This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse era.
Skuld is a Norse Goddess of Fate and one of the three Norns encountered during The Word of Fate.
Norse Mythology[]
Skuld (the name possibly means "debt" and is related to the English word "should") is a Norn in Norse mythology. Along with Urð (Old Norse "fate") and Verðandi (possibly "happening" or "present"), Skuld makes up a trio of Norns that are described as deciding the fates of people. Skuld appears in at least two poems as a Valkyrie.
In the Nafnaþulur addition to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the following sections references Skuld.
- Mank valkyrjur Viðris nefna. Hrist, Mist, Herja, Hlökk, Geiravör, Göll, Hjörþrimul, Gunnr, Herfjötur, Skuld, Geirönul, Skögul ok Randgníð. Ráðgríðr, Göndul, Svipul, Geirskögul, Hildr ok Skeggöld, Hrund, Geirdriful, Randgríðr ok Þrúðr, Reginleif ok Sveið, Þögn, Hjalmþrimul, Þrima ok Skalmöld.
- I will recite the names of the valkyries of Viðrir (Odin). Hrist, Mist, Herja, Hlökk, Geiravör, Göll, Hjörþrimul, Gunnr, Herfjötur, Skuld, Geirönul, Skögul and Randgníð. Ráðgríðr, Göndul, Svipul, Geirskögul, Hildr and Skeggöld, Hrund, Geirdriful, Randgríðr and Þrúðr, Reginleif and Sveið, Þögn, Hjalmþrimul, Þrima and Skalmöld.
In the God of War Series[]
God of War: Ragnarök[]
In their desperate attempt to locate and free Atreus, Kratos and Freya encounter Skuld alongside her sisters in their hidden sanctum located deep beneath the Lake of Nine. She remains largely hidden through the encounter, only showing herself briefly to mockingly mimic Kratos and Freya as the duo commune with the sisters to discover the location and fate of Atreus.
Powers and Abilities[]
- Immortality: as a Norse Goddess, Skuld is immortal. Only a sufficiently powerful weapon or an extremely powerful being can kill her.
- Magic mastery: Like her sisters, Skuld is highly gifted in magic, being able to summon illusions to disguise the entrance to the Well of Urð, as well as conjure visions to others to confront them with their fears and guilt. She also has the ability to either conjure or summon creatures to attack trespassers to the well, including gulons, dark elves and even a frost phantom.
- Insight: Being a Norn, Skuld has a supernatural insight and understanding the personal nature of others and the choices they will make. Her sister Urð explains that it is only because people are so predictable that the Norns appear to have the ability to predict the future. Skuld uses her powers to accurately predict what an individual is about to say, and then proceeds to mimic them for her own personal amusement, much to their annoyance.
Trivia[]
- Her Greek equivalents (in terms of being Goddess of Fate) are Sisters of Fate.
- The Norns designs are based on the pagan idea of the Triple Goddess, as indicated by the moon design on their belts, with Skuld representing the Maiden.
Gallery[]
Concept Arts[]
