Kratos

You, will not see the end of this day.

**Kratos** (Greek: Κράτος), also known as Fárbauti (Nordic: **ᚠᚨᚱᛒᚨᚢᛏᛁ**) and the **God of War/Stríðsguð** (Nordic: **ᛊᛏᚱᛁᚦᛊᚷᚢᛞ**), is the titular character and the main protagonist of the *God of War* franchise.

Once the brutal captain of the Spartan Army, Kratos led his men throughout numerous conquests all across the lands of Greece, eventually coming across a savage Barbarian horde. Confident of his own victory, Kratos led his army into battle, but soon found himself hopelessly outmatched and outclassed. The Barbarians' brutality exceeding his own, and on the verge of death, Kratos struck a deal with the "**God of War**" - Ares to further his exploits. He would then commit atrocity after atrocity under Ares' name, spreading death throughout the world with his armies and justifying it all by proclaiming his intent to make "the glory of Sparta known throughout the world!". For a time, it seemed, his only tether to humanity was his beloved family, yet even they grew horrified by him, to the point where his wife Lysandra would state outright that he cared nothing for Sparta's glory, but for his own. He would not listen to her, and continued his rampage, blindly following the will of Ares in his pursuit of more bloodshed and infamy — yet this took a tragic turn when the God tricked him into killing his wife and child, all to destroy what little humanity he had left. Branded the "**Ghost of Sparta**" for this terrible deed, the ashes of his wife and child would remain fused to his skin forever.

Completely undone by the killing of his wife and child, Kratos became a constantly-suicidal and greatly-bereaved wreck of a man beloved by none yet known to all. Devoting himself to the other Gods of Olympus in a desperate attempt to rid himself of his memories, Kratos would hang on to the small glimmer of hope that perhaps he would one day be able to redeem himself. Yet no matter how many enemies he'd slaughter or how many lives he would save, the Gods would continue to put labour upon labour onto Kratos' shoulders, forcing him to endure the pain of his memories for ten long years of servitude. Maddened by his memories and unable to find a moment of peace, Kratos would develop a deep-seated hatred of the Gods, and especially Ares in particular, for toying with his life. Though Kratos would eventually defeat Ares and claim the throne of the "**God of War**" for his own, his resentment of the other Gods would bring him in conflict against all on Olympus, culminating in a cataclysmic series of battles against them that would decide the fate of Greece itself.

Eventually leaving Greece as well as his bloody past behind, Kratos ends up in Ancient Egypt and makes his way into Midgard. Having come to view his troubled past with great shame, Kratos has taken the initiative to mature and grow past his self-destructive tendencies, choosing to live as a man under the thumb of the Norse Pantheon. He even finds love again with a woman named Faye, eventually fathering a child with her named Atreus. When Faye dies of mysterious circumstances, Kratos and Atreus set out on a journey to spread her ashes from the highest peak in all the Nine Realms. However, he and Atreus come into conflict with various supernatural creatures along their way, and are constantly pursued along their path by a mysterious Stranger — seemingly under orders from the leader of the Norse Pantheon himself, Odin.

Three years later, Kratos, Atreus, and Mímir were than confronted by the King of Asgard, Odin and the God of Thunder, Thor. After dueling Thor, Kratos, Atreus, and Mímir set out on a journey across the Nine Realms in hopes of finding a way to prevent Ragnarök. Along the way, they are confronted by a vengeful Freya, but they eventually make amends. Unable to prevent Ragnarök, Kratos, Atreus, and their allies unite the Nine Realms in a war against Asgard. Kratos battles Thor once again, but Thor is killed by Odin for refusing to kill Kratos. Kratos, Atreus, Mímir, and Freya then confront Odin in battle and they defeat the All-Father. Therefore, Asgard is now destroyed. Returning home to Midgard, Atreus, as "Loki", decides that he needs to go out and find any remaining Giants. He bids a heartfelt farewell while Kratos learns that he is destined to become a revered God. Thereafter, he along with Freya and also Mímir, begins rebuilding the realms and they restore peace.