Hræsvelgr

Hræsvelgr was the Jötunn who ruled over Helheim, a vast eagle perched atop the highest spire of the frozen realm and known throughout the Nine Realms by the title of Hel. Distant and unmoved by the affairs of the living and the dead, she watched over the realm of the dead through the long years and desired only a successor who would free her from her reign.

Ruler of Helheim#

Hræsvelgr came from Jötunheim and rose to rule over Helheim, the cold realm of the dead, becoming the ninth to hold the throne and reigning longer than any before her. She was known across the Nine Realms by the title Hel, and she sat unmoving atop the tallest building in the realm, gazing down upon its residents. She was named the author of the winds, and the unceasing frozen gales that held Helheim in permanent deep-freeze were believed to come from the beating of her enormous wings. Like Jormungandr, she spoke an ancient tongue of the Jötnar that only a few, among them Atreus and Mimir, could understand.

Indifference of the Eagle#

When Kratos first travelled to Helheim to take the heart of the Bridge Keeper and cure his ailing son, Hræsvelgr remained indifferent to everything she witnessed. She watched without intervening as events unfolded beneath her.

Her detachment was plainest after the beast Garm tore open Hel Tears throughout the realms. When Kratos and Atreus came to ask how many tears had been opened, Hræsvelgr told them there were six to be closed, and warned that they should expect no gratitude, for the tears should never have been opened in the first place. When the work was done and Mimir came to report their success, she answered that she already knew, and repeated that there would be no reward.

The bargain for Hel#

Before launching the war to bring down Odin, Kratos and his allies resolved to seek the forces of Hel. Hildisvíni judged that Hræsvelgr would deal more readily with one who had already died, and so brought Mimir along for the negotiation. They won her aid by promising to find someone to take her place as ruler of Helheim, so that she might at last retire from the realm. Hræsvelgr was afterward seen in quiet conversation with Tyr.