Wulfhilda

Wulfhilda was an Anglo-Saxon nun from East Anglia who lived during the 9th century.

Biography

Investigating the attack

An abbess from the Barking Abbey, Wulfhilda was unlike her colleagues who resented the local presence of the Norse, whom they dubbed "heathens" for not practicing Christianity. Despite this, her colleagues tolerated her beliefs, and it was for this reason that the bishop sent her to the southwestern part of East Anglia investigate rumors of a monster mutilating the livestock.

Upon her arrival, Wulfhilda soon realized the attacks were atypical from regular animal incursions, as the dead would be covered in unusual green mold. She tried to calm down the local farmers who blamed the attacks on the local Vikings, insisting that it was not their doing but rather the work of the Devil. Shortly after, Wulfhilda met Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan, who had also heard of the attacks by her settlement's scout Sunniva. After Eivor fended off several of the incensed farmers, Wulfhilda spoke to her and requested her aid into looking into the attacks herself.

Tracking down the beast

Eivor returned to Wulfhilda shortly thereafter and reported that the children Ashildr and Cedl saw a "Jotun" responsible for these attacks, proving they were not the work of Viking raiders. The abbess and Eivor then headed further north to investigate more reports of such attacks. After saving an elderly woman from a pack of wolves, Wulfhilda and Eivor travelled to the Brisleah Farm up north after the woman found an axe belonging to the warband chief Hrothgar on the animal carcass, placing suspicions on him. However, Wulfhilda was adamant in believing her statement as she had known Hrothgar herself and called him a great man who would never do such a thing.

Wulfhilda and Eivor following the trail of bodies

Arriving at the farm, Wulfhilda and Eivor saw a trail of animal and civilian bodies that all suffered from the same covered mold and marks from the attacks in the farm. They investigated the top of the monastery at the farm and found a mortally wounded Hrothgar, who like the children also reported a "Jotun" responsible for these attacks. After Hrothgar died from his wounds, Wulfhilda and Eivor made the decision to remain behind, believing that the "Jotun" would return. Sure enough, the "Jotun" returned and "attacked" both Eivor and the abbess, prompting the shieldmaiden to kill him in self-defense. It became apparent that the "Jotun" responsible for the attacks was in fact a human named Grendel who suffered a form of gigantism that made him different from the rest of the population. As Grendel died calling out for his mother, Wulfhilda gave him his last rites while Eivor went on to track down the trail of mold left by Grendel.

Wulfhilda learning the the truth behind Grendel and the attacks

Eivor returned to Wulfhilda sometime thereafter, having tracked down the mold to a massive cavern of caves called Grime's Graves. She reported that the elderly lady they encountered earlier was Grendel's mother, who tried to protect her child from the villagers in whatever methods possible. With the mystery of the animal attacks solved, Wulfhilda made her return to the abbey to report her findings, promising Eivor that she would change the contents and omit Eivor out of the story. Eventually, rather than a story, Wulfhilda composed a poem but attributed the heroics to the well known Beowulf, later sending a copy of the poem to Eivor in Ravensthorpe.

Gallery

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  Wulfhilda requesting Eivor's aid to investigate the attack
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  Wulfhilda giving Grendel his last rites

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Legend of Beowulf