#i use 'zero waste' politics so him having two eyes despite helm owner stated to only have one didnt sit right with me

[katyahina]

Speaking of the league, what are YOUR hcs??😳 (since u asked of mine as well lol)

OKAY I actually do, thank you for the ask!! However keep in mind that pretty much it's work in progress, because literally every single day I remember an item description I forgot or get a new perspective/idea on my own! But as of now (September 11th, 2021) here goes!

Under cut though because I have many headcanons, plus it's mostly text and no pictures this time...

* Valtr

- As the type to be 'obssessed with his job', formerly as a constable and now as a hunter, he struggles to have hobbies or even enjoy his rest time at all! But when his friends DO manage to convince him to relax and try to do something fun like drawing or cooking or whatever, he quickly gains enough competence in the thing to start criticizing and teaching THE person who showed him the way to begin with! That can be frustrating, and they have to ask him to STOP now, which is as hard as getting him to start was....

- I already talked about how seeing Vermin relies on one's own ability to define what is acceptable and what isn't in this post, but yeah. He stopped seeing Vermin because of 'nothing deserves to live anyway' mindset that makes Impurity rune redundant; however as dialogue suggests in my opinion, the hunter betraying him does piss him off enough to see it in them! If you never do though, presume he moves on sheer autopilot to at least find himself a replacement. He still does the right thing even if it does not matter anymore...

- His passionate praising and affection to confederates for squashing bugs is genuine but at the same time pragmatic! Vermin is seen by anyone with Impurity rune in what/who they deep down think should be exterminated, and theme of 'some things only can harm you if you are able to perceive them' is strong in Bloodborne - so Valtr needs to fuel the feeling that they are in the right in them, because if they hate themselves and see Vermin in themselves... at least they will suffer physically, at likeliest they'll die.

- Valtr is similar to Gehrman with the 'whatever your backstory/motivation/hunting style/etc is, if you are ready to kill and can do it WELL - you are accepted' approach (as opposed to Ludwig's quite unifying and inspiring chivalry), however, Valtr is of course way better at reading hidden emotions and needs of his subordinates than him.

* Yamamura

- Arrived with long hair in ponytail like concept art of him suggests, cut it short with a sword as sort of a sign of starting new life in Yharnam.

- Is unable to take a break like Valtr, however, for Yamamura it is very detrimental. Think of the person who never switches TV channel when it's bad news, never blocks internet content they hate or disturbed by, like, no matter how bad their mental state gets - they keep exposure up because 'well it will not disappear just because I stopped looking at it'. Valtr was very stoic and even felt the more in his element the worse things got - but Yamamura is an emotional, intricate, sensitive person, so his eventual insanity came from this. Just think of the person that denies every temporary comfort because "it will not change how the world is"... He is very self-destructive - that varies from understandable(?) denial of help when he needs it to crazy things such as defying himself his own human needs.

- Needs a hug but says he does not because "if I feel nice now it won't change how awful the world is :/". Valtr takes boundaries of his confederates seriously, however requests like 'let me wallow in literal insanity and suffer whereas simple affection could make a difference' are to be taken in reverse, so too bad, hugs from all confederates for him.

- Valtr did not offer Yamamura to leave the League directly, nor would Yamamura agree, yet Valtr recognized him as very sensitive so he started talking to him often, more often than with other League members that didn't instantly disappear to hunt in distant places, to know how he's feeling and what he is thinking. As result, they became very close.

- His Insight is high enough to make him be harmed by things others cannot even see - drown in the water others do not know even "exists" here, burnt trying to hold an object others do not know is even "burning", poisoned by a spike on a plant others can hold just fine - because for them this spike doesn't exist! The 'some things can only harm you if you perceive them', remember!

- Draws and writes and plays music - at least sometimes, because often his drawings might come to life and attack him, or sound of his music turn into something ears-scattering. Has a diary halving "japanese" and "english" language, as he has not heard his native speech in years before he died, thus many of his thoughts went "english". Some almost prophetic notes and drawings can be found in his diary.

- Choosen 'cursed' Cainhurst blade because it reminded him of home, did not care about its life-draining effects because 'well the hunt slowly ruins all of us anyway, choosing different way to harm oneself won't change it so why not through a weapon'. Like.... you see his problem by now I am sure.

* Henryk

- He believes that one true way to REALLY know the person is to fight/kill them, as he has almost supernatural empathy towards someone he just killed (like the rune he drops suggests). This mindset made him become fast friends with Valtr, however, he only lifted this mentality for Gascoigne and his family.

- Used to crush on Gascoigne, however introduced him to his family (that at the moment was only his adopted daughter, Viola) only after Gascoigne ditched the Healing Church. However, when he saw how desperate Viola got from almost the first sight, he knew what he needed to do, so he subtly helped her to win Gascoigne over and them to get together. He might have had some sadness within, but when the first daughter between Gascoigne and Viola was born, he cried such tears of joy that they presumably washed away any grudges he might have had left.

- Only accepts death in the honest battle, yet nothing can kill him, so his life is long overdue. Although, 'you' can defeat him, as his skill is severly weakened because of heartbreak upon seeing both Viola and Gascoigne dead.

- Took advantage of younger Madaras twin not knowing semantics to teach him say cuss words, cracked the hell up every time, got bonked by Valtr with the League staff upon being found out.

- Has strange heritage he is uncertain of, such as the suspiciously bolt-resistant costume and a music box that plays weird tune that feels familiar. He is as much descendant of land of Loran as Cainhurst nobles are descendants of Pthumerian royalties, but he knows even less about his mysterious heritage, so he ventures in Byrgenwerth when it was 'still good' to ask about melody music box he was given plays. He was not able to accomplish much though, so he opted out to just gifting this music box to Viola and Gascoigne as the wedding gift.

- When stressed throws knives at the pictures of his enemies that Viola drew, hung on the wall for convenience.

- Lets his actions speak for him instead of the words, however, when he DOES talk, usuall it is edgy james bond esque over the top quote.

- Although he does not talk much, he would accomplish more if he did; always, he has something important to say and is arguably better at delivering the point from the first try when Valtr struggles to explain it at the 10th time. He just knows what feelings and sentiments to cater to to be more convincing.

* Younger Madaras Twin

- He got very attached to humanity's more civilized ways in the contrast of his more feral brother, tried his best to learn to hold tools and speak some words from the start. Perhaps, his previous life no longer seemed as satisfying when he learned of something different.

- Has intense loyalty to Valtr. He killed his brother (and snake!!!) for the ideals Valtr introduced, without even having enough verbal/cognative development to comprehend complexities of 'crime and innosense' concept Valtr introduced. He still relays on Valtr as his moral compass, hence why he attacks the good hunter regardless of whether Valtr was killed or passed his leadership down. He does not have this deeply-rooted will for the Hunt normal hunters have that is so strong in can rise them up from the death - instead, he just sticks to Valtr (and Henryk as follows) as it 'feels right'. Is it son/father bond? Is it apprentice/mentor bond? Even dog/owner bond? It is hard to describe with a single term, but ether way, this guy traded what he felt more familiar and safe with for Valtr's ideology, and although Valtr values loaylty - what truly matters is WHAT you're loyal to, and this is why thus guy will always be a true confederate.

- Catches small animals that are unaffected by the beasthood to eat them raw as food - shared trait with my versions of Izzy and Amelia. Old habits die hard.

- Has very keen senses like his brother even if they appeared to be very different people upon more about the world being revealed, athough they are mostly tied to emotions. Without words, he is very likely to understand how you truly feel, if not try to provide comfort with cuddles and occasional cheek licks (like a dog...).

* Relevant Encounters

Older Twin: He has always been more reluctant to mingle with the humans than the older one. Did not enjoy using tools to eat, rejected getting a haircut, did not even try to learn to say some human words... He appreciates his upbringing more than some randos that 'found' him and his brother and declared the lifestyle he was perfectly fine with barbaric and animalistic. Never was a true member of the League per say - in fact, his death WAS what brought younger twin to be recognized as a confederate. However, he was very loving and strong in his own regard - he felt undying gratitude to his mother figure even though she appeared to be filled with Vermin, he could show attachment and loyalty not every 'civilized' human could.

Madaras Snake: Long time ago, a terrifying creature of superior kind settled within ancients, punishing those who searched for more knowledge than they were supposed to have with deadly gaze that petrified their bodies. However, it had snakes growing all over its head, and they disagreed with the main body, loving the humanity and wishing to 'live in dirt' with them. Creature had been slain yet lives in the void some dedicated researchers still look into, but some snakes were cut away from its body and settled within mankind, their origin explaining them having enough intelligence to raise human children. Indeed, their snake was a mother figure for them, but through eating beasts (who were in turn transformed people) she is filthy and depraved, and not everyone can accept that their parent figure was "nothing but filth all along".

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Gascoigne: He had the same 'nothing deserves to live' depression that eventually reduced Valtr's ability to see Vermin much earlier - although unrealized, as he was trying to live his best life and even found joy in caring for his family. However it was enough for Impurity rune to 'not work' on him although Henryk suggested to hunt with the League. He was just like ':/ Nothing changed', and League that knew what that means was like '...oh no' internally. However, he is still in contact with friends of Henryk, and at times Gascoigne and Valtr find such great common ground that Henryk feels left out in these moments x)

Viola: Whereas she does not oppose the concept of teaching her girls to fight back as soon as they physically can, but she thinks that 'dad's friends are weird' and would rather prefer doing it within family or some more level-headed hunters (are there any?..). She still has faith in the future where her girls could grow up and accomplish things (oh no...), so she does NOT vibe with the idea of Valtr inspiring them to grow up to be cops stuck in the hunter mindset even when there will be no need.

Dorothy (younger daughter): Very scared of Valtr's antics, he can give QUITE a maniacal murdery speech whereas other people be like '...dude she's like, 6 :/' . However, she hoped that younger Madaras twin could teach her animals language at some point.

Sally (younger daughter): She thinks Valtr is really cool and sometimes wraps herself in blue blanket and puts actual bucket on her head to act like him (and maybe to scare her little sister a bit). It is "VERY similar", according to Henryk.

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Gratia and Simon:

Yamamura was the last core member to join, and although skilled fighter in his own place, still needed to master plenty of skills and things about beasts. Valtr encouraged him to mingle with the Church hunters of Ludwig's kind under the guise of 'needing some training' as Church had some suspicious aura about it which did not sit well with Valtr. However, there was interior motive tied in as well - Valtr noticed Yamamura in his sensitive emotional spirit did not belong to League as much and it was ruining him, so he hoped he'd find more motivation and comfort with noble, optimistic ways of the Church hunters and keep friends from that kind of hunters even if something horrible comes up about the Church. And he was right - Yamamura laughed and smiled in his stay in Church Worskhop more than he ever did in the League, he made friends with two other 'weird weapon choice' hunters - as one picking 'cursed' blade socked from Cainhurst after the raid as it reminded him of home, and at the brink of his sanity he recites inspirational speech of the Church, not something relevant to the League. It was a matter of 'if you love them - let them be where they're happier' mindset in a way...

Yamamura however, ended up in (unfortunate) adventure to unveil the Church's secrets with his new friends - Simon as he shared same suspicions and Gratia because 'You are my friends, I will go where you go'! They were quite a team - Simon with his big information basis and ability to sneak everywhere and snatch everything, Gratia who is a huge physical force and Yamamura as 'the seer' hahah; If only all of them avoided being caught and lived longer...

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Djura: Valtr used to affiliate with Djura as his weapon was crafted at Powder Kegs, and sudden change of heart with 'beast are people just less fortunate ones' did not sit right with him. He is not a coward to jump into the battle he cannot win, either. However, the fact that beasts of Old Yharnam have no means to escape anyway is what truly allowed Valtr to leave him be. He even has mild agreement with Djura that if a person League is chasing ends up escaping in Old Yharnam - they leave them be; they cannot escape, plus if they were so 'impure' they are probably soon to become the beast anyway. My inspiration was finding a single red-eyed scourge beast in Old Yharnam - and you collect Vermin from red-eyed old hunters, so. Perhaps, Valtr sees Djura as a sort of 'jailer' so he gives Djura a pass even if he's not the type to spare ANY beast normally... oh boy.

Church Doctors/Proto-Choir: Valtr thinks they are crazy, as they saw the 'filth within man' to be the soil to plant weird things within them, usually coming in the forms of the flowers. There is a rune on Clocktower Dial that looks like Impurity but slightly altered, which I took as the doctors misinterpreting (misspelling?) a concept and finding a way to 'plant' phantasms to cleanse mankind - yes, it has to do with how Milkweed rune makes your head a broccoli, as well as with Fluorescent Flowers and glowing plant life at Rom's back. "Watering" the dirt allows "flowers to grow from it", and Valtr is NOT here for it. Ya'll trying to toss humanity away, ya'll aren't slick!

Geranea: A nice doctor/hunter that attempted at Research Hall experiments to cleanse the beasthood, but early realized they were subjecting themselves to some otherwordly mind humans better be sceptical towards and chickened out. However, she did lose one eye (as existance of Eye Pendant suggests), so she made a habit from wearing a helmet that resembled a bucket, but with just one eye hole in it. As someone familiar with Caryll's runes language she helped Valtr to make sense of the 'inhuman noises' he got within him after eating a beast, however their approaches altered. Geranea refused to ever harm a human that still never turned into a beast, as no human deserves to die in her opinion, so she was dead set on treating 'impurity' medically. Valiant effort, but when you 'treat' terrible, dirty, depraved humans for too long - it infects you, and in Bloodborne so many psychological concepts are also literal. In the end she realized that SOME humans did deserve to die - mostly her for what she became from raw exposure, so she turned herself in to Valtr asking to be killed by his own hand, thus indirectly encouraging him to confirm his oath. He still wears her bucket helm unaltered despite having both eyes, as a reminder to not repeat her mistakes and from sentimentality. She did not stop being his friend just because she chosen a different (and less safe) way to rid the world of evil, after all, she still put up a fight against filth, so.

Dog: Back in his constable times, Valtr struggled to find a dog he'd like to keep as a companion. However, after like, 30 tries he met THE one most fodmiddable and aggressive to call his friend. He knew it was THE one xD Unfortunately, before the beast that invanded district Valtr was in started killing people, it had this exact dog as its first victim.

Izzy: She was very interested in her pursuit for what humanity really IS, what is the border between man and beast, and her picking interest in a guy that seemed to get something figured about "the world of man" was only a matter of time. She talked him into revealing the secret to her, having pretended to crush Vermin like others for some time, but actually secretly stocking most of it to research. Eventually she concluded Vermin was natural for humans and Valtr was the one crazy for wanting to cleanse it. You can imagine that did not go well... Even her eventual beast form had insectoid features. She is the only technically-confederate that Valtr doesn't count as such, the 'we do not talk about THAT one' deal for the League.

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Eileen: She knows the hunt is a tragic necessity, not some sort of entrertainment to 'seek' for, thus she questions League's determination to seek the reasons to hunt 'not just tonight but every night', however, they do not seem to listen. However, she questions whether they feel pain or joy when someone they suspected to be Impure proves to be so, which puts her in complicated relationship with Valtr. I imagine he to be the one to be able to ground Valtr if he was ever to approach blood-drunkedness; meanwhile, she just does the 'STOP IT YOU ARE SCARING CHILDREN!' on him when he tries to start shit during the light of the day when people have a chance to have something good as the night of the hunt is far away.