One of the most lingering mysteries in Santa Monica Studio's 2018 action-adventure masterpiece occurs when Atreus falls ill and Kratos carries him to Freya's cave. While traversing the Lake of Nine, players hear the echoes of the Gjallarhorn being sounded to summon the World Serpent, Jormungandr. Because neither Kratos, Atreus, nor Mimir blew the horn at that moment, fans have spent years analyzing environmental clues and narrative context to determine the culprit.
The Timeline of the Mysterious Horn Sound
The sequence occurs at a critical juncture in the story when Atreus is incapacitated by his godhood. Kratos is desperately traveling to obtain Freya's aid while the Lake of Nine sits quiet, save for the sudden horn blast. This event signals that someone with knowledge of the Jotuun tongue interacted directly with the World Serpent during Kratos' absence.
Key Suspects and Character Candidates
Several candidates have been analyzed by the community over the years to explain who held the horn. Baldur remains a strong candidate because he was actively tracking Kratos and Atreus, possibly attempting to interrogate the Serpent for their whereabouts. Following discussions in daily gaming news forums, another prominent theory suggests a future version of Heimdall or Angrboda, though time travel mechanics remain a major point of discussion.
Time Travel and Loki's Connection
In Norse lore and God of War mythology, the World Serpent's presence in the Lake of Nine is already a product of time displacement caused by his battle with Thor during Ragnarok. Because Jormungandr was sent back in time before the events of the game, it is plausible that another entity utilized time magic to summon him. Many narrative analysts suspect that future events from the sequel were designed to wrap back around to this exact moment in 2018.
Why Santa Monica Kept It Ambiguous
Leaving the horn blower unidentified allowed the narrative team to build natural world-building tension without overwhelming the immediate emotional arc of father and son. It served as a reminder that the realm of Midgard was alive with external forces working behind the scenes. Ultimately, the subtle clue highlights the intricate storytelling depth that makes the Norse saga so memorable for gamers.
