Gothi is the Village Elder of the Hooligan Tribe. Her roles include using her wisdom to make decisions for the village, acting as village healer, and officiating new chief and marriage ceremonies. Gothi 'speaks' by writing in the ground with her staff, in a writing that few Vikings can read. Despite her old age, Gothi is as spirited, feisty and willing to use force as any Viking half her age.
Her dragons are a flock of Terrible Terrors.
Official Description[]
- “Not much is known about Gothi... mostly because she's never actually been able to tell anyone about her past. All the people of Berk know is that Gothi's been on the island since before they were born, and she'll probably still be there long after they've left.
Recently, Hiccup and the other Dragon Riders learned that Gothi was part of a doomed Arctic expedition that ended prematurely due to a Snow Wraith attack. Gothi hadn't left Berk since that fateful experience, even staying behind when the rest of the Vikings faced off against the Red Death on Dragon Island.
Solemn, trustworthy, and spry, Gothi serves many important functions on Berk, but perhaps her greatest role is that of a listener. Everyone on the island comes to Gothi with their problems, and everyone leaves her hut feeling much better, even though she didn't say a thing! Stoick and Gobber often look to her for counsel and support. Just a look from this old woman could help decide the chief's next act and shape Berk's future.
Despite her grudge against the Snow Wraith, Gothi loves all dragons, especially her flock of Terrible Terrors. Now, if she could only get them to stop singing from the rooftops!” - ―Viking Guide
Personality[]
Gothi is a woman of little words but is wise and highly respected as the “Village Elder” and a healer. Most Vikings approach her for help when in urgent need. Gothi is very fond of Terrible Terrors and she has plenty in her hut. This is familiar to a "Cat Widow" stereotype in which old women own numerous cats to keep them company. Gothi also has a mischievous side, such as whacking people with her staff. She also uses quite a bit of bad language in her writing when angry and even made Fishlegs, as Thor Bonecrusher, drink spiced yak bladder as payback for breaking her staff. In her youth, Gothi was quite adventurous and always looking for something new, a quality not unlike Hiccup's. Despite her size and age, Gothi is surprisingly strong and athletic. She is able to hit others hard with her staff as a form of defense and hike up the mountains of Glacier Island. She has also been shown to be very brave, as she ran up to a Snow Wraith and continued to smash its face with her staff. According to the episode "The Longest Day", when subjected to long periods of sleeplessness such as during the 'Midnight Sun', Gothi will 'babble', i.e., scribble cryptic and nonsensical patterns in the dirt with her staff with a glazed look in her eye. Gothi enjoys eating Gobber's home-made Yak Noodle Soup. According to School of Dragons she also "likes her soup simple and exotic", such as made with truffles and cabbage.
Physical Appearance[]
Gothi is an elderly lady. She has a short and scrawny figure and an obvious hunch. She has thick wavy gray hair held in two braids. She wears a leather vest with an old belt strapped around it and she also has padding over the wrist. Most of the time, she is seen with a small, rather flat helmet and an old staff made of bones. She uses her staff mainly to execute healing practices such as hypnosis and defending herself. She also has a scar from a Snow Wraith's bite on her left arm and a few faint, blue tattoos of dragons on her shoulders.
Biography[]
Trivia[]
- Bonnie Arnold stated in The Art of How to Train Your Dragon that Gothi is based on Old Wrinkly from the books.
- Gothi does not speak in the final, on-screen product, although she had a much larger part in the earliest film concepts, when there was a lot of magic and things of that nature.
- Gothi has two tattoos, one on her right arm and on her right hand. The one on her right arm appears to be a Whispering Death.
- It is said that Gothi can tell when you will die by looking at your tongue. Other less reliable sources said that she can do it by looking at your fingernails.
- Gothi is the Viking who first discovered the Snow Wraith.
- With the release of her Terrible Terrors, it is revealed in Dragons: Rise of Berk, that Gothi can in fact speak. However, she chooses to speak Dragonese and not Norse.
- Gothi loves Gobber's yak noodle stew.
- Although she does not appear in person in School of Dragons, Gothi's hut atop the high peak of Berk is the focal point in several player quests.
- In old Norse, someone with the title “Gothi” (Goði, plural: goðar) would be a priest. However, a goði is typically a male priest, while a female would be known as a Völva. They had high respect in Viking society, and deep knowledge of seiðr (mythological “magic”).