> [!infobox] > ![[Valkir.png]] > ###### Information > | | | > | ---- | ---- | > | **Titles** | The Whispering Summit, Keeper of the Silent Truth, The Stone-Wise | > | **Domain** | Wisdom, Patience, Endurance | > | **Gender** | Feminine | > | **Alignment** | Neutral | > | **Artifact(s)** | Quarterstaff | > # Symbol > ![[Valkir Symbol.png]] ### Description Valkir is the goddess of quiet wisdom, patience, and the knowledge that comes from deep contemplation. She does not speak in grand pronouncements or fiery revelations but instead reveals truth through silence, stillness, and the unshakable certainty of stone. Those who seek her guidance must learn to listen—not just with their ears but with their hearts and minds. She teaches that some truths can only be heard in silence, and that true wisdom is found not in noise, but in understanding the spaces between words. Valkir is the patron of hermits, scholars, monks, and wanderers—those who seek knowledge beyond what is simply written. She values patience above all, reminding her followers that the river does not carve stone through force, but through time. To worship Valkir is to embrace the art of waiting, contemplating, and knowing when to act only after true understanding is reached. ### Appearance Valkir appears as a tall, statuesque woman carved from smooth gray stone, with cracks filled with slow-flowing mist. Her face is calm and serene, with closed eyes that seem to perceive everything without sight. Her robes are woven from wind and dust, always shifting and flowing but never fully dissipating. When she moves, it is as slow and deliberate as the shifting of a mountain, and when she speaks—which is rare—her voice carries the weight of ages, deep and steady like an earthquake rumbling beneath the earth. Some say her true form is hidden within the peaks of the world's oldest mountains, only revealed to those patient enough to seek her wisdom. ### Worshippers and Clergy Valkir’s followers are often found in places of solitude and contemplation, seeking the quiet wisdom that she offers. - Monks and Hermits – Those who withdraw from the world to find clarity through silence. - Scholars and Lorekeepers – Seekers of knowledge who believe that true wisdom requires patience and reflection. - Rangers and Druids – Those who listen to the land’s silent language and respect the patience of nature. - Pilgrims and Wanderers – Those who travel not for adventure, but for understanding, seeking truths hidden in the forgotten corners of the world. Her clergy are known as the Stone-Wise, and they do not build grand temples. Instead, they establish simple sanctuaries in high places, deep caves, and ancient stone circles. Rather than loud sermons, they teach through silent meditation, thoughtful discussion, and carving wisdom into stone for future generations to find. Valkir’s priests take vows of measured speech, speaking only when necessary, and always with purpose. The highest-ranking members of her clergy are known as Mountain Keepers, and they are said to have the ability to hear the whispers of the earth itself. ### Dogma - "Wisdom is not in words, but in understanding." – Speaking without knowledge is like shouting into the wind—it makes noise, but nothing is gained. - "Be as the mountain: steady, enduring, and unshaken." – Reacting without thought leads to ruin. Strength comes from patience and deliberation. - "Time shapes all things." – Just as a river carves a canyon over ages, the greatest truths are revealed slowly, not all at once. - "Silence holds more than sound." – In stillness, clarity is found. In solitude, understanding is gained. Listen to the world, and it will speak. ### Manifestations Valkir’s presence is never loud or forceful—it is subtle, felt in moments of quiet revelation and natural stillness. - A Sudden Silence – In times of deep contemplation, the world may momentarily fall completely silent, signaling that Valkir is near. - The Murmuring Stone – Some claim that pressing an ear to certain ancient stones will reveal a low, wordless hum, a sign that Valkir is watching. - An Unmoving Breeze – A traveler at a crossroads may feel a gentle, persistent wind nudging them toward the right path. - The Earth’s Breath – Some say that in the deepest caves, the air moves in slow, deliberate patterns, as if Valkir herself is exhaling ancient wisdom. Her divine messages are often hidden in natural signs—the way a rock cracks, the shifting of the wind, or the erosion of a forgotten ruin. ### Relationships with Other Deities Valkir is a neutral, patient force, observing the divine conflicts of others without interference. While some deities grow frustrated with her slowness, others deeply respect her enduring nature. - Respected By: - Gods of wisdom and knowledge, who admire her unshakable patience. - Deities of nature and endurance, who see her as the stone that outlasts the storm. - Opposed By: - Gods of chaos and impulsiveness, who view her patience as inaction. - Deities of deception, as Valkir teaches that truth is found in stillness, not in manipulation. She does not wage war, nor does she seek alliances—like the mountain, she simply exists, unmoved by the ambitions of others. ### Holy Days and Rituals Valkir’s followers do not celebrate with loud festivals or elaborate ceremonies. Instead, her holy days are marked by acts of quiet reflection and patience. - The Still Night – Once a year, followers of Valkir take a full day and night of silence, meditating on the lessons of the past year. - The Pilgrimage of Echoes – Devotees make a journey to a remote mountain peak, ancient cave, or standing stone, seeking to hear the whispers of the earth. - The Stone Offering – Followers carve wisdom into a small stone and leave it in a place of solitude, trusting that time will carry their message to those who need it. ### Favored Weapons Valkir has no need for war, but her favored weapons reflect her steadfast nature: - Quarterstaffs, representing endurance and balance. - Carved Stone Tablets, sometimes thrown as simple but symbolic weapons. - Unarmed Combat, practiced by monks who believe true strength is in stillness, not aggression. ### Myths and Legends - **The Windless Summit:** It is said there is a mountain peak so perfectly still that those who meditate there can hear the voice of the earth itself. Many have sought it, but none have returned unchanged—some claim the summit reveals truths too vast for mortal minds to comprehend. - **The Carved Truth:** Legends tell that Valkir once whispered the greatest secret of existence into a single stone, which now lies hidden somewhere in the world. Those patient enough to find and read it will supposedly gain knowledge beyond mortal understanding. - **The Unmoving Guardian:** A tale speaks of a warrior who, through sheer unshakable stillness, withstood an entire army without raising a weapon, until the enemy simply gave up and left. Some say this warrior was blessed by Valkir, granted the endurance of stone itself.