Honor Has Two Edges

Honor Has Two Edges was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.

Description

Eivor traveled to Faravid's camp in Alortun under Halfdan's request.

Dialogue

Arriving at Faravid's location, Eivor caught sight of the campsite.

• Eivor: That must be Faravid's camp ahead.

Eivor finally found Faravid at Alortun.

• Eivor: Cold and dirty, must be the place.

As she entered the camp, Eivor overheard an argument between a soldier and Faravid.

• Ulf: Throw yourself in Ginnungagap, you bastard. I am not a dog.
• Faravid: Yet here you are, barking again.
• Ulf: Because we beg for scraps at Halfdan's table. Like dogs.

Eivor visiting Faravid at his camp, overharing his argument with Ulf

Eivor entered the conversation.

• Eivor: Faravid.
• Faravid: Ah, Eivor my friend. Is Donecaestre hospitality to your liking?
• Ulf: I'd be careful calling this one friend, Faravid. The crow who comes flapping when Halfdan gives a whistle.
• Eivor: Halfdan and I spoke, and what of it?
• Ulf: This is our fight, our chance for glory. Fly on home, crow.

Eivor smirked and then threatened Ulf.

• Eivor: Lend me a knife, Faravid. This whelp needs gelding.

Faravid shook his head and responded.

• Faravid: Ulf, piss off.

Ulf stood up, spat on the ground, and left.

• Faravid: Small men always talk big. So, was Halfdan generous? Did you get what you came for?
• Eivor: If I help with your fight against the Picts, Halfdan will consider me a friend. So point the way, Faravid.
• Faravid: The Picts raided that monastery, plundered its silver and gold.
• Eivor: The Saxons build more churches than barns and fill them with herds of monks.
• Faravid: Yes, monasteries make tempting targets, and not just for us. We tracked Pictish raiders heading north.

Elmet Monastery not raidedRaided Elmet already

• Eivor: Gold is fine, but victory is our treasure. What's your plan?
• Faravid: To open their bellies with my knife.

• Eivor: I know the place. My raiders sacked Elmet not long ago.
• Faravid: Ah. And then they picked the bones left over from your feast.

• Eivor: I'm ready to fight. Let's put them in the ground.
• Faravid: Halfdan didn't send you north to fight a skirmish we could win with half our numbers. Why are you here, Eivor?

He doubts youI am here to fightYou doubt me?

• Eivor: In truth, he doubts your loyalty. Fears your heart is not in this fight.
• Faravid: Doubts my loyalty? I have fought for Halfdan, killed for Halfdan, bled for Halfdan, and he doubts me?
• Eivor: Nothing I have seen gives me reason to doubt you. But Halfdan, he seems a cautious man.
• Faravid: Cautious? He was always leery, but now fear's gnawed him down to the bone.

• Eivor: To help you battle the Picts, nothing more. He knows my reputation and he knows what advantage I bring.

Faravid reluctantly nodded.

• Eivor: You question my word?
• Faravid: You never gave it.
• Eivor: Then I give you my word, Faravid. I'm here to fight Picts.

• Eivor: You question my word?
• Faravid: You never gave it.
• Eivor: Then I give you my word, Faravid. I'm here to fight Picts.

Faravid readying his men for battle

Faravid nodded, then rallied his men.

• Faravid: To arms, dogs. Let's roast some Picts!

The men cheered and Faravid led their charge from the camp.

• Faravid: Watch for ambushes.
• Ulf: Shoulda stayed in Donecaestre. More mead, fewer Picts.
• Faravid: There's no glory in guard duty. Move out!

They reached the edge of the woods where the hills rose sharply, ideal for an ambush party.

• Faravid: The Picts are just ahead. Lead the way and we'll watch your back.

Eivor and Faravid continuing up to the camp

Eivor climbed the slopes and sneaked through the fog, taking out the first Pict warriors. Faravid shushed his warriors while she worked.

• Faravid: Keep it down or we're all dead.

Eivor used her torch to signal them through the fog when it was safe to advance.

• Faravid: These Picts are a sneaky lot, masters of guile and ambush. Have a care.

When spotted by a larger group, Faravid alerted his group.

• Faravid: They spotted us! Run forward, faster, faster!

After defeating the Picts, Eivor and Faravid, with his men, ran towards their hideout, the entrance to an icy cave.

• Faravid: Thank Thor, we made it. That was good war-work, all.

Eivor spoke with Faravid.

• Eivor: This cave is a passage. The Picts are using it to cross the mountain.
• Faravid: A gift for us. You track them through the cave, we'll circle around back and snare any who try to slip away.

Eivor at the cave entrance

Eivor entered the cave and guided herself through its twists and turns. Eivor soon found a note from a witch.

Witch's Curse

A hex upon thee, ye who spit at me!

May your bones turn to stone

May your hunger never cease

May your heart turn to bone

May your blood run to the sea

Till the horns sound upon the Last Day

So I curse thee and so mote it be.

Eivor later came across two unsuspecting Pict warriors talking with each other.

• Pict Warrior 1: I'm done in with raiding good and godly places. I should be home filling my belly, not mucking about on the wrong side of the wall.
• Pict Warrior 2: Ah, boil your head. We'll gang forth with our friends soon, and then we'll all eat like kings. Heed my words. Wrong side of the wall.

Eivor dealt with these warriors and recovered a note from one of them.

Pictish Orders

Take what you can carry from Stenwege. We make war this winter, but we will not be alone in our fight against the Danes.

• Eivor: The Picts march this winter with help from an unknown quarter. Hmm.

Eivor found her way out of the cave and reunited with Faravid.

Eivor meeting Faravid at the alternate entrance

• Eivor: The Picts spoke of Stenwege. Their camp.
• Faravid: That's to the north. Their chief may be there.

A pict warrior noticed the Danes.

• Pict Warrior 3: Danes! Run!
• Faravid: Stop them! Before they reach Stenwege!

Faravid started to run after the Pict scouts.

• Faravid: They spotted us! Run forward, faster, faster!
• Pict Warrior 3: Run! The heathens have found us!
• Ulf: Ulf! Ulf! Glory for Ulf!

Eivor and the Vikings chasing down the scouts

Eivor chased down the scouts.

• Pict Warrior 4: Go home! Go home!
• Eivor: They'll tell the chief!
• Pict Warrior 4: To Stenwege! The chief must know!
• Eivor: Don't let them get inside!
  Stop them!

Killed all the scoutsOne or more escaped

Eivor killed the scouts before they could report back. One scout outran her fastest pace for much of the chase, but he eventually slowed from fatigue, allowing Eivor to catch up to and kill him.

• Faravid: That's the last one!

Faravid angrily sighed. Their survival placed Stenwege on high alert.

• Faravid: They got away.

Faravid ran forward with Eivor following him.

• Faravid: Pict raiders, south of the wall. Don't like it.

He planned a regroup of the men closer to the camp.

• Faravid: Let us regroup at Stenwege. We need to plan our next move.

Faravid stopped in the grass near Stenwege Camp.

• Faravid: The Picts don't raid often during winter.

Eivor spoke to Faravid.

Killed all the scoutsOne or more escaped

• Eivor: Their scouts are dead. The Picts won't know we're here.

• Eivor: The Picts will be on guard. Have a care.

Eivor and Faravid discussing the Picts and their camp

• Faravid: The hornets have led us to their nest. More than a chief up there.
• Eivor: Looks like the forward camp of an army. But would the Picts dare attack in winter?
• Faravid: Halfdan thinks not. And the Picts may use that to their advantage.
• Eivor: Let's find out.

Eivor set out to enter the camp.

• Eivor: Why would the Picts make war in winter? They must have a reason, something to gain.

As she approached the camp, she overheard one of the guards.

Killed all the scoutsOne or more escaped

• Pict Warrior 5: Nothing I can see out there.

• Pict Warrior 5: Give me a swing at those Danes!

Eivor found her way inside the camp and began dispatching the Picts.

• Eivor: Now, to hunt down the Pict chief.

Faravid's men followed after her and engaged the Picts in open combat. From one of the stronger Pict warriors, Eivor obtained a key and unlocked the door into the inner compound. After obtaining a key to the broch, she unlocked the door and located Galan, Son of Mordelag, inside standing over a captive Norse.

• Eivor: There's the chief. Now to strike him down.

Eivor jumped into the pit, landing a powerful stealth attack on the chief.

If Eivor did not incapacite the chief, she had to fight him into submission. He started to taunt Eivor.

• Pict Warrior 6: Have you come to join your fallen? Hah!

Eivor inflicted grievous wounds on Galan. He slammed his atgeir into the floor and broke it, sending them both deeper down the broch.

• Pict Warrior 6: You Norse are simple. Simple fight. Simple death.

Eivor brought Galan to his knees and restrained him.

Eivor bringing Galan to Faravid

Outside, Faravid watched his men execute the remaining Picts. Eivor brought Galan to Faravid for questioning.

• Eivor: You're on the wrong side of the giants' wall, friend. Have you come to make war in wint—

Before Galan could answer, Faravid plunged his knife into his throat and killed him.

• Eivor: Fool! He might have talked!
• Faravid: We got what we came for.

Faravid tossed scrolls to Eivor, then left to talk with Ulf.

• Ulf: Is that more Frankish wine? I'll take a few casks, and that silver there.
• Faravid: Ulf... that's Halfdan's share.

Eivor walked into the conversation.

• Faravid: Eivor, just in time to divide the spoils. Take some mead, if you like.
• Eivor: The Picts are at Magnis. This map spells it out.
• Ulf: Ah, the Wolf-Kissed is a reader. That's dark seidr (magic) I'll never mess with.
• Faravid: Worry about the Picts later. Now's the time for treasure and spoils. You earned it.

Ulf refusing to share the wine with Halfdan

• Ulf: It should be ours, we did the work! All of it. And nothing for Halfdan, warming his cock in a Saxon castle.

Faravid shook his head at Ulf's insubordination.

• Eivor: Open that cask and we'll have a taste. We'll celebrate, together.
• Faravid: Sorry, friend, but that's Halfdan's take. You understand.

FineI insist we drinkWhat's wrong?

• Eivor: Fair enough. Halfdan gets what he is owed.
• Ulf: Fuck Halfdan. If the Raven wants wine, the Raven gets wine. Open it, Faravid.

Eivor leaned in menacingly.

• Eivor: Don't make me say it twice. Crack the wine and drink with me.

• Eivor: He won't notice one missing cask, so unless there's something wrong with it, let's have a taste.
• Faravid: There's nothing wrong with it, friend.

Eivor stared at Faravid.

Faravid relented.

• Faravid: If you insist, we'll all drink some stinking wine.

Faravid sharing the wine with Eivor

Faravid opened a cask and filled some bottles for the group to consume. Afterwards, Faravid and Eivor talked.

• Faravid: A little sour but not bad. I've always preferred ale myself. Or spiced mead. What I won't drink is one of Moira's herbal brews. She claims they're a tonic. But there's no telling what she hides in those drinks.

Spoke to Moira at the feastDid not speak to Moira

• Eivor: Moira. I met her at the feast.

• Eivor: Moira? Who is she?

• Faravid: She's an herbalist from the north. Always skulking in the shadow of Halfdan's throne.
• Eivor: It's a big throne. Don't you all skulk around it from time to time?

Told Faravid the truthWithheld the truth

• Faravid: I see. Because Halfdan thinks I'm disloyal, now you don't trust me. Has our battle-bond earned me no favors with you, Eivor?

• Faravid: Why all these doubts, Eivor? You're a warrior, not a rumormonger.

• Eivor: Doubt is too strong a word. But there is a feeling of mistrust among you. I want this alliance to be ironclad.

Faravid suggesting an assault on Magnis without Halfdan's knowledge

• Faravid: Then let me change your mind. I've got a plan to win this war for good. Before the winter sets in. Magnis is a strong fort, but we'd be attacking from the south. With speed, we'll catch them off guard.
• Eivor: With Halfdan's blessing, I'd fight beside you anywhere. Name the time and place.
• Faravid: No. Halfdan is done fighting for the winter. He thinks it too great a risk. But I say we can win this war before the next snows. If we tell him of this plan, he'll refuse. But if we succeed, you and I together, he'll sing our praises all the louder.

Your secret is safeI cannot hide thisLet the gods decide

• Eivor: All right, we fight. And I swear by Sif's blade, I'll say nothing to Halfdan.
• Faravid: Good, good. Victory is ours.

• Eivor: I'll fight with you, Faravid, but I will not lie to Halfdan if he asks.
• Faravid: If you tell him, he'll demand we forswear our attack. Are you willing to risk a victory like that? Our glory?
• Eivor: If I tell him, he'll know what we intend, but we'll fight nonetheless, in spite of his anger.

Faravid mulled over her words.

• Faravid: Fair is fair.

Eivor curled her fingers to her chin in thought before responding.

• Eivor: There are no secrets in this world or the next. The All-Father sees everything.
• Faravid: We need not fear Odin's eye, only Halfdan's wrath.

• Eivor: I must return for Donecaestre for a time, but I will join you for this battle.

Faravid picked up an ornate silver-colored goblet from the spoils of war.

Faravid taking a goblet from the spoils, intending to give it to Halfdan as a gift

• Faravid: Deliver this goblet to my jarl. He has a fondness for them. And tell him his share of the spoils is coming.

Faravid handed the goblet to Eivor.

• Faravid: When you're ready, find me near Jorvik at a place called The Wolds.

Eivor prepared to leave. The men celebrated the victory, while Ulf insulted Halfdan among them.

• Norse Warrior: We have it! Stenwege is ours!
• Ulf: Halfdan's share shrinks after each victory. Like his cock, eh?

Before leaving, Eivor was able to speak with Faravid one last time.

• Faravid: Halfdan will be waiting for his gift in Donecaestre. Don't keep him waiting.

Outcome

Eivor decided on how to proceed with the upcoming war with the Picts.

Behind the scenes

Faravid's ambient lines during this memory can get jumbled due to the conditional and proximity triggers for them. His line about being spotted is repeated verbatim upon exiting the Wiccan's Cave, whether or not the player was discovered during the ravine ambush—which on higher difficulties is very difficult to complete without being spotted at all. When chasing the scouts, it is very likely Faravid will lag behind enough that he slips out of the player's range entirely and simply teleports to the grass outside Stenwege, thus skipping his lines about regrouping once the outcome of the chase is determined.

Notably, it is possible to use abilities that slow time to get Eivor closer to the scouts and determine exactly which ones are yelling which lines. The "Go home!" line is uttered by the lead scout, but only if the other two are not killed before reaching the zip lines. On that note, the lead scout—a "sleekit" type elite enemy that is a Pict-reskinned "murderer" type from the bandit enemy faction—is the only one with any realistic chance of reaching the camp. His sprinting speed is the only that perfectly matches Eivor's, allowing him to stay ahead of the player without the use of time-dilating abilities or summoning a horse, at least until Stenwege is in view, at which point he slows down enough for the player to catch and assassinate him. The other two scouts are much slower, easily caught and defeated by the other Vikings, and they will even become more effective at attacking said scouts—instead of mindlessly chasing them—as soon as the lead scout dies.

The Pict chief, Galan, can be instantly defeated with a critical assassination, however the margin of success is exactly as wide as the indicator, making him the most difficult—but still possible—critical assassination in the game. If defeated in this way, he will not be able to use his atgeir to break the wooden floors of the broch, and as this is the only way to do so, they will remain intact for the rest of the game. Fortunately there is nothing of value at the lowest levels. Quickly defeating him will also save a hostage ally lying on the floor nearby - otherwise he will die from enemy weapon swings, burning oil or from the fall damage when Galan breaks the floor.

Gallery

• 
  Faravid curious about Eivor's presence in the camp
• 
  Eivor, Faravid and his band leaving the camp
• 
  Eivor spotting the Picts in the cave
• 
  Eivor discovering the Pictish chief, Galan
• 
  Eivor fighting against Galan
• 
  Ulf and the Vikings executing the Picts
• 
  Faravid executing Galan

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla