Shifting Loyalties

Shifting Loyalties was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Basim Ibn Ishaq in 2020 through the Portable Animus HR-8.5, in which a vision of one of Odin's memories could be seen.
==Description==
Havi decided to kill the druids working for Níðhǫggr to slow the spread of its corruption.
==Dialogue==
Making his way through western Nidheim, Havi came to another rope bridge. A thrall named Brodir was standing on top of a scaffold on the other side.
*Brodir: You can cross now! The bridge should hold!
As Havi reached the other side, the bridge predictably collapsed into the poison lake like the rest of the bridges in Nidheim, prompting Brodir to climb down from the scaffold.
*Brodir: Why repair these bridges when they just fall apart!
*Havi: I mean no offense, but it does seem a pointless task.
*Brodir: Such is life among the dead. The corruption what eats at these bridges is fed by the same Hands who demand their maintenance.
*Havi: And whose hands are those?
*Brodir: The Hands of Nidhogg. A twisted collection of druids, mystics and priests who serve the ruler of these pestilent lands.
*Havi: Nidhogg? I know that name. A creature whose depravity is legendary. He reigns here?
*Brodir: Aye. Drinking the sap of Yggdrasil's roots, while his Hands gather the living and dead for him to feast upon.
*Havi: And the ones responsible for the rot that eats at these bridges? If I eliminate them, it would ease my passage through here?
*Brodir: Nidhogg is the true root of the rot, but cutting away his Hands would slow its spread. You could start with my owner. He's a dark druid who patrols this area, dressed to inspire terror and loathing.
Brodir went to sit down on a log. Havi talked to him again.
*Brodir: The dark druid may be hard to spot in the mist, but his attire is unmistakable.
Havi climbed to the top of a nearby rock tower and came to a tall manmade tower surrounded by giant roots and crawling with druids. He located the dark druid amongst all the others.
*Havi: That must be the druid the thrall spoke of.
He got closer to the druid.
*Havi: With luck, the druid won't detect my approach.
He managed to assassinate the druid and gained the Draugr's Toll outfit.
*Havi: Some of the druid's belongings might be useful among these degenerates.
He found a note on a barrel at the top of the tower. On a later run, Havi returned to Nidheim. He performed a Leap of Faith from the high entrance down to the first islet, whereupon Brodir was waiting at a campfire.
*Brodir: My liberator!
As soon as Havi exited the leaf pile, Brodir spoke to him.
*Brodir: I shouldn't be surprised that you were sent from above.
*Havi: Not sent. I serve my own purpose. Enjoy your found freedom, I'm off to face my fate.
*Brodir: Would you stay a moment to cut your travel time by half?
*Havi: You promised me swiftness once before if I helped you, and I am no further along now.
*Brodir: These things take time. You've slain one of Nidhogg's serpents, not cleaned out the nest.
*Havi: I do not have time to hunt down a whole cult.
*Brodir: I do not expect you to destroy all the Hands of Nidhogg. I just need an item … from the hands of a merchant.
*Havi: A merchant? And I suppose a thrall wouldn't have coin to purchase this thing.
*Brodir: I've saved up for my freedom and it's all yours. I just need three little stones which you'll likely get for free.
*Havi: Then why do you even need me? Why not get it yourself?
*Brodir: She doesn't serve … thralls, even former ones. But I've seen my old owner go into the shop. Somewhere around the tower.
He gave Havi 15 gems and left. Havi went to the nearby campfire and looked at a note on the tree stump chair.
Havi talked to Brodir again, who was standing on the edge of the islet looking out at the poison lake.
*Brodir: The entrance is somewhere around the tower. I believe it requires a singular sight.
*Havi: That I have.
From central Nidheim, Havi went across a rope bridge to the north and found a man sleeping in some bushes under a ledge.
*Havi: Another thief...another opportunity.
He snuck up to the sleeping thief.
*Havi: I must move carefully.
He obtained 90 coins from the thief.
*Havi: My patience has been rewarded.
On a stump next to the thief was a note. Havi went back to the area he first met Brodir, but instead of climbing up the tower he went off to the right until he reached a rock arch over a channel of the poison lake. He crossed a rope spanning the channel under the arch and squeezed through a crevice in the rock on the other side. He emerged in the den of Nidheim's Hidden Merchant, Wolfsbane, a female druid.
*Havi: Greetings, trader. I seek three stones—
*Wolfsbane: So, you're the one! Why didn't you say so sooner? I hate when fated items linger here unclaimed.
*Havi: You knew I would come for the stones? Are you a seer?
*Wolfsbane: No, but down here, one needs to traffic in prophecy from time to time. I supply what's required, no questions asked.
*Havi: A most discreet agent of fate.
*Wolfsbane: There are the stones. Come talk to me when you're in the mood to spend. Money is always welcome.
She gave Havi 3 moonstones and he left her den. Brodir was waiting just outside and spoke to the High One.
*Brodir: The moonstones!
*Havi: They're yours. And now, if there's nothing more required of me--
*Brodir: You may go. I have what I need. I hope the payment provided was equal to the effort.
He gave Havi 100 memories and walked away. Havi talked to him again.
*Brodir: Too close together and the trap may be avoided … too far apart and their power grows too weak…
On a later run, Havi returned to Nidheim. Making his way through the eastern part of the region, he slid down a zipline and came to an area with a giant sword sticking out of a vault on a stage. Scattered around the area were three glowing moonstones on the ground, and unconscious on the ground in front of the stage was Brodir. Havi tried to talk to him.
*Havi: Wake up!
Receiving no response, Havi investigated a moonstone next to him.
*Havi: The placement of the stones has activated their power. Is that what struck the thrall down?
Havi invoked the sword and selected a reward. A druid, the Left Hand of Nidhogg, and a white werewolf appeared, and the three moonstones scattered around the area began shining brightly.
*Left Hand of Nidhogg: Go, beast! Show me what you've learned!
*Havi: This wolf seems almost human! And so white!
Havi began to fight them both, but when he tried to attack the werewolf he was blocked by some kind of magic shielding.
*Havi: A power protects this creature. I need something to counter it.
Havi lured the werewolf to jump on one of the shining moonstones, which stunned it.
*Havi: Found your weakness, wolf.
After the werewolf recovered, Havi repeated the strategy with the other two moonstones, and on the third stunning it transformed into a woman with no clothes. At this point, Brodir woke up.
*Brodir: No! Leave her alone!
Brodir transformed into a white wolf and began to attack the Left Hand of Nidhogg.
*Brodir: Stay your amazement, traveler, and help me kill some cultists!
Together they defeated the druid.
*Brodir: You don't own us!
He transformed back into a human and hurried over to the crouched woman.
*Brodir: I won't let them hurt you, Systir! Not anymore!
Havi spoke to him.
*Brodir: Systir will recover once I move her away from the moonstones' influence.
*Havi: Away? I thought the moonstones helped her resist the spell.
*Brodir: No, they weaken us. Our true forms are wolves, so … I'll wait until you're gone. She may be … confused.
*Havi: Hah, I understand. I'm heartened that family bonds could survive such a place, but I will be glad to quit this land of rot.
*Brodir: Not everything in this place is as corrupt as the wyrm who gnaws at it. Some keep hope alive for the Rebirth that will be Ragnarök. You have my thanks and my pledge. When you find yourself sorely hurt, we'll catch your scent and come.
Havi unlocked the permanent favor "A Wolf's Pledge".
==References==
*Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Forgotten Saga
Category:Memories of Eivor Varinsdottir
Category:Memories relived using the Animus HR-8.5