The Old High German word for the mandrake plant literally meant “secret” of these beings. A Norse expression for urinating literally meant “to drive away [these beings],” since they could not tolerate uncleanness. The Poetic Edda calls Wayland the Smith the “prince of” these beings. A boar is sacrificed to these beings on Yule, who appear in an alternate name of that festival. These beings are called (*) huldufolk, or “hidden people” in Iceland. Freyr’s home in Asgard has a name meaning “world of” these beings, (10[1])supporting the idea that the distinction between the Vanir and these beings was once blurry. The Prose Edda distinguishes between “dark” and “light” (10[1])varieties of these beings. For 10 points, name these powerful magical humanoids in Norse myth, often depicted with pointy ears in popular fiction. ■END■