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Rafn One-Arm was a Danish Viking who fought under jarl Osbern during the Viking invasion of England in the 9th century.

Biography[]

Rafn was sworn under jarl Osbern and fought in the Battle of Ashdown. The battle proved to be a Saxon victory as many warriors and their jarls fell in combat. After Osbern's death in the battle,[1] Rafn joined Geirmund Hjörrsson as a member of the Hel-hides after seeing him as worthy as other former warriors of Osbern.[2]

Along with Geirmund and Thorgrim, Rafn commanded a ship as a fear tactic by burning a cross for the Saxons of Wælingford. Altogether, the Hel-hides and the tactics worked as the settlement was taken with no losses. As a result, Guthrum later congratulated them on their victory as all of their reputations grew.[3]

At the Battle of Meretun, Rafn joined the Hel-hides and Guthrum but was struck in the leg. Luckily, fellow warrior Vetr shielded him, and the battle was won by the Danes. After a truce was found between the Danes and King Alfred,[4] Rafn followed the Hel-hides into Lunden along with the Great Heathen Army. However, their stay turned sour when Geirmund and Aslef were ambushed, with Aslef being mortally wounded. Rafn was one of the five Hel-hides who agreed to accompany Geirmund on his task to lead their attacker, Krok Uxiblóð, away from the other Hel-hides.[5]

Running from Krok[]

Moving across Mercia, Rafn was part of Geirmund's small company as they came across a small Saxon town. However, Geirmund deduced that the town was overrun by Krok, and Rafn, Steinólfur, Skjalgi, and Vetr were told to scout the town itself. Geirmund planned to "go" to the blacksmith with Birna Gormsdóttir while Rafn and Skjalgi tried to find an escape route. Geirmund's plan worked as the other four Hel-hides cut down three of Krok's warriors and then fled to Rafn and Skjalgi.[6] Together, they found themselves a temporary base at Medeshamstede, a monastery led by Abbot Torthred, who was a former acquaintance of Geirmund.[7]

Days later, the Hel-hides learned of the peace between Danes and Mercians had ended. However, they all remained peaceful, and Rafn and Vetr were sent to find Torthred's sister, Tova. After a day, both warriors came back to inform Geirmund and Torthred of her capture by Krok. Within days, Geirmund met with Krok's men with Tova beside them as he concocted a plan. Rafn, Vetr, and Geirmund dressed up as monks, giving silver to Krok's warriors as ransom for Tova, but after duping Krok's warriors, the three warriors killed Tova's four captors and escaped back to the monastery.[8]

Rafn was present when his leader Geirmund finally fought Krok in the presence of the shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir and her longship crew, to which Geirmund won. However, when Krok's men tried to kill Geirmund, Rafn joined his fellow warriors and Eivor's company to kill the rest of Krok's men.[9] Afterwards, the Hel-hides joined Eivor as she returned to her settlement, Ravensthorpe. In Ravensthorpe, he stayed with his company except Geirmund, who went to visit his parents in Jorvik.[10] At some point, they joined Guthrum's forces in Grantebridge.[11]

The Fight for Wessex[]

Rafn later met his fellow Hel-hides, and Geirmund came back from Jorvik to lead them under Guthrum's command. All Hel-hides were told to raid and become a vital distraction for Alfred to attack, in exchange for ten pounds of silver for every Hel-hide.[11] Rafn and Vetr were instructed to scout for any villages or towns to raid, but after every raid, the Hel-hides noticed the guards had gone to fight for King Alfred. Rafn and Vetr were told to find Alfred's hometown to raid next.[12]

Taking Skjalgi to scout with them, Rafn and Vetr came under attack by five guards. Although they defeated them, Rafn was injured in his arm, so Steinólfur went to treat him. From their fight, Rafn had tortured a guard to obtain intel, which was that Alfred and his army marched from Readingum and that his hometown is Wanating. From the scouts' information, the Hel-hides raided the area but only found an abundance of food. They all feasted that night, but the next day, the Viking company noticed that they were going to be besieged by Alfred's army. They held their ground despite some losses but saw Alfred's army heading west.[13]

After sending their fallen warriors, including Thorgrim, to Valhalla, they followed the Saxons' trail. Meanwhile, Rafn had been hiding that his arm continued to fester. Nevertheless, Rafn, Vetr, and Birna noticed Saxon thieves among the trail's dead corpses and interrogated them. They all learned Ubba Ragnarsson fought and lost his life against Alfred's army. Afterwards, Rafn followed his company to make camp at Selwood before the next battle against the Saxons.[14]

The new namesake[]

After being informed by Eskil of the battle at Chippenham, Rafn readied himself along with his fellow warriors. However, he falls over and became fevered. Upon inspection, his arm grew to be too infected as amputation seemed to be the only course for his survival. Aided by Steinólfur, Vetr, Skjalgi, Eskil, and Geirmund, Rafn lost his arm as he later rested to recover. Vetr promised to care for him as the rest went to aid in the battle.[15]

Rafn recovered moderately as Vetr guarded him. Luckily, Geirmund returned after making a note of Alfred's current location after he fled the battle. Offering his horse, Geirmund let Rafn and Vetr ride in front to make sure Rafn stayed warm. However, the battle was won but with many losses, especially Geirmund's father, Hjorr Halfsson.[16] To make matters worse, Rafn and the Hel-hides saw and heard Guthrum's reluctance to fight and soon learned of his plan to surrender and convert to Christianity. After a confrontation between Geirmund and Guthrum, the Hel-hides left Chippenham and started on a new journey, following Geirmund once more.[17]

After the battle, Rafn recovered and received the name, Rafn One-Arm, as he and other warriors under Geirmund continued to raid, trade, and prosper along the seas as the Hel-hides.[18]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 13
  2. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 14
  3. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 15
  4. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 17
  5. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 18
  6. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 19
  7. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 20
  8. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 21
  9. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 22
  10. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 23
  11. 11.0 11.1 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 25
  12. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 26
  13. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 27
  14. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 28
  15. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 29
  16. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 30
  17. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Chapter 31
  18. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Geirmund's Saga — Epilogue

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