Raising Iron 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 and her allies plotted to destroy the rest of Rued's clan.
Dialogue[]
Eivor returned to Northwic and sought out Finnr, finding him at a table outside the tavern. Nearby, a child stood on a cart, heralding the news to a small gathered crowd.
- Anglo-Saxon Child: Oswald is dead! Oswald is dead! We mourn the loss of our future king and hope for East Anglia! We will remember his brave fight in Dunwic. We will remember his sword against Rued's. And above all we shall remember the man's devotion to God and his mission. Raise your mugs to Oswald tonight at the Spanking Pig! That is what the man would have wanted!
Eivor approached Finnr and spoke to him.
- Finnr: Another king lost, Eivor.
- Eivor: Stop washing your face with mead.
- Finnr: How can I face Halfdan Jarl now? I've failed him again.
- Eivor: We can take the battle to what remains of Rued's clan, before they hit back.
Eivor and Finnr discussing the remnants of Rued's clan
- Finnr: Easier said than done. His men are holed up at Burgh Castle, a fortress on the sea.
- Eivor: On the sea? Then it must have a harbor.
- Finnr: It does. Guarded by a gate of hefty iron, held in place by timber spikes. Difficult to force open.
- Eivor: Timber burns.
- Finnr: It does. But how do we reach it?
- Eivor: We rig your ship with oil at her front and sail it ablaze at the gate.
- Finnr: They would see us coming. Long before we reached the walls.
As they spoke, Valdis walked up to join them.
- Eivor: We raise a fyrd, an army of East Anglia's farmers. Throw them at the front gate as a distraction.
Finnr scoffed.
Valdis agreeing with Eivor's plan to raise an army
- Valdis: It can work, Finnr. If they fight in Oswald's name, that is all the courage they will need.
- Finnr: Hmph.
To prove her point, Valdis spotted two passing Saxon men and called out to them.
- Valdis: You there. Did you hear of Thegn Oswald's fate?
- Anglo-Saxon Man 1: Aye, we did. He dragged Rued to the bowels of Hell, the Dane devil.
- Valdis: Rued may be gone, but his clan still plagues East Anglia. Would you join us to rid your kingdom of his dogs?
- Anglo-Saxon Man 1: For Oswald? Aye! Anything!
The men walked away. Finnr was still reluctant, but coming around.
- Finnr: Two eager Saxons is not yet a fyrd (peasant army). But you may be right. We may have a chance.
- Valdis: I can ride to Elmenham and muster what remains of Oswald's men there. But who else would join us?
- Finnr: The Reeve (Sheriff) of Theotford, Wynnstan. He is a bitter old barnacle, but he would fight to the death for this land.
- Valdis: We can assemble a forward camp at the ruins north of Burgh Castle.
She left to her task and Eivor turned to Finnr.
- Eivor: Ride with me, Finnr. Let's pay this reeve a visit.
- Finnr: With any hope, Theotford remains untouched by Rued's violence.
- Eivor: Hope is a scarce word in this kingdom.
- Finnr: Maybe so, but I would rather hold on to something, anything, than ride with empty hands.
Together, Eivor and Finnr rode out on horseback from Northwic.
- Eivor: If Rued's clan continues to roam this kingdom unchecked, the people of East Anglia will be as ravaged as these lands.
- Finnr: And where do we find ourselves? Riding into the fens to beg a horde of frightened farmers for aid.
- Eivor: To fight for a king that you gave them, Finnr. Remember that.
- Finnr: It was my task to find them a king, not protect that king against every danger that might befall him.
- Eivor: Oswald wasn't crowned yet. Nor was he married. I say you have some work yet to do.
- Finnr: Right, right. No need to remind me how far I fell short.
Eivor and Finnr came across a couple butchered horses and a cart littered with arrows under a tree.
- Eivor: Watch your back. Rued's clan may still be nearby.
At a camp just off the road, they found two of Rued's men.
- Norse Warrior 1: These fucking farmers must have more than this.
- Norse Warrior 2: What did you expect, brother? Sword and silver? We had a bit of fun! That's what matters.
Eivor dismounted and snuck closer to eavesdrop, but was spotted.
- Norse Warrior 2: The Wolf-Kissed one! This day keeps getting better.
- Finnr: East Anglia has suffered enough under you!
- Norse Warrior 1: And we're not done yet, old man!
Eivor and Finnr easily dispatched the Norsemen.
- Eivor: Rued's men are a blight on this land.
- Finnr: Blight is too kind a word. A seer's curse!
Eivor inspected the camp and found a note from Rued.
- Rued's Orders
Warriors, wait in ambush on the roads to Northwic. Slaughter all who seek sanctuary in the city.
When the soil is red and wet with blood, none will resist, and this kingdom shall be ours.
Eivor and Finnr remounted their horses and continued riding, eventually reaching Theotford only to find it half burned down.
- Finnr: Theotford. Just ahead...
- Eivor: Woodsmoke and ash. Rued's men have been here.
As they entered the town, they passed slaughtered bodies, crying children and struggling townsfolk. In front of the burned remains of a home, a man knelt before his daughter.
- Anglo-Saxon Man 2: Eat, my child. These are no times to waste what the lord has given us.
- Anglo-Saxon Child 1: What about you, Papa? There's so little. There will be none left.
- Anglo-Saxon Man 2: Eat so you'll have strength.
In the center of town a man stood amongst the lost and wounded.
- Anglo-Saxon Man 3: Everything is gone, Reeve (Sheriff)! Everything!
- Wynnstan: Calm, my friend. We will rebuild. I promise you.
- Anglo-Saxon Man 3: I en't got the strength no more.
Wynnstan: Stand tall. Eivor approached Wynnstan.
- Wynnstan: You have a will of iron coming here, knowing your kind did all this!
- Eivor: Rued's clan is your enemy, not me. I come on behalf of the late Oswald of Elmenham.
- Wynnstan: You're still a Dane from top to toe. And it's your meddling that led to Oswald's death, leaving our kingdom for the worse.
- Eivor: Oswald was a friend and ally, reeve. He fought beside me, and I by him.
- Wynnstan: And look where that got him.
- Eivor: East Anglia will fall if Rued's clan is not defeated. Fight with me to drive them off, for Oswald and your kinsmen.
Wynnstan then started walking away. Eivor looked at Finnr, who held his palms forward as if urging Eivor to offer help.
- Eivor: If you need an axe, I am standing right here.
- Wynnstan: There's a village to the east, King's Bury. It was taken by Rued's men a fortnight ago. And I'll not rest until it's back in our hands.
- Eivor: Let me and my raiders take the village. Save your strength and join us for the fight to come.
The reeve accepting Eivor's proposal
Wynnstan considered the proposal.
- Wynnstan: A bold offer... If you do as you promise, the pikes of Theotford will be yours.
Eivor nodded.
- Finnr: I will take this news to our forward camp, Eivor. Follow when you can.
- Eivor: I will see you there.
Finnr left to deliver the news.
- Wynnstan: King's Bury's church has a great horn atop its steeple. If you manage the task, blow it and I'll know you kept your word.
On a nearby stool, Eivor found a note. Exploring the settlement, Eivor found a note on a shelf.
- Reeve's Reminder
Osric, hide the food and silver plate in the church. These devils would dare not besiege a monument of God! But we can never be sure, so bar the door too. We will return for what is ours.
– Wynnstan, Reeve of Theotford.
Eivor headed for Theotford's docks when a stranger from a group of villagers called for her attention.
- Anglo-Saxon Man 4: You there, Dane. A word, if you will.
- Eivor: You called to me?
- Anglo-Saxon Man 3: We heard you talking with the reeve (sheriff). And we wish to fight beside you. We owe Oswald for his good deeds and fair rule.
- Eivor: I'm glad to hear it. Go to the ruins north of Burgh Castle. The army gathers there.
The men left to join the gathering forces. Eivor reached the docks and saw a woman knelt before a child.
- Anglo-Saxon Child 2: Have you seen Mother?
- Anglo-Saxon Woman: O, blessed. Your mother? When was last you saw her?
- Anglo-Saxon Child 2: Before the bad men came. Said she'd be right back. But she ain't.
- Anglo-Saxon Woman: She will be, little one, I'm sure of it.
- Anglo-Saxon Child 2: If you say so.
At the end of the dock, Eivor called for her longship, the Sea-Chariot, and boarded it. The raiding party soon arrived at King's Bury.
- Eivor: King's Bury. Infested with Rued's men.
The crew killed all of the enemy warriors, the last within the church.
- Eivor: Time to sound the horn and signal victory.
Before leaving, she looked around the church and found a note.
- Elegy for the Royal Martyr
Here lies Edmund, father of East Anglia, a good and godly man. May he lie here in peace, surrounded by the children of God, until Doomsday whent he dust shall return to the earth, and the spirit shall return unto Heaven. Lord have mercy on his soul.
Eivor blowing the horn, signalling her clan's victory
Outside, Eivor climbed the church's tower and blew the horn there. From the tower, she could see a group of men on horses riding to the gate.
- Eivor: The reeve (sheriff) has come to join me. Let's hope his promise holds.
She returned to the ground.
- Wynnstan: The horn! It's been so long since I've heard that sweet sound.
- Anglo-Saxon Soldier: Praise be.
- Wynnstan: Hail, Dane! Over here!
Wynnstan agreeing to lend his aid against Rued's clan
Eivor approached him.
- Eivor: I held to my oath, reeve. I hope you will honor yours.
- Wynnstan: My promise holds, aye. Theotford will join you in the fight against Rued's clan.
- Eivor: With your aid, we may yet save East Anglia.
- Wynnstan: In past times, that horn was used to muster fyrds all across our land. You may find others who have warmed to its call.
- Eivor: Good. Whatever willing men you find, rally them soon at the ruins north of Burgh Castle.
Outcome[]
Eivor managed to secure the support of Wynnstan and Theotford's soldiers in the fight against Rued's remaining clansmen, to avenge Oswald's death.
Behind the scenes[]
Although Valdis says she'll ride for Elmenham, her in-game actor will walk to the garrison in the northwest of Northwic and remain there until the memory is complete. Finnr will follow the player as an ordinary NPC ally—and aid the player in any combat—until the player gets within range of Theotford's entrances.
Although the reeve of Theotford is named Wynnstan—as indicated in Finnr's dialogue and the nearby note in Theotford—all subtitles will refer to him as "Theotford Reeve," and he will not introduce his own name. Additionally, he has no further dialogue outside of this memory, so it's possible his name was decided on after the majority of the East Anglia arc was scripted out and developed.
Gallery[]
