Odin

Also known as: Hrosstheow / Roster / Wecha · Role: god · First appears: Book One · Part 7

In Book One · Part 7, Frigga betrayed Odin with one of her servants and dishonoured his image by having its gold stripped away. Odin went into exile, “wounded by the double trespass of his wife,” then returned and made those who had taken divine rank resign it and leave the country.

In Book Three · Part 3, Odin and the gods fought for Balder in a naval battle against Hother and Helgi. In Book Three · Part 6, Odin entered the service of a Ruthenian king as a soldier, became captain, and won victories, including routing the enemy single-handed. He confided his love for Rinda to the king, but when he sought to kiss her, she struck him; Odin then touched her with spell-written bark and made her like one in frenzy. In Book Three · Part 7, after his abuse of a princess was followed by the birth of a child, the gods ousted and exiled him, replacing him with Oller. They later restored Odin to his former rank and splendour, and in Book Three · Part 8 he drove Oller from Byzantium.

In Book Six · Part 7, Odin endowed Starkad with bravery, skill in spells, and three spans of mortal life. In Book Seven · Part 16, he granted Harald Hyldetand such favour that steel could not injure him, and instructed him in dividing an army in battle. In Book Seven · Part 21, Odin disguised himself as Brun, Harald’s servant, and sowed strife between Harald and Ring. In Book Eight · Part 3, still in Brun’s shape, he arranged Harald’s battle line, placing Hetha and Hakon on the flanks and Wisna as standard-bearer. In Book Eight · Part 4, Harald recognized him, but Odin killed Harald with his own weapon.