The Mythology Behind Daughter of Thunder

The Mythology Behind the Story  

Here, I dive into the origins of my characters and share how they’re connected to real myths and sagas. If you’re curious about the legends, names, and stories that inspired them, this is where you’ll find it.

Read the first 4 chapters first before diving in here! 

Heidi
Though Heidi is my own creation, her name echoes “Heiðr” from the Poetic Edda, often referring to a seeress with prophetic powers. In Völuspá, a mysterious woman named Heiðr is described as a wise, magic-wielding figure who travels between realms. Like her mythological namesake, my Heidi holds something ancient and powerful.

Brúkvar
While Brúkvar is an original character, his name feels rooted in Old Norse, evoking the harsh, jagged qualities often tied to jötnar (giants). Giants in Norse myths weren’t just brute enemies—they represented chaos, natural forces, and ancient powers that even the gods couldn’t fully control. In many sagas, giants are both destructive and wise, blurring the line between villain and force of nature.

Thor
Thor, the god of thunder, is known for his unmatched strength, fiery temper, and his mighty hammer, Mjölnir. While we often imagine him as an unstoppable warrior, Norse myths also show his humorous, almost stubborn side.

Fun Fact: In the Hymiskviða from the Poetic Edda, Thor goes fishing with the giant Hymir. But Thor isn’t after ordinary fish—he’s trying to catch Jörmungandr, the world serpent. What bait does he use? The head of an ox. Yes, Thor casually rips off an ox’s head and hooks it on a massive line. When Jörmungandr bites, Thor pulls with such force that his feet crash through the bottom of the boat, standing on the ocean floor. Just as Thor is about to smash the serpent’s head with Mjölnir, Hymir cuts the line, and the serpent escapes. It’s both epic and a bit absurd—classic Thor.

Asgard
Asgard is one of the Nine Realms in Norse cosmology, home of the Aesir gods, including Odin, Thor, and Frigg. It’s a realm of towering halls, golden palaces, and divine warriors. The gods’ great hall, Valhalla, stands here, where fallen warriors (the Einherjar) feast and prepare for Ragnarök.

Fun Fact: Despite its grandeur, Asgard isn’t isolated from chaos. In Völuspá, the gods themselves are fated to die during Ragnarök. Their power doesn’t make them immortal in the traditional sense—Norse mythology embraces the idea that even gods face doom, making their stories more tragic and heroic.

Midgard
Midgard, meaning “middle enclosure,” is the realm of humans. It’s connected to Asgard by the Bifröst and protected by the gods, especially Thor, who defends it from giants and monsters. The world serpent, Jörmungandr, encircles Midgard, symbolizing both protection and the ever-present threat of destruction.

Fun Fact: In Norse cosmology, Midgard isn’t flat—it’s envisioned as a vast land surrounded by a cosmic ocean, with Yggdrasil, the World Tree, connecting all realms. The gods created Midgard from the body of the giant Ymir, using his flesh for the earth, his blood for the seas, and his skull as the sky. Talk about a dark creation myth!

Heimdall

Heimdall is the ever-watchful guardian of Bifröst, the rainbow bridge connecting Asgard to Midgard. Known for his incredible senses, he can hear grass growing and see to the ends of the world.

Fun Fact: Heimdall’s hearing is so sharp that he can detect the wool growing on sheep. In Völuspá, he’s referred to as the “shining god” and the “son of nine mothers,” which has puzzled scholars for ages. Yep—nine mothers. Norse mythology never misses a chance to be delightfully weird.

Ginnungagap
Ginnungagap is the primordial void—the great nothingness that existed before creation. It wasn’t just empty space; it was a vast chasm of potential. On one side was Niflheim, a realm of ice, and on the other was Muspelheim, a land of fire. When the heat of Muspelheim met the frost of Niflheim, life sparked into existence.

Fun Fact: According to Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda, the first being, Ymir, emerged from this melting ice, fed by a cosmic cow named Auðumbla. The cow licked salty ice blocks, and from them, the god Búri appeared. Yes, in Norse mythology, life literally began with a cow licking ice.

Sif
Sif is the goddess with radiant golden hair, symbolizing fertility, grain, and harvest. She’s often depicted as Thor’s wife, but there’s more to her than just being his partner.

Fun Fact: Loki once cut off Sif’s golden hair as a prank. To make amends, he went to the dwarves—master craftsmen—and they created not only new magical hair for Sif but also Mjölnir, Thor’s hammer, and other legendary treasures for the gods. So, in a way, if Loki hadn’t been a troublemaker, Thor might never have gotten his iconic weapon.

Freki
In Norse mythology, Freki (“the ravenous one”) is one of Odin’s two wolves, alongside Geri. Odin, interestingly, doesn’t eat food—instead, he gives all his meals to Freki and Geri while he drinks only mead.

Fun Fact: The wolves aren’t just pets; they symbolize Odin’s connection to primal instincts and his role as both a wise ruler and a god of war. In my story, Freki takes on a human form, but he still embodies that wild, battle-hardened nature.

Bifröst
Bifröst is the shimmering rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard. It’s not just a pretty sight—it’s a bridge made of fire, air, and water, and it’s strong enough to carry gods and warriors, but fragile enough to shatter during Ragnarök.

Fun Fact: In Völuspá, it’s foretold that Bifröst will break when the forces of chaos—giants and monsters—march into Asgard during Ragnarök. The bridge isn’t just a passageway; it’s a symbol of the fragile connection between the mortal and divine realms. The red in the bridge make sure that every human daring to pass the bridge, turns into flames!

Jörmungandr
Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent, is so massive that it circles the world, biting its own tail—a symbol known as the ouroboros, representing eternity and the cycle of life and death. He’s the child of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, making him the sibling of Hel and Fenrir, the monstrous wolf.

Fun Fact: Jörmungandr’s rivalry with Thor is legendary. During Ragnarök, they’re destined to kill each other. Thor strikes Jörmungandr with Mjölnir and kills the serpent. But then Thor only manages to walk nine steps before succumbing to the serpent’s venom. The number nine often appears in Norse mythology, symbolizing completion and cosmic order.

Huginn and Muninn
Huginn (“thought”) and Muninn (“memory” or “mind”) are Odin’s ravens, who fly across the world every day to gather information. They return to whisper everything they’ve seen and heard into Odin’s ears.

Fun Fact: In Grímnismál from the Poetic Edda, Odin admits that he fears Huginn might not return—but he worries even more about losing Muninn. This shows that even the Allfather, with all his power, carries the fear of losing his own thoughts and memories. It’s a rare, vulnerable moment for such an all-knowing god.

The Gjallarhorn
The Gjallarhorn is the resounding horn of Heimdall, the guardian of Bifröst. Its name means “yelling horn” or “loud horn.” Heimdall will blow the Gjallarhorn to signal the beginning of Ragnarök, the final battle that will bring about the end of the world. Its sound is so powerful that it can be heard across all realms.

Fun Fact: In Gylfaginning from the Prose Edda, Heimdall is described as needing little sleep, having the sharpest eyesight and hearing, and guarding the gods with unwavering vigilance. The Gjallarhorn’s blast is said to be so loud that it will wake even the gods from their rest—imagine an alarm clock strong enough to wake an entire pantheon!

Skjaldmær
“Skjaldmær” translates to “shield-maiden,” referring to women who fought alongside men in battle in Norse legends. While it’s debated how historically accurate shield-maidens were, they hold a strong place in mythology and sagas, representing fierce, independent female warriors.

Fun Fact: In the Hervarar saga, Hervor, a legendary skjaldmær, disguises herself as a man to reclaim a cursed sword from her father’s grave. Shield-maidens also appear in the ranks of the Valkyries, warrior maidens who choose who lives and dies on the battlefield. The term embodies strength, defiance, and the spirit of battle.

Jötunheim
Jötunheim (or Jotunheimr) is the realm of the giants (jötnar), ancient beings often in conflict with the gods. It’s a harsh, untamed land filled with towering mountains, dark forests, and icy wastelands. Giants here aren’t just brutes—they’re forces of nature, embodying chaos, wisdom, and raw power.

Fun Fact: Despite their rivalry, the gods and giants are deeply connected. Loki, the trickster god, is actually a jötunn by birth. Even Odin himself sought wisdom from giants, proving that the gods often rely on the very beings they fight. In Þrymskviða, Thor has to disguise himself as a bride to trick the giant Þrymr and retrieve Mjölnir—a hilarious and clever tale that shows how unpredictable Norse myths can be.

Henbane

Henbane is a highly toxic plant associated with both magic and madness in Norse mythology. It was speculated to have been used in ritual practices, possibly by seeresses or warriors seeking visions or battle frenzy. While no direct evidence confirms its use by Viking warriors, some theories suggest that substances like henbane or fly agaric mushrooms might have contributed to berserker rage.

Seeress

A seeress (or völva) was a powerful woman in Norse mythology, revered for her ability to see the future and communicate with the gods. Often depicted as wandering mystics, seeresses held immense spiritual authority, and even the gods sought their wisdom.