Tossing and Turning 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 investigated the nightmares at the Isle of Skye, starting at the village of Kiltaraglen.
Dialogue[]
Eivor traveled to Kiltaraglen and needed to find answers within the village. Eivor looked for villagers willing to answer her questions.
- Groom: Doves on a wedding day spell luck... But an eagle? Nothing but doom, nothing but doom.
Eivor talked to the man.
- Eivor: Are you alright? I'm here to—
- Groom: An eagle! An eagle will bring ruin to us all! I saw it in a dream!
The groom began to whimper as Eivor left him.
- Eivor: I won't get much from him. The nightmares certainly seem bad here.
Eivor searched more and came upon a civilian speaking erratically within his home.
- Cursed Skye Civilian 1: It started with a bird's eye view... No! No.. An eagle's eye view.
Eivor questioning the man in his home
Eivor noticed his home was barred and broke inside. Eivor soon talked with the civilian.
- Eivor: You. What can you tell me about this nightmares everyone is having?
- Cursed Skye Civilian 1: Tell you?! Tell you?! I don't need to tell you about them. They will come for you soon enough. These nightmares spread like a plague. Worse than a plague! Sickening your mind...
- Eivor: Vivid, but not useful.
Eivor left the civilian and overheard a woman's worries.
- Bride: No beauty sleep before my wedding? And dreams of my ex-lover ruining it to start a fight? Was it a dream or ... a premonition?
The woman directing Eivor to a church near the town
Eivor talked with the woman.
- Eivor: Is eveything all right? You seem−
- Bride: Find the warrior woman with the braid! She is our undoing! Stealing our dreams!
- Eivor: A warrior with a braid? That can't be Randvi. Where is she?
- Bride: At a church northwest of town! That's all I saw in my dreams. Find her and please, let me sleep.
Eivor finding a path of bodies
Eivor left and traveled to the church. Along her journey, Eivor ventured into a deep mist as she arrived at the Cursed Church.
- Eivor: Strange. Valka did say her vision was cloudy. Was she seeing Randvi in this aura? And a graveyard... Or as Valka put it, a scene of death.
Eivor went further into the graveyard. As she noticed the wreck of bodies all around, Eivor noticed a woman near them as well. Eivor neared closer as she saw a braided warrior woman kneeling.
- Eivor: Valka was right. Randvi!
The woman revealing herself as Kassandra
The warrior woman stood up.
- Stranger: No.
- Eivor: (breath)
- Kassandra: Kassandra.
Eivor stood shocked as Kassandra picked up a battleaxe.
- Kassandra: And you are?
Eivor looked over and also picked up a battleaxe, smiling in anticipation of a fight.
- Eivor: (grunt) Your opponent.
- Kassandra: (breathes)
Eivor and Kassandra's axe were broken with the blow
Eivor made the first move as both warriors entered the duel. Neither Eivor or Kassandra landed blows as they dodged each other's attacks or blocked them with the long axe shaft. Eivor used the Dive of the Valkyries against Kassandra, who defended herself with her axe. As a result, both warriors broke their axes. Eivor laughed and dropped her broken weapon as Kassandra looked at her own destroyed axe. Kassandra unsheathed the Hero's Sword as Eivor drew two axes.
- Kassandra: So is this Randvi good with an axe?
Kassandra sharpened her broken haft to dual-wield with her kopis.
- Eivor: She is. Much better than you.
- Kassandra: Eh, I prefer a spear.
Kassandra displaying her skill with Kopis against Eivor
Eivor swung her axes at Kassandra, who despite using an improvised weapon blocked every swing one-handed. Weapons continously clashed until Kassandra disarmed Eivor of one of her axes. Eivor swung her other axe as Kassandra blocked it with her sword. Stuck, Eivor threw a punch with her Hidden Blade, but Kassandra grabbed her arm and stopped her. Kassandra hesistated, recognizing the weapon, and Eivor head-butted her, knocking Kassandra back.
- Kassandra: You favor other weapons, too. Where'd you get that blade?
Eivor grunted.
- Eivor: You talk too much.
Eivor attacking Kassandra with her axes
Eivor threw multiple axes to no avail at Kassandra, who again dodged or blocked them. Eivor drew her axe once more as Kassandra grabbed her sword. Kicking another axe from the ground, Eivor attacked Kassandra. Both warriors blocked their respective attacks and when both of their weapons held the other, Kassandra kicked Eivor back. Eivor decided to try a new tactic and threw a rope dart, which Kassandra dodged and let embed itself in a shield behind her. Kassandra ran to deliver a mighty blow as Eivor pulled the shield to her in time to block.
The two warriors displaying their Hidden Blades
Both of them continued their fight until Kassandra disarmed Eivor of the shield, losing her wooden weapon in the process. Eivor tried to use her Hidden Blade again, only for Kassandra to duck the blow and grab the arm as before as she aimed and held her own Hidden Blade at Eivor's neck. Eivor looked in astonishment at seeing another Hidden Blade.
- Kassandra: Looks like there are some things to talk about.
- Eivor: Fine. If we must.
Kassandra and Eivor let each other go. Kassandra retracted her Hidden Blade, casually brushed off her shoulder, and crossed her arms.
Eivor and Kassandra introducing themselves
- Kassandra: So, "opponent". Do you have a name?
- Eivor: Eivor. I take it you're one of Hidden Ones?
Kassandra chuckled.
- Kassandra: Not exactly. But I admire their work.
Irked by the unclear answer, Eivor circled Kassandra warily.
- Eivor: If you're not going to talk straight, let's go back to fighting.
Kassandra smirked.
- Kassandra: I'm not a Hidden One, but I have friends that are. And often, my goals align with theirs. I assume the same is true for you?
- Eivor: Yes. I've made friends with the Hidden Ones and I agree with their goals.
- Kassandra: Then perhaps we might have more in common than we thought.
Kassandra laughed.
- Kassandra: Clearly.
Kassandra walked around the graveyard.
- Eivor: You haven't told me why you're here. After coming all the way from... where?
Kassandra stopped.
- Kassandra: I've travelled so much, it's been a long time since I've been from somewhere. But the Greek world was my home long ago.
She knelt beside a body.
Kassandra revealing her search for an artifact to Eivor
- Kassandra: I came here looking for an ancient ancient artifact that's causing this island a great deal of trouble.
- Eivor: You mean the nightmares? A seer told me that the person I'd find amidst death on this island was causing them.
- Kassandra: The same one that mistook me for someone named Randvi? Maybe your seer is having an off day.
Kassandra stood back up.
- Eivor: You're telling you're not responsible for all these bodies?
Kassandra shook her head.
- Kassandra: I watched these people tear each other apart out of madness and lack of sleep. It's the artifact I'm looking for causing all of this.
Kassandra knelt again to inspect another body.
- Kassandra: Normally, I'd be quick to track it down but this fog is making things... difficult. Almost impossible.
- Eivor: If you're so easily blocked by a curse, how do you expect to deal with the realm of spirits and dreams?
Kassandra stood again.
- Kassandra: A curse? You know the secrets of this land well, then. I—
Kassandra stopped immediately and looked off in the distance.
- Eivor: Do you hear something?
- Kassandra: No, no. Listen, something tells me we should work together.
Eivor retreated some steps, suspiscious.
- Eivor: And what exactly is telling you that?
- Kassandra: The obvious! You want to stop the nightmares and I want the artifact causing them. Help me get rid of this fog so we can find it.
Eivor and Kassandra agreeing to work together
- Eivor: After such a strange encounter, I'm really meant to believe you're not causing the nightmares?
- Kassandra: I swear to you, I am here to stop them.
Kassandra held out her hand to Eivor. Eivor grasped her arm as Kassandra did the same, in agreement.
- Eivor: We can work together. For now.
Eivor and Kassandra looked around the area and soon climbed up the stairs. Eivor found the closed door and, with Kassandra's help, forced it open.
- Eivor: Give me a hand over here.
- Kassandra: Of course. Here.
Both warriors entered the Cursed Church to find the cursed symbol.
- Kassandra: You're quite strong.
- Eivor: You should know. I had you cornered in that fight just moments ago.
Kassandra snorted, amused.
- Kassandra: And an even stronger ego to match. Not surprising.
Eivor and Kassandra investigating the church
Seeing a breakable floor, Eivor destroyed it and followed the passage underneath. Eivor and Kassandra ventured further in the basement of the church.
- Kassandra: What an interesting church. In all my travels, I've never seen one quite like this.
- Eivor: Are you here to see the sights or get rid of this fog?
- Kassandra: I have to take in what I can. It's not as if I plan to stay long.
Looking around, Eivor and Kassandra found a destructible wall and broke through. At the sight of the cursed symbol, Eivor destroyed it and lifted the fog.
- Kassandra: Nice work! The curse is fading. It'll be much easier to find the artifact now. Glad I let you tag along to help.
- Eivor: I did most of the work. You're getting on my nerves, you know?
- Kassandra: These close quarters probably aren't helping. Let's find a way out.
Eivor and Kassandra fighting against the influenced villagers
Eivor and Kassandra left through a doorway and followed the path. Finding light, both warriors exited the cave and were ambushed by cursed civilians.
- Kassandra: They're crazed from lack of sleep—just like the men I saw tearing one another apart earlier.
- Eivor: Better take them out before they take us down, then.
- Kassandra: Cold, but I agree.
- Cursed Skye Civilian 2: Eagle Bearer! You caused this! You're responsible for our suffering!
- Eivor: Was he talking to you?
- Kassandra: They've been driven to madness. It's just nonsense. Watch out!
- Cursed Skye Civilian 3: You're treading on the wrong god's land! We will purge you of it!
- Eivor: It really seems like he's addressing you.
- Kassandra: The madman? We're dear friends!
Eivor questioning Kassandra's motives
Eivor and Kassandra quickly defeated the ambushers. Kassandra stared at a settlement on another hillside and Eivor walked up to talk, crossing her arms in frustration.
- Eivor: It really seemed like someone was talking directly to you in the fight.
- Kassandra: The artifact I'm seeking does cause strange things to occur. But I should track it more easily now that the fog is gone.
- Eivor: As if a foreigner could search these hills.
- Kassandra: Ready to commit to being my guide?
- Eivor: I didn't say that. If I'm going to help, I need more information. Like what exactly is this artifact you're seeking?
Kassandra revealing an ancient artifact being responsible for the nightmares and controlled villagers
- Kassandra: The less you know about it the better.
- Eivor: The better for you, you mean. You want me to trust you, no?
Kassandra sat on a tree stump.
- Kassandra: The artifact is an object of great power left here by old gods. Left on the island, it could wreck havok not on the world.
- Eivor: Why aren't we under whatever spell or curse this artifact seems to have placed over everyone else?
Kassandra spread her hands.
- Kassandra: It is difficult to explain, but artifacts like this can affect people differently. Many are Corrupted by them.
Kassandra looked at Eivor and raised an eyebrow.
- Kassandra: Perhaps we are of a similar... strength. But even if we're not having nightmares, we should still be wary of its power.
Eivor frowned and shook her head, unamused at Kassandra's attempt at humor. Kassandra rolled her eyes.
- Kassandra: So serious. Truthfully, I'm not sure. These artifacts can be activated. Maybe someone tampered with it.
Kassandra stared at the ground as she recalled her own experiences in the distant past.
- Kassandra: After all, many are drawn to its powers. It tempts them
(Leave – "Let's go find it then.")
- Eivor: Let's not waste time. What's our next move?
- Kassandra: Now that this fog is gone, I should be able to better track the artifact's location.
Eivor and Kassandra agreeing to meet in Tobhta
Kassandra stood up and began walking back towards the cave.
- Kassandra: Before that, though, I'm going to take another look around the church. See what I can learn of these foreign lands. Meet me in Tobhta?
Eivor frowned at Kassandra's assuredness.
- Eivor: It'll take more than studying one church to become familiar with this island. But fine. We'll meet again soon.
Kassandra went back inside the church as she left Eivor, who started to leave for Tobtha.
Outcome[]
Eivor met a warrior, Kassandra, and agreed to work with her to solve the mysterious nightmares plaguing the island.
Behind the scenes[]
The battleaxe used by both Eivor and Kassandra bears the same axehead design as that used by Sigfred throughout Valhalla's other expansion, The Siege of Paris.
Gallery[]
