The story begins with King Hring ("Hringr") of Östergötland, who is said to be son of King Gauti son of King Odin of Sweden and half-brother to King Gautrekr the Generous, who appears as king of Västergötland in "Gautreks saga". But chronology is flattened so that Hring is made a contemporary of Harald Wartooth, King of Denmark and Sweden. Hring's wife is Sylgja daughter of Jarl Sæfara ('Seafarer') of Småland. Sæfara also has two sons, named Dagfari ("Dayfarer") and Náttfari ("Nightfarer"), who serve King Harald.