"We do not move for the tide. We remember where the shore used to be." — Proverb of the Val-Keryn

The Val-Keryn are the living embodiment of Memory and Permanence. Born from the specific threads of "Regret" and "History" that Mavis pulled from her soul during The Unraveling, they are the heaviest of the Val-Korai. They possess a gravitational pull of personality they are hard to move, hard to change, and impossible to forget.

In the societies of Maywin, they are the bedrock: the keepers of laws, the writers of history, and the guardians of oaths.

I. Physical Description

The Val-Keryn are the most striking resemblance to Mavis’s true form.

• Skin: Their skin spans the spectrum of the twilight sky, ranging from a pale, glacial blue to a deep, midnight navy that looks almost black in dim light. Their skin is always cool to the touch, like polished marble.
• The Horns of Geometry: Their horns are large and prominent, often growing in symmetrical, sweeping arches that mimic the "Halo of Geometry" surrounding Mavis. It is common for Val-Keryn to carve their life history or oaths into their horns using scrimshaw techniques.
• The Eyes of Truth: Their eyes are solid orbs of glowing magenta. Unlike other races, Val-Keryn rarely blink during conversation, contributing to their unnerving, intense stare known as "The Weight."

II. Cultural Philosophy: The Doctrine of the Knot

The Val-Keryn worldview is defined by The Knot. They believe that every action ties a knot in reality, and once tied, it cannot be untied only examined.

• The Sanctity of the Oath: To a Val-Keryn, a promise is not just words; it is a physical tether. Breaking an oath causes them actual physical pain (psychosomatic migraines). Because of this, they are incredibly hesitant to give their word, but once given, they will die before breaking it.
• The Sin of Forgetting: They view memory as a divine duty. To forget a person or an event is to kill them a second time. Their homes are filled with journals, sketches, and mementos. They are hoarders of the past.
• Emotional Resilience: Because they were born from Mavis's cast-off Regret, they feel sorrow deeply. However, they do not weep openly. They metabolize grief into strength. They are the friends you call when you need someone to sit in the dark with you, silent and unmoving, for hours.

III. Social Roles & Reputation

• The Scribes & Jurists: Because of their flawless memories, Val-Keryn are highly sought after as judges, contract lawyers, and royal archivists. A contract witnessed by a Val-Keryn is considered unforgeable.
• The "Stone-Hearts": Other races often mistake their stoicism for coldness. They are called "Stone-Hearts" because they rarely change their minds. Once a Val-Keryn forms an opinion about you, it takes an earthquake to shift it.
• The Mourners: In some human cultures, it is considered good luck to hire a Val-Keryn to mourn at a funeral. It is believed that if a Val-Keryn remembers the deceased, the deceased’s soul will never truly fade.

IV. Naming Conventions

Val-Keryn names are heavy, using hard consonants and long vowels. They sound like stones dropping into water. They often lack "soft" sounds like 's' or 'f'.

• Male Names: Krun, Torvath, Bakkar, Gorum, Kaelen, Rurik.
• Female Names: Vora, Kora, Matron, Duna, Bae, Elara.
• Surnames: They do not use family names. Instead, they use Legacy Names the name of a great ancestor or a historical event they have sworn to remember. (e.g., Rurik of the Fall, Elara of the Broken Shield).