That is correct.
1. He intro is being drafted, and then his army just gets slaughtered off screen.
2. Of course, as he dies, the Valk picks him up.
3. Of course, Valkyrie Profile 1 is basically just a glorified training batallion.
4. Not being able to swim is -1 Hero points, but the ability to swim is +5 per level. Also, Valhalla and the divine realms seem to just be your typical floating islands. Of course, clue #5 would have riffed on the fact that, three games in, we still haven't actually seen the place.
Anyways, your go Alanna