Just who is Odin?

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Steel Reign
Atop his mighty steed, clad in armor darker than the void, the elder primal Odin has returned to Eorzea to exact his brutal judgment upon the realm

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I ask 'who' because while we know that he's an elder primal, there seems to be a bit more to him than the other primals we encounter in the story. Probably the biggest difference between him and the other primals is that he isn't--nor does he resemble--a beast of any sort. Before the FATE begins, Odin can be seen walking on Sleipnir without his helmet, and he appears to be a white-haired Elezen with a beard. Perhaps because he's an Elezen (or used to be?), that's why he appears in Gridania rather than anywhere else?

Also of note is that during the fight against him, he makes the statement that "Here I stand--a god amongst men. Yet here I remain--a mere man amongst gods." So did he somehow lose his 'primal-hood' or something?

The last part that I'm curious about with Odin is why does he want to find Urth so badly? When you fail the FATE, Odin will say, "Urth--one day, I will find thee." Who is Urth in the first place? I know that there are two places named after Urth in the Black Shroud--Urth's Fount and Urth's Gift--but who was Urth? Was his name mentioned at all in 1.0? I realize that I'm asking questions that there probably aren't any answers too, but I'm really curious about Odin in this game :p

Well.

One thing to notice is how Odin being an Elder Primal was not summoned nor happend to be freed (like Bahamut) from any kind of imprisonent. I even wonder, may be he is something, if you have read the Berserk manga, like the Skullknight. A fallen king of a long forgotten realm that archived a "divine status" that nows wanders through the lands searching a way to restore his former glory, walking now, as a dark-death knight.

I bet Odin has a lot to do with the Allagan Empire.

Besides, Odin is a knight in armor, he has to fought a dragon, we have the dragon! Bahamut is the dragon!

So my bet is, Odin is equally strong to a Elder Primal, but he is not exactly that. Maybe he turned into one. He seems more than a elemental destroyer of civilizations.

Odin is likely to be the Astral Elder Primal to Bahamut's Umbral.
Although this solely based on the idea that they are the only Elder Primals around.

Going by this idea, he is likely to have something to do with the art of Conjury, considering that Conjury makes of the three elements that comprise the Astral "element."
Given the Wildwood (well, all) Elezens' history with the Twelveswood, chances are that Odin has taken on the form of an Elezen due to this relation.. Or perhaps his method of entering Eorzea was through possession of a single individual, rather than materialising from thin air. This would further explain why no one has detected aetheric disturbances from him, throughout all of those decades (if not centuries), that he has stalked the Twelveswood.

I imagine there will be a legitimate story for him at some point rather than him just wandering around the forest.

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Originally Posted by Mysteltain

he appears to be a white-haired Elezen with a beard

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http://upload.jeuxonline.info/perso/197236/louisoix.jpg

Ramuh and Shiva do not resemble beasts either. A Primal is a Primal, I'm not sure that having human characteristics makes him different. His appearance and presence, horse included, resembles the Norse mythology of the same name. If that mythology is followed at all then he could be a father of gods (primals), much like Zeus of Greek mythology. In some mythology he was cast out of Asgard by other gods and wandered the world, which could explain his 'woe is me' attitude. He traded an eye for ultimate wisdom, and is capable of assuming various disguises.

Fenrir is foretold to be the one who kills Odin, so fingers crossed for new Primals joining the battle!

Final Fantasy does have a tendency to use names without having any sort of mythological link, though, so it's all speculation.

There's a quest chain in Gridania regarding Odin, I don't know the requirements to start it but I noticed it after beating main scenario.

Odin has always seemed to be viewed as a fallen king. I think he 1st showed up in FF2(4), he was the fallen king of Baron. FF3(6) he was the ruler of the ancient castle located underground (As an esper this run through). I can't recall FF5. FF7 he was only interesting due to the safe puzzle. FF8 you could find him holed up in his own tower waiting for challengers.

What's interesting, and can be veiwed as mildly frustrating, is that asking a lore question about anything FF related can give you roughly 10 different answers; all of which are correct.

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Originally Posted by Starkbeaumont

http://upload.jeuxonline.info/perso/197236/louisoix.jpg

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Hahah oh wow.

I am still going with the theory that Louisoix made a pact with Odin to give up his mortality to protect the warriors of light in the final moments before Bahamut vanished.

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Originally Posted by monterrey4ever

There's a quest chain in Gridania regarding Odin, I don't know the requirements to start it but I noticed it after beating main scenario.

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This chain explains Urth is the one who sealed Odin up originally(at the Fount) and you realize it's been broken BY Zantetsuken. He wants to find Urth to get revenge I'd think <.< but... that isn't exactly possible now is it :3