Valkyries: The Angels of War

The Choosers of the Slain

The Valkyries (Valkyrjur) are the special forces of Odin. They are not gentle spirits. They are shield-maidens of the apocalypse. They ride wolves or winged horses over the battlefields of Midgard. Their name means "Choosers of the Slain." They do not participate in the fight. They referee it. They decide who dies today and who lives to fight tomorrow.

The Recruitment Drive

To be chosen by a Valkyrie is the highest honor a Viking could achieve. It means you fought with such ferocity that Odin wants you in his personal army. The Valkyries carry the "chosen" souls (the Einherjar) up the rainbow bridge (Bifröst) to Valhalla. There, the warriors feast and fight every day, preparing for Ragnarok. To be ignored by a Valkyrie is a curse. It means "straw death" (dying in bed) and an eternity in cold Helheim.

The Swan Maidens

When not at war, Valkyries sometimes shed their armor. They descend to earth wearing cloaks of swan feathers to bathe in mountain lakes. If a mortal man steals this cloak, the Valkyrie is trapped. She is forced to marry him. She may bear his children and live a human life, but she will never be happy. She will always watch the sky. And if she finds her cloak, she leaves instantly.

The Northern Lights

When you look up at the Aurora Borealis. Imagine it is not plasma interacting with the magnetosphere. Imagine it is the reflection of moonlight on polished shields. Thousands of them. Riding south.

The Final Warning

War is chaos, but the selection is precise. If the battlefield goes silent, and time seems to slow down around you, do not look for your shield. Look up. If you see a light that isn't the sun, and a rider descending through the clouds, drop your sword. You have already won the only prize that matters: You made the cut.