Vaettir

**Vættir** (Old Norse; singular **Vættr**) or **wights** are nature spirits in many Norse Traditions.

The Old Norse term vættir and its English cognate wights literally mean 'beings' and relate etymologically to other forms of the verb to be, like was and were. Vættir and wights normally refer to supernatural 'beings', especially landvættir (land spirits), but can refer to any Spirit. By extension, the dead are grouped among the families of Vættir, especially when understood as being in the Underworld (Hel). The
 term 'families' (ættir) is often translated as 'clans' or 'races'.

## Landvaettir

. Landvættir (land spirits) are chthonic guardians of specific grounds, which can be as small as a rock or a corner of a field or as large as a section of a country.

### Exterior Wights

* Certain Alfkind and Dvergr
* Lyktebær, Lyktemann, Vettelys / Light bearer and Wight lights
* Finngalkn
* **Dragon**- Debated as possibly being a family of, or otherwise derivative of Dwarves (Dvergr), especaily pertainin to the legend of Fafnir.
* Linnworm / Linnorm
* Whiteworm / Kvitorm
* Gongfal, Fjellånder
* Haugbokk
* Mosekone
* Skjoldmøy
* Sylvbergmora

### Innmarksvetter: The Farm Wights

* **Tomte** or **N*isse*** - a solitary vätte, often represented as an ancestor living on the farmstead. He is usually benevolent and helpful, which can not be said about a mischievous *illvätte*. However he can cause a lot of damage if he is angry, such as killing livestock. Appearance inspired the modern look of garden gnomes. Also known as Gardvorden.
* **HusVaettir** - Spirits of the House that are considered a spiritual extension of the family thought not a spirit of a deceased member of the family. As long they are respected and cared for they often help with household chores and keeping up wards and otherwise protecting the house. They will follow families into a new home though this often is a process that wears the HusVaettir down for a few months.
* Gliretroll
* Gumma
* Ilduhyret
* Klabautermann
* Kråkjerring
* (Tussefolk / Underjordiske )
* Årevetter

## Vatnavaettir

**vatnavættir** (water spirits) Guardians of Bodies of Fresh Water

* Nix
* Fossegrimen - Spirit that if properly approached, will teach a musician to play so adeptly "that the trees dance and waterfalls stop at his music" Particularly found at rivers with water falls
* Kvernknurren
* Wellwind
* N*ykur/*Waterhest - Fresh Water Horse, timid unless scared or angered
* Ågdråja

## **Sjövættir**

**Sjövættir (Ocean Spirits)**

* Marmále
* Margygra
* Mermaid and Havmann / Mermaid and Merman
* Hafgufa
* Homratusta
* **Sea Ghost / Draugen -** technically also death wights, 'Ghost' of those who died at sea and now serve as instraments of the Harsh Jottun Goddess Ran, Wife of Aegir.
* Havtroll

## Death Wights

* **Vakravn** - half-wolf and half-raven creature that was once a raven that ate the heart of a human. gained human knowledge and could perform great malicious acts, could lead people astray, and had superhuman powers.
* Bysen
* Deildegast
* Gast
* Gjenferd
* **Grave Sow / Gray Sow** - Apparition in the shape of a piglet. Spirit mainly shows up to show a child has either been barried in secret, or improperly, often appearing above the gravesite.
* ghost horse
* Church horse
* Kirkelam
* Knirke cart
* Natteravnen
* Pestkjerringa / Hellen
* Pipledraugen