Carrying the Torch

Carrying the Torch was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2020 through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.

Description

Eivor met with Tove to see how she handled Svend's death.

Dialogue

Option 1Option 2Option 3

Eivor continued talking with Randvi in the longhouse after debriefing on a new alliance.

• Randvi: One more thing... I do not know if you heard, but Svend passed away a short time ago. The poor man slipped away in his bed.
• Eivor: I had not heard, no. And how is Tove? She must be gutted.
• Randvi: It has been rough on her. She spends quite a lot of time at his burial mound. Speak with her if you have the time.

While walking through Ravensthorpe, Eivor saw Gunnar looking despondent.

• Eivor: You seem sad, Gunnar.
• Gunnar: I am... Svend was a good friend to me, over the years.
• Eivor: I am sorry I was not here to send him on his way. He was loved.
• Gunnar: That he was. But suppose we honor him best by keeping the clan going. Anyhow, you probably need something, eh?

(Leave – I have to go.)

• Eivor: I'm off. Be well, friend.

While walking through Ravensthorpe, Eivor saw Gunnar looking despondent.

• Eivor: You seem sad, Gunnar.
• Gunnar: I am... Svend was a good friend to me, over the years.
• Eivor: "Was?" What do you mean?
• Gunnar: O, no, Eivor... You've been away. Sorry to say that Svend passed away not two nights ago. In his sleep.
• Eivor: No... How is Tove?
• Gunnar: Taking it hard. Very hard. You ought to go have a word with her. As far as I know, she's barely left his grave. Anyhow, you probably need something, eh?

(Leave – I have to go.)

• Eivor: I'm off. Be well, friend.

Later, Randvi also shared the news.

• Randvi: One more thing... I do not know if you heard, but Svend passed away a short time ago. The poor man slipped away in his bed.
• Eivor: Yes... I had heard, the poor man. I wish I could have spent more time with him before the end.
• Randvi: I think we all wish that. Tove most of all.

Eivor passed through Ravensthorpe without speaking to anyone and came across Tove at the graveyard.

• Eivor: Tove? What is she doing here?

Tove standing before Svend's grave

Eivor approached Tove.

• Tove: You are the only father I've ever had... I don't know how to draw without your hand to guide me. There was so much we were meant to do.

Eivor walked up and quietly spoke to Tove.

• Eivor: Tove...
• Tove: Eivor, it's Svend, he ... he passed, while I was away.
• Eivor: Tove, I'm sorry I wasn't there.
• Tove: No one was. We had planned to brand Tekla's barrel that morning, and we talked about what we might have for supper. When I went to collect him he was ... in his bed. Sleeping, I thought. But he was already gone.
• Eivor: I'm sure he went in peace.
• Tove: But he went with plans! Things he wanted to do. Things he meant to do. His death was so ... empty. Not like in our stories.

Tove sat down and Eivor crouched to join her.

What stories?Life is not a story.(Listen silently)

• Eivor: What stories do you mean?
• Tove: When we tell stories, the old and wise, they have this calm about them. They know when their end has come, and they are ready. Svend wasn't ready. And I wasn't ready either. He was supposed to teach me things. I'm still learning. Everyone looks at me like I will simply carry on his work. As if nothing happened. Because they don't know... They don't know I'm not ready.
• Eivor: Life may ask more of us than we are prepared to give, but all we can do is our best. I was not prepared to lose my parents. But in a flash, they were taken from me. I pressed on, determined to live.
• Tove: That must have been ... punishing. But you are so strong, so determined.
• Eivor: Someone else might have done better than me. Or worse. But this was the fate woven for me. So I live it.

Eivor helped Tove up.

• Eivor: I know Svend believed in you, in your craft. So do you believe in him? Do you trust him?
• Tove: He was the most skilled artist I have ever known.
• Eivor: And he chose you. You may step up or step down, whatever you decide. But know that he had faith in you.

• Eivor: Life is not a story, Tove. It is a fractured shout, unguided by verse. Most of us meet untidy ends. If we knew the shape of our stories before we lived them, we would hardly attempt to live them.
• Tove: I would have given anything for another day with Svend, even a wordless one. He was not ready to go.

Eivor nodded her head.

Eivor nodded her head.

• Tove: When we tell stories, the old and wise, they have this calm about them. They know when their end has come, and they are ready. Svend wasn't ready. And I wasn't ready either. He was supposed to teach me things. I'm still learning. Everyone looks at me like I will simply carry on his work. As if nothing happened. Because they don't know... They don't know I'm not ready.
• Eivor: Life may ask more of us than we are prepared to give, but all we can do is our best. I was not prepared to lose my parents. But in a flash, they were taken from me. I pressed on, determined to live.
• Tove: That must have been ... punishing. But you are so strong, so determined.
• Eivor: Someone else might have done better than me. Or worse. But this was the fate woven for me. So I live it.

Eivor helped Tove up.

• Eivor: I know Svend believed in you, in your craft. So do you believe in him? Do you trust him?
• Tove: He was the most skilled artist I have ever known.
• Eivor: And he chose you. You may step up or step down, whatever you decide. But know that he had faith in you.

• Tove: Thank you, Eivor. I need to get home.
• Eivor: Be strong, Tove. And know that you are valued.

As Tove left, Eivor spoke to Svend.

• Eivor: I am sorry I was not here to see you off, old friend.
  When I close my eyes, Svend, I see your designs on the arms of gods.
  You have taught Tove well. Through her, you live on.

Eivor spoke to Tove again in the tattoo shop later.

• Tove: Eivor. Good to see you.
• Eivor: How are you, Tove? Holding up?
• Tove: Much better now, I think. I miss Svend every day, and yet he is here with me. His hugr (mind) infused in every design. Believing that, it helps.
• Eivor: Glad to hear it. And happy to offer myself as your first canvas.
• Tove: Good. Let's get started.

Before leaving, Eivor found a note on a table in the shop.

Tove's Tribute to Svend

Kind Svend,

I will forever be thankful for your guidance and your care, and hear your voice in my ears as I mark the skins of those you so loved. Your spirit lives on in our work forever. See you in the next realm.

Outcome

Eivor comforted Tove, and Tove took up Svend's former role as the Raven Clan's tattooist.

Behind the scenes

Regardless of when the East Anglia arc is completed, its completion alone is the trigger point for Svend's passing. With careful maneuvering, it is possible to complete—in addition to the required completions of Ledecestrescire and Grantebridgescire to unlock East Anglia—Oxenefordscire, Sciropescire, Lunden, Jorvik, Wincestre, and even Snotinghamscire before ever setting foot in East Anglia.

Many shop operators will explain their roles when asked "What do you do here?", then add a remark along the lines of "Without a proper shop, I can't do anything." if their corresponding workspace has not yet been renovated from their original simple structure. Svend has such a line until the tattoo shop is built, but Tove has no such line when she takes over the clan's tattooing duties. This indicates that, narratively-speaking, the developers assumed the tattoo shop would be built for Svend before he passed away.

Upon completing any other memory, this one may disappear from the Completed quests section of the game's journal entirely, for no reason in particular.

Gallery

• 
  Eivor comforting Tove