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(Removed 'Skulduggery is currently the only person who knows that Valkyrie is Darquesse.' to reflect Last Stand of Dead Men)
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Skulduggery was Valkyrie's mentor and usually acted as the leader in their relationship but due to Valkyrie's tendency to disobey orders she often didn't do what he said. Skulduggery was often exasperated by this but actually liked her headstrong nature. The Skeleton Detective also acted as her protector and despite Valkyrie's steadily increasing powers it was implied that there were still many sorcerers who could kill her easily; the reason they didn't was because they were frightened of suffering from Skulduggery's legendary rage.
 
Skulduggery was Valkyrie's mentor and usually acted as the leader in their relationship but due to Valkyrie's tendency to disobey orders she often didn't do what he said. Skulduggery was often exasperated by this but actually liked her headstrong nature. The Skeleton Detective also acted as her protector and despite Valkyrie's steadily increasing powers it was implied that there were still many sorcerers who could kill her easily; the reason they didn't was because they were frightened of suffering from Skulduggery's legendary rage.
   
Skulduggery accepted that Valkyrie was Darquesse very easily, due to the fact that he possessed a ferocious dark side in the form of Lord Vile. However it took Valkyrie a bit longer to accept that Skulduggery had once been the most evil and powerful Necromancer in the history of magic. She eventually forgave him and Skulduggery also managed to snap her out of Darquesse's control, after fighting off his own dark side during their ferocious battle. Skulduggery is currently the only person who knows that Valkyrie is Darquesse.
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Skulduggery accepted that Valkyrie was Darquesse very easily, due to the fact that he possessed a ferocious dark side in the form of Lord Vile. However it took Valkyrie a bit longer to accept that Skulduggery had once been the most evil and powerful Necromancer in the history of magic. She eventually forgave him and Skulduggery also managed to snap her out of Darquesse's control, after fighting off his own dark side during their ferocious battle. 
   
 
====[[Fletcher Renn]]====
 
====[[Fletcher Renn]]====

Revision as of 06:41, 12 September 2013

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Valkyrie Cain
Valkyrie Cain,
Character Information
Species Unknown
Gender Unknown
Birth August 1995
Age 17
Magic Elemental, Necromancy
Weapons Necromancy Ring
Titles Detective, Death Bringer
Location Ireland, Haggard
Relations Melissa Edgley (mother)
Desmond Edgley (father)
Alison Edgley (sister)
Beryl Edgley (aunt)
Fergus Edgley (uncle)
Gordon Edgley (uncle)
Carol Edgley (cousin)
Crystal Edgley (cousin)

Taken Name Valkyrie Cain, Given Name Stephanie Edgley, True Name Darquesse, is a 17-year-old girl descended from the last Ancients and the main character of the series. She is an Elemental. She later becomes a Necromancer in addition to being an Elemental and stores her power in a ring. She was originally called Stephanie Edgley but had to change her name so she could protect herself from other mages who desired to influence her. Skulduggery Pleasant is her magic mentor, Sanctuary detective partner, and best friend, Solomon Wreath was her Necromancy mentor until Death Bringer and, before a Remnant possessed her, Tanith Low was her fighting mentor, "big sister" and other best friend. In the books she is mostly portrayed as the main heroine. Valkyrie has a slim body shape, dark eyes and long dark hair. She has been romantically involved with Teleporter, Fletcher Renn and the Vampire, Caelan.

Biography

In Books

Skulduggery Pleasant

Stephanie Edgley (Valkyrie Cain) is introduced at the start of the first book when her wealthy uncle, Gordon Edgley, a writer of horror fiction, dies under mysterious circumstances. He leaves Stephanie (whom he was especially fond of) his mansion and fortune in his will. After the reading of the will, whilst she's spending the night at her uncle's house by herself, Stephanie is attacked by a man (sent by Nefarian Serpine) demanding a "key". As the man attacks Stephanie, the mysterious man in the tan overcoat from Gordon's funeral, known as Skulduggery Pleasant, arrives and saves her (blasting down the door to get in), throwing fireballs at her attacker and shooting him in the shoulder. Skulduggery's disguise of a hat, wig and sunglasses fall off to reveal that he is an undead brilliant, sarcastic sorcerer, made up of only a skeleton held together by magic.

ValkyrieSP

Valkyrie in Skulduggery Pleasant

Upon the revelation that her uncle was murdered, Stephanie, wanting to escape her previously boring and tedious life, helps Skulduggery investigate his mysterious death. Skulduggery and Stephanie gradually uncover a greater plot for world domination. Stephanie's uncle discovered an ancient weapon used by the first sorcerers, the Ancients, to defeat their tyrannical gods, the Faceless Ones. He sealed this deadly weapon, the Sceptre of the Ancients, in a maze beneath the house Stephanie inherited. The "key" is in fact an old, insignificant-looking brooch left by her uncle to his other brother's wife Beryl.

Stephanie and Skulduggery, aided by an immensely strong tailor named Ghastly Bespoke, and English professional swordswoman Tanith Low attempt to prevent the villain, Nefarian Serpine, from obtaining the Sceptre.

Now working as a detective and with Stephanie's help, Skulduggery defeats Serpine, destroying him with the Sceptre to protect Stephanie, breaking the Sceptre's power in the process. At the conclusion of the novel, Skulduggery offers to take Stephanie on as his assistant and student in sorcery; Stephanie has discovered through the course of the novel's events that her family are descendants of the Ancients and she herself has magic abilities.By using the air and fire power out of the elements.

Playing With Fire

A year after the events of the first novel, Stephanie Edgley (now known as Valkyrie Cain) continues to work with Skulduggery Pleasant the wise cracking skeleton detective, capturing villains for the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is now ruled by Thurid Guild in a new location after the massacre in the previous Sanctuary. Soon, Baron Vengeous (one of the original Three Generals of Mevolent) escapes his prison and begins searching for Lord Vile’s armour. He planned to resurrect the Grotesquery to bring back the Faceless Ones.

Vengeous confronts China Sorrows in her apartment whilst Valkyrie is visiting. Valkyrie hides whilst China and Vengeous talk. Vengeous reveals that he was released from prison by an assassin named Billy-Ray Sanguine who promptly arrives along with Dusk. A battle ensues during

Profile steph

Stephanie Edgley's profile

which Valkyrie reveals herself and defends China. Valkyrie is soon chased by Sanguine. After being a struggle, Valkyrie is saved by Tanith. In the progress Valkyrie steals Sanguine's razor, his primary weapon, leaving the psychopathic assassin with a grudge against her.

Valkyrie and Skulduggery, along with a convict called Vaurien Scapegrace, went to Roarhaven to find a mysterious man called the Torment who has information they need. After a battle in a seedy pub with some thugs that once were “friends” of Scapegrace, they find the Torment and ask for his help. The Torment only says he will help them find Vile's armour if Skulduggery kills Valkyrie because she is a descendant from the Ancients. The Torment despises her as he thinks any power will corrupt civilization. Skulduggery takes Valkyrie around a corner and they summon her reflection, a living mirror image of Valkyrie who she uses as a decoy, enabling her to live a double life. Skulduggery takes Valkyrie's reflection before the Torment and shoots it. The Torment is satisfied and tells Skulduggery the whereabouts of the Grotesquery.

He and Valkyrie return Scapegrace to prison and go to find the Grotesquery. Unfortunately, Vengeous's minions have already obtained it. Soon after, Skulduggery and Valkyrie take the reflection back to Valkyrie's house. Valkyrie touches the mirror to absorb its memories and remembers what it is like to be shot. Valkyrie then notices that whenever she tries to look back in her memories one part always remains blank and she cannot pin it down. She realizes that her reflection hid something from her, and finds it disconcerting and dangerous. However, she goes on with Skulduggery without mentioning it to him.

Later, Valkyrie is kidnapped by Sanguine who takes her to an old abandoned church of the Faceless Ones where she is taken before the altar where Vengeous awaits her. The evil sorcerer cuts Valkyrie's palm and spills some of her blood onto the Grotesquery's body before using the armour's shadow powers which mingle with the blood. Skulduggery subsequently arrives and rescues Valkyrie, by throwing a collapsible jack onto the Grotesquery and making it out to be a bomb. After a stealing the Grotesquery, Valkyrie is incapacitated and wakes up in hospital. Whilst wearing a 'respectable' blue hospital gown, Skulduggery wears a pink one decorated with bunnies and elephants for the doctor's amusement.

Skulduggery turns the lifeless Grotesquery over to the Sanctuary's top scientist, Grouse, to take apart. However, the Grotesquery has already absorbed a lot of power from Vile's armour and Valkyrie's blood and so wakes up in the middle of the night whilst being operated on. Skulduggery and Tanith arrive and the three of them attack the Grotesquery before escaping. Skulduggery works out that Vengeous is actually a pawn in someone else's plan and accuses Guild of being a traitor. In a rage, Guild fires Skulduggery who decides to go after Vengeous anyway. Valkyrie begrudgingly goes to her family reunion as a distraction to Dusk. Valkyrie is subsequently attacked by vampires and forced to flee. Dusk corners her and vows that when he has transformed her into a vampire he's going to set her loose on her parents while in her bloodlust. Valkyrie stabs Dusk in the leg with the syringe he uses to curb his vampiric side whilst he is transforming and as a result he is caught between vampire and human and put in intense pain. Springheeled Jack comes and rescues her and defeats Dusk so as to frustrate Vengeous's plans because he doesn't want the Faceless Ones to return.

ValkyriePWF

Valkyrie in Playing With Fire

Accompanied by Tanith, Mr. Bliss and some Cleavers, Skulduggery and Valkyrie go to Clearwater Hospital and do battle with the Grotesquery which due to being part Faceless One is virtually invincible. Mr. Bliss is incapacitated but the Cleavers mercilessly attacks the Grotesquery and almost overpower it when Vengous arrives along with China whom he has taken captive. Together, with the Grotesquery, he kills the Cleavers and beats Skulduggery and Valkyrie into submission. Valkyrie tricks Vengous into releasing her, saying that she will join him but she releases China who attacks Vengous and the Grotesquery, giving Valkyrie time to free Skulduggery who joins in the assault against Vengous, tearing off his helmet and his breastplate before shooting him in the stomach. In a swoon, Vengous crawls toward the Grotesquery but his god callously breaks the baron's neck. The Torment subsequently arrives and attacks the Grotesquery but he is defeated. In the ensuing battle Valkyrie stabs the Grotesquery through the heart, killing it but before it dies it utters a terrible scream.

Valkyrie is later seen talking to Skulduggery on a pier. They reason that they must find out who Vengous and Sanguine were really working for and if Guild is in league with him. Skulduggery ominously tells Valkyrie "Bad things are coming."

At the end it is revealed that Sanguine was working for somebody else because he gets paid well, it is in an effort to stop the Faceless Ones from returning.

The Faceless Ones

"In case you didn't notice, that was me making my decision on the whole quitting idea."
— Valkyrie telling Ghastly that she is staying in the world of magic, Skulduggery Pleasant: The Faceless Ones

Valkyrie is investigating the murders of four Teleporters with Skulduggery. They go to tell Guild what they know. He refuses to rehire them and has hired Remus Crux instead, a bumbling detective that blindly follows Guild's orders in an attempt to impress him. After discovering the recent murders may have been linked to a Teleporter murder 50 years ago, Skulduggery and Valkyrie go and talk to the only Sea Hag that lives in a lake to see if they can get any information about the 50 year old murder.

They discover a man named Batu killed the Teleporter and talk to the dead Teleporter whose body is lying at the bottom of the lake. After promising to bury him on dry land, the Sea Hag is enraged and tries to drown Valkyrie, but Skulduggery saves her. They also discover that an object called the Isthmus Anchor and a Teleporter would be able to open a gateway to the Faceless Ones allowing them to enslave the earth.

With China's help they locate a boy who is an unskilled Teleporter and save him from Sanguine who is working for the Diablerie. Grouse, who grudgingly agrees to look after him, tells

Valkyrie Cain

Valkyrie she should do normal teenage things and gets annoyed at Skulduggery for endangering Valkyrie. They then go to Finbar Wrong, a Sensitive, who is able to tell them the location of the gate where the Faceless Ones can get to earth. After that they meet with a Necromancer, Solomon Wreath, who offers the help of himself and three other Necromancers. Skulduggery accepts after punching Wreath and leaves.

Skulduggery and Valkyrie go to where the gate will open and talk to the owner of the land. While they are talking Skulduggery realises that what is left of the Grotesquery is the Isthmus Anchor, as the Isthmus Anchor is something that belongs on the other side, which is the part of the Grotesquery that belonged to the Faceless Ones making it impossible to destroy. Skulduggery and Valkyrie go to the Sanctuary to steal the Grotesquery, but are attacked by Crux who is easily defeated by Skulduggery. However the Diablerie use Sanguine to steal the Grotesquery before Skulduggery and Valkyrie can get to it. Skulduggery and Valkyrie use an emergency exit to avoid being captured by the Sanctuary.

Ghastly wakes up at Grouse’s after being a statue for two years after using the Earth power as his last defence and Tanith, Skulduggery and Valkyrie go to Bespoke Tailors and Ghastly is told what happened while he was a statue. Ghastly then starts making Valkyrie new clothes. While making her boots he tells her about his mother, a Sensitive, and a vision she had of Valkyrie dying screaming in pain in an effort to make Valkyrie quit magic and return to normal teenage life.

The owner of the farm where the gate will open, Paddy, calls to report a strange man who was there. Skulduggery tells Paddy about magic and Fletcher Renn locates the exact point where the gate will open.

Skulduggery and Valkyrie go to get the Sceptre of the Ancients and find another black crystal in case the Faceless Ones make it back to earth, as the last crystal was destroyed. Batu goes and enlists the Sea Hag's help in exchange for transporting her to the sea. Skulduggery and Valkyrie go to Gordon’s house and he tells Valkyrie there are black crystals in the caves below his house. Skulduggery and Valkyrie go into the caves and find a copy of Gordon’s house in the caves that was created by the previous owner of Gordon’s house, Anathem Mire.

Anathem is inside the house, dead, and Skulduggery wakes up his ghost. Anathem shows them a vein of black crystals and Valkyrie removes a large one as only people with blood of the Ancients in their veins can touch black crystals when they are not in the Sceptre. Anathem forces Skulduggery out of his house but takes Valkyrie capture but after angering him she is able to escape.

She then goes home to say goodbye to her parents who are leaving on their second honeymoon and after leaving is chased and then arrested by Remus Crux. Crux puts her in a cell with Scapegrace who was badly beaten up and had his fingers broken by Cleavers as a distraction in part of Skulduggery’s plan to steal the Grotesquery. Scapegrace tries to kill Valkyrie and she knocks him out and ties him to a bed by his broken fingers. She then manages to trick a security guard into letting her out of her cell and she knocks him out and takes Scapegrace with her as he could be used as a distraction.

Valkyrie witnesses the new Administrator, who is the traitor, attempt to kill Mr. Bliss. Valkyrie turns to see Scapegrace fleeing and attempts to stop the Administrator who pins her up against a wall. Then Scapegrace runs into the room screaming chased by Cleavers and runs away. The Cleavers look at the situation with Mr. Bliss in a circle of blue light that is killing him, Valkyrie suspended on the roof by the Administrator and the Administrator standing there, and advance on the Administrator. The Administrator tries to run, letting Valkyrie fall to the ground as she does and Valkyrie trips her causing her to fall into the blue light killing her and saving Bliss. Valkyrie then runs out of the Sanctuary and Skulduggery who is outside takes her to the farm.

Upon reaching the farm they discover Ghastly and Tanith running for cover as they are attacked by the Diablerie. Tanith, Ghastly, Skulduggery and Valkyrie hide with Paddy in his farmhouse. The Diablerie start to open the Gateway and Valkyrie puts on her new clothes. They are then ambushed by two or three hundred Hollow Men. Paddy persuades Valkyrie to put on his mother's ring as the rest of them attack the Diablerie.

China, a dozen Cleavers and the Necromancers appear and start killing the Hollow Men. As Fletcher begins to open the Gateway. Tanith is about to be killed by Murder Rose but is saved by the White Cleaver. Tanith gets inside the house and Bliss arrives and starts beating up Gruesome Krav. While Valkyrie and Paddy are looking for first aid supplies for Tanith, Sanguine arrives and attacks Tanith. Paddy tries to shoot Sanguine with his shotgun but is knocked out. Valkyrie then slashes open Sanguine's stomach with Tanith’s sword.

Then three Faceless Ones come through the gate and Fletcher manages to escape after the shockwave caused by their arrival. One of the Faceless Ones takes over Krav’s body and then kills Mr. Bliss. Paddy gets Valkyrie the Sceptre then reveals himself to be Batu as he knocks Tanith out and hits Valkyrie with the Sceptre. Valkyrie realises that the ring Batu gave her is preventing her from using magic and removes it allowing her to burn Batu’s side. Batu takes the Sceptre and hides it in the trees being followed by Valkyrie.

ValkyrieTFO

Valkyrie in The Faceless Ones

Remus Crux attempts to arrest Valkyrie and she knocks him down. She then watches Skulduggery battle the Faceless One and a Necromancer be killed. China is given the Sceptre by Crux and then turns to see Valkyrie running towards her with a Faceless One running behind her. Valkyrie raised the sceptre and fired black lightning twice into the Faceless One that had consumed Krav, killing it. The second Faceless One attacks China, Skulduggery and Valkyrie. Fletcher appears and teleports Valkyrie out of the way. The Faceless One pulls the Sceptre out of Valkyrie’s hand and shatters it destroying the black crystal, and itself.

Skulduggery decides to get the last Faceless One to chase Valkyrie and go through a new portal. The Faceless One lifts him off the ground. Wreath gives Valkyrie his cane full of his Necromantic power and she uses it to knock the Faceless One back as the cane was destroyed. The Faceless One shoots out tentacles made of its organs in a last attempt to save itself, it grabs Skulduggery and pull him through the portal with it. The portal closes before anyone can do anything to help. Leaving Valkyrie and her team victorious, but negative with the loss of Skulduggery.

Later Solomon Wreath approaches Valkyrie and she angrily tells him that Guild is claiming full responsibility and saying Skulduggery did nothing. Solomon tells Valkyrie that there is a new Isthmus Anchor that is Skulduggery's original skull. Solomon then tells Valkyrie that she is a natural with Necromancy, seeing her use his cane, and she will need more power than she has now, and hopes she will choose to become a Necromancer.

Dark Days

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Valkyrie in Dark Days

After Valkyrie has spent nine months looking for Skulduggery's skull, a vampire acquaintance of Valkyrie's called Caelan manages to set up a meeting for her with a man called Thames Chabon, who apparently has the skull. It is revealed that Solomon has been teaching her Necromancy during her search for the skull, and she has placed her power into a ring.

When Valkyrie goes to sleep, Remus Crux manages to gain entry into her house and tries to kill her. Wreath saves Valkyrie, and she tells her parents that a bat was in her room. The next morning, after talking to Ghastly, Tanith and Fletcher, she learns about Esryn Vanguard and his death. She tells them about what happened last night with Crux.

Valkyrie meets up with Thames Chabon, and the skull is sold to her. Just to check it's the real murder skull Valkyrie shouts "Oi you" with a furious look on her face, knowing if it's the real skull Chabon will just turn around and see what's wrong. He doesn't and runs off. Now knowing the skull is a fake she chases after him. She finds out that Davina Marr, the new Prime Detective, had bought the skull for triple the price. A new plan is made to steal Skulduggery's skull from the Sanctuary.

The plan goes wrong however, and they are arrested. Valkyrie is interrogated by Marr. Valkyrie manages to get her ring back after it was taken by Marr and defeats her. She frees the others, but Cleavers attack. Tanith and Ghastly distract them while Fletcher teleports Valkyrie to Guild's office, where they finally retrieve the skull. They teleport to China's library and she joins the two. The three go to Aranmore Farm, where the portal is opened. Valkyrie insists that she goes in alone, causing Fletcher to kiss her.

After entering the portal of the Faceless Ones, she finds Skulduggery, who thinks she isn't real. To persuade him, she agrees to get one of his bones back. When she does that, the two make their way towards the portal again, and with the help of China, they get back to Aranmore Farm, where Skulduggery says to Valkyrie, "good job".

After learning that Wreath saved Valkyrie from Crux, the two visit the Temple, where Skulduggery forces Wreath to tell Valkyrie of the Necromancy belief.

Later, Valkyrie and Skulduggery visit Finbar after hearing about the Sensitives visions. He tells them about another Sensitive, called Cassandra Pharos, who they then visit. She shows them a vision of the future, where a woman called Darquesse destroys the world. Valkyrie watches her kill Valkyrie's parents as well. Valkyrie is shocked, and is suddenly scared of growing up. Pharos hands Valkyrie a Dream Whisperer, telling Valkyrie she has interesting dreams.

Back at her house, Valkyrie learns that her mother is pregnant. At first she is delighted but then she is worried about what the baby would be born into.

The next day, Skulduggery and Valkyrie visit the Sanctuary to learn it had been attacked by vampires led by Dusk. She hears the truth about how Vangaurd had died. The gang split up to search for the Revengers' Club. Valkyrie and Skulduggery visit Caelan to see if he knows anything about Dusk. He takes them to a castle which vampires live in. A vampire called Moloch throws her into a room where she defeats a large group of Infected.

After escaping, Dusk captures her, but she escaped again. The gang later visit the Hibernian Cinema, where Kenspeckle Grouse and Tanith are kidnapped. Valkyrie and Skulduggery go to the Midnight Hotel, where they think Sanguine is going to steal a Remnant. This is proven, and a zombie horde (led by Scapegrace) go crazy and attack the hotel. Despite defeating the zombies, Sanguine still manages to take a Remnant.

Since China is still injured after she was shot, the two visit Myron Stray, who is another information broker. She threatens to use his True Name to get information out of him, so he tells them that Serpine's old castle is still being used. The gang go there, and they rescue Tanith and a Remnant-possessed Grouse, who is returned to normal after Valkyrie visits her uncle Gordon who gives her information on how to force a Remnant out of somebody.

The gang realise that the Revengers' Club is going to use the Desolation Engine to blow up Croke Park Stadium. At the stadium, she is bitten by Dusk, and is saved by Caelan. When Guild is forced to use the engine to blow up the stadium, she fails to stop him. However, Fletcher teleports Guild to the sea, where the bomb doesn't kill anyone.

Valkyrie fights Sanguine to save Guild's family. Neither win, but Sanguine promises to keep out of Ireland. When the gang return to the Hibernian, Valkyrie kisses Fletcher, and they are a couple.

Marr manages to get Valkyrie and Skulduggery to escort Guild to his cell so she can kill them while blowing the Sanctuary up by controlling Myron Stray with his True Name, Laudigan. Everyone in the building dies except for the three.

Later on at her house, she finds out that her True Name is Darquesse, through the Dream Whisperer that Pharos gave her.

Mortal Coil

"It's not destiny. Even if it was, I've changed it. It's not happening."
— Valkyrie telling a Remnant she has sealed her True Name, Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil

Valkyrie and Skulduggery's hunt for Davina Marr leads them to the scene of a murder, and they realize that Tesseract, a masked assassin, is also after Marr. They track Marr down just in time to save her life, and take her to Grouse to be healed. She and Skulduggery attempt to interrogate Marr, but she is assassinated by Tesseract, who then proceeds to defeat the whole group and escape.

Valkyrie then visits Gordon's Echo Stone to learn how to seal her True Name and prevent herself becoming Darquesse, having refused to tell anyone else that she is the sorceress destined to destroy the world. Gordon tells her who to contact, but before going to see them, she asks Caelan to taste her blood and confirm what Dusk saw. Caelan tastes nothing unusual, but he confesses that he loves Valkyrie and the pair kiss, although Valkyrie insists she is happy with Fletcher.

Valkyrie then spends Christmas with her family, learning that her cousins Crystal and Carol have become more friendly as their other relatives make fun of them. However, she is told that she must leave to seal her true name, and is taken to Doctor Nye, an androgynous doctor who seals her True Name, but then attempts to experiment on her. Since she is technically dead within the workshop, she struggles to think clearly enough to escape, but succeeds in using Necromancy to force Doctor Nye to let her go. She explains to Skulduggery that she is Darquesse and has sealed her name, and the pair track down Scapegrace, who has begun to decay, and take him to Grouse in the hope of preventing his body from decaying further.

Valkyrie introduces Fletcher to her parents and they visit a nightclub, but everyone in the club is possessed by Remnants and the pair only narrowly escape. They run into Crystal and Carol, and Valkyrie is forced to explain to them that magic is real in order to persuade them to leave. After several close calls while the Remnants take over, searching for Darquesse, the sorcerers regroup at the Hibernian, and arrange a plan to activate the giant Soul Catcher at MacGillycuddy's Reeks to recapture the Remnants. In the meantime, Grouse is unleashing a harmless virus which makes people act as though they are possessed, as a cover for the Remnants' escape. To complete the plan, Valkyrie reveals Gordon's Echo Stone to help the group with his knowledge on the matter, though Skulduggery claims he suspected this all along.

The group split up to find the key to the Soul Catcher. However, while the key is recovered successfully, the plan comes to a halt when Fletcher is possessed. Valkyrie is rescued from her boyfriend by Billy-Ray Sanguine, who has been hired to bring down the Remnants, and, while reluctant, Valkyrie agrees to join forces with him. Valkyrie discovers that Clarabelle has been possessed and murdered Kenspeckle, and is later attacked by Fletcher. She is saved by Caelan before escaping with Skulduggery, Ghastly, Tanith, China and Billy-Ray. The group drive to the Soul Catcher, and Skulduggery reveals to Valkyrie that he suspects that one of their group is possessed. This suspicion is proven correct when China turns on the group, launching a surprise attack on Ghastly, incapacitating Skulduggery, and attacking Tanith using symbols. She orders a Remnant to possess Ghastly instead of Tanith, and kidnaps Valkyrie. However, before she escapes, Sanguine steals the key for the Soul Catcher from her.

While the group find the Soul Catcher, Valkyrie is possessed by a Remnant in an effort to spur their messiah's coming, bringing out Darquesse. However, Darquesse is not the Remnant in control - instead, it is a part of Valkyrie which hates everything. It overpowers the Remnant possessing Valkyrie, and sets about killing the horrified Remnants with pleasure, massacring dozens before almost turning on her allies. Skulduggery arrives after a few minutes and explains that Darquesse is what Valkyrie will become if she refuses to fight back against the apathy, bitterness and hopelessness, and she finally lets go of the struggling Remnant in her body, which returns her to normal. Skulduggery then holds Valkyrie hostage (threatening to kill her) to force the Remnants to release their bodies, which allows the Soul Catcher to retrieve them. However, the one possessing Tesseract escapes and possesses Tanith. Valkyrie and Tanith fight, but Valkyrie is unable to get her to the Soul Catcher in time, and the possessed Tanith escapes.

Tanith later arrives at Valkyrie's house, after the four day period before a Remnant fuses itself to a host, and explains that she does not plan to attack Valkyrie, but rather to lead her subtly towards her "destiny" as Darquesse. Tanith then leaves with Sanguine, her new boyfriend.

Death Bringer

Along with Skulduggery, the two first appear sneaking into a police station to question Kenny Dunne over the death of Paul Lynch. After they finish, Fletcher Renn takes Valkyrie to Alison's (her new sister) christening. After a few conversations with her family, Fletcher appears again to take Valkyrie to meet with Skulduggery at Bernadette's cottage, who is known to have been in contact with Paul Lynch.

However, they find Bernadette dead, and Skulduggery picks up traces of Adept Magic with Rainbow Dust. They catch sight of the killer, a bald man with a stupid goatee beard, but before they can give chase, he drops a box containing the unbeatable Jitter Girls to distract them while he escapes. Valkyrie forces Fletcher to find help from China Sorrows, leaving Valkyrie and Skulduggery to deal with the Jitter Girls alone. The two are easily defeated, and just as Valkyrie is about to die, Darquesse is awoken. Darquesse manages to force the Jitter Girls back into their box, and eventually agrees to let Valkyrie out just as Fletcher arrives ready to fight. They tell him it's over and she and Fletcher teleport back to her home where they step out from behind a tree all muddy, to have all the Christening guests stare at them.

Valkyrie and Skulduggery travel to Roarhaven to visit the new Sanctuary. Before they do so, Valkyrie saves an American tourist family from a horrible shop keeper, who happens to despise mortals. Valkyrie and Skulduggery reach the Sanctuary and meet with the Council of Elders where they discuss the apparent Death Bringer, Melancholia. Ravel agrees to provide any resource needed to know more about the Passage.

The two then visit the Necromancer to find the same bald man from Bernadette's cottage, who is called Bison Dragonclaw. Ending up in a car chase, Dragonclaw crashes but manages to flee, and instead Valkyrie and Skulduggery encounter a powerful Warlock, but he is defeated. Valkyrie then visits Caelen where it is revealed that Valkyrie is cheating on Fletcher.

That night, Valkyrie is babysitting Alison and invites Fletcher over. Hearing a noise upstairs, Valkyrie finds her Reflection out of the mirror. It tells Valkyrie that she forgot to touch the grass. Fletcher then decided to go to Italy to get some pizza. While he buys the pizza, Melancholia visits Valkyrie in her home and with her new Necromancy skills, she heavily wounds Valkyrie. She barely manages to call Fletcher, and he teleports her to the Sanctuary for treatment. It turns out Nye is the new doctor, but it manages to save Valkyrie's life. Valkyrie wakes up and tries to threaten Nye. However, Nye knows that Valkyrie is somehow involved with Darquesse due to the mutterings and hallucinations as it performed on her to seal her true name. It says that if she tells the sanctuary about the experiments he has been conducting, he will tell the Elders about her involvement in it all and it would raise all sorts of 'awkward questions'. In the night Valkyrie is visited by Caelan, who is upset over not being able to protect Valkyrie. She tries to make a joke of the situation but fails. Caelan then proposes to Valkyire, but rejects him in horror.

The next day, Valkyrie, Skulduggery, and many Sanctuary agents and Cleavers arrive at the Temple to arrest Melancholia. Skulduggery receives a phone call, and tells Valkyrie that Dragonclaw has been spotted. Although he is charge, the two leave for the airport (Terminal Two). They manage to capture Bison who, after interrogation, reveals that Necromancers are arriving soon to assist the Temple. Leaving Valkyrie to stop them alone, she manages to sneak into arrivals and stalls the Necromancers by forcing the police on them. Valkyrie returns to Skulduggery, who tells her that Dragonclaw will show them a secret tunnel into the Temple. They arrive and sneak into the Temple to find Melancholia. They split up but Valkyrie runs into Solomon Wreath, who knocks her out. She waked up in a room to find out Skulduggery has also been captured.

Auron Tenebrae enters the room and begins a story which happened during the War. During the conversation Tenebrae reveals that Skulduggery became Lord Vile during the war. Valkyrie is highly shocked by the news. Tenebrae leaves Dragonclaw to torture Skulduggery and Valkyrie, but despite the shocking news, they work together to defeat Dragonclaw and escape. While escaping, the two run into Melancholia, who manages to defeat them easily. However, Skulduggery transforms into Lord Vile and nearly kills her, but eventually Vile turns back into Skulduggery. Outside the Temple, Valkyrie tells Skulduggery she has had enough and returns home. When she arrives, she finds nobody home. She calls her Reflection who tells her Melissa was mugged by a man called Ian Moore. Blinded by rage, Valkyrie breaks into the prison Ian is in and brutally attacks him. Valkyrie is about to kill Ian, but changes her mind and returns home.

The next morning Valkyrie is visited by Fletcher, who is concerned for Valkyrie as she is not returning his calls. An argument ensues and the two break up. Soon after the break up, Valkyrie is visited by Carol and Crystal, who finally persuade her to teach them Magic. However, the two don't succeed and the training session is stopped by Fergus, who shouts at Valkyrie that she will ruin his family with Magic. He then reveals to her that he knows Magic exists, and even shows her that he is an Elemental, though not trained. Valkyrie visits Gordon and tells him everything that happened.

The next day, Skulduggery visits Valkyrie who reluctantly lets him in. After a conversation, Valkyrie finally forgives Skulduggery over his past. Skulduggery then tells her of his plan to stop Melancholia, which involved Lord Vile.

As they plan to stop Melancholia, Skulduggery and Valkyrie are visits by Wreath who promises to bring them to Melancholia. Along with Sanctuary agents and Fletcher, they sneak into Widow Hill, the place where Melancholia is hiding. They invade the building and Craven accidentally kills Melancholia, but the Sanctuary do not know it was just a Reflection.

Valkyrie takes a day off to spend time with her family. She is then left to babysit Alice. While so, Ian breaks into her home and attacks Valkyrie. She manages to awaken her Reflection and they defeat him. The Reflection wants to kill Ian, but Valkyrie stops it and instead they call the police again. Valkyrie is taken to a mortal hospital where she is healed. When Valkyrie and her parents return home, Fletcher visits and the two become friends again. After, he tells Valkyrie that he is moving to Australia and leaves.

Just before the Requiem Ball started, which is being held at Gordan's estate, Skulduggery buys Valkyrie a new dress for it. They leave for the Ball after. The two have multiple conversations with friends and enemies.

After it is revealed Melancholia is still alive, she manages to absorb the life essence of all the guests at the Ball, and they die. Valkyrie and Skulduggery were not there at the time, so they go after Craven and Melancholia in the Caves. They find them and a fight starts between Skulduggery and Melancholia. However, she easily absorbs Skulduggery's life essence, however, this releases Lord Vile, which forces Melancholia to release Skulduggery back. However, he transforms back into Lord Vile. Valkyrie and Melancholia flee from Vile.

They spend a long time fleeing from Vile, and they are joined by the White Cleaver. They run into Scapegrace, who has his head chopped off by the White Cleaver. They continue running, but Valkyrie is seperated from Melancholia as monsters carry off with Valkyrie. They take her to a very tight part of the Caves, but eventually Valkyrie manages to escape from it. Valkyrie manages to locate Melancholia again, but Lord Vile catches up with them. Realising that only way to defeat Vile, Valkyrie forces Melancholia to try and kill Valkyrie, which awakens Darquesse. Darquesse and Lord Vile engage in a huge fight, which takes them all around Ireland, including Liffey Bridge. Eventually, the two return to their former selves.

For what they managed to accomplish, Valkyrie and Skulduggery are to receive awards, but they decide to miss it and instead visit China who called Skulduggery. They find a women called Eliza Scorn, who has been blackmailing China, and China herself in a fight. They break them up and Eliza reveals the truth behind the capture of Skulduggery's family. Shocked, Skulduggery leaves and Valkyrie forces Eliza to leave and after she blows up China's library. Valkyrie then leaves China as well.

While at home, Caelan arrives and takes Valkyrie to the docks. Valkyrie, annoyed at Calen's words, dumps Caelan, who tries to force Valkyrie to listen to him. Fletcher appears and starts hitting Calean with numerous weapons, but Caelan, who hasn't taken his syringe, transforms into a Vampire and attacks Fletcher, but with their combined effort, they manage to drown Caelan, which kills him due to his weakness to salt water. As they teleport, Kenny Dunne watches on as he quickly thinks of a TV show that will reveal who Valkyrie is.

Kingdom of the Wicked

Valkyrie Cain appears at the start of the book when she is sent to investigate Jerry Houlihan who has come up with the idea that he is a butterfly. It is revealed that Jerry is just one of the many mortals who were suddenly developing magical abilities and were all constantly threatening to reveal the magical society to the general public.

After dealing with Jerry, Valkyrie then travels to Phibsborough to meet with Skulduggery Pleasant who is tracking Ed Stynes whose thin werewolf bloodline has caused the infection to turn him into a werewolf each full moon due to the whole mortals-getting-magical-abilities thing. Equipped with tranquilizer guns the pair enter into the apartment building.

Inside they witness Stynes transforming into a werewolf just before he attacks them. After watching Skulduggery easily being battered by the wolf, Valkyrie manages to get its attention off of him by attacking the wolf with necromancy. She is then forced to leap out of the bedroom window in order to escape but the wolf jumps out after her taking the fight into the public area. After being hit by a bus during the battle and continuously beaten up she begins to hear the voice of Darquesse saying ‘let me out’ but ignores it as Skulduggery re-joins the fight and the pair of them manage to overpower the wolf enough to insert a tranquilizer dart into its bloodstream.

At the Sanctuary they interrogate him in hopes of discovering more about how mortals are becoming magical. He explains to them about dreams that he had recently been experiencing dreams about a man dressed in white with the name ‘Argeddion’. In the dream he presented a gift to Stynes and ordered him to prepare for the ‘Summer of Light’. The last time he appeared in the dreams ‘Argeddion’ inserted a glowing ball of energy into Styne’s chest and said he would return for it later.

As the pair leave the Sanctuary they discuss Skulduggery’s distaste of Doctor Nye because of war-time events and Valkyrie’s fears that Darquesse getting out and murdering her parents and younger sister. Once arriving back at her house Valkyrie has a short conversation with her reflection whom she is now getting along with well, claiming that she couldn’t fail to be friends with herself. The following morning Valkyrie rushes to get ready to go to school only to find out that it’s a Saturday. Her father then tries to hook her up with a boy much to Valkyrie’s dismay.

Afterwards, Valkyrie and Skulduggery return to the Sanctuary to continue their investigation about Argeddion by searching through old files in the ‘Mystical Hall of Magical Cabinets’ although they manage to find no record of him at all. They then encounter Ghastly Bespoke training with a punching-bag.

Powers and abilities

"You're an Elemental with a Necromancer ring, trained in a variety of martial arts by some of the best fighters in the world. I'm fairly certain that makes you a weapon."
Skulduggery Pleasant to Valkyrie about her powers and abilities, Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil

Elemental Magic

Throughout the series, Valkyrie's skill in elemental magic steadily grows, from an absolute amateur incapable of performing magic when panicking in Playing with Fire to the stage of a reasonably powerful Elemental in Mortal Coil, capable of besting sorcerers far more experienced than she herself is. She displays great potency with fire and air but show little aptitude with water and even less in earth, due to her not being interested in the former and the fact that the latter turns one into a stone statue.

Necromancy

Valkyrie's Necromancer Ring

Fan Art of Valkyrie's ring.

After seeing her use his cane with great skill despite her lack of training at Aranmore Farm, Wreath decided that Valkyrie needed Necromancy training. She displays a strange skill and talent at the discipline and grasps it very well. Valkyrie has her power forced into a ring and she uses it it to create shadow whips, barriers and tendrils, as well as shrouding her hand in solid darkness to increase the power of her punches and launch projectiles of darkness.

Choice

When Valkyrie reaches full maturity, usually at the age of 19 or 20, she will have to choose her magical discipline before she experiences The Surge. Once she chooses, she will lose the ability to use other types of magic, so if she were to choose Necromancy she would lose her Elemental powers and vice-versa. Derek Landy has confirmed that she "can't have both".

Darquesse

When in grave danger (such as being on the brink of death), Valkyrie subconsciously allows Darquesse to take over her mind and body. As Darquesse, Valkyrie can wield a unique type of magic (possibly Ancient magic) which grants her a huge amount of strength, allowing her to break boulders, crush skulls, and punch through bones with ease. She also has the ability to fly, the ability to see and manipulate someone's consciousness. Darquesse can also dull pain and has the ability to heal even her brain and organs, making her practically invincible. Darquesse can survive injuries that would easily kill a normal mage, even one as powerful as Skulduggery. Darquesse can even withstand having her head ripped off, though she admitted there was a strong chance she'd have died had she not magically repaired herself within seven seconds. Complete destruction of the brain would kill her - however, this is almost impossible do due to her ability to heal any and all wounds magically. Darquesse has been shown to be capable of disintegrating regular humans, turning them to ash with a mere gesture. In addition, Valkryie's normal skills, such as Necromancy and Elemental Magic are increased vastly, superior to any average sorcerer. In Death Bringer, she is shown to be capable of fighting on par with Lord Vile; however, in Kingdom of the Wicked it is shown that her power has grown greatly, as she defeats Lord Vile with moderate difficulty. She is also shown to have the ability to see Magic, sensing its presence and nature in other beings. She can understand different people's abilities, how strong they are, and how they will use it. She can also manifest her magic in the form of telekinesis, such as using it to break Kitana's leg and moving her body towards her decapitated head.

Currently, the precise limits of Darquesse's power is unknown. As of Kingdom of the Wicked, she is roughly equal to Mevolent, if not slightly stronger - however, it has been shown that her power is increasing exponentially every time she emerges. It is known that Darquesse has been prophesized to extinguish all life on Earth, and eventually the planet itself. By Last Stand of Dead Men Darquesse has completely taken over. She could tear another mage apart with a casual flick of her wrist, destroy a thousand powerful Witches and an army of Warlocks, other mages, Wretchlings and several super charged sorcerrers.

Other skills

As well as being a gifted Sorcerer, Valkyrie has displayed other talents throughout the series, such as being highly intelligent, a gifted detective and an expert hand-to-hand fighter. Her official profile released by Derek Landy states that she practices Kenpo Karate, Muay Thai, Krav Maga and Capoeira. Valkyrie has shown proficiency in punches, kicks, elbows, headbutts, and throws (among other techniques).

Personality

Valkyrie is shown to be a stubborn, exceptionally mature, and independent girl, who often ignores orders. When approached by strangers, she usually ignores them. She hates when she is treated like a child or talked down to (although it happens in almost every book). She is loyal and caring to her friends and also her family. Valkyrie can also be very selfish, as Fletcher states. She admits to it later on. Her uncle Gordon Edgley described her as 'strong-willed, intelligent, sharp-tongued, doesn't suffer fools gladly.' After she had to kill Caelan, she became hostile to vampires, thinking them to be horrible creatures.

It has been noted on various occasions that Valkyrie is extremely witty and sarcastic, frequently joking and bantering in life-or-death situations, possibly to mask her own fears or anxieties.

As Darquesse, Valkyrie's personality undergoes a drastic, dark transformation. While still retaining her core behavior and principals (as Darquesse is simply a darker version of her and not a separate entity), they are greatly twisted. She retains her witty, sarcastic personality, but it becomes cruel and malicious rather than playful. She relishes in causing and feeling pain and violence, and is constantly seeking opponents who can actually challenge her. However, it has been noted that Darquesse is not inherently evil - simply cold, uncaring and above-all curious in regards to her abilities and their limits. She is willing to ally herself with those who would usually be opposed to her, valuing self-preservation above all else.

Relationships

Skulduggery Pleasant

Valkyrie first met Skulduggery when he rescued her from a sorcerer who attacked her in her house. At the time she was still known as Stephanie Edgely and had no knowledge of magic or even any idea that it existed. Skulduggery introduced her to the magical world and they became close friends and partners. Skulduggery often treated Valkyrie like a younger sister and they often argued like siblings but were also feircely loyal to each other. Shortly after their first met, Skulduggery killed Serpine in order to protect her, having originally intended to only arrest him and at one point Valkyrie even went into the world of the Ancient Ones in order to rescue him from the evil gods. 

Skulduggery was Valkyrie's mentor and usually acted as the leader in their relationship but due to Valkyrie's tendency to disobey orders she often didn't do what he said. Skulduggery was often exasperated by this but actually liked her headstrong nature. The Skeleton Detective also acted as her protector and despite Valkyrie's steadily increasing powers it was implied that there were still many sorcerers who could kill her easily; the reason they didn't was because they were frightened of suffering from Skulduggery's legendary rage.

Skulduggery accepted that Valkyrie was Darquesse very easily, due to the fact that he possessed a ferocious dark side in the form of Lord Vile. However it took Valkyrie a bit longer to accept that Skulduggery had once been the most evil and powerful Necromancer in the history of magic. She eventually forgave him and Skulduggery also managed to snap her out of Darquesse's control, after fighting off his own dark side during their ferocious battle. 

Fletcher Renn

At first glance, Valkyrie didn't think much of Fletcher, seeing him as a coward and slightly stupid. However in Dark Days she is better friends with him after spending more time with him while tracking down Skulduggery Pleasant's skull, after Fletcher kisses her before sending her to The Faceless Ones' universe, she becomes more attracted to him until she tells Skulduggery at the end of the book that they're 'a girlfriend-boyfriend thing'. In Mortal Coil, their relationship is going well and has become more intimate although Valkyrie feels guilty for kissing Caelan. They break up in Death Bringer after she reveals that she has been cheating on him with Caelan although the fact that he responds to her distress call indicates that he didn't hate her for breaking it off. However they remain good, if somewhat awkward, friends.

Description

In the books Valkryie is described as having straight long dark brown hair and dark intense eyes. She is tall for her age and has a slim body. She commonly wears the clothes made for her by Ghastly Bespoke which include, a black tunic and tight trousers, long boots, and a three-quarter length coat, which are near-impenetrable.

Trivia

  • The name Valkyrie comes from the Norse warrior women who guard Valhalla (she first heard the name after hearing "Rise of the Valkyries). The name Cain came to her when Skulduggery claimed she had a "penchant for raising cain", which means that she makes trouble.
  • It is revealed she is afraid of penguins, zoos, and falling into a penguin enclosure. This was mentioned in Death Bringer, however it is likely just a joke. She does, however have Claustrophobia, or a fear of enclosed spaces. This is revealed in Kingdom of the Wicked.

Appearances

Skulduggerypleasant(book)
The Lost Art Of World Domination
Playingwithfire
Gold Babies And The Brothers Muldoon
Facelessones
Darkdays
MortalCoil
Death Bringer
The End Of The World
Kingdom of the Wicked Front Cover
Last Stand of Dead Men Cover

Other Appearances

See also