Well-Traveled

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Well-Traveled 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, in which a vision of one of Odin's memories could be seen.

Description

Havi went to the Well of Urðr to get water for the Builder.

Dialogue

After closing the door to Jötunheimr, Havi made his way back toward the Bifröst. To one side of the path, Thor stood triumphant over the corpses of several jötnar.

• Thor: Gaaah! A good fight! But I wish there were more!
• Havi: The sky itself shatters before your might, Thor!

As Havi crossed the Bifrost, he heard the warriors of Asgard stood cheering all along the bridge.

• Norse Warrior 1: Death to all Jotnar!
• Norse Warrior 2: Asgard belongs to the Æsir!
• Norse Warrior 3: We are undefeated!
• Norse Warrior 4: Glory belongs to the fearless!
• Norse Warrior 5: We are proud to serve you, Havi!
• Norse Warrior 6: Your fame will live eternal!
• Norse Warrior 7: Our strength is unmatched!
• Norse Warrior 8: Asgard will never fall!

At the other end of the bridge, one warrior called out to Havi.

• Norse Warrior 9: A good blood-harvest, Havi!

Havi passed through Asgard, taking the portal behind his hall, on the cliff on the south side overlooking the valley, to reach the shore below.

• Havi: My thoughts are clouded with shadows of doom. Even this peaceful valley seems to hold hidden dangers.

Havi crossed the water to the adjoining island and continued along the path towards the Well. Near the entrance, he came across two wolves.

• Havi: Wolves. I should slay every last one. No prophecy shall bind me.

Spotting Havi, the wolves attacked. He killed them both and continued on into the cave that housed the well.

• Havi: The Well of Urdr. Not even I know all your secrets.

Below the entrance, he found a small area holding a chest with one of the Ymir's tear stones and a note.

Unsigned Letter

All I do—the intrigues, the sacrifices, the betrayals—I do for you.

Of all my children, I fear for you the most.

The Nornir cursed your name before your birth and poison foolish ears.

Further into the cave, the path was blocked by a barrier.

• Havi: The sunstone has been moved. The light's path has shifted.

Havi moved the sunstone so the beam was aimed at its target and the barrier fell. He continued on to the next section of the cave.

• Havi: These caves run deep. Nidhogg and his serpents have been busy.

On a ledge Havi found another note.

Unfinished Letter

It grows more challenging to hide you from Odin's sight. We may need to abandon Asgard for one of the lesser realms. You would fare little better under your sister 's domain—she has made that much clear. Midgard is promising, but the barriers greater.

I know not when—or if—you might make sense of these musings. Sharing my thoughts like this helps keep them purposeful and sharp.

Following the path of light from the sunstones, Havi made his way deeper into the cave. He paused, looking around, and Týr ran in behind him.

• Týr: Havi! Loki said you'd be here. He told me of the Builder's request, an offer that gives me great worry.

Havi kept his attention focused ahead.

• Havi: Why was this passage blocked? Has someone been here recently?
• Týr: Do you hear me, Havi? This Builder is a stranger to us. We know not what he intends.

Havi stormed toward Týr, angry.

• Havi: I am the King of Asgard, Týr. Do not question my desire to protect her.

Havi turned away, now more somber than angry.

• Tyr: Calm, old friend. What's needling you?

My burden is my own.A cloud covers Asgard.A prophecy oppresses me.

Havi sighed.

• Havi: I have known you, Týr, longer than any in Asgard. And I trust you as a brother. But my present worries, I cannot share.

Týr stepped up to stand beside him.

• Týr: I understand. The burden of kingship must often be shouldered alone.

• Havi: Strange omens and wild portents. Something evil is stirring. And I cannot always sift the truth from what is false.

Týr stepped up to stand beside Havi.

• Týr: Far-Seer, you have sight beyond us all. I have no doubt you will prevail over what troubles you.

• Havi: The Nornir told me I would die at Ragnarök. They described the scene of my passing.

Týr stepped up to stand beside Havi.

• Týr: All but a few will perish in the final battle, we know this. Yet we will die well... and live again in great and glorious tales.

• Havi: I will need your strength in the coming days. To anchor me, to challenge me, to pull me back from the abyss should I teeter.
• Týr: And I will, as long as breath fills me. So I must caution you, step with care in this place. What happens here may ripple through the fabric of the nine worlds.

Together they entered a large area, where the roots of Yggdrasil reached down and a ring of stone ruins circled the hole leading to the Well. Five sunstones dotted the room, though light only filtered through one, and a barrier lay over the hole.

• Havi: The well is sealed. Someone labors to keep me out.
• Týr: Perhaps it is meant as a warning.
• Havi: I will take it as a challenge.

They stepped further in, taking stock of the challenge before them.

• Týr: I recall there being more light in here.
• Havi: These sunstones are meant to guide the light, but the path has been diverted.

Havi began inspecting the sunstones along the sides.

• Havi: What if an invader was trying to weaken the well's defenses? Are we meant to intervene?
• Týr: The integrity of this sacred place must be preserved, but whether we be a bane or a boon remains to be seen.

At the nose of the chamber, Havi inspected the one sunstone directing light.

• Havi: There are two targets the light must strike, but only one stream.
• Týr: How do two farms share one source of water?
• Havi: By splitting the stream.

Havi directed the active sunstone so the beam shone at a larger prism above the entrance, splitting the beam in two and activating two sunstones at once.

• Týr: You've done this before, Havi.
• Havi: Once or twice.

Havi made his way to direct the activated sunstones.

• Týr: I doubt the Nornir will appreciate our visit. The curious are not welcome here.
• Havi: We'll have come and gone before they feel our presence.

Havi aimed the sunstones at their neighbors.

• Havi: Now that the light is split, the streams must find their way home.

Havi directed one beam of light and successfully activated the first seal.

• Havi: The light has found its mark. The stone is lit.

Havi moved the other sunstones into place, activating the second seal and lifting the barrier.

• Týr: The well is open to us.
• Havi: I will lead.

Havi dove into the well, with Týr following soon after. They climbed out onto the ringed dais surrounding the well.

• Týr: Take what you need, and do it quickly. We should not linger.

Around the well stood statues of the three Norns. Havi could hear them whisper softly.

• Urðr: Havi, break our stalemate.
• Verðandi: They like to spin in silence.
• Skuld: It is done.

Havi approached a bowl, formed by the roots of Yggdrasil, which held the water of the well. He dipped a flask into it, collecting the water. As he sealed the flask, he heard the growl of a wolf and whipped around.

• Havi: Týr?

In the shadows around the edge of the room, Havi saw a pair of glowing red eyes and the silhouette of a great wolf. He drew his bow and tried to aim, but the wolf moved quickly, jumping down one of the statues to reach the floor. As the wolf came out from behind the statue into the light, though, it was revealed to be only a pup. Havi hesitated and the pup skittered away into the shadows again.

• Havi: Careless little pup. You shouldn't be here. Where are you? There's no wolf alive I can trust...

Through one of the waterfalls, the shadow of the great wolf could be seen. When the pup skittered out again, chasing a bug, Havi took aim with his bow.

• Týr: Havi, stop!

Havi loosed the arrow, but Týr grabbed it from the air.

• Havi: Out of my way, Týr. I'll suffer no wolves in Asgard!
• Týr: This is a sacred place. Killing here is forbidden, you know this Havi.

Týr looked down at the arrow and snapped it in two in his hand, letting the pieces fall to the ground. It left a cut along the palm of his hand. As he stepped toward Havi, the pup came to inspect the broken arrow, but was quickly distracted by a passing dragonfly.

• Týr: Has your mind fled you? You act as though possessed by the spirit of another!

Destiny drives me.My mind is free.A doom awaits me.

Havi grew angry again.

• Havi: I am the Many in the One, Týr. The Yeller, the Spear Charger, the Masked One. I am Long Beard and Shaggy cloak. I am the Wanderer and the Striver. And now I am the Foe of the Wolf. Nothing can change this now.
• Týr: Whatever mind drives you, Havi, you mustn't kill here. Shed no innocent blood in this sacred place.

• Havi: My mind is my own, Týr. But you pose a curious thought. Could one mind usurp another's? The hugr (mind) of one in the body of someone else?
• Týr: Are you drunk on these waters? Take your flask, forget the wolf, and let us be gone before the Nornir weave us a pair of shackles!

• Havi: The Nornir warned me... a wolf will be my doom at Ragnarok.
• Týr: Will you slay every wolf in the nine realms to sidestep this fate? Ridiculous!

Havi considered his words, then nodded.

• Havi: Take this beast, I want it caged. I would have every wolf and dog in Asgard caged if I could.
• Týr: To ease your troubled mind, I will do as you ask. We need you focused for the coming war.

They clasped arms.

• Havi: Thank you, Courage-Bringer, for your steady hand.

Týr went to collect the pup while Havi made to leave.

• Týr: When one descends this deep, there's no going back up.
• Havi: Then the only way is further down.

Havi dove into the well again. Below the water, he found a tunnel, leading outside. Surfacing from the water, he heard Loki's voice.

• Loki: When a thought enters your head, you're not afraid to take the plunge!
• Havi: Loki?
• Loki: How was it in there? All is well?

Havi swam toward shore.

• Loki: Hello!
  Havi! Over here!

Havi pulled himself onto land and approached Loki.

• Loki: You entered the well, did you not? And you found what you were looking for?
• Havi: I have a skin of sacred water, yes. Is the Builder preparing his demonstration?
• Loki: How did the well look? Peaceful? Calm? Quiet?

Havi folded his arms.

• Havi: What are you driving at, Loki?
• Loki: Driving at? I'm only curious. The well is a wondrous place, I wish I could see it for myself.
• Havi: There was a wolf cub with us, trespassing on sacred ground. But Týr took care of it.
• Loki: Took care of it? Is he dead?

Death would be a mercy.The wolf lives.Is the Builder ready?

• Havi: It should never have been born into this world.
• Loki: O, what have you done? What have you done!

Havi looked at Loki for a moment.

• Havi: Týr convinced me to spare it, against my better instincts.
• Loki: Ah, yes. To be sure, intellect should overrule our instinct. Týr knows this well.

• Havi: The wolf lives. But Týr will cage the beast at his hall. I want no free wolves in Asgard.
• Loki: Ah, yes. Good. A wise decision, Havi.
• Havi: I wanted to kill it, but Týr stayed my hand.
• Loki: Týr is pragmatic, and it serves him well. You should heed him more often.

• Havi: I asked you a question, Loki. Is the Builder ready or not?
• Loki: The wolf, Mad One! What have you done to the wolf!
• Havi: The beast lives for now. Test my patience further, and I may fashion a cap from its coat.
• Loki: There's no need, Havi, no need. I only worry about the purity of the well. That's all and no more.

• Havi: Now tell me plainly. Where is the Builder?

Loki gestured to an area behind Havi.

• Loki: In a meadow, not far from here. Your raven may find the way.

Havi left to find the Builder.

Outcome

Havi met with Týr at the well, opened it and gathered some sacred water.

Behind the scenes

Havi may have additional comments throughout the wilderness that only trigger during this memory, and as the Well of Urdr is on the other side of the map from Heimdall's Tower, there are multiple paths via land and across the water leading to it that may not trigger these remarks. For the purposes of this page, they have been arranged along a route that would easily trigger all known comments while maintaining a linear focus on reaching the well. The offering monolith for the Ymir tear stones and the southern shore—easily accessed by a teleport behind the Great Hall—appear to be within a margin that triggers Havi's thoughts, but the path north of the Great Hall that runs west and east and slopes naturally down towards the northeast island does not.

Initially, Loki will "lead" the Builder as they walk in unison towards the clearing—Loki's NPC actor uses parkour to descend the cliff whereas the Builder's actor cannot use parkour, causing him to lag behind. However, their pathing will ultimately take them into Ivaldi's Forge where they will become stuck, and they will not complete their journey to the clearing until the player gets far enough out of range that their actors unload and "teleport" there. Additionally, if the player gets sufficiently out of range of one—usually by lagging behind on the linear Bifröst—one will unload before the other, leaving him stranded in place at the spot where the first unloaded.

Loki's ambient remarks to Havi upon surfacing in the water above the well's sunken exit may not trigger if the player surfaces too close to the shore he stands on or swims too quickly to it. Surfacing further into the bay—near the flotsam—provides enough distance that Loki can be heard while giving enough time for all his lines to exhaust.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla