Palkyries: An Ethnographic Overview

by Maya 1127, Penel: Babel

---

Preface

The Palkyries first caught my attention when I was studying the various people who came to my land for trade. As much as humans with their myriad of cultures and religions interest me, the uncommon sight of non-human beings acting like humans was something innately fascinating to me. I always wonder how similar or different they are to us, and how does their non-human properties affect how they see the world and others who inhabit it.

For a long time, the closest example we had as a race similar to the Palkyries was the Risuners, with both people appearing to be humans with some body parts seemingly inspired by some kind of rodents. Although I later found out that their similarities, despite a lack of shared history, extends beyond surface, the Palkyries’ psyche proved to be drastically different from their squirrel-like counterpart.

Soon after I learned enough of their language to communicate with them verbally, I decided to visit their homeland, to see how the Palkyries act in their native habitat – and how their native habitat influence their body and mind. Fortunately, extensive trade between our countries meant it was not difficult to travel to /vnug/, even if I had to contribute to the crew of the ship for the duration of the journey.

/vnug/, meaning the shining land in their native language, is a place that is both familiar and alien to someone like me. Even before the foreign shores emerge from beyond the horizon, the frigid air sent shivers down my spine, and as we approach the Solstice strait connecting the calm inland sea to the frozen southern ocean, the stormy water often confined me to my cabins. It was only later that I learned the Palkyries believe their tropical ancestors braved these waters in search for a safe haven, and I still could not imagine how it would have felt for them – perhaps that was why they were guided and thus saved by their faith in their goddess.

Yet, despite the weather invoking the imagery of a forbidding, icy wasteland, the actual land of /vnug/ was, for a lack of better words, lively. Beyond the rocky shores, coastal swamps and patches of meadows, most of the land is covered by a vast, seemingly homogeneous forest. Even if its dark green color and dense fog still convey the coldness of the environment, it was nonetheless something I would associate more with my warmer homeland than a frigid place like this.

I eventually set foot on /vnug/, in the coastal city of Palhalla, the homeland of the Palkyries. The reception I received as a clueless foreign was warm, if reserved. This sharp contrast to their /risu/ counterpart reminded me that the two are drastically different people, and I should abandon my preconceived notions towards the natives if I am to succeed in my research. With the help from a local Babel interpreter, I began my year-long study of the Palkyries by living alongside them and adapting their way of life.

Surviving in a frigid land like /vnug/ is no easy feat, even for natives who have been learning to do so since birth. This is especially true when I was staying with hunting groups who often venture deep into the misty forest, an untamed wilderness where blood is often spilled one way or another. To my surprise, I came out on top of the ordeal with all my limbs and most of my skin intact. With that, even if I still could not hold a candle to the diminutive hunters who taught me so much, the Palkyries were quick to warm up to me, treating me as just another member of the party in spite of my different – and mostly weaker physiology.

Since then, I have found my place in this place, a land not so alien anymore. Part of me cannot help but think that might well be how the Palkyries’ ancestors felt once they built their new home in this faraway land. I suppose in a way, the undercurrent of emotions hidden beneath the Palkyries’ restrained manner has rubbed off me and gives me a new, sentimental side. That alone would have made my stay here worthwhile, but just like them, I also found a new home, perhaps even the prospect of a new family here, one that I doubt I would trade for the world.

Introduction

The term Palkyrie refers to two closely-related concepts – one of the more prominent cultures of /vnug/ at the southwestern edge of the Nijisanji continent, and the human subspecies that first developed said culture. Despite their small population compared with most of their neighbors, /vnug/ nonetheless has its own unique culture thanks to its geographic isolation reinforced by a climate that is considered hostile, if not uninhabitable by many other.

At its core, Palkyrie culture is rooted in the biology and psychology of the eponymous subspecies, as their adaption to their native environment serves as the foundation of their culture long before they came to the influence of other cultures (save one) in the region. Of course, that does not mean Palkyrie culture is exclusive to the Palkyrie race, as the non-insignificant elven and human presence in Palhalla can attest.

Physiology

Palkyries are classified as a chimeric human subspecies due to their possum-like appendages, primarily in the form of black, round ears protruding from their head, and a long, often hairless prehensile tail extending from their tailbone. These additional appendages are highly sensitive, and their functions are likely necessary for the archetypal Palkyrie lifestyle, as Palkyries with damaged appendages often require extensive rehabilitation, or have to settle for a more sedentary and human-like behavior.

Compared to baseline humans, they are notably shorter in form. Based on random sampling of population in Palhalla, adult Palkyries with no foreign phenotype are about a feet shorter than their human counterpart, with male standing at 4’6” and female at 4’2” on average. Because of that, they have a somewhat stout build that lower their center of gravity and ground pressure, allowing them to traverse the wooded wetland of their native habitat with relative ease.

With permission from the local clergy, I am allowed to conduct dissections on diseased Palkyries to further understand their inner working. As expected, the possum-like appendages of Palkyries are well-connected to their nervous system. The possum-like ears, similar to their human counterpart, are directly wired to the midsection of the brain through a pair of holes in the skull, likely enhancing the Palkyries’ sense of hearing. Although there are no observable cerebral difference that can be directly associated with the long tail, it is nonetheless a very prehensile “fifth limb” of the Palkyries, with muscles controlling the multiple joints of the tail to allow for a wide range of movement.

Palkyrie muscles have a similar appearance to human muscles, although they seem to have a higher density and somewhat higher strength, which is consistent with the observation of their roughly equal total strength to human despite their shorter limbs. Dissections also reveal the presence of muscular sacs connected to the upper esophagus. Although commonly called fermentation sacs, there are no signs of fermentation in these structures, and are likely vestigial in nature. Still, some Palkyries are known to be able to consciously control the muscle around them, allowing them to store and eject liquid from these sacs, something that is often used in the native combat style.

Another observable feature of Palkyrie biology is their heightened resistance towards many human sickness and toxins. The biological origin of this trait is still unknown, as no unusual organs or tissues could be found in Palkyries that would logically contribute to it. It is theorized that the slightly lower body temperature (~94°F, compared to ~98°F for humans) of Palkyries, in addition to allowing them to survive the subarctic weather better, also renders diseases preying upon human physiology less effective.

Death comes early for the Palkyries. While the effect of aging is not as obvious among Palkyries, especially for those already with light hair, they have a noticeably shorter lifespan than humans. This is further compounded by their generally adventurous and dangerous lifestyle that can often result in a premature, bloody end for those starting to exhibit senility, making it difficult to assess their natural lifespan in a systematic manner. Although it is more correlation than causation, such short life is often cited a major driving factor for Palkyries to “live their life to the fullest”, sometimes in a self-centered and capricious manner.

Overall, Palkyries are undoubtedly well-adapted to a mobile and arboreal lifestyle, a trait they share with the many Risuner subspecies. While there are no evidence of them being related apart from being part of the wider humanoid family, I nonetheless find their commonality in both physiology and psychology curious. Further study of the biological and neurological history of the two people could potentially lead to the root cause of this shared idiosyncrasy, and might shed some light on how our physical form shape our mind.

Psychology

Like humans, Palkyries are varied in their character and personality, but some common mental attributes can still be observed, and are likely related to their different biology. Despite the contested timeline of early Palkyrie development, there is no question that the underlying psychology of Palkyrie plays a significant role in the development and tendency of their culture.

Historical writing concerning the Palkyrie mindset, especially from foreign sources like Mujigae, often portray an unflattering image of Palkyries being impulsive and rabid beings more akin to animals than humans. Although prejudice definitely plays a major role in this disparaging attitude, at the same time it is hard to deny that Palkyries are often more driven by emotions and less likely to observe externally-imposed values and rules, even if these traits can often be mitigated and suppressed through socialization.

In a similar vein, an interesting development from late Mujigae period onward is the appropriation of the stereotype by prominent Palkyrie figures. The image of Palkyries being savage killers proved rather useful as guerrilla fighting against the occupation became more common and intense, and the often-romanticized idea of Palkyries leading the fight to freedom for /vnug/ likewise contributed to the Palkyries’ modern understanding of themselves. The negative notion of barbarism is recontextualized as an innate love for freedom and individualism expressed through martial merits.

That is not to say Palkyrie culture completely eschew the idea of order and discipline, however. Since their earliest inception, the Palkyries have been hunters by trade, and these tight-knit groups form the basis of Palkyrie society. While many of these groups started out as consanguineous, outsiders who can prove themselves are generally welcomed and treated equally by other members within the community. This proof of worth, no matter your role, is often martial in nature, as many Palkyries see that as the purest expression of one’s own emotions and thus nature.

The idea of Palkyries being emotionally-driven can come as a surprise for those who have visited /vnug/ as an outsider, as the people can appear to be hospitable but aloof at first glance, especially when compared to their Risuner counterpart. I felt the same when I first arrived at these distant shores as an outsider as well: the Palkyrie group that I traveled with was accommodating to my needs, something that likely saved my life multiple times during the harsh winter, but their reserved attitude could come off as foreboding for many. It was not until I participated in one of their hunts and managed to draw blood – both from myself and from the prey – that I was finally accepted as a companion to them, and their attitude warmed up rapidly. The same process repeated multiple times during my research between multiple Palkyrie groups, although a combination of my growing experience and recommendations by previous groups sped up the process significantly.

Despite the drastic difference between our form, the Palkyries do not treat me any differently from other Palkyries. Duties and roles in these nomadic groups are claimed or assigned based on one’s abilities and willingness, and familial lineage does not appear to be too relevant in intra-group interaction. Some of the more bellicose hunting groups I have met appear to have dispensed with the concept of direct bloodline completely, as all infant Palkyries are raised collectively by members of the group, with all of them being considered children of the tribe instead of offspring of any particular individuals. According to local legends, this kind of kinship model used to be more prevalent in the distant past, as the harsher condition and lack of technology means this child-raising strategy offered better survival rate and resource efficiency.

This is not to say bloodline is completely irrelevant in Palkyrie society, and more conventional familial interaction can often be observed among the more sedentary Palkyrie population, such as among the growing agricultural and mercantile class in Palhalla. Still, a common Palkyrie saying maintains that “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb”, and Palkyrie society and organizations tend to be more egalitarian and meritocratic compared with their human and (to a lesser degree) elven counterpart.

In-group loyalty and a strong sense of justice also appear to be an integral part of Palkyrie mentality, although it is difficult to tell if this is the result of Palkyrie psychology or a result of social influence. In essence, a perceived wrong done to a Palkyrie is seen as a wrong done to the entire group. Although the concept of grudge and vengance is a common, if not universal one, this emotion is considered much more deep-seated among Palkyries. This sensation is called mäsom in the native language, one that I found difficult to translate – linguistically, it is likely related to the word for “heart” (mäsäm) with a deontic suffix, while Palkyries usually describe it as an “fiery yearning for justice”. Ultimately, mäsom compels Palkyries to right what is wrong regardless of consequences, and is a common element in Palkyrie folklore and history. While this sometimes results in reckless desire for vengeance, biding one’s time for the most opportune moment is often encouraged, helped by the tendency for Palkyries to share each other’s mäsom to ensure it unhindered by Palkyries’ shorter lifespan.

Religion and society

Palkyrie society beyond these small groups is more religious in nature, something that is also observable in other native cultures of /vnug/. In Palkyries’ case, they are organized around the faith of the valkyries, also known as Palherjar. Similar to their basic social group, the Palherjar places a heavy emphasis on martial prowess and merits. In Palherjar theology, one of the most virtuous way of life is that of a hero, and the best reward for a heroic life is a heroic death ordained by the valkyries, the “choosers of the slain”. These brave souls are then rewarded with an eternal fight in a heavenly war, the details of which is conspicuously lacking. What is known is that these immortal warriors will spend their day fighting in brutal battles and training, only to be revived every evening for revelry, a cycle that will continue forever or until the unknowable end of the heavenly war.

From the view of an outside non-believer like me, the lack of details helps to illustrate the social root of this unusual view on heaven and a desirable afterlife – as Palkyries see martial expression as the highest truth, it is only natural for the Palkyrie heaven to be a place where such values can be explored for all eternity, unimpeded by inconvenience such as death and whether the cause is just or not. Of course, I do not mean the religion serves only as a crutch to their view on mortal life, even if we disregard the possibility of divine intervention from the valkyries. In a way, the relatively orderly structure of the Palherjar provide a common framework between various Palkyrie forager parties, allowing them to cooperate in a more efficient and consistent manner.

With its prominent martial focus, it comes as no surprise that Palherjar is organized like a religious military order, and fills the role of both the predominant religious and military organization of the land. Like any modern military, members of Palherjar are diverse in their roles and functions, ranging from front line combatants and commanders to support and logistic personnel. With the dissolution of the Church of Sun and Moon, it also absorbs many production and manufacturing processes, essentially becoming a large, self-sufficient organization within the wider /vnug/ state. That said, the ideals of self-expression through martial merits remain constant no matter one’s role, meaning that every member is expected to prove their worth through some forms of individual strength, even if they are not expected to be as proficient in combat as professional hunters and soldiers.

Although not all members of Palherjar are Palkyries, and not all Palkyries follow the faith of the valkyries, Palherjar’s doctrines still have a major influence in the development of Palkyrie culture, especially in modern history where the organization played a major role in /vnug/’s revolt against Mujigae. One can even say that modern Palkyrie society is more or less an extension of Palherjar, sharing roughly the same values but without having to observe religious obligations.

If I am to assign qualitative judgment to modern Palkyrie society as a whole, I would say it is a culture that, despite its aloof and bloodthirsty impression, places a heavy emphasis on emotions and individual freedom moderated by a shared, martial-leaning code. On one hand, for a heavily religious, even zealous society, Palkyries are generally not very concerned by the presence of foreign beliefs, and their appreciation of martial prowess leads to them being quite willing to accept outsiders who they deem to be strong enough. On the other hand, those who are unwilling to do so will find themselves socially excluded from many Palkyrie social interactions. Attitudes towards those unable to express their strength varies – some old folklore feature weak individuals being abandoned by their group, but it is difficult to discern if it reflects prevailing attitude of the time, or simply serves as a moral lesson. Nowadays, Palkyries are generally willing to accept weak individuals as long as they express the willingness to improve themselves against all odds. This is encapsulated in a maxim commonly cited to aspiring squires and initiates: “The strong protect the weak, so that the weak may become strong.”