The Ritual of the Berserker

The Ritual of the Berserker 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 Bjorn Bloodtooth to concoct the Berserker Brew.
==Dialogue==
Eivor set off in her quest for nightshade.
*Eivor: Nightshade grows in graveyards. No shortage of those in Christian England.
She approached a graveyard.
*Eivor: Nightshade has a distinct stench. Like this. Must be near.
She collected enough of the deadly herb.
*Eivor: That's enough nightshade. Foul-smelling herb. I should meet Bjorn.
She rode to the Gallows Tree, finding the berserkr preparing a ritual.
*Eivor: Bjorn, here as promised.
Eivor approached him.
*Eivor: Your nightshade.
*Bjorn: Good. It has the power we need for the coming ritual. Nearly done.
*Eivor: The skalds say Odin on a tree much like this. He lived, though. Most die.
*Bjorn: Yggdrasil the World-Tree, Odin's gallows. The place where life and death are one.
He prepared two drinking horns of the berserker brew.
*Bjorn: Ride with me, Raven. The seidr (magic) awaits.
Bjorn handed Eivor one of the horns.
*Bjorn: Berserker brew hits hard. It may open your eyes to the spirit realm. It may turn you into a savage beast. Whatever happens, face it without fear.
Both Vikings drank the brew.
*Bjorn: How are you called, you bear-skins, you wolf-shirts, you tasters of blood? We are the shield-biters, wall-breakers, born in battle's flood!
*Eivor: What do you fight for, you bear-skins?
*Bjorn: You wolf-shirts, you drinkers of blood?
*Eivor: We fight for glory, we shield-biters!
*Bjorn: Wall-breakers! Born in battle's flood!
In her brew-addled mind, Eivor engaged a brown bear in combat using only her fists. She got in a few good hits.
*Bjorn: Raaaaugh!
<tabber>
|-|Eivor won=
Despite her lack of suitable weapons and the bear's size, Eivor managed to defeat the bear. Exhausted, she collapsed on the ground.
|-|Eivor lost=
Despite her best efforts, the bear eventually overwhelmed her.
*Eivor: Raaawr!
Eivor collapsed on the ground.
</tabber>
After some time, Eivor regained consciousness and returned to her senses, the berserker brew having run its course.
*Eivor: I've been close to death many times. But this... this was different.
She rose and walked up to the gallows tree, where Bjorn awaited.
*Eivor: Feels like a Jotun kicked my head in.
*Bjorn: Tis glorious, is it not?
*Eivor: Berserker brew... does not... does not agree with my belly.
*Bjorn: But you live still! Can you feel the power of bear's blood coursing through your veins?
*Eivor: Yes, but you... You were a bear.
*Bjorn: And the bear-power courses through me still!
*Eivor: I am ready. Where to?
*Bjorn: The Mercians who slew my wife cower in Beodoricsworth. We shall kill them all! With me!
==Outcome==
Eivor experienced the berserker concoction for the first time, and later followed Bjorn and Njal to hunt down the Mercian lord.
==Behind the scenes==
The fistfight with Bjorn's bear form follows the same rules as other fistfights in that Eivor cannot die but "loses" as soon as her health gets to near zero, which may happen in a single hit on higher difficulties. However, winning this fistfight counts as hunting a brown bear in the wild, and thus has a chance of yielding the same collectible materials.
==Gallery==
ACV The Ritual of the Berserker 3.png|Eivor drinking the concoction
ACV The Ritual of the Berserker 5.png|Eivor offering to help Bjorn take revenge
==References==
*Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Way of the Berserker
Category:Memories of Eivor Varinsdottir
Category:Memories relived using the Animus HR-8.5