# Otter — The House of the Wolfings character guide > Otter in The House of the Wolfings by William Morris. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Otter of the Laxings, Mid-Mark Otter **First appearance:** 0003-ii-the-flitting-of-the-war-arrow ## Who they are War-leader of the Laxings, quick to gather the host and send riders through Mirkwood when Roman power breaks into the Mark. ## Relationships ### [Thiodolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/thiodolf) _friendship_ Otter is a loyal and trusted companion to Thiodolf, often fighting alongside him and sharing counsel. ### [Arinbiorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/arinbiorn) _friendship_ Arinbiorn and Otter are comrades who share a bond of mutual respect and cooperation in battle and council. ### [Geirbald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/geirbald) _friendship_ Geirbald and Otter are fellow warriors and friends, often fighting side by side and sharing camaraderie. ### [Agni](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/agni) _friendship_ Agni and Otter are comrades-in-arms, sharing a bond of loyalty and mutual support in battle. ### [Wolfkettle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/wolfkettle) _friendship_ Otter and Wolfkettle are comrades and fellow warriors, often fighting together and sharing a strong bond. ### [Thiodolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/thiodolf) _friendship_ Otter is a loyal and trusted companion to Thiodolf, often fighting alongside him and sharing counsel. ### [Agni](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/agni) _friendship_ Agni and Otter are comrades-in-arms, sharing a bond of loyalty and mutual support in battle. ### [Geirbald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/geirbald) _friendship_ Geirbald and Otter are fellow warriors and friends, often fighting side by side and sharing camaraderie. ### [Thiodolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/thiodolf) _friendship_ Otter is a loyal and trusted companion to Thiodolf, often fighting alongside him and sharing counsel. ### [Arinbiorn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/arinbiorn) _friendship_ Arinbiorn and Otter are comrades who share a bond of mutual respect and cooperation in battle and council. ### [Geirbald](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/geirbald) _friendship_ Geirbald and Otter are fellow warriors and friends, often fighting side by side and sharing camaraderie. ### [Wolfkettle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/wolfkettle) _friendship_ Otter and Wolfkettle are comrades and fellow warriors, often fighting together and sharing a strong bond. ## In the story ### [The House of the Wolfings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/the-house-of-the-wolfings) A messenger from the Laxings who brings the war-arrow to the Wolfing stead. ### [VIII: The Folk-Mote of the Markmen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/viii-the-folk-mote-of-the-markmen) Named by the Folk as a candidate for second War-duke; ultimately chosen after Heriulf steps aside. ### [XII: Tidings of the Battle in Mirkwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xii-tidings-of-the-battle-in-mirkwood) Otter sends Gisli with the tidings and instructs the Hall-Sun to spread word of the battle. ### [They Hear Tell of the Battle on the Ridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xv-they-hear-tell-of-the-battle-on-the-ridge) Sends reinforcements to Thiodolf and organizes the kindreds' response. ### [Tidings Brought to the Wain-Burg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xviii-tidings-brought-to-the-wain-burg) War-duke at the Wain-Burg; receives tidings of the Roman advance and dispatches Geirbald to Thiodolf. ### [XIX: Those Messengers Come to Thiodolf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xix-those-messengers-come-to-thiodolf) War-duke of the Laxings; mentioned as having already ridden with his folk toward the Bearing stead, anticipating the Roman attack. ### [XX: Otter and His Folk Come Into Mid-Mark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xx-otter-and-his-folk-come-into-mid-mark) Leads the host, wise in war, decides to fight the Romans and aims to thrust between them and the ford. ### [XXI: They Bicker About the Ford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxi-they-bicker-about-the-ford) Leads the Markmen in bickering attacks on the Romans at the ford, advises the Hall-Sun to flee to the wood, and avoids a decisive engagement until Thiodolf arrives. ### [XXII: Otter Falls on Against His Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxii-otter-falls-on-against-his-will) War-duke who initially counsels patience but is goaded into leading the attack against his better judgment. ### [Thiodolf Meeteth the Romans in the Wolfing Meadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxiii-thiodolf-meeteth-the-romans-in-the-wolfing-meadow) His forces are mentioned as having been worsted by the Romans; he had sent messengers to Thiodolf and set men at the ford. ### [The Goths Are Overthrown by the Romans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxiv-the-goths-are-overthrown-by-the-romans) Mentioned as having led a company earlier; the Roman captain mistakenly thought Otter's force was the whole power of the Markmen. ### [The Host of the Markmen Cometh Into the Wild-Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxv-the-host-of-the-markmen-cometh-into-the-wild-wood) Mentioned as having been slain in the recent battle. ### [Of the Storm of Dawning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxviii-of-the-storm-of-dawning) Mentioned as having been slain earlier, his death fuels Arinbiorn's wrath. ### [XXX: Thiodolf Is Borne Out of the Hall and Otter Is Laid Beside Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxx-thiodolf-is-borne-out-of-the-hall-and-otter-is-laid-beside-him) Lies dead beside Thiodolf; his body is present for the ritual. ### [XXXI: Old Asmund Speaketh Over the War-Dukes: The Dead Are Laid in Mound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/chapters/xxxi-old-asmund-speaketh-over-the-war-dukes-the-dead-are-laid-in-mound) Lain in state as a War-duke; Asmund speaks over him with deep sorrow, recalling their long companionship in battle and hall; buried beside Thiodolf in the mound. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters/otter - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_house_of_the_wolfings_se/characters