Svefnthorn

The **Svefnthorn** (Old Norse: "Svefnþorn"; pronouns "SVEFN-thorn") is a magical rune originated from Norse mythology.

## Overview

A svefnthorn is an ancient magic rune originated from Norse mythology and is shrouded in mystery.

Its visual form, when described or depicted at all, varies considerably from source to source, as shown in the image above. Unlike most ancient Norse symbols, it doesn’t seem to have had any one definitive shape. There are also significant differences in how one would go about applying the Svefnthorn to someone, as well as the exact effects that the Svefnthorn would bring about once applied.

But the mentions of the Svefnthorn in the literature all have one thing in common: the Svefnthorn was used to put an adversary into a deep sleep from which he or she wouldn’t awaken for a long time.

## History

In *The Saga of the Volsungs*, the god Odin used a Svefnthorn to sink the valkyrie Brynhildr (Brunhild) into a slumber from which she would be unable to awaken until someone crossed the formidable circle of fire Odin had kindled around her sleeping body. The hero Sigurd was brave and capable enough to cross the flames to reach her, and so awoke her.

In *The Saga of King Hrolf Kraki*, Queen Olof “stuck” King Helgi with a Svefnthorn in order to knock him unconscious so that she could play a trick on him and his men. The effect wore off, apparently entirely on its own, in a matter of hours.

In *Gongu-Hrolf’s Saga*, Vilhjalmr stuck a Svefnthorn into Hrolf’s head in the night, and he didn’t wake up until well into the following day when a horse rolled his sleeping body around and the thorn fell out. Here, the thorn seems to have been a physical thing of some sort that was lodged in Hrolf’s head rather than “merely” a spell.

## Demonic Artifact

There exist a type of demonic sword known as the Svefnthorn Blade, created from rare demonic metals inbued with the immense power of a Prince of Hell. The weapon is described as looking like a "goth fireplace poker" with a long, iron spike that has barbed wire at the end of the blade. The blade itself twists like a corkscrew.

The Svefnthorn Blade contains an enormous amount of demonic magic that only a warlock could survive if stabbed. It is meant to increase their magical abilities by linking the warlock to a specific minor realm of Hell and its ruler and allows them to draw power from it and seemingly slowly turns them into Greater Demons.

One must be stabbed by it three times to complete its magic and to survive. Nothing can reverse its effects. If, after two strikes one chooses not to be stabbed a third time, the power will grow until it is wild and out of control causing them to die. When attuned to a specific demon, the third strike of it will put one under the demon's thrall.

Due to the danger it possess to Warlocks who use it, the Spiral Labyrinth forbade its use since 1500, as well as the destruction/sealing of all pre-existing Blades.

The fairies Mo Ye and her husband Gan Jiang claimed to have had their own a Svefnthorn at one time. Though Mo Ye believed it to still be in the back of their shop, Gan Jiang denied it saying he had lost it long before Shanghai was even built.

## Trivia

* The name "Svefnþorn" means "sleep thorn".
* Many magic-users believe the symbol might be created by combing an Isaz rune with an Ingwaz rune beneath it.