Draugr: The Walking Corpse
The Heavy Dead
The Norse undead are not fragile skeletons. They are Draugar—animated corpses that retain the physical mass and intelligence of the warrior in life. A Draugr is defined by its "corpse-weight." It can manipulate its own density, becoming as heavy as stone to crush opponents. It is swollen with gases, smelling of decay, and its skin is hel-blár (corpse-blue/black). It is not a spirit. It is a rotting body that refuses to lie down.
The Greed of the Barrow
The primary motivation of a Draugr is the protection of property. Vikings were buried with their wealth to serve them in Valhalla. The Draugr stays behind to ensure no one touches it. They inhabit their burial mounds (barrows). If a grave robber disturbs a single coin, the Draugr will awaken. It will hunt the thief across ice and ocean, driven by a supernatural obsession with ownership.
Interaction Protocols
Conventional weapons are useless against a Draugr. Their skin is harder than iron, and stabbing a corpse does not kill it (again).
- Decapitation: The head must be severed.
- The Gluteal Seal: Norse folklore specifies that the severed head must be placed against the corpse's buttocks. This ritual humiliation and anatomical distance prevents re-animation.
- Wrestling: Physical containment is often necessary before decapitation. This requires immense strength (see: Grettir the Strong).
The Shapeshifter
The Draugr is not limited to humanoid form. It can shapeshift into a flayed bull or a horse with a broken back to travel or terrorize. However, it cannot hide its nature. It always smells of the grave, and it always drips water or ice.
The Final Warning
If you see a blue flame burning atop a burial mound in the deep winter, do not mistake it for a campfire. That is "Draugr-fire," the sign of a restless tenant. The occupant is awake, he is heavy with death, and he is counting his gold. If you take a single coin, he will walk until his feet wear down to the bone to get it back, for the dead do not share.
