tedglines
24-11-2007, 07:28
Valkyrie
by Ted L Glines
Valkyrie is a total maniac. My kind of woman. Talk about attitude issues - Valkyrie has attitude issues. Valkyrie is built heavy - wears armor - pokes folks with a nasty spear - and loves to get right into the middle of trouble. Plus, she has a face which would make a mother cringe. For those who like to kick butt in the ghetto - Valkyrie is the best partner. She will die for you ... over and over again!
The origin of the valkyries as a whole is not reported in extant texts, but many of the well known valkyries are reported as having mortal parents. It is now believed that the original valkyries were the priestesses of Odin — gruesome old hags who officiated at sacrificial rites in which prisoners were executed (“given to Odin”). These priestesses sometimes carried out the sacrifices themselves, which involved the use of a ritual spear. By the time the Poetic Edda came to be compiled in the late 12th or early 13th century, these rituals had given rise to legends of supernatural battle-maidens who took an active part in human conflict, deciding who should live and who should die (Davidson 1964).
My own Valkyrie, however, is a magical character who may be invoked to help distract monsters in the Diablo II (Lord of Destruction) game. She does not do much damage with her spear (yet), but she gets the monsters' attention - so that they concentrate on battering her while you stand back and kill those monsters off with your bow and arrow from a safe distance. And now that I have boosted my Valkyrie to Level 2, she is actually managing to kill some monsters on her own. Life is good!
You ought to hear her. She yells every time she spears some bad guy. Her yell is intimidating! If I was a bad guy, I'd be ducking for cover!
In the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda, the valkyries are supernatural deities of unknown parentage; they are described as battle-maidens who ride in the ranks of the gods or serve the drinks in Valhalla; they are invariably given unworldly names like Skogul (“Raging”), Hlok (“Shrieking”) and Gol (“Screaming”). Definite attitude issues. Valhalla never was touted as a happy “summerland” heavenly place full of flowers and kisses.
If, in the fullness of time, I decide to reincarnate as a Warlord, my army (horde) will be 90% valkyries and 10% real warriors (the warriors will finish the bloody chaos after my valkyries have all gotten themselves killed off weakening the enemies). That is how you win a 100% war on a 10% payroll. Valkyries are cost effective (what our War Department needs is a few good wizards who will staff our fighting forces with valkyries). Ted for President. Ted for President! Let's hear it -- Ted for President! Rah rah rah - siz boom bah! Just kidding ...
Heh heh heh ...
There is a lesson here. The Norse elders who originated the valkyrie mythology were of a mind to use women as tools and throw them away (they could always get new tools). Viewing a female as an expendable “warrior” is a bit like the corporate view of employees. You put your employees on the front line where they absorb all the of the low-level damage, you pay them a barely living wage so they are forced to remain in the hot-spot, and you replace them when they wear out. Meanwhile, we managers/owners complain about our workloads and our ulcers during parties on our yachts. Get the valet to bring my car around. Terrible situation.
Ladies (and all employees), you deserve far better.
If all of the wage-enslaved employees, and especially all of the sex-enslaved women, would start acting like Valkyries ... the Warlord monsters of our Corporate Planet would have to find a new game to play.
(~ Published on Authors Den back in the days when my Valkyrie was only a Lvl 2 -- now quite up to Valhalla standards at Lvl 21)
by Ted L Glines
Valkyrie is a total maniac. My kind of woman. Talk about attitude issues - Valkyrie has attitude issues. Valkyrie is built heavy - wears armor - pokes folks with a nasty spear - and loves to get right into the middle of trouble. Plus, she has a face which would make a mother cringe. For those who like to kick butt in the ghetto - Valkyrie is the best partner. She will die for you ... over and over again!
The origin of the valkyries as a whole is not reported in extant texts, but many of the well known valkyries are reported as having mortal parents. It is now believed that the original valkyries were the priestesses of Odin — gruesome old hags who officiated at sacrificial rites in which prisoners were executed (“given to Odin”). These priestesses sometimes carried out the sacrifices themselves, which involved the use of a ritual spear. By the time the Poetic Edda came to be compiled in the late 12th or early 13th century, these rituals had given rise to legends of supernatural battle-maidens who took an active part in human conflict, deciding who should live and who should die (Davidson 1964).
My own Valkyrie, however, is a magical character who may be invoked to help distract monsters in the Diablo II (Lord of Destruction) game. She does not do much damage with her spear (yet), but she gets the monsters' attention - so that they concentrate on battering her while you stand back and kill those monsters off with your bow and arrow from a safe distance. And now that I have boosted my Valkyrie to Level 2, she is actually managing to kill some monsters on her own. Life is good!
You ought to hear her. She yells every time she spears some bad guy. Her yell is intimidating! If I was a bad guy, I'd be ducking for cover!
In the mythological poems of the Poetic Edda, the valkyries are supernatural deities of unknown parentage; they are described as battle-maidens who ride in the ranks of the gods or serve the drinks in Valhalla; they are invariably given unworldly names like Skogul (“Raging”), Hlok (“Shrieking”) and Gol (“Screaming”). Definite attitude issues. Valhalla never was touted as a happy “summerland” heavenly place full of flowers and kisses.
If, in the fullness of time, I decide to reincarnate as a Warlord, my army (horde) will be 90% valkyries and 10% real warriors (the warriors will finish the bloody chaos after my valkyries have all gotten themselves killed off weakening the enemies). That is how you win a 100% war on a 10% payroll. Valkyries are cost effective (what our War Department needs is a few good wizards who will staff our fighting forces with valkyries). Ted for President. Ted for President! Let's hear it -- Ted for President! Rah rah rah - siz boom bah! Just kidding ...
Heh heh heh ...
There is a lesson here. The Norse elders who originated the valkyrie mythology were of a mind to use women as tools and throw them away (they could always get new tools). Viewing a female as an expendable “warrior” is a bit like the corporate view of employees. You put your employees on the front line where they absorb all the of the low-level damage, you pay them a barely living wage so they are forced to remain in the hot-spot, and you replace them when they wear out. Meanwhile, we managers/owners complain about our workloads and our ulcers during parties on our yachts. Get the valet to bring my car around. Terrible situation.
Ladies (and all employees), you deserve far better.
If all of the wage-enslaved employees, and especially all of the sex-enslaved women, would start acting like Valkyries ... the Warlord monsters of our Corporate Planet would have to find a new game to play.
(~ Published on Authors Den back in the days when my Valkyrie was only a Lvl 2 -- now quite up to Valhalla standards at Lvl 21)