The supreme god, Óðinn, was exploring the nine realms with his travel companions Hœnir, and the notoriously mischievous Loki.
After a long journey, the three reached a waterfall in Niðavellir, the subterranean land of the dwarves, and stopped for water.
Óðinn and Hœnir were eager to meet Hreiðmarr, the king of the dwarves, but Loki was bored and hungry.
Spotting an otter nearby, Loki tossed a stone at its head, killing the animal.
He kept its pelt and slouched after the others.
When they greeted Hreiðmarr, the king paled, for the pelt belonged to none other than his shapeshifting son.
Hreiðmarr summoned his two surviving sons, Fáfnir and Regin, and bound the gods.
He decided he would let them go in exchange for gold, as was the custom, but only if they could fill the otter pelt with the finest gold until not even a hair was visible.
Because of how the otter skin stretched, this meant procuring a nearly impossible amount — but Loki had an idea.
The dwarves were master craftspeople.
