Reginn

Attested in Old Norse sources as a son of Hreiðmarr and brother to Fáfnir and Ótr, Reginn's narrative is bound to the episode in which Ótr's death and the resulting wergild lead to a cursed treasure (including Andvaranaut). His role in the surviving traditions is as foster-father and smith to the hero Sigurð; different recensions show variation (for example Þiðreks saga contains a conflicting configuration in which Reginn is treated differently), indicating mutable oral and literary transmission.

In the Eddic Dvergatal and Reginsmál Reginn is listed and described as a dvergr and called a "Dvergr of size" and "vitr, grimmr, ok fjölkunnigr" (wise, dark/grim, and versed in magic). In the Völsunga saga he appears in a human social role as a court smith and foster-father to Sigurð; the prose saga presents his actions and social functions rather than a detailed corporeal description. The supplied sources do not give extended physical particulars beyond those attestations.

Sources portray Reginn as a master smith and skilled tutor: he repairs and forges weapons (notably reforging the sword Gram), teaches Sigurð languages, sports, chess, and runes, and is described as wise and skilled in magic. He also acts as a plotting agent in the saga: he goads Sigurð to slay Fáfnir and to roast and taste the dragon's heart (an act that leads Sigurð to understand bird-speech). The narrative records that Reginn intends to profit from Fáfnir's death and later plans to kill Sigurð; Sigurð pre-empts him and beheads Reginn with Gram.