Description: Valkyries

Most aspects of Valkyrian physiology are closely homologous with H. s. sapiens, with certain exceptions. The Valkyrie body consists of legs (2), torso, arms (2), wings (2 or 4), neck, and head. The primary differences between H s. sapiens and Valkyries are in their respiratory, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and digestive systems (see below).

On average Valkyrie will stand between 212cm and 241cm tall with a mass of between 91kg and 123kg, with variability in height and weight primarily determined by caste, of which Valkyries have 4—Warrior, Commander, Healer, Völva.

The smallest caste are Warriors, with an average heigh of 212 cm and an average mass of 91kg. Following this are Commanders (224 cm and 96kg), Healers (231cm 111kg), Völva (241cm 123kg).

These four castes comprise over 99% of any population of Valkyries, as any given garrison of Valkyries may contain upwards of 10,000 individuals to a single Captain.

B(1). Musculoskeletal

Valkyries, like their Angelic cousins, possess various “Chimeric Modifications”. Among the most easily identifiable are one or two pairs of feathered wings capable of powered flight, as well as a suite of musculoskeletal alterations to enable both their placement and flight.

Valkyrie muscle density is, on average, 3 to 7 times higher than H. asteri, and is typically stronger by a factor of between 1.27 to 2.1—with the highest ends of both density and strength found on Valkyrian Völva. Valkyrie muscles are also more efficient, owing to improvements in general cell function and diffusion of resources between various other systems.

Valkyrie bones are also hollow and made of interwoven layers of naturally-occurring carbon fibre and titanium, providing exceptionally high strength and durability for a fraction of the weight. The interior of large Valkyrie bones in the torso and limbs also possess interior channels and vessels connected to the posterior air sacs supplement blood oxygenation outside of the hearts.

The average adult Valkyrie is capable of lifting more than 20x her body weight, and has exceptional aerobic endurance, being among the best long-distance runners, though falling well behind more specialised avian species in terms of long-distance flight.

Specific to Healers and Völva are skeletal and muscular alterations that allow the attachment of a second set of flight wings positioned around 12cm below the first, and 4cm closer together. The 2nd set are typically smaller by about 34%, but allow Healers and Völva to carry heavier burdens, including adult Valkyries out of battle while also encumbered with their own armour and weapons.

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B(2). Noteworthy Anatomical Deviations

b(2).1. Respiratory

Valkyrian respiration is a complex process, more closely resemblant of the avian respiratory system with notable deviations in the dispersion of gas from the air sacs directly into passages inside their bones, in the lungs which are closer to mammalian lungs, and in the number of air sacs, of which Valkyries have 3—1 primary air sac located just below the lungs, and two posterior air sacs, located above the kidneys. Valkyrie respiration, like avian respiration, allows for continuous airflow into the lungs with expansion of the diaphragm during inspiration pushing air out of the primary air sac into both the lungs and the anterior air sacs, and expiration inflating the primary air sac, with air passing first through the primary air sac before entering the lungs. During expiration, some gasses are cycled back through the system.

Each lung is also responsible for oxygenating blood through only one of their two hearts.

Owing to the unique ways Valkyries distribute and diffuse oxygen into the blood, Valkyrie lungs are 50% of the volume of what would be expected of a human of their size. Despite this, Valkyries achieve systemic arterial blood partial pressure of oxygen roughly twice that of mammals, owing largely to the additional methods of blood oxygenation as well as increased efficiency of the system overall.

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b(2).3. Cardiovascular

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b(2).4. Digestive

b(2).4.1. GI Tract

The digestive system in Valkyries is more compact—with the exception of the stomachs—in order to accommodate their air sacs and reduce weight. Valkyries possess 3 stomachs each of which is connected to a single, trifurcated, upper intestinal tract.

Most of the upper GI Tract in Valkyries is nearly identical to H. Asteri with exceptions detailed below.

b(2).4.2. Oesophageal Trifurcation

The oesophagus splits in three just beneath the clavicles attaching to the left, right, and central stomachs directly below the hearts.

Valkyrie stomachs are smaller than H. asteri, but, combined, have roughly 1.5 times the volume. They produce a much stronger form of stomach acid capable of breaking down their food much more efficiently and completely before discharge into the UIT.

The Valkyrie upper intestinal tract begins with a trifurcated introitus which arcs to the left, connecting the left, middle, and right stomach before wrapping around in an S-like fashion. The UIT has six switchbacks, forming 3 vertical layers before terminating at the Lower Intestinal Tract. Valkyrie UITs are typically 200-230cm in length, with an average diametre of 3cm.

b(2).4.3. Lower GI Tract

The Lower Intestinal Tract is a straight, triple-chambered organ descending directly from the UIT to anus. While much shorter than the lower intestines in humans at an average of 38-42cm, Valkyrie LITs are only slightly less efficient (~12%).

The LIT’s three chambers—upper, middle, and lower—are analogous in to human lower intestines as follows: The upper chamber combines the functions of the caecum and ascending colon in humans and extracts most of the remaining nutrients and resources from the UIT’s waste material. After a period of between four and eight hours in the upper chamber, materials are discharged into the Middle Chamber for an addition 12-18 hours of fermentation as digestive enzymes are secreted into the Middle Chamber from the Left and Right Livermores. The Lower Chamber receives the waste products of the Middle Chamber and is primarily responsible for receiving, processing, and excreting waste products from the body.

Livermore

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b(3). Captains

Valkyrie Captains are a unique caste of Valkyries, being exclusively male, and exceedingly rare on a population level. All male Valkyries are Captains.

Captains possess all features of Valkyrie Völva, but are significantly larger and stronger. A Captain will stand over 312cm on average, weigh upwards of 200kg, and always possessed of four wings.

A Captain can lift between 40 and 61 times his body weight and has superior athletic performance compared to other Valkyries by a base improvement 480%, and upwards of 1200%.

Valkyrie Captains are rarely seen outside of their Garrisons, being primarily responsible in Valkyrie society for training other Valkyries, Garrison leadership, and general executive responsibilities. Despite rarely seeing combat, Valkyrie Captains are the most formidable Sub-Reliquarian/Super_user combatants in The Way. According to tradition, any mortal (def. Rev. MTT A11 E4 Sec. 301(d)) who defeats a Captain in battle is entitled to nine enchanted markings from a Kitsune sorceress (see: Nine Tales).

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b(4). Life Cycle

Valkyrie reproduction occurs at significantly higher rates and gestation periods are far faster than other Dreamborn Mythica. This is partially due to their role as primary guardians and warriors among Dreamborn Mythica. Valkyrie Garrisons always accompany Kitsune Runs as well as Mythic Sanctuaries or any other large Mythica Population Centres—excepting Naiad and Siren cities. Valkyries are ageless Mythica, but not true immortals—like Graces and Angelics. Thus Valkyries can be killed, and are at a much higher rates than other Mythica, giving Valkyries the shortest average lifespans of any Dreamborn Mythica at around 12,000 Tanno.

Gestation periods for Valkyries last between 800 and 840 Terran Rota and are fairly similar to those of H. asteri, with primary deviations in the final half of the third trimester. Valkyrie infants are born far more underdeveloped than human infants and take substantially longer to fully mature than H. s. scandia—reaching sexual maturity at 138 Tanno for Valkyries, and 148 for Captains, full physical maturity at 200 and 224 respectively. During the last 200 Terran Rota of gestation, the growth of the foetus impedes the posterior air sacs from effecting respiration, disallowing a Valkyrie from engaging in most medium to high impact activities, including flight, running, or medium to hard labour.

Labour is far quicker in Valkyries than most humans, with birth occurring within 60-120 minutes post-onset, but also far more painful. However, complications during childbirth and maternal death are almost nonexistent, with the former occurring in fewer than 1 case in 1,000,000, and the latter in fewer than 1 in 1,000,000,000.

Valkyrie infants are born sexless, without wings, and with roughly 62% of the cranial development of H. asteri and require a high level of care for the first 5 Tanno after birth. Valkyrie mothers will typically keep their newborns secured to their chests by a sling for these first five years, taking them out only for feeding or to mover the sling to the other shoulder.

After 5 Tanno, Valkyrie infants mature to roughly the level of a 3 month-old H. asteri. Valkyries will continue to keep their infants slung to their chests for another 10 Tanno, but will let them down for greater periods of time until the age of 15, when most Valkyries reach the equivalent development of H. asteri toddlers. Despite teething at around the age of 12, most Valkyries remain dependent on their mother’s milk until late adolescence as a source of digestive enzymes, due to the underdeveloped state of their livermores until late puberty.

Between 15 and 45, Valkyrie young develop to the level of physical and mental maturity of an H. asteri child of the age of 8 Tanno. At around 45-55 Tanno, Valkyrian children begin to sprout their wings. Differentiation of female castes typically becomes most apparent here as the onset and number of budsprouts is a reliable indicator of caste, with Völvas sprouting at between 45-46, and Warriors closer to 55. The latest a Valkyrie will sprout is 60, which coincides with Captain differentiation (see below).

Wing development in Valkyries concludes just prior to the onset of adolescence at between 60 and 75—60 for Völva upwards to 72 for Warriors, and 75 for Captains. Unlike most animal species, Valkyries are sexless until adolescence. During early adolescence (60-92/75-100) Valkyrie reproductive systems develop and grow to the level of H. asteri just prior to onset of puberty. As well as sexual differentiation, Valkyrie livermores experience most of their growth and development at this stage.

Once developed, Valkyries enter late adolescence, undergoing puberty before reaching sexual maturity between 138 for Warriors and 148 for Captains. After this, Valkyries and Captains no longer require infusions of digestive enzymes and other hormones through their mothers to effectuate digestion and other bodily functions. Additionally, their bodies continue to grow, but much more slowly, with most development and maturation occurring in the brain and internal organs, reaching full physical and neurological maturity between the ages of 200 and 240 Tanno after.

After reaching adulthood Valkyrie anatomy and physiology does not change in any significant manner due to age, although Valkyries of extreme age may have measurable physical alterations due to effects of natural forces like gravity, stellar radiation, etc., after accounting for battle damage, scarification, and other confounding factors.

Valkyries undergo menstruation every 360-400 Terran Rota. Although a majority of Valkyries never reproduce, each Valkyrie will, on average, give birth to 1.31 children in her lifetime, with the bulk of offspring coming from less than 5% of the total population who will have 10 or more children per lifetime and are referred to as “Grandmothers”. (One noteworthy Valkyrie, called Grandmother Kalla, has given birth to over 1,000 Valkyries over the past 1,000,000 Tanno, averaging one per Millennium. Of Grandmother Kalla’s offspring, another 12 have also become Grandmothers, although the most prolific—Grandmother Huwei—has only had 15 children, her last being a captain.)

Valkyries do not become infertile, but do experience declining libido as they age as well as decreased sexual preference for Captains, with sexual preferences among Valkyries heavily skewing into asexuality (41%) and homosexuality (27%) with the remainder reporting as bisexual, pansexual, or other.

Captains are the only caste of Valkyries reporting heterosexuality, and overwhelmingly so (98%). All other sexual preferences among Captains are exceedingly rare, accounting for less than 1% each, with homosexual preference nonexistent. Captains retain similar levels of libido and virility throughout their entire lifetimes, with older Captains being preferred as sexual partners among Valkyries. This is due to a process by which specialised tetrapodal cells secreted in the vagina during coitus will enter the Captain through the mucosal membranes of the glans penis, travel to the testes before being absorbed by haploid producing cells, adding, or recombining genetic sequences creating, in effect, an incubation chamber for the horizontal gene transfer of upwards of thousands of different Valkyries through the sperm of a single Valkyrie Captain. This process prevents genetic bottlenecking and also partially explains the extreme disparity among sexes, though it is yet unclear how this process originated.

Valkyries do not die of advanced age and are immune to disease. Valkyries can, however, die of various other causes. Physical injury is the most common cause of death (72%) among Valkyries, with exposure (heat, cold, weather, etc.) (16%), deprivation (oxygen, water, food, etc.) (8%), and overexertion (4%) being the next most common. All other causes of death contribute the remaining 2%. Valkyries have the highest rates of death from exhaustion of any sapient species. The most common exhaustion-related death is combat overexertion, with 73% of all cases of overexertion-death attributed to combat exhaustion. Other causes of death are exceedingly rare.

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b(6). Diet

Valkyries are omnivorous, capable of consuming a wide variety of plant and animal material. The preferred diet among Valkyries is high in energy dense foods, primarily of complex carbohydrates, fatty meats, processed dairy products (cheese, yoghurt, etc.), and macronutrient-dense fruits and vegetables. While it is uncommon, Valkyries can suffer from nutrient deficiencies, although this rarely rises to the level of causing disease or other serious health complications as Valkyrie livermores are exceptionally efficient at storage and release of micronutrients.

A typical Valkyrie meal will involve cooked, fatty meats such as beef, pork, goat, mutton, cheval, or poultry, bread, rice, pasta, cooked grain porridges, starchy roots, as well as carbohydrate dense fruits and vegetables. Valkyries cannot digest most processed foods, with ingestion thereof causing vomiting and diarrhoea. If fed incompatible foods for too long, Valkyries can experience Gut Wasting—a total loss of gut flora and inability for the livermores to produce digestive enzymes. Valkyries experiencing Gut Wasting can restore digestive function through another’s breast milk, but the process can take several Tanno before full restoration of digestive function. Most deaths due to deprivation occur due to complications from Gut Wasting.

Valkyries will eat lean meats, fish, arthropods, and low-density fruits and vegetables only if necessary. Valkyries cannot digest shellfish, highly fibrous vegetables, or watermelons, though Valkyries will consume celery in order to purge their stomachs.

Valkyries also consume high quantities of alcoholic beverages, primarily grain alcohols, meads, and absinthes. These beverages are typically brewed by Minotauri Brewmasters or Kitsune distillers, depending on the type and processes involved. As with edibles, Valkyries are unable to digest highly processed potables as well, although the effects of consumption of toxic potables are less severe.

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b(7). Biological Variation

Valkyries, excepting caste variations, have low degrees of biological variation when compared to H. asteri, with traits such as facial features, eye colour, hair colour and texture, skin colour, and secondary sex characteristics, with limited variability in most categories. The most similar comparison point is to H. s. scandia—the standard baseline comparison used hereforth.

Valkyrie skin tones have low variability, with ranges toward the lighter end of H. s. scandia. Valkyries do not tan, producing key micronutrients through other means, and additionally possessing anomalous resistance to high-energy radiation.

Valkyrie hair has high variability, with full spectrum colouration across normative colour ranges within H. s. scandia. Hair texture is fairly similar across all Valkyries, and is either 1a or 2a via the Jadra Vvallar type chart and between 71 and 74 follicles per square centimetre. Valkyries only possess scalp hair. A Valkyrie’s feathers will be coloured and patterned similarly to their scalp hair.

Additionally, Valkyrie scalps can have between 12 and 16 “Crown Feathers” that are made of altered hair cells that take the shape, construction, and composition of long, thin, decorative plumage. Crown Feathers have little to no rigidity, being purely decorative, and have the same colouration and patterning as appears on a Valkyries wings. Crown Feathers grow at the same rate as their hair, and may be trimmed with no adverse effects. Dissimilar to scalp hair, Crown Feathers do not shed, only growing back if pulled out.

Facial features and eye colouration follow normative deviations within H. s. scandia.

The most notable biovariance occurs within the caste delineations. Warriors—comprising nearly 80% of all Valkyries, are the smallest and least robust and most numerous.

Commanders are larger than Warriors and can be easily identified either through tattoos or their helmets, accounting for 10% of the remaining Valkyries. They are the most robust of Valkyries and are superior battlefield leaders. A Lodge will always have at least 1 Commander, with larger Lodges having multiple Commanders subordinate to a Lodge Commander.

Healers are the next largest and most numerous the octopoidalvariants, accounting for 8% of the total. Healers fulfil battlefield medic roles, and typically do not directly engage in combat, though are trained fighters. They are significantly stronger than Commanders and Warriors owing to their responsibility of carrying wounded or fallen Valkyries from the battlefield. Healers are also Empowered, being highly potent Stitches, at or above the level of a Relicborn Death’s End.

The remaining 2% are Völva, the final octopoidalvariant—excluding Captains—who serve various leadership roles within a Garrison. Völva and their kinnings form a Captain’s Lodge. Völva are potent mages comparable to a Relicborn Crown Tempest. Völva are rarely seen in battle, owing to their rarity and value to the Garrison as well as being members of the Captain’s Lodge—which only enters battle during full-Garrison mobilisations.

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b(8). Psychology

Valkyrie psychology is nearly identical to that of H. asteri with deviations primarily in memory, response to trauma, and intelligence. Valkyries have much deeper memory storage capacity than H. asteri, are more resistant to trauma, and are highly intelligent with an IQ floor of 126.

Most psychiatric conditions in humans are not present in Valkyries, with only a handful of conditions caused by neurochemical deficiencies or excesses occurring in extreme minorities. The most common psychological condition affecting Valkyries is PTSD, although it is often milder and Valkyries have a much higher threshold of tolerance before onset.

Valkyries exhibit a range of emotions consistent with N1 Vökke-Ngjolmìp Sapient Emotive Range Scale (H. asteri baseline) and possess nearly identical neurophysiology to H. s. scandia.

While Valkyries do exhibit strong attractions and/or emotional attachments to other individuals, they do so at lower rates than H. asteri and bonds are often less strong. Pair bonding between romantic partners is extremely rare among Valkyries, with most individuals having multiple regular intimate or romantic partners simultaneously. Valkyries do not exhibit monogamy or exclusivity in romantic bonds.

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b(9). Culture

Valkyrie culture is fairly homogenous across all Garrisons. Minor deviations or local traditions may be present, but Valkyries tend to have a culture that centres around their roles as guardians, protectors, and warriors. Valkyries refer to it as Kält Ländawärja. Though all Valkyries are warriors, they do take up secondary trades and crafts that they pursue in their free time, similar to those of H. asteri.

Valkyries do not engage in most menial tasks that would fulfil their basic needs, except where necessary. Activities such as agriculture, resource harvesting, and manufacturing in order to sustain them are often performed by Minotauri or a combination of Minotauri and Kitsune, creating a complex web of interdependencies between these Mythica.

In Battle, Valkyries will commonly use a mix of contemporary weapons, armour, and other technologies adapted, modified, retooled, or retrofitted for their use by the Kitsune and Minotauri; as well as traditional implements such as swords, spears, bows, or other archaic weaponry, armour, or other tools. A Valkyrie’s wargear will most often be master crafted and ornately decorated to the individual Valkyrie’s preference, as a central tenet of Kält Ländawärja considers it a grave dishonour to defeat an opponent with a “soulless weapon”. This practise does not extend to a weapon’s ammunition, much to the relief of the Minotauri.

b(10). Society

Valkyries, like humans, are highly social. Unlike humans, Valkyrie society is largely egalitarian, with very little social stratification between castes. They tend to form groups they call “Lodges” which are usually comprised of a network of closely bonded Valkyries around one or two Völva or Healers. Lodges can range in size from 40 individuals to 60, and can be further subdivided into Kinnings of between 6 and 8 romantically or intimately involved individuals. Each lodge may have between 6 and 10 Kinnings, with overlaps between Kinnings a common occurrence. Above the Lodges is the Garrison, which is organised around the Garrison Captain, and may consist of anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 Lodges.

On a given world, the number of Garrisons can range from 1 to 12. Worlds with Valkyries but without a Captain are not considered to have a Garrison of Valkyries, but Fragmented Lodges. Without a Captain, Valkyrie Lodges are incapable of combining into a cohesive unit.

Valkyries do not have concepts of family as humans do, and recognise only one form of explicit relationship—that being between mother and daughter*. Kinnings and Lodges will collectively raise and care for a child born to a member thereof, though this is primarily done through support and care for the needs of the mother.

Politics and Governance in Valkyrian society is a fairly simple affair as conflicts between groups of Valkyries are extremely rare, antisocial behaviour is uncommon, and Valkyrie customs and culture ensures a comfortable standard of living for all. Issues arising within Lodges and Garrisons are handled by Quorums of Völva or at the Captain’s Dais. Tyranny and corruption are not tolerated among Valkyries and those who engage in either are swiftly sent on Penitent Odysseys, exiled, or banished.

Valkyries also do not have an economy, being supported by the Kitsune and Minotauri, each of whom provides their specialisations to the other in a web of interdependence and reliance. Though all three will barter with other Mythica or Humans, they will refuse any offer of money, accepting only what they refer to as “things of value”, which is a catch-all term encompassing whatever is deemed a worthy sacrifice from the third party in return for the services of the Valkyrie/Minotaur/Kitsune.

Wars and inter-Garrison/Lodge/Kinning conflicts do not occur. Valkyries do not purge corrupted Garrisons following a Devouring/Titansfell, though third parties may purge them without penalty even in the absence of a Writ of Purging from the local Supreme Grace. Conflict between Valkyries rarely involves more than a few individuals, and violence between Valkyries almost exclusively involves two individuals. While Valkyries have a long tradition of combat sports, and are universally warriors, violent crime is almost non-existent in Valkyrie society. Valkyries do not engage in campaigns of conquest, engaging in violence only when engaged upon.

Under the Valkyrian Exclusions, non-Mythica are permitted to engage in combat with Valkyries under certain bounding criteria. (See MTT-EXC/VK)

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*All Valkyrie young are referred to as “daughters”, including young Captains. Mothers of Captains will refer to them as such until a Captain’s Rite of Proving is completed, after which he will be referred to as “[____]’s scion”. Mothers of Captains are also referred to differently as “Scion-bearers”.