Echoes of History

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File:AC Echoes of History Title Card.jpg

Echoes of History title card

The Echoes of Valhalla is an audio documentary series accompanying the launch and release of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. Released on Spotify as a podcast, it comprises of 5 episodes each covering the aspects and stories of the Vikings and their invasion of the kingdoms of England. The first episode was first released on 29 September 2020, with the rest released on 5th October 2020. On 24 March, 2022, the series rebranded as Echoes of History and updated to include five more episodes about the Norse myths on Ragnarök to accompany the release of Valhalla's downloadable expansion, Dawn of Ragnarök.

Summaries

SeriesVikingsRagnarök

Inspired by Ubisoft's famous video game series Assassin's Creed, the Echoes of History podcast offers a deep and fascinating dive into history. Through storytellers and historians, discover the most epic mythologies, relive the most important times of our history, and meet the most extraordinary characters. With Echoes of History, the past has never been more alive.

Deep dive into the history of the next installment in the Assassin's Creed Franchise, Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Listen to an immersive new audio experience and captivating story with insights from great Viking experts.

Echoes of Valhalla invites listeners to relive the epic adventures of Scandinavian warriors invading England, with a unique audio podcast experience, that has the feel of a documentary series. The documentary aims to showcase the different ways of the Viking society including military strategy, ship building, and the role of women.

Echoes of Valhalla podcast series is divided into five episodes of 15 minutes each and offers the first immersive audio historical documentary series in audio for Assassin's Creed. Comedians, well-known experts, and reconstructed scenes will bring to life the glorious eras of the Vikings, as you have never heard before.

Echoes of History: Ragnarök takes you deep into the history of this mythology bursting with magical characters and creatures—an imaginary world which guided the brave Vikings of the past and inspired the greatest authors of our time... Through the storytelling of a host accompanied by historians, discover the exploits of Thor against the giants, the tricks of Loki, and prepare for Ragnarök, the end of times.

Episode transcripts

VikingsRagnarökBehind the Legends

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The Sons of the Great North title card

The Sons of the Great North

Who are the Vikings? Share the way of life, customs and beliefs of these men of the North. Understand exactly what is going to urge them to leave their lands and magnificent lands [sic] to risk it all for the chance to find fame and fortune.

• Introduction: Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Xbox present Echoes of Valhalla: Life of Vikings the podcast.
• Narrator: Listen... Listen... Beware of the Silence. The land still echoes with the battle-cries. Listen.... This is the story of my ancestors , the story of my people—the children of the great north. You may have heard it from the mouths of our enemies or read the words written by Christian monks, but before I disappear—I, the heiress wish to tell the tale of what really happened. This is our truth... the truth of the Vikings.
• Lucie Malbos: In the beginning, being a Viking—
• Narrator: —Lucie Malbos, lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Poitiers—
• Lucie Malbos: —didn't mean belonging to an ethnicity or to a particular population, it was a way to make a living. It wasn't about who you are but rather what you did.
• Alban Gautier: In Ancient Scandinavian (in Norse), "Viking" refers to the activity of going on expedition by sea to loot.—
• Narrator: —Alban Gautier, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Caen—
• Alban Gautier: —A Viking is someone who goes viking, meaning someone who sets sail hoping to become rich.
• Narrator: This is where is all began. Imagine a majestic landscape; snow-capped mountains, rocky overhangs, green valleys, winding silver rivers. This land was the birthplace of my ancestors. Before becoming traders and warriors they were farmers, fishermen, free men, and tireless workers. They bred pigs, cattle, and chicken. They grew oats, barley, wheat, peas, turnips, and cabbages. But the land was rough and not always giving. When this occurred the men would dream of a land elsewhere that was milder beyond the sea.
• Norse Farmer 1: Ah, look at this soil, nothing else will grow here. The harsh winter has not been kind to us.
• Norse Farmer 2: Maybe when the sun returns and—
• Norse Farmer 1: —No, listen to me my son. If I had the choice I would have stayed and worked the land until my last breath. But its the will of the gods. I have to accept Sven's proposition, and sail to greener lands.
• Narrator: So little is known about our people. Yet there are so many misconceptions that they were barbarians, looters, mercenaries even. While it is true that my people can be cruel on the battlefield, easily offended to the slightest insult to the clan, and quarrelsome even at home, they also enjoy sitting by the hearth in the peace of the skáli (the main area where the whole family gathers together).
• Norse Woman: See how your son looks at you, he's already proud of you.
• Norse Man 1: One day I'll be proud of him. He'll be a great warrior just like his father, you can tell.
• Norse Woman: Let him learn to walk before putting an axe in his hands, he's so young. Put another log on the fire to keep us warm.
• Narrator: And disagreeing with her was out of the question. While men give orders on the battlefield make no mistake, we women are the uncontested leaders of the household. We reign supreme at home.
• Lucie Malbos: The free married woman is the guardian of the household when her husband's away on an expedition. And what symbolizes her responsibilities and duties at home is the key-chain she usually has on her belt. Despite all this, she's not equal to men. She can't partake in politics and legal affairs.
• Narrator: Arts and crafts play an essential part in our culture. We sculpt wood, amber, ivory, and blow glass. We have gold at the tips of our fingers. We make unbelievably refined jewelry that turns women into goddesses, and of course, we have mastered the art of weapon-making. As worthy disciples of Völund, the god of forges, our blacksmiths are genuine masters in their domain.
• Norse Man 2: Blacksmith! Blacksmith!
• Norse Blacksmith: I am here, on the other side.
• Norse Man 2: Ah, I can't hear the sound of your hammer. Does that mean my axe is ready?
• Norse Blacksmith: Yes, I just finished working on it. Took me all night, here it is look.
• Norse Man 2: By Thor! What a blade, it's beautifully finished. You outdid yourself blacksmith!
• Norse Blacksmith: Take it, and tell me how it feels.
• Norse Man 2: Ah, haha! It's perfectly balanced, it's a joy to hold. Can I try it out on this log?
• Norse Blacksmith: Haha, that is what it's there for.
• Norse Man 2: What power, I can't wait to test it in battle.
• Norse Blacksmith: You'll soon have the chance. I hear the day of battle is drawing closer.
• Norse Man 2: Good! I'd rather split a skull than log. Hahaha!
• Narrator: His joy was far from misplaced, the blacksmith was right. A great battle was brewing. The day before during the þing (the solemn assembly), my people had decided ally with chief Ivarr Ragnarsson, known as Ivar the Boneless. In those days, wars between rival kingdoms were common. Each wished to extend their power over the vast lands to the south. But Ivar was by far the most fearsome of them all. He was said to have been a berserkr, a wild warrior endowed with sacred strength just like in the sagas. He is believed to have had uncontrollable rage and caused immeasurable destruction, but above all else he was cunning. He already ruled over a large swathe of land but wanted to assert his power at all costs, even the cost of blood.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: I, Ivarr Ragnarsson, swear to lead you to victory! Pledge your allegiance, bow down to my rule! You shall not be disappointed, you shall swim in glory and wealth if you follow me! But be warned, whoever dares to betray me will be judged by my axe!
• Narrator: Ivarr was a man of his word, the alliance was sealed.
• Lucie Malbos: Ivarr Ragnarsson, as his name alludes to, is the son of Ragnar—a legendary person whose journey is difficult to trace.
• Ryan Lavelle: This term "berserkergang", that a warrior might get into such a rage—
• Narrator: —Ryan Lavelle, professor of History of the Dark Ages at the University of Winchester—
• Ryan Lavelle: —that they bite the edge of their shields and froth at the mouth, tear off their clothes or might be wearing the fur of a bear. This is something of a legend of late Viking Age, even of the later Middle Ages themselves when Icelandic storytellers were sat around the fireside.
• Narrator: Dawn had just broken, and men had already gathered in the early morning light. The mist was beginning to lift over the plains, the green lands glimmered in the morning dew. Who could have thought that mere moments from then this peaceful haven would welcome such carnage?
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Sons of the great north, my brethren! Wield your weapons, make the earth quake, and fill the skies with your cries of fury! If we are victorious, tonight we shall feast at the banquet with our wives! And if we fall we shall sit in the great company of the Valkyrie, splendor of Valhalla. We fear not death, let Odin lead us to victory!
• Narrator: It appears that Odin had heard Ivarr's declamation and that the Valkyrie had lent wings to the warriors. They descended upon their enemies like a metal whirlwind. The battle raged on until midday. Yes, the gods gave us victory, but a terrible victory it was. The plains were drenched in blood and scattered with lifeless bodies.
• Norse Man 3: My arm... I got hit with a spear. I killed my opponent... look.
• Norse Man 4: I am here, my brother. You are suffering, but without you we may never have won this battle. Show me your wounds.
• Norse Man 3: What makes you smile?
• Norse Man 4: Ha. You remind me of the god Týr, who sacrificed his arm to conquer the wolf Fenrir. I am lucky to have you by my side.
• Norse Man 3: You think I'll lose my arm?
• Norse Man 4: No, no. We will tend to it and soon you will be wielding your axe, ready to strike down new enemies.
• Norse Man 3: Ah, that's a relief. I'd like to be as brave as Týr but keep my arms and legs if at all possible.
• Norse Man 4: Haha, at least the pain hasn't dulled your sense of humor. Rest now and do not forget to pray for those we have lost.
• François Emion: Scandinavians fight against themselves and steal from each other—
• Narrator: —François Emion, professor of Nordic Studies at the Sorbonne University—
• François Emion: Before Norway, Sweden, and Denmark were unified, they were little principalities—small kingdoms—that waged war on each other or partnered up depending on the situation. It's a rather unstable society.
• Lucie Malbos: These clans are separated by mountains which can be very tall and covered with a lot of snow or for example; in Norway they're separated by dense forests, which means communication isn't easy. This explains why Scandinavian societies were organized in a divided, separated, and distinct fashion.
• Narrator: For the honor of our banner my people were ready to sacrifice both their arms. But once again, the gods had spared them. Alas this was not the fate of some companions who had fallen on the plain. That night, their funeral was celebrated we called upon völva, our priestess and prophetess. Following the ancient traditions, the deceased's eyes and mouth were shut, their bodies were washed, their hair combed, and nails were cut. They were given their weapons to help on the arduous journey that would lead them to Valhalla. The priestess said a few final words before one of us set the funeral pyre ablaze.
• Völva: We honor our men felled in combat. May the fire cleanse their corpses. May the earth welcome their ashes. May the soaring raven lead them to the kingdom of the dead.
• François Emion: There are a certain amount of sights in the south of Norway where there are gigantic grave mounds that haven't been pillaged from unlike those in the Egyptian pyramids that have been stolen from all through history. In these pyramids we found boats in which an aristocrat was laid to rest. Some of these boats contained cremations and sometimes there were other bodies too, but we don't know if they were slaves who were killed when their master died or if they were people who were buried afterwards.
• Narrator: The men and women of the village gather to give thanks to the gods, through offerings and sacrifices. Young women formed a circle around the priestess, they chanted sacred formulas to look into the future by contacting the norns who control our destiny. Our people still adhere to the age-old precepts of forn seiðr, our religious tradition.
• Völva: For you, Odin, King of the Gods, we sacrifice this horse. To you Tyr, god of war, we sacrifice this bull. May their flesh give you thanks for our victory. May their blood be evidence of adoration.
• Lucie Malbos: The priestess is some kind of witch prophetess, a rather marginal person in Scandinavian society. We generally call upon her services during crises, to find out the secret of the gods. This figure is feared and dreaded, even Odin calls upon this priestess to learn his destiny.
• Narrator: After the ceremonies, a great banquet was held to celebrate victory. The table was covered in vittles, the wine was flowing, the men feasted by the blazing fire. The moon was full, the sky glittered with myriad stars as if Valhalla itself was lighting up the banquet, as if our fallen brothers were trying to feast in our company.
• Lucie Malbos: The leader who wants to show off his power, greatness, and wealth must do it in a visible and conspicuous way. One of the best ways to show off this power and wealth is to organize a big feast.
• Thierry Noël: The Vikings are players—
• Narrator: —Thierry Noël, content and inspiration consultant at Ubisoft—
• Thierry Noël: They played famous verbal jousting games called flyting, and that is exactly what we see in the game.
• Narrator: In the middle of the celebration, Ivarr demanded silence, he had great news to give.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Listen, this victory is a sign that Odin is with us! But it is just the beginning my friends, my brethren... Will you follow me into battle across the seas? I vow that I will lead the way and we will wage war in every part of the world.
• Narrator: A rousing speech, cries of joy carried all the way to the coast. The men were anxious to take part in this conquest which promised to be extraordinary. In the event of victory it guaranteed titles, honors, and fortune. And if they were to fall in battle then they knew they would witness the glorious, the majestic, gates of Valhalla.

Dragon of the Seas title card

Dragon of the Seas

Embark on a Viking ship, travel the seas, overcome huge waves and dodge lightning! Feel the fear in an untamed ocean. If you let yourself be carried away and stave off hunger, you may be lucky enough to see earth appearing on the horizon...

• Introduction: Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Xbox present Echoes of Valhalla: Life of Vikings the podcast.
• Narrator: Can you hear the sea whisper? She was there at the start, at the beginning of time and will remain unchanged to the end of days. How peaceful she seems, quietly ebbing and flowing and yet...
• Norse Man 1: She's going to capsize!
• Norse Man 2: Stay the course!
• Norse Man 1: We can't! The storm is too strong!
• Norse Man 2: Stay the course I said! And grab hold of something! Now is no time to give into fear!
• Norse Man 1: Look out!
• Narrator: Our army had set sail for the great island to the West. Under the command of chief Ivarr Ragnarsson and his brothers, our warriors had set off to conquer the land of the Angles and the Saxons. Such an adventure was worthy of our ancient sagas. Crossing the North Sea was the first of many dangers to overcome, and from atop this cliff I will tell you how things transpired. And from here, the view is magnificent. The sea unravels as far as the eye can see, it's endless blue surface shimmering like a sheet of silver scales.
• Lucie Malbos: Norse, the ancient language of Scandinavia—
• Narrator: —Lucie Malbos, lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Poitiers—
• Lucie Malbos: —has influenced in particular the vocabularies of French and English. Particulary words relating to the sea and boats. Terms such as "keel", "stern" and "sail" as well as more common words such as "creek" and holr (spelled H-O-L-R in Norse), meaning "hollow" which is "hole" in English.
• Narrator: In the months leading up to the journey, every shipyard in the region was in a frenzy. Shipwrights, ropemakers, blacksmiths, hundreds of workers toiled relentlessly to build a fleet that would carry the warriors to England. Building each one of those ships required no fewer than twenty oak or pine trees. The master shipwright was infused with ancestral knowhow, perfected from one generation to the next, to give life to faster and nimbler vessels capable of surviving the high seas. With their noble curves, extreme proportions and magnificent animals erect on the prow the boats looked like genuine sea-dragons.
• Norse Worker: Good day Olaf sir. Well, what do you think sir?
• Olaf: No, no. We need to start again.
• Norse Worker: Really? But that'll take days!
• Olaf: It'll take as long as it needs to! We need a longer hull and a rounder stern.
• Norse Worker: Sir, it simply isn't possible.
• Olaf: Do you want the deaths of our warriors on your hands?
• Norse Worker: N-no, no master.
• Olaf: Then get to work, and hop to it.
• Lucie Malbos: The drakkar ships such as we know it never actually existed. It's purely a legend from the late 19th century that came from a mistaken translation of a word that does not exist in Old Norse dreki or the plural drakkar. Originally however, this term didn't refer to the ship itself, but the figurehead at the bow of the ship carved to look like a dragon.
• Narrator: After months of grueling toil in the Shipyard, the fleet was finally ready. The Great Army had gathered by the coast. Once supplies had been properly inventoried they were loaded onto the boats.
• Thierry Noël: Loading supplies and people onboard was difficult because the ships were very narrow—
• Narrator: —Thierry Noël, content and inspiration consultant at Ubisoft—
• Thierry Noël: trunks for supplies also served as benches for rowers, thus they could be moved around as needed but there wasn't much room. They also created more space by placing their shields on the sides of the boat which helped block ocean spray, and of course there's another issue that we don't think of which is all the ropes criss-crossing the ship. Another considerable inconvenience for the boatmen.
• Narrator: On the final night before embarking, a strange atmosphere came over the camp. It was the night of the summer solstice. The warriors said goodbyes to their loved ones, they would be leaving the land of their ancestors. Some feasted and drank for courage, others prayed to the gods for safe passage. Yet the völva had been reassuring, many spirits had come to her to reveal what would happen on their journey.
• Völva: Listen, listen to me. I bring you good news! I feel that Njörðr will be merciful, rest assured he will calm the waves and fill your sails until you land safely. Warriors rejoice, the time will soon come your for you to slay your enemies once again.
• Narrator: Patience, you will be given many an opportunity to fight, patience. That night one warrior in particular was restless and sleepless. He came to the very cliff I stand upon to stare at the stars and meditate his plan. It was chief Ivarr Ragnarsson, nicknamed Ivarr the Boneless, this conquest had become a personal matter to him. A matter of revenge, his father, the legendary Ragnar Lodbrok had set foot in England before him to his great misfortune. King Ælla had captured him and put him to death in a very cruel manner. Legend has it he was thrown naked into a pit of snakes.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: I have sworn to avenge you father and this time I will not fail. Ælla will die by my hands and even if Odin decides to call me to his table and this fight proves to be my last I will not take leave of this Earth until I have avenged you. The blood of that cursed king will drip from my blade.
• Narrator: This time he would set sail on his journey backed by a swarm of determined Vikings. The greatest Viking army ever raised to cross the North Sea.
• Thierry Noël: Ragnar would have been captured in Northumbria by King Ælla and put to death in a most heinous way. Though it's purely legendary of course, we can't say with certainty what motivated the Vikings to attack England at that time. What's likely however, is that the attacks were coordinated. Even though Vikings operated in small groups, we know from the historical record of an Irish king that some Vikings attacked from Ireland after waging war against him. That's typical Viking opportunism, all other battlefronts were drawn back in order to focus efforts on England. Where they perhaps felt they had an easier target.
• Narrator: The big day is finally upon us, ravens are circling in the skies. It is a good omen. The sun has not yet risen and men are hurrying along to board the ships as quickly as possible.
• Norse Man 3: Go on, get on with it! Push, harder.
• Norse Man 4: Load the provisions, get on board. Prepare to cast off.
• Norse Man 3: Don't lose courage and remember the words of the völva, Njörðr is with us. Are you listening men? Faster! Don't let the gods down.
• Narrator: And they were off finally. Spurred by their emotions after such a long wait, the men row with fantastic energy. Their faces whipped with the sea spray, the proud sea-dragons crash through the waves as if they were flying. They heave at the oars and very lightly touch the horizon. The warriors cast one last glance at the shore while it is still in sight. Will they ever set eyes again on the land of their forefathers? Will death mow them down in a faraway land?
• Lucie Malbos: Over time, the Vikings learned the strengths and weaknesses of Western Europe and became more and more emboldened.
• Thierry Noël: We think of Vikings as these towering warriors, but in fact they weren't necessarily than anyone else. They did though, have methods at their disposal for complete disruption. Organizing fatal charges against the enemy, circumventing their defenses on all sides, et cetera. This is something that we'll show you in the game.
• Narrator: The Viking cherish the sea as a means to escape towards unknown lands, new horizons.
• Norse Man 5: Lost in thought, eh?
• Norse Man 6: Oh, I was just wondering if there were lands beyond the land of England.
• Norse Man 5: Possibly, but you'll have to wait for our next voyage to go exploring.
• Norse Man 6: Then I hope the gods are listening, as I plan to go to the ends of the Earth.
• Norse Man 5: Well, for now let's stay focused on our current destination.
• Norse Man 6: Alright, alright. I know what I'm doing.
• Narrator: Our ships have drawn countless wakes that the seas have erased. The Vikings have learned to tame the immense blue expanse better than anyone else.
• François Emion: If we take Norway for example—
• Narrator: —François Emion, professor of Nordic Studies at the Sorbonne University—
• François Emion: There are fjords that cut into the land for dozens of kilometers. Bordered by cliffs, dozens and even hundreds of meters high. In order to get from one place to another, you had to travel by boat. They traded with the Sámi people for furs and products derived from the walrus to then take ivory and rope made from seal or walrus skin to markets all over Europe. There was much to be made of this trade, the trade routes navigated across the coast of Norway will eventually give the country its name from Norþweg meaning "the way to the north".
• Narrator: It has been a week since the ships set off for the great island, but it is essential to stay the course. This crossing was a far cry from our usual coastal navigation, but our seamen are never at a loss when it comes to being resourceful. They use whatever they have at their disposal to guide themselves; the movement of the water, the direction the wind blows, all these subtle signs. At night they watch the North Star and daytime the Sun provided they can see it. When the clouds cover the skies we have the Sunstone, a magical instrument devised by the Viking.
• Norse Man 7: Do you think we're lost?
• Norse Man 8: No, look. The sun is hiding right there.
• Norse Man 7: Are you sure? I don't see anything.
• Norse Man 8: Eh, you can see it with this stone. We need to tack to starboard. Push sail while the wind's rising, tack starboard.
• François Emion: We think the Sunstone was a type of quartz that polarized light so that even in cloudy conditions you could find the sun's position, but this fact is still being debated.
• Lucie Malbos: It seems that when the Vikings discovered Iceland they had ravens onboard, and they set them free to see if they were near land.
• Narrator: The days at sea can be grueling, the constant sway day and night can make you mad. Life onboard, the cold rain, and promiscuity between boatsmen required an iron-strong discipline. Everyone has a role and should never step out of place.
• Norse Man 9: <INDECIPHERABLE>, What supplies do we have left?
• Norse Man 10: Unfortunately, just a few dried fish, some salted meat and um... Oh, bread.
• Norse Man 9: Oh, well make sure the crew can hold on for another while, but also, be careful not to ration us too much, because it could weaken us. I don't want our warriors to be weak when we get to shore.
• Norse Man 10: I'll do my best, But I just hope völva was right, because we won't last much longer like this.
• Narrator: Despite the precautions, supplies start to run out. For the sailor in charge of supplies, keeping hungry men to shape is a real feat. But shortages are nothing, the worst is yet to come.
• Norse Man 11: The wind's picking up!
• Norse Man 12: Oh, it looks like Njörðr's wrath is brewing! The swells are getting bigger and bigger!
• Norse Man 11: Quick, bring down the mast!
• Norse Man 12: The waves are too high! We're going to capsize!
• Norse Man 11: <INDECIPHERABLE>!
• Narrator: The sea would would serve as their tomb. Only one boat had sunk, the rest of the fleet had been spared. Njörðr's wrath finally died down, the storm gave way to normal seas. They now needed to get back on normal course and row endlessly. How many days had gone by? How many weeks? Eventually in such circumstances all notions of time and space are lost. But one morning, suddenly England appears. These are the shores of East Anglia, but the men are not yet aware of that. They believe they have landed in Northumbria. Soon the locals will see the sea-dragons emerge from the mist and know exactly what those menacing creatures mean. As it is not their first encounter with a Viking.
• Ryan Lavelle: Viking ships such as the one at Gjellestad in Norway—
• Narrator: —Ryan Lavelle, professor of History of the Dark Ages at the University of Winchester—
• Ryan Lavelle: —were ideally suited for amphibious raiding, they could come right up to the coast. Come right onto the beach. The keels of these ships, at the bottom of the hull were very strongly built and could stand a great deal of punishment.
• Narrator: On the island, the mere mention of the Viking sent shivers down their spines. Nobody had forgotten the Lindisfarne raid, nor the expedition of King Ragnar, Ivarr's father, but that was nothing compared to what the Great Army would unleash. Ivarr would display the full measure of his power, his vengeance promised to be righteous. Having tamed the seas, the Viking were about to make the earth tremble.

Thor's Hammer title card.jpg

Thor's Hammer

Set off with the Great Army to conquer English Kingdoms. Find yourself in the midst of a conquest, battles, and pillages. Also discover some very special ordeals reserved for a few unhappy prisoners...

• Introduction: Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Xbox present, Echoes of Valhalla: Life of Vikings, the podcast.
• Narrator: Pirates, pagans, mercenaries, bloodthirsty barbarians. Our sinister reputation precedes us, all the way to the farthest lands. Our name has been dragged through the mud, it is easy for our enemies to paint a black picture of us. But there is one thing that everybody can agree on, Vikings show no mercy. After an endless crossing of the North Sea, they finally reach land. The warriors all jump from their ships to tread this coveted ground. Under the command of Ivarr the Boneless and his faithful companion Halfdan, they waste no time in setting off to take over the land that lies before them.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: You, you, and you, go and scout around the area. Find the supplies and water above all. You! Gather our men and equipment, they mustn't have any time to mount their defenses. Let's go! Give them a good reason to pray to their single god!
• Narrator: The news spreads like wildfire from one terrorized village to the next. The Danes are here! 'The Danes,' that's how they used to call us with no distinction. Nevermind the name, the message was clear. Norsemen landed without warning to spread chaos like demons straight out of Hel. Could we be the legions of the apocalypse the Christians believe in?
• Thierry Noël: How large was their army? We really don’t know—
• Narrator: —Thierry Noël, content and inspiration consultant at Ubisoft—
• Thierry Noël: —We mustn't forget that, at that time, especially in Ango-Saxon England, there were no permanent armies. It was possible to assemble large groups of warriors, so a few hundred Vikings was more than enough to destabilize a whole region.
• Villager 1: The Danes! Ah! The Danes!
• Villager 2: Run for safe haven, leave everything behind! Spread the word!
• Narrator: The locals are completely defenseless against the brutal invaders. They offer no resistance. The Great Army takes advantage of their weakness to gather supplies and horses, and to wait for reinforcements. A few groups had already settled in Ireland and Scotland join ranks with the Great Army. Like a clap of thunder, the news of the invaders spreads across all Saxon kingdoms and beyond. But the army landed further south than expected, Ivarr and Halfdan hear that a Völva, a seeress witch, lives in the area and they decide to pay her a visit to seek guidance from the gods.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: We pay tribute to you, daughter of Freyja, tell us what you know. Njord carried us to different shores, is it a sign from him? Should we take over this kingdom the sea has brought us to?
• Völva: Know Ivarr, one day this kingdom will be yours. But the time has not yet come, do not take your eyes off your revenge on Ælle. Travel north by land to meet him.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: And when will we take East Anglia?
• Völva: Be patient. Forget not the gods who are with you. Thank Odin and Thor, but praise Freyja as well, who is even stronger than him in the arts of magic and war.
• Narrator: The wheels were already in motion, King Edmund of East Anglia thought he would get away by helping the Vikings attack Northumbria. He even offered the invaders horses to get rid of them as quickly as possible. But little did the poor man know what was in store for him.
• Ryan Lavelle: England in the ninth century looked like something of a patchwork of different kingdoms.
• Narrator: Ryan Lavelle, professor of History of the Dark Ages at the University of Winchester.
• Ryan Lavelle: There were say a kingdom in the south of England, which we know as the Kingdom of Wessex, or the Kingdom of the West Saxons, and there was the Kingdom of the East Angles, or East Anglia, at the east of the country in the kind of Fenland of Eastern England, and then in the north was Northumbria. in the center of England there was the Kingdom of Mercia.
• Narrator: We pay tribute to Thor. The mightiest of all warrior-gods, his name means ‘thunder,’ he triumphed over all giants thanks to his colossal strength and magic belt. But above all, Thor has the most powerful weapon in the universe, Mjölnir, his hammer. With it he can wield thunder and smite his enemies. Under the protection of this invincible god, the great Viking army was ready to take on the giants of its time - the Saxon kingdoms who ruled over Great Britain, and Northumbria was the first of them to feel the wrath of Thor's hammer.
• Viking 1: Archers!
• Viking 2: Burn everything to the ground!
• Viking 3: Burn them all!
• Viking 4: Kill them!
• Lucie Malbos: The Vikings were violent,—
• Narrator: —Lucie Malbos, lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Poitiers—
• Lucie Malbos: —but no more or less than other armies. The violence of the Vikings was particularly striking, because the Scandinavians had no respect for holy sites.
• Narrator: The warriors wreak havoc on Northumbria, burning and razing everything to the ground. The invasion is made even swifter by the infighting between the kingdom’s two leaders, Aelle and Osberht.
• Thierry Noël: Players will have the possibility to do dual-wielding, meaning wielding two weapons at once, which was very typical of the Vikings. They used anything they had at their disposal, almost like a bar room brawl.
• Narrator: King Osberht falls on the battlefield, Aelle on the other hand is captured alive. Hungry for revenge, Ivarr and his brother inflict the cruelest tortures on him - the blood eagle.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Aelle, after so many years, we have you captured. The time has come for you to pay for the execution of our father, the great King Ragnar!
• Aelle: I remember him of course, and you will burn in Hell with him!
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: My father is feasting at Odin's table, and your Hell (if it exists) is right here! And I am its guardian! I swore I would make you suffer and you will see that Ivarr the Boneless is a man of his word, upon your dying breath you will beg me for mercy.
• Aelle: You have no authority here! I am the king of these lands.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Ha ha ha ha, we will see about that.
• François Emion: The blood eagle is something of a 13th-century obsession for saga writers, we see that from one source to another, this form of torture becomes more and more refined.
• Narrator: —François Emion, lecturer in Northern Studies at the Paris Sorbonne University—
• François Emion: In its final version, we see a man with his back cut open, his ribs sawed away, his lungs extracted, looking like the wings of an eagle.
• Narrator: Revenge is consummated, emboldened by the conquest of the Kingdom of Northumbria, Ivarr and his troops can now turn their attention to East Anglia. However, they decide to leave a garrison in York, which they have chosen as a bridgehead for the invasion. Reinforcements from overseas come to settle there; nobody could stand in the way of the Sons of the Great North. A mere glimpse of the raven banner fluttering in the wind would fill our enemies with a sense of dread and panic. Some fortified cities even surrendered without any resistance at all.
• Ryan Lavelle: The raven was a very important bird in Viking culture because it was a bird that came to symbolize both Odin, the All-Father, and to symbolize the aftermath of a battle as ravens came upon the corpses and fed upon the corpses of the enemy.
• Narrator: The great army is back in East Anglia, two years after landing on its shores. This time king Edmund stands up to them in vain. The Viking wave sweeps through his kingdom and annihilates his forces. Edmund was weak and cowardly in the past, but this time he exhibits exemplary courage. Captured by the Vikings he refuses to pledge allegiance to them, and to rescind his Christian faith.
• Edmund: Cursed pagan, I will not break under your torture. Christ is my savior and I will never deny him.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: You prefer to die for your God who abandoned you, rather than live for our gods who conquered you?
• Edmund: Go to Hell pagan, I do not fear God's judgment. I should have killed you as soon as you stepped foot on my land.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Well, you chose to do otherwise, and now you're at my mercy!
• Edmund: You don't scare me. I know I have served my Lord and can face the Heavenly Tribunal without fear.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Ha ha ha ha. Well, that's what we're about to find out. Take him away! And we'll see how his Christ answers his cries of pain!
• Narrator: Ivarr orders him to be executed on the spot, he too will suffer terribly. King Edmund is tied to a tree and riddled with arrows. And because even then, he refused to renounce his faith, he was immediately decapitated. His courage in the face of death would leave a strong impression on the population, turning his martyrdom into a symbol. Christians see Edmund as a saint, but is it not their way of saying that we Vikings are demons?
• Alban Gautier: Edmund became a symbolic figure,—
• Narrator: —Alban Gautier, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Caen—
• Alban Gautier: —a resistance to the pagan invasion, and it even seems that the Viking kings of East Anglia who converted to Christianity worshiped him as a saint.
• Thierry Noël: The Anglo-Saxon record hardly mentions that the pagans came to East Anglia, yet later sources would offer detailed accounts of Edmund's martyrdom. Historically however, there exists only one sentence stating that Edmund died when the Vikings came.
• Narrator: After Northumbria, East Anglia is now under Viking control. Kingdoms fall one after the other, Ivarr leaves the army in the hands of his greatest allies, and travels to Ireland where groups of Vikings are set to run rampant. Under the command of Olaf the White, these two ruthless warriors were made to see eye-to-eye.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Good old Olaf, the only thing greater than your appetite is your thirst.
• Olaf the White: I am hungry for victory above all! Like you Ivarr, my belly is never full.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Ha ha. Well then, if there is a place at your table I will join you in combat. I imagine you must have something planned.
• Olaf the White: Ha ha. Of course! I want to return to Scotland, where I've already fought the Picts! Now I wish to defeat the Bretons! I can think of no greater pleasure than to see their fortresses fall!
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Well, you can count on my axe! We'll bring those Bretons to their knees!
• Olaf the White: Ha. I love the sound of those words! Raise your goblet, let’s drink to their downfall.
• Thierry Noël: It seems that Vikings launched attacks a bit pell-mell, choosing targets based on whatever was easiest to capture or pillage. It doesn't seem there was much of an overarching strategy–yet, Dumbarton was different. At that time, Vikings already had control of Dublin, which was a big commercial hub, and in England they controlled York which was a gateway to Scandinavia. So logically, they wanted to capture Dumbarton, which was a midway point between these two big commercial centers of the age.
• Narrator: After a four month long siege of the city of Dumbarton, the Breton fortress, Olaf and Ivarr decide to take drastic measures.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: The siege has gone on long enough, Olaf. Our warriors are exhausted.
• Olaf the White: I know! But what can we do? These blasted Bretons are tougher than I expected. I see no other option than to continue laying into them.
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Iron will not end this battle... I have an idea, do you see that river?
• Olaf the White: Er... yes, why?
• Ivarr Ragnarsson: Let's dry it up. They can fight against the sword, but not against thirst. Tell your men to get to work.
• Narrator: Once they are out of water, the besieged have to choice but to surrender. After such a long siege, Ivarr and Olaf take their anger out on the city. Meanwhile, under the command of Halfdene, the great army continues their conquest of the south and west. It has set its sights on a bigger fish, better armed and better prepared — the Kingdom of Wessex.
• François Emion: Wessex was a kingdom that stretched across the south of England, meaning all the lands south of the Thames. In the year 870, its king was named Æthelred, who had led the armies of Wessex into battle on several ocassions. Kings were expected to be warlords. Anglo-Saxon Kings had two principle duties; lead armies to victory, and protect the church.
• Narrator: The first clash with the southern kingdom takes place in Englefield. First off, the Vikings suffer defeat but for Wessex, victory would be short lived. Four days later the armies clash again nearby in Reading. This time, Æthelred of Wessex is defeated. But once again, the wind would turn. Alfred, Æthelred's younger brother challenges the great army in Ashdown. It is a long grueling battle, it is the young lord's first battle but he is tenacious.
• Thierry Noël: Ashdown is a very important battle, because the young Alfred showed very well just how capable he was on replacing his brother. He was truly a major figure, so makes sense the game makes him a principle adversary to the Vikings.
• Narrator: Even though our warriors' pride was hurt, the strength of our army was in no way crushed by the defeat. The war wages on, battle after battle. Until the news of Æthelred's death just weeks later.
• Crier: The king is dead! The king is dead!
• Villager 3: No! The Danes took him! May God have mercy on his soul. What tragic news on this Easter day!
• Narrator: In truth, the news was tragic for us Vikings. Æthelred's demise meant that his younger brother would be crowned king. The much vaunted Alfred. At first our chiefs did not capture the full measure of this event.
• Villager 4: Long live King Alfred!
• Villager 5: Long live the King!
• Villager 6: Long live King Alfred!
• Villager 7: Long live King Alfred!
• Narrator: In a twist of fate, the advent of King Alfred would go hand-in-hand with the disappearance of Ivarr the Boneless. No one knows what became of him, some say he went back to Ireland. Others maintain he succumbed to a sudden hideous illness. Could that be a way for them to tarnish the memory of this great Viking. Whatever the case, four years after landing on these shores, the great army's onslaught on the Saxon kingdom was far from over. Soon the great island will be struck once again, by Thor's hammer.

Birth of an Empire title card

Birth of an Empire

10 years after the conquest and your very first victories, it's time to start building! It's time for setting down roots, from colonisation to trade. But in England, some are still resistant, still fighting your presence...

• Introduction: Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Xbox present, Echoes of Valhalla: Life of Vikings, the podcast.

The Dawn of a New Era title card

The Dawn of a New Era

Viking attacks continued in England, but Alfred the Great and his troops fought back. Maybe it's time for you to go and discover the rest of the known world?

• Introduction: Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Xbox present, Echoes of Valhalla: Life of Vikings, the podcast.

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The Birth of the Universe title card

The Birth of the Universe

Norse mythology is a very rich universe, deeply ingrained in the traditions and customs of the Middle Age Scandinavian peoples. Gods and men walk alongside giants, elves, dwarfs [sic] and all manners of magical creatures. This world was created by the powerful Odin and his brothers from the body of a giant. The start of a mythical and breathtaking adventure.

Nine Vast and Rich Realms title card

Nine Vast and Rich Realms

Odin created Asgard, the kingdom of the gods, but that doesn't mean he's resting on his laurels. The father of all things watches over the nine realms, placed in a delicate balance atop the world tree Yggdrasil. These realms are full of mythical creatures, some peaceful, others less so. So, the gods of Asgard must soon face their first conflict.

Exploits of the Gods title card

Exploits of the Gods

Nestled in their kingdom of Asgard, the Norse gods watch over Midgard, the realm of men. There are numerous threats coming from the nine realms, starting with the giants whose taunts and provocations become more and more frequent. Fortunately, men and gods can count on Odin and his powerful son Thor to repel the attacks. And when the god of thunder brandishes his hammer Mjölnir, it’s usually the start of a great adventure.

Loki, the Fun God turned Muderous Pariah title card

Loki, the Fun God turned Murderous Pariah

In Norse mythology, Loki has a place of his own. Taken into Asgard as an infant, he grew under the protection of Odin. Rival and friend of Thor, he prefers illusions to sheer force. His magical talents are very useful in Asgard. Little by little, however, Loki turns evil and his tricks do not amuse anyone anymore. In the end, the god of discord will turn against the other gods fighting Ragnarök.

Ragnarök, Twilight of the Gods title card

Ragnarök, Twilight of the Gods

After spending a lifetime battling giants and feasting plentifully between adventures, the gods of Asgard must now face their doom. Ragnarök, Twilight of the Gods, is looming... Across the nine realms, natural catastrophes are striking everywhere and the final battle against the giants is drawing ever closer. The time has finally come for Odin, Thor, and the other Æsir to don their armour and face their destiny.

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Leonidas title card

Leonidas

The legendary Battle of Thermopylae has been told over and over and remains famous for an incredible act of valor: 300 Spartan warriors defending a narrow path against tens of thousands of Persians to protect the retreat of the Greek army. A symbol of courage, sacrifice, and honor. But there's more to the story, as the Spartans weren’t actually alone at this moment. And Leonidas' personality deserves some enlightenment.

Cleopatra title card

Cleopatra

Who doesn't know Cleopatra, legendary queen of Egypt? A woman as beautiful as a goddess who claimed power in a world of men, seducing Roman emperor Julius Caesar and general Mark Antony before her tragic death. But this is just a small part of Cleopatra's great accomplishments. The way she accessed the Egyptian throne and how she managed to stay on top during his reign reveal the personality of a true leader.

Jack the Ripper title card

Jack the Ripper

Who is Jack the Ripper? More than 130 years after the horrendous crimes that terrified the Whitechapel borough in London, the identity of the most famous English serial killer is still unknown. The number of murders and the killer's motive also continue to inspire many theories. Nowadays, Jack the Ripper remains a myth as pop culture has taken its toll on him. Time to put the light on the facts.

Marquis de Sade

Marquis de Sade title card

Writer and philosopher, the Marquis de Sade is a very controversial figure because of his texts, where erotism and pornography had an important place along with cruelty, rape, and murders, to such an extent that his name gave the root of the word "sadistic". Because of his work and his deviant behavior, he spent more than a third of his life in prison. But how did the heir of an ancient French noble family become this despicable yet legendary character?

Benjamin Franklin title card

Benjamin Franklin

As the only person to have signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, Treaty of Alliance with France in 1778, Treaty of Paris in 1783, and U.S. Constitution in 1787, Benjamin Franklin remains in history as perhaps the most important Founding Fathers of the United States. And this even though he never ruled, earning him the title of "the only president of the United States who was never president of the United States". But behind the politician lies a great man of science responsible for a variety of inventions, starting with the lightning rod.

Blackbeard title card

Blackbeard

Think of pirates and there's a great chance that the first image that comes to your mind is a Blackbeard look-a-like: a cruel captain with a long beard and a hat, thirsty for blood, yelling at his men from the upper deck of his ship as he prepares to board an unfortunate merchant's boat. Well, this has been the image of Blackbeard, alias Edward Teach, over the centuries. But the real Teach was not especially cruel and tyrannical, at least no more than any other pirate back in the days.

Paul Revere title card

Paul Revere

His name has inspired poems, novels, songs... Paul Revere remains forever attached to his greatest accomplishment: his "Midnight Ride" on April 18th-19th 1775. A long night of horse riding from Boston to Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the British Army movements. A night that would change the course of the war and of the soon-to-be United States of America. But what history has forgotten is that Paul Revere was more than just a rider. He was a very active member of the Sons of Liberty and worked in the shadows to help the Revolution.

Niccolo and Maffeo Polo title card

Niccolo and Maffeo Polo

Polo is a name engraved in the legend of exploration. Sure, Marco did a lot for that by describing thoroughly his trip to China and his life alongside the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. But Marco Polo owes a great deal to his father Niccolò and his uncle Maffeo. These two merchants started by establishing trading points on the road to western Europe and Asia before making the full trip to China… twice ! The second time, they brought young Marco, who was then 17, with them, marking the beginning of his legend. But there’s no reason why the two brothers should remain in the shadow of their descendant.

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Cast

(By order of appearance)

Vikings

• Bibi Jacob as Narrator
• Prof. Lucie Malbos as herself
• Prof. Alban Gautier as himself
• Alex "Arekkz" Noon as Ivarr the Boneless
• Ethan "Fizhy" Woodgates as Blacksmith
• Prof. Ryan Lavelle as himself
• Prof. François Emion as himself
• Hannah Rutherford as Völva
• Thierry Noël as himself

Ragnarök

• James Brack as Gylfi
• Lance Geiger as himself
• Prof. Gísli Sigurdson as himself
• Prof. Eric Lacey as himself
• Prof. Annelie Jarl Ireman as herself

Behind the Legends

• Danny Wallace as himself

Gallery

Title cardsVideos

• 
  Echoes of Valhalla title card
• 
  Echoes of Valhalla
  textless title card
• 
  Echoes of History: Ragnarök title card
• 
  Echoes of History: Ragnarök textless title card
• 
  Echoes of History: Behind the Legends textless title card

• File:Echoes of Valhalla- Episode 1 - The Sons of the Great North
• File:ECHOES OF HISTORY - RAGNARÖK EP 1 - The birth of the universe
• File:ECHOES OF HISTORY - RAGNARÖK EP 2 - Nine vast and rich realms
• File:ECHOES OF HISTORY - RAGNARÖK EP 3 - Exploits of the gods
• File:ECHOES OF HISTORY - RAGNARÖK EP 4 - Loki, the fun god turned murderous pariah
• File:ECHOES OF HISTORY - RAGNARÖK EP 5 - Ragnarök, Twilight of the Gods

External link

• Echoes of History on Spotify