VALHǪLL

VALHÖLL
HALL OF THE SLAIN

YOU ARE ONE OF THE BEST HERMENN: A WARRIOR

You will join one of three halls:

Týr’s hall, Valaskjálf, in Valhöll
Óðinn’s hall, Glaðsheimr, in Valhöll
Freyja’s hall, Sessrúmnir, in Fólkvangr

A warrior is a man who has demonstrated exceptional feats in combat.

Yes, a man, because there never were female warriors. Simple biology really, as well as historical facts. And yes, actual battle engagement is also required to even be considered a warrior. But mere combat is not enough to be deemed a warrior. An element of exception is indeed always involved.

As Ἡράκλειτος (535-475 BCE) put it:

Out of every one hundred men,
ten shouldn’t even be there,
eighty are just targets,
nine are the real fighters,
and we are lucky to have them,
for they make the battle.
Ah, but the one, one is a warrior,
and he will bring the others back.

In other words, being a warrior requires mastery of the art of war, as well as mastery of oneself, and pretty epic achievements.

First, under the Skjǫldrinn covenant of 748, some of the absolute best warriors, whether or not they die in battle, including Úlfhéðnar and Berserkir under their command, join Týr at his hall, Valaskjálf (in Valhöll as well). Those don’t go to Glaðsheimr with Óðinn. Ever. No matter what. This is over some unresolved issues between Blendingar (hybrids, half man half jötunn) and Óðinn (who formed the world by killing one of their ancestors through deceit and dismembering him, and later plotted to drown all of their ancestors in blood), and the concern the hybrids would side with Jötnar during Ragnarøkr, not to mention seek some conflict with Óðinn. Backed up by all remaining Úlfhéðnar of course, and their Berserkir, due to the oath associated with membership in Skjǫldrinn, the ancestral military order. Í vegi jarðar. That is the way of things.

For all remaining absolute best warriors who die in battle, half go to Glaðsheimr in Valhöll with Óðinn. The other half goes to Sessrúmnir in Fólkvangr with Freyja.

YOU ARE A HERMAÐR: A SOLDIER

Soldiers (including sailors and Marines) who have still experienced combat but have not reached the level of a warrior, or who did not die in battle (unless members of Skjǫldrinn), go to Bilskirnir, Þórr’s hall in Þrúðvangar.

In practical terms, this means that the overwhelming majority of military men will never reach one of the three warriors’ halls (Valaskjálf and Glaðsheimr in Valhöll, or Sessrúmnir in Fólkvangr). Most operators and fine United States Marines who either die in combat and/or are part of Skjǫldrinn, though, will party with Týr at Valaskjálf. All other good servicemen will raise Hel (well, not literally), with Þórr in Þrúðvangar.

Ultimately, Valhöll is for those true warriors, the absolute best of the best, who actually die in combat (and/or are part of Skjǫldrinn). It is a great incentive for any man to strive to achieve greatness in combat.