Bloody Path to Peace

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Bloody Path to Peace was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan in 2020vthrough the Portable Animus HR-8.5.

Description

Eivor met with Ivarr the Boneless and Ceolbert to invade Wesberie.

Dialogue

Eivor approached Wesberie and overheard Ivarr and Ceolbert talking.

• Ivarr: Smell that, Ceolbert?
• Ceolbert: I...I think so. A faint, grassy odor?
• Ivarr: No, no, the air smells of distant thunder. Thor walks with us.
• Eivor: There's Ivarr. Ceolbert, too.

Eivor approached.

• Eivor: Ivarr. Ceoelbert.

The two stood up from their crouched position.

• Ivarr: Hej, Eivor. I was telling the ætheling here that Thor is with us this day. Our victory is assured.
• Eivor: So, what is your plan?
• Ivarr: That bastard Ynyr commands this hamlet. So let us show these folks what happens when a village bows to the Britons. Smash it to kindling, burn it to ashes, and cut Ynyr's tender throat. Right, my boy?
• Ceolbert: I hope to fight well, not cruelly. The cutting of throats, I leave to you.

Ynyr must die.Our goal is peaceThink of Ceolbert

• Eivor: Ynyr is the Britons' best warrior. If he dies a brutal death, Rhodri will think twice about fighting back.

• Eivor: Flames and smoke will warm Rhodri's desire for peace. Ynyr is a lesser concern.
• Ivarr: Peace is for suckling babes, but as you like.

• Eivor: If we prevail here, Ceolbert becomes ealdorman.
• Ivarr: First an aetheling, soon an ealdorman. One day, the king! O, you are jumping rank, boy.
• Ceolbert: I hope to begin my tenure in Peace, Ivarr. Let us finish this hear, once and for all.
• Ivarr: Even talks like an ealdorman now.

• Ivarr: Ugh...my blood runs hot. Let us rush in now and leave a trail of bloody kindling.
• Eivor: A stealthy approach might earn us more time.
• Ivarr: Bah! I prefer sound and fury. But do as you must.

I choose stealth.I choose an all-out attack.

• Eivor: I want to go in quietly. No point bringing in every armed Briton down on your heads.
• Ivarr: Am I to stand here drooling like the village idiot, waiting for your success?
• Eivor: Ceolbert, listen to this old man's stories and wipe his drool for him.
• Ivarr: I am not a patient man, Eivor. Put these dogs down quietly or I may just join you the way I did in Ledecestre.

Eivor made her way toward Wesberie.

• Ivarr: We will stay behind and draw runes in the dirt. But do not take long, my blood is up.

Eivor began to stealtily burn all the cottages, until Ivarr grew impatient and charged in shouting.

• Ivarr: Eivor! Are you not done? Have you stopped to nap? Enough! I will have blood! Ivar...!"
• Eivor: Gods, Ivarr. You're a rabbid hound.

• Eivor: Bloody kindling it is! We will smash this place to splinters!
• Ivarr: Come, Ceolbert. The fight is on!
• Eivor: Let the Saxon villagers flee, Ivarr. Only the Britons deserve our wrath.

Eivor, Ivarr and Ceolbert run into the village.

• Ivarr: Thor thunders beside us!
• Ceolbert: Aaah!
• Ivarr: Light it up and burn it down! Burn it all down!

As Eivor went throughout the town, she could overhear the villagers talking.

• Anglo-Saxon Man: I wish somebody'd chase these Britons out of here.
• Anglo-Saxon Man: This war is endless. Who cares who's our lord? The sheep must be shorn either way.

After the burning of the houses, Ynyr appeared to investigate the disturbance.

• Ivarr: Eivor, here comes Ynyr! He's roiling in like a winter sea!
• Briton Warrior: You think those Danes will ever stop coming for us? You'd think killing Rhodri's brother shoulda been enough for 'em.
• Ynyr ap Cadfarch: Smoke! Danes! They're in the camp.

The trio fought Ynyr.

• Ivarr: I'll broil you alive and feed your balls to chickens, Ynyr!
• Ynyr Ap Cadfarch: Ivarr! You lost on the beach at Mona, and you will lose here.
• Ivarr: Your army is weak! We will gut you like tired swine!
• Ynyr ap Cadfarch: I'll pull your tongue through the back of your throat just to shut you up.

Eventually Ynyr was killed.

• Ivarr: So much for Ynyr. Fearsome Briton, my bunghole.

After all of the enemies were killed.

• Ivarr: Ah! That's the last of them! Let us get a good view of our handiwork, Ceolbert! Join us, Eivor! Look here! Look upon this masterpiece!

Eivor met with Ivarr and Ceolbert in a small count on the edge of town and spoke to Ivarr while Ceolbert prayed.

• Ivarr: Eivor! Did you see Ceolbert fight? He is all balls now.
• Ceolbert: I give thanks for victory and ask penance for taking lives.
• Ivarr: O Ceolbert, your God bores me to death. Have a laugh, we won!

Ceolbert shook his head.

• Ceolbert: And I took no pleasure in it, Ivarr.
• Ivarr: Eivor and I were made for this, my boy. The song of swords, the blood-mist, the bone-crunching and baring of teeth.

I agree.I don't agree.Are you satisfied, Ivarr?

• Eivor: To survive a battle is to be born anew, in blood and screams.
• Ivarr: My father died in a snake pit. Left nothing but moldy bones and putrid flesh. But by the gods, he had earned a place at Odin's table!
• Eivor: Your father left a strong saga.

• Eivor: There was once a village here. Of innocent folk. Working, hustling, cheating, laughing, whoring. Life. We turned it to kindling, men died, refugees fled. A village is turned to ashes.
• Ivarr: Come now! We are Norsemen! That is our calling.

• Eivor: Is this enough blood paid, Ivarr? We've spilt enough to slake the thirst of Fenrir.
• Ivarr: Why stop there?

• Eivor: Ceolbert, I would know your mind on all this. Are you satisfied with our victory?
• Ceolbert: I...I believe I am. I'll still need word from Rhodri as soon as possible. What does he intend?
• Eivor: He will see the flames. He'll know Wesberie has been destroyed.
• Ivarr: The bleeding pus pit claims only an dragon can defeat him. We'll soon put that to the test.
• Eivor: It is peace we want, Ivarr. Not revenge. If you cannon accept that, return to Repton now.
• Ivarr: You do not know Rhodri as I do, Eivor. You do not know what a slippery, lying shit he can be."
• Ceolbert: Enough talk of killing! I need a moment of calm.
• Ivarr: You need mead.
• Ceolbert: No, Ivarr. True calm. A walk in the woods to clear the air. Or...fishing. Would you go fishing with me?
• Ivarr: Fishing, huh? Looking for a warm puddle to dangle your worm in?'

Ivarr gestured to his crotch and Ceolbert shook his head.

• Ceolbert: I saw a small pond nearby. Will you come?
• Eivor: We can all take a moment to allow our blood to cool.

The three began walking toward the pond.

• Ceolbert: It's just up here.
• Ivarr: I have no fondness for fishing. Where is the sport in it? There is no chance the fish will kill me.

They reached the pond.

• Ceolbert: Here will be good. Let's fish for eel. Deorlaf relishes nettle soup cooked with eels fresh from the water.
• Ivarr: I will not fish. You go ahead.

Ivarr walked away and leaned against a nearby rock.

Catch eel with bowCatch eel with fishing line

• Ceolbert: Is that how Danes fish?

• Ceolbert Hooked! Bring it to shore!' Well done, Eivor. An eel!

Second eel:

• Ceolbert: Another eel! Almost enough for a hearty soup.

Third and final eel:

• Ceolbert: That's enough for now. Bishop Deorlaf will be pleased. Let's go tell Ivarr about our catch.

Eivor spoke to Ivarr:

• Ivarr: That took longer than clearing this village.

Ceolbert walked toward them holding a basket of fish.

• Ceolbert: We caught some eel for a feast. The bishop should be pleased.
• Ivar: The simple fellow comes now.

Bishop Deorlaf approached them, looking at Ceolbert's basket of fish and laid it down.

• Bishop Deorlaf: Ah! A strange way to celebrate victory. But then again, our Christ was a fisher of souls, was he not?

Ceolbert stood up.

• Ceolbert: Bishop, greetings. We've the makings for a delicious soup!
• Bishop Deorlaf: I'm grateful, Ceolbert. But my heart is heavy. So many homes burnt. We'll be years rebuilding.
• Ivarr: You should have seen Ceolbert fight. He will be an ealdorman with sack and guts. Fearsome and raw!
• Ceolbert: I should rather be fair and just. But I take the compliment.
• Bishop Deorlaf: I have sent word to the Britons. I pray King Rhodri will again be open to peace. In spite of his brother's murder.
• Ivarr: It worked in our favor! Look where we landed ... Britons begging for mercy like whiny pups.

Ivarr is right.We do not yet have peace.Ivarr is no diplomat.

• Eivor: I had my doubts about this plan Ivarr, but I believe it may work. The blow we dealt Rhodri is a painful one.

• Eivor: We set the village ablaze, yes. But peace is not guaranteed. And it will take another sort of skill to win it. Restraint.

• Eivor: The fighting is done, but the talking has not yet begun. We'll need to be careful about who attends our negotiations.

• Bishop Deorlaf: Our next steps are critical, my lords. And after what happened in Quatford, it is clear to me that Ivarr should lay low.
• Ivarr: Lay low? After all I have done here, you tell me to dunk my head?
• Eivor: The good bishop is right, Ivarr. You have a warrior's heart, not a peacemaker's.
• Ivarr: Fuck you, Wolf-Kissed. I know Rhodri, and I know the kind of tricks he will pull. This is me warning you.

Ivarr walked away and Eivor gave him a disapproving look.

• Ivarr: If you hear me farting, that is my welcome to the bastard!
• Ceolbert: You bruised his pride, Eivor.
• Eivor: If you have some balm for it, by all means, share it.
• Ceolbert: His pride makes him difficult. And his anger makes him hasty. But he is not without honest feeling.'

Ceolbert thought to himself for a moment.

• Ceolbert: I will hunt him a great boar, I think. And together we'll roast it over a fire and tell tales of war. That should please him.

Eivor gave Ceolbert a look as he walked away.

• Eivor: Bishop, we must prepare for Rhodri's arrival. Rally our men and set up a camp just here.

After a while, the camp was built and Eivor and Bishop Deorlaf waited for the King's arrival. Deorlaf paced while Eivor sat on a bench.

• Bishop: Deorlaf: Peace or war will be decided, but not yet, not now. We must wait.
• Eivor: I loathe waiting.
• Bishop Deorlaf: It is all in God's hands. We can but pray and give thanks for this moment of rest.

A Norse warrior approached.

• Norse Warriror: The Britons have come!
• Eivor: The moment has ended.
• Norse Warrior: This way. by the great oak.

They walked to the meeting place.

• Bishop Deorlaf: Where is Ceolbert? He ought to be present for these talks, as our future ealdorman.
• Norse Warrior: He went hunting. For wild boar, he said.
• Bishop Deorlaf: That was quite some time ago, no?
• Eivor: We cannot wait. We should settle the peace now.

They apprached Angharad and two guards.

• Bishop Deorlaf: Lady Angharad, greetings!
• Angharad: We come to speak of peace.
• Bishop Deorlaf: We are gladdened to hear it. But where is your great king?
• Angharad: He stays at the castle at my behest. I feared his presence would inflame the cutthroat, Ivarr.

Ivarr is not here either.It is best Rhodri stay awayRhodri should be here

• Eivor: We have confined our cutthroat to his tent.
• Angharad: Both of us fretting over our war-hungry companions. It seems we are of the same mind.
• Bishop Deorlaf: A surplus of caution never did any harm. I count this as a blessing.

• Eivor: You are wise to leave him behind. Your husband breathes the fire of war in a land of kindlings. Here we must have peace.

• Eivor: Rhodri is the King of the Britons. All promises of peace must come from his mouth.
• Angharad: In all things, the king and I act as one. As Lady of the Britons, I have full voice to speak for my husband and our people.
• Bishiop Deorlaf: Then we accept, honored lady, your full authority.

• Angharad: Perhaps, then, at long last we can end this war. Our peoples have suffered enough.

Eivor nodded then shared an approving look with Deorlaf.

• Eivor: And your proposal?
• Angharad: We shall withdraw all our soldiers to the time-honored border of our lands. We ask only that you give us some days to collect our furnishings and leave Caustow Castle. In return, you pldge to end all hostilities as of this moment.
• Eivor: These terms are generous. We have a truce.

Eivor and Angharad clasped forearms.

• Angharad: Truly..
• Bishop Deorlaf: Praise be, this is well and quickly done! God go with you and your king, Lady Angharad.
• Angharad: I salute you all. You waged a good war. Let us now wage a lasting peace.

Angharad and her soldiers departed.

• Bishop Deorlaf: I stand bewildered, Eivor. In the blink of an eye, years of blood and sweat are out to an end.
• Eivor: You have walked a difficult road, bishop.
• Bishop Deorlaf: Ceolbert must learn the good news. Will you tell him when you see him?
• Eivor: I'll find him now.

Outcome

Eivor, Ivarr and Ceolbert burned Wesberie and killed Ynyr ap Cadfarch and his men. Peace was negotiated between both parties. Eventually Eivor found and brought back a dying Ceolbert to camp.

Gallery

• 
  Ceolbert and Ivarr spying on Wesberie
• 
  Eivor finds both Ceolbert and Ivarr near the camp
• 
  Eivor resolves to attack Wesberie her way
• 
  Eivor prepares to light a hut on fire
• 
  Ceolbert, Eivor and Ivarr regroupe after the battle
• 
  Ceolbert with a basket of fish caught
• 
• 
  Ivarr angrily storms off, refusing peace talks with the Britons
• 
  Eivor and Deorlaf prior to the peace talks
• 
  Eivor and Deorlaf meet with Angharad on peace talks
• 
  Eivor shakes hands with Angharad to signify peace between the Britons and the Norse
• 
  Eivor asks a vikingr for Ceolbert's whereabouts
• 
  Eivor finds a drunken vikingr in the camp
• 
  Eivor speaks to the now sober soldier
• 
  Eivor encounters a mortally wounded Ceolbert in the cave
• 
  Eivor discovers a dagger of Britonnic origin
• 
  Ivarr desperatly checks on his protégé
• 
  Ceolbert succumbs to his wounds
• 
  Ivarr uses the Britonnic dagger as proof to declare war against Rhodri

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla