- Eivor: Yes, I'm curious to see the shiremoot for myself. I will follow.
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Where the Stone Falls
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Where the Stone Falls was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.5.
Description
Eivor went to the Shiremoot in Lincoln, where a new ealdorman for Lincolnscire was chosen.
Dialogue
Upon her return to Lincoln, Eivor met with Abbess Acha in the city's market.
- Eivor: Acha. Is everything ready?
- Acha: The shiremoot will soon begin. Will you join us, Eivor? We'd be comforted by your presence.
- Eivor: TBA
After agreeing to attend the shiremoot, Eivor went inside the town hall with Abbess Acha.
- Eivor: When will the vote begin, abbess?
- Acha: Twelve able lords of Lincolnshire have already cast their stones. But they have reached a tie. Four votes for each man. It not falls to you to break this impasse.
- Eivor: Me? By whose order?
- Acha: You have earned the trust of our three candidates, it seems. Even our bishop has found a certain fondness for your hardy spirit.
- Eivor: It's an important vote for your people. How would you counsel my vote?
- Acha: I value competent and righteous leadership. Not foolish friends in high seats.
- Eivor: Anyone but Hunwald, you mean?
- Acha: I love Hunwald as I love my own kin. But I would not put a stone in his care without fearing of the safety of both. I pray that God guides your vote today ... and not the Devil, as I fear.
- Eivor: Aelfgar and Hunwald were attacked recently. And your bishop remains fearful. It's clear someone wants this stopped.
- Acha: They tried, yes. But they did not succeed, praise be to God.
- Eivor: I kept them safe. Not your God.
- Acha: I pray that God guides your vote today ... and not the Devil, as I fear.
- Eivor: It is not an easy choice to make. But I will choose with care, I promise.
- Acha: I pray that God guides your vote today ... and not the Devil, as I fear.
Acha walked off as Eivor pondered on how to vote.
- Eivor talked to a sitting lord at a table to the left of the entrance.
- Eivor: How are you, lord?
- Earconbert: Have I heard aright? That you have come to break us from our deadlock?
- Eivor: I have, lord. Have you any advice before I vote?
- Earconbert: Lord Hundbeorht was a bold and honest man, if somewhat reckless. I see the same qualities in his son. Therefore, Hunwald is my man.
- Eivor spoke with a man adjacent to the wall, left of the entrance.
- Eivor: King Ceolwulf's attendant, aren't you?
- Anglo-Saxon Man 1: Aye, the king sends his love and support. Whatever happens here today shall have his full blessing.
- Eivor: He's learning fast. Good man.
- Eivor spoke with Aelfgar, standing in the middle of the hall.
- Eivor: Good evening, Aelfgar.
- Aelfgar: Eivor, I hope it's not untoward of me to solicit your support. But I do need it. The vote is closer than a cat's whisker.
- Eivor: It is a difficult choice, Aelfgar. Know that I won't make it lightly.
- Aelfgar: Good, good. But let me say unreservedly that I am the man who will lead Lincolnscire into progress and victory.
- Eivor: I do not doubt your convictions, lord.
Eivor walked around the town hall and she heard Hunwald shouting.
- Hunwald: A vote for Hunwald will return the house of the ferocious swan to its former glory.
- Eivor spoke with Hunwald.
- Eivor: How fare you, lord?
- Hunwald: My prayers are fervent and my will is strong, Eivor. If I am ealdorman, I will bring joy to this shire!
- Eivor: There's more to good leadership than merrymaking. You must be strong and stern, and willing to take risks.
- Hunwald: Of course, of course! Strength and wisdom and fortitude and all that. I shall rise about the peat moss of mediocrity! Have no fear!
- Eivor: That's good to hear.
- Eivor spoke with Bishop Herefrith, standing next to a sitting Acha.
- Eivor: Bishop.
- Herefrith: Eivor. I must thank you for your fearless participation in our moot.
- Eivor: I'm surprised to hear you vouched for me, bishop.
- Herefrith: I surprised myself, to be honest. But I felt it would be a good test of God's faith in my judgment. Under my guidance, this shire is crawling back from a decade of lawlessness. God knows the love that lives in my heart for the people of Lincolnscire. I pray now that he guides your hand accordingly.
- Eivor: Quite a gambit, bishop. Mad enough to work, it may be.
- Herefrith: Well then, I thank you, for what it's worth. God go with you.
- Eivor spoke with Grim, right of the entrance.
- Eivor: Grim. Good to see you again.
- Grim: A hearty hello, drengr (courageous warrior). Seems Britain is getting quite used to the idea of Danes stalking her shores.
- Eivor: Where do you fall in this contest, Grim? Aelfgar is a friend of yours, is he not?
- Grim: He is, and a good man as well. But I cast my stone for the bishop.
- Eivor: The bishop? That's an odd strategy.
- Grim: These Christians are easy to nudge about. So desperate they are to avoid a good fight, they'll agree to most anything a Dane says.
Eivor noticed a piece of paper near Grim.
- Shiremoot Invitation
This letter confirms the death of Ealdorman Hundbeorht, who passed with dignity and grace and whose soul now rests in the loving hands of our heavenly Father.
The council requests your presence at the forthcoming shiremoot as we elect a new Ealdorman of Lincoln. Bishop Herefrith, Thegn Aelfgar, and Hunwald son of Hundbeorht have been selected as candidates.
Punctuality must be observed. Those who arrive late will not be allowed to cast their vote.
Eivor went to the center table to decide her vote.
- Eivor: Three men, three possible futures.
A ghostly Odin appears next to Eivor.
- Odin: Which of these sad puppets will dance best when you call upon them?
- Eivor: It's not for myself I must cast this stone, but for my clan. Who will serve us best in a time of true need?
- Odin: You can never be certain where you stand in another's heart. Choose only for yourself.
Odin left Eivor to her decision.
- Eivor: All three have strengths and weaknesses.
- Eivor: Though tinged with arrogance, Aelfgar is competent and wealthy. He'd be a good ealdorman ... but a faithful ally?
- Eivor: Hunwald is not the most cunning or clever, but he has heart and spirit. Both go a long way in times of need.
- Eivor: The bishop can be stuffy, and wallows in Christian piety. But he is the wisest of the three and has already proven himself.
- Eivor: TBA
- Eivor considered Aelfgar in her process
- Eivor: I choose Aelfgar. He's sturdy and competent, and his wealth will be a boon.
Goes back to her considerations
- Eivor considered Hunwald in her process.
- Eivor: Lead your shire with pride, ferocious swan.
Goes back to her considerations
- Eivor considered Herefrith in her process.
- Eivor: Herefrith it will be. He knows what it means to lead. And he'll carry on with no trouble.
Goes back to her considerations
Acha went and checked all the votes
- Acha: It is decided. By the grace of God, the new ealdorman is Lord Aelfgar of Lincoln.
Aelfgar stepped up on stage.
- Aelfgar: God has spoken, and his voice is a clarion call. As your ealdorman, I will work to better this shire, to foster peace between its people, and to serve our king. I bless you all.
- Acha: Let us all raise our cups. A toast to our new ealdorman.
A party ensued afterwards. During Acha's speech, Eivor noticed an angry Herefrith walk to the door and tear off his Christian necklace.
- Acha: As all well know, this shiremoot's decision is not final, but advisory. It now falls to newly anointed king, Ceolwulf, to ratify our choice. To this end, we need not worry. Ceolwulf is a friend to Saxon and Dane alike, and he is sure to approve the results. Our good and noble friend, Aethelswith—
Herefrith opened the hall's door and let Saxon soldiers enter the premise.
- Herefrith: A septic rot has overtaken this shire! A sickness for which there is only one cure!
- Acha: Your Grace, what is this?
One Saxon soldier stabbed Ceolwulf's attendant as Eivor took out another Saxon soldier.
- Eivor: Nobles of Lincolnscire, stand fast!
Saxons soldiers surrounded a group of citizens.
- Herefrith: For the glory of the ancients! Leave none alive!
Herefrith closed the door, in order for no escape. Eivor and the nobles fought against Herefrith's guards as Herefrith was discovered to be The Crozier.
- Aelfgar: Herefrith, you rat!
- Eivor: Steel yourself, Hunwald!
- Hunwald: Mother of God! Another battle!
- Aelfgar: Hold steady, ealdorman. Grab any arm you can!
- Hunwald: Ah! God deliver us from this evil!
The guards started to dwindle against Eivor and Lincoln's nobles.
- Hunwald: Men of Lincolnscire, stand firm! Defend your ealdorman! Kill these traitors!
- Eivor: Is this how their god welcomes a new ealdorman?
The guards were all defeated.
- Eivor: Bastard bishop. What's his endgame?
Aelfgar and Eivor stood over the dead at their feet.
- Eivor: Your troubles begin early, Aelfgar.
- Aelfgar: We'll find and kill that man.
Hunwald sat down.
- Hunwald: To think such carnage could happen in Lincoln.
- Eivor: The grief-tosser can't have gone far. Raise a fyrd (peasant army) and march against what men he has left.
- Aelfgar: Agreed.
Aelfgar went to Hunwald.
- Aelfgar: Hunwald, will you fight with me?
- Eivor: I will. For the sake of Lincolnscire, I bloody will.
Aelfgar and Hunwald left for battle as Eivor met with Acha, who tended the wounded.
- Acha: I'm at a loss for words. A trusted man of the cloth. I will pray for these martyrs and tend to the remaining wounded until the last man walks free.
- Eivor: Be well, Acha.
- Acha: And you, Eivor. May God or ... or the gods ... protect you.
- Acha: It is decreed by this lawful shiremoot that the Ealdorman of Lincolnscire shall be... Son of our dear and departed Lord Hundbeorht ... Lord Hunwald of Lincolnscire.
- Hunwald: I ... I don't know what to say. I thank you, deeply, madly, humbly. What more can I say ... I ... I don't know... I miss my father. I'd sooner see him standing here, than ... well, I will do my best. For each and every one of you!
- Acha: Let us all raise our cups. A toast to our new ealdorman.
- Acha: As all well know, this shiremoot's decision is not final, but advisory. It now falls to newly anointed king, Ceolwulf, to ratify our choice. To this end, we need not worry. Ceolwulf is a friend to Saxon and Dane alike, and he is sure to approve the results. Our good and noble friend, Aethelswith—
- Herefrith: A septic rot has overtaken this shire! A sickness for which there is only one cure!
- Acha: Your Grace, what is this?
- Eivor: Nobles of Lincolnscire, stand fast!
- Herefrith: For the glory of the ancients! Leave none alive!
- Aelfgar: Herefrith, you rat!
- Eivor: Steel yourself, Hunwald!
- Hunwald: Mother of God! Another battle!
- Aelfgar: Hold steady, ealdorman. Grab any arm you can!
- Hunwald: Ah! God deliver us from this evil!
- Hunwald: Men of Lincolnscire, stand firm! Defend your ealdorman! Kill these traitors!
- Eivor: Is this how their god welcomes a new ealdorman?
- Eivor: Bastard bishop. What's his endgame?
- Eivor: This one's gone. Find those who still draw breath.
- Eivor: Polish your arse, Hunwald. The ealdorman's seat is yours. As your war counsel, I suggest you waste no time in catching this grief-tosser. He won't be far.
- Hunwald: We should first bury our dead ... no?
- Eivor: That choice is yours to make, ealdorman.
- Hunwald: Yes ... yes of course. We'll bury our dead, then raise a fyrd (peasant army).
- Acha: I'm at a loss for words. A trusted man of the cloth. I will pray for these martyrs and tend to the remaining wounded until the last man walks free.
- Eivor: Be well, Acha.
- Acha: And you, Eivor. May God or ... or the gods ... protect you.
- Acha: Our Lord God, through his infinite grace and mystery, has spoken... And he has spoken with a ringing voice! The Bishop Herefrith shall be Lincolnscire's ealdorman.
- Herefrith: Thank you, one and all. God's blessing go with you.
- Herefrith: Psalm seventy eight, seventy two. "David shepherded his flock by the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skill of his hands." So I shall lead, with heart and hand as one. God bless you all.
- Eivor: Go easy on the mead, lord. It's a long ride to Grimsby.
- Hunwald: I'm only sniffing it. I seem to have lost my thirst.
- Herefrith: Eivor ... you have gifted me a great honor, one I hope I can repay.
- Eivor: One you must repay, as our tradition demands.
- Herefrith: Name your need.
- Eivor: I want your holy word that Lincolnscire will be a friend to the Raven Clan, through the thickest and darkest of troubles.
- Herefrith: Yes, of course. Have no doubt. We are friends, you and I, from this moment forward. Only call and I shall come.
- Eivor: Thank you, bishop. Take care of your sheep.
- Eivor: And shear that one from time to time. For his own good.
- If Eivor chose Herefrith, Eivor spoke with Hunwald right afterwards.
- Eivor: Herefrith was the right man for the seat, Hunwald. He has influence and respect. Something you have yet to earn.
- Hunwald: I know. I've always known. I think I wanted this only as a means to remember my father.
- Eivor: There are better ways to honor his memory. Like a drink and a song.
- Hunwald: Yes ... that's true. Thank you, Eivor.
- Eivor: We'll speak again soon. I have an alliance to secure.
- Eivor: I couldn't back your claim to your father's seat, Hunwald. You're a deep-feeling man, but this work is beyond your skill.
- Hunwald: I know. I've always known. I think I wanted this only as a means to remember my father.
- Eivor: There are better ways to honor his memory. Like a drink and a song.
- Hunwald: Yes ... that's true. Thank you, Eivor.
- Eivor: We'll speak again soon. I have an alliance to secure.
- Eivor: This city, with these people ... it's not where you belong, Hunwald. You're a Dane at heart. Go to Swanburrow and live well.
- Hunwald: Yes ... that's true. Thank you, Eivor.
- Eivor: We'll speak again soon. I have an alliance to secure.
Outcome
Eivor casted her voted and the new ealdorman was chosen.
Trivia
- Choosing the Bishop during this memory will end the Lincolnscire arc prematurely.