Baldr

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"Father... My mother's gift was the blessing of all the realms, so that no blade, claw, venom, or spark could harm her son. I am surely grateful—but without the risk of death, what triumph is worth celebrating?"

―Baldr to Odin

Baldr, alternatively Baldur, was an Isu who was revered as god of light, peace, innocence, purity and prophecy in Norse mythology. A member of the Æsir, he was one of the sons of Odin, and thus the brother of Thor and numerous others.

His capture and later death at the hands of the Muspels would later become the catalyst for the beginning of Ragnarök.

Mythology

In both the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, Baldr was born to Frigg. In the Prose Edda, Loki tried to kill Baldr but was unsuccessful. After asking Frigg why no object could hurt her son, she explained that it was because all objects on Earth had taken an oath not to harm him save for mistletoe, which either was deemed too unimportant to consider asking or was too young to swear an oath. With this knowledge, Loki immediately created a mistletoe arrow and tricked Baldr's blind brother Höðr into loosing it when the Æsir playfully tested Baldr's fabled invulnerability, killing the god.

Biography

"Mistletoe... symbol of hope. Renewal... but not for Baldr."

―Sinmara gloating to Odin over causing Baldr's death

Baldr imprisoned by the Muspels

Baldr was born to Frigg and Odin in Asgard during the Isu Era, being the second son of the Æsir leader.

Years later, Baldr now an adult accompanied his brothers Thor and Heimdall tracked a Muspel giant that had entered Asgard. In an ensuing conflict, the Muspel and Baldr are caught in a rockfall. The Muspel is killed while Baldr emerges unscathed yet laments the death of his enemy. Escaping the rubble into a Dwarven tunnel, he meets an escaped Dwarf slave whom the Muspel was chasing, unknowingly leading him into Asgard. Baldr was informed by the Dwarf of Muspel forces gathering to invade his homeland of Svartálfaheimr. Through their conversation, Baldr realizes he has little life experience as a warrior. Upon seeing sunlight and exiting the tunnels, Baldr turned back to find the Dwarf but he was nowhere in sight.

Days pass, and Baldr returned home, before Odin–deep in conversation with Tyr–could worry further. At a celebration feast, Baldr could not help but notice Tyr's missing arm and his father's missing eye. He went to bed to reflect upon these things.

After a few more days, Baldr stood before his father's throne Hliðskjálf and met with Odin and his stepmother, Freyja.

Years later, Odin imprisoned Loki's son Fenrir over his fated role to kill Odin during Ragnarök. Outraged at Fenrir's unjust treatment, Loki secretly told the Muspels how to poison Baldr with mistletoe and left Odin to grieve over the loss of his child.

Legacy and influence

Baldr had a totem named after him in the popular dice game Orlog, played during the 9th century. The piece "Baldr's Invulnerability" would earn players extra helmets and shields for each die that rolled either of those icons. An Anglo-Saxon man at the Ragnarsson War Camp for the Great Heathen Army in Ledecestreshire possessed the piece, which he gave to the Viking shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan after being defeated.

In 881, the King of Dublin Bárid mac Ímair cursed Flann Sinna using Baldur's name in exasperation for not heeding his warning of an incoming attack.

Gallery

• 
  Baldr in chains
• 
  Baldr's Invulnerability
• 
  A toy of Baldr based off his Sigrblot statue
• 
  Baldr statue during the Sigrblot festival in Ravensthorpe

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first mentioned)
  • Wrath of the Druids (mentioned only)
  • Dawn of Ragnarök (first appearance)
  • The Forgotten Saga (spirit only)
• Discovery Tour: Viking Age (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Forgotten Myths
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)