Nidhoggr (Art by Fadel Ramdani)
Nidhöggr, known as the Death Dragon or literally "Malice Striker", in Norse mythology is a creature that gnaws at the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil.
Overview[]
Nidhöggr was one of the many primordial dragons that was born from Tiamat herself. After Tiamat's demise, Nidhöggr was subdued by Marduk and later imprisoned within the roots of the World Tree by Ananke's webs, forever forced to gnaw at the tree's roots and the Weaver's webs in a feeble attempt to escape his confines.
He now lives beneath the roots of Yggdrasil while being entangled within Ananke's webs, gnawing at them as they are the only thing that keeps it from the world. Despite being imprisoned, Nidhöggr is capable of travel towards chthonic realms connected to the roots of the Ash Tree, most notable is Helheim alongside the goddess Hel. Similar to Cerberus it is said that Nidhöggr chews on or otherwise tortures the dead within Náströnd.
The squirrel Ratatoskr brings words of envy between Nidhoggr and the eagle Hraesvelgr. The only person capable of controlling him is the goddess Hel. Its existence is the portend of the Ragnarok that signals the end of all where he will escape as his body is "dripping with corpses" while flying low across the blazing plains.