| “ | Because Anno Domini, in the Year of Our Lord, is fine for Christians, but Thor gets a little upset. He still holds a grudge that Jesus never showed up for that duel he challenged him to. | ” |
–Helgi to Magnus Chase on their system of dating, in the Sword of Summer | ||
Helgi is the manager of Hotel Valhalla and the boss of Hunding. As a member of the hotel staff Helgi is in charge of overseeing guest service and managing reception. Along with the thanes, Helgi has the authority to determine whether a soul deserves admittance, as well to expell any Valkyrie who fails in their duties. Helgi answers to the god of wisdom, Odin.
History[]
When Helgi was alive, his and Hunding's families were involved in an ancient feud. When they both died and ended up in Valhalla, Odin favored him over Hunding and granted his wish to make Hunding his servant. Helgi ended up becoming manager of the hotel, joining at the year of 749 C.E (same as Hunding).
Appearance[]
Helgi is said to have a large beard that requires its own zip code, and his hair is described as looking like a buzzard that exploded on a windshield. He is usually dressed in his forest-green pinstriped suit. It is mentioned multiple times that the state of Helgi's beard requires the attention of a barber.
Personality[]
Helgi is organized and systematic when it comes to managing the hotel. He takes his role seriously but does not completely make fair or equitable judgement at times. For an example, Helgi subjected his rival Hunding for an eternity of menial work and service. He orders Hunding as he pleases and he is described as having a foul temper and limited patience.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard[]
The Sword of Summer[]
Helgi is one of the first people to greet Magnus Chase when he arrives at Valhalla. He threatens Hunding with a stick to get him to behave, then upgrades Magnus into suite and gives him his suite key to his room (Magnus's room).
Helgi is later seen at dinner with the rest of the thanes in their tables, chugging mead and laughing with Davy Crockett while his bellhop Hunding peeled and handed him grapes from behind his seat. Afterwards Helgi rises from his seat and presents Valkyrie Vision to entertain the guests with the newly dead's impressive feats. One by one he and the thanes review the deaths of the fallen and decide whether they worthy to be an einherji.
When Magnus's death is shown, Helgi and the rest are skeptical of Sam's choice to bring him in Hotel Valhalla, though the thanes' judgement is interrupted when the Norns appear to tell Magnus of his parentage and recite a prophecy about Magnus's destiny. While they accept Magnus for the time being, Helgi and the other thanes see Sam's judgment of bringing Magnus to Valhalla as a wrong decision and dismiss her from being a Valkyrie.
When Magnus, his hallmates, Sam, Blitz, and Hearth are brought before the Thanes, he and the other Thanes are about to privately discuss among themselves about Magnus's fate at this point of time X reveals himself to be Odin.
The Hammer of Thor[]
Helgi is first seen in the reception desk. He is shown to be in a foul mood with ragged and dirty hair from the encounter with their wild new guest, Alex Fierro. He yells at his bellhop to stop fraternizing and that the dragon teeth needed flossing.
At the assembly, Helgi and the other thanes have a clip of Alex's death played for everybody to see. When the video ends, Helgi applauds Alex Fierro for her noble death and for displaying bravery hardly seen in a child of Loki and an Argr (a term for describing a gender-fluid person in Old Norse). He credits this to the wisdom of himself and the thanes, much to the irritation to Alex and Sam.
After Loki is freed, Helgi meets Magnus and his friends after the celebration and leads them to the office, where they converse in the presence of Ratatosk. Helgi assures them that the squirrel was harmless as the window was squirrel-proof and sound- proof and that it is easier to tell the state of the Nine Worlds through his behavior.
Their conversation takes a turn as Helgi urges them to make their way to the Eastern Shores, where Loki was planning to sail on Naglfar. The hotel manager instructs them to recapture the god and save them from doomsday. Helgi advises Samirah to consult Odin's birds Thought and Memory.
The Ship of the Dead[]
Helgi and Hunding are with Magnus and company to see them off on their quest, first seen holding discussion over their clipboard and paperwork, which they use to sign them off. Helgi berates Hunding for almost laundering Magnus's magical cloth along with the linens, claiming that Floor Nineteen was his service area. Before the team departs Helgi urges Magnus to save them from doomsday so they could get their hotel renovations done.
When Ragnorok is delayed, he makes Blitzen and Hearthstone honorary einherjar.
9 from the Nine Worlds[]
Just Another Decapitated Head []
When Odin calls a meeting for a new captain of the Valkyries, he suggests his girlfriend Kara, but she does not get the position.
Trivia[]
- In Norse mythology, Helgi (known as Helgi Hundingsbane) is the hero of the Volsunga saga. He is a descendant of Odin, and he kills Hunding to avenge his father. He then falls in love with a Valkyrie called Sigrun and after death is brought to Valhalla, where he is given a right by the All-Father to order Hunding around and make him do various chores.