Mythical Beings and Monsters
Draugr
Draugr are dead beings come to life, they are most commonly the lifeless bodies of deceased warriors. Draugr can be discerned by their rotting flesh, gleaming eyes and the smell of decay. They possess several abilities that seperate them from the others on this list. They have the ability to shrink and grow their sizes to a certain extent. In addition they can pass through solid matter at will as a ghost would. They possess great strength and mostly retain their fighting capabilities. Most draugr emerge from their graves to protect their valuables and troves from people who may want to ransack them. A draugr could also reanimate itself due to a lust for retribution for something done to them in their past lives. They are vengeful beings who hunt anyone who disturbs them.
Dwarves
Dwarves, sometimes referred to as "Dark Elves" mostly dwell in their home realm Svartalfheim. They live in caves and underground structures and mazes they build into these caves. Dwarves in Norse mythology, contrary to popular belief are not small beings in comparison to others but they are in fact known as "lesser" beings. They are extremely skilled beings who have crafted most of the important artifacts in Norse Mythology including Thor's hammer Mjölnir and Odin's ring and his spear. Some dwarves also possess incredible strength, as indicated by the four dwarves who hold the sky above their shoulders on its four corners. These dwarves are named Austri, Vestri, Nordri and Sudri and they stand for the primary directions East, West, North and South respectively.
Fossegrim
Within Norse mythology there are spirits that embody the elements such as fire spirits, water spirits and earth spirits. Fossegrim was one such water spirit and a very notable one at that. He would be seen near running water and is depicted as an almost naked young man that is very attractive. He is a very capricious spirit and does both good and sometimes very bad deeds. Fossegrim is a very talented musician and when he encounters a human and they sacrifice a goat in his name will teach them how to play the violin as good as he does. So good in fact that it would make trees dance when they hear the tune. But when caught in a bad mood Fossegrim is known to lure people and even children into the water and drown them. Fossegrim is quite the unpredictable entity.
Valkyries
A lot has been said about Valkyries and they have found ample spotlight in popular media in recent time. However almost all depictions of Valkyries have been wildly inaccurate. The valkyries are Odin's female warrior servants that soar through the sky and watch over the battlefield. Not only do they carry the dead warriors to their final judgement, whether they will be sent to Valhalla or Helheim, they also are known as The Choosers of The Fallen, meaning they in fact choose who gets to live and die in a battle. They are enigmatic and powerful beings.
House Tales
Tomte Nisse
Sometimes shortly referred to as nisse, The Tomte Nisse are an important part of Scandinavian Folklore. They can be seen as elves and are associated with The Winter Solstice and festivities. They possess gnomish features, said to be very short and stout. They also have long white beards and red conic hats to complete their festive look. The Tomte Nisse have been included in the literary works of famous Danish children's book writer Hans Christien Andersen. The Tomte Nisse watch over the farm and the cattle during the harsh winter season and bring good tidings and fortune. However they are also temperamental in nature as they are just as capable of mischievous deeds. On Christmas Eve families must leave the Nisse a bowl of porridge before going to bed lest the Nisse get angry with them and start harming the cattle.
The Yule Lads
The Yule Lads are the children of Gryla The Witch in Icelandic folklore and they are considered to be Chrsitmas spirits. They visit children's homes for 13 nights in a row with a specific Yule Lad showing up each night. They were used to deter children from misbehaving in the past but since a law was passed in 1764, their stories were watered down to be more child friendly. According to the story Gryla The Witch comes down from the snowy mountains and brings with her The Yule Lads, her children. Each Yule Lad has a defining characteristic that is also his namesake. Here are some of the the Yule Lads:
​
Gully Gawk: He steals cow milk from the buckets they are kept in.
Sheep Cote Clod: He plants yews in sheep sheds.
Spoon Licker: He licks all the spoons in the house to get them dirty.
Pot Scraper: He swipes dirty pots and pans.
Stubby: He is very short and steals food from pots and pans.
Door Sniffer: He has a gigantic nose and loves stealing baked food.
Window Peeper: He creeps in from cracked windows to disturb children's sleep.