In the Absence of an Ealdorman

In the Absence of an Ealdorman was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.

Description

With ealdorman Hundbeorht missing, Eivor went searching for clues.

Dialogue

Before leaving to find the ealdorman, Eivor may have talked with Hunwald.

• Eivor: Something on your mind?
• Hunwald: Eivor, I realize the strides you've taken to aid me. My oath to you will last an eternity.
• Eivor: You'll owe me a blood oath when all our work is done.
• Hunwald: Blood? Dear Lord...
• Eivor: Wait here 'til I return.

Eivor may have spoken with Bishop Herefrith.

• Eivor: Can your god speak through you, Herefrith? Can he tell me where the ealdorman is?
• Herefrith: Our Lord is not a trained dog who speaks on command. My goodness.

Eivor may have talked with Abbess Acha, who was humming.

• Eivor: When did you last see the ealdorman?
• Acha: Leave us be. It is not your place to be asking such questions.

Eivor left to search for Hunwald's father and arrived at the hospice.

• Eivor: Hunwald's father was recuperating here not long ago. Someone may have seen him depart.

As she entered the hospice, Eivor spoke to a woman sitting on a bench.

• Eivor: Do you know where your ealdorman is?
• Anglo-Saxon Woman 1: I can tell you a few things. But not here in the open. Follow me.

Eivor followed the woman inside to a private room.

• Eivor: This is far enough. Tell me what you know.
• Anglo-Saxon Woman 1: O, I know loads of things about our ealdorman. I know his favorite foods, I know when his bedclothes get changed, and I know he hates being bled with leeches. That sort of thing.
• Eivor: But where has he gone?
• Anglo-Saxon Woman 1: Ah, where? I have no bloody idea. Is that what you asked me?
• Eivor: Forget it.

Eivor left the woman and spoke to a man working on a scaffold.

• Eivor: You there. Do you know where your ealdorman has gone?
• Anglo-Saxon Man 1: I don't. And if you like your hide where it's at, you won't ask that 'round here again!

Eivor left the man and spoke to a female groundskeeper.

• Eivor: Where is the ealdorman? Did you see where he went?
• Anglo-Saxon Woman 2: I... I... I don't know. Ealdorman who? Sorry, I'm busy!

Eivor left and spoke with the head sister.

• Eivor: Are you the head sister here?

Did not alert any guardsGuards spotted Eivor

• Anglo-Saxon Woman 3: Aye. And I'm not comforted by the sight of you wielding weapons like a war chief. We're a hospice, not a barracks. It's bad enough I've got these armored codpieces watching me work. Now you...

• Anglo-Saxon Woman 3: Please don't hurt me. These poor souls need me.
• Eivor: Calm, sister. Lord Hunwald sent me. He asked me to speak with the people here.
• Anglo-Saxon Woman 3: H-Hunwald? That's not a name I expected to hear again.

• Eivor: No harm will come to you or those you care for. I'm only looking for your ealdorman.

Eivor speaking to a priestess about the ealdorman

• Anglo-Saxon Woman 3: I'd be risking my neck telling you anything. And if my head rolls, these sick and ailing folk will follow me to the grave.
• Eivor: Your ealdorman would agree. So the sooner I find him, the more quickly these prowling guards will leave your hospice.
• Anglo-Saxon Woman 3: That's a pleasant thought. Our lord was in a bad way here, and getting worse, in spite of our efforts. Then, quite against my instructions, some guards moved him out. I overheard them talking about a bathhouse. There's no working bathhouse in Lincoln. So I gather they meant the old ruins just south of here, by the eastern walls.
• Eivor: Ruins just south of here. I will look there, thank you.
• Anglo-Saxon Woman 3: I pray you find him. He's in desperate need of care.

Eivor arriving at the old Roman bathhouse

Eivor left and headed to the bathhouse and saw bandits inside the place.

• Anglo-Saxon Man 2: It wern't wise to let those Mercians nobles use our tunnels, if you ask me.
• Anglo-Saxon Man 3: What choice did we have? 'Least this way, they'll leave us be.
• Anglo-Saxon Man 4: They killed one of their own! What's to stop 'em from splitting our skulls as well?
• Anglo-Saxon Man 3: Cause they fear us, see? No one takes us for fools, you got it?

Eivor infiltrated a bit further.

• Anglo-Saxon Man 3: Remember... God punishes those who wish ill upon... upon...
• Anglo-Saxon Man 2: Go on... ill upon who?
• Anglo-Saxon Man 3: Eh? Sorry, I was miles away. What?
• Anglo-Saxon Man 2: Christ Jesus. You haven't got enough brains in your head to blink, have you?

Eivor exploring the sewer tunnels

Eivor killed the bandits, investigated the ground level, and found a route to the sewers below.

• Eivor: These tunnels run deep. Was the ealdorman fleeing to a hideaway beneath Lincoln?

Eivor made her way behind a bandit guard, who was relieving himself rather painfully.

• Anglo-Saxon Man 5: Ow! Ah! Dammit...

After dealing with the guard, Eivor continued along the corridors of the sewer.

Eivor may have ended up in the fetid water before making her way back onto dry land.

• Eivor: Ach. As if baptized by a mud priest.

Eivor eventually found herself in the center of the Old Lincoln Sewers, where a couple of bandits were talking.

• Anglo-Saxon Man 6: More Mercians traipsing across our routes. Can't piss from here to Bolingbroc without someone demanding some ungodly deal.
• Anglo-Saxon Man 7: All this traffic has made smuggling a difficult job.
• Anglo-Saxon Man 6: Smuggling will always be difficult. But I prefer it to paying tribute. Never again will we bend to the Mercian crown.

Eivor leaving the tunnels to a spring beneath a cave

Eivor followed the sewers up and out to Roaring Meg's Spring, where Eivor noticed bodies and blood from an altercation.

• Eivor: There was fighting here. About what?

Eivor noticed and checked on one of the bodies.

• Eivor: A violent struggle between nobles and bandits. The bandits did not fare so well.

Eivor found another clue on the ground.

• Eivor: A noble's cloak with the image of a swan. Looks like the ealdorman passed this way.

Additionally there was a locked door and a trail of blood leading through a broken guardrail into the waterfall basin below. Eivor focused her attention on the pit.

• Eivor: Someone took a nasty fall.

Eivor dove into the basin and found a key on a floating corpse.

Found the doorDid not find the door

• Eivor: I know a lonely door that would love to meet this key.

• Eivor: A key. Useful if I had a door to match it."

Eivor climbed back up to unlock the door. Inside, she found a letter on a table.

A New Proposition

Orvyn,

We have received an offer from an unnamed Saxon requesting safe passage through the sewers to Bolingbroke. The amount is considerable, which leads me to believe they have something of great value they cannot afford to be seen with.

Insist on seeing what it is before accepting their offer. If it merits it, double the amount. If they refuse, kill them.

Lucian

• Eivor: A Saxon nobleman paid some bandits for permission to sneak through these tunnels on their way to Bolingbroc castle.

Eivor's vision of the ealdorman being brought to safety outside of the cave

From all the clues, Eivor theorized how the events played out at the springs.

• Eivor: Mercian nobles made a deal with some bandits. Paid them hush money to let them sneak through these caves. When the time came, the bandits ambushed the nobles. But it did not end well for the bandits. In the struggle, the ealdorman's cloak was torn off. But he got away and headed east for Bolingbroc castle. That's my best lead.

Eivor followed the rocky walls outside the spring into the wilderness.

• Eivor: Ah. Fresh air.

Eivor arriving at the castle

Eivor travelled and arrived at the castle, which was well-guarded. She entered the first courtyard and pilfered a key leading to the inner courtyard, dispatching any guards that got in her way while dropping a drawbridge. In the inner courtyard, she overheard some guards talking at the barracks.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1: Why can we not enter the keep now? Is it all gold and silver up there?
• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 2: Pipe down, lad. And keep your nose out of that business. It's not a topic you need knowing about.

Eivor crossed the drawbridge and stood before the steps leading up to the castle's keep.

• Eivor: I'm on the right track. That keep is well protected.

Eivor climbed the steps to the keep and eavesdropped on the guards inside.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 3: At times, I wonder what in God's name we are here for. Hundbeorht is his own prisoner.
• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 4: He's an ill man, leave him be. Besides, we ain't got it too rough. We can hunt in the wolds of Lindsey and whore in Botolphston.
• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 3: Too right, too right. I've gone dumb with idle time. Grab some ale, and let us skin some animals later.

After Eivor dealt with the guards, Eivor found a note from the ealdorman to his son, Hunwald.

Scroll with a Swan Seal upon It

To My Young Swan

We are blessed to be here with the Wolds of Lincolnscire. It is here in the lush lands of Hatfield Chase where we exchange with the kings of smaller kingdoms, still with each their own glowing throne. As Aldfrith noted, the hunt here is plentiful. Wolves, foxes, and even the occasional bear.

Remember we are Yellow Bellies, from the Wapentake and teh ancient hollows, our sheep graze the mustard fields and our poppy heads make us happy, and when you hunt, remember that you are part of the long line of Anglian Kings of Lindsey.

Good Folk and Yellow Bellies from Woden to God

Your father Hundbeorht Rex of the Lindsey-Folk

Eivor found and followed a tunnel going down and heard a single voice.

• Galwyna: My lord, you carried yourself as a true-born king, born in a time of wolves. You have earned a long rest.
• "Hundbeorht": Thank you, beautiful Galwyna. So firm is your loyalty. None know me as well as you do.

Eivor entered the underground audience chamber.

• Galwyna: Thank you, lord. It is now time for your bath. May I wash you?
• "Hundbeorht": Yes, good, good. Time for the washing. The very last washing. Very good indeed.

Eivor drew closer

Galwyna explains the current situation of the late ealdorman

• Galwyna: There now, my lord. All is prepared. Shall we begin the washing?

Galwyna heard Eivor's footsteps echo on the stone floor.

• Galwyna: Eh? Who comes?

Galwyna turned around startled, only to see a confused Eivor, then changed her demeanor when she realized she meant no harm.

• Eivor: Welcome, stranger. Are you here to pay tribute to our Lord Ealdorman?

Galwyna showed Eivor the deceased Hundbeorht, sitting enthroned under his swan banner as flies flew around his corpse.

Were you speaking with him a moment ago?Your ealdorman appears to be deadHow long has he been like this?

• Eivor: I heard voices as I entered. Were you speaking with him? Does his hugr (mind) speak through you?
• Galwyna: I am not sure what to call it, precisely. Words form in my mind, and I give them voice. Often, they sound like my dear lord.
• Eivor: Can I ask a favor of him? On behalf of his son, Hunwald?
• Galwyna: You could try, but he never speaks when others are present.

• Eivor: Your ealdorman is long past the days of good conversation.
• Galwyna: Yet still he makes good company. I've been instructed to wash and prepare his earthly vessel.
• Eivor: Instructed by whom?
• Galwyna: Soldiers. They brought him here as he protested, feebly. I did my best to make him comfortable... until he slipped away.

• Eivor: This biscuit has been dry for some time, sister. How long has the ealdorman been dead?
• Galwyna: "Dead" is such a drastic word. I like to think of my lord as... transformed.

Eivor paused, looked aside, then smirked.

• Eivor: That's not untrue.
• Galwyna: Have you need of anything?

Eivor pondered the implications of Hundbeorht's passing.

Hunwald should know his father's fateWhy has your ealdorman's death been obscured?I've seen all I need here

• Eivor: Hunwald deserves to know the truth about his father's fate. He is owed an inheritance and deserves a chance to become ealdorman himself.
• Galwyna: All in good time, I imagine.
• Eivor: No. Now.
• Galwyna: When the guards put him in my care, I was told to keep all this a secret... until the appointed time. When I asked who gave these orders, they struck me. I wish I could say more.
• Eivor: I've seen all I need to. But Hunwald will need proof.

• Eivor: Why has your ealdorman's death been obscured? The people of Lincolnscire deserve to know his fate. Hunwald above all.
• Galwyna: When the guards put him in my care, I was told to keep all this a secret... until the appointed time. When I asked who gave these orders, they struck me. I wish I could say more.
• Eivor: I've seen all I need to. But Hunwald will need proof.

• Eivor: I've seen all I need to. But Hunwald will need proof.

• Galwyna: Of course. You're welcome to search through his effects, though I'm not sure what trinket would best serve your purpose.
• Eivor: I'll find something.

Eivor looked around the premise for any proof. Eivor saw berries on top of a table.

• Eivor: Dried herbs and berries, crushed into powder.
• Galwyna: The time between my lord's departure and his burial is ... longer than usual. My lord must keep up appearancce for his upcoming rites.

Near the berries, Eivor found and read a letter.

Galwyna's Journal

Left him here, they did. Weak and frail. Carried him by his arms. Feet dragging behind. Dropped him on the floor with a thud. No way to treat an ealdorman. Not right. Not right. But no better place for him, no. Lord Hundbeorht has found his way into my company. My tenderness I will share. It is what he deserves.

Eivor found buckets filled with suspicious, foul-smelling yellow liquids.

• Eivor: I don't know what this is. And I'd rather not ask.
• Galwyna: Yes, I thought the same. Troubling.

Eivor saw and read a text near the liquids.

Regnal Tribute Illuminated Text

The Genealogy of the Anglian Kings of the Lindsey

Our Kings who under God and Woden Ruled shall be remembered. Their line is endless as the great sky as they rule the land of the Lindissi, for the Britons and the Anglians alike, we kneel to them:

Woden
Critta
Cueldgils
Caedbaed
Bubba
Beda
Biscop
Eanfruth
Eatta
Aldfrith
Hungarth
Hundbeorht
Hunwald

(final name is scratched out with a monk's plume)

Eivor investigated the ealdorman's corpse.

• Eivor: Foul. Rat droppings everywhere.
• Galwyna: Even in death, my lord is a friend to all of God's creatures.

Eivor looking through the items, finding a brooch bearing the crest of Hunwald and Hundbeorht's clan

Eivor found a box filled with items.

• Eivor: A box of musty clothing. And a brooch with a crest... the house of the ferocious swan. This will do. I'll return this brooch to Hunwald in Lincoln. I hope this poor boy can withstand such ill news.

Eivor spoke with Galwyna again.

• Eivor: Take care.
• Galwyna: And you.

Galwyna then prayed for her late ealdorman.

• Galwyna: I shall take you to your family crypt at Nettleham within Lincoln. There you may lay beside your forebearers, the great and glorious kings of old Lindsey.

With a sudden shift in tone, she urged Eivor away from Hundbeorht's body.

• Galwyna: Please. Do not desecrate our Lord.
• Eivor: I am Dane, not a cruel grief-monger.

Eivor left for Lincoln as Galwyna kept praying. Eivor arrived in Lincoln's town hall, where she saw Hunwald, Aelfgar, Bishop Herefrith, and Abbess Acha discussing certain matters.

• Hunwald: Eivor! What news?
• Eivor: Your father is dead.

Hunwald giving his father's brooch, learning of his death

Eivor handed Hunwald the brooch.

• Hunwald: Wait. What?

Eivor walked to the rest.

• Eivor: The sigil of Hundbeorht's house. I found it near his body.
• Hunwald: No. No, this cannot be! He was strong. A pillar of Lincolnscire. He cannot be gone. He ... He...

Hunwald started to cry heavily as Acha went to console him.

Hunwald weeping and mourning his father's death

• Acha: O, you poor boy. I'm so, so sorry.
• Hunwald: I am a man, Acha! Do you hear me? I am a man, and I am my father's son. Do not forget it!

Acha stepped back as Hunwald shouted at her.

Keep steady, HunwaldYou've been lied toYour shire has no ealdorman

• Eivor: Keep steady, Hunwald. You're now the head of your house.
• Hunwald: Another swan takes flight. Only I remain, last in line of... dwindling nobles.

• Eivor: He's been dead for some time. That was obvious by the state of his corpse.

Hunwald turned away as Eivor pointed at the rest.

• Eivor: One of you knows more than you're letting on.

• Eivor: That a son has lost his father is always a cause for sadness. But your shire has also lost its ealdorman. That is a cause for worry... and often war.

Acha stepped towards Hunwald again.

• Acha: I'm sorry, Hunwald. I had already asked a priest to administer last rites when your father disappeared.
• Hunwald: What?
• Acha: I didn't tell you sooner because I... I thought by some miracle he had survived.
• Hunwald: You lied to me!
• Acha: You silly sobbing moon-calf. Will you never grow up?

Hunwald left in despair as Acha followed after him.

• Herefrith: Lord have mercy on that woman. She should have said something. It was her duty to say something.

Is Hunwald your ealdorman now?The Danes should take charge hereKing Ceolwulf must choose a new ealdorman

• Eivor: Hunwald was the son of an ealdorman. Will he take his father's seat?
• Herefrith: The title's not hereditary, but he can plead his case before a shiremoot. King Ceolwulf must then ratify the decision.

• Eivor: It may be your best option is to leave Lincolnscire to Danes in the north. They don't suffer fools and traitors.
• Herefrith: The Danes of Grimsby are welcome to put a man forward, but a shiremoot must decide who takes the seat.

• Eivor: You need a new ealdorman here. And it falls to King Ceolwulf to make that choice.
• Herefrith: For once, we find agreement, Eivor. The nobles here will convene a shiremoot to select a new candidate. The winner will stand before the king for approval.

• Eivor: Explain how this works, your shiremoot.
• Aelfgar: A moot is a meeting of lords. We convene from time to time to steer the course of our shire.
• Herefrith: It was always my intention to convene a moot. But between our troubles in Lincoln and the bandits' raids, we slipped into a pattern of convenience.

We Norse have a similar customI don't trust anyone in this shireWill Hunwald be safe until the shiremoot?

• Eivor: We have a similar custom, what we call an althing. An assembly of good folk.
• Herefrith: With so many like habits, there should be peace between our people and yours. Perhaps that begins now.

• Eivor: Hunwald is an obvious candidate. But I don't any of you beyond the tip of a spear. I'll see to it that he is protected until your shiremoot gathers.
• Herefrith: None here wishes the boy ill, but do what you think necessary.

• Eivor: Someone in the shire wants Hunwald dead. If I have to assemble an army to make sure this meeting is not an ambush, I will.
• Herefrith: The shiremoot is a lawful, Godly assembly. Hunwald will be safe, as will you be.

• Eivor: Apart from Hunwald, who else will stand for the ealdorman's seat?

Eivor discussing the shiremoot with Aelfgar and Bishop Herefrith

• Herefrith: If I may be so bold, I should like to put my name forward. Under my care, the shire has found some peace this past month.
• Aelfgar: I will offer my name as well. My family has ancient ties to this land. And I am proud to say, I have forged quite a friendship with the Danes to the north.
• Herefrith: Good. My priests will spread word of the moot across the shire. We'll convene in a few days' time.

Aelfgar and Eivor took leave.

• Aelfgar: Do visit my estate, Eivor. I have something for you. Something I think you'll enjoy.
• Eivor: I'll find the time.

Herefrith reflecting on his initial encounter with Eivor

Aelfgar left as Bishop Herefrith called for Eivor and joined her by the threshold.

• Herefrith: Eivor, a word if you don't mind.
• Eivor: Is the word "Christ" or "pagan"?
• Herefrith: I deeply regret my churlish ways when we first met. I did not treat you as my God commands ... with kindness and love.
• Eivor: Love is a difficult feeling to command.
• Herefrith: Yes, quite. In any case, thank you for putting this mystery to rest. I do hope we'll see you at the moot.

Herefrith took his leave of Eivor.

• Eivor: With Hundbeorht's death an open secret, Hunwald's enemies may strike again. I should find him before they do. Acha went to console him. I should follow her.

Before leaving, she could speak to Herefrith again.

• Eivor: Best of luck at the coming shiremoot, bishop.
• Herefrith: I would tell you my fate is in the hands of our Lord. But somehow I believe that won't be the whole story.
• Eivor: You fear something?
• Herefrith: I fear everything these days... in small doses.

On her way out, she spoke with him one last time.

• Herefrith: Give my best to Aelfgar and Hunwald, should you see them.

Outcome

Eivor followed Hundbeorht's trail to Bolingbroc Castle and found his corpse near his servant, Galwyna. Eivor later returned to Hunwald with proof of his father's death and thus this led to the planning of a shiremoot for a new ealdorman.

Gallery

• 
  Eivor's vision of Hundbeorht being attacked by the bandits
• 
  Eivor finding the servant Galwyna
• 
  Hunwald speaking to his friends in the town hall
• 
  The rest of the group learning of the ealdorman's fate
• 
  Acha going after the devastated Hunwald
• 
  Aelfgar inviting Eivor to his estate

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla