Magnus Chase

"My name is Magnus Chase. I’m sixteen years old. This is the story of how my life went downhill after I got myself killed."

- The Sword of Summer

Magnus Chase is a sixteen-year-old homeless teenager who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. He is the Norse demigod son of Frey and Natalie Chase, as well as the cousin of Greek demigod Annabeth Chase. After dying and becoming an einherji, he lives his afterlife in Hotel Valhalla.

History
Magnus was born on January 13, 1995. When Magnus was six years old his mother and uncles got into an argument at Thanksgiving, while Magnus had no idea what the argument was about. He never saw his uncles or his cousin Annabeth Chase again.

When Magnus was eight, he and his mother went on a vacation to Mount Washington in New Hampshire where they hiked to the top and had a park ranger take their picture. When Magnus was ten, he cut his left palm on a hunting knife, which left a deep scar. At age twelve, he had his first kiss with a girl named Jackie Molotov, which happened behind the bleachers at a school dance. When Magnus was fourteen, his mother was murdered by several "wolves with glowing blue eyes" (sent by Fenris Wolf). Since then, he has been living on the streets. Magnus became friends with two homeless people: Hearth and Blitz, commonly known as his mother and father.

The Blood of Olympus
Annabeth Chase mentioned her uncle and cousin Magnus that lived in Boston (whom she never saw because her father and uncle would not get along) to Percy and Piper before the three fought the Giants in Athens.

The Sword of Summer
Magnus is a sixteen-year-old who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. He has been homeless since his mother's death two years prior to the series. While sleeping under a bridge, Magnus is woken up by Blitz, a fellow homeless man, who warns him of the flyers going around that feature both his name and face. Magnus immediately senses something is wrong and, as a precaution, packs his sleeping bag. He learns that these strangers are in fact his cousin and uncle, Annabeth Chase and Fredrick Chase.

After overhearing their conversation, Magnus learns that his Uncle Randolph Chase told them that Magnus had been missing for two years, but didn't tell Annabeth and Fredrick until now. Magnus also learns that his life is now endangered, which is why they are looking for him. Magnus decides to visit his Uncle Randolph's place to search for answers. While in the house, Magnus goes to his Uncle's office to find more clues. While searching in his office, Uncle Randolph comes up behind Magnus and tells him that his life is in danger and that he needs to quickly come with him to escape somewhere. Magnus agrees after he hears loud bangs that are slowly getting closer to the house.

Once in the car, Randolph reveals that he believes the Norse gods are real and that Magnus is the son of a Norse god. They reach a pier where Randolph tells him to go towards the water, call towards a sword that he believes has been stuck there for many years, and claim it as his own. Magnus successfully retrieves the sword, but is attacked by Surt, who wants to destroy Magnus and take the sword. Blitz and Hearth intervene before Surt can attack Magnus, but quickly succumbs to his powers. After seeing his friends hurt, Magnus decides to attack Surt himself. While protecting those on the pier, Magnus make a last stand and manages to toss Surt into the Charles river. Magnus dies quickly after.

Magnus dreams the girl he saw earlier carrying him above 'The Gap' and telling him to hold still or he'll fall in. Magnus wakes up in a courtyard perfectly okay with his clothes cleaned and no sign of his injuries. When attempting to leave the room, the doorman Hunding comes to get him. Magnus is taken to the front desk where he meets Helgi, the hotel manager who tells him he'll be staying in Hotel Valhalla forever or until Ragnarök. Hunding takes Magnus to his new room and tells him that his Valkyrie will come for him.

His Valkyrie, Samirah al-Abbas, walks in and introduces herself and tells him she is taking him to dinner where all the other heroes are. The two walk down to dinner where Sam When Magnus's death was shown it was edited to look like he died in a murder-suicide. The Thanes debate this while Sam defends Magnus until the Norns appear, recite a prophecy to him while showing him the feru, the symbol of Frey. After the Norns leave the thanes debate and dismiss Samirah as a Valkyrie.

Once Magnus is back in his room, he showers where he finds a note from Thomas Jefferson Jr. slid under his door that told Magnus to come to the lounge for breakfast. Magnus goes to breakfast to meet the rest of his hall mates. Once meeting them they explain that he can leave the hotel, but it's not recommended because he would freak out people in the human world. After breakfast they all head down to training together where Magnus sticks with his hall mates and desperately tries not to get killed. Once T.J., Halfborn, and X have been killed, the rest of the einherjar gang up on Magnus, who lets out a screen and disarms most of the einherjar. Moments later he is hit in the face with an ax and dies.

Magnus dreams of the man in the Red Sox jersey, who Magnus now identifies as Loki. Loki tells Magnus that he has eight days to find the Sword of Summer. Magnus then wakes up and answers his door when Gunilla knocks and offers to give him a tour and threatens him.

Back in his room, Blitz and Hearth fall out of tree outside of Magnus' window. The two tell him they were watching him, keeping him safe, and that they need to get him out of the hotel. An alarm goes off, signaling the giant squirrel has found them. While running away from the squirrel, the trio go down the recycling shoot that takes them back to Midgard. The three end up at Fenway Park, where Blitz tell Magnus that their boss told them that he was a son of Frey and to watch him. They give Magnus his obituary and tell him his funeral is tonight, to attempt to find the sword he died with.

When the reach the funeral home Hearth stands watch while Magnus gets the sword. When Magnus finds his old body, he searches the coffin for the sword but it is not there. While he is trying to leave, a shocked Annabeth walks in. She offers him to take him to a safe place, but he declines. Annabeth gives Magnus her phone number and tells him to call her if he needs anything. Once outside, Hearth has been attacked by something. Hearth them signs his assault and points out his attacker, Sam, is across the street. While following Sam, they end up by the river. Sam is after the sword to prove her innocence. The four go to an underground sewer, where Blitz pulls a severed head out of his bag and throws it into the water. It rehydrated and is revealed to be the god Mimir. Mimir explains Magnus had a destiny and figured he could be used for the good of the worlds. Mimir tells them that Fenris Island is only accessible on the first full moon of the year. Mimir disappears after they are finished talking.

They four head to the food court in the transportation building. After Sam and Magnus order they wait for their food, a pigeon, Big Boy, threatens to make the Felafel shop closes forever if he does not give them information on the sword. The pigeon says that the sword was swept up the Charles River and was picked up by the sea goddess, Ran. In exchange for the information the pigeon, asks Magnus to get him a golden apple from the sea goddess.

When they get to the dock they find the frost giant Harald who denies his boat to Hearth and Blitz, but lets Sam and Magnus take it. The two groups agree to meet at the library later. When they go to the bait storage shed they pick out a giant bull head and drag it on to the boat before the set out to sea. While at sea he asks Sam what Big Boy meant when he called Amir her 'intended' when she tells him a little about her life. When they cross into Jotunheim they throw the bull head into the sea and wait. When they get a massive bite Sam helps him reel it in and stops Harald from cutting the line. When their catch breaches the surface, Sam introduced Magnus to her big brother. Harald pleads with them to cut the line and release the world serpent. Eventually the sea goddess Ran comes to the surface to demand they stop, as she can not scavenge on the ocean floor. The say they will let Jormungand go, but only if she barters with them. She agrees and the cut the line. When Magnus asks her for the Sword of Summer, she says she will give it to them in exchange for Magnus' soul. Magnus then threatens to summon the sword which will tear her net and release her treasures. The duo leave for Library.

When Magnus reaches the public library he tries to turn the sword in rune with a Feru on it. Big Boy then appears and asks for the apple, then morphs into a Jutnar and reveals his name to Utgard-Loki. Blitz tells Magnus they will go to his home world in the morning by climbing Yggdrasil. The three meet up with Sam at the public gardens by duck statues. Blitz explains that this is the easiest place to get to the world tree, but tell Magnus he must do it. As he goes to the next duckling Gunilla is across the river with two other Valkyries and his hall mates. Sam, Blitz and Hearth stall while Magnus finds the right one. On the fourth duck Magnus uses his sword and opens a rift. The four land on the world tree and follow the sword to their destination. Ratatosk the squirrel appears and attempts to attack them. Sam and Hearth hide under her hijab, while Magnus and Blitz go into a vanishing knothole.

The two end up wandering across the field, Folkvanger, where they are greeted by fallen warriors. Blitz tears him to an upside down ship where they meet the goddess Freya, who reveals herself as Blitz's mother. Freya tells them to go to Nidavellir to get her a new pair of earrings and that there is a dwarf who could make them a new rope to bind the beast if Gleipnir breaks, which is very likely. She tells them that they have until January 22 to find Fenris Wolf's island. The two go to Nidavellir and head to Nabbi's tavern where Blitz tells the bartender they want to contact Junior. Junior challenges him to a 'traditional' crafting contest with the usual rules. Junior leaves and Hearth and Sam come to tavern where explain what happened.

Magnus, Hearth, and Blitz show up at the contest. After making three items, the contest is declared over and the judges decide the winner. He sees Sam and wants to scold her for being late, but does not when he sees that she has a black eye and swollen lip. He asks her what happened and she says it was nothing to serious. After Blitz wins and requests Junior give them the earrings and rope they asked him for and tell them where the Fenris Wolf's island is. Junior says that Thor might know where the island. Junior sees Sam and calls her out as a shapeshifter and claimed she cheated and orders the four to be killed be fore they run for it. While running, Blitz is taken in a golden net to his mother. Magnus readies his sword, which talks starling everyone. The sword fights the dwarves its own. They meet up with Hearth who takes them to a river leading out of Nidavellir. When the dwarf mob approaches he turns the sword, Jack, back into a pendent and collapses. Sam and Hearth support him when they jumped into the river.

Magnus dreams he is on Naglfar with Loki. The trickster tries to convince Magnus to give up his search for the wolf's island, and that he convinced his daughter, Hel, to take Magnus in to her domain.

As Loki said, Magnus wakes up to a goat giving him mouth to mouth. He finds and heals Sam and Hearth, The goat introduces himself as Tanngnjóstr, but to call him Otis. He says his master is Thor and he was separated from him. Magnus summons Jack to track the god. While Otis takes them to Thor, Sam tells Magnus about Hearthstones past. Otis then tells them they were unconscious for about a day, much to their shock. Then they meet up with Tanngrisnr, who goes by Marvin, and tells them that Thor is drowning due to a giantess and that if the trio fail to save Thor he will kill them. After Magnus saves Thor using Jack, Thor offers him and his friends to stay for dinner.

Over dinner Thor explains that his hammer Mjølnir has gone "not officially" missing and asks Magnus to check to see if giant Geirrod has it. Blitzen rejoins the group. While going to the giants home, Hearthstone summons one of Spleipnir's sons, Stanley, to help them pass a cliff. When at the house, they see a caged swan that Sam recognized as Gunilla. The quad try to negotiate with Geirrod's children for Gunilla and for Thor's weapon. After failing to reach an agreement, Magnus uses Jack to kill the giants, while Blitz and Hearth rescue Gunilla and aid Magnus out of the room. They meet Gerriod in the hall where they ask him for Thor's weapon and says he will only give it to them if they survive a game. While the game is going on, Thor comes in and takes the weapon and "sends them where they need to go".

When Magnus lands on bunker hill, he is greeted by Hel. Hel offers Magnus a chance to come with her to Helheim to be with his mother, if he agrees to abandon his quest. He says that that is not what his mother would want and he says if he sees the goddess of death again he well cut her in two. She the vanishes and he suddenly appears five stories above an asphalt roof and falls. The duo leave to find Blitzen and Hearthstone, who are at Long Wharf with rides to Lyngvi Island, where the Fenris Wolf is.

Once on the island, they find the wolf. Magnus most restrain Jack who is destined to cut the wolf's ropes. Soon after Gunilla arrives with two other Valkyries and his hall mates. Gunilla tries to get the quad arrested, but the hall mates turn against her. Surt and the fire giants arrive to claim the sword and kill everyone. After Magnus successfully uses Jack to retie the ropes, he runs in to battle and sees Surt killing Gunilla. Enraged, Magnus throws Jack who creates a rift that sucks the fire Giants to Muspellheim. After defeating the enemies, they all get on a boat, where Magnusis called to aid Halfborn who is dying. Magnus uses the last of his strength to revive Halfborn and passes out. When Magnus wakes up he is greeted by his father, Frey, who he immediately hugs. Frey congratulates him for rejecting Hel's offer. Frey says that Magnus has accepted his fate and that the Sword of Summer is now his. Before Magnus leaves Frey gives him him mother's ashes and the flyer Annabeth gave him tells him to contact her. Magnus wakes up in the Hotel's lobby and is summoned to the feast hall.

When he and the others arrive at the feast hall he explains to the thanes about what he has done on the quest. When he finishes the thanes say that his actions were heroic but since he left with out permission he must be punished. X then speaks up and reveals him self to be Odin. Odin offers him a chance to either relocate to Folkvanger or return to the land of the living. The son of Frey says he is happy at Valhalla and wishes to remain there. Odin gives him and his friends full access to all of the nine worlds.

The next day he, Sam, Blitz and Hearth attend a funeral for the fallen Valkyries. He says he well visit them from time to time and goes to meet Annabeth. He and Annabeth scatter his mother's ashes on the Blue Hills. The two try to mend the bond between their two families and agree to tell each other about their lives.

Appearance
Magnus is a teenage boy with hair parted in the middle, hanging to his jawline in a curtain of dirty blond. He has gray eyes, much like Annabeth's, which have a haunted, scary emptiness to them, a look that had served him well when he'd lived on the streets. Initially, Magnus was quite scrawny, with a concave chest, sticking-out ribs and very pale skin, to the point that his blue veins were clearly visible. He also had a scar of his left palm, where he'd cut himself on a hunting knife as a child.

However, after gaining an einherji body after his death in The Sword of Summer, Magnus, while still lean and pale, became considerably more muscular, with his arms being better-defined, his skin smoother, less translucent, with all the scars, rashes, nicks and bites that came from living on the street completely disappearing.

According to his mother, Magnus resembles Kurt Cobain, though he also bears striking resemblance to his father, Frey.

Personality
Magnus is street smart from living on the streets for two years. He feels he has an obligation to protect those in danger, like he did on the Charles bridge while facing Surt. However, he is somewhat cynical and shares Percy's tendency to make snide remarks both internally and vocally. He initially hates the fact that he was turned into an Einherji and being dragged into his fate as a son of Frey and being forced into a world he knew nothing about until recently, but gradually grows more accustomed and comfortable with his new life to the point that he respectfully declines Odin's offer to let him live a human life again. Despite living on the streets and being forced to eat out of dumpster bins to survive, Magnus is also rather health conscious, showing incredible disgust upon learning that dwarves evolved from maggots to the point that he's unable to say it comfortably. Unlike most demigods, he lacks a natural combat instinct, but is instead much better at thinking and talking out his problems (such as his negotiations with Ran for Sumarbrandr), much like his cousin Annabeth. Nevertheless, like most demigods he is often forced into situations where he has to shoot first and ask questions later, which he shows great flexibility in tactics and is a good reflexive thinker.

Abilities
General Abilities=
 * Alf Sign Language: Magnus is fluent in ASL, which he always uses while communicating with the deaf Hearthstone.
 * Survival Skills: Magnus learned how to survive in the wilderness from his mother. She taught him how to start a camp fire, navigate by the stars, and how to pitch a tent.


 * -|Demigod Abilities=
 * Alf Seidr (Elf Magic): As Magnus is the son of the Lord of Alfheim, he is abble to use Elf Magic.
 * Disarmament: Magnus can disarm anyone in his surrounding area of their weapons.
 * Healing: Magnus can heal both himself and others from wounds at incredible rates.
 * Seasons Alteration: As Magnus is the son of the god of summer, light and warmth, he can change the area around himself into summer.
 * Harsh Temperature Insensitivity: Magnus has a great deal of resilience to both temperature extremes, since he was able to sleep outdoors in the winter with nothing but a thin blanket without a problem, and was unfazed by Surt's flames. However, he isn't completely immune, since Surt managed to kill him by impaling the demigod with a red-hot sphere of steaming asphalt, causing Magnus' organs to slowly burn away from the molten tar in his gut.


 * -|Einherji Abilities=
 * Enhanced Strength - after gaining a new einherji body, Magnus gained a degree of superhuman strength, to the point that he could punch through the wall of his room in Valhalla without much effort.
 * Einherjar Immortality - while within Hotel Valhalla, Magnus, like any of the einherjar, cannot die, and will simply keep resurrecting from mortal wounds. Due to his healing abilities, however, Magnus resurrects even faster than most other einherjar.

Magical Items

 * Sumarbrander - Magnus' sword, formerly owned by his father, Frey, is said to be the sharpest sword in the Nine Worlds.
 * First Sword - a Hotel Valhalla sword, which he later gave to Ran in exchange for Sumarbrander.
 * Shield - a circular green shield, with the golden Fehu Rune in the middle.

Relationships
Family=

Natalie Chase
Magnus was close to his mother. She taught him survival skill. Before she was killed Natalie told her son to stay away from his uncle Randolph.

Frey
When Magnus first met his father he hugged him, much to the surprise of them both. He congratulated his son on rejecting Hel's offer. Before he left he gave Magnus his mother's ashes.

Annabeth Chase
The two played together when they were younger. Once Magnus died she attended his funeral and she saw him as an einherjar she hugged him out of happiness. They later meet at the blue hills to skater his mother's ashes. The two then tell each other about their lives.

Randolph Chase
Magnus had mixed feelings for his uncle. While he did not fully trust him he did want to keep him safe because they were family. It is unknown to Magnus that his uncle was working for Loki. Friends=

Blitzen
Blitzed watched over Magnus for two years along with Hearthstone. The two tried to protect him from Surt. When Magnus learned that his mother is Freya, his father's sister, he is shocked. He defends Blitz when Junior is mocking his family and gives him pep talks during the crafting competition.

Hearthstone
Hearthstone watched over Magnus for two years along with Blitzen. The two tried to protect him from Surt. When he learns of the elf's past he feels sorry for him.

Samirah al-Abbas
At first they saw each other as clients. When they went on the quest for the sword of summer the two grew closer and Magnus learned what Sam has went threw and what she wanted for herself. He promised to help her out.

Sumarbrander/Jack
Both Jack and Magnus have respect for each other. Jack warns Magnus not to touch him to soon after a battle as the strain could knock him out or kill him. Hall Mates= Magnus respects Mallory Keen, Halfborn Gunderson, and Thomas Jefferson Jr.. When they refuse to arrest him he admires that and saves Halfborn's life.

Etymology
Magnus is a Latin name meaning "great". It became popular in Scandinavia after the time of the 11th-century Norwegian king, Magnus I.

Chase is a middle English surname, an occupational name for a hunter. In Middle English the word "chase" means "hunt".

When translated into their respective languages, "Magnus Chase" means "Great Hunter".

Trivia

 * Magnus Chase is the cousin of Annabeth Chase, a main character from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus.
 * There's a Chase family inside joke that Magnus looks like Kurt Cobain.
 * Magnus is left-handed.
 * On the UK cover, Magnus is holding Sumarbrander/Jack with his right hand.
 * Prior to meeting the Norse gods, Magnus considered himself to be an atheist.
 * Magnus' favorite colors are black and beige, while he hates the color blue.
 * This could be a nod at Percy Jackson, whose favorite color is blue.
 * When Magnus first got Sumarbrander/Jack he asks him if he will turn into a pen.
 * This is also a nod to Percy Jackson's sword Riptide that has a ballpoint pen form.
 * Much like Nico di Angelo, Magnus is extremely pale, and had a penchant for avoiding physical contact at the beginning of The Sword of Summer.
 * Magnus is a fan of Doctor Who.
 * Magnus likes to read. Before his mom died he had a collection of books, which were destroyed in the fire. While on the streets he spent time in the Boston Public Library. Magnus' favorite authors are Stephen King, Darren Shan, Neal Shusterman, Michael Grant, and Joe Hill. His favorite graphic novel series are Scott Pilgrim, Sandman, Watchmen, and Saga.