Adorning the Adorned 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 met with an exiled craftsman for Hemming's gift.
Dialogue[]
Eivor traveled to meet Vili Hemmingson at the towers of Hemthorpe and overheard him as she neared close.
Eivor met and talked with Vili.
- Eivor: And here, from the Raven Clan—
- Vili: An impressive shield.
- Eivor: It is good, but it needs a touch of grandeur. Something personal for your father. A sigil, I think. A mark to adorn the front. We need the artisan. Is there one in the village?
- Vili: I know a man. A master craftsman in exile. He lives in a cave northeast of Hemthorpe. I would take you there myself, but I have Isbjorn to retrieve.
- Eivor: Isbjorn? Your father's spear? Did he not wield it at Ulkerthorpe?
- Vili: He lost it some winters back on a bear hunt. He hit the beast hard, but the spear stuck and the bear fled into the forest.
- Eivor: And after all these winters you hope to find it again and present it to the pyre? The odds are narrow to say the least.
- Vili: Fret not, friend. I have a nose for these things. Seek out the exile. He'll see to your shield.
Eivor at the cavern entrance
Eivor left Vili and traveled to the Peak Cavern, east of Hemthorpe. Eivor later arrived at the entrance of the Peak Cavern.
- Eivor: This must be the cave Vili mentioned. Who would live here?
Eivor sleuthed through the cave and tried to find the exile.
- Eivor: The Exile must value his solitude, living in a hole such as this.
Eivor found her way through the cave and found the exile sitting.
- Eivor: Odin's beard.
Eivor found a note nearby.
- Hemming's Orders
If you are reading this, leave the good hermit alone.
Eivor spoke with the exile.
Eivor speaking to the exile
- Eivor: You're a difficult man to find.
- Hermit: (grunts)
- Eivor: Hemming Jarl is dead.
- Hermit: Hm.
- Eivor: I was told you're a master craftsman. I seek an etching on this shield, to celebrate the life and death of Hemming Jarl.
- Hermit: The stones... Hemming Jarl possesse a steady hand and steady heart. Do you possess the same?
Eivor was told to build a stack of cairn stones. Eivor built her stack successfully as the exile moved closer.
- Hermit: Your heart is not yet steady.
- Eivor: How could it be at such a time?
- Hermit: Hemming Jarl's heart never wavered.
- Eivor: Yes. Hemming's heart was as steady as it was large.
Eivor deciding the etching for her shield
- Eivor: You have not yet answered me. Will you help with my etching?
- Hermit: Hm...
The hermit started walking to the shield as Eivor followed. Both looked at the shield.
- Hermit: How will you remember him?
- Eivor: By his unraveled prowess on the battlefield.
- Hermit: Ah. Gungnir, then. Odin's faultless spear. A symbol of power. Is this your choice?
(Yes, this is my choice)
- Eivor: Yes, I choose this one.
- Hermit: I will begin.
The hermit walked away to begin his work. After some time, the hermit walked to Eivor, who walked towards him.
- Eivor: How did you come to be here?
- Hermit: Fate. I was given a death sentence. Unfairly I felt, but a man was killed. Hemming Jarl desired for me to live. The villagers ... did not. My sight and exile. That was our compromise.
The exile presenting the shield to Eivor
The exile picked up the shield and handed it to Eivor.
- Eivor: Thank you for this.
- Hermit: His son will take his place?
- Eivor: That is for Vili to decide.
- Hermit: Vili has no say. Fate has already decided.
The exile went back to his day as Eivor began to leave.
- Eivor: Hemming would be pleased with our gift. I wonder if Vili has found his spear.
Outcome[]
Eivor found the hermit and chose what design was inscribed in the shield.
Gallery[]
Behind the scenes[]
Historically none of the runes featured here are Old Norse or Viking Age runes. The vegvísir, an Icelandic magic stave, is the oldest of the three with its earliest attestation from 1860. The other two seem to have been born out of the Germanic neopagan heathenry movements of the 1970s such as Astaru.