God of War (2018) - Entry 5: Veithurgard
As we exit Tyr’s temple, I decide we should explore the Lake of Nine for resources to enhance our equipment. We grab a canoe and begin making our way across the water. Docking at one of the islands, we notice a brazier marked with runes. Atreus reads them aloud, unknowingly triggering an ambush. Though the fight is sudden, we make quick work of our enemies.
Once the battle is over, a spirit appears, thanking us for granting him one last glimpse of the sky before his soul is freed. He also mentions that other spirits around the lake are in need of aid. As a token of gratitude, he rewards us with an axe pommel and other valuable resources.
Atreus is eager to help more spirits, but I remind him that we cannot lose sight of our journey or our ultimate goal. As we continue exploring, I share stories with him while rowing through the lake. We come across more spirit braziers, and though I make it clear that we are not running a charity, I allow him to indulge his curiosity. I use these encounters to teach him how to turn them to our advantage—whether by gaining useful information or acquiring valuable resources.
One spirit tells us a tragic tale: his mother built a statue of Thor over his father’s grave to honor him. Thor, pleased by the tribute, visited the family but, in a drunken stupor, ended up killing the mother. Enraged, the spirit wants nothing more than for the statue to be destroyed. Given my disdain for the gods—and the spirit’s permission to loot his father’s grave as a reward—this is one request I am more than happy to fulfill. It serves as yet another lesson for Atreus about the true nature of the gods.
We make our way to Veithurgard, dealing with enemies along the path. Upon reaching the statue of Thor, we waste no time in destroying it. Returning to the spirit, he thanks us and offers an artifact meant as an offering to the gods before passing on. Seeing no use for it ourselves, we bring it to Brok, who has set up a shop in Veithurgard. In turn, he uses it to craft a new piece of armor. He also tells us about a dwarven castle in the area. Given the increasing difficulty of our battles, we decide to seek it out in hopes of finding resources to strengthen our gear for the challenges ahead.
We return to the lake, now with the Thor statue destroyed, and dock at a nearby beach. Waiting for us is a horde of Draugr, which we work together to defeat. After the battle, Atreus calls my attention to a dragon magically chained atop the castle ruins.
We make our way toward the ruins, using alcoves to avoid the dragon’s fiery breath. Upon reaching a safe area just below the beast, we spot an anchor—its source of imprisonment—glowing with magical binds. The dragon, named Otr, remains trapped by rune symbols similar to those we’ve seen on the Nornir chests.
Atreus is eager to free the creature, but I remind him that we must stay focused on our journey. However, he insists, explaining that Faye once told him about dragons and that freeing it would have been her wish. Reluctantly, I agree.
As we search the area, we discover a stone marker bearing a rune similar to the one on the anchor. Surrounding it are Draugr, seemingly in prayer. After defeating them, we destroy the rune marker.
Our search for the remaining markers leads us to the dwarven castle. Atreus reads inscriptions that reveal King Motsognir had commanded his people to capture all manner of creatures, including Otr and a troll. Upon destroying the final marker, we return to the anchor, and Atreus successfully disables the magic bindings.
I warn Atreus to be ready in case the dragon turns on us. But instead, Otr gives what appears to be a gesture of gratitude before taking flight, finally free.
With the dragon now free, we decide to return to the dwarf castle ruins in search of resources. While exploring, we come across the imprisoned troll.
Atreus urges me to free it, believing that no beast should suffer imprisonment. I warn him that, unlike the dragon, this creature will not show gratitude—it will attack us, and we will have to kill it. Atreus simply replies that this is what the troll would want.
With that, I turn the lever, releasing the beast. Now more in sync with each other in battle, Atreus and I defeat the troll without much trouble. I commend him on his improving skills. Afterward, he tells me that the troll was grateful—it would rather die in battle than waste away in a cage.
With nothing more to do in Veithurgard, it is time to return to the mountain and dispel the Black Breath with the Light of Alfheim.
