The Lion King
From left to right: All-Father Odiir, King of Beornskald, and his three children: Helm the Warrior, Huntress Éar, and Velkar the Trickster.
OUT-OF-CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: Flesh out and establish the origins of Valkyri beliefs.
- Image Credit:
- Odiir: Johnson Ting
- Runa: Cristi Balanescu
- Helm: Gianluca Rolli
- Éar: Russel Dongjun Lu
- Velkar: Aleksi Briclot
- Teign: Todor Hristov
- Thrand: Firat Bilal
- Gríma: Aleksi Briclot
- Gates of Beornskald: Fiona Hsieh
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links:
- Religion Name: Children of the All-Father
- Religion Type: Polytheist
- Influence: Planetary
- Influence Area: Midvinter
- Symbol: Though there are many symbols used, such as the Spear of Odiir, the Sword of Helm, or the Hammer of Teign, these all connect to one specific god within the pantheon. The symbol for the religion as a whole is the Golden Gates of Beornskald, depicting the fabled entrance to the afterlife where those deemed worthy go upon death to feast and fight with heroes past in the company of the gods.
- Description: Children of the All-Father is the most prominent religion found on planet Midvinter, intrinsic to Valkyri society and culture. It is founded on the belief that the High God Odiir, Father-of-All, alongside a pantheon of fellow deities, created the world and all its inhabitants. Based on ancient tales passed down from one generation to the next, depictions and interpretations evolve over the centuries along with the Valkyri species. It places heavy emphasis on leading a life of honour and glory, centred around being accepted into Beornskald - the Realm of the Gods - as one passes from this life into the next. Displaying valour in battle and achieving great deeds are in the heart of every practitioner.
- Founder: Valkyri religion is based on stories told around the campfire. Stories about great warriors and terrible monsters, of gods and giants, and their ultimate demise. There are no written records on when exactly these stories first started being told, but it is safe to assume it was somewhere within the first few generations of the Valkyri following the species' adoption by the already established Beorni people. There was no named prophet or wise man, but it can be assumed their beliefs did not blossom into a full-fledged religion until the events of the Great Sundering when the belligerent Valkyri took up arms and ousted the pacifist Beorni as undisputed masters of the land, citing religious differences as their reason why.
- Membership: Simply believing in the gods' existence is enough to be considered a member, however, as an outsider many natives would likely doubt one's devotion. Children are raised from birth by their parents through the retelling of old tales, shaping their perceptions that the seemingly divine acts took place, thus the gods themselves must be real.
- Sacred: There are no physical places or items considered sacred by this religion, save for the likenesses of the gods. Statues, carvings, paintings, or any similar work of art depicting a god or a legendary hero is considered sacred; however, it is worth mentioning there are no actual laws prohibiting the destruction of said works of art other than the disapproval of one's peers. It is instead believed that the god in question will incur their wrath upon the perpetrator, be it through some curse or unfortunate accident. The worst punishment of all is being denied access to Beornskald, the Valkyri afterlife, upon death, as one's soul is left to wander eternally without the hope of finding peace.
- Dogma: In the early days of the Valkyri, following their violent rise to power and the tragic banishment of the Beorni, religion was much more prevalent in shaping the culture of its practitioners. Human sacrifices and thralls (slaves) were commonplace, and indeed religiously motivated, for it was believed that the gods would only accept blood and that exerting power over others was a sure way to reach Beornskald upon death. It would take many centuries and millennia for thralldom to be abandoned as a practice, and for human sacrifices to be considered abominable.
Depictions of the gods themselves would come to change over time as well, going from ruthless, bloodthirsty tyrants to a far more benevolent force as the species and society evolved, maturing into something far more presentable. Since their religion is based on storytelling, the people have the power to bestow traits on the gods as they see fit; as enough people retell these stories and interpretations spread, these new traits eventually become the standard depiction.
Today's Valkyri place much more emphasis on personal bravery, the duty to king and country, and respectful conduct. Society is much more secular than it once was, with religious tenets serving more as a guideline than actual law. Since the coming of Thrand Dawnbringer and his sons ushering in the Age of the Three Fathers, virtues such as honour, humility, and personal sacrifice have risen to prominence as the people are drawn to emulate their sovereign's demeanour.
- Reputation: The Valkyri pantheon is not a widely spread system of beliefs outside of the world of Midvinter; rare occurrences exist where a group of Valkyri have broken off from the homeworld and sought their future among the stars, settling on some remote world but maintaining their devotion to the gods. The most prolific member of the Valkyri as a species is undoubtedly Thurion Heavenshield, whose name carried weight on a galactic scale long before he was even made aware of his heritage, and as such is likely the most well-known practitioner of the religion of his ancestors, while also adhering to the Code of the Jedi.
All Valkyri born on Midvinter are raised into believing in the All-Father, and should therefore be considered members. Since there are no religious titles or hierarchies, every man is merely considered a practitioner of the religion. A few actively roleplayed characters (PC or NPC) worth mentioning are:
- Thurion Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Coci Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Nina Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Théodred Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Thirdas Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Valae Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Ylva Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Alva Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Thora Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Thyri Heavenshield: Practitioner
- Bors Greythorne: Practitioner
- Arden Durane: Practitioner
- Thrand Galadorn: Practitioner
According to the ancient tales, the first Valkyri are said to have dwelled in caves, hewn from stone and shaped into the likeness of the gods before being brought to life following the creation of the world. It is said that as long as there have been Valkyri, the All-Father has been there to shepherd them, even though historically the worship of the gods likely did not turn into a proper religion until after the Beorni were defeated and exiled, leaving Mankind as the supposed rulers of the land. It is also likely that the very first mention of divine beings capable of superhuman feats served chiefly as entertainment for the first few generations, before later being spoken of as undeniable truth and subsequently turned into a set of beliefs.
As the Valkyri rose to power, so did their religious beliefs. While citing "religious differences" as justification for their uprising against the peaceful Beorni, the actual reasons for the bloodshed were more likely political, or perhaps done out of something as simple as jealousy. Their belligerent nature, tempered by their beliefs and poisoned by greed and ambition, drove them to take up arms to fulfil their base desire for power.
For the next few millennia, the Valkyri would fight among themselves, clan against clan, urged on by the old tales stating that only those with the biggest body count were allowed to sit at the All-Father's side in the afterlife. During these dark times, the gods were portrayed as ruthless and bloodthirsty, said to require human sacrifices to receive their blessings. Surviving members of a defeated clan were taken as war loot and turned into thralls whose lives had no longer had any worth to free Valkyri and were treated worse than rats. A free man could freely kill thralls without repercussions, as it only added to their body count.
Slowly but surely, as Mankind matured as a species, perceptions of the gods began to change. Stories moved away from detailing their lust for blood or tyrannical tendencies and instead depicted these beings as a more benevolent force, with the All-Father becoming more of a wise old man whose actions are centred around protecting His children. As these interpretations spread, eventually becoming the norm, so too did Valkyri culture change. Slavery was abolished, and human sacrifices became animal sacrifices. Later still even this practice too was abolished altogether.
Gradually, Valkyri society turned more and more secular. What had once been law became tradition; encouraged but not enforced. The worship of the All-Father and the pantheon of gods took on a more personal nature, where each man is allowed to give praise and worship in their way so long as it wasn't illegal. Instead of actively seeking the gods' approval, it was the everyday actions that dictated whether one was deserving of their goodwill; quality of character, rather than quantity of spilt blood. Valour in battle was still chief among the tenets, however, how one fought and showed respect to one's foes was just as important.
These virtues would evolve further still as Thrand Dawnbringer fought his rebellion against the Usurper King, winning back the crown that was his by right. His reign would go on to place honour and duty to Midvinter as a whole ahead of the petty squabbles that had impaired the Valkyri for so long, and as such these same virtues would become part of their beliefs. Following the King's sacrificial death, Thrand was elevated to the status of godhood, appearing in stories as the Lord of Sunlight - the first time a mortal man ascended to divinity - and is considered one of the most popular deities, rivalling that of the All-Father Himself.
With the Dawnbringer's passing and subsequent memorialisation through the creation of a statue, ancestral worship became common practice. In the past, even High Kings were not immortalised by depicting their likenesses - only the gods were granted that honour. Seeing how Thand's family mourned their great patriarch so openly and with such heartfelt emotion, it inspired the people to honour their ancestors similarly. Shrines devoted to past family members sprung up everywhere, in every household. While not an enforced practice by any means, to sully one's family name or speak ill of an honoured ancestor is nowadays culturally shunned by one's peers.
The reigns of Thyrian Hearthfire and Thurion Heavenshield respectively would build on their esteemed father's legacy, advocating unity and loyalty to each other as well as the other races of Midvinter. Today the Children of the All-Father are stronger than ever; sins of the past are forgiven but not forgotten, serving as a dark reminder that they can, should, and need to be better than their ancestors. It is a rare example where culture influences religion, rthan the opposite.
A brief summary of the greater Valkyri pantheon:
High God Odiir All-Father: King of Beornskald and leader of the gods, the All-Father is the central figure of the Valkyri religion and is worshipped as the chief creator of the world alongside his wife Runa. He is the father of Helm, Éar, and Velkar, and the twin brother of Gríma. His domain is that of the skies, and he is seen as the God of War, Wisdom, and Poetry. He is portrayed as an old but strong man with a long grey beard, one eye, and holding a spear.
Queen Runa: The wife of Odiir and mother of Helm, Éar, and Velkar, Runa is worshipped as the mistress of the earth and all that grows on Midvinter. She is depicted as a grey-haired woman with long nails and often donning a cloak made of feathers. She is the Goddess of Magic, Prophecy, and Maternity, and is the namesake of the runic language and alphabet called Runian. She is the warm counterweight to Odiir's aloof nature.
Helm: Oldest child of Odiir and Runa, Helm is the God of Valour, Justice, and Sea-faring. Often depicted wielding a flaming sword, he is considered the bane of the giants who were said to have inhabited the world before the Valkyri were created. He is depicted as a virile warrior in his prime, with blonde hair and a beard. It is said the Valkyri physique was based on him, as well as their innate stubbornness. He rarely, if ever, gets along with his younger brother Velkar, often subjected to acts of mischief he is too single-minded to see through. His domain is that of seas and oceans.
Éar: The middle child of Odiir and Runa, Runa is the Goddess of Hunting, Marksmanship, and Fertility. She embodies the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of success, be it the hunting of beats or the courtship of romantic partners. She's depicted as a beautiful young woman with a bow whose arrows will never miss their target and is often portrayed as the diplomatic negotiator caught between her two brothers whom she loves equally.
Velkar: Youngest of the three siblings, Velkar is the God of Mischief, Illusions, and Fire. He is depicted as being the most cunning and quick-witted of the three, often clashing with his serious older brother Helm. He is considered the most controversial of all the gods in that he is said to take mortal form more than any other in order to directly influence events, to the benefit or detriment of the Valkyri. Though portrayed as loving his family, his goals do not always align with theirs. He is described as possessing a slender build with dark hair and green eyes in stark contrast to his brother.
Teign: As the God of Smithing, Trade, and Creativity, Teign is the patron of all merchants, craftsmen, and blacksmiths; all vital aspects of Valkyri society. He is said to have forged all the godly weapons with which the gods drew the giants from the land, allowing for the creation of the Valkyri. He is depicted as a chubby old man with a great white beard, whose mighty hammer adorns the entrance to every shop and workshop as it is believed it brings them luck in business.
Gríma Hagraven: The Crone-Queen of Darkness, Gríma was the twin sister of the All-Father and rival of the Dawnbringer. Cast down from Beornskald many ages past, she created for herself the Under-Realm, from where she claimed the souls of the so-called "dishonoured dead"; preying on the sick and unfortunate who pass away not in battle but from disease, accident, or cold-blooded murder, denying them the chance to reach Beornskald before the All-Father may intervene. She was the Goddess of Death, Vengeance, and Shadows, always plotting to conquer the throne she felt belonged to her. Gríma was destroyed during the events of the Great War.
Thrand, the Bringer of Dawn: The latest addition to the Valkyri pantheon, Thrand is the first mortal ever exalted to godhood after having sacrificed himself to defend the old capital against the Vinterbound hordes in the final year of his ten-year reign as High King. As the first to truly unite the clans under one banner, he is worshipped as the God of Light, Life, and Hope, with even the sun itself assuming his name. Due to the importance of the sun in a cold, harsh world like Midvinter, Thrand is one of the most popular gods in the pantheon, rivalling that of even the All-Father Himself.
From left to right: Queen Runa, Teign the Blacksmith, Sun-Lord Thrand, and the fallen Gríma.
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