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After reviewing the letter that arrived after the troubles in Jorvik, Eivor talked with Randvi about pledging to the city.
Eivor:I will make my way to Wincestre. The letter asked me to meet a man in white at a house of God. And then recite this phrase. "When pride cometh, then cometh shame. But with the lowly cometh wisdom."
Randvi:A passage from their holy book, I believe. Interesting. Go with care.
Eivor headed out of Ravensthorpe and sought out the man in white. After a long journey deep into enemy territory, Eivor arrived in Wincestre.
Eivor:The seat of King Aelfred's power... where hog shit stains my boots. I will find the man in white in their god's house.
Eivor located the large Old Minster, the God's house from the letter, and made her way to its front steps.
Eivor:This must be the house of their timid god. They built him a rich dwelling.
As Eivor walked into the minster, she heard a holy man speaking.
Anglo-Saxon Man 1:Even the mighty fall. And God's servant, the BishopEalhferth was mighty indeed in defense of his God. He was a man of surpassing vigor, well versed in the Bible, quick of wit, oxen-strong, meek as a lamb. But God called Ealhferth to sit beside him. And Ealhferth answered, his body gone to earth and his sister weeping. Mourning a lord far-known and beloved. I give praise to such a man, to keepsake his memory. Requiem æternam dona ei, Domine Et lux perpetua luceat ei Requiescat in pace. Amen.
Eivor meeting the "man in white"
Eivor spoke with the man in white, the priest Sigebeald.
Sigebeald:A Dane treads the cobbles of God's house. In search of Christ's redemption, I hope.
Eivor:Your Christ can wait his turn. It's you I've come to see.
Sigebeald:Is that so?
Eivor:"When pride cometh, then cometh shame. But with the lowly cometh wisdom." You know these words, and you know why I speak them.
Sigebeald:I do. But I am not yet satisfied that you are the one for the task ahead. As Jesus said onto Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Speak the deeds of Christ in order. Only then will you cometh unto my Lord.
Eivor:Why deny the pleadings of an unwashed pagan who aches to know God? Take me as I am, and I will do your Lord's bidding.
Sigebeald:How great is the burden of learning for one so unworthy. But I see that no amount of instruction in the Lord's words will save your soul. Come.
Skipping the lesson, Sigebeald led Eivor upstairs to the real person who corresponded with her.
Eivor:Who am I to meet, priest? I cannot stand waiting in silence.
Eivor:If I must dance to your tune, tell me where to step.
Sigebeald:In books one may find such wisdom. We had many in England, before the Danes burned our churches. A few yet remain nearby. Or perhaps a more pious soul in need of charity will reward you with a lesson.
Eivor walked around the minster and read the books on Christ's deeds. Eivor found a text on Christ's baptism by his cousin John.
Baptism Story: For God's spirit breathed on the waters, and in the Jordan River, Jesus was cleansed of all sin.
Eivor:He bathed in the river. So a gentle wash brings them closer to their god.
King Aelfred:Two, now. The Bishop Ealhferth is dead. He was The Seax, so far as I can tell.
Eivor:And a humble servant fo your God. That must sting.
King Aelfred:Still, his death has strengthened Christian fellowship in Wincestre. I pray the death of his colleagues will do the same.
Eivor:So many lies in the name of your God. Perhaps he is not strong enough to help you.
King Aelfred:My God is the Almighty. But my enemies are numerous and my throne is fresh. There must be no trail from these murders back to me.
Rather than agree immediately, Eivor briefly entertained the idea of leaving Aelfred to his fate.
Eivor:You have faced warriors like me many times before. And many times you have been lost or been cheated. Why trust me now?
King Aelfred:I have men in Lunden and Jorvik. Men who send me reports on the rise and fall of the tides of war. Not long ago, men and women of some influence were murdered in those places, in oddly specific circumstances. When I received this letter from our Poor Fellow-Soldier, it did not take long to work out why. I don't know your motive, nor what you hope to gain. All I ask is that you finish the work you have begun, before these fallen souls infest England further.
Rather than agree immediately, Eivor briefly entertained the idea of leaving Aelfred to his fate.
Rather than agree immediately, Eivor briefly entertained the idea of leaving Aelfred to his fate.
Eivor:I should let the Order kill you. It would speed our conquest of England.
King Aelfred:You may remove the organs of state, the cancer will remain.
Eivor:I should let the Order kill you. If I made it easy for them, they might even return Sigurd to me.
King Aelfred:I would return him to you myself if I knew where they were holding him. But Fulke's treachery has blindsided me as well.
Eivor:Then promise me a reward I can sing about. A healthy king's weight in silver.
King Aelfred sighed.
King Aelfred:Very well. As much as you can carry. This morning, my reeve, Goodwin, was not at his post.
Eivor:A man you trust?
King Aelfred:Goodwin was following the clues given in this letter when he disappeared.
Eivor:Where was he last seen?
King Aelfred:At his house, by the west gate. You may find something here.
Alfred urging Eivor not to behave rashly in the city
Eivor nodded and took her leave.
King Aelfred:Eivor. Compose yourself while you are my guest. My city is not a battlefield.
Eivor:Not yet, great king. But the day will come.
Eivor left to find Goodwin.
Eivor:I need to find this reeve Goodwin.
Eivor investigating Goodwin's estate, guarded by soldiers
Arriving at Goodwin's home, Eivor caught sight of guards looking around his home
Eivor:Goodwin gone. And guards sniffing around.
Eivor took care of the guards wandering around the house. Additionally, she may have found a manifesto nailed to its exterior wall.
The Quill's Manifesto
The Disputation of Tutelage
People of Wincestre. Aelfred would force his reformation upon us. Take your children from the bosom of their family to idle away hours in the company of so-called men of God. For what? So they may read the scriptures? Write their names in pig shit? Education for all? A hollow cry when you starve on the streets or die at the hands of Dane raiders. True enlightenment will not come from the sallow king. It will come from the Order.
The Quill.
Eivor:Someone disagrees with Aelfred educating the people of Wincestre.
Investigating inside Goodwin's house, Eivor found a letter near the fireplace and signs of disturbance.
A half-burned letter
You have been a thorn in my side long enough, Goodwin. Cease your snooping, or I will use my considerable influence to lock you in the Garrison. Not even your feeble king will save you then.
The Gallows
Eivor:Papers, thrown on the fire. Goodwin covering his tracks? Or the guards destroying evidence?
Eivor at the second level of Goodwin's home
Eivor went upstairs and found more signs of struggle.
Eivor:Broken bowls, food scattered. They took him by force. There must be a garrison in the city. A violent struggle with the guards. They must have taken him to Wincestre's garrison.
Leaving Goodwin's home, Eivor located and arrived at Wincestre Garrison. She may have found another copy of The Quill's writings nailed to the wall outside the garrison entrance.
Eivor:Another of The Quill's notices.
Inside the garrison, Eivor found a bunch of prisoners locked in wooden cages and moved to free them.
Eivor:The prisoners might know something.
She opened the cages one at a time and spoke with the prisoners.
Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1:Felling trees, chiseling rock from the earth. And for what? To build more prisons for men who steal apples.
Anglo-Saxon Woman 1:I was starving, my baby son close to death. Would you not steal to save your child?
Eivor:I am looking for the reeve (sheriff).
Norse Warrior 1:Selwyn? That bastard said I stole an apple. He'll see me hang for it!
Eivor:Not Selwyn. Reeve Goodwin. Was arrested not long ago.
Norse Warrior 1:Aelfred's man, arrested? Now that's as funny as a dose of the pox. Seems no one is free in Wincestre.
Eivor spied the entrance to the garrison keep but needed a key to unlock its front door. While the stronger prisoners fought the garrison guards, Eivor found the key and breach the inner keep.
Eivor:Thick wall and thicker guards. A place to keep a valuable man.
Investigating the central building, Eivor found a text about Selwyn.
Eivor:Reeve Selwyn ordered executions for petty theft and mud-slinging. A husband and wife, to be carried out soon.
Eivor also found a collection of research.
Goodwin's Research
I have arranged to meet Harold at the tavern under the cover of darkness. He was terrified when I approached him in the open. Eyes darting left and right, as if he thought the very walls were watching us.
Harold did not come. I waited for more than an hour. And when I went to his home near the Minster, the place was torn apart, his belongings gone.
Four others came forward with information on the Gallows identity. And all four have met a horrible end. Two were hanged in the square on petty charges. One was found dead, allegedly after a drunken brawl. Another has fled.
The two who were hanged. The Gallows must be another reeve, I am sure of it. Only we have the power to judge the people of Wincestre.
He (The Gallows) is a public figure. He outwardly opposes Aelfred's reforms. I do not dare write my suspicions here.
(The research continues for many more pages).
Eivor:Evidence against The Order of Ancients. Stolen from Goodwin?
Goodwin rescued by Eivor
On the bottom level of the building, Eivor found three holding cells. Opening the middle door, Eivor found a tied up Goodwin, then freed him.
Goodwin:A Dane in Wincestre? These are strange times.
Eivor:King Aelfred sent me, pleading from his bended knee to find someone.
Goodwin:I know Aelfred well enough to spot a bloody lie when I hear it. If he did send you, he was standing tall and proud.
Eivor:That he was. And you're the man I've come to find, Goodwin. Do you know why?
Goodwin:If I had one guess, to find the heretics from The Order of Ancients and bury them so deep, even God would need a shovel.
Eivor:So where do we start digging?
Eivor requested by Goodwin to recover his research
Goodwin:My research should help us. If they haven't burned it already, it'll be somewhere nearby.
Eivor:I have your papers here, taken from the captain of this keep.
Goodwin:A marvel. History will name you the protector of Wincestre. A pricking irony.
Eivor:And not lost on me. Now let's go... before they discover their eel has slipped the hook.
Eivor and Goodwin escaped the garrison.
Eivor:Let's regroup beyond the walls.
Eivor spoke with Goodwin outside the garrison.
Eivor:I'll find your research. Now go, before they find their wolf has fled his cage.
Eivor parted with Goodwin and headed upstairs to find the research.
Eivor:Let's regroup beyond the walls.
Eivor found the research and rejoined Goodwin outside the garrison.
Goodwin:I am grateful for your help.
Eivor handing Goodwin his papers
Eivor handed Goodwin his research.
Eivor:It's a brazen move to arrest Aelfred's favored reeve.
Goodwin:This so-called Order are nothing but defiled shit-peddlers.
Eivor:Shit-peddlers who have wormed their way into every crevasse of your country. They're dangerous.
Goodwin:I didn't catch your name, did I?
Eivor:Eivor of the Raven Clan. Scourge of Mercia if that name doesn't rattle some recognition.
Goodwin:Well, Eivor, when our three heretics smolder on a heap of ash, we'll down a cup of ale together and share our distaste of Mercians like old friends.
Eivor:Aelfred believes at least one is dead. Your bishop Ealhferth was The Seax.
Goodwin:Bugger. Half of Wincestre is in mourning for that nun-groper.
Eivor:I found this nailed on a door. The Quill wields words like a knife.
She handed Goodwin the manifesto, which he read.
Goodwin:A Disputation of Tutelage? Pretty chatter with poisoned intent. I will look into this more.
Eivor:One calls himself The Quill. Are words his weapons?
Goodwin:There were rumors of letters nailed up around Wincestre. It may be that one of these can tell us more.
Eivor:The Gallows. What do you know of him?
Eivor and Goodwin discuss the reeve Selwyn, who was suspected of being The Gallows
Goodwin:Must be another reeve, I'm sure of it. Only we have the power to mete out justice. And this one would walk with cocksure righteousness.
Eivor:Is Selwyn a name you know? He seems to have judged and executed many for little more than stealing ale and bread.
Eivor:The Gallows had you arrested. So he must command the law.
Goodwin thought for a moment, and the simplest suspect dawned on him.
Goodwin:Reeve Selwyn?
Goodwin:Of course. That hedge-pig has brought down laws like a hammer on Wincestre. Executing sinners on spurious charges in the square.
Eivor:Could it be another?
Goodwin:He's the man. He's the only one who fits. End his terror, Eivor.
Eivor stood and took her leave of Goodwin, making her way immediately to her target in the city square.
Outcome
After agreeing to help Alfred, Eivor went and saved his reeve, Goodwin. Eivor and Goodwin talked about the Wincestre targets and deduced The Gallows was Reeve Selwyn. Goodwin asked Eivor to stop Selwyn and she went to find and assassinate him.
Behind the scenes
Unlocking the pledge to Wincestre, and therefore this memory and its succedent memories, requires only the completion of the Jorvik and Oxenefordscire arcs. The former comes from the fixed progression of Hytham's pledges from Lunden to Jorvik to here, and the latter comes from being the game narrative's introduction point for Aelfred. In spite of the gap in region level, it is possible to undertake this arc even before completing the Suthsexe arc, and the initial dialogue between Eivor and Aelfred will change accordingly.
Gallery
Eivor arriving at Wincestre
Eivor taking a view of the city from the church tower
