With the recent announcement that God of War Ragnarök will cap off the Norse saga, fans have been wondering where the franchise might go next. 2018’s God of War decided to visit a completely new mythology for the first time in the series’ history and, in doing so, opened a window of endless opportunities. Kratos finally had the chance to square off against new and dangerous gods never before seen in the Greek landscape he was used to. The Norse saga has already been exciting and given us an insight into what the titular god of war crossing over into other realms looks like. There have been several suggestions and theories about where the series will go after Ragnarök, with many fans hoping for a trip to Ancient Egypt. It would certainly be a rich furrow of mythology to explore, and there have already been hints towards the existence of Egyptian gods during the visit to Tyr’s temple in 2018’s God of War. But I think there’s one country whose folklore and legend can bring even more to the table. I think God of War should visit Ireland.
Yes, I know it might sound like I’m just being biased, given that I am Irish, but hear me out on this one. For one, there are some parallels between Irish and Norse mythology so the jump would not be too jarring for fans of the current games. Plus, Irish mythology has some of the richest and deepest material to offer, with a whole new range of intriguing and terrifyingly powerful gods to introduce Kratos to. Not to mention the fact that the Celtic symbol for war appears on a jötnar shrine in Midgard, confirming the Irish realms do exist in this universe. Depending on the events of Ragnarök, Kratos and Atreus may venture to the Emerald Isle together only to find themselves embroiled in a fresh conflict. Or, perhaps the Ghost of Sparta will meet his untimely end at the hands of Odin as the Norse saga comes to a close and Atreus will be forced to look for a way to resurrect him. The druidic magics of old Ireland were powerful indeed, and there’s no telling what they were capable…or what the god of war might find himself up against by trespassing in a new realm.
The Gods
-The Dagda
Ireland’s answer to gods like Zeus and Odin is the Dagda, an immensely strong being whose level of power surpasses most-if not all-gods previously encountered by Kratos. As the King of the Gods, he is said to have control over the weather, the seasons, the flow of time, and even nature itself. Even this is only a fraction of his power. His weapon of choice is described as a great club or mace with the ability to slay men by the dozen, but the handle could actually return the dead to life. A useful power, if the Dagda sees fit to use it. One of his deadliest tools is his harp, Daur da Bláo, which can control the emotions of men-effectively allowing the Dagda to mind-control his enemies-as well as being able to alter the seasons.
Additionally, he carries a cauldron that never empties, providing never-ending sustenance for those who need it. While there is no real emphasis on the Dagda’s moral standing or implication that he was necessarily villainous, in the setting of a God of War game, this could all change. If you thought Zeus was dangerous, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Also worth noting is the fact that the Dagda had an affair with another woman, resulting in the birth of a bastard son. To accommodate this and keep his affair hidden, the Dagda kept the sun in the sky for nine months while also banishing hunger, thirst, and light so that the pregnancy would only last a single day. But the affair was not kept as secret as he would have liked, and his wife became envious.
-The Morrígan
Wife of the Dagda, the Morrígan is a shapeshifting goddess of war associated with crows. Due to her association with crows and the fact that she would often turn the tide of war, she is likely the original source of crows being associated with death. Her appearance on the battlefield either inspired fear or courage in the warriors ready to lay down their lives, though there is an implication the Morrígan was malevolent and took pleasure in her role as a war goddess.
Despite some of the more negative depictions of her, though, her ability to shapeshift and ties to the act of war have often caused some to theorise she is closely linked to nature. She would have overseen the land and watched over the sanctity of the natural world, hunting down any who would defile it. It is reasonable to assume that a God of War game set in Ireland would see the Dagda as a cruel overseer that rules with an iron fist, like Odin, resulting in the Morrígan turning against him and seeking allies to take him down. Who better to join her in her quest than another god of war, and his mischievous son?
-Neit
Neit is described as a true god of war, a mighty warrior and an incredibly dangerous individual to trifle with. He is the the closest Irish equivalent of Kratos and Ares. Interestingly, he is also noted as having been the uncle of the Dagda, which would make him even older than the King of the Gods. In a conflict between the Morrígan and the Dagda, it is safe to assume Neit would take his nephew’s side and, in doing so, put himself at odds with Kratos. How great would it be to see two gods of war from different mythologies showing one another their might? Their clash would shake the very foundations of every realm.
The Fomorians
The previous gods mentioned, along with all of their relations, belong to a group called the Tuatha Dé Danann, but it is the Fomorians who occupied Ireland first. While the Tuatha represent positive aspects of nature like weather and agriculture, the Fomorians are described as hideous creatures associated with death, chaos, and destruction. Even so, there are some examples of both races of gods intermingling and intermarrying, despite their hostility towards one another. But in the world of God of War, there is sure to be a unique twist on their story. Similar to how the Vanir were shown to be victims in the Norse saga, the Fomorians may end up being oppressed by the Dagda and the other Tuatha Dé Danann. This would also mirror the Titans from Kratos’s Greek roots. Kratos and Atreus might even walk in on an existing conflict, and find themselves forced to choose a side.
They Came From The Otherworld
The festival of Samhain(better known as Halloween these days) has always been a staple of Irish folklore and mythology, when the doors to the Otherworld-realm of the gods, and the dead-would open and all manner of horrific monster would come pouring out. There are many different stories and retellings of what happens each year during Samhain, providing endless material for a new God of War to work with. They could even twist it to work as a kind of end of days. But it would also be the perfect chance to introduce some of Ireland’s ancient heroes, namely Fionn mac Cumhaill. In one story of the Samhain festival, the god Aillen comes from the Otherworld and uses his powers of incineration to burn the Tara Palace to the ground, as he does every year. In this instance, however, Fionn mac Cumhaill is there to stop him. Using the magic of his spear to stay awake and resist Aillen’s hypnotic music that has lulled everyone else to sleep, he does battle with the god and saves the palace from burning.
Another story tells the tale of Setanta, who kills a hound belonging to a man name Culann in self-defence and, as recompense, offers to serve as the man’s hound in replacement of the dead dog. This earned him the name Cú Chulainn(the hound of Culann), though he went on to make a name for himself as a fierce and unpredictable warrior who frequently went berserk on the battlefield, unable to distinguish friend from foe anymore. Such heroes are reminiscent of Hercules from earlier God of War games, who was the son of Zeus like Kratos. There’s a story there somewhere that would fit with Kratos’s and Atreus’s journey, it just hasn’t been written yet.
Uncharted Waters
There’s no way to know for sure how the Norse saga is going to end, at least not until Ragnarök releases in 2022, but 2018’s instalment made Kratos more emotional, personable, and relatable. It will be a surprise if Odin’s wrath doesn’t cause either the Ghost of Sparta or his son to meet their demise in Asgard when Ragnarök wraps up. But regardless, we can only look to the future when the dust has settled. Will we take control of Atreus, the mischievous god also known as Loki, as he ventures to new lands in search of a way to bring his father back from the dead? Or will Kratos leave yet another slaughtered family behind him as he distances himself from the Norse realms for good?
It’s been such a pleasure to watch this once ruthless god of war do his utmost to protect his son and honour the memory of his lost lover, Faye. A side which few God of War fans ever thought they would see to Kratos. But his newfound compassion and investment in his son’s survival open up a whole plethora of new possible stories. I have no doubt wherever Kratos ends up, his story will be a great one. But let’s see him make his mark on the Tuatha Dé Danann first, shall we?
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