Warlord of Melun

Warlord of Melun 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 arrived in Melun to meet with Toka's uncle, Sigfred.

Dialogue

Upon arrival in Francia, Eivor, Toka, and Pierre traveled on Eivor's longship, the Sea-Chariot, within the territory of Melunois.

Eivor and party see carnage while sailing into Melunois

• Toka: Welcome to Francia!
• Eivor: What? No sniveling emissary from King Charles to greet us?
• Toka: Believe me, Wolf-Kissed, you will feel the warmth of his welcome soon enough.

Along the river, mayhem and dead bodies were showcased.

• Eivor: Their mad king did this?
• Toka: We all had a part in it.

Eivor saw more wreckage as she saw bodies hanged and mutilated.

• Eivor: Gods. This is what he would bring to Ravensthorpe.
• Toka: It is. We are almost there. But we cannot take the longship around Paris as the Franks' bridges block the way.

They all disembarked at The Hidden Dock. Toka and Eivor continued talking away from the longship.

Eivor, Toka, and Pierre docked in Melunois

• Toka: Our village is inland. We will take the horses from here. The others will follow on foot.
• Eivor: Is there danger of an ambush?
• Toka: Not this close to the water, and not at night. Sigfred has done his work too well.

Pierre walked towards them.

• Pierre: I will finish unloading the ship. You two go ahead.
• Toka: Many thanks, Pierre.

Pierre nodded to Toka and looked to Eivor.

• Pierre: And Eivor... there is something we should talk about when I arrive at Melun. Until then, ride safe.

Eivor nodded as Pierre left.

• Toka: Mount up. The ride is not long.

As they saddled up, Toka worried how her reunion would go.

• Toka: How will I face Sigfred? He entrusted me to gather axes. He wants me to lead one day, but I failed even this.
• Eivor: The failure is not all yours, Toka. Jarls are ever busy with their own concerns.
• Toka: Ah! Just give me strong ale and a good fight. What else matters?

Eivor and Toka stopped at a broken down wooden fence, and spied a scout camp in the distance.

Toka and Eivor spot Frankish scouts in the distance.

• Toka: Frankish scouts. They have been watching us closely of late. What do you think it means, Eivor?
• Eivor: That Sigfred has not finished his work yet.
• Toka: Sigfred will not be finished until there are no more Franks left to fight. Scouts have been gnawing at our heels ever since Charles forced us from the North.
• Eivor: He pushes hard against your people. You might have to lead sooner than you expect, Toka.
• Toka: I may not be the best one to do it.

They reached the top of the hill, from which they could see the torches and lanterns lighting Melun in the distance.

• Toka: I see the longhouse. We are almost there.

Eivor and Toka continued down the path through the woods.

• Toka: It is strange to be back after so long. I thought to return with an army.

Eivor and Toka arrived at the Viking encampment in Melun and dismounted their horses.

• Toka: Welcome to Melun. We should find Sigfred.

Toka and Eivor walked towards the longhouse as a man took note of Toka's arrival.

• Norse Man 1: Toka! You have returned! All went well, I hope. Are the others you brought coming behind you?
• Toka: I need to find Sigfred.
• Norse Man 1: Of course. Well, you will find him where he always is.
• Toka: Ah yes. He will be at the burial grounds, staring into the mist. It is where he begins most days. This way.

Eivor followed Toka to meet Sigfred as they stopped in the middle of a bridge, spying the Burial Mounds.

• Toka: Our burial grounds. Sinric... my father lies there, with the others. We should go.

Eivor and Toka continued to the Burial Mounds.

Toka and Eivor overlooking the burial grounds

• Eivor: There is something ... calming about this place.
• Toka: It is a beautiful land, or would be if it was not filled with Franks. There is Sigfred. You go ahead. He may not be happy to see me return with so few allies.

Eivor went closer to meet Sigfred, who was talking to Sinric's grave.

• Sigfred: I will not rest, brother. We are almost there. Your honor will be redeemed, I swear it.

Toka left as Eivor walked towards Sigfred, who stared at his brother's grave. Soon, an elk appeared in front of him.

• Eivor: Sigfred?
• Sigfred: You came, Wolf-Kissed. Good.

Eivor approaches Sigfred

The elk left as Sigfred walked forward and placed a carving near the gravestone.

• Eivor: You knew it was me?

Sigfred turned around.

• Sigfred: Pierre sent word ahead. Your axe will be a boon to us.
• Eivor: I heard your axe has been busy as well.
• Sigfred: Yes, I have slain many on the open field with honor, as Odin intended.
• Eivor: It is our way.

Sigfred faced the grave again.

• Sigfred: But it is not their way. The Franks dragged our jarl Sinric from his bed, and gutted him like a coward. They did not even bury him, just left his body for the animals to take. I raised this mound for him.
• Eivor: You want me to join your side against these Franks.

Furious, Sigfred rounded again and began shouting.

• Sigfred: There is no side! There is only blood-debt, and vengeance, and Helheim for those I split with my axe.

I will stand with youI am only here for my clanTell me about the Franks

• Eivor: I know of blood-debt, and vengeance. When the time comes, Sigfred, you will have my axe.
• Sigfred: Good. It is as I hoped.

• Eivor: I am sorry for your sword-brother, Sigfred. Odin himself will grant you your vengeance. But my first duty is to my clan.
• Sigfred: That is a fair saying, when you are in England. You are in Francia now.

• Eivor: How dangerous are these Franks? What do they want?
• Sigfred: Do you not understand? They want us as Sinric, dead and dishonored! But I will teach them what honor means.

Regardless, Sigfred made to return to the settlement.

• Sigfred: Now, we will feast, and I will tell you of my plans for Paris.

Sigfred mounted his horse and led the way back to the settlement.

Eivor makes to follow Sinric.

• Sigfred: This is Vidarr. A more noble beast I have never known.
• Eivor: The god of vengeance. It is a good name.
• Sigfred: Many Franks have met their end beneath his iron hooves. He hates them almost as much as I do.
• Eivor: You placed a carving at Sinric's grave.
• Sigfred: Sinric won it from me in a holmgang when we were children. It is Eikthyrnir, who watches over Odin's hall in Valhalla. He was holding it when I found him. It was the only way I knew him after the animals had gotten to his body.

Sigfred and Eivor traveled and went inside the longhouse in Melun. Time passed as Toka gave a rousing speech to those present in the hall.

The Elgring Clan holds a feast

• Toka: Ours will be the greatest raid since Ragnar sacked Paris, and brought longships full of silver back to King Horik! We will fill our warchest with silver and our mugs with mead! Blood and glory! Skal!
• Sigfred: This is not just about silver, Toka!
• Toka: He hates being disturbed while he eats.
• Eivor: You know, Ragnar returned with more than just silver.
• Toka: More than silver? What was it? Swords? Precious jewels? Wine!
• Eivor: Stories... of a dead saint defending Paris. Horik was so awed, he freed the Christians and executed his raiders.
• Toka: Really? That does not sound glorious.

The feast stopped as a commotion was heard outside. Warriors went outside as Toka and Eivor looked at each other, wondering why. Outside, a bishop spoke aloud among Sigfred's dead warriors as he stood with an escort of Bellatores Dei soldiers and mounted cavalry.

Bishop Englewin arrives at the longhouse.

• Engelwin: "Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee." Kill the heathens. Bring me Sigfred's head, and that one as well. Leave the stripling alive to tell of it.

Engelwin left as his soldiers abided. Engelwin's insult registered with Toka after a moment.

• Toka: The what!

Toka ran into the fray.

• Sigfred: Bishop Engelwin. This is a good night.

Sigfred joined Toka to fight Engelwin's forces.

• Eivor: O, shit!

Eivor joined the fight.

Eivor fighting a Bellatores Dei soldier

• Eivor: Horses give them advantage, but it will not be enough.

Eivor, Toka, and Sigfred held the line and defeated Engelwin's forces. Sigfred interrogated one of the attackers, his boot on the man's head as he lay prone.

• Sigfred: Where did Engelwin go?
• French Soldier 1: Mmmphhh... mmph.
• Eivor: Sigfred, wait!

Sigfred smashed the soldier's head with his boot.

• Eivor: What did he say to you?

Sigfred walked away towards with no answer to Eivor.

• Sigfred: Toka, see to the wounded, and find the watch! They should have warned us of the attack.
• Toka: I told he doesn't like to be interrupted while eating.
• Eivor: We needed that soldier alive to question. Wild heart, level head.

Toka and Eivor survey the aftermath of the skirmish

• Toka: O, I like that!
• Eivor: Where is Sigfred going?
• Toka: My guess is to find that bishop, Engelwin. He hates him above all others. It was he who killed Sinric.
• Eivor: Yes, his sword-brother and your father. I am sorry, Toka.
• Toka: Nothing has changed. If anything, the attacks grow more frequent, as you see.
• Eivor: Randvi was right. I have to stop this before it reaches Ravensthorpe.
• Toka: Pff! Unless you can convince their king to surrender, you may have to kill every soldier in Francia.

Killing his soldiers will stop CharlesI will convince CharlesKilling will not solve this

• Eivor: If we take Paris, many of their soldiers will die. Charles knows that. The threat of it will force him to negotiate.
• Toka: That oath-breaking coward will never meet you! Even if he does, his word is worthless. Better to kill him.

• Eivor: Then I will meet with Charles and see if he can be negotiated with.
• Toka: Their king? That pork-bellied coward will split your skull when you turn your back. Better to kill him than to trust him.

• Eivor: This battle will not be won with axes. I must find a way to meet Charles, and convince him not to attack England.
• Toka: Remember, Charles murdered Godfrid. He will not honor his word. Better to kill him.

• Eivor: The problem is bigger than one king, Toka. I must talk to him. It is what my clan expects.
• Toka: You may be right. But I am not the one you will have to convince in the end.

Toka briefly turned around and paced in thought.

• Toka: If you kill Engelwin, Sigfred may be persuaded to help you find Charles.
• Eivor: You begin to think like a jarl, Toka.
• Toka: Twice our scouts followed Engelwin to the slums south of Paris. When you are ready, that is where Sigfred will be.
• Eivor: I will meet Sigfred there, and return when Engelwin is dead. Then we will find Charles.

Eivor left Toka to find Sigfred.

Outcome

Eivor met Toka's uncle Sigfred in Melun, discussing a plan to attack Paris to avenge the death of Toka's father, Sinric. They were later interrupted and defended themselves against a Frankish attack led by Engelwin.

Gallery

• 
  Eivor and party enter Melunois
• 
  Pierre talking with Eivor before departing
• 
  The Elgring Clan's feast is interrupted
• 
  Toka, Eivor, and Sigfred listening to Englewin's speech

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Siege of Paris