Utgardhaloki was the ruler of Utgard, a city in Jotunheim. He invited Thor and Loki to visit Utgard, promising them safe conduct, with his messenger Skrymir. Not wishing to look afraid, Thor and Loki set off to meet Skrymir in Jotunheim. After journeying in his goat-driven chariot for the whole day, night fell and Thor and Loki sought shelter in a farmer's house, where Thor slaughtered his own goat from the chariot and invited the farmer to join in the feast. Thor's goats were magical, and could be resurrected from their bones using Mjollnir, but ignorant to this, the farmer broke one of the bones to get to the marrow without Thor knowing.

The next morning, when Thor set out to resurrect his goat, he found one of them lame. Guessing what had happened, he flew into a terrible rage, which was only appeased when the farmer grew terrified and offered to atone for his mistake. In atonement, Thor took the farmer's two children, Thialfi and Roskva, and they set off together, to Jotunheim.

After travelling for the day, the company found themselves in the woods where they found a strange building. They settled themselves into the building but were awakened by an earthquake. Sensing danger, Thor guarded the entrance of the building whilst the rest of the party continued sleeping.

The next morning, Thor sought to look for the source of the earthquake, and found the largest giant he had ever seen. The giant awoke and Thor asked him for his name. He replied that he was Skrymir, and he was sent to meet Thor. The giant thought that the party were making off with his glove, as he picked up the building they had been in the previous night. It was then when Thor realized they had been sleeping in the giant's glove all along.

The party, together with Skrymir, travelled for yet another day, and that night they came to a huge oak tree where the giant slept whilst he bid Thor prepare supper from a sack he gave him. However, Thor was unable to budge any of the straps that tied the sack. Angry, Thor took his hammer and struck the giant on his head. Much to Thor's surprise, the giant woke up and complained that a leaf had fallen on his head, before going back to slumber as though nothing had happened.

At midnight, Thor was wakened from his sleep, by the giants snoring. Once again, he took his hammer and sunk it into the giant's head, but the giant only awoke, remarking that an acorn had fallen on his head. The next morning, Thor took a third try at slaying the giant but this time, although he had used all the energy he had, the giant was unharmed and he awoke with talk of bird droppings, oblivious to Thor's hammer. The giant parted that morning, after directing the party to the castle.

Next: Utgardhaloki's Trickery >>