Fenrir

Fenrir / Fenrisúlfr

Fenrir

Primordialwell-documentedNorseScandinavia
Origin

Born of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, Fenrir was raised among the gods until his size became terrifying. Only Tyr was brave enough to feed him. The gods tried twice to bind him with iron chains; he snapped both easily. Finally they commissioned the dwarves to make Gleipnir — a magical ribbon. Fenrir allowed himself to be bound only if one god placed a hand in his mouth as pledge. Tyr volunteered; when Fenrir could not break free, he bit off Tyr's hand. Fenrir awaits Ragnarök, when he will swallow Odin.

Appearance

A wolf of cosmic scale — his upper jaw touches the sky and his lower jaw the earth when his mouth is fully opened. He is currently bound on an island with Gleipnir fastened through a boulder, a sword propped in his open jaws.

Abilities

Unlimited physical strength — capable of breaking any conventional bond. At Ragnarök will kill Odin himself before being slain by Víðarr. His offspring, Sköll and Hati, chase the sun and moon and will swallow them at the end of time.

Weaknesses & Wards

Weaknesses

  • condition
    Gleipnir — the magical ribbon holds him until Ragnarök

Wards

  • ritual
    No mortal ward — his release cannot be prevented, only delayed
Sources
  1. [1]
    Gylfaginning. Snorri Sturluson. Prose Edda, Gylfaginning 34. c. 1220 CE.literary
  2. [2]
    Völuspá. Völuspá, stanzas 35, 44. In Poetic Edda. c. 13th century manuscript.literary
well-documented