Valkyr (Max Payne)
Valkyr is the name of a drug that features in the video game Max Payne universe.
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History
Valky which is also known as V is the name of a unique designer drug that was created by the Aesir Corporation as a designer based compound. Those that experience exposure to V suffer from the same effects as street drugs but magnified by a factor of 10 with the subjects senses being further empowered. The purpose of the drug was in effect to create a supersoldier due to the unique effects of Valkyr. Once created, it was designed to serve as a performance enhancer drug for the military but the Aesir Corporation began to alter their plans when they realized that V made their subjects impervious to fear. Thus, they decided to create their own army of soldiers but later dropped this project when they came to understand that there was only a 1% success rate amongst 100 trials. Despite this being the case, the company began distributing Valkyr into the black market as an illegal substance where it became something of a high amongst drug users.
The selling of V was routinely done through the Italian mafia who in turn gave it to junkies that were looking for a "fix". One of the key distributors of this project was Jack Lupino who was responsible for oversight of the drug though he was simply a middle man for Don Punchinello who was also controlled by Nicole Horne. She continued to research the drug and carried out further experiments despite it being illegal. Over the course of events, Horne gave Max Payne an overdose of Valkyr who began to experience lucid dreams as well as hallucinations where he began to disturbingly discover that he was a character in a graphic novel and in a computer game. He later awoke from his own vomit and experienced the side effects of Valkyr as he continued his mission to bring down the Aesir Corporation.
After the first event, Valkyr was briefly mentioned in several places though its been stated that the drug had been in decline amongst drug users. Vinnie Gognitti's men once peddled in Valkyr and were once part of the same group of dealers that Horne supplied.
Background
The effects of V produced a number of strange hallucinations amongst those that were exposed to the drug. These imagery included the individual seeing strange hallucinaions of flying Valkyries from Norse mythology. The Valkyries were responsible for picking up the bodies of the spirits of the dead in battle. Whilst this was the case, there was a critical difference between becoming an addict and becoming the original intention of the drug namely becoming a supersoldier. The crucial factor involved was a matter of willpower being responsible for transforming a user into the latter of the two. The use of Valkyr had a number of both physical as well as mental affects on the user which included feelings of nausea and hallucinations. Furthermore, there were mental deterioration that ranged from a partial one to a complete collapse. As such, many individuals who took Valkyr suffered from insanity though there were some who managed to endure them with only a few of the side effects.
Notes
- The Max Payne universe consists of numerous Nordic references which includes Valkyr that is a reference to the Valkyries of Norse mythology.
