- Eivor: Forgive me. On your first day back, I should have let you win.
- Sigurd: Gods, you should have let me start!
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The Prodigal Prince
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The Prodigal Prince 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[edit | edit source]
Eivor met with her brother Sigurd Styrbjornson, who just returned from a two-year journey away from Norway in Constantinople.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Eivor travelled to the harbor, finding a newly returned Sigurd.
- Sigurd: Hey, hey! Careful with that one.
Sigurd spotted Eivor approaching.
- Sigurd: Eivor!
- Eivor: Sigurd!
- Sigurd: O, look at you, blood-soaked drengr. Have you been warring without me?
Eivor embraced her brother.
- Eivor: Ah, and you, salt-cured vikingr. I smell the stink of a dozen kingdoms in your beard.
- Sigurd: It's just the start.
Sigurd spotted his wife Randvi approaching them both.
- Sigurd: Randvi, my dear wife. Your husband returns, bringing gifts and riches to share.
Sigurd gave Randvi a kiss on her cheeks.
- Randvi: And new friends, I see.
The three turned towards two hooded individuals, who proceeded to took off their hoods.
- Sigurd: Yes! Basim... and Hytham. We met in Miklagard, and they showed me her buried secrets.
- Basim: We are grateful to Sigurd for his invitation, and eager to pay tribute to your king.
- Eivor: My brother is always very careful with the company he keeps. If you are standing safely beside him, he must like you.
- Sigurd: Eivor, save the introductions until our bellies are full. I will see my father, tell him of my time away.
Eivor and Randvi walked with Sigurd to the longhouse.
- Sigurd: This morning we traded with a ship passing south. They told us Eivor the Wolf-Kissed was captured by Kjotve's men.
- Eivor: They must have cut the tale short. I killed my captors and recovered my crew. And for that, your father scolded me. You know where I stand, Brother. Nothing short of war will dislodge Kjotve from our lands. But he disagrees.
- Sigurd: I know, I know. Father thinks too much and acts too little. Today that changes. I promise you. By the winter's end, the name Kjotve the Cruel will be a curse on the lips of a drunken fool.
They reached the longhouse, where jarl Styrbjorn awaited.
- Styrbjorn: My son. Welcome home.
Sigurd and Styrbjorn hugged.
- Sigurd: Ah, Father...
- Styrbjorn: Tonight we feast and celebrate your return, Sigurd. The tables are laid with barley and lamb, bread and mead—
- Sigurd: And no more, I beg you. I want nothing you would not serve a thrall. Let me be the one to honor you. I bring gifts and tales from faraway lands. After two winters away, I am full up with both.
- Styrbjorn: Very well, very well. Come inside.
- Sigurd: And when we are fat and satisfied, Father, we will talk of Kjotve and his clan. And how we may end their terror, once and for all. He has dogged us too long. Shamed us for too many seasons. I know this. Eivor knows this... It ends now.
- Styrbjorn: Yes, of course. When the time is right.
The family then feasted. Sigurd regaled his clan with tales of his travels while Eivor sat and listened.
- Sigurd: Through Rusland we barreled down the Volga river, raiding as we went, shadowy tribes hurling spears at our ship. At Miklagard, we saw men bedecked in riches as vibrant as the Bifröst itself. These we took for our troubles, of course! We sailed to Rome, then Africa. Past oceans of sand, warriors of all colors, and beauty the eyes must weep to behold. And now, I have returned! With riches and glory to share with my family, my friends, my ice-forged drengir! So take what you desire from my hoard. For this... this is only a taste of things to come. Tomorrow, the Raven Clan starts anew!
- Styrbjorn: Skal, Sigurd.
- Sigurd: Skal!
- Eivor: And you, Eivor. Come! I have something special for you.
Eivor got up from her seat and went around to speak to various people before talking to Sigurd. She approached the throne and spoke to Styrbjorn, who did not seem happy.
- Eivor: Sigurd has raised the reputation of this clan to new heights, lord. We could not have asked for a more joyous return.
- Styrbjorn: O, but we could have. Had Sigurd spent his last two winters here in Fornburg, defending our lands, we might have been rid of Kjotve by now.
- Eivor: You always said we needed more warriors to fight Kjotve. And for warriors, we need wealth, which Sigurd has brought us.
- Styrbjorn: The wealth he brings will not buy us an army. It only buys us time before our end.
- Eivor: You talk like a man with one foot in Helheim. Have you no plan of your own to rid this land of our enemy? Will it fall to Sigurd and me?
- Styrbjorn: I do. But it will fall to you and Sigurd to accept it. And I must have your word that you will.
- Eivor: If you so order it, my king, it will be done. You have my axe until the end.
- Styrbjorn: Hmm. We shall see.
Eivor then went to speak to Randvi.
- Eivor: Randvi.
- Randvi: Eivor. Have you paid a visit to Valka?
- Eivor: I did.
- Randvi: And...?
- Eivor: It is not something I can speak on. Or wish to.
- Randvi: I understand.
- Eivor: Your bed will be warm tonight with your husband returned. That must be a good feeling.
- Randvi: It is a different feeling. Warmer, but with less space to stretch my arms and legs.
- Eivor: Are you not happy to see your husband returned?
- Randvi: Of course. But it has been so long, he seems a stranger to me. Three winters we are married and he has been away for two.
- Eivor: Can you not rekindle the flame that once burned hot?
- Randvi: Hmph. When he crawls into bed to warm me, as you say, it will be with farts and honeyed breath.
- Eivor: Ah. We should all be so lucky.
Randvi laughed. Eivor left and approached Hytham.
- Eivor: Hytham is it?
- Hytham: Yes, and you are Eivor?
- Eivor: I am. I hope this ruckus does not overwhelm you. We tend to drink and talk at equal speed.
- Hytham: Not at all. The woodsmoke from your firepit does sting the eyes. But the warmth is welcome.
- Eivor: Of course. It must be rather warm where you live.
- Hytham: Where I live changes from week to week. But always I am with my mentor, Basim.
- Eivor: Your mentor? For what cause?
- Hytham: A noble one, a cause as true as the world is old. But let us leave it at that for now.
- Eivor: I understand. But if you hope to stay tight-lipped for the rest of the night, keep clear of Tekla's mead.
- Hytham: Ah. Thank you for the warning. It will not be a problem.
Eivor spoke to Basim, sitting at a nearby table.
- Eivor: You are Basim?
- Basim: You have a good memory.
- Eivor: And you have no mead. Can I fix that?
- Basim: Sigurd spoke often of you on our journey. Called you his right arm, a celebrated warrior. I am honored to meet you.
- Eivor: Likewise, Basim. And how did you come to meet my brother?
- Basim: He set down in Constantinople some months ago, to rest and resupply he told me. But I knew otherwise. Men with eyes that gleam like his are always up to something more. I think he wished to raid the Hagia Sophia.
- Eivor: That sounds right.
- Basim: I will not bore you with the details of our meeting, but I liked your brother from the first. I saw something in him that captivated me. As if a forgotten memory of an old friendship had suddenly resurfaced.
- Eivor: He has that effect on people. Enjoy your evening, Basim.
Eivor then approached Sigurd.
- Sigurd: I thought long and hard on a gift worthy of you.
- Eivor: You have snared my curiosity, Brother. What is it?
- Sigurd: Not yet. Drinks first! To my first night in Fornburg in over two winters. It must end with me soaked and wall-eyed, shouting at the shadows of trolls!
- Eivor: And you want me to sail with you on these honey-waves?
- Sigurd: Yes! You are stuck with me, drengr. Now drink!
They both drank. Sigurd for a short time, while Eivor downed hers. Sigurd coughed and laughed.
- Sigurd: Gah! You would put Thor to shame!
- Eivor: From drinking to breathing, you turn everything into a competition, Brother. I must always be prepared.
- Sigurd: True enough.
- Eivor: You have been away too long, Brother. You do not know the spiced kick of Tekla's mead.
- Sigurd: Mm. It does have a new taste. I like it.
Sigurd took another drink.
- Eivor: It is good to have you back, Sigurd.
- Sigurd: Yes, I have missed this terribly. When I first met Basim, I regaled him with tales of our homeland. And it was then I felt a hard longing to return at once.
Sigurd then saw Basim and Hytham and motioned them closer.
- Sigurd: Come.
This brings us to your gift. These excellent men were my shepherds through much of their homeland, the Abbasid Caliphate. They are a clan not joined by blood, but by a common idea. A brotherhood of shadows executing their own form of justice. In my time with them, they shared many of their most hidden secrets. For which I am grateful. And now... I gift one of these secrets to you. A weapon, for the finest warrior I know.
Sigurd passed Ammon's Hidden Blade to Eivor, as Hytham looked on with concern.
- Eivor: Beautiful craftsmanship. What kind of smith makes a weapon like this?
- Basim: It is less a weapon than a tool. One we have used for centuries to fight injustice and evil.
- Eivor: Not the most threatening weapon, is it? A bracer with a tiny blade.
- Basim: It may not look like much, but those who underestimate its effectiveness are often the first to die by its sting.
- Eivor: Hytham is not amused, it seems. Am I not worthy of this gift?
- Hytham: It is not about worth, Eivor. It is a matter of devotion to our creed. And... and training-
- Basim: Hytham, please.
- Hytham: Mentor, I must protest. This is deeply unorthodox. Our wrist-blade is a sacred tool—
- Basim: Do not make a fetish out of cold metal, Hytham. What matters is the mind of the one who wields it. Please. Try it on.
Eivor placed the Hidden Blade on her wrist, with the blade facing the outside.
- Basim: The blade should ride on the underside of your arm. To conceal it from your target.
- Eivor: I have no wish to hide this. And I would rather not make the same mistake you two have. I like it.
- Hytham: This is no mistake. This is a voluntary sacrifice to prove our devotion to—
Basim cut him off.
- Basim: A good start, Eivor. but you must learn how to use it effectively.
- Sigurd: Outside. This is not something for all eyes.
- Eivor: Lead on.
Eivor followed Sigurd, Basim, and Hytham outside.
- Eivor: This clan of yours. It has a name?
- Basim: Indeed, but among the tenants of our creed is a vow to never reveal too much to outsiders. In time, you may learn more. But not here, where the walls and trees may have ears.
- Eivor: I look forward to it.
They arrived at yard with test dummies set up.
- Basim: Here, let me lead you through our most basic techniques. Wielded with skill and care, our blade delivers a singular killing blow. As you near your target, find your window to strike. Timing is essential.
Eivor 'assassinated' a nearby dummy.
- Basim: Excellent.
- Eivor: I have not seen a blade so sharp.
- Basim: Some targets are trickier than others. Keep that in mind before you strike.
Eivor then 'assassinated' a sturdier dummy.
- Hytham: A decent attempt.
- Basim: Take that one down from the ledge.
Eivor performed a 'ledge assassination' on the higher dummy.
- Basim: That's it.
- Sigurd: How about a challenge? Leap down upon that target from above.
Eivor then 'air assassinated' the next dummy.
- Basim: A perfect strike.
Use your surroundings when possible. Strike from that haystack, for instance.
Eivor then 'stealth assassinated' the final dummy from the haystack.
- Basim: Exactly. Just like that.
- Hytham: Mentor, does Eivor intend to join us?
- Basim: Not that I am aware.
- Hytham: Then why offer her the blade? Surely we have more—
- Basim: Hytham. Hush.
You wield the blade well.
Let us leave Eivor to enjoy her gift in peace. Come.
Basim and Hytham left while Sigurd remained.
- Sigurd: Eivor. Let us walk to the docks and take in the night air.
Eivor followed Sigurd to the docks.
- Sigurd: What do you make of my new friends?
- Eivor: They seem generous and menacing in equal measure.
- Sigurd: I know what you mean. And they have learning too. They wield numbers and writing as if it were magic. Basim has shown me so much about the world. All of which I will share with you... when the time is right.
The siblings reached the docks.
- Sigurd: Ah! I missed the smell of this land.
- Eivor: Have you returned for good, or do you mean to join this shadow brotherhood?
- Sigurd: Leave all that aside, Eivor. Tonight we are family again. The here and now is what matters. Our kinship, our clan... our glory.
- Eivor: I missed you, Brother. Your clear head and your courage. We have not had enough of both in recent months.
- Sigurd: You flatter me, Wolf-Kissed. Keep it up.
- Eivor: From here to Valhalla, I will always be by your side, Sigurd. Always.
- Sigurd: This fjord has grown too small to contain me, or I too large. There is so much more beyond these stony fangs that rise around us. England, Ireland, Francia... all greener pastures, ripe for the plucking. Tomorrow we make new war on Kjotve. And reclaim the lands he took from us. And from there, we build a kingdom. For us.
- Eivor: I'm with you. Only say the word.
- Sigurd: Good. Get some rest and return here at first light.
Eivor and Sigurd walked back to the longhouse together.
Outcome[edit | edit source]
Eivor was reunited with her brother Sigurd, who returned home after a two-year journey. She was introduced to his newfound friends, the Hidden Ones Basim Ibn Ishaq and Hytham, and was gifted a Hidden Blade.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
-
Sigurd meeting Eivor on Fornburg's docks -
Sigurd hugging his wife, Randvi -
Eivor and Styrbjorn at the feast -
Eivor and Randvi at the feast -
Eivor and Sigurd downing a mug of mead -
Sigurd and Eivor enter the Raven Clan's longhouse -
Basim looking on as Sigurd presents the Hidden Blade -
Eivor testing the Hidden Blade
