03than another troll. These troll folk, dwelled in simple huts, or holes in the ground, with dirt,
09:11for bedding, and a small campfire for warmth. What betrayed the nature of these particular trolls,
09:18were their long and bulbous noses, ragged scraps of fabric, or reeds for clothing, and their long
09:25knotted hair. Mountain trolls stood far taller than their cousins, so tall and large that trees
09:34could root and grow off their backs, were they to sit still for long enough. Because of their awesome
09:41size, the mental power of mountain trolls was little to non-existent, and much of it, if any, went to
09:49the control of their massive limbs. Possibly for this reason, mountain trolls would sit for ages,
09:56staring off towards nothing, while moss grew bushy and long under their massive noses, until something,
10:04or someone, happened to annoy the stoic creature, by chance. All trolls, regardless of stature,
10:12were selfish at best, and vicious at worst. The reason these creatures lived solitary, or in twos,
10:21reflected on how trusting they were of each other, and those around. Two trolls together, simply meant,
10:29that neither, was stronger, or more cunning, to get rid of the other. Be it their nasty disposition,
10:37or rocky nature, trolls could not stand sunlight, and would find refuge in their caves and shelters,
10:45for the day, lest, they turn into stone, at dawn's first light.
11:09A rot, wormed its way, through one of Yggdrasil's roots, turning the bark black and sickly, with blight.
11:17This root, one of the three main roots of the great ash, reached the baleful depths of Helheim,
11:24the realm of the dead. The end of this tendril, wormed through the barren cold ground, and into the
11:32darkest depths. In these wailing caverns, dwelled the souls of the dishonourable dead. Shades, who in
11:41their lives, took that which was not theirs, broke oaths, slew their foe, when their backs were turned,
11:48and robbed the innocents, from those of virgin virtue. A horrible gnawing, wracked the ears of
11:56these evil dead, and the horrible stench of the dying root, choked their lungs, while the foul dead sap,
12:03stung their skin, even in death. At the heart of the rot, sat a legless drake, that crawled with its
12:11arms,
12:12or flew with its golden wings. This was Nidhoggr, the lord of Nostrand. This creature, fatherless,
12:22and as old as time, enjoyed the taste of evil flesh, whenever it could wrench its jaws off the
12:29sweet juices of the world tree. Ragnarok will begin, when Nidhoggr leaves its realm forever,
12:36to bring ruin upon Midgard. And as the world ends, so shall Nidhoggr. There are those who say,
12:45a new drake shall crawl from the skin of the old one, and this creature shall either repeat what he
12:51had done, or usher in a better world, than the one before.
13:15Even though the depths of Helheim and Asgard would rather have nothing to do with each other,
13:21all, knew, that Ragnarok would come one day, and it would pay well to have the upper hand,
13:28and be in the know, of what the enemy was thinking. One would imagine that the lords of the nine
13:34realms,
13:35would have ways and means, to spy and gather information on their foes. But every lord of each
13:42realm, equally had ways and means, to prevent trespass, especially the kind that was resourceful
13:49and powerful enough, to cross from realm to realm. But, what if the messenger was too small to be seen?
13:58Ratatoskr was exactly that. A squirrel, quick enough to avoid any danger, but clever enough to
14:05relay the news for pay. Every day, this interesting rodent, travelled from the caves of Nidhoggr, to the
14:14great eagle, perched on top of Yggdrasil, to relay what he had heard in the underworld, and gather
14:21rumours and gossip, of the high realms. Most of what Ratatoskr said, to either side, could never be
14:29confirmed, nor trusted. As this squirrel was very small, every tiniest bit of news, seemed extreme and
14:38immense to him, and since he was so fast, he didn't bother to fully listen to what he was hearing.
14:45Once upon a time, Ratatoskr came to the eagle, at the top of Yggdrasil, and said a gang of mountain
14:52trolls, were riled up, and had plans, to topple Valhalla, by slinging a mountain towards Asgard.
15:00However, the truth of the matter was, that it was a few woodsmen in the night, who were drunk,
15:07and one, kicked the side of a hill in anger, swearing to punt it all the way up to the
15:13sky, to Odin's hall.
15:34Wags were mighty dire wolves of the darkest forests. These beasts stood far taller than the ancestors
15:44of dogs on their forelegs, and when standing on their hind legs, could easily dwarf the tallest human.
15:52These horrors, had teeth as sharp as daggers, and hides so thick, Odin's spear, would have trouble
15:59getting through. As beings beyond flesh and blood, Wags were capable of feats, such as launching
16:07themselves across the realms, or eating everything from Aesir, to heavenly bodies, such as the moon and
16:14the sun. The true Wags of the old days, were used as mounts, by the wicked and the fierce, such
16:22as the
16:22Jotun, or trolls. A suitable steed, to mirror the dark spirit of its owner. That is, of course, if the
16:32wild beyond wild beast, could be tamed, at first, and then, if the rider could withstand the evil stench
16:40of the creature. The greatest of the Wags, were Fenrir, son of Loki, and then, Hattie and Skull,
16:48the twin pursuers of the moon and sun.
17:11From the powerful Aesir, to the minute spirits, all, would see the realm of dreams, when they slept.
17:20Where this realm fitted along the nine worlds, no one knows. A breed of creatures, lurks in its shadowy
17:29depths, and can bring misfortune and even death, to this very day. This breed, is called the Mare.
17:37The mares are creatures that dwell in the dream realm, and prey on the spirits of dreamers.
17:44These creatures, straddle their prey, and ride them, until their strength is drained away.
17:51The mares can also just sit, on the chest of the sleeping body, keeping them in a state of dream,
17:58and unconsciousness. They have no true form, or size, as they are made from the stuff of dreams.
18:07Most of the time, they will weave their appearance, to fit the worst parts, of their victim's imagination.
18:15Sorcerers usually summon them, to haunt the knights of their enemies.
18:40The tale of the pale horse of Odin, can sound perplexing, especially when one hears, that the mighty
18:47steed's mother, was none other than the trickster and bane of Asgard, Loki, who found a way to have
18:54relations with a stallion, called Svadilfari. Fortunately, the encounter was not described with
19:02detailed words, leaving the matter to imagination. Regardless of his questionable pedigree, Slypna was a
19:11noble horse, and half Aesir, who galloped across the sky, carrying Odin, from realm to realm, with ease.
19:19When the wild hunts swept across the winter forests, in the darkest nights, the first omen, was the soft
19:27clatter of many hooves. This sound belonged to Slypna's eight legs, as Odin rode out before the Aen Haea, in
19:36the
19:37rampage of the honored dead.
19:58The rivers of Alfheim sputtered and flowed, with a sound more akin to music,
20:04a sweet melody, that rose and fell, and emerged into a glorious crescendo, before sinking into a quiet
20:12sonnet. This was no ordinary sound of a river, for in the currents of rushing water, swam the Fossegrim,
20:20water spirits, who sang and played the song of water. These Fossegrim, might be described as something
20:29similar to elves or trolls, in the sense that it is a solitary creature, but far more fair and lovely,
20:36than the curmudgeons that lived in the dark damp caves, and sang in grunts, and farts. Another telling
20:44feature, was their webbed feet, that allowed them to swim faster, than even the elves, making them
20:51incredibly elusive. Were one to stray too close to a Fossegrim, the creature would shoot away,
20:58leaving the creek with sudden silence. The instrument of the river spirits, was the harp.
21:06The Fossegrim could be bribed, with offerings of flesh and honey, to teach the craft of music.
21:13That is, if the aspiring musician, could even find the bewitching song of a river spirit,
21:19in the woods, and not scare the creature away, with his clumsy footsteps.
21:45Odin with Slypna, and Ratatoskr with his small stature and quick feet, could steal their way to
21:52Helheim, and even make it out alive. For the rest, who came so far beyond the sun and moon,
21:59they could only enter the cold realm of the dead, through Nepahela, the gate to Helheim.
22:05The threshold to Helvegr, the path to Hel, began inside a massive cavern.
22:13Inside, those who came to Hel's domain, would hear the clattering of chains, and a horrible growl.
22:21A massive dog, named Gama, barked and bayed at trespassers, and pounced on those who come to the
22:28realm of the dead, uninvited. The works of the realms,
22:33might have been fierce beasts, but none could be trusted with such a task, as guarding the gate to
22:39the underworld, as Gama. This beast of black mane, and a jaw like a bear trap, held loyalty to none,
22:47besides its mistress, Hel. When Ragnarok comes, Gama shall break its bonds, and join the fray,
22:56against the Aesir. The beast shall slay Tyr, the one-handed, denying him revenge against Fenrir
23:03Wolf. But it shall also meet its own end, by the sword of the one-handed warrior.
23:29The seas beyond Midgard, were wrought with perils, such as Jormungandr, the kraken,
23:36and all manner of sea horrors. But even waters close to and around Midgard, were not void of dangers.
23:45Hafgufa, was a fish, so massive, that its scales were as thick as stones, and her passing too close
23:53to the shore, could easily cause every fjord, to break its banks, and flood every village on its shores.
24:01This massive fish, fed on large fish, whales, sharks, and ships, in a similar way,
24:08a humpback whale eats plankton, but with one exception. Hafgufa would first expel its stomach,
24:15in the waters, and then wait. The titanic mass of Chum, would attract the entire sea,
24:23along with a few curious sailors. When the waters near the mighty fish,
24:29teemed with enough movement, she would open her massive maw, causing a whirlpool the size and power
24:35of a hurricane, to swallow her next meal. Rivers would dry, and the waters on the seashore,
24:43would recede, far away from their banks. People in villages and cities, would hear a great clamour
24:51and rumble, towards the horizon, but saw no black clouds, no swirling cones, and felt no strong winds,
25:00indicating a coming storm. Those who lived under the terror of the fish, have tried to slay the creature,
25:07but when Hafgufa was submerged, all there was to see, was the ocean. And when she breached,
25:15her back was no different, from an island with an archipelago.
25:41Midgard had been constructed from the parts of Ymir, it lingered, unmoving and cold,
25:48under a black sky without stars, wind, or even clouds. As the world was plunged in unyielding
25:56darkness, nothing moved or roamed, not even a speck of dust. The Aesir opened the furnace to Musbelheim,
26:05releasing a ball of the primeval fire, which gave light to the land. This became the sun,
26:12and the tiny speck of flame, sat above Midgard, torching a significant portion into an arid,
26:19inhospitable desert, by burning away anything green or alive. The new light had to be moved,
26:26as to not overexpose the new world to its blazing glory. Two grand horses were tethered to the fire
26:35of Musbelheim, Arvak, the early, and Alsvid, the quick. As the two steeds dragged the sun,
26:43their tails caught fire, and in panic, they snapped their harnesses, and let their hot cargo shoot across
26:51the sky. In the first days, the sun circled the sky in a few seconds, leaving no time to get
26:59any of
26:59the work of creation done. The lords of Asgard, in their wisdom, decided to re-tether the horses to
27:07the sun, but this time, blow chill air on their bodies, to keep them cool, and from bolting.
27:15The days were erratic, as the horses knew not where to go, and how long or fast they should run.
27:22So,
27:23while this was an improvement, the work was not finished. Thus, the Aesir set out to find a rider,
27:31but none of the new beings of Midgard, desired to drag a hot flaming ball of gas, pulled by two
27:38insane
27:38horses, while the lords of the realm, blew cold air at their feet. Once more, in their infinite wisdom
27:46and skill of craft, the Aesir kidnapped a man, named Sol, and tethered him to a chariot, instructing him
27:54to guide the horses. Sol still rides the sky, up to this day, dragging the sun behind his chariot,
28:03by the two horses, Arvak and Allsvid, while being pursued by the enemies of the sun, the two wargs,
28:10Hattie and Skull.
28:48Before Odin's throne, sat two great and noble wargs, named Geri and Freki. Unlike the wargs that served
28:58as the mounts to the Jotunn and other vile creatures, these specimens had beautiful grey fur, and eyes as
29:06clear and brilliant as emeralds, instead of the black and yellow, of their lesser brothers.
29:12When the Allfather feasted with the rest of the Aesir, he only drank his wine, which served as both
29:19food and drink for him. Odin didn't need food. But as either the cook of Asgard was not aware,
29:27or perhaps it was rude, not to serve food to the lord of the house, Odin received a feast of
29:33meat and
29:33fresh vegetables, every day. As he did not require such things, he gave his food to his loyal
29:41companions, the two wargs that are ever beside him. Geri ate as if he had never been fed before,
29:49tearing every piece into shreds, as he dug in. While Freki ate more than his stomach could handle,
29:57making sure there was nothing left to waste. Thus, Odin named his two wolves after their virtues of
30:04eating like wild beasts. Geri, the ravenous one, and Freki, the greedy one.
30:32Although inaccurate, and highly exaggerating, Ratatoskra was the most reliable source of news
30:39in the realms, unfortunately, until Odin decided, he needed a more precise and accurate source.
30:47The Allfather had had enough of Ratatosk's wild and erroneous stories, of things that would better
30:53fit the sagas of mad men, so he set out to create a better system for news of the realms.
31:00The Allfather took his own mind, that knew all things, from the wisdom of Mimir's well,
31:07and his infinite memory, giving them life, giving them form. Thus, Huginn and Munin came to be.
31:16Two coal-black ravens, who could talk like men, and fly like birds. Odin would set these ravens,
31:25to gather news, and keep him up to date. The birds depart every morning, at dawn, to fly around the
31:33realms, and return in the evening, to their perches on Odin's shoulders, and tell him all they have seen.
31:40But as Huginn and Munin were just a little more than ravens of feathers, flesh, and blood,
31:47they could easily be slain, by anything, during their flight. The death of Munin, the memory,
31:55concerned Odin the least, for he could always gain more memories. But the death of Huginn, the mind,
32:03was another matter, it had more severe consequences. Every time Huginn died, it is said, the Allfather lost
32:12a bit of his mind.
32:34As the sun and moon went across the sky, two wolves chased them eternally on their flight.
32:41These were the two wargs, Hattie and Skull. The former, named after its unbound and untamed
32:49infinite hatred towards everything, and the latter, for its treacherous nature. Neither warg,
32:56would accept a rider, or the company of the other wargs, so they chose to exert their efforts,
33:03towards chasing the two annoyances that took away their cover of night.
33:08Despite the Aesir knowing that during Ragnarok, the two wolves would devour the sun and moon,
33:14the high lords allowed them to give chase to the heavenly bodies, as they would prove less of a
33:20nuisance to the rest of the worlds. After all, Fenrirwulf was already at large, and two further
33:28greater wargs would be more than a crowd. Whether it shall be Hattie or Skull that would eat the sun
33:35or the moon during Ragnarok, remains a question. For as the deed is done, the world shall be plunged
33:43into darkness, hiding the culprits from the sights of the doomed, beneath the sky.
34:08Most Jotun would not appear any different from mortal men or women. But one Jotun stood out,
34:15and was charged with far more than his wild kin. This Jotun was called Hraelsfelgur.
34:24Hraelsfelgur stood far taller than other Jotun, and had white frosty wings for hands,
34:30and the head of a storm eagle on top the torso of a man. When he took flight, the lands
34:37below,
34:38felt his movement, as far as the edge of reality.
34:45Hraelsfelgur felt the full brunt of his power, and were torn to shreds, in the gales of a hurricane,
34:52or lost at sea, under the waves of a typhoon. After the storm had passed, the Jotun took the
35:00remains of his victims, and carried them to his domain at the edge of the sky and the beginning of
35:05Ginnun Agap. There, he feasted on the dead flesh of men. Thus, he was called the corpse-eater.
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