Stephanie Edgely (Valkyrie Cain)

Stephanie Edgely is a fictional character in the fantasy novel Skulduggery Pleasant and its sequel . Although Skulduggery is the titular character Stephanie is arguably the main protagonist as most of the story is told from her point of view.

Fictional character history

Skulduggery Pleasant

Stephanie is introduced at the start of the book when her wealthy uncle, Gordon Edgely, a writer of horror fiction, dies under mysterious circumstances Skulduggery Pleasant, page 1] . He leaves Stephanie (whom he was especially fond of) his mansion and his fortune in his will. A highly independent girl, Stephanie spends the night at Gordon's house alone when her parents get stuck in traffic however she is attacked in the middle of the night by a mysterious burglar who demands that she give him "the key." Stephanie is rescued from the madman by the enigmatic Skulduggery Pleasant, a charismatic man from Gordon's funeral who exhibits the ability fire energy projectiles and manages to drive the burglar away however in the ensuing struggle his disguise falls off and Stephanie is shocked to discover that he is in fact a living skeleton. After she recovers from the shock the very gentlemanly Skulduggery explains to her that magic is in fact real and magical people and creatures live among human beings with their own society and governments. He explains that he himself is a magician who fought in a secret war many years ago during which he was killed but for an unknown reason he came back to life as a skeleton.

Stephanie who appears to be a very adventurous and intelligent girl demands that Skulduggery take her with him to help investiate her uncle's murder on account of the fact that she is incredibly bored of her dull and uneventful life. Skulduggery agrees and together they discover that the burglar was working for an evil sorcerer named Nefarian Serpine. Serpine was one [Melovent's during the secret war and who wishes to procure the mythic Sceptre of the Ancients, a powerful device which was used to banish the demonic Faceless Ones from the world many centuries ago. Serpine being a worshipper of the Faceless Ones wants to find the Sceptre so he can use it to release his evil gods.

While travelling with Skulduggery, Stephanie leaves her mirror-self, a reflection of herself in a mirror brought to life to occupy her place in the family home so that her parents don't find out that she's gone. When Stephanie returns home after each escapade, the mirror-self goes back into the mirror and Stephanie assimilates all of its memories.

During the story Stephanie, upon discovering that knowing someone's name gives you power over them, invents a new name for herself : Valkyrie Cain. Valkyrie from the name of the bird women who carry the dead off the battle field and Cain from the term "raising Cain" meaning, causing trouble, something which Skulduggery affectionately refers to her as doing.

Skulduggery later realises that the key to the Sceptre which Serpine sent his minion to procure is in fact a brooch given to Stephanie's aunt and uncle by Gordon in his will. Stephanie manages to obtain the broach and together she and Skulduggery find the Sceptre in a maze of catacombs hidden beneath Gordon's estate. Serpine however finds it as well and defeats Skulduggery and Stephanie before leaving with the Sceptre.

With the help of a master swordswoman named Tanith Low and an incredibly strong taylor named Ghastly Bespoke, Skulduggery and Stephanie realise that Serpine wants to use the Sceptre to obtain the Great Book of Names which which he will be able to rule the world and find the Ritual to release the Faceless Ones.

After a battle with Serpine at the home of the Magician's Guild, Skulduggery and Stephanie destroy the Book and Serpine is defeated. Skulduggery disarms him and destroys him with the Sceptre after he attempts to kill Stephanie who has sustained a broken leg. Skulduggery takes Stephanie home where she recuperates however Skulduggery comes to visit her a month later. He discovers to his delight that Stephanie is as sharp-tongued and wilfull as ever and that she has discovered that she has magical powers of her own.

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In "Playing With Fire", Stephanie is referred to as Valkyrie throughout. She is first shown duelling with an inept aspiring serial killer who has yet to actually kill anyone named Vaurien Scapegrace. Skulduggery soon arrives and the two take Scapegrace into custody. A new Grand Mage has been instated named Thurid Guild who dislikes Skulduggery and holds Valkyrie in contempt. He dolefully informs them that the villainous Baron Vengeous has escaped from prison in Russia and is seeking the Armour of Lord Vile.

Throughout the story, Stephanie travels with Skulduggery, helping him in his battles against Vengeous whilst leaving her Mirror-Self to occupy her personal life.

Valkyrie and Skulduggery along with Scapegrace, visit a village composed entirely of magicians named Roarhaven where they get into a bar fight which they win. They later find the lair of an ancient wizard named The Torment whom they push for evidence as to where the Armour of Lord Vile is located. The Torment totally ignores Valkyrie whom he despises due to her descendancy from the Ancients whose power he fears. He tells Skulduggery that he will tell him where Vile's armour is if he kills Valkyrie. Skulduggery takes Valkyrie round a corner and they summon her Mirror-Self whom Skulduggery shoots instead of Valkyrie. The Torment tells Skulduggery the whereabouts of Vile's armour and they go to find it. They get into a fight with Vengous and his minions. Vengeous kidnaps Stephanie because he needs her blood combined with the Armour to bring an evil creature called the Grotesquery which has the power to release the Faceless Ones, to life. Skulduggery rescues Valkyrie and they escape but Valkyrie succeeds in scarring a vampire named Dusk as they take their escape.

The Grotesquery comes to life and takes refuge with Vengeous and his henchman in an abandoned hospital.

Valkyrie's parents want Valkyrie to attend a family reunion but Valkyrie plans to send her Mirror-Self to the function instead but ends up going. Whilst there she has an argument with her two vile cousins and takes solace in an adjourning room where she has a conversation with a living image of Gordon in an Echo-Stone. During the conversation it is revealed that Valkyrie's primary motivation for saving the world is her obsession with her parents.

She is subsequently attacked by Dusk who wants revenge and flees from the hotel where the party is taking place. She runs down to a beach where Dusk corners her but Spring-Heeled Jack arrives and defeats Dusk to get revenge on Vengeous for manipulating him.

Valkyrie then accompanies Skulduggery, Tanith and Mr. Bliss to Clearwater Hospital where the final battle with Vengeous and the Grotesquery takes place. Vengeous has since captured China Sorrows whom Valkyrie seems to have developed feelings for. The Grotesquery proves a near invincible opponent and backed up by Vengeous who is wearing the Armour of Lord Vile he is unstoppable. The Torment soon arrives to help destroy the Grotesquery because he does not want the Faceless Ones to return but even he proves no match for the Grotesquery which defeats and kills him. Valkyrie releases China who attacks Vengeous and almost beats him into submission. Skulduggery joins in the struggle and disarms Vengeous before shooting him in the stomach. As the dying Vengeous crawls to the feet of the Grotesquery, the demonic creature kills the hapless Baron for failing him by breaking his neck. Valkyrie meanwhile picks up Tanith's sword and stabs the beast through the heart, killing it instantly.

The story ends with Valkyrie and Skulduggery meeting on a pier and discussing who might be responsible for releasing Vengeous from prison. They have since deduced that there is a worldwide conspiracy going on and Vengeous was merely a pawn in the plan of someone much more powerful than himself. Presently a vampire jumps out of the water and attacks Skulduggery and Valkyrie who immediately launch a counter-attack. The book ends.

Personality and traits

In the first book, Stephanie is depicted as an exceptionally mature and independent girl who possesses great confidence and self-esteem. Skulduggery says that she is very much like her uncle whom he describes as "strong-willed, intelligent, sharp-tongued, doesn't suffer fools gladly." Stephanie proves herself to possess all these qualities in spades and she and Skulduggery frequently exchange witty banter. Although the two annoy each other considerably they do have a great respect and affection for one another.It is Stephanie's tenacious personality that catches the attention of the evil Nefarian Serpine who takes an interest in Stephanie and makes an attempt to convince her to join him.Stephanie is extremely brave to the point of being fearless and possesses a great desire for adventure and discovering the unknown. She does not have many friends her age and laments the boredom of her dull ordinary life in the village in which she lives. Stephanie appears to possess considerable physical strength for a twelve year-old girl and exhibits aptitude in swimming, running and fighting. At the end of the book she also displays magical powers. On an interesting side-note both Stephanie and Serpine have green eyes, possibly to draw similarities between the characters.

In the second book of the series, Stephanie's fighting skills have improved but she seems somewhat more insecure than before. She is also much more passive. Throughout the book numerous adults ignore and patronise her and various characters (including her cousins) refer to her as a child, something which Valkyrie hates. She says nothing however and doesn't even complain.

ee also

* List of secondary characters in Skulduggery Pleasant