Faye is one of God of War's most mysterious character. Very little is known about her, only that at some point between God of War 3 and the series' 2018 soft reboot, Kratos and Faye met, got married, and Faye gave birth to Atreus. By the time the 2018 game starts, however, Faye is already dead, although her request that Kratos and Atreus scatter her ashes from the highest peak of the Nine Realms of Norse mythology kicks the game's plot into action.
Faye's final wish doesn't just spark the plot for the last God of War, but sets events in motion which appear to be leading to Ragnarok itself, and the death of the Norse gods. Unless the next game explores their relationship in more depth, Kratos and Faye's relationship will remain one of the most mysterious in the game series so far. Here's what the games tell fans about Kratos and Faye, how Faye ties into some of the games' other big mysteries, and what it all might mean for Ragnarok.
Kratos And Faye
Many God of War fans were hoping that the comic God of War: Fallen God would explain the gap between God of War 3 and the 2018 game. Instead of explaining how Kratos met Faye or exploring Atreus' early years, the comic followed a subplot where Kratos stops over in Egypt after leaving Greece. How the couple met and fell in love is still a huge gap in the God of War story.
There are a few key details that are revealed about Faye over the course of the game, however. Faye turns out to be Laufey, the mother of Loki in Norse mythology, with Loki revealed as Atreus' secret name on the Jotunheim mural towards the end of the game. It is revealed that Laufey was one of few Jotnar to escape the wrath of Odin. Odin had attempted to steal the Jotunn's knowledge of the future, and when his treachery was discovered the All-Father was cast out of Jotunheim. In revenge Odin had Thor kill every giant in Midgard, with Faye among the few survivors of the ensuing rampage. Determined to wipe out the giants, Odin sends Baldur to kill Faye at the start of the game, not realizing that she has already died.
It's also made clear that Faye learned about Kratos' past at some point, but it's also revealed that Kratos didn't know that Faye was the last guardian of the Jotnar and instead believed she was a mortal. As a Jotnar, Faye had the power of foresight, allowing her to set the events of the game into action despite her impending death. Although Faye and Kratos' relationship is shrouded in mystery, there are plenty of suggestions in the last game that as Ragnarok plays out God of War fans may learn more and more about Atreus' mother.
Faye's Personality
Faye appears to have known all about Ragnarok, and was likely able to learn about events which haven't happened in the games yet. By leaving her final wish with Atreus and Kratos and marking the way to their destination, Faye reveals the Jotunheim mural to her family, and the details of Ragnarok. The final panel of the mural has been interpreted by some fans as showing Atreus' betrayal and murder of Kratos, but Faye's foreknowledge could make this conclusion less likely. Although her relationship with Kratos is mysterious, it seems clear that she really did love her husband and son. It's also made clear that in her life she was compassionate, with Brok and Sindri admiring her for helping the helpless.
It doesn't seem likely that such a compassionate person would set her own son up to kill her husband. Granted, Faye has foresight, not control of the future, but if it seems like she set up Kratos' unwilling sacrifice in the next game it could still undermine her characterization so far, and make Kratos' life story seem too relentlessly pessimistic. Even if Kratos does end up making the ultimate sacrifice, it seems likely Faye will have left him some warning in advance instead of manipulating her family.
It is also likely, however, that Faye came to understand the future and the role her husband and son would play in it. Part of that future also likely involves the deaths of many of the Norse gods during Ragnarok, which Faye would likely welcome considering the slaughter of almost all of her own people thanks to Thor and Odin.
Faye's Past And Future
There's evidence that God of War's Ragnarok sequel will have time travel, which could allow players to meet Faye in-person in the next game. In the 2018 game Mimir tells Atreus and Kratos that the World Serpent seen in-game was sent back in time during Ragnarok when his fight with Thor splintered the Tree of Life, sending the World Serpent to a time before his own birth. The World Serpent's mural describes him as a "son of Loki," so it seems likely that Atreus and possibly Kratos will also be sent back in time.
If Atreus is sent back in time and grows up, he could become more like the Loki of Norse mythology, and could father the World Serpent and Fenrir the wolf among other important players in Ragnarok. If Atreus is the player character, players may even be able to witness Kratos meeting Faye for the first time, revealing far more about their relationship than was seen in the first game.
It's also possible that Faye's life will intentionally remain a mystery in the next game, although if Atreus does travel backward through time as implied, her appearance does seem far more likely. Atreus might even give her some of the knowledge of the future that she uses to set up the events of the 2018 game. Her absence from the last game may have been notable, but that doesn't mean she won't appear. Odin also doesn't appear in God of War, but is very likely to get his debut in the next game. Whether or not fans get a direct look at Kratos and Faye's relationship before her death remains to be seen, but with Fallen God avoiding the topic, it's possible that period of time could be a major part of the upcoming sequel.
A sequel to God of War is set to release in 2022 for PS4 and PS5.