Chipping Away

Chipping Away 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 spoke with Geadric on land's situation.

Dialogue

Traveling around Oxenefordscire, Eivor looked for opportunities to weaken Eadwyn's hold. On a road between Buckingham and Leah Villa Garrison, she found a few fyrd soldiers crouching in the bushes on a ledge beside the road.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1: Spread out around to the side of 'em, lads! Stay on your toes, or we'll be on the gibbet!

Eivor approached them.

• Eivor: You there. Why are you crawling about?
• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1: A patrol of Eadwyn's men is coming this way. We're going to jump 'em.

Eivor joined the men in waiting as a group of enemy soldiers came down the road.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1: Steady, boys. Lambs to the slaughter.

Eadwyn's men settled around a campfire under the ledge and the fyrd men attacked.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1: Caught 'em by the balls, we did! Well done, wayfarer, couldn't've done it without you.

At the Thaerelea Ruins, Eivor found some of Geadric's fyrd in trouble.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 2: Dear God, we're in trouble. Watch out over there, men! O, Christ in holy Heaven.
• Eivor: Geadric asked me to help you whenever I could.
• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 2: Eadwyn's soldiers've got us in a tough spot. We're grateful for any help you can give.

A large group of enemy soldiers attacked, and Eivor helped Geadric's men defeat them.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 2: That was a near-run thing. Thanks for helping us out.

Before leaving, Eivor looked around. In one of the towers, she found a piece of paper.

Journal Entry A few of us came looking to join a fyrd hoping for a quick victory and plenty of spoils. But now we're lost and hungry. Some soldiers marched by while we hid in the underbrush. Eadwyn's men. We'll see some fighting soon. God help us.

In a small copse of trees northwest of Saint Albanes Abbey, Eivor found another group of Geadric's men.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 3: Eadwyn's men! They're after us.

Eivor approached them.

• Eivor: You there. What's wrong?
• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 3: Here they come! Quick, men, or they'll wipe us out!

Eadwyn's soldiers lined up on the cliff above and began shooting arrows, but Eivor helped dispatch them.

• Anglo-Saxon Soldier 3: You pulled our asses out of the fire, friend. We're grateful to you.

Additionally, Eivor had opportunities to destroy Eadwyn's supply carts north-northwest of Tharelea Ruins on the road to the Alne River crossing, as well as southeast of Tharelea Ruins in the woods on the way to Linforda. She was also able to target flag-bearing soldiers, the largest and most powerful of Eadwyn's enforcers, at Saint Albanes Abbey, Evesham Abbey, and in the city of Oxeneforda.

Once Eivor had inflicted enough injury on Eadwyn's war assets, she reflected on her efforts.

• Eivor: I have weakened Eadwyn's defenses enough. Ambushing her soldiers should be my final strike before the battle begins.

Outcome

Eivor lowered Eadwyn's grip on the region.

Behind the scenes

• While this memory will not trigger until Eivor speaks to Geadric in Buckingham at the end of Brewing Rebellion, the fyrd men preparing to ambush the soldiers on the road can be helped as soon as the thegns have been rescued at Leah Villa.
• If this memory is not completed before assaulting Cyne Belle Castle at the end of the arc, the only apparent change is that Eadwyn's bodyguards will be full-fledged standard-bearers instead of run-of-the-mill soldiers.
• Even if the "weakening" bar is not filled and this memory completed before the assault, it becomes available again after the assault is completed up until completion of Reporting on Oxenefordscire—with no changes in dialogue—for no other purpose than completion's own sake (and the extra xp for doing so). Destroying any oil jar carts inside Cyne Belle Castle intact after the assault will also count towards advancing the bar.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla