A Noble Escort

A Noble Escort 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==
Eivor met with Hunwald at the docks of Ravensthorpe.
==Dialogue==
Eivor talked with Randvi about pledging to Lincolnscire.
*Eivor: What about Lincolnscire?
*Randvi: A rather boisterous man named Hunwald arrived recently, wishing to speak with you. On a matter of great importance, he said.
*Eivor: Where is he now?
*Randvi: Down at the docks, carousing with my scouts and scaring the fish from the river. He waits for you with great eagerness.
Eivor pledged to Lincolnscire.
*Eivor: He sounds charming. I will meet him at once.
*Randvi: Protect your ears.
Eivor headed to the docks to meet Hunwald, who was talking with two of the Raven Clan's Norse members, Norvid and Svanhildr.
*Hunwald: This is true happiness, isn't it, men? Life in the rough, in the company of friends, sitting beside a carefree river!
*Norvid: I'm here for the mead, Lord-Boy.
*Hunwald: I just adore the laughter of the water, the spice of the mead in the nose, the spittle of shouting Danes!
*Svanhildr: Norse, you troll-wart!
*Hunwald: Norse! Yes, forgive me. Norse...
Eivor walked closer to the talking Saxon.
*Hunwald: You may think this odd, but our lively chatter here has inspired in me a short poem. May I recite it for you?
*Norvid: Go on, Lord-Boy. Make me tremble.
*Hunwald: O, indeed. I shall try! I call it, "Ode to a Hungry Flame.
Eivor entered the conversation.
*Eivor: Another skald come to join us?
*Hunwald: Me? O, goodness no, I'm no skald. No. Just a humble nobleman with an interest in versification! An amateur really...
An awkward silence occurred.
*Hunwald: Shall I continue...?
*Eivor: I'm not here to judge your poems, lord. Speak your purpose or down your mead.
*Hunwald: Y-yes, sorry. I have come at the hope of meeting Eivor, the great warrior of this clan ... if such an audience is possible.
<tabber>
|-|I am Eivor=
*Eivor: You're talking with her now. And you are...?
*Hunwald: Ah, by God's blood. my day begins with a lash of good fortune!
|-|All here are great warriors=
*Eivor: Every warrior in this clan deserves a song or , lord? Why Eivor?
*Hunwald: Because her name alone dries the tongues of my enemies. If such a hero fought beside me, I'd fear nothing.
Eivor smirked.
*Eivor: What is your name, lord?
|-|Who are you?=
*Eivor: You must understand that Eivor has more enemies than friends in Mercia, lord. Before I drag you off by your knob to meet him, I'd like to know your name.
*Hunwald: Yes, forgive me...
</tabber>
Hunwald stood up.
*Hunwald: I am Hunwald, loyal son of Lord Hundbeorht, the current Ealdorman of Lincolnscire, may God keep and cure him. You see, my father is ailing. And in his delirium, evil men have corrupted his judgment. A secret and powerful order, if the whispers are true. Only a month ago, without forewarning, Mercian soldiers chased me, his only son, from my home. I know not why, but I do know my father would never have ordered my exile.
*Eivor: Outcast from your family, that is a hard road to walk.
*Hunwald: Could one of your clan help me return to Lincoln? March beside me through the city gates and set me at my father's noble feet once again.
<tabber>
|-|We can help you for something in return=
*Eivor: It may be we can help you. But we'll want something in return. An alliance between our clan and yours.
*Hunwald: And you shall have it! My father is a great friend of the Danes, in spite of the recent wars.
|-|Are you worried about your father or his title?=
*Eivor: If I knew my father was ill or beyond saving, I would ready myself to take his place. Will you take his burden should he fall?
*Hunwald: O banish the thought that such a great man should perish. But, if he were to pass ... yes, yes I believe I could. I must!
|-|What use do we have for a sick ealdorman?=
*Eivor: The ealdormen in Mercia are as changeable as the seasons. Why should we care what happens to your father? Someone will take his place.
*Hunwald: Because my father is honest. And a friend to all people, Saxons and Danes alike. If you offer an alliance in good faith, he will honor it.
</tabber>
*Eivor: You sing a sad song, Hunwald of Lincolnscire. A son robbed of his father's protection, now desperate to prove his honor. How far will you go to regain it? To a bloody end?
*Hunwald: O indeed! I will plunge into the heat of battle to defend my father, knowing our cause is a righteous one!
*Eivor: All right, young lord. My clan has need of me just now. But when I'm ready, we'll find your father together. And right the wrongs you've suffered.
Hunwald nodded.
<tabber>
|-|If Eivor told Hunwald her identity=
*Hunwald: God praise you, Eivor.
|-|If Hunwald deduced Eivor's identity=
*Hunwald: Ah! You are the chieftain, here! I suspected as much. God praise you, Eivor.
</tabber>
*Eivor: I won't be leading you into the heart of a shield wall, but there will be danger. I want your word, you will follow my orders to the rune.
*Hunwald: I am yours to abuse!
*Eivor: If it comes to that...
*Hunwald: I'll wait for you in my safe haven. Botolphston to the northeast. From there, we shall make our way to Lincoln.
*Norvid: Goodbye, Lord-Boy! Safe travels!
*Hunwald: God bless and keep you all!
Hunwald left for his haven.
*Eivor: I fear I may be escorting that boy to his own execution.
*Svanhildr: That might shut him up.
After the conversation, Eivor garnered a clue from Hunwald that a nobleman in Lincolnscire was a member of the Order. Eivor later travelled to the village of Botolphston to meet with Hunwald at its village hall.
*Anglo-Saxon Man 1: You see Hunwald's back? Drinking and jabbering as always.
*Norse Woman 1: Hun-who?
*Anglo-Saxon Man 1: Hunwald, son of our ealdorman. Thinks himself a real wonder, slouching with the common folk. Ponce!
Eivor entered the village hall.
*Eivor: So this is Hunwald's "safe haven"?
Eivor saw Hunwald speaking with another man at a table.
*Hunwald: Though we be a Mercian shire today, tomorrow the Kingdom of Lindsey will rise again. As free as the wind on the back of my neck.
*Aelfgar: Your line of kings died long ago, Hunwald. We're in Lincolnscire now. Do you need a map to remember?
*Hunwald: Aelfgar, my dear man, I do not need a map to prove what my bones know for truth.
Eivor entered the conversation.
*Aelfgar: Hunwald. Who is this stranger?
*Hunwald: Eivor! Come! Sit!
Eivor sat beside Aelfgar and across from Hunwald as Hunwald turned to call to the barkeep.
*Hunwald: Bread and ale please, ale-wife!
Hunwald faced Eivor and Aelfgar again.
*Hunwald: I have been discussing my delicate situation with Aelfgar here.
*Eivor: Lord.
Aelfgar nodded.
*Hunwald: He is a nobleman like me, one of Lincolnscire's sturdy thegns.
*Aelfgar: Hunwald's idea of sturdy is a mug of ale that won't tip over.
*Hunwald: Aelfgar has pledged his loyalty to my family, the house of the ferocious swan!
Hunwald showed his family emblem.
*Hunwald: With his influence and your might, we shall rid Lincolnscire of the ruffians who plague this land, once and for all.
*Eivor: We're going to see your father, Hunwald. That's all.
*Hunwald: Indeed, Eivor! With speed and purpose! You are the axle to my wheel. The spark to my tinder!
<tabber>
|-|Do you have a plan?=
*Eivor: Hunwald, your father is ill and your enemies have every advantage under the sun. Do you have a plan, or have I come all this way to watch you drink this watery piss?
*Hunwald: Of course, my friend. I am a man of action above all else. Ready to leap and dance and fight!
|-|Our success depends on you=
*Eivor: I can only bring you as far as your father, Hunwald. You are the man who must reach his heart and lead him to reason.
*Aelfgar: Are we talking about the same man? Your father is a spendthrift, Hunwald. He ran this shire into the muck.
*Eivor: O, Aelfgar, you jest!
Aelfgar shook his head.
|-|Why is Aelfgar here?=
*Eivor: Hunwald, I don't know your friend here. And not knowing him, I don't trust him.
*Aelfgar: I'm his voice of reason, Eivor. And I've told him a thousand times, it's too dangerous for him in Lincolnscire.
</tabber>
*Eivor: Listen. I've come to escort you to your father's side. We go now, or I walk.
*Hunwald: Ah, yes, to Lincoln! Away! But with care. The road between here and there is teeming with brigands who wish me dead.
*Aelfgar: You daft lump of lard. A single Dane will not protect you against the whole of Mercia's army.
*Hunwald: I think you are wrong, Aelfgar. And here she'll prove it.
Two unknown men walked to the table.
*Cearl: I am hot for a fight, snow-dog! Give me half a chance, and I'll stove your heathen face right in!
<tabber>
|-|If you want a fight, let's fight (Fight)=
Eivor stood up.
*Eivor: All right. A quick brawl to get familiar with the local dregs.
Eivor and Cearl began to fight.
*Cearl: I'll vomit on you, Dane! Won't think twice about it.
*Hunwald: Nothing welcomes us more into the day than a swift bruising.
*Eivor: Is that what it means to be your friend?
*Anglo-Saxon Man 2: Rip a lung out!
*Hunwald: We shall triumph, Eivor! We shall win this ugly row!
Midway within the battle, Hunwald excused himself.
*Hunwald: Eivor! My bladder is bursting! I must step outside for a long deserved slash! Keep them dancing 'til I return.
*Eivor: Hunwald, do not wander!
Eivor defeated Cearl.
*Anglo-Saxon Woman 1: Clear out, all of you! Before you kick up a fire!
*Cearl: Jesus, my bones are aching. Could use a dip in the sea.
*Anglo-Saxon Woman 1: Shut your hinge, Cearl! And stop dripping blood in my hall.
|-|Let me buy you a drink (165)=
*Eivor: Let's not break our bones without some alcohol to dull the coming pain. Ale-wife, for these stout Saxons, a round on me!
*Cearl: Well, that's, uh ... that's kind of you. Unexpected like.
The two men sat back down at their table.
*Cearl: Cheers to this Dane! One who knows the true worth of silver!
*Hunwald: You canny fox. That was incredible! Like watching a captain navigate the roiling waters of an angry river. I must void my bladder, Eivor. Then we shall set forth in search of adventure new!
Hunwald left to relieve himself.
*Aelfgar: You travel with a marked man at your side.
*Eivor: He's with me. He'll be fine.
*Aelfgar: If I had a scribe jot down all the occasions I'd warned that stupid boy, I'd be the most written about man in history.
*Eivor: Aelfgar ... the boorish nag of Lincolnscire.
The two looked at each other and chuckled.
*Hunwald: (scream)
|-|Do not fuck with me (Level 3 Charisma)=
*Eivor: Have you ever seen a blood eagle, my Saxon friends?
*Cearl: A what?
Eivor drank some more.
*Eivor: A blood eagle. A raw, magnificent bird I'll tear from your guts. First, I crush your ribs. Then, I pull out your lungs, and stretch them into wings. So you can fly to your heaven as fast as possible.
Cearl's friend moved back.
*Cearl: Jesus. Fucking heathen.
The two men walked away.
*Hunwald: You canny fox. That was incredible! Like watching a captain navigate the roiling waters of an angry river. I must void my bladder, Eivor. Then we shall set forth in search of adventure new!
Hunwald left to relieve himself.
*Aelfgar: You travel with a marked man at your side.
*Eivor: He's with me. He'll be fine.
*Aelfgar: If I had a scribe jot down all the occasions I'd warned that stupid boy, I'd be the most written about man in history.
*Eivor: Aelfgar ... the boorish nag of Lincolnscire.
The two looked at each other and chuckled.
*Hunwald: (scream)
</tabber>
*Eivor: I told Hunwald to stay near. Where did he wander off to?
Eivor talked with Aelfgar.
*Aelfgar: Did you hear that scream? Sounded like Hunwald. He went out that side door.
Eivor went outside the side door and saw Hunwald surrounded by soldiers.
*Hunwald: (scream)
*Eivor: Hunwald's in trouble.
*Anglo-Saxon Soldier 1: They call this patsy whelp a lord?
*Anglo-Saxon Soldier 2: Look at him! Soft as unbaked bread.
*Hunwald: Villains! Leave me be!
Eivor attacked the soldiers.
*Eivor: Leave him be!
*Anglo-Saxon Soldier 3: Jesus! He's brought a bloody Dane!
*Anglo-Saxon Soldier 4: This is ain't worth the silver they're paying us!
Hunwald was on the ground and acting melodramatic.
*Hunwald: O, I have been struck down! Pruned within an inch of my life! But I will survive, I must. Continue as you would, Eivor! And if I should expire, avenge me!
Eivor defeated Hunwald's attackers and then spoke with Hunwald.
*Hunwald: I live! I'm alive. Heaven have mercy!
*Eivor: Are you hurt?
Hunwald stood up.
*Hunwald: Unbelievable! The Battle of Botolphston will be remembered for years to come! Aelfgar! We have won our first great victory.
*Eivor: Hunwald, are you hurt?
*Hunwald: Never better, I...
*Eivor: We should get to Lincoln as quickly as we can.
*Hunwald: Yes ... yes, you're right. Let's depart.
==Outcome==
Eivor saved Hunwald from the soldiers, trying to kill him, and made haste to travel to Lincoln.
==Gallery==
ACV A Noble Escort 4.png|Eivor reflecting on her choice to help Hunwald
==References==
*Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
Category:Memories of Eivor Varinsdottir
Category:Memories relived using the Animus HR-8.5