Fáfnir

The Dragon of Greed (Art by Arthur Rackham)

**Fáfnir** was a greedy dwarf that became a dragon after being affected by the curse of Andvari's ring and gold.

## Overview

Fáfnir, a dwarf endowed with formidable strength and an indomitable spirit, is one of the three offspring of the dwarf king Hreidmar. His charge is the guardianship of his father's magnificent abode, resplendent with gleaming gold and dazzling gems. Among the trio of brothers, Fáfnir stands out as the most potent and aggressive.

Following his ill-fated encounter with the curse-laden ring and gold of Andvari, Fáfnir underwent a dreadful transformation, assuming the form of a dragon. This draconic incarnation met its demise at the hands of the hero Siegfried. Some renditions offer more detailed descriptions of Fáfnir's trove, which includes valuable items such as the swords Riðill and Hrotti, the Helm of Terror, and a golden chainmail coat, all forming a covetable hoard.

One day, Odin, Loki and Hœnir accidentally murdered Ótr, who had taken the form of an otter. When Hreimdar learned of this, he captured the three Aesir with the help of Fafnir and his brother Regin. They held them for ransom, allowing Loki to leave so he could pay. Loki offered the dwarves Andvari's ring and his cursed gold, which gave Fafnir the inspiration to murder Hreidmar. Due to his obsession with the gold, Fafnir slowly became a dragon, which is a symbol of greed.

## Appearance

Fafnir has the appearance of a large western dragon with black skin, a long neck and red, golden eyes with large dark wings.

## History

### Appeasing the King

During their travels, Odin, Loki, and Hœnir stumbled upon Ótr, who appeared as an otter during the daytime. Loki, in a moment of cruelty, took the otter's life by hurling a stone, and the three Æsir proceeded to skin their quarry. That evening, the gods arrived at Hreidmar's abode, proudly displaying the otter's pelt. Hreidmar and his remaining two sons, however, seized the deities and held them captive. It was then that Loki was assigned the task of gathering the ransom to secure their release.

The ransom demanded by Hreidmar was to fill the otter's skin with gold and cover its exterior with red gold. Loki reluctantly fulfilled this duty by amassing a fateful hoard, which included the accursed gold of Andvari, as well as the ring known as Andvaranaut. Loki was cautioned that these items possessed a dark power, destined to bring death to those who possessed them.

### Greed Manifest

In his insatiable pursuit of wealth, Fáfnir committed a heinous act by slaying Hreidmar to lay sole claim to the coveted gold. His character soured with greed, driving him to retreat into the wilderness, where he underwent a sinister transformation, assuming the form of a serpent or dragon to guard his vast fortune. Fáfnir exhaled toxic breath, poisoning the land surrounding him, ensuring that no one dared approach him or his treasure, sowing fear in the hearts of all.

Regin, consumed by a thirst for retribution and the desire for the treasure, devised a plan and dispatched his foster-son, Siegfried, to confront and vanquish the fearsome dragon. Regin provided Siegfried with specific instructions: he was to excavate a pit and conceal himself beneath the trail that Fáfnir frequented on his way to a nearby stream. There, Siegfried would plunge his sword, Balmung, into Fáfnir's heart as the serpent crawled over the pit to reach the water. Regin, however, succumbed to fear and hastily fled the scene, leaving Siegfried to carry out the daunting task.

As Siegfried began digging the pit, a mysterious visitor materialized in the form of an elderly man with a flowing beard. This stranger was none other than Odin, who offered sage counsel to the young warrior. He advised Siegfried to dig additional trenches to channel Fáfnir's blood, presumably to prevent him from drowning in the deluge that would ensue from the serpent's demise.

### Death of Fáfnir

As the earth trembled and the nearby ground shook, Fafnir emerged, releasing a noxious cloud into his wake as he made his way towards the stream. Siegfried, undaunted by the peril, thrust his blade into Fafnir's left shoulder as the dragon crawled over the ditch where Siegfried lay in ambush. This lethal blow mortally wounded the mighty creature. In its final moments, the dying dragon spoke to Siegfried, inquiring about his identity, lineage, and the sender of this treacherous mission.

Fafnir soon unraveled the conspiracy, realizing that his own brother, Regin, had plotted this scheme and predicted that Regin's malevolence would ultimately lead to Siegfried's demise. In response, Siegfried informed Fafnir of his intent to return to the dragon's lair and claim all of its glittering treasures. Fafnir offered a dire warning, cautioning that anyone who possessed the gold would be destined for a grim fate. Yet, Siegfried remained resolute, countering that all mortals must one day face death, and it is the desire of many to amass wealth until that inevitable end, so he would seize the gold without fear.

Upon Fafnir's demise, Regin reappeared, his heart consumed by avarice. He planned to slay Siegfried after the hero had prepared Fafnir's heart for their meal, with the intention of claiming the dragon's hoard for himself. However, fate took a different turn. Siegfried, having tasted Fafnir's blood while cooking the heart, gained the ability to comprehend the speech of birds. It was from the avian conversation, with Odinic birds at its core, that Siegfried learned of Regin's impending treachery. Swiftly, he vanquished Regin by decapitating him with his sword, Balmung. Siegfried then devoured some of Fafnir's heart and kept the remainder, a fateful relic to be later given to Gudrun after their union in matrimony.