( VALKYRIE )

[wolfofmidgard]

Valkyrie

Immortal female beings. Mythology reflects that Valkyrie are women who sweep the fallen from battlegrounds and take them to Valhalla or Fólkvangr. In the Runic 'verse, Valkyrie have two purposes and three orders. Their first purpose is, of course, to take the best/bravest warriors onto their afterlives; the most heroic are taken to Valhalla, to become Einherjar and feast, and the most clever are taken to Fólkvangr, the goddess Freyja's battlefield, where she watches over them. The Valkyrie's second purpose is to guard Asgard from war, after the passing of Ragnarök, and back up its king, Víðarr, when he has need of them. Valkyrie are selected from noble human women who die in combat performing great or selfless deeds (the in combat part is the key). This process used to be completed by the Allfather, but, since his passing, Yggdrasil has taken charge of them. Within the Valkyrie, their greatness places them in three orders when they reawaken. The Fireforged are the lowest rank, though still extremely powerful in comparison to mortal creatures; they serve as foot soldiers and messengers. The Stormforged are more powerful, and serve as soldiers and officers. The Lightforged are the highest order of Valkyrie, and there are only ever 9; each one presides over a Realm. The Valkyrie in charge of watching Asgard is the War General, and she is the military leader of the Valkyrie. Other than their place in the food chain, there is almost no way for an outsider to tell what order a Valkyrie is in. Ranks, of course, have insignia, and are thus: Bæresoldat - two crossed swords; Gaupeblad - two crossed swords over a cat's snarling head; Sverdkorporal - 1 arrow; Løytnant - 2 arrows; Generalløytnant - 3 arrows; War General - a lightning bolt; High General - a lightning bolt crossed with a spear. The current War General is Lady Ingibjörg, and the current High General (spiritual leader, of sorts) is Lady Eir — otherwise known as the goddess of healing.