The Hunting Grounds

The Hunting Grounds 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 Vinland to track down the whereabouts of her old enemy, Gorm Kjotvesson.

Dialogue

As she arrived in Vinland, Eivor investigated for clues to Gorm's location, finding many gossipers to eavesdrop on. As each conversation wrapped up, Eivor thought to herself on what she learned. Eivor saw a man on a bench near the shore where she arrived and sat down beside him to eavesdrop on two women behind him.

• Olga: Elspeth, I was wondering... have you seen Hilde's brother about?
• Elspeth: Olav the Unlucky? Why, are you sweet on the fellow? Is that it?
• Olga: No, no, just worried about him, that's all.
• Elspeth: Ah, well. I have some bad news for you, lass. Gorm comes roaring up shouting "Wot's all this? Who's been in my gear?" An' he stares right at Olav.
• Olga: O, sweet Olav! The poor man. What then? Was he all right?
• Elspeth: Olav, he tries to run, but says, "I weren't stealin', I was tradin'!" But Gorm would have none of that.
• Olga: I can't bear to hear another word! Good Olav, to think he may have been hurt. Or worse.

From this, Eivor learned that Gorm kept his things in the storehouse.

• Eivor: Trading? Who could this Olav trade with here?

Eivor eavesdropping for Gorm's whereabouts

Eivor walked up the path and saw a wood pile. Pretending to sort and stack wood, she overheard another conversation.

• Worker Woman: Grab a shovel from Gorm's storehouse.
• Worker Man: No. It is a rotten place, that storehouse. Have you seen it? A bloody mess.
• Worker Woman: If it's a mess, then clean it, dung-brain.
• Worker Man: He beat Olav bad. Thrashed him and locked him away in the storehouse.
• Worker Woman: You know why? Because Olav stole from Gorm and got caught. You're not stealing, are you?
• Worker Man: N-no.
• Worker Woman: Good. Now less whining, more working.

From this, Eivor learned that Gorm and Olav fought in the storehouse.

• Eivor: Gorm's storehouse. A good place to start.

Futher into the settlement, Eivor sat at a makeshift tavern and ate some food as she overheard more talking.

• Aud: Helgi, that fine honey mead you have. Pour me a horn, would you?
• Helgi: I have ale for you, Aud. But no mead.
• Aud: What? We had a whole cask.
• Helgi: Gorm smashed it over Olav's head, right there in the storehouse.
• Aud: Thor's hammer, I am done with this place. Send me home, Helgi. I heard Gorm took a strap to Olav?
• Helgi: Yes. The fool stole goods to trade with the skrælingjar (natives).
• Aud: So Gorm dragged him off to the storehouse for a beating? That explains the mess.

From this, Eivor learned that Gorm locked Olav in the storehouse.

• Eivor: This Olav was trading with locals. Good to know there are other folk around.

A nearby note apprised her of the dangers of the woods.

Hasty Letter

Aud, I should have stayed in port. There's something out here in the woods. Something big. And hungry. Should it come to it, bury my bones in Jorvik.

Near the gate out of the settlement, she picked up a broom and started sweeping hay as she listened to two guards speak nearby.

• Guard 1: No, you tell Gorm he got out of the storehouse.
• Guard 2: Gorm is not here. So until he is, I won't worry on it.
• Guard 1: You should. You are the one who lost him.
• Guard 2: Maybe so, but I am sailing back to England at first light. May Loki eat this place.
• Guard 1: Where is Gorm at anyway? We have supplies waiting for him.
• Guard 2: Only Olav would know. But he had a kind of accident.
• Guard 1: Olav the Unlucky. The fool earned his nickname.

The other guard laughed.

• Guard 2: This whole cursed venture is unlucky if you ask me.

From this, Eivor recognized that Olav might know Gorm's location.

• Eivor: This Olav cannot bear any loyalty to Gorm. Could be he will aid me.

Having completed her investigation of Nyhofn, Eivor located the storehouse and saw the smashed remains of some crates outside it.

• Eivor: Smashed crates. Somebody crawled off, left a trail of blood.

Eivor found some scrolls on a desk.

Ripped Letter

Sister,

Wish you were here, because I am in big trouble.

Gorm found out about my trading venture, and now he wants to nail my head to a post.

I need to get out.

• Eivor: Finding Olav may be the key to finding Gorm. Or at least, a helpful ally.

Eivor knocked down a weak wicker wall and walked into the storehouse. Inside, Eivor investigated more and found a bloody log with chains attached to it, with opened manacles at the ends.

• Eivor: Someone picked the lock and got away. Or was hauled off. Could be a trail.

Eivor looked at two bloody crates blocking a low pass under the rock wall.

• Eivor: Someone broke through here, made quite a mess. Could be Olav went this way.

From this small entrance, Eivor slid under and found a crevice opening. On the other side, Eivor saw footprints.

• Eivor: Footprints. Might be Olav's.

Eivor followed the footprints uphill out of the ravine.

• Eivor: This trail leads to high ground. Good, I can get my bearings.

Karonhiakèn:iate'

Eivor climbed to the viewpoint atop Tiotenontatierénhton overlooking Karonhiakèn:iate', learned the lay of the land, and admired the view.

• Eivor: Gods. Never have I seen such a place. Quiet. And not a stone building in sight.

Eivor performed a Leap of Faith from the summit and picked up Olav's trail again, leading downhill to the village. Eivor walked through the settlement.

• Iroquois Man: Iah nowén:ton tékken kí:ken ión:kwe. (I have never seen this woman.)
• Iroquois Woman: Oh kwah niiawen'hátie'? Ó:ia ión:kwe iah kèn:'en tekanákere' onkwaná:takon ísewe's. (What's happening? Another stranger in our village.)

Further into the village, Eivor found a small group of the Kanien'kehá:ka, two of them standing out from the others.

• Eivor: Those two carry themselves like leaders. It's worth a try.

Eivor approached the leaders, drawing looks from the surrounding locals. A man at the doorway to a longhouse motioned his head to the necklaced man inside to notify him of the new arrival, as the female leader turned to Eivor after talking with another man.

Eivor greeting the two Kanien'kehá:ka members

• Eivor: Hail friends. Do you... do we understand one another?

The two members looked at each other and woman spoke to the man.

• Konwahawíhshon: Ó:ia Kaniatara'kehró:non. Tiok nahò:ten thikà:te' kí:ken ión:kwe. (Another woman coming from the sea. There's something different about her.)
• Eivor: Do any of you speak Norse? Or Saxon?
• Karonhiaktátie': Sasatè:kwaht kí:ken ión:kwe iah tetewaienté:ri. Ia'teionkwaieríhse' ó:nen tsi nithoti'nikonhratihénthos ne kèn:'en. (Get rid of her, we don't know her. We had enough examples of how interesting they find it here.)

The two village members surprised by Eivor's friendship with Sýnin

Eivor looked confused as Karonhiaktátie stepped in for a closer look. Then, Eivor's raven Sýnin came and landed on her arm.

• Konwahawíhshon: (laugh)
  

Both leaders looked at each other again.

• Konwahawíhshon: Kí:ken otsi'tèn:'a wa'onátshi'ne kí:ken ión:kwe. Thikà:te' nen' nè:'e. (This woman became friends with a bird. That's a rare blessing.)
• Eivor: This is Sýnin. Her name means Insight.
• Konwahawíhshon: Ientia'ténhawe' kí:ken tsi nón:we ó:ia Kaniatara'kehró:non íthre's tánon' enhináhskon'. Enhoia'takéhnha' tóka' enhonatenróhake' kí:ken. (I'll bring her to the other man coming from the sea that lives in the village, and we'll give her to him. He'll help her if they become friends.)

Eivor following Konwahawíhshon in the village

While Karonhiaktátie' remained behind, Konwahawíhshon began to lead Eivor through the village.

• Eivor: Sýnin, you made us some friends.

As she walked, she marveled at the village's construction.

• Eivor: These huts and clothes. Am I in Midgard still?

The other side of the village backed up to a cliff, from which sprang multiple waterfalls. As they drew close, Eivor commented on them to Konwahawíshon.

• Eivor: Waterfalls are places of power in the old sagas.
• Konwahawíhshon: Kí:ken ó:ia Kaniatara'kehró:non rotáhska. (The other man coming from the sea will be happy.)

As she walked with the village leader, Eivor heard a man shouting.

• Olav: Nine days I hung in the tree! Nine days, you hear me!
• Eivor: There is a language I know well. But the words are mind-sick.

Konwahawíhshon spoke again.

• Konwahawíhshon: Sathón:te' ken thí:ken? Rotia'tátkon. Satshétsen't tóka' enhskwé:ni'. Thó:ner é:ren enhtshia'tenhá:wihte' ne kèn:'en. (Did you hear that? He is a witch. Get rid of him if you can before he brings it here.)
• Olav: Then I threw my eye in the well! This is wisdom!
• Eivor: Sounds like the ranting of a seer.

Eivor meeting Olav in the cave

Konwahawíhshon led Eivor through one of the waterfalls, into a cave hidden behind it. Inside, a man paced and looked over the fire. Eivor nodded to Konwahawíhshon, who left them to their conversation. Olav looked up and his eyes widened to see Eivor.

• Eivor: Who are you?
• Olav: Olav, I am. Olav. Called the Unlucky, but don't you believe it.
• Eivor: And where is—
• Olav: Promise you will do it quick!

Olav kneeled down before Eivor, bowing his head.

• Eivor: What?
• Olav: Do not stab me from behind, drengr. Like Sigurd and the dragon. Please!
• Eivor: I am not here to kill you. I have come for Gorm.

Olav looked up.

• Olav: N-not here to kill me?
• Eivor: Not today.

Smiling, Olav stood again.

• Olav: O, stay clear of Gorm, then. He is not a good man, not a good man at all. Why would you need to see such a terrible man?

Gorm owes me a debtNot your concernYou ask too many questions

• Eivor: It is a matter of honor, and Gorm owes me a great debt. Let us leave it at that.
• Olav: O, good. Yes, yes. Honor is good. Olav will help. Olav will help you so much. Honor is the only thing, yes. The only thing.

• Eivor: My reasons matter not. Will you help me find him or no?
• Olav: O yes, yes! Olav is helpful. Olav helps in your nameless feud. Olav obeys! I will tell you everything, even the secrets of earth and sky!

• Eivor: Do you always pry into the affairs of others?
• Olav: No, no! Olav makes talk only. Olav has no one to talk to. I have hidden myself away, to wait for now, and think of riddles no one will hear. But I will help with your mysterious errand. I will, I will.

• Eivor: I saw signs of a struggle at your camp. Did something happen between you and Gorm?
• Olav: Nothing to speak of. He, uh, did not care for me trading with the villagers here. Beat me and put me in chains. I slipped away, free! Not so unlucky, am I? Still alive. Yes, still alive.

Olav describing what he knew of Gorm to Eivor

• Eivor: Good. Point me toward Gorm.
• Olav: Not possible. He is away. Far away at the camps in these woods. All well-guarded. Might be at any one.
• Eivor: Why camps? Is he settling here? Or searching for something?
• Olav: Searching. Yes. Always searching. And never finding, the mean, mean bacraut (asshole).
• Eivor: And how do I find these camps?
• Olav: I can show you. Follow, follow, follow.

Eivor followed Olav out of the waterfall cave.

• Eivor: Olav, would you tell me something?
• Olav: Anything Olav can tell, Olav will tell, my new and big friend!
• Eivor: Why would Gorm cross the sea to this nameless wilderness? It seems a great risk for so little.
• Olav: Gorm carries with him a crystal that talks. It tells him where to go and what to do!
• Eivor: A talking crystal?
• Olav: It is truth! The elf-stone tells him to seek, and so he seeks. And when it says dig, he digs. Such a mystery!
• Eivor: What is he digging for?
• Olav: That is a mystery he will not tell. But my guess is the best guess. He seeks the door to Jotunheim.
• Eivor: Hm.

Reaching a point where they could see out into the valley, Olav pointed out a camp in the distance, smoking rising from it.

• Olav: Look! Out across the river. One of Gorm's camps. All look like that. All of them.
• Eivor: They are well-guarded, you say?
• Olav: O yes. By fierce men. Warriors who attack any stranger on sight. Any one! And they are all well-armed. Not like you! As well-equipped as a stable hand.

Olav laughed while Eivor looked aside unamused.

• Eivor: It does not take much to kill a man.
• Olav: But sharp steel helps, o yes.
• Eivor: You are not wrong. I could use better weapons.

Olav thought for a moment.

• Olav: Olav will help. Gather ore and hides to barter for war gear.
• Eivor: Ore and hides, I can find out there?
• Olav: Yes yes! Some in the woods. Much more at Gorm's camps. Then trade it all with the people here. Easy as a smile, yes, yes.
• Eivor: I do not understand their language. Can you translate for me?
• Olav: No need, no. We talk with signs. Just walk up to a trader and start trading. Take this. Some goods to get you started.

Olav handed Eivor some iron ore and leather to start her trading.

• Eivor: Thank you for this, Olav. And until I say otherwise, speak nothing of this to anyone.

Olav nodded in agreement. Eivor took stock of what she learned and obtained.

• Eivor: Might be a good idea to trade, now that I am here.

Outcome

Eivor investigated both settlements of travelers and the natives of Vinland. Eivor found an ally, Olav, who showed Eivor where to start her search to kill Gorm.

Behind the scenes

While the most logical order of eavesdrop points would be the bench on the beach ("Gorm's things are in the warehouse"), the woodpile just up the hill ("Gorm and Olav fought in the storehouse"), and the guards and the tavern ("Olav might know Gorm's location" and "Gorm locked Olav in the storehouse" respectively) in opposing directions from the wood pile, the bullet list of clues will auto-arrange in the order of bench > tavern > wood pile > guards. For the purposes of this page, the order of eavesdrop points has been arranged according to position along the player's path and thus the most likely order reached in conventional gameplay.

If players play as male Eivor, part of the Kanien'kehá:ka subtitles, particularly when Konwahawíhshon and Karonhiaktátie' speak, will change from "ión:kwe" to "rón:kwe," which is the Kanien'kehá:ka word for "man" or "male." This marks one of the few occasions in the game where the Animus' chosen presentation of Eivor's gender will be reflected in dialogue. For the purposes of this page, the dialogue has been written from the canonical narrative presentation of Eivor as female.

Gallery

• 
  Konwahawíhshon bringing Eivor to meet Olav

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla