Ivaldi

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Ivaldi was an Isu master blacksmith and human sympathizer who lived and worked in Asgard to repay a life debt to Odin. A native of the Isu realm of Svartálfaheimr, he was remembered in Norse mythology as a dwarven smith and was encountered by Eivor Varinsdottir when she relived Odin's memories before the Great Catastrophe.

Biography

Early Life

Ivaldi grew up in Svartálfaheimr sometime during the Isu Era. As a member of the dwarves, he was part of a society that traded resources and weapons instead of humans. As such, Ivaldi grew a great disdain for human slavers. During his life he fathered many children, two being Iðunn and Alf.

At a later date, the dwarf was bound to repay a life debt to the leader of the Asgardian Isu Odin, leaving his work at home to his children and moving himself to Scandinavia. There, he was forced to create any Piece of Eden the Æsir wanted within his forge at the center of the Isu city. He forged several powerful artifacts throughout his life, including Odin's signature weapon, the spear Gungnir.

Forging Gleipnir

After the jötnar Isu army attempted once again to invade Asgard and failed, Ivaldi was disturbed by the Builder, a covert operative of the hostile Isu faction in disguise. Unaware of the Builder's true intentions to kill Odin nor of his patriotic affiliations of the enemy group, Ivaldi gave permission to the stranger to enter his forge. He asked the dwarf if he knew anything about consciousness transfer experiments and how they would affect the Asgardians but, feeling that something wasn't right, Ivaldi refused to answer. Just in time, Odin approached the two Isu, drawing the Builder away. The Æsir leader asked his blacksmith for help in the creation of a device that would be capable to contain Loki's illegitimate child, Fenrir; whom he feared would kill him in the wake of the Great Catastrophe, an event that the Nornir had prophesised through some calculations.

In return for Odin's promise to free him when the work was finished, Ivaldi agreed to craft the object the All-Father desired. In order to create such a machine, Ivaldi then requested Odin to look for certain resources and, after a while, he returned to the dwarf with the materials he needed. Ivaldi gathered them and started forging the tool, which would hold the young Isu until the disaster struck the Earth. After informing his master that the creation of the object would take some time, the blacksmith also mentioned to him that one of his cousins had been experimented on by the jötnar Isu and had his consciousness somehow successfully transferred to another body. This intrigued Odin, but the two men were disturbed by Freyja, Odin's wife, and the dwarf refused to speak more, not wanting to be dragged into their conflict.

After Odin travelled to Jötunheimr and sacrificed his left eye in the Well of Mímir to obtain the secret to technology capable of saving the Æsir from the catastrophe, he returned to Asgard and saw Ivaldi expectantly waiting for him by the doors to the realm at the base of Heimdall's Tower. Gleipnir had finally been created and he handed it over to the now one-eyed Isu, instructing him on how to use the device correctly. Odin stayed true to his promise and ended the life debt, thankful Ivaldi walked away and returned to his homeland.

Muspel Invasion and Death

Ivaldi's return to Svartalfheim didn't stay peaceful for long. Odin's son Baldr was kidnapped by the Muspels Leader Surtr and his forces were invading his homeland with the help of the Jötnar. The Dwarves held up in Shelters, large vaults that protected them from the fighting outside. Having taken a leadership position he tried contacting other Shelters but was ambushed on his way by Glod's forces. With them they had a ferocious beast that swallowed Ivaldi whole ending his life.

Legacy

After Ivaldi's death Gunborg took over his position as leader of their sheleter and when Odin came to find his son she told him of Ivaldi's passing, saddening the Aesir.

Mythology

In Norse mythology, Ivaldi's sons were said to be a group of dwarves that made several key pieces for the gods, including Freyr's magically unfolding ship Skíðblaðnir, Odin's magically multiplying ring Draupnir, his returning spear Gungnir, and Sif's golden hair.

Behind the scenes

Ivaldi is a mythical figure and character appearing in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, where he is portrayed by Carl Andersson.

As an Isu from Svartálfaheimr, it's unclear whether or not Ivaldi's shorter stature, which goes against traditional imagery of Isu towering over humans, is simply the way Eivor perceives him based on her own cultural expectations, a metaphor for the difference in Odin and Ivaldi's status, or is an example of an actual Isu with restricted growth.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla