Upbringing of the Valkyrie – Background Options

The Valkyrie are an elusive race of winged warrior women. They live high above the conflict and turmoil of the Hammerlands, in the city of Úlfdalir. Despite their relative safety, they all grow up to be proficient fighters, destined to protect the realm from catastrophe. But before they take up a life of adventure and glory, they have other tasks within Valkyrie society.

From a simple stable hand to a respected ‘Watcher’, the Valkyrie has many paths available to them. All of which provide experience and skills that could one day prove invaluable to an adventurer.

In this blog, I’ll detail 3 new backgrounds available to a noble Valkyrie adventurer (or at least someone raised in their community).

Watcher

A Valkyrie that has grown up as a Watcher could be called an adventurer already, as many of the skills and responsibilities overlap. The Valkyrie have been charged with the duty of protecting the realm from disaster, and one of the major parts of this duty is the gathering of information.

A Watcher is sent to observe potentially dangerous situations and determined how much of a threat the situation poses. These duties can vary from blending into a crowd and listening to private conversations of her target, to stalking a dangerous beast through the woodlands, ensuring it doesn’t head towards a large population of vulnerable people.

As a Watcher, you will have been assigned many tasks, yet your first mission should hold a special place in your story. This was your first test and your chance to prove yourself. Did it go well? Did you make yourself proud? Were there any mistakes you’d want to change if you could? Do you have regrets? All of these are important questions to ask yourself if you choose this background. To help you decide what your first assignment was, you may roll a D6 on the below table, or simply choose the option you like the most for your character:

1. A secretive Dragon cult, set on allowing Dragon-kind to find a foothold in the South.	5. The brutal, violent people of Machi Vasilikós were pouring through into the Hammerlands.
2. A corrupt Jarl from a small settlement was planning to use dark magic to enslave their neighbouring tribes.	6. Nidhogg was making moves to assault the Hammerlands once more.
3. Scouts from the Frostwoods had been seen in the Hammerlands, a sign of incoming war.	7. A large monstrous beast was tearing through the woodlands and disturbing the balance of nature.
4. The Dwarves of a small mining town had uncovered an evil gem that was warping their minds.	8. Several earthquakes had struck the Hammelands, each stronger than the last.

Feature: You can pick out specific conversations even when in a crowded, noisy location. In addition, you find it very easy to recall the names and faces of people you consider a threat.

Skill Proficiencies: Perception, Investigation.
Tools: Cartographer’s tools.
Languages: One Language of your choice.
Equipment: Spyglass, Clothes – Traveller’s, A trophy from the first threat you helped resolve, Pouch containing 10gp.

Suggested Characteristics:

Watchers understand the importance of subtlety and not getting emotionally attached when working. They can seem cold or suspicious.

Personality Trait:

1. I find myself intently watching everyone around me.	5. I am suspicious of even those closest to me.
2. I try to find ill intent in a stranger’s words.	6. I have to be the last person to fall asleep in a group.
3. I prefer to watch from the outside, rather than be the centre of attention.	7. I find it very difficult to offer truthful information about myself.
4. I try to avoid being in people’s line of sight for long.	8. I am confident in my ability to judge someone’s character.

Ideal:

1. Patience: Time will always reveal the truth to me.	4. People: Helping people that need it is my motivator.
2. Action: If I have the power to force change, then it is my duty to do so.	5. Example: I am the example to those around me of what to strive for.
3. Subtlety: The best plans never reveal who enacted them.	6. Suspicion: Evil is often charming, I must doubt even those closest to me.

Bond:

1. I take my job seriously to keep those weaker than me safe.	4. I want to be an example to future generations.
2. I want to make my people at home proud.	5. I am owed a debt that cannot be repaid by gold.
3. I feel a kinship with those that also take on this gruelling job.	6. I can feel Thor’s respect for me and the things I’ve done.

Flaw:

1. I find it very hard to trust those around me.	4. I freeze up when made the centre of attention.
2. It is my duty to die in defence of this realm.	5. I have no patience for those that act selfishly.
3. I would abandon those in need if my home was attacked.	6. I am not used to the customs of the other races.

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Magical Beast Stable-hand

Alongside their wings, the Valkyrie also make use of the magnificent Pegasus when needing to travel long distances via the air. Caring for these magical mounts is an important and respected job in Valkyrie culture.

To ensure the broad usefulness of this post, I will be writing this as a monstrous mount carer, as opposed to specifically a Pegasus carer.

When raising magical beasts or monstrous creatures as mounts, you can face many dangers. You must be alert and aware of the harm these creatures can cause. And many societies raise wildly different creatures as mounts. To help you decide what creature you were raising, you may roll a D6 on the below table, or simply choose the option you like the most for your character:

1. Pegasus or Unicorns	5. Hippogriffs or Griffins
2. Giant Reptiles	6. Bullette or Ankheg
3. Giant Mammals	7. Aquatic or Amphibian
4. Giant Insects	8. Giant Birds

Feature: You can use the Animal Handling skill on Monstrosity-type creatures. In addition, if you spend 2 weeks with a large enough creature that has an intelligence score of 10 or lower, and cannot speak, you can use it as a mount.

Skill Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Insight.
Tool Proficiencies: Leatherworker’s Tools, Vehicles (Land).
Equipment: A mount based on the creatures you raised as determined via the above table, Pouch containing 8gp.

Suggested Characteristics:

Magical Beast carers are brave and face danger every day without fear. They are able to accept the creatures for what they are and look past the innate threat they portray. When injured by the creatures they raise they are quick to forgive.

Personality Trait:

1. I get overly passionate when talking about monsters and magical beasts.	5. I assume everyone thinks monsters are as cute as I think they are.
2. I get upset when people take pride in killing something I could have tamed.	6. I always have a ‘fun fact’ about a monster that relates to a situation.
3. I doodle cute little monsters everywhere.	7. I get bored walking places if my mount can’t come along.
4. I speak my thoughts out loud to my mount.	8. I write fanfics about taming the creatures I face in battle.

Ideal:

1. Life: Even the scariest monstrous creatures deserve to live.	4. Friendship: The best way to resolve conflict is to befriend each other.
2. Second Chances: Mistakes are redeemable and everyone should be given the chance to make amends.	5. Passion: It’s important to let yourself enjoy the things you enjoy. Don’t let someone else put you down.
3. Big Picture: You should always try and see things from another point of view.	6. Partnership: If someone or something relies on you, you have to do your best for them.

Bond:

1. My mount is my best friend.	4. I respect those whose first instinct isn’t to kill everything.
2. I love baby animals and wish I could raise them all.	5. I love visiting home to see all the creatures I raised.
3. My mount is a companion, not a pet.	6. A family member was killed by a creature I tried to raise.

Flaw:

1. I will put my mount’s safety above the lives of others.	4. I will only leave my mount behind if I absolutely have to.
2. I refuse to accept something can be inherently evil.	5. I’m deathly afraid of Aberrations.
3. I refuse to deal the finishing blow on a creature I could have raised.	6. I will refuse to see the true nature of something if it challenges my worldview.

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Monument Caretaker

The city of Úlfdalir is busy with monuments to Valkyrie culture. From the Well of Recollection which stores the souls of their fallen warriors, to The Tower of Remembrance which tracks the history of the realm, there is no shortage of locations that hold very high significance to the Valkyrie.

As caretaker of these locations, you have a duty to keep them clean and welcoming and to protect them from harm. You are highly respected throughout the community as a familiar face to many people.

Various cultures place significance in a variety of locations and buildings. The monument you care for could be a site of worship or a place of remembrance. To help you decide what monument you cared for, you may roll a D6 on the below table, or simply choose the option you like the most for your character:

1. A holy site such as a church or temple.	5. A government building that house an important person.
2. The site of a historical battle.	6. A statue of a local hero.
3. A cave or ruin, rumoured to provide blessings.	7. A protected nature reserve such as a woodland or lake.
4. A museum or cultural heritage site.	8. A dark power, sealed away behind a mysterious door.

Feature: As the long-time protector of a historically important site, you are well known and liked. When encountering someone that frequented the location you cared for, they will take your words to heart and trust in any advice you give them.

Skill Proficiencies: History, One other skill of your choice.
Tool Proficiencies: Mason’s tools and Carpenter’s tools.
Equipment: A trinket from the location you cared for, A hooded Lantern, Ceremonial robes, Pouch containing 5gp.

Suggested Characteristics:

As a caretaker of such an important site, you are patient, calm, and rational. You are easy to talk to yet ready to defend the location at a moment’s notice. Many people know who you are and seek out your words of wisdom.

Personality Trait:

1. I can listen to someone talk for hours without complaint.	5. I avoid most recreational activities.
2. I try to make myself approachable whenever I can.	6. I love to throw people off with unexpected jokes.
3. I always have some words of wisdom to offer.	7. I silently judge the cleanliness of other historical sites I visit.
4. I love to sit and calmly take in the world.	8. I’m incredibly bored and invest dumb backstories for those that visit me.

Ideal:

1. Duty: As caretaker of such an important site, there is no time for messing about.	4. Confidence: I have full belief that my guidance is accurate and the best option.
2. Aid: If I can help someone or offer guidance I will.	5. Peace: I seek peace and prosperity for all.
3. Faith: I believe in most legends and myths.	6. Heritage: The greatest gift I can offer future generations is the chance to witness the past.

Bond:

1. I will die in defence of something I’ve sworn to protect.	4. I want to have a family one day.
2. My fellow caretakers are my family.	5. I enjoy the isolation that comes with my job.
3. I am thankful to all that visit the place I protect.	6. I remember every tiny detail about the place I cared for.

Flaw:

1. I will never back down if someone threatens the site I protect.	4. There are a handful of people I would abandon my duty to protect.
2. I get overwhelmed in busy locations.	5. Once I have a goal in mind I become obsessed with it.
3. I am honest to a fault.	6. I get distracted easily.

Final Notes

Thanks for giving this blog post a read! I hope you enjoyed the lore surrounding these backgrounds and the mechanics excited you! Above anything else, I just want to inspire you. Whether it’s the inspiration for your next character or a bit of lore you want to put into your backstory or own world.

Feel free to modify these backgrounds as needed to suit your own games! You can catch me on Twitch or come hang out in our community Discord.

Have a great day, and may your next session be filled with glory!