This Son of Jorvik

This Son of Jorvik 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 met with Faravid at the Wolds to further investigate his treachery for Halfdan Ragnarsson.

Dialogue

After leaving Halfdan's presence, Eivor left and met with Faravid, who happened to be drunk.

• Faravid: Eivor! Welcome, join me in drowning this golden drink.

Eivor spoke with Faravid.

• Faravid: You made it, come have a drink.
• Eivor: You're a few horns deep already.
• Faravid: Yet still floating! Tell me, how did my old friend like his goblet gift.
• Eivor: There were other things on his mind. Your man Ulf, for instance. He died protecting the spoils he stole from Halfdan.
• Faravid: Ulf! Poor Ulf. I told him to mind your tongue, but he wags it like a slobbering dog.
• Eivor: Was Halfdan always so easily riled?
• Faravid: No. Riches and glory have shaped him into something new. He's not the same man he used to be.

Riches and glory change peopleA leader deserves his spoilsWhat happened to this camp?

• Eivor: The songs of skalds and the glint of silver can turn even the best of us.
• Faravid: He was a fierce man in days past, but he has lost the bite he once had. He's too careful. He ruminates and hesitates.
• Eivor: What is this place? I expected an army, ready for warcraft.

• Eivor: A jarl is owed the spoils of war, to spend as he sees fit. So it has always been.
• Faravid: That may be so, but Halfdan hoards our wealth for himself, sharing neither gold or glory.
• Eivor: What is this place? I expected an army, ready for warcraft.

• Eivor: What is this place? I expected an army, ready for warcraft.

• Faravid: This was our first camp in Northumbria. I came here with Halfdan and his brothers, Ubba and Ivarr. We besieged Jorvik and put King Ælla in the cold ground. Those were good days, now too far gone.
• Eivor: What is all this?

Faravid challenging Eivor to a race to Jorvik

• Faravid: My share of the treasure we took from those distant days. I buried it here for a rainy day. This bag is heavy with silver. Enough to pay for an army. Come, race me to Jorvik, Eivor! Remind me of the glories long gone!
• Eivor: You're too drunk to win a race.
• Faravid: Then have a drink. Make it fair.

As Eivor got a drink, Faravid voiced his taunt.

• Faravid: What's keeping you, friend Eivor? Waiting for spring?

Eivor racing with Faravid while drunk

Both began to race each other.

• Faravid: Best not fall off your horse.
• Eivor: See you in Jorvik.
• Faravid: Fast, Eivor! Ride like Sleipnir's hooves!
• Eivor: Your horse is slow and her rider's drunk.
• Faravid: The gods love a fool!

Nearing the end of the race, both warriors saw the entrance of Jorvik.

• Eivor: Fly, my friend, fly. Show Faravid our arses.

If Eivor won the raceIf Faravid won the race

• Eivor: Having trouble keeping up?
• Faravid: My horse must be deeper in the cups than I am.

• Eivor: The mead gave you luck, that's all.
• Faravid: I offered you enough mead to best me. No excuses!

• Eivor: What are we doing in Jorvik? You haven't said.

Faravid informed Eivor of his plans

• Faravid: Paying a visit to our kept King Ricsige, long may he reign. I haven't enough men to beat the Picts alone. But with Ricsige and his fyrd, we'll finish them off.
• Eivor: You would bring a puppet king into this fight, but not your jarl?
• Faravid: Shhh. Keep this to yourself. The streets have ears, the windows have eyes.
• Eivor: I did not agree to this level of deception. You should have told me this before.
• Faravid: Eivor, my friend. If I described my full strategy, we might never leave the campfire.
• Eivor: I'd prefer the light of a fire to the darkness of your plans. Don't do it again.

Both warriors arrived at the Royal Hall. Yet, Faravid stopped Eivor before meeting with King Ricsige.

• Faravid: Wait. A favor I must ask of you. Make no mention that Halfdan is ignorant of our plans. It's better this way.
• Eivor: Are you mad? Ricsige answers to Halfdan. You put this man in grave danger if he defies his master's will.
• Faravid: Ricsige cannot defy orders he has never heard, no? Trust me, I will take the blame should our plan fall apart.

Eivor and Faravid speaking to King Ricsige

Both warriors walked in and talked with King Ricsige.

• Ricsige: Eivor the Wolf-Kissed. And Halfdan's cup bearer. What a curious surprise.
• Eivor: I hope the day finds you and Jorvik well.
• Eivor: Yes, we scrape by. With what little we still own. But this new war should make wealthy once again ... until our tribute is taken.
• Faravid: I smell the bile on your breath, king. Do not forget who is in charge here.
• Ricsige: O, do remind me, Faravid. Yesterday, it was Halfdan. But today I hear whispers that you are leading the charge. I am confused.
• Faravid: Yes, you answer to Halfdan. And now he orders one final strike on the Pict stronghold at Magnis.

Ricsige hearing of news to send aid to help Vikings attack Magnis Fortress

• Ricsige: To make war with the North on such a scale will require a hefty amount of silver and a large force of men.
• Faravid: My soldiers and silver are pledged already. I expect the same from you.
• Eivor: I have given my aid as well. The battle must be decisive.
• Ricsige: I see. And you have these orders from Halfdan in writing, yes? From the great man himself?

Halfdan knowsHalfdan does not know

• Eivor: Not with us, but you can rest assured that Halfdan has needs of you. He expects a swift victory.
• Ricsige: I'm sorry, Faravid, but duty compels me to refuse. Without strict orders from Halfdan, I will not risk the lives of so many.
• Faravid: You deny me?
• Ricsige: I do. To gift you an army puts my wealth and reputation at risk. That's not what Halfdan wants. He needs a strong and loyal king.
• Eivor: You presume to know what Halfdan wants?
• Ricsige: Hearsay is not enough. For all I know, this is another of Halfdan's tests.

Faravid walked out as Eivor followed him.

• Faravid: The greatest snake in Northumbria, that Saxon is. But we need his army to take Magnis.
• Eivor: And we'll have it, if we falsify orders from Halfdan ourselves.
• Faravid: You would do this? Draw up fake orders and pass them off as real?
• Eivor: That's it. And I know just who to speak with. Hjorr of Jorvik. He'll know what we need.

• Eivor: To be clear, King Ricsige ... Halfdan knows nothing about this attack.
• Ricsige: Nothing at all? That's unusual, Faravid.
• Faravid: Eivor is mistaken, Lord King. I was given Halfdan's personal assurance that you would volunteer your troops. He expects as much. But Halfdan is ailing and tired. Let us not burden him with more worry, but please him with a swift victory.
• Ricsige: I'm sorry, Faravid, but duty compels me to refuse. Without strict orders from Halfdan, I will not risk the lives of so many.
• Faravid: You deny me?
• Ricsige: I do. To gift you an army puts my wealth and reputation at risk. That's not what Halfdan wants. He needs a strong and loyal king.
• Eivor: You presume to know what Halfdan wants?
• Eivor: Without Halfdan's formal approval, I cannot help. It's too great a risk. And, after all, he is my ally. You understand.

Faravid walked off, angry, as Eivor followed.

• Faravid: I should break your arms for that! What were you doing?
• Eivor: I saw no reason to hide the truth. Ricsige is a Saxon puppet. He has more to lose than you and I ever will.
• Faravid: That serpent cannot be trusted, Eivor! If he tells Halfdan of our plan, our victory is at risk. Our victory is for Halfdan's own benefit. We will secure Northumbria for him, along with the gratitude of all its Saxon and Norse subjects.
• Eivor: Fine. If we falsify orders from Halfdan, Ricsige will accept them. Hjorr of Jorvik could help.

• Faravid: Good. Hjorr's favorite alehouse is nearby. Seek him there.

EIvor caught sight of an angry Saxon confronting Hjorr

Eivor left and located Hjorr, who was surrounded by protestors and an angry Anglo-Saxon man. Ljufvina was besides Hjorr.

• Anglo-Saxon Man 1: Ale costs more than bread! Things were better under Audun.
• Ljufvina: Hjorr, this crowd won't listen to reason.
• Anglo-Saxon Man 2: Give us your coin, you bloody robbers!
• Eivor: Hjorr ... just where I hoped you would be.
• Hjorr: Eivor, gods! You have come at the right moment.
• Anglo-Saxon Man 1: Right then, what's this?
• Eivor: Go home or get hurt. But you won't bother my friends.
• Anglo-Saxon Man 1: I'll bother who I please, after I brick your face to the brains.

Eivor, Hjorr, and Ljufvina fist-fought against the man and his friends and beat them unconscious.

• Ljufvina: Eivor, always the fighter.

Eivor nodded.

• Hjorr: Thank you, Wolf-Kissed. Those men will wake up soon enough.
• Ljufvina: With greater sense, I hope. What brings you back to Jorvik?
• Eivor: Secret errands to Halfdan. I need an army of men to face the Picts in the North.
• Hjorr: Has Halfdan planned an attack he cannot afford? That's not like him.
• Eivor: To be clear, Faravid made this plan. Not Halfdan.
• Ljufvina: Does Halfdan know of this plan or...
• Eivor: He doesn't, but he's given me leave to act as I must, for reasons I cannot share.
• Hjorr: Yes, we've heard the rumors. And all our messages have gone unanswered.

Eivor asking her friends to aid in forging a letter from Halfdan

• Eivor: Can you aid with some trickery? Help me forge a set of orders from Halfdan himself. To force Ricsige's cooperation?

The married couple nodded yes.

• Eivor: You'll be taking quite a risk. You have my thanks. We can meet outside the Royal Hall after you have the documents.

Ljufvina inviting Eivor for a drink

As Hjorr left, Ljufvina asked Eivor to have a drink.

• Ljufvina: Eivor! Join me for a drink.

If she wanted, Eivor decided to drink with Ljufvina.

• Eivor: You both seem to have settled well in this city.
• Ljufvina: Yes, we do enjoy the comforts we have here. But I still think about Norway ... the cold and the warmth. Stay on the road safe, Eivor.
• Eivor: I try to.

Eivor headed towards outside the Royal Hall and met with Hjorr.

Hjorr urging Eivor to be careful about the forged letter

• Hjorr: Here, take this forgery and pray that King Ricsige sees nothing amiss. I trust you know what you are doing.

Eivor took the forgery and then nodded as they went inside to see King Ricsige. Faravid was besides King Ricsige.

• Eivor: Straight from Halfdan's hands, as you see.

Eivor gave the forgery to King Ricsige as he read it over.

• Ricsige: Hm. Yes, yes. Well, if Halfdan's loyal mules have pledged to fight... Still, my help will come at a price.
• Hjorr: I-if you're speaking of coin—

The forged letter being read by Ricsige

• Faravid: I remind you that your soldiers are mine.
• Ricsige: Halfdan's, my good man. Halfdan's soldiers, for these are Halfdan's orders. Correct? But I jest, I jest.
• Eivor: All is in order, then?
• Ricsige: If Halfdan commands, I shall raise my fyrd. And you shall have your fighting army.
• Faravid: Good. Get them marching at once. This must happen soon.
• Ricsige: As soon as they are mustered, Lord Faravid. And no sooner.

King Ricsige asked to speak with Eivor

All left King Ricsige until the king asked for Eivor.

• Ricsige: Eivor. A moment with you?
• Faravid: I'll meet you at Stenwege.

Eivor spoke with King Ricsige.

• Ricsige: Faravid is Halfdan's man. So are the Hemmings of Snotinghamscire, as are we here in Jorvik. But not you.
• Eivor: I don't like talk that dances around thorns.
• Ricsige: For whom are you fighting, truly?

I fight for HalfdanI fight for my ownI fight for you, Ricsige

• Eivor: We all fight for Halfdan, and for Northumbria.
• Eivor: Loyal to the bone, aren't you?

• Eivor: I fight for myself, and my people.
• Ricsige: As any great leader must.

• Eivor: I am on your council, Ricsige, King of Jorvik.
• Eivor: Quite the charmer, you are. But you jest. We all know in whom the true power lies.

• Eivor: Why ask me of loyalty? What are you seeking?
• Ricsige: An innocuous question. Loyalty is a word that slides off the lips like honey. Sweet to the taste, but never lingering. There are things simmering in Northumbria, hidden even from you. Take heed and have a care.

Eivor winced her eyes in suspicion.

• Eivor: Faravid should be waiting at Stenwege.

Outcome

Eivor and Faravid met with King Ricsige for troops, after which Eivor met up with Hjorr, who forged some documents for Eivor.

Behind the scenes

The name of the memory is a reference to a line in Duke Richard III's opening soliloquy "Now is the winter of our discontent" from William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The sentence in full is, "Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York".

Gallery

• 
  Eivor arriving at Faravid's camp
• 
  Eivor and Faravid at the Sons of Ragnar's first camp in Northumbria
• 
  Eivor and Faravid making their way to the longhouse on horseback
• 
  Eivor arriving at the marketplace

References

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla