Gods

The race that rules the world, they have been describe by Wotan als: "[...] radiant elfves living above the sky". They are led by Wotan. The power of Wotan comes from treaties he has made, which are carved into his spear from Ash-tree of World. If he went against his laws, he would lose his power. His counselor is the Fire God Loge. Wotan's wife is Fricka, Goddess of marriage. Her sister is Freia, Goddess of youth and beauty. Her brothers are Froh, God of Spring, and Donner God of Thunder. The Gods rely on the golden apples tended by Freia to keep them young, though Loge is half-God and doesn't need the apples. There is also Erda, the Primeval Goddess of Earth, who spends most of her time asleep. She has nine daughters with Wotan, the Valkyries. However Wotan is able to take the immortality from Valkyries. There is one more representantation of this race, bery mysterious; Hella, the goddes of death. She's mentioned in every drama, except "Das Rheingold", the Siegmund says, that he won't go to Valhalla, Hella will get him first, after Alberich talks in "Siegfried" about fight between Hella's army, with which he will attack Walhall, after mentioned her Brünhilde, when he thinks, that Siegfried is a ghost from "Hella's nighty army".

In Das Rheingold Wotan commissions the Giants Fafner and Fasolt to build Valhalla in exhange for Freia. He hoped that Loge would find a way for him to escape this payment, but Loge fails and the Giants take Freia, causing the Gods to weaken. However Wotan and Loge retrieve the treasure of the Nibelung Dwarf Alberich, including the Tarnhelm and Ring with which the world can be ruled, and pay the Giants. Freia is returned, and the Gods are restored to power. However the Rhinemaidens criticise the Gods and say their power is an illusion, as the Gods cross to Valhalla via the Rainbow Bridge created by Froh.

Wotan sends the Valkyries to gather slain warriors to defend Valhalla. He starts of the Wälsung line with twins Siegmund and Sieglinde.

Wotan's spear is finally shattered by his grandson Siegfried, heralding the end of the Gods. Wotan orders the world ash tree to be chopped into kindling which is placed around Valhalla. He, the Gods, and the nobles of Valhalla then sit there awaiting the end. When his ravens are sent home by the former Valkyries Brunnhilde, Valhalla is set alight, destroying the Gods.