Selwyn

"The Order condemns all men to pain, for all men are but a shadow of the perfection we should know."

―Selwyn to Eivor, c. 877.

Selwyn (died 877), also known as The Gallows, was a Anglo-Saxon member of the Wardens of Faith sect of the Order of the Ancients in England during the 9th century. Holding the title of Palatinus, Selwyn worked as a reeve in the town square, in the city of Wincestre.

Biography

Early years

"That hedge-pig has brought down laws like a hammer on Wincestre. Executing sinners on spurious charges in the square."

―Goodwin describing Selwyn to Eivor, c. 877.

Selwyn came from fortunate beginnings, which showed him being accustomed to being superior over servants and serfs surrounding him. However, his disdain for his father's habits, such as cheating, drinking, and dwindling their monetary resources, made Selwyn disgusted with his own family line. He rose above such manners and unbecoming ways, which he believed was from giving the weak too much leeway. Thus, given the Order's backing, Selwyn abused his power to enforce laws and to enact rulings, as he was trying to destroy human effluence.

Reeve of Wincestre and death

Selwyn: "Perverter of justice! Who dares execute the King's noose?"

Eivor: "It is not in Aelfred's name that you carry out your work. You are The Order's executioner."

Selwyn: "Ah. You peer through the veil, but you do not see clearly. Aelfred's laws are a slave's fever-dream. He offers shit-soaked beggars a seat at his table. Where the meek devour the strong. Who best to judge the fate of the wretched many, if not the strong and worthy few?"

—Selwyn to Eivor in the Memory Corridor, c. 877.

By the 870s, Selwyn came to serve as one reeves of Wincestre alongside Goodwin, upholding the city's law and order under King Aelfred. Circa 877, Selwyn and fellow members Hilda and Ealhferth were assigned by Maegester Fulke to eliminate Aelfred for his collaboration with an informant named the "Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ" to undermine the Order in England. While the others went about their own operations, Selwyn turned to take down Goodwin who was a close confidant of King Aelfred and had came close to uncovering Selwyn's identity and activities.

Soon enough, Selwyn secretly sent his men to Goodwin's house, capturing and bringing him to the Wincestre Garrison while having his men ransack and attempt to destroy any evidence of his doing. Certain that he had gotten rid of Goodwin's meddlings, Selwyn turned to undermine the king's law reforms, executing numerous citizens over small charges in the city square. At the trial where he sought to execute a couple, Leona and her husband Hubert, for their comments towards fellow member, the Bishop Ealhferth. Upon the husband's execution and the audience's verbal disrespect, Selwyn continued to enforce his will, until Eivor moved stealthily and then assassinated him. Thus, Selwyn's abuse of power over Wincestre ended.

Trivia

• Like other Order members, Selwyn's cutscene in the Memory Corridor differs. At the end of his confession, the darkened tree with hanged people started to lower its rope and then it hanged Selwyn, whose spirit immediately vanished after succumbing to its pull. Selwyn's medallion was dropped from his hands as he was hanged.
• Selwyn is one of the four Order members that wanted and planned to kill Aelfred, along with The Quill, The Seax, and The Instrument.
• Selwyn shares similarities with the character Majd Addin in Jerusalem from the 2007 video game Assassin's Creed. Both served as the city's representative of the king—Alfred and Saladin, respectively—and was an overzealous executioner, though he did not sadistically enjoy it as Addin did, nor did he have the crowd's wild support during the executions.

Gallery

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  Selwyn presiding over the trial of a couple
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  Selwyn assassinated by Eivor
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  Selwyn in the Memory Corridor
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  Selwyn about to be hanged in the Memory Corridor

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla