Valkan Zuriel, nowadays called Ser Valkan the Golden or Saint Valki, is one of the greatest heroes of Abmarah's mythologies. A blue angel, he was sworn to the goddess Aethys' service as the Angel of Souls. The goddess of souls eventually made her angel the leader of an order of soulbearers, now known as the Golden Souls. Most historians now believe Valkan to be the first "true" knight, and the first example of a paladin in history. Many of the typical traits associated to knighthood nowadays are said to have been from Valkan's example.
As an angel, he was a born a twin alongside his brother Markal Zuriel, the Angel of the Pit. The two famously did not get along, but the rivalry was mostly one-sided from Markal.
In the modern day, the festival known as the Valkani Games is named after Valkan. Held on the 25th of Ekalos in one of four locations in the world, once every four years this gladiatorial and multi-sport tournament comes to the cities of Kasaaq, Timeron, Sergorod, and Sombus. It sees the best of the best fight for top spots in their fields, and is increasingly becoming a point of honor for nations to send their best fighters and athletes to gain the top spots.
As the leader of the Golden Souls, Valkan was the closest person to the goddess Aethys, and her chosen champion. When Varkanus challenged her domains, he won the Tournament of Champions in 1E750 in Aethys' name. Although, much like Aethys herself, her order's golden morality was more gray than truly good. While Valkan embodies the defining characteristics of chivalry, he and his golden souls have commanded the destruction of all of Aethys' enemies. The genocide of Varkanists in 1E774 is said to have been commanded directly by Valkan's orders, although most mythologies skip over all of his negative actions by attributing them to Aethys' commands. His golden greatsword, known as the 'Soulgilded Blade', was the first weapon that could destroy the souls of those it killed. He also worked a lot with a fellow Golden-Soul named Zanisa.
Some say that Valkan was even closer to Aethys than just being her chosen champion. Many stories sourced from the Aethian Dominion talk of a 'soul-bond'. It's said that Aethys and her angel performed incredibly personal sacred rites, and gave part of their souls to each other in a method not dissimilar to a phylactery.
Valkan's brother, Markal Zuriel, was always in Valkan's shadow. He was assigned to the god of the afterlives, Moros, and spent his days in relative obscurity. Even as a gladiatorial fighter, he never rose to the heights of fame that Valkan did. His god Moros named Markal as his champion in the Tournament of 1E750, where he lost to his brother before the finals. Markal would finally beat his brother in 1-on-1 combat in a small tourney held in Icarius in the year 1E843. Once Valkan was defeated by his brother, he congratulated him for his good performance. However, in this moment of weakness, he was attacked by the gods Varkanus and Magmus who had long hated Valkan. Varkanus used a spell to hold the weakened angel in place, while Magmus took the Soulgilded Blade and used it to kill Valkan himself, destroying his soul using his own sword.
It's said that Aethys wept for years, but took solace in the fact that a part of Valkan's soul lived on within her. While many of the Golden Souls still might live, Aethys has never named a new champion since. The murder of Valkan at the tourney in Icarius is said to be a contributor to the anti-divinity sentiment that was growing amidst the Omniborn, which would later lead into the Omniborn Crisis a few decades later. Markal never forgave himself for Valkan's death, even though it was ultimately the fault of Varkanus and Magmus. Especially after losing his god Moros in the Omniborn crisis, the crestfallen angel would abandon his duties until he was given a new one- to protect the dagger Liikal from the Lightwatchers for eternity.
Valkan is known as "Ser Valkan the Golden" in eastern Aurial, and every child grows up learning of him as the ideal and first knight. In western Aurial, especially in the Lunar Collective, he is venerated as Saint Valki of Aethys. In northern Eqos, he is known as Valka, and is said to be a champion or aspect of Aethys.
However, in southern Eqos and much of Eteru, Valkan is a much more negative figure in mythology. The Varkunasi of Eqos consider 'Walkaan' to be a terrible commander of evil, who commanded a genocide of their peoples in the ancient era. This is in line with their faith generally considering Aethys to be a negative goddess as well. Many Eterians, especially North Eterians, believe 'Valkaz' to be a soul-stealing spirit who hunts cowardly warriors.