Working with the Gods : Odin

Odin

First, don't invite Odin without having some good quality alcohol on hand - mead or a nice wine. That's just courtesy. He also loves aquavit; some say that it's his favorite. In general he will drink a lot and not be drunk, so keep the mead, wine and aquavit coming. An attendant might gently remind him to take the alcohol with him. He likes tobacco, but prefers it in a pipe, so finding him a nice pipe and some good-smelling loose tobacco would be useful. He likes red meat, especially beef, and spearlike vegetables such as leeks, asparagus, and garlic. His preferred colors for clothing are blue, grey, and black.

Odin likes to talk, to counsel, and to solve disputes. Don't mention Baldur, or Loki's chaining, or that whole political debacle - it's a sensitive subject and he's not likely to want to discuss it with you. He has a terrifying side, which can inspire utter cowering fear or complete berserk, but he won't do that side at a gathering. That's saved for initiations of his chosen ones, usually somewhere in the woods where a painful ordeal is imminent, and then you might see Odin Yggr, the Dead Man.

Make him a throne where he can sit, with furs on it if possible.

Odin's attendants can also be either male or female, and should ideally be people sworn to him - there are enough Odin's men and women around that this shouldn't be too much of a problem. He has also had the habit, in the past, of turning his attendants into wolves or ravens, two apiece. This tends to happen when he is given attendants who are skilled at astral shapeshifting and/or have a strong affinity to one of those creatures. He also likes to have other members of his family present, if possible; negotiate it out first if you only have room or staff for one.

One thing that Odin has done while horsing is to threaten people with his spear (yes, it's politic to have a spear nearby for him, even if you're worried about him doing such a thing) by placing it against their hearts. It's a flinch test that he generally only does to warrior-types, or those who think they're really tough. So far he has not actually injured anyone, although I wouldn't push it. The right thing to do is to stand strong, neither flinching nor being arrogant and leaning into it.