What if the worst people you knew in high school were tasked with saving the world? This is The Valkyrie Cycle: a Monsterhearts 2 actual play podcast about the messy lives of even messier teenagers, whose monstrosity is as inevitable as their destiny. Our setting is the small town of Thornridge, Washington, where monsters are as likely to lurk in the forest as the hallways of the high school, and apocalyptic mythology threatens to become ugly reality. As an unnaturally long winter casts an icy shadow over the upcoming prom, something more dangerous prowls at the edges of Thornridge, waiting for its chance to strike… The Valkyrie Cycle is a story about queerness, family, the chains that hold us back, and what happens when we break them.
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Our cast answers audience questions and gives behind-the-scenes insight on character creation and worldbuilding. This talkback contains spoilers from the first arc of The Valkyrie Cycle (Episodes 1-5).
Starfyre, Cassie, and Lucien hunt monsters in the woods; Eden takes the next step in their relationship with Cassie; and Stephanie Chaplin makes new plans for prom. Content warnings: Violence, horror, injury, and threat of drowning [33:53-37:56]. Descriptions of wounds, including a wolf bite [44:30-45:35]. Abusive/toxic family environment [1:19:30-1:24:37]. Discussion Read more…
Family waits for characters on their return home from the party; Cassie finally confronts Luna Hanlon about their unfinished business. Content warnings: Intense family dynamics and generational trauma [2:00-5:57]. Emotional abuse, references to hunting and killing animals [14:48-28:05]. Discussion of death of family members, trauma related to injury from animal Read more…
The party comes to an end as Silvia finds evidence of the Chosen Squad’s investigation; a fight breaks out when something sinister finds Cesar in the woods. Content warnings: Violence, threats of violence, horror, and zombie beheading [40:00 – 50:19]. Threats of violence and punching [56:12 – 59:28]. Audio gore Read more…
Tensions rise as Starfyre, Lucien, and Cassie investigate the Strisciante family at Silvia’s party; Stephanie Chaplin hits a breaking point when confronted with terrible truths of her own. Content warnings: Descriptions of snakes (including feeding on mice) [47:43-49:00]. Moment of forced truth-telling through magic, with auditory distortion [1:48:10-1:49:17]. Physical violence Read more…
Meet the students of Thornridge High, both magic and mysterious, as they enter the season of prom-proposals, extravagant end-of-year parties, and a prophecy that inches ever closer. Content warnings: Description of patricide, internalized homophobia, and religious trauma [9:50-16:36]. Brief description of miming self-harm [1:23:04]. Allusions to death of family members Read more…
A Monsterhearts 2 Actual-Play Podcast by Midnight Ceremonies Media, coming November 12th, 2022. The Valkyrie Cycle uses ancient mythology and supernatural identities to explore the cyclical violence of revenge and the weight of living in a heteronormative world. Find out more about our team and what we do at midnightceremoniesmedia.com
A Monsterhearts 2 Actual-Play Podcast by Midnight Ceremonies Media, coming November 12th, 2022. The Valkyrie Cycle uses ancient mythology and supernatural identities to explore the cyclical violence of revenge and the weight of living in a heteronormative world. Find out more about our team and what we do at midnightceremoniesmedia.com