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This article is about Eivor Varinsdottir's adoptive brother. For other uses, see Sigurd.
"Am I destined to follow you everywhere? 'Til the end of my life?"
―Sigurd to Eivor Varinsdottir, 877.[src]-[m]

Sigurd Styrbjornsson (born 842) was a Viking jarl from Norway who settled in England with his clan during the 9th century. The son of jarl Styrbjorn Sigvaldisson of Fornburg, he was the husband of Randvi and the older adoptive brother of Eivor Varinsdottir, who was taken in by Styrbjorn at the age of nine following the death of her parents, Rosta and Varin. He was also the reborn form of the Isu Týr, the Norse god of war and justice.

In 870, while his sister Eivor stayed in Norway to continue opposing her parents' killer Kjotve the Cruel and his Wolf Clan, Sigurd embarked a journey to raid the lands in the East. In Constantinople, Sigurd met and befriended the Hidden One Basim Ibn Ishaq and his apprentice Hytham, learning many of their organization's customs. In 872, Sigurd returned home along with Basim and Hytham and gifted Eivor a Hidden Blade, the signature weapon of the Hidden Ones.

That same year, the Raven Clan finally defeated Kjotve and drove his clan out of Norway with the help of Harald Fairhair's forces, allowing the latter to unify Norway's petty kingdoms under his rule. After witnessing his father pledge loyalty to the soon-to-be King Harald, Sigurd was angered by Styrbjorn's decision, which had essentially robbed Sigurd of his birthright to become jarl. Together with Eivor, Randvi and other members of the Raven Clan who were similarly dissatisfied, he migrated to England, eventually settling in one of Halfdan Ragnarsson's old camps, which was renamed to Ravensthorpe.

After establishing the settlement, Sigurd left his sister in charge of Ravensthorpe as he set off into Leicestershire to gain allies for their clan, starting with the Sons of Ragnar. After he and Eivor helped Ivarr and Ubba Ragnarsson put the nobleman Ceolwulf on the throne of Mercia, Sigurd secured an alliance with the both the new king and the Ragnarssons.

Continuing his adventures in England, Sigurd traveled to Oxenfordscire, this time accompanied by both Eivor and Basim, where they searched for the paladin Fulke in the hopes of understanding Sigurd's visions. However, Sigurd was betrayed and captured by Fulke after an encounter with King Alfred of Wessex. After over a year in captivity, Fulke was assassinated by Eivor, who rescued her brother, though not before Sigurd's mind had been unlocked. As Týr's conscience began to manifest itself inside of him, Sigurd began to view himself as a god and distanced himself from Eivor and the rest of the Raven Clan, believing that they were a hinderance to his true destiny.

In 877, Sigurd decided to seek Valhalla and traveled back to Norway alongside Eivor to find the Yggdrasil Chamber. After the siblings connected themselves to Yggdrasil and were seemingly transported to Valhalla, Eivor eventually realized that they had merely entered a simulation and convinced her brother to return to the mortal world. There, they were ambushed by Basim, who was secretly Loki reborn and sought revenge against Eivor, Odin's new form. After helping Eivor defeat Basim and trap him in the Valhalla simulation, Sigurd reflected on his leadership of the Raven Clan and his relationship with his sister. Ultimately, he decided to appoint Eivor as jarlskona of their clan, believing her to be a better suited leader than him.

Biography[]

Early life[]

"I heard my father talking to the others. He said you were his child now, so... so that makes me your brother. You are welcome to this family. Now we will grow together, and feast together, and scamper over the snows together. I hope that pleases you. It pleases me."
―Sigurd informing Eivor of her adoption by Styrbjorn, 855.[src]-[m]

Sigurd was born in 842 as the son of King Styrbjorn of Fornburg.[1] In his youth, Sigurd befriended a young girl from the village of Heillboer, Eivor Varinsdottir, who was five years his junior. Her parents, Varin and Rosta, were friends with Styrbjorn and planned to pledge their village to the king.[2] As children, Sigurd and Eivor would frequently play together under the watch of the latter's parents or stack cairns, which was Eivor's favorite pastime. However, Sigurd enjoyed teasing Eivor from time to time; on one occasion, he stole her stones and used them for skipping, which caused Varin to intervene, asking Sigurd to return Eivor's stones or else he would inform Styrbjorn of his behavior.[3]

Sigurd was at one point engaged to a girl named Sefa, though he ended the relationship and spat on her foot after she called him a "whale-face", causing her to cry. When he later recalled this story to Eivor and Rosta, the former told him that his meanness would one day come back to haunt him, but Sigurd believed that it was natural for lovers to betray one another.[3]

ACV Prologue 34

Sigurd rescuing Eivor during the attack on Heillboer

In 855, Sigurd and his father attended a feast organized in Heillboer, during which he offered to help Eivor pass a tribute to Styrbjorn. Eivor refused, as her father had ordered her to pass it to the king herself. Moments after Varin's village pledged themselves to Styrbjorn with Eivor's armband, the Wolf Clan led by Kjotve the Cruel launched a raid on Heillboer, slaughtering many residents. Following Varin and Rosta's deaths, Sigurd saved Eivor and escaped with her on a horse.[2]

As they were being chased by Kjotve's men, Sigurd's horse was knocked down by a soldier, causing Sigurd to lose his balance while Eivor dropped down to a large sheet of ice. Ultimately, both Sigurd and Eivor survived the encounter, although the latter received a large scar on her neck from a wolf bite.[2]

Following these events, Styrbjorn adopted Eivor into his household, raising her as his own daughter and as Sigurd's sister. The two developed a close sibling relationship and stood by each other throughout their lives. The pair also continued their childhood hobby of stacking cairns, during which they shared conversations on a variety of topics, including Valhalla, the gods, and Varin, whom Eivor saw as a coward due to his decision to surrender prior to his death at Kjotve's hands. Sigurd assured Eivor that, although her father would not be present in Valhalla, she could reclaim his lost honor, which Eivor vowed to do.[3]

At some point, Sigurd befriended a Norse named Dag Nithisson, who remained loyal to him after learning of his dreams. Following Eivor's adoption by Styrbjorn, Dag became jealous of Sigurd's adoptive sister, feeling he had been replaced as Sigurd's closest companion, but kept these thoughts to himself.[4]

Circa 869, Sigurd married a woman named Randvi as part of a service of peace between the Raven Clan and another Norse clan. Because of these circumstances, Sigurd's relationship with Randvi was considered utilitarian.[5]

Travels in Europe[]

Ammon: "It's not possible. No man could fight with such injuries."
Sigurd: "That's where you are mistaken, friend. I am Sigurd Styrbjornson. And I am so much more than a man."
—Sigurd and Ammon during their fight, 870.[src]-[m]

A year after his marriage to Randvi, Sigurd embarked on a two-year voyage away from Norway,[6] during which time he traveled through Kievan Rus'.[7] While in Bulgar with his cousin Knud, Sigurd visited the swordsmith Tekin, looking for a blade of crucible steel. Tekin and two others then attempted to ambush him, though they were easily dealt with. The youngest attacker bartered for their life, telling the Norsemen the location of a castle belonging to a very wealthy merchant.[8]

ACV SoG - Sigurd and Knud

Knud and Sigurd infiltrating the castle

Knud and Sigurd infiltrated the castle, seeing the merchant and a number of guests having a banquet. Sigurd decided to wait until the wine addled the guests' minds enough that they would have an easy time stealing what they wanted. Later, they began looting the place, but one of the guests awoke as Sigurd stole a tapestry, and he was forced to kill him. The noise caught the attention of another guest, the Hidden One Ammon, who decided to investigate. The Vikings dispatched a few guards before Ammon arrived, fatally stabbing Knud with his Hidden Blade and launching himself into a fight with Sigurd.[9]

The Hidden One cut Sigurd's sword in two and stabbed him in the gut with his Hidden Blade before leaving. Sigurd survived the wound and made his way to Ammon, finding him holding a Shroud. Sigurd mocked him for treasuring a dirty rag, throwing Ammon into a frenzy. He attacked the Viking, only to be slain. With his dying breath, he begged Sigurd not to take the Shroud, although the Viking had no interest in it and instead used his axe to sever Ammon's right wrist to claim the Hidden Blade for himself.[10]

Sigurd continued his journey down the Volga,[7] before setting down in Constantinople to rest and resupply. While in the city, Sigurd met and befriended two Hidden Ones from the Abbasid Caliphate, Basim Ibn Ishaq and Hytham, the former of whom took a liking to Sigurd due to his charisma. He later sailed to Rome and Africa, where Basim and Hytham acted as his guides. During his time abroad, Sigurd began to miss his old homeland and sailed for Norway, with Basim and Hytham accompanying him.[6]

Leaving Norway[]

"We cannot stay in Norway, not under Harald's boot, not without fueling more war. So we push forward. To newer lands."
―Sigurd addressing the Raven Clan prior to their departure, 872.[src]-[m]
ACV The Prodigal Prince 16

Sigurd talking to his sister about his thoughts

In 872, Sigurd returned to Fornburg along with Basim and Hytham. Reuniting with and embracing Eivor and Randvi at the docks, Sigurd introduced his family to the two Hidden Ones before moving on to greet his father. His family organized a feast in his honor and, there, Sigurd properly introduced Basim and Hytham to Eivor and gave her the Hidden Blade he had taken from Ammon. He then watched as Basim taught Eivor the assassination techniques of their Brotherhood and explained its tenets to her.[6]

After the Hidden Ones left, Sigurd was left alone with Eivor and, as they walked towards the docks, Sigurd reminisced on their memories together. He also confided to her that, after years of travels around the world, he felt that their settlement was too small for him and, therefore, asked her to help him take some of Kjotve's lands the next day.[6]

Later that night, Sigurd argued with his father, wanting to invade Kjotve's Fortress and end the tyrant, while Styrbjorn reminded him that their loss would be too much were they to be defeated. The two were interrupted by Eivor, who warned of three of Kjotve's warriors who were caught spying on Sigurd's camp. Taking action, Sigurd decided to launch an attack on Nottfall, one of Kjotve's villages. While Hytham searched the village for more spies, Sigurd and Eivor, joined by Basim, raided Nottfall. After the raid, King Harald of the North and his uncle Guthorm the Wise arrived at the village, seeking an alliance with the Sigurd and his men, the Raven Clan.[11]

ACV A Cruel Destiny 1

Guthorm, Sigurd and Eivor prior to the attack on Kjotve's Fortress

Following the raid, Sigurd, Guthorm, and the Hidden Ones traveled to Florli, a Norse settlement near Kjotve's Fortress. After Eivor arrived, an attack was launched on the fortress. Sigurd and his friends marched to the fortress, where they witnessed Kjotve and Eivor engage in a holmgang, with the latter rising victorious. Following Kjotve's death, his son Gorm taunted the invaders before fleeing.[12]

After the invasion, Sigurd joined King Harald at an althing, where he and his sister witnessed the departure of his friends Hjorr Halfsson and Ljufvina Bjarmarsdottir as well as the exile of Gorm, who had arrived at the party. At the end of the althing, Styrbjorn pledged his allegiance to Harald, much to Sigurd's dismay, who felt robbed of his birthright to become jarl and now saw his father as a weak and cowardly leader.[13]

Not long after the althing, Sigurd, still angered by his father's decision, decided to leave Norway for good in hopes of a new beginning. Joined by Eivor, Randvi, Dag and other members of the Raven Clan, as well as Basim and Hytham, Sigurd boarded his longship and set sail for England.[14]

Life in England[]

The Kingmaker's Saga[]

Sigurd: "Ah, Eivor, I have dreamt of this day."
Eivor: "Of scouring the shire in search of a king?"
Sigurd: "Of going a-vikingr! With you! With our brothers and sisters! Conquering new lands. Forming lasting friendships. And if it takes chasing some weasel across a new land, so be it. I am right where I wish to be."
—Sigurd to Eivor while infiltrating Templebrough, 873.[src]-[m]
ACV Unwelcome 1

Dag, Sigurd and Eivor arriving in the foreign camp

Sigurd and the Raven Clan arrived in England in early 873, seeking to escape the rule of Norway's new king, Harald Fairhair. They eventually settled in one of Halfdan Ragnarsson's old camps in Leicestershire, which had been taken over by Anglo-Saxon bandits. After the clan killed the bandits and saved their two prisoners, Yanli and Rowan, Randvi and Eivor helped establish Ravensthorpe, while Sigurd decided to travel northwest to a town called Repton to forge new alliances, leaving Eivor in charge during his absence.[15]

While in Repton, Sigurd met and befriended the Sons of Ragnar, Ivarr and Ubba Ragnarsson, as well as the nobleman Ceolwulf, who planned to overthrow the king of Mercia, Burgred. He was later joined by Eivor amidst an argument between Ubba and Tonna of Tonnastadir.[16]

Sigurd, alongside Ubba, Ivarr, Eivor, and Ceolwulf's son Ceolbert, traveled to Tamworth to confront Burgred and his thegn Leofrith. After an unfriendly confrontation, the allies conducted a raid on the fortress, only to discover that Burgred had fled with help from Tonna. Later, Sigurd and Eivor traveled to Tonnastadir to gain information from Tonna. At the cost of silver, Tonna gave them the information they needed: two possible hideouts for Burgred, Ledecestre and Templebrough.[17]

ACV Heavy is the Head 12

Sigurd at Ceolwulf's coronation

While Ivarr traveled to Ledecestre, Sigurd and Ubba set up camp outside of Templebrough, where they were later joined by Eivor. The trio planned to infiltrate the fort and kidnap Burged's queen, Æthelswith.[18] After successfully doing so, they gained intel on Burgred's hiding spot and snuffed him out, before sending Eivor to capture him.[19]

Sigurd later attended Ceolwulf's coronation and witnessed the exiling of King Burgred. However, the ceremony was interrupted as Saxon forces marched towards Repton, led by Leofrith, who had captured Ceolbert. Sigurd joined the Sons of Ragnar in the battle against the invading Saxons while Eivor fought and defeated Leofrith. After the battle, Sigurd successfully secured an alliance with both the Sons of Ragnar and Ceolwulf before welcoming Ceolbert and his horse Theobald into his clan at Ceolwulf's request.[20]

Rebellion in Oxenfordscire[]

Sigurd: "Geadric's pathetic army will never breach the walls. We could have first taken the stone, then laid siege. That was always our plan, Eivor. I had no intention of betraying Geadric."
Eivor: "It was your plan all along, yet you saw fit to keep me guessing through your fits of madness."
Sigurd: "You are not always to be trusted. Your passions overcome you. I know that. My father knew that. Your father knew it."
—Sigurd and Eivor arguing about the former's plan, 874.[src]-[m]

In 874, Sigurd and Basim traveled to Oxenfordscire, where they allied with the thegn Geadric, who sought to overthrow Oxenfordscire's ealdorman, a widow named Lady Eadwyn. The three settled in Buckingham where they waited for Eivor to arrive. However, plans changed when the town was overrun by Eadwyn and her soldiers, causing Sigurd and Basim to seek refuge in a fishing house while Geadric was captured. When Eivor arrived in Buckingham and found Sigurd and Basim's hiding spot, the former informed her of the situation before explaining his plan to rescue Geadric, who has held up in the town's longhouse.[21]

ACV Brewing Rebellion 9

Sigurd, Eivor and Basim confronting Lady Eadwyn

As they arrived, Sigurd and Eivor confronted Eadwyn, who they learned had called upon King Alfred of Wessex for aid in breaking Geadric's rebellion. A small fight broke out between them and Eadwyn's soldiers, with Eadwyn herself leaving the longhouse. After defeating the soldiers and freeing Geadric, the thegn told them of a woman named Fulke, who Sigurd believed would be of utmost importance. Subsequently, Sigurd, Basim, and Eivor mounted their horses and rode to the Leah Villa Garrison to find a thegn named Holt, who had information on Fulke.[21]

At the garrison, three thegns were in line for an execution, with Holt next. After Eivor disrupted an execution at the front of the garrison, Holt, alongside any other rescued thegns, showed his gratitude to the trio before granting them the information they needed: Fulke was being held by Eadwyn in an Anglo-Saxon monastery. Sigurd and Basim proceeded to travel to a camp east of Linforda while Eivor went to report to Geadric.[21]

Once Eivor joined them at the camp, the group devised a plan to infiltrate the Saint Albanes Abbey, and Sigurd and Basim allowed Eivor to pick between a direct and a stealthy approach. Regardless of the method, the trio found Fulke in a cell guarded by a single Anglo-Saxon monk, whom Eivor proceeded to deal with, obtaining the cell's key.[22]

ACV Pilgrimage to St

Sigurd, Basim and Eivor meeting Fulke

With Fulke freed, Sigurd and Basim proceeded to ask her about her collection of artifacts, to which she revealed that she was searching for one relic in particular, the Saga Stone. Realizing Sigurd and Basim were after the same prize, Eivor became angry that her brother was more interested in a relic than securing an alliance with Geadric, but nonetheless agreed to accompany the group as they made their way to the Evinghou Tower, where the Saga Stone was located.[22]

At the tower, the group found the place ransacked and Brother Paul, one of Fulke's acolytes who had been tasked with safeguarding the Saga Stone, dead. Realizing Eadwyn's forces had stolen the artifact, Sigurd became angry that Eivor's questioning of his methods had delayed their arrival, causing them to miss their one chance to obtain the Stone. Before the siblings could argue any further, Basim informed them of Eadwyn's arrival, prompting the group to head outside to confront her.[23]

When Eadwyn proposed a deal – Geadric's head in exchange for the Saga Stone – Sigurd pretended to accept it, causing a furious Eivor to reject the offer by killing one of Eadwyn's men. The Lady then fled while Sigurd and the others fought and defeated her remaining soldiers. After the battle, Sigurd and Eivor got into an intense argument, during which the former explained that he never intended to betray Geadric, but that he hoped to secure the Saga Stone first in case Geadric's forces failed to defeat Eadwyn. He then left with Basim to scout out Eadwyn's fortress, Cyne Belle Castle, and organize a siege.[23]

ACV The Saga Stone 9

Fulke, Eivor, Sigurd and Basim examining the Saga Stone

After Eivor sabotaged Eadwyn's army to facilitate their assault, she met with Sigurd, Basim and Fulke and briefly spoke with her brother, who mentioned visions involving the gods, much like Eivor herself had experienced. Afterwards, the group, alongside Geadric and his men, raided Cyne Belle Castle, defeating Eadwyn and her forces. Following their victory, Sigurd, Eivor, Basim and Fulke went inside the castle's vault and found the Saga Stone, but while attempting to decipher its script, they were alerted to the arrival of King Alfred.[24]

Sigurd called for a parlay, and he, Eivor and Basim met with the king in his tent outside the castle walls. There, Sigurd suggested a trade of men to secure peace, and Basim offered himself while a thegn named Wolfrich was chosen on Alfred's behalf. However, before the exchange ended, Fulke rushed into the tent and convinced Alfred to take Sigurd as a prisoner instead. Angered at Fulke's treachery, Eivor drew her axe but was stopped by her brother, who agreed with the deal. Sigurd subsequently left with Fulke, who was aware of his past life and hoped to "unlock his mind".[24]

Captivity and Týr's awakening[]

"You cannot begin to imagine the things I have seen. What I've learned. Born of gods, is who I am. A Lord of War! A Roman Mars! I know who I am, I know my destiny! And you will not hinder me!"
―Sigurd to Eivor upon his return to Ravensthorpe, 875.[src]-[m]
ACV A Bloody Welcome 12

Sigurd's severed arm discovered by his sister

For the next year, Sigurd was held captive by Fulke, who sought to unlock the dormant memories of his past incarnation: the Norse god Týr. Fulke tortured Sigurd and cut off his right arm in an attempt to awaken the god, who himself had lost his arm to Fenrir. The arm was later taken and hidden in a box in Cent, where Fulke intentionally left it behind for Eivor and Basim to find as a way to mock their efforts to find and rescue Sigurd.[25]

In Sigurd's absence, Randvi was left in distress and Dag was angered, finally taking action against Eivor's rule over Ravensthorpe. During a confrontation between the two, Dag accused Eivor of pursuing glory instead of focusing on finding Sigurd and challenged her to a holmgang for leadership of the clan, which led to his death.[26]

In 875, Eivor rounded up her allies, including Basim, jarl Guthrum, Soma, Ubba, Broder and Brothir, the reeves Erke and Stowe, Bishop Deorlaf, Hunwald, Birstan and Ljufvina, in Suthsexe in order to besiege Fulke's fortress of Portcestre and rescue Sigurd.[27] After finding her brother, Eivor left him with Basim as she pursued Fulke, eventually killing her in battle and avenging the torture inflicted upon Sigurd. However, it was too late, as with her dying words Fulke claimed that she had been successful in "awakening" Sigurd.[28]

ACV Of All That Has Passed 3

Sigurd lashing out at Eivor

In Ravensthorpe, a celebration was held for Sigurd's return. However, Sigurd did not seem to be enjoying the party and was instead in an angry mood after learning of Dag's death at Eivor's hands. When his sister tried talking with him, Sigurd lashed out at her and accused her of seeking his throne before proclaiming himself a god and saying that he would not let Eivor hinder his destiny. Realizing that everyone was now staring at him, Sigurd quickly excused himself and left the celebration.[29]

After talking with Randvi, Eivor followed Sigurd outside, finding him sitting by Dag's grave. Having calmed himself down, Sigurd briefly reminisced of his childhood friend, who had died defending his honor, before trying to explain his visions to Eivor and how Fulke had helped him see who he truly was. However, Eivor couldn't understand what her brother meant, so Sigurd asked her to return and enjoy the rest of the celebration as he wished to be alone.[29]

Sometime later, Sigurd interrupted Eivor when the latter was trying to settle a dispute between Gudrun and Holger. Angry at having his authority defied, since settling disputes was the jarl's duty, Sigurd told Eivor to stand aside before lashing out at Holger and demanding that he pay Gudrun thirty times the compensation he owed her. Eivor either commented on the harsh and unfair punishment or agreed with it out of respect for her brother's authority, but in the end both she and Randvi were left shocked by Sigurd's behavior, questioning what could have determined this sudden change in his personality.[30]

Return to Norway[]

Confronting Styrbjorn and reaching Valhalla[]
Eivor: "Sigurd, this is an illusion... a trick. Leave with me now and return to England. Our people need us."
Sigurd: "No. I am no one in that world. I am somebody here. Powerful, capable, a god. Here I may live forever. Here I cannot die."
Eivor: "Cows die, family die, you must die. The only thing that never dies is the reputation of the one who's died. In here, you have no reputation. But out there, it's not too late."
—Eivor convincing Sigurd to leave the Valhalla simulation, 877.[src]-[m]
ACV Where Legends Are Born 5

Sigurd reuniting with his father

In 877, Sigurd decided it was time to seek his "final glory" and asked Eivor to accompany him back to Norway to find Yggdrasil, believing that it would transfer them to the eternal afterlife of Valhalla.[31] After a long voyage, the two returned to Norway, still under Harald Fairhair's rule. The siblings arrived at Alrekstad where Sigurd first wanted to talk with his father Styrbjorn, whom he had not seen in years.[32]

Entering a cabin, Sigurd found his father drunk and depressed. Upon awakening him, Styrbjorn attempted to embrace his son, though was pushed back. Sigurd, still upset with his father for failing to rule the Raven Clan and submitting to King Harald, left angrily after a quick argument, though he did admit that, if not for Styrbjorn's failure, he would have never discovered his true destiny.[32]

Sigurd and Eivor continued onwards to Hordafylke, where the Yggdrasil Chamber laid. After hiking the mountain and entering the cavern, the siblings finally found their grand prize: Yggdrasil, an Isu machine that was the key to an eternal life in Valhalla. Already hooked to the machine was Svala, the host of Freyja's personality and mother of Ravensthorpe's healer Valka. After activating the machine, Sigurd stationed himself in the center of the chamber before being attached to one of the machine's branches.[33]

ACV A Brother's Keeper 30

Sigurd battling Eivor in the Valhalla simulation

In Yggdrasil's Valhalla simulation, Sigurd spoke with Svala and Eivor before entering the battlefield. After several days in Valhalla, including one where the siblings dueled each other, Eivor realized that nothing of what they were experiencing was real upon seeing an apparition of her father Varin, who did not belong in Valhalla. Despite this revelation, Sigurd was reluctant to leave, as he did not want to renounce his dreams of immortality and eternal glory, but eventually agreed with his sister that it was better to live in the real world and experience true glory.[33]

Basim's betrayal[]

Sigurd: "That man's anger. His rage. It had a familiar sting that I... I cannot place."
Eivor: "He was raving, Sigurd. Without sense or reason. Pay it no mind."
—Sigurd and Eivor on Basim's betrayal, 877.[src]-[m]

Just then, Sigurd awoke back in the real world, as he had been detached from Yggdrasil by Basim, who had followed the siblings from England. After Eivor also awoke following a battle against her own Isu incarnation, Odin, Basim confronted her while holding Sigurd at knifepoint and goading Eivor to come face him. He then released Sigurd, who could do nothing but watch as his sister and Basim fought across the Yggdrasil Chamber, telling Eivor to kill the traitor.[33]

Eventually, Basim returned to Sigurd and attempted to kill him for picking "the wrong side", but was stopped by Eivor. As the battle persisted, Sigurd managed to command Yggdrasil and directed one of its branches to attach to Basim after he had been subdued by Eivor. He then pressed the glowing sphere that controlled the simulation, successfully ending the fight and imprisoning Basim, whose mind held the Norse god Loki's personality.[33]

ACV A Brother's Keeper 82

Sigurd informing Eivor of his decision regarding their future

After the battle, Sigurd spoke with Eivor, reminiscing of their past adventures and the many disagreements that rose between him and his sister during their time in England. After a quick judgement, Sigurd made the ultimate decision of whether or not he wanted to return to his clan in England or stay in Norway. Either way, Eivor was granted complete leadership of the Raven Clan by Sigurd,[33] and would eventually take her rightful seat as jarlskona following her return to Ravensthorpe.[34]

Niels' adventure[]

At some point in the late 9th century, Eivor captured a young monk, Edward, during a raid of Readingum Abbey and brought him to Ravensthorpe, intending to hold him hostage for a ransom. During his time in the settlement, Edward was looked after by Hytham at the local Hidden One bureau, and made three separate escape attempts, all of which ended with his re-capture by the Viking Niels Gunnarsson.[35]

ACV THC Niels defeating Gunnar

Sigurd and the others watching Niels defeat his father Gunnar

Following Edward's latest failed escape attempt, Sigurd, Eivor and Hytham greeted him and Niels when they returned to Ravensthorpe. Moments later, Niels' father Gunnar arrived, shouting at his son for leaving their farm unattended, and tried to punch him, only to fall to the ground after Niels dodged his attack. Sigurd broke up the fight, pointing out that, while a skilled fighter, Niels was still young and should obey his father. The group then proceeded to discuss what to do with Edward, who was ultimately set free by Niels, much to his father's anger.[35]

Sometime later, after Niels returned from a mission to Scotland, during which he had been accompanied by Edward and the Hidden One Adelaïde, he met with Sigurd, Eivor and Hytham at Ravensthorpe's longhouse to tell them about his adventure. He explained that he and his allies had fought a cult who were using an Isu artifact – the Codex of Eden – to convert the population; that Adelaïde murdered Edward's brother Ecbert to acquire the Codex, resulting in Edward killing her and inadvertently destroying the artifact; and that he and Edward agreed to go their separate ways. Niels then rejected Hytham's invite to join the Hidden Ones and departed Ravensthorpe, intending to find his own path.[35]

Later life[]

Sigurd: "Eivor, this is fated. I long for such an adventure. Tell me your mind. Does your heart-fire burn for another expedition?"
Eivor: "I am grateful for the offer. But I have not come here to walk down well-worn roads. I am here to say farewell. For once and all."
—Eivor declining the offer of one last adventure with Sigurd, c. 889.[src]-[m]

By 889, Sigurd had permanently settled in Norway. When Eivor returned to Norway for three weeks in order to bid farewell to Harald Fairhair, Sigurd was reunited with his sister and took her to Alrekstad, showing her how much had changed in the years since their last visit there twelve years prior. Entering the longhouse, the two were greeted by Harald, who revealed he was planning an expedition to Iceland to aid his friend Ingólfr Arnarson and asked the pair if they would lead it.[36]

Despite Sigurd's pleas to have one last adventure together, Eivor declined, explaining that she had only come to Norway to bid farewell to her friends, as she intended to leave England and travel further west past Iceland. Both Sigurd and Harald understood her decision and spent the night sharing stories of their mutual distant pasts while drinking mead and eating roasted whale.[36]

Personality and traits[]

"Who did I betray? A son who was never home? A selfish boy with no sense of leadership? An arrogant drengr!"
―Styrbjorn to his son, 877.[src]-[m]

Sigurd was charismatic and passionate, easily drawing people to his service.[37] His family, especially his sister Eivor, held him in high regard. While he had great skill as a leader, his ego and lust for glory would many times cloud his judgment, to the point where he would ignore the advice of those close to him. A skilled warrior and cunning tactican, Sigurd led many successful raids before his voyage to England.[38]

ACV The Prodigal Prince - Eivor and Sigurd reunion

Sigurd and Eivor embracing

While quite intelligent with a skill for politics and military tactics, Sigurd was easily manipulated by Basim, by playing on his desire for greatness. Although slowly, he was deceived by him to encounter Fulke, an action that triggered all the events that led to the discovery of the Yggdrasil Chamber.[21] Following his imprisonment and torture at Fulke's hands, Sigurd became increasingly cold, short tempered and cruel to his subjects, as a result of Týr's conscience manifesting itself inside of him.[30] His desire for greatness also increased, which led him to seek out Valhalla to achieve immortality and eternal glory.[31]

Even after learning that the "Valhalla" he and Eivor found was just a simulation, Sigurd was reluctant to leave it due to feeling like a nobody in the real world, while the simulation allowed him to live like a god. In the end, however, he agreed with Eivor's decision to abandon the simulation and later allowed his sister to assume the control of the Raven Clan, admitting that she was wiser than him and the leader their clan deserved.[33]

Behind the scenes[]

Sigurd Styrbjornsson is a character appearing in the 2020 video game Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, and introduced in its prequel comic Song of Glory. He is voiced by the Icelandic actor Gudmundur Ingi Thorvaldsson, who also voices Týr, as revealed on his Twitter.[39] His Database entry in Valhalla inconsistently refers to him as both "Styrbjornson" and "Styrbjornsson", although the former is used in the entry title.

At the end of the memory "A Brother's Keeper", Sigurd will either accompany Eivor back to Ravensthorpe or remain in Norway, depending on a number of key choices the player made throughout the story, such as choosing to pursue a relationship with Randvi or agreeing/disagreeing with his punishment for Holger. If Sigurd returns to Ravensthorpe, he will personally appoint Eivor as jarlskona in front of the Raven Clan in the memory "A Quiet Homecoming", and can afterwards be encountered roaming the settlement.

Regardless of Sigurd's decision in the base game, The Last Chapter update released in 2022 implies that Sigurd eventually chose to permanently settle in Norway. Despite this, the graphic novel Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Hidden Codex, first released in France in January 2023 and set after the events of Valhalla's main story, shows Sigurd living in Ravensthorpe. One possible explanation for the inconsistency is that Sigurd initially decided to return with Eivor to England, before settling in Norway at a later date.

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Assassin's Creed: RebellionDatabase: Sigurd Styrbjornsson
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaPrologue
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaFloating conversations: "Cairns"
  4. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaDatabase: Dag
  5. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaDatabase: Randvi
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaThe Prodigal Prince
  7. 7.0 7.1 Assassin's Creed: RebellionThe Ravens' WoundThe Horn of the Valkyrie
  8. Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of GloryIssue #01
  9. Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of GloryIssue #02
  10. Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Song of GloryIssue #03
  11. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaRude Awakening
  12. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaA Cruel Destiny
  13. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaBirthrights
  14. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaThe Seas of Fate
  15. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaUnwelcome
  16. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaThe Sons of Ragnar
  17. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaBartering
  18. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaThe Walls of Templebrough
  19. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaTilting the Balance
  20. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaHeavy is the Head
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaBrewing Rebellion
  22. 22.0 22.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaPilgrimage to St. Albanes
  23. 23.0 23.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaBlood from a Stone
  24. 24.0 24.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaThe Saga Stone
  25. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaA Bloody Welcome
  26. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaA Brewing Storm
  27. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaReaver of the South
  28. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaStorming the Walls
  29. 29.0 29.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaOf All That Has Passed...
  30. 30.0 30.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaBlame and Sail
  31. 31.0 31.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaThe Road to Valhalla
  32. 32.0 32.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaWhere Legends Are Born
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaA Brother's Keeper
  34. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaA Quiet Homecoming
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – The Hidden Codex
  36. 36.0 36.1 Assassin's Creed: ValhallaThe Last ChapterFare Thee Well, King Fair-Hair
  37. Assassin's Creed: ValhallaDatabase: Sigurd Styrbjornson
  38. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla
  39. Twitter Gudmundur Thorvaldss (@GThorvaldsson) on Twitter "youtu.be/WaOKSUlf4TM Thats me as Sigurd with the brilliant @Magnus__Bruun @CarloRota. Thank you @Ubisoft @DarbyMcDevitt and the reat [sic] of the amazing team." (screenshot)

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