The Old Guard

The Old Guard 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 came across a retired warrior who called to her from an island.
==Dialogue==
While exploring Repton, Eivor saw a man sitting alone on a small island outside the city docks.
*Norse Man: (humming) Care to sing a song? Helps me pass the time.Come here, raider. Have a sit with me. Hear a story or two
Using debris scattered in the water, Eivor crossed the river and walked to the small encampment, which consisted of a firepit, a tent, some crates of supplies, and a tree decorated with garlands and flowers. Eivor saw a note outside the man's tent and read it.
:Skaris's ScribblingsHrjóta sa gluggr ofan.Hinn svalr natt vindr ir fregnviss....
Eivor saw another note on a table laden with food.
:Skari's ReminiscenceMy warring days are behind me. I've gone from sitting beside a big oak tree with a view of the docks to sitting here on this lonely isle with a view of my past. Where does one go from here?
Eivor sat down on the bench across from Skari as he played an and spoke to him.
*Eivor: That song... you have spent some days on a longship.
*Skari: O, many! See all this salt blasted hair? Took a pummeling over the years, all that sea water. Feels like hay now.
*Eivor: Better keep away from the horses, then.
*Skari: Ha! You are very quick. And sturdy by the looks of you. But you are not from that Ragnarsson camp there, in Repton. I would have recognized you.
*Eivor: I belong to another clan. What are you doing away from yours?
*Skari: I have been cast out. Too old, too frail. Deadweight, as they say. I will have to get used to watching the sights of war from afar now.
*Eivor: No shame in that. Not many of us can say the lived long enough to simplt retire. You have earned it.
*Skari: But have I? Or have I missed my chance? I though I knew what lay ahead, but now that is foreign to me.
*Eivor: Embrace it. Sail the seas. Write your songs and bellow out on the wind. Sounds nice to me.
*Skari: You are far too young to speak so wise. There is a bright future for you and your clan. I would like to add to it. Take this key, and if you find yourself in Repton, seek out my quarters near the docks. There's a large oak tree out front. inside, you will find a few of my most prized items. Take them, I no longer have any need.
*Eivor: You honor me.
*Skari: Call it a gift, from the old guard to the new. Odin guide your way, young drengr (courageous warrior).
Eivor stood up, leaving Skari to his music, and returned to the mainland.
*Eivor: I should keep an eye out for this old raider's home if I ever am in Repton.
In time, Eivor found Skari's house, which had a large padlock on the door.
*Eivor: This must be that old raider's place. He said he wanted me to have his things.
Eivor saw a note pinned with a kitchen knife to the doorframe.
:Skari's JournalUbba Ragnarsson has banished me from the camp. This comes on the heels of another battle in which I warred far more with my tongue than I did with my axe. It is time to let it lay, he said.He is right. I non longer wish to fight. To raid. To kill. These things have not enlivened my body or my hugr for many years now. It may be I only needed to hear it from another. For that, I thank the son of Ragnar for bringing to light what I failed to see.What lies before me now, I do not know. I will sit and ponder.
Eivor unlocked the door and entered the house. She then began searching through Skari's belongings for objects of value, and soon found a number of silver coins, a bracelet, and some leather and iron in a chest by the door.
*Eivor: Is that everything?
Eivor noticed a small crate beside sacks of flour in the room's corner.
*Eivor: This crate is filled with songs. Must have taken a long time to write them all out. I should return it to the old raider.
With the crate over their shoulder, Eivor left Skari's house and crossed the river to return to the island, where she set the box down in front of the fire before sitting down and talking to Skari again.
*Eivor: These are some trinkets you left behind, old man.
*Skari: Ah! You've come back. Why are you wasting your time with me?
*Eivor: This crate has all of your written songs. This is not a gift I can accept or repay. You'll want to revisit these someday. They should stay with you.
*Skari: I had forgotten all about them. Something to work at on this new journey of mine.
*Eivor: You have only the setting sun to tell you when to stop.
*Skari: And maybe not even then! That is twice you have earned my admiration. Please, tell me your name.
*Eivor: Eivor.
*Skari: Eivor. If the gods will it, I will find my seat at Odin's table before you. And there I will speak of you, so that when the time comes to claim your seat, they will greet you by name. Farewell.
==Outcome==
Eivor provided some life advice on retirement to the former warrior Skari. In gratitude, he gave her the key to his home and permission to take some of the valuables he no longer needed. On inspecting the house, Eivor found a box of songs that Skari had accidentally left behind. She returned the box to Skari, who thanked Eivor again and swore that he would put in a good word for them to Odin when the time came for him to pass into the afterlife.
==Trivia==
*Skari's scribblings roughly translate from to "Throw the window down. / This cold night wind is curious.".
==References==
*Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
Category:Memories relived using the Animus HR-8.5
Category:Memories of Eivor Varinsdottir
de:Die alte Garde