[mithril]

Scinfaxi and Hrimfaxi:
In norse mythology, Skínfaxi and Hrímfaxi are the Horses that pull the chariots of Dagr and Nott, ("day" and "night", respectively) which created the daytime and night time. Hrímfaxi means "Frosty-mane" and was the Horse of Nott, while Skínfaxi, "Shining mane", was the horse of Dagr. Both Horses are described in the Vafthruthnismál - "The Ballad of Vafthruthnir"
"Skinfaxi is he, | the steed who for men
The glittering day doth draw;
The best of horses | to heroes he seems,
And brightly his mane doth burn."
and
"Hrimfaxi name they | the steed that anew
Brings night for the noble gods;
Each morning foam | from his bit there falls,
And thence come the dews in the dales."



Grabacr and Ofnir:
Graback and Ofnir were two of the many serpents which continuously gnawed at the roots and limbs of Yggdrasil, the world tree, in an attempt to destroy it. Other Serpents also did this, including Goin and Moin, Grafvitner, Grafvolluth, Svafnir, and Nidhogg. it is worth noting that in norse mythology, serpent could refer to both snakes and dragons, as Norse dragons are described as wingless, limbless, and with snake like bodies.
"More serpents there are | beneath the ash
Than an unwise ape would think;
Goin and Moin, | Grafvitnir's sons,
Grabak and Grafvolluth,
Ofnir and Svafnir | shall ever, methinks,
Gnaw at the twigs of the tree."(Grímnismál - the ballad of Grimnir)

Ofnir was also one of the alternate names attributed to Odin, the Alfather and head of the Norse pantheon
54. Now am I Othin, | Ygg was I once,
Ere that did they call me Thund;
Vak and Skilfing, | Vofuth and Hroptatyr,
Gaut and Jalk midst the gods;
Ofnir and Svafnir, | and all, methinks,
Are names for none but me.
](Grímnismál - the ballad of Grimnir)


Razgriz:
Razgriz is one possible alliteration of Ráðgríðr, or "Plan-Breaker", one of the many Valkyries which served as Odin's messengers and which circled over the feilds of battle on flying horses to select the greatest of the warriors and carry them to Valhalla, where they join the ranks of the Einherjar, Odins elite guards. Valkyries are alternately described as demonic, blood soaked women locked in perpetual bloodlust, willing to slaughter without mercy, or as lovely women in armor that aided great heros or fought as heros themselves. both depictions of Valkyries include a special relationship with Ravens, which served as odins messengers and spies, and which were a common sight on battlefeilds, picking at corpses. Ráðgríðr is only mentioned in the Grímnismál, where she is one of several Valkyries described as "bearing ale to the Einherjar".

36. Hrist and Mist | bring the horn at my will,
Skeggjold and Skogul;
Hild and Thruth, | Hlok and Herfjotur,
Gol and Geironul,
Randgrith and Rathgrith | and Reginleif
Beer to the warriors bring.


Sources;
Wikipedia
Cybersamurai - Norse myth

[Geopelia]

Great review mithril, i didn't know all these references to Nordic culture in AC5

[mithril]

i think it is obvious that the creators of AC5 and ACZ were big fans of mythology, and especially Norse mythology. these names are not particularly well known, indicating an extensive amount of research was conducted to look for the more obscure referances, and the fact that the names chosen match up with aspects of the in game elements indicate that they chose those names for their specific meaning.
Skinfaxi, "shining mane", died as a result of a laser attack, while hrimfaxi, "frosty-mane', died in the frozen north, for example. Ofnir and Grabacr were two beings that in the mythology, were part of a group attempting to destroy the world. and Razgriz means "plan breaker". norse mythology names were highly descriptive of the role they perceived for that being. having a name like "plan breaker" would indicate that they beleived Ráðgríðr had a role in battle comparable to our murphy's law or the old adage "no plan survives contact with the enemy". in AC5, the Razgriz squadron was the one to destroy the plans of the grey men.

there are also other, non-mythological referances in the game. for example, the community of Dresdene, which is attacked by the 8492nd squadron and blamed on the wardog's, is certainly a referance to the bombing of dresden in the second world war. the destruction of that german city by firebombs is considered one of the bigger atrocities committed by the allied nations during the war, falling behind the firebombing of Tokyo and perhaps the use of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

i am still trying to determain which of these referances are intentional, and which are mere coincidence.

[Shieldheart]

Waow...

just waow.

Incredible Mithril.
New information for me who loves AC5

[Ribbon-Raven]

Nice job, I was wondering if Razgriz was real or made up.

I have such a hardon for valkyries

[mithril]

it helps that i've spent the last 5 years writing a SciFi/Epic-Fantasy Roleplaying book set in Scandinavia, using it as an excuse to indulge my interest in norse mythology. when i obtained my copy of AC5, and started hearing those names, i got hooked..then i finished the game, and ended up a fanboy.