Based on Norse Mythology, Grizzleheim and Wintertusk is home to Bears, Wolves and Ravens as the major races. Savage Wildclaws, primal Boars, Grendels and the Coven are out to thwart you. Stop The Coven, a band of ravens who want to bring on a frozen Armageddon that will turn the spiral into a frozen wasteland.
Grizzleheim was released in 2009 as the first side world of Wizard101. The Wintertusk expansion was released in 2011.
We here at the Blog would like to dedicate this particular list to the memory of Dell Aldrich (1931 – 2022), the voice of Wizard101’s Narrator and Grandmother Raven.
Please note this list does not claim to be every reference these are just the ones I caught or have been made aware of. Many young wizards have contributed to my research for this series of articles. I have undoubtedly missed some references and will happily revise this master list as more come to light. Also this series focuses on the NPCs of Wizard101 and will not attempt to list all references in Quest Names, Spells, or Dialogue.
Baldur Goldpaws – Baldr
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Baldur_Goldpaws
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baldr
Berni and Urt – Ernie and Bert
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Berni
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Urt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_and_Ernie
https://youtu.be/Mh85R-S-dh8
Einar Thunderhammer – Mjölnir, the hammer of the thunder god Thor
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Einar_Thunderhammer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mj%C3%B6lnir
https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Mj%C3%B8lnir
Garm Moonstalker – Garmr, Guardian of Hel’s Gate
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Garm_Moonstalker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garmr
Grandmother Raven, her tree, and Nithogg – Raven the Trickster, Yggdrasill the World Tree, and Nidhogg
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Grandmother_Raven
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Nithogg
https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/totems-to-turquoise/native-american-cosmology/raven-the-trickster
https://www.transceltic.com/pan-celtic/ravens-celtic-and-norse-mythology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yggdrasil
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%AD%C3%B0h%C3%B6ggr
Hod Mindseeker – Hod or Hoder, the blind brother of Baldur
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Hod_Mindseeker
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%B6%C3%B0r
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/lose-your-marbles.html
Hugin Fateseer – Odin’s raven, Huginn
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Hugin_Fateseer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huginn_and_Muninn
Jotun, Ullik and Grettir – Jötunn, Ulik the Rock Troll, Grettir the Strong
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Jotun
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Ullik
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Grettir
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6tunn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulik
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grettis_saga
Logunn a wolverine – Logan the Wolverine
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Logunn
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolverine_(character)
Magni Farsight – Magni, son of Thor
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Magni_Farsight
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%B3%C3%B0i_and_Magni
https://youtu.be/TLV4_xaYynY
Mimir Winterbane – Mimir
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Mimir_Winterbane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%ADmir
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%ADmisbrunnr
Munin Mistweaver – Odin’s raven, Muninn
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Munin_Mistweaver_(Ravenscar_Boss)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huginn_and_Muninn
Nick Jonas the Mysterious Composer – Nick Jonas
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Nick_Jonas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Jonas
Nordri, Austri, Sudri, and Vestri – Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Nordri
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Austri
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sudri
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Vestri
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nor%C3%B0ri,_Su%C3%B0ri,_Austri_and_Vestri
Snorri Oysterbloom – Snorri Sturluson
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Snorri_Oysterbloom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snorri_Sturluson
Sveipr – Swiper
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Creature:Sveipr
https://dora.fandom.com/wiki/Swiper
Urd, Skuld, and Verdandi – The Norns
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Urd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norns
Vanir Stormroarer – The Vanir
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Vanir_Stormroarer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanir
Ymir the Ice Giant – Ymir the primeval being from which the realms were made
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/NPC:Ymir
https://www.wizard101central.com/wiki/Location:Nastrond
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ymir
Cool facts and trivia related to Grizzleheim:
A Huskarl was a non-servile manservant or household troop/bodyguard to ancient Scandanavian kings. In English they would be called Housecarls.
The name Hrafn (as in Hrafn Lorespeaker) means “Raven”
Heim is norse for home, so Grizzleheim is literally Home of the Bears
Hrundle Fjord is named for Hjørundfjorden a fjord in Norway.
Eternal Winter relates to the prophesy of Ragnarok, the end of the world. The prophesy states that there will be 3 years of winter preceding Ragnarok.
Female bears with swords and shields are based on traditional depictions of the Valkyrie.
Nidavallir is one of the nine realms of Norse mythology and is home to the dwarves.
The rainbow bridge you cross upon arrival to Grizzleheim is a reference to the Bifrost, the rainbow bridge that connects Asgard, the land of the Aesir gods, to Midgard, the land of the humans.
The Runes encountered all over Grizzleheim and Wintertusk are translatable. We are working on a series of articles translating the Grizzleheim Runes. For example (photo coming) the Rune seen all over Northguard translates as Big Bear Fort
Other Spiral Worlds in this series:
Wizard City
Krokotopia
Marleybone
Mooshu
Dragopnspyre
Aquila
Wysteria
Celestia
Zafaria
Avalon
Azteca
Khrysalis
Polaris
Mirage
Empyrea
Heroes of Lemuria
And the Zeke Quests
Vulcan Stev's Database 