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Vargur - The Crimson Tithing

In the context of the fallen Norse warrior, The Crimson Tithing represents the visceral, bloody intersection between mortal sacrifice and divine selection. The term "tithing" traditionally refers to the act of giving or taking a tenth part of one’s harvest or earnings as an offering to a higher power. In this mythological sense, the "Crimson" refers to the blood spilled upon the battlefield—the "red harvest"—from which the Valkyries must select a specific percentage of the dead to bolster Odin’s ranks. It is a spiritual tax paid in life-force, where the most exceptional warriors are "taxed" from the mortal realm to serve a cosmic purpose. The process of the tithing is carried out by the Valkyries as they descend into the "Iron Gale" of active combat. Rather than waiting for the battle to conclude, they move through the fray unseen by the unworthy, their eyes attuned to the "wyrd" or destiny of each combatant. When they perform the tithing, they are not merely collecting corpses; they are extracting the hugr (the soul or intent) of the warrior at the exact moment of their final, most courageous act. This is often described as a "gentle reaping," where the Valkyrie marks the chosen with a touch or the shadow of a spear-tip, effectively claiming that soul as the property of Valhalla before the body even hits the red-soaked earth. To make the cut for The Crimson Tithing, a warrior must demonstrate more than just skill with a blade; they must exhibit a specific quality of spirit known as drengskapr. This encompasses bravery, a sense of fair play, and an unshakable stoicism in the face of certain death. The Valkyries look for those who do not flinch when the "shield-wall shatters," choosing those whose light burns brightest at the moment it is extinguished. This selection is rigorous because the Tithing is not a reward for the dead—it is a recruitment for the future. Only a small percentage of the fallen are taken; the rest are left for the goddess Freyja in Fólkvangr or remain with the earth, as Odin requires only the elite "Einherjar" for his ultimate goal. The application of tithing to the Einherjar (the "Once-Fighters") is rooted in the preparation for Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods. Just as a tithe is a small portion set aside for the maintenance of a faith or temple, the Einherjar are a small portion of humanity set aside for the maintenance of the cosmos. By "giving" their lives to their faith in the heat of battle, these warriors become the ultimate offering. They are held in the High Hall of Valhalla not to rest, but to train endlessly, dying and rising again each day in a cycle of perpetual preparation. They are the "tenth" of humanity—the specialized tithe required to fight alongside the Aesir when the world-serpent stirs and the final battle begins. Furthermore, The Crimson Tithing serves as a bridge between the chaotic violence of Midgard and the structured order of Asgard. It suggests that war is not merely a tragedy, but a screening process for the soul. The Valkyries act as the divine auditors of this tithing, ensuring that the "payment" made in blood is sufficient to keep the gates of Valhalla occupied by the strongest possible defenders. This concept emphasizes the Norse belief that fate is predetermined, yet how one meets that fate determines whether they are worthy of being "harvested" for the god-king’s personal guard. Ultimately, being chosen in the Crimson Tithing is the highest honor a Norse warrior could achieve, but it came with a grim reality: the selection meant they were destined to die twice. Once on the mortal battlefield, and once more at the end of the world during Ragnarök. The Valkyries’ choice was both a sanctification and a sentence, ensuring that the warrior’s spirit would never know the quiet of the grave, but instead the eternal, clashing thunder of the Hall of the Slain.