Glory Regained was a virtual representation of one of Eivor Varinsdottir's genetic memories, relived by Layla Hassan through the Portable Animus HR-8.
Description[]
Eivor met with Soma's army outside Grantebridge to retake the city.
Dialogue[]
The next morning, Eivor noticed more soldiers.
- Eivor: Looks like more of Soma's forces followed the beacon back to camp.
Eivor approached Galinn first.
- Eivor: Galinn, is that right?
- Galinn: That's right. And you are Eivor, the infinite fighter. Or, forever warrior. It's a glorious name.
- Eivor: Many thanks. You were in a tight spot when we found you.
- Galinn: Indeed. The Saxons pursued me, ran me bloody through the swamps and into the lap of bandits... then the wolves came. We all have our One Day, the day we die. How you greet that day is all that matters. I'm proud to say that I was ready.
- Eivor: Well, it's good to see you breathing still.
Eivor went to Lif nearby.
- Eivor: Lif, Soma says you're the man who built her longships.
- Lif: That's right. Each has a sharp keel, a stout mast, and a poem etched into the hull to sing the praises of the drengr (courageous warrior) who commands her. A longship is heavy with fate. Just a few lengths of wood between you and a watery grave. What better place to put a line of poetry, hm?
- Eivor: Agreed. It's good to fight beside you, Lif.
- Lif: Likewise, Eivor. Thanks again for plucking me and my warriors from the mire.
Eivor approached Birna.
- Eivor: You're Birna.
- Birna: And you are Eivor, Sunbeam. You cut through the fog like the sun burns through ice.
- Eivor: You're in high spirits, all things considered. The ambush, losing your home...
- Birna: In this moment, yes. But, ah, you feel that? The moment has passed. We are free to pursue the next. What a gift!
- Eivor: It is good to have you in this fight, Birna.
- Birna: I like you, Eivor. You may help me here or step on me, and by the look of you, I'd welcome either.
Eivor overheard some of the warriors talking as she walked through camp.
- Norse Warrior 1: I'm burning with the wrath of Odin. We'll retake Grantebridge. Then the shire.
- Norse Warrior 2: Wigmund's rat-soldiers killed my man in his bed. He'll be in Hel now, forever. Wigmund dies for that.
Finally, Eivor spoke to Soma.
- Soma: The day is new, and the air is bracing. Are you ready for the fight ahead?
- Eivor: Let's take your city back.
- Soma: That's what I like to hear. Meet me at the western gate of Grantebridge. We've assembled there.
Soma overhearing Dag and Eivor's dispute
Soma followed her advisors toward the dock, she paused for a moment as she heard Dag Nithisson speak to Eivor behind her.
- Dag: Have care you do not enjoy taking orders from anyone but your jarl back home. I fight for Sigurd, none else.
- Eivor: While you're on this ship, Dag, you fight for me. And for Soma's loyalty, we fight for her.
Eivor boarded her longship at the dock and met up with Soma and her soldiers by the bridge near the Western gate of Grantebridge.
- Soma: Two teams, hidden. One on each side of the door. Move when you get the signal, and not a moment before.
- Norse Warrior: Wigmund must know we're here.
- Soma: As he should. I will reason with him, he will reject my offer of peace, and our conversation will have a surprise ending.
The Vikings approaching the gates of Grantebridge
Eivor joined Soma and together they approached the gates.
- Soma: Wigmund! Honor-thief! I know you're up there!
Wigmund came to the wall over the gate, tankard in hand, and looked down on them.
- Soma: Return Grantebridge to me, Wigmund. No more of our people need die. We may talk this out, lord to lord.
Wigmund laughed.
- Wigmund: What have we to talk about? You have nothing I need. Worth by birth, heathen. I was born a noble. You were plucked from a giant's armpit!
- Soma: I built this town! From a mud hut to a thriving port. And we both know you'll bleed those riches dry without my guiding hand.
Wigmund taunting the Vikings
- Wigmund: Leave! Go die in the muck where you belong, heathens!
While Wigmund was distracted by Soma, her teams snuck to the sides of the gate with a cart full of oil jars. Eivor nodded her head for them to move the cart in front of the gate.
- Soma: Wigmund, Wigmund. Let's try one final time... quit Grantebridge. And when she is mine once more, I may spare your life.
- Wigmund: Pah! I command Grantebridge! I am master here! And I will scour you rats from this land like rot from a festering wound!
He turned and walked away.
- Soma: Let me give you some advice, old bear. The surest way to stop a wound from festering isn't with a blade. It's with fire.
Eivor shooting the jars placed outside the gate
Soma's warriors cheered and Eivor fired a shot into the jars, destroying the gates. The army charged in.
- Eivor: Now! Danes of Grantebridgescire! Retake what's yours!
- Soma: Augh! Look at Grantebridge! What has Wigmund done to her?
- Eivor: No time for that! We must free her first!
They killed the soldiers on the other side of the gate, then moved further into the city.
- Soma: I haven't seen Wigmund since we breached the wall. Regroup at the longhouse. We'll surely find him there.
They ran into another wave of soldiers at a second gate, closer to the longhouse.
- Soma: Death for any Saxon breathing!
- Eivor: No prisoners! No mercy!
- Galinn: These dogs will destroy the city's food supply! Protect the fields with me, Eivor!
- Eivor: I'm a your side, Soma.
- Soma: Haha! Raise your blade to me! Fucking try it!
- Lif: The waters have calmed here! Go on, I'll weather the last of these whelps.
The Vikings gathered at the longhouse
They moved to the inner city, killing another wave of soldiers. After clearing the area around the longhouse, Eivor regrouped with Soma.
- Soma: Wigmund! You cannot hide from me forever! Come face your death!
- Anglo-Saxon Soldier: Heathen eels! Wigmund has gone! He's gone!
The longhouse doors opened and another wave of soldiers, led by Wigmund's Lieutenant, emerged.
- Soma: Any man who fights for Wigmund dies!
Eivor and Soma's forces killed the remaining soldiers.
- Soma: Let your plague-ridden body feed my fields. Eivor, to me.
- Eivor: No sign of Wigmund here. He may be hiding within the city walls. Shall we search?
- Soma: No. He'll be gone, count on it. Argr (weak) coward. But we've struck a bold claim today. Walk with me. I want you to sound our battle horn to announce our victory. Let all the shire know that Grantebridge is retaken! The sound of the horn means prosperity, long life, bounty.
- Eivor: Why me?
- Soma: Why not? You were the keystone to this attack. You turned the tide. Let the wind from your lungs breathe life back into my city.
Eivor blowing the victory horn
Soma led Eivor to a platform near the longhouse, where a large horn was mounted. Eivor blew the horn while Soma's warriors cheered. Later that night, in the longhouse, the victory feast was in full swing. Soma drained her tankard and climbed atop the table to address the rowdy crowd.
- Soma: Look at you all! Warriors! Handsome! Beautiful! Blood-soaked!
She wrested a poultry leg from one of the warriors and took a fierce bite.
- Soma: Grantebridge is ours once again! Tomorrow you will stamp out the last of Wigmund's fading fires! But tonight... tonight, we feast as gods! Hey!
Eivor stepped up between Lif and Birna and was greeted warmly. They clanked tankards as the speech ended, but Eivor's cheer faded as she noticed something was wrong with Soma, though it was quickly hidden. The next morning, Eivor, sleeping on the floor of the longhouse hall amongst several other passed-out warriors, was woken up by Soma.
- Soma: My clan throws the best feasts, I think you'll find. You enjoy yourself?
- Eivor: I did. But were you celebrating or mourning? You looked unsure.
Eivor and Soma discussing the longhouse's hidden entrance
Soma nodded solemnly and gestured Eivor to follow her to a side room and the entrance of a secret tunnel.
- Soma: The night of the attack, I heard sounds of bloodshed coming from the longhouse. In moments, the city was overrun with Saxons. So I called a retreat. We all have our One Day, but not like that. Not that day.
- Eivor: I have heard this before. That the Saxons appeared as if from the shadows.
- Soma: In all my time in Grantebridge, this tunnel was my most careful project. The best kept secret in the city.
- Eivor: Now a hundred or more Saxons know the smell of it.
- Soma: The only people who knew about this tunnel were me and the three in my inner circle.
- Eivor: You believe you were betrayed?
- Soma: I know I was.
- Eivor: A betrayal so wicked, I cannot imagine. Yet someone willing to break an oath like that must bear some sign or defect.
Before leaving the longhouse, Eivor spoke to Soma once more.
- Eivor: Soma. To understand your people well, I should better know you.
(If "How did you become Jarlskona?" is chosen)
- Eivor: How did you rise to the rank of Jarlskona?
- Soma: My king, Guthrum, led the Summer Army through this land. When he marched into Wessex, I volunteered to defend the city. To encourage trade so that our forces would be rich and strong if called upon. Guthrum agreed. So I grew the city up from very little and fell in love with her. It was a dagger in the heart to lose it, and a balm to have it back.
(If "How will you deal with the traitor?" is chosen)
- Eivor: If I can find your traitor, what will you do with them?
- Soma: They will die by my hand. No pain, no public humiliation. A traitor or no, the bastard is also one of my closest people, my friend. My family. Only I will bear the burden of causing their death. It will not muddy the minds of any other. That is enough.
(If "Why is Grantebridge so important to you?" is chosen)
- Eivor: Why do you love Grantebridge so deeply?
- Soma: I was orphaned young, but old enough to remember it. I feel I've been reaching for a family all my life. Grantebridge is more than some silver boon. She's a place for me to build that family, for anyone who needs one. Wanderers, smugglers, and craftsmen alike.
Eivor left Grantebridge to aid Soma's advisors.
Outcome[]
Eivor and Soma's army retook Grantebridge from Wigmund.
Gallery[]
