Editing Eivor Varinsdottir

{{Era|Individuals}}
{{Spoilerhd|17 February 2021}}
{{Update|''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]], [[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga]]'', and ''Assassin's Creed: Rebellion – [[The Ravens' Wound]]''}}
{{Imageneed}}
{{Character Infobox
|name = Eivor Varinsdottir
|native = Norse-Eivor.png
|image = File:ACV Female Eivor render.png
|birth = 847<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]]'' – Bios</ref><br>[[Fornburg]], [[Norway]]
|death = [[Vinland]]<ref name="ACV">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – {{cite|6 Nov 2020. Memory/World Event unknown}}</ref>
|active = 9th century<br>[[Scandinavia]] and [[Great Britain]]
|species = [[Human]]
|database = 
|affiliates = [[Raven Clan]]<br>[[Hidden Ones]]
|actor = 
|voice = 
}}
'''Eivor Varinsdottir''' (born 847), also known as the '''Wolf-Kissed''', was a [[Vikings|Viking]] from [[Norway]] who raided in what would become [[England]] against King [[Alfred the Great]] during the late 9th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sea.mashable.com/entertainment/10349/ubisoft-confirms-assassins-creed-valhalla-after-an-8-hour-bosslogic-livestream|title=Ubisoft confirms 'Assassin's Creed Valhalla' after an 8 hour BossLogic livestream|first=Alex|last=Nedd|publisher=Mashable SE Asia|date=29-04-2020|accessdate=30 April 2020}}</ref> She was also in possession of a [[Hidden Blade]], using it in combat against the [[Anglo-Saxons]].<ref>{{Youtube|rKjUAWlbTJk|Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Cinematic World Premiere Trailer|UC0KU8F9jJqSLS11LRXvFWmg|Ubisoft}}</ref> She is also the reincarnation of the [[Isu]] [[Odin]], who in mythology came to be known as chief of the [[Norsemen|Norse]] Gods.

==Biography==
=== Early life and Raid of Heillboer ===
Eivor was born in 847 to [[Rosta]] and [[Varin]] in [[Fornburg]], a small settlement in [[Rogaland|Rygjafylke]]. In 856, at nine years of age, Eivor attended a feast organized by King [[Styrbjorn]] in [[Heillboer]], where she and her family and clan were to pledge allegiance to the king. Eivor presented King Styrbjorn a gift at the behest of her parents but before the celebration was finished the settlement was [[raid]]ed by [[Kjotve the Cruel]]. Eivor watched as her father Varin put down [[Varin's Axe|his axe]] at Kjotve's insistence that his family and clan would be spared if he gave his life willingly, leading to both his and Rosta's deaths. <ref name ="Prologue">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Prologue (Valhalla)|Prologue]]</ref>

Kjotve immediately broke said promise and ordered his men to kill the rest of the village. Eivor, however, was rescued by Styrbjorn's son [[Sigurd Styrbjornson|Sigurd]], who managed to clear the immediate village area on [[horse]]back before being separated from Eivor after a tumble caused by one of Kjotve's raiders. Finding herself in the middle of a frozen lake after a hard fall down a cliff, Eivor was accosted by a [[wolf]] that saw her as prey. As Eivor crawled towards a fallen axe in the middle of the lake, the wolf attacked her, eventually biting down hard on her neck, causing her to hallucinate a partial memory of Odin, and cry out in pain, calling two [[raven]]s that distracted the wolf while she reached for the axe and struck it dead.<ref name ="Prologue"/> Following these events, Eivor came to be known as the "Wolf-Kissed" and was subsequently adopted by Styrbjorn, who raised her as his own.<ref name="DarbyInterview">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[Family Matters]]</ref>

=== Raid in Rygjafylke ===
Around 870, Eivor alongside her clansmen [[Dag]] and [[Tora Auzoux|Tora]] witnessed Kjotve's raid on a settlement in Rygjafylke, on the edge of Styrbjorn's territory. Seeing this as an opportunity to endear her adopted clan to the village, Eivor rushed in to stave off the raiders, disregarding Dag's suggestions of a more measured approach. While fighting, Eivor confronted a raider named [[Roscoe]], who taunted her with the death of her father, claiming he died like a coward. In response Eivor cut his feet from under him and refused to kill him, depriving him of a warrior's death and entry to [[Valhalla (afterlife)|Valhalla]] at her hands. Leaving him bleeding and cursing, Eivor went to help Dag, who had been cornered by the raider [[Taras]].<ref name="Song of Glory 1">''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]'' – [[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory 1|Issue #1]]</ref>

Upon the end of the skirmish, Eivor went to the head of the village and claimed the land in the name of her adopted father. Incensed, and believing Styrbjorn no better than Kjotve, the elder attempted to attack Eivor but was cut down before even managing a swing of his [[sword]]. Claiming the old man died a warrior, Eivor demanded tribute from the remaining villagers while her and her clansmen helped gather the dead. Returning to where she left the bleeding raider, Eivor found only blood. While searching the area Eivor heard noise coming from within a building and proceeded to investigate it only to be ambushed by a pale woman in robes covered in [[tattoo]]s and wearing a collar. Eivor easily fended off the woman whom she identified as a [[Slavery|slave]] and [[skald|''skald'']]. The woman revealed herself to be [[Gull]], one of Kjotve's, and claimed she was also a slave ''"to {{Wiki|Sága and Sökkvabekkr|Sökkvabekkr, Sága}} and [[Idun]]'s [[Apples of Eden|bounty]]"'', before calling Eivor the ''"Slayer of the Wolf"'', begging to accompany her. Believing the woman mad but perceptive, Eivor decided to take her back to [[Stavanger]], where her adopted father held court, to present as a gift to Styrbjorn.<ref name="Song of Glory 1" />

Upon their return, the praise and adulation Eivor expected from her adoptive father was nowhere to be seen, as he berated her for incurring Kjotve's wrath by taking Gull back to Stavanger.<ref name="Song of Glory 1" />

=== Ambush at Feiknstafir ===
Some time later, while training with Tora, Eivor vented her frustrations at her humiliation at the hand of adoptive father, as he rejected her tribute of Gull as a thrall. Upon hearing Eivor's desires to prove herself, Gull tempted her, claiming she could lead Eivor to bounties and treasures, the same treasures she had granted Kjotve. Claiming that since, unlike Kjotve, Eivor did not torture Gull, she would lead Eivor to the "[[Æsir]]'s hoard". While Tora expressed her doubts, Eivor heeded Gull's words, to Tora's dismay. Eivor then asked Tora to keep her location a secret, while she followed Gull into the mountain tops of [[Feiknstafir mountains]].<ref name="Song of Glory 2">''Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory'' – [[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory 2|Issue #1]]</ref>

Days later, upon the mountain ledges of Feiknstafir, Eivor and Gull climbed under Gull's directions. In a particularly treacherous ledge, Gull nearly fell to her death but was saved at the last second by Eivor. Impressed by Eivor, Gull recognised Eivor as a friend, and Eivor jokingly remarked that if the treasure trove were to be real, she'd marry Gull in celebration. Shortly thereafter they arrived at the ruined [[Temple of Heimdall]]. Once inside Eivor recognised the place as having been picked off and looted long ago, and soon found Kjotve's men inside, led by [[Bjarke Broadside]] of the [[Wulfing]] clan. Before Eivor could do anything, Gull screamed for them, revealing her intention of luring Eivor to this place as a present to Kjotve. Eivor managed to fend off most of the group's attacks, but was felled by Gull, who stabbed her with a [[knife]] in the back. On the ground bleeding, Eivor claimed to Bjarke that she would not be a prize and that, by the end of the day, any riches of Heimdall would be hers, on Styrbjorn's name. Laughing, Bjarke informed her that at that very moment, Styrbjorn was already dead as a result of a raid in Stavanger.<ref name="Song of Glory 2" />

=== Hunt for Kjotve ===
In 872, Eivor and her crew pursued Kjotve to the west of Rygjafylke. While Eivor herself was captured, her crew members were scattered and hunted by Kjotve's men in [[Avaldsnes]]. Before leaving Eivor to be sold into slavery, Kjotve taunted her and displayed the very axe that he had taken from, and used to kill, her father in 856. Eivor, however, was able to free herself and locate Dag, who had managed to free himself as well. While Dag headed off to the beach to reclaim their [[longship]], Eivor headed towards Avaldsnes, where Kjotve departed from. Within the longhouse, Eivor defeated and killed [[Rikiwulf]], Kjotve's follower, and freed the crew members. The Vikings then eliminated the remaining of Kjotve's men while en route to their longship. Having reclaimed their ship, Eivor and her crew set sail and returned home to [[Fornburg]]. Upon returning, Eivor was greeted by Sigurd's wife [[Randvi]], who informed her of Styrbjorn's displeasure for her raid against Kjotve. Eivor also learned that Sigurd would be returning soon after a two-year journey across [[Europe]] and [[Africa]].<ref name="Honor Bound">''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'' – [[Honor Bound]]</ref>

At some point, Sigurd returned from a long voyage to [[Constantinople]] and introduced Eivor to the [[Hidden Ones|Hidden One]] [[Basim Ibn Ishaq]] before gifting Eivor a Hidden Blade he had acquired during his travels.<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[The Prodigal Prince]]</ref> Keen that the traditionally stealth-based weaponry should be visible to her enemies, Eivor wore the blade over her forearm.<ref name="Commentary" />

===Settlement in England===
In 873,<ref name="Commentary">{{Youtube|L_nb_YECQoQ|Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Developer Commentary Trailer|UCBMvc6jvuTxH6TNo9ThpYjg|Ubisoft}}</ref> Eivor and her [[Raven Clan|clan]] of Norsemen, under the direction of Sigurd, fled from Norway in the face of its [[Unification of Norway|unification]] at the hands of [[Harald Fairhair]]. They arrived in the southern part of [[Great Britain]], establishing a new settlement<ref name="Ubisoft">{{Cite web| url=https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/valhalla/news-updates/zp9xRC5VBA3SIgAAAxPPi/assassins-creed-valhalla-become-a-legendary-viking-raider |title= Assassin's Creed Valhalla – Become a Legendary Viking Raider | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501174630/https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/assassins-creed/valhalla/news-updates/zp9xRC5VBA3SIgAAAxPPi/assassins-creed-valhalla-become-a-legendary-viking-raider| archivedate=1 May 2020| publisher=''[[Ubisoft]]''| accessdate= 30 April 2020}}</ref> of [[Ravensthorpe]]. 

At some point Eivor traveled to [[Vinland]], where she would also be buried.<ref name="ACV" />

==Legacy==
In 2020, Eivor's memories were relived by [[Layla Hassan]] through her [[Animus|Animus HR-8.5]].<ref name="ModernDay">''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – [[21st century conversations|Modern day]]</ref> Due to the high level of Isu DNA belonging to [[Odin]] embedded in Eivor's,<ref>''Assassin's Creed: Valhalla'' – {{Cite|11 Nov 2020. Memory unknown}}</ref> the Animus would, at times, represent Eivor as a male based on Odin's real appearance.<ref name="ModernDay" />

==Personality and characteristics==
Eivor was a devoted and confident Viking clan leader, who was not afraid of dying to protect her people. Despite her deep love for her clan, she was a lone wolf. Indeed, driven by her dream to prove her courage, she preferred to take on all tasks and risks herself. On top of being a fierce warrior, Eivor was cunning and was a great strategist, as could be proven from her alliances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://store.ubi.com/eu/assassin-s-creed-valhalla-eivor-the-wolf-kissed/5e8b45295cdf9a12c868c876.html|title=Assassin's Creed Valhalla - Eivor The Wolf-kissed|publisher=Ubisoft Store|accessdate=5 May 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618025556/https://store.ubi.com/eu/assassin-s-creed-valhalla-eivor-the-wolf-kissed/5e8b45295cdf9a12c868c876.html| archivedate=18-06-2020}}</ref>

Eivor also had a poetic side, speaking with eloquence and often describing events in a manner that resembles skaldic verse.

== Behind the scenes==
Eivor is the main protagonist of ''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]'', a main installment of the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]] First revealed in the reveal stream as male, according to Ubisoft, their gender is customizable,<ref name="Ubisoft" /> a feature carried over from ''Valhalla''{{'}}s immediate predecessor, ''[[Assassin's Creed: Odyssey]]'' (2018). However, lead writer [[Darby McDevitt]] affirmed that both gender options were considered canon in a way that made logical sense.<ref>{{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/1255988473389109251|Darby McDevitt|quote=Both choices are canon, but we're not going to spoil how we managed that trick until you play the game.|image=File:DMcDevitt - ACV gender choice.png}}</ref> Conversely, the comic book ''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]''<ref name="song of glory press">{{cite web|url=https://www.darkhorse.com/Blog/3182/dark-horse-publish-comics-prequel-ubisofts-assassi|title=Dark Horse to Publish Comics Prequel to Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla|publisher=Dark Horse|date=13-7-2020|accessdate=13 July 2020}}</ref> and prequel novel ''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga]]''<ref>{{Twitter|writerMattKirby|status/1293923496200790016|[[Matthew J. Kirby]]|quote=I've been asked many times whether Eivor will be male or female in my novel. Truth is, I was given the choice, same as a player will be in the game, when @DarbyMcDevitt told me in a meeting both are canon. My Eivor is a woman. #AssassinsCreedValhalla #AssassinsCreed #ACSisterhood. PS – I made that decision back in January.|image=File:ACV - Matthew Kirby novel Eivor.png}}</ref> featured Eivor as female exclusively. Eivor's appearance, including clothing, hair, and [[Tattoo|war paint]], is also customizable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2020/04/30/25-things-weve-learned-about-assassins-creed-valhalla|author=Juba, Joe|title=25 Things We've Learned About Assassin's Creed Valhalla|publisher=''{{Wiki|Game Informer}}''|date=30-04-2020|accessdate=11 May 2020}}</ref> Eivor's male voice is provided by [[Magnus Bruun]],<ref>{{Twitter|Magnus__Bruun|status/1255879611516366853|[[Magnus Bruun]]|quote=I'm very excited to announce that I play Male Eivor in Assassin's Creed Valhalla! 🔥🔥🔥 I just can't seem to get enough of these sexy bloody vikings! ⚔️ #assasinscreedvalhalla|image=File:Magnus Bruun - ACV Eivor voice announced.jpg}}</ref> while the female voice actor is [[Cecilie Stenspil]].<ref>{{Twitter|DarbyMcDevitt|status/1255980404307345408|[[Darby McDevitt]]|quote=And for our Female Eivor, introducing Cecilie Stenspil ... not on Twitter but everywhere on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/p/B_nTCgBAgIK/|image=File:Darby McDevitt - ACV female Eivor.png}}</ref>

===Name etymology===
The name Eivor, Eivør or Øyvor is a female given name derived from either proto-Norse ''auja'', believed to mean 'good luck', or ''*warjaʀ'', meaning 'defender'. It may also come from the combination of Old Norse words ''ey-'' or ''øy-'' (meaning 'island') and ''-varr'' (meaning 'careful').<ref>{{WP|Eivor}}</ref>

When he tweeted how the name is meant to be pronounced, ''Valhalla''{{'}}s then-Creative Director [[Ashraf Ismail]] transcribed it phonetically as "Ay-vor".<ref>{{Twitter|AshrafAIsmail|status/1255897633832534019|Ashraf Ismail|quote=Its spelled Eivor and pronounced Ay-vor|image=File:ACV - Ashraf Ismail Twitter - Eivor.png}}</ref>

Varinsdottir means "Varin's daughter" (Varins + dottir). In Scandinavia, surnames were still used together with ''primary patronyms''—the father's name and an affix denoting relationship—which were used by all social classes. This meant that most families until modern times did not have surnames. Scandinavian patronyms were generally derived from the father's given name with the addition of a suffix meaning 'son' or 'daughter'. Patronyms (and matronyms) are still in use in some countries, most notably Iceland.

==Appearances==

*''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of Glory]]'' {{1st}}
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Valhalla]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga]]''
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Rebellion]] – [[The Ravens' Wound]]''

==References==
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[[Category:847 births]]
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[[Category:Vikings]]
[[Category:Raven Clan members]]
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