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Non Player Races and Monsters
The races and 'monsters' of Norse mythology are generally divided into three classes. There are the Svartalfen (Black Elves) and the Weissalfen (White Elves) with the giants forming the third race. The Svartalfen are those that live underground and include dwarves, trolls, gnomes, kobolds, goblins, and the changelings or true 'black elves'. All members of any Svartalfen race will be turned to stone if they are exposed to sunlight. The Weissalfen include the white elves or fairies that live in lfheim, an aerial realm ruled by Frey.
The races of the black elves are many. They all have one common characteristic. They will all turn to stone in direct sunlight. They live underground, only venturing above the surface at night, or in the case of dwarves, when wearing a magical red cap, which renders them invisible and immune to the effects of sunlight. While they are generally suspicious of humans they have been known to help humans from time to time. The dwarves, in particular, are renowned for their skill as metal smiths. A dwarf smith is always more accomplished than any human. They are also notorious for driving hard bargains. A suit of dwarf crafted mail will be expensive indeed! Something more exotic will cost the buyer even more dearly. of course the first challenge is finding a dwarf smith. The dark elves or changelings are a stunted, evil looking race. To improve their racial stock they have been known to kidnap human babies to raise as their own and leave sickly changeling babies in their place. It is said that when this happens brewing beer in an eggshell and leaving it on the front stoop or holding the changeling babies feet to a fire will prompt the changelings to return and re-exchange children.
The Race of the Weissalfen
Known as fairies in much of Western Europe these tiny creatures inhabit a realm in the air known as Alfheim with the Norse god Frey. While they are more beneficial than the Svartalfen they can also be mischievous. They usually descend to earth simply to dance. It is said that any human fiddler who hears their music and tries to duplicate it will be unable to stop unless someone cuts the strings on the fiddle.
The races of the giants live in Jotunheim where they are ruled by the kings Thyrm (frost giants) and Surtur (fire giants). While they sometimes deal with the gods on less than hostile terms the usual order of the day is hostility. It is said that in the final battle of Ragnorok they will do battle with the gods and that both sides will be slain completely.
