Valeria

Valeria (バレリア, Bareria) is a supporting character in Suikoden and Suikoden II who also appears in Genso Suikogaiden Vol.2. Valeria attempted to stop Kwanda Rosman's scheme to annihilate the Great Forest.

History
"If I stay away from battle for a while, my hands ache with bloodlust."

- Valeria

Valeria was born in a poor village in the vicinity of the Great Forest. Her father had been a soldier in the Imperial Army but had resigned due to his distaste for fighting. He would keep his Star Sword in the attic of the family home thereafter.

After her father's death, Valeria's sister and brother found it in the attic. At the age of 14, Valeria was self-trained in the art of her father's sword in order to defeat the boar that had hurt her mother and avenged her with the aid of the swordsman, Kong Long.

Following this, she became known as the "girl who slew a wild boar with her bare hands", an exaggeration of the true battle where Valeria wielded a machete before finishing the creature off with the Star Sword. Still, the feat brought her much renown and the attention of Imperial General Kwanda Rosman.

Kong Long then trained Valeria for a time before she decided to train under the legendary Roundia Haia in Kanakan. There, she met Anita and the two became rivals, helping to spur on each other's development.

After graduating, Valeria was granted the Falcon Rune and she joined the Imperial Army. She earned the nickname "Blazing Valeria" due to her ferocity in fighting on the frontlines and red clothing. She would rise through the ranks due to her ability and intelligence. However, she would betray the Scarlet Moon Empire in an attempt to stop Kwanda Rosman from burning down the Great Forest.

Valeria was horrified at the idea of the Burning Mirror, which she knew could burn down not only Lukie Ende Towayo and the Village of the Elves but the entire forest, including her home. She attempted to warn the elves of Lukie Ende Towayo, but was rebuffed and imprisoned in a cell. While imprisoned, Valeria met members of the Toran Liberation Army and agreed to join their cause.

Even following the destruction of Lukie Ende Towayo, she would strive to prevent further tragedies. When she and the hero's party was surrounded by the Imperial Army, she would give herself up so that the others could destroy Kwanda's Burning Mirror, even though she knew she would be executed for her desertion.

Fortunately, Liberation Army forces arrived before she could be taken away. After Kwanda Rosman's defeat, Valeria would continue servng in the Liberation Army. Following the end of the Gate Rune War, Valeria became a Great General of the Toran Republic and a mediator with the elves.

During the Dunan Unification War, Valeria would give her power to the New State Army by order of Lepant. As a general, Valeria fought fiercely on the battlefield, showing both the New State Army and the Highland Army why she earned her nickname, Blazing Valeria. As part of the New State Army, she would encounter Anita again, the two rekindling their rivalry. They would spend some of their free together at the tavern, however.

After the loss of Nanami at Rockaxe Castle, Valeria would tell the hero not to show his emotions in front of his soldiers. As a veteran of war, she knew the dangers of battle and though not without sympathy, also knew that if the hero showed tears publicy, it would affect his authority among the troops.

Following the war, Valeria returned to Gregminster along with the soldiers she led. She would later meet to duel Anita in a continuation of their rivalry. They would be tied when Millie and Nash would interrupt the duel thanks to Viki's teleportation, leaving the result of their contest in doubt.

Trivia

 * Valeria was Murayama Yoshitaka's favorite character and he credits his favoritism for the power of Valeria's Falcon Rune in Suikoden II.