In Valheim, up to 10 players are tasked with surviving in a cruel mythical Norse world. The setting can be treacherous with the variety of monsters and the chance that the forest itself could decide to rise up against the player at any moment. The player's ability to construct and improve their tools and home will be paramount to their survival in Valheim, yet uneasily, players have started noticing a new figure watching them at night. This Cloaked Man stands a distance away with a walking stick in hand, occasionally being seen with a single glowing eye peeking out of his hood. If players attempt to approach him or shoot him from a distance with an arrow, they’ll see him disappear as quickly as he appeared.
Players have been leaping into Valheim in the millions as they rush to find every secret that this mythological Norse realm has in store, with this figure being one of the biggest mysteries right now. Many players have seen him as they load in, watching solemnly from the distance as they venture forth in their journey. Although he seems to be peaceful for now, many players are wondering just who this cloaked man is.
Who is Valheim's Mysterious Figure?
So who is this mysterious man stalking players in Valheim? Some players who have snapped screenshots of the character attribute the one glowing eye to Odin, the Norse god of war, who’s known for having sacrificed one of his eyes in pursuit of knowledge. Some users point to the character’s appearance as a wink to the War God’s known wardrobe as he appears among men. Legend has it that Odin walked among humans as an elderly man with a long beard and a walking stick, very closely resembling the cloaked man that many fans have come across.
While these rumors are widely circulating, they are still only that. Most screenshots are taken from far away, and only a few seem to show the character’s single glowing eye. The cloaked man seems to be camera shy on top of everything else. But whether he be Odin or some other mystical figure, he is leaving many players spooked as they catch him out of the corner of their eye as they sail across Valheim's coastline, only to be gone when the player turns to look again.
Odin is a Good Theory
Many also point to the Raven that guides players to Valheim's different bosses as another sign that Odin might be watching. This is an interesting theory and plays into the mythology of Odin’s raven messengers Huginn and Muninn, “thought” and “memory” in old Norse respectively. These memories of how to survive in this new, yet somehow familiar, realm would surely come in handy for adventurers as they wake up in a strange new place.
Now while this “evidence” may lean itself to this theory, it’s only a rumor however convincing it may be. There has been no solid evidence that this man players see watching us from afar is the Norse god. Some screenshots seem to capture that one-eyed stare, but in some shots from the same angle, that eye is missing. However, whether it be an Easter Egg or signs of what’s to come, fans will just have to see what comes of this.
Valheim is out now on Steam for PC.