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A Giant with eight arms, swinging four swords... until Thor chopped him up. Why did the Gods gang up on him?

–Codex

Starkaðr, also called Starkaðr the Mighty, was a Jötunn featured in God of War (2018).

Norse Mythology[]

Starkad ( Old Norse: Starkaðr) was either an eight-armed giant or the human grandson of the giant with the aforementioned name. He is portrayed as a great warrior who performed many heroic deeds but also many crimes. In the Hervarar saga, Starkad lived in Northern Norway in the waterfalls of Alufoss. He descended from the Jotuns, the inhabitants of Jötunheim, and his father's name was Storkvid. Starkad himself was pretty much a jotun himself and had eight arms, but was betrothed to a girl named Ogn Elf-burst. One day, while Starkad had gone north across the Élivágar, the rivers that existed in Ginnungagap, another giant named Hergrim kidnapped Ogn. Upon learning of this, Starkad challenged Hergrim to a duel. The former used four swords at the same time and slew Hergrim. Unfortunately for Starkad, Ogn did not wish to be his wife and used a sword to commit suicide. The eight-armed giant then contented himself by taking everything Hergrim owned, including his son Grimr.

One Autumn, while the beautiful princess Álfhildr was participating in performing the Disáblot, a sacrifice to the Goddesses, with her father, Starkad kidnapped her as she was reddening the altar with blood. Álfhildr's father, King Álfr of Álfheim, called on Thor to help him rescue his daughter. The Thunder God granted his wish by killing Starkad and rescuing Álfhildr.

Biography[]

Starkaðr was a mighty, eight-armed Giant warrior whose strength surpassed even Thor. Mimir believed that if the Giants ever organized an army, Starkaðr would've been their general. As Odin's advisor, Mimir told Odin of his opinion, a decision he later regretted.

Odin sought to have Starkaðr killed and, with even Thor unwilling to battle the Giant alone, chose to slander Starkaðr's reputation, branding him throughout the realms as a monster to be feared. According to Mimir part of his tarnished reputation involved the alleged abduction of an Elven princess who killed herself to escape his cruelty. This led the Vanir and the armies of Midgard to assist the Aesir in taking down Starkaðr.

Starkaðr surrendered and hoped a trial would clear his name. However, Thor took the opportunity to attack the weakened Starkaðr, tearing his arms one by one until the mighty giant bled to death on the battlefield.

Personality[]

Starkaðr was peaceful and honorable in nature, despite his great strength and martial skill. This can be seen in his willingness to surrender and be placed on a trial, as he wishes to clear his name of all the slanders heaped upon him.

Powers and Abilities[]

Starkaðr was an immensely powerful Giant. His might was so great that Thor himself dared not to fight him one-on-one, despite the God of Thunder's confidence in taking on powerful enemies such as Jörmungandr and even Kratos. Odin was forced to rely on trickery and deception to rally the forces of Asgard, Vanaheim, and Midgard at once against Starkaðr, and even then, he still proved to be a difficult challenge.

Powers[]

  • Immeasurable Strength: Having eight arms, Starkaðr had tremendous levels of vast superhuman strength and was deemed to be one of the strongest of the Jötnar, to the point of being stronger than the likes of Thor and Odin, the former not even daring to fight Starkaðr one-on-one, forcing the two mightiest Norse Gods to call upon their forces and ally with the Vanir Gods and Midgard forces. Even then, Starkaðr was strong enough to pose a difficult challenge to them.
  • Nigh-Invulnerability: Starkaðr had immense levels of superhuman durability, both to physical and magical attacks, to the point that it took the combined might of the Aesir and Vanir as well as Midgard forces to defeat him. Even then Starkaðr was still able to survive while weakened, giving opportunity for Thor to attack him with all his power to sever his arms to cause him to finally bleed to death.
  • Cryokinesis: As a Frost Giant, it is certain that Starkaðr had the ability to control ice.

Abilities[]

  • Leadership Abilities: Starkaðr was acknowledged by Mimir and Odin to be an exceptional leader capable of effectively leading the Giants as a general. The idea of Starkaðr leading such a force against him was enough to make Odin fear him enough to went to great lengths by allying with not only Midgard forces but even the Vanir, the sworn enemy of the Aesir.
  • Master Combatant: Starkaðr was an immensely accomplished combatant, having been recognized as the most fearsome warrior of the Giants and enough so to potentially earn the subservience of every giant should they form an army. Even the mightiest warrior of Asgard, Thor, feared him and would not dare face him directly. Odin himself considered him as being enough of a threat to went as far as to rally the armies of Midgard and even his most hated enemies, the Vanir, alongside with his own forces, the Aesir, to attack him and even then they were unable to subdue him without great difficulty.

Shrine Story[]

Atreus: ”Okay – what about the Giant with eight arms?”

Mimir: “Starkaðr the Mighty, he was called. If the Giants ever had anything so organized as an army, Starkaðr would have been their general – an opinion, in retrospect, I should have kept to myself. But no, as Odin’s advisor, I kept him advised... and having bent his will towards Starkaðr’s doom there was no dissuading him. But even Thor wasn’t stupid enough to take on Starkaðr on his own. No, instead the Aesir set forth slanders upon Starkaðr’s name, branding him throughout the realms as a monster to be feared. They said he abducted an Elf-queen, who killed herself rather than be ravished by the Giant (lies, of course – but you’re too young for her story). In the end, even the Vanir Gods and the armies of Midgard were roused to the cause. They surrounded Starkaðr, showing him with arrows until he was brought to his knees. He surrendered, hoping by trial he could clear his name. Thor took advantage and ripped off one of Starkaðr’s arms – which only made it easier to sever another, and another, until he was satisfied. Relieved of six arms and too much blood, Starkaðr perished upon the battlefield. (sighs) I regret it to this day, you know. I told myself there was nothing I could do. But I wished I tried.”

Trivia[]

  • His Greek equivalents (in term of possessing multiple body parts) are the Hecatonchires, particularly Aegaeon.
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