Warlord of Melun 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 arrived in Melun to meet with Toka's uncle, Sigfred.
Dialogue[]
Upon arrival in Francia, Eivor, Toka, and Pierre traveled on Eivor's longship, the Sea-Chariot, within the territory of Melunois. Along the river, mayhem and dead bodies were showcased.
Eivor and party see carnage while sailing into Melunois
- Toka: Welcome to Francia!
- Eivor: What? No sniveling emissary from King Charles to greet us?
- Toka: Believe me, Wolf-Kissed, you will feel the warmth of his welcome soon enough.
- Eivor: Their mad king did this?
- Toka: We all had a part in it.
Eivor saw more wreckage as she saw bodies hanged and mutilated.
- Eivor: Gods. This is what he would bring to Ravensthorpe.
- Toka: It is. We are almost there. But we cannot take the longship around Paris as the Franks' bridges block the way.
They all docked at The Hidden Dock as Toka and Eivor talked off the longship.
Eivor, Toka, and Pierre docked in Melunois
- Toka: Our village is inland. We will take the horses from here. The others will follow on foot.
- Eivor: Is there danger of an ambush?
- Toka: Not this close to the water, and not at night. Sigfred has done his work too well.
Pierre walked towards them.
- Pierre: I will finish unloading the ship. You two go ahead.
- Toka: Many thanks, Pierre.
Pierre nodded to Toka and looked to Eivor.
- Pierre: And Eivor ... there is something we should talk about when I arrive at Melun. Until then, ride safe.
Eivor nodded as Pierre left.
- Toka: Mount up. The ride is not long. How will I face Sigfred? He entrusted me to gather axes. He wants me to lead one day, but I failed even this.
- Eivor: The failure is not all yours, Toka. Jarls are ever busy with their own concerns.
- Toka: Ah! Just give me strong ale and a good fight. What else matters?
Eivor and Toka stopped at a broken down wooden fence.
Toka and Eivor spot Frankish scouts in the distance.
- Toka: Frankish scouts. They have been watching us closely of late. What do you think it means, Eivor?
- Eivor: That Sigfred has not finished his work yet.
- Toka: Sigfred will not be finished until there are no more Franks left to fight. Scouts have been gnawing at our heels ever since Charles forced us from the North.
- Eivor: He pushes against your people. You might have to lead sooner than you expect, Toka.
- Toka: I may not be the best one to do it. I see the longhouse. We are almost there.
Eivor and Toka rode further towards Melun.
- Toka: It is strange to be back after so long. I thought to return with an army.
Eivor and Toka arrived at the Viking encampment in Melun.
- Toka: Welcome to Melun. We should find Sigfred.
Toka and Eivor walked towards the longhouse as a man looked at Toka's arrival.
- Norse Man 1: Toka! You have returned! All went well, I hope. Are the others you brought coming behind you?
- Toka: I need to find Sigfred.
- Norse Man 1: Of course. Well, you will find him where he always is.
- Toka: Ah yes. He will be at the burial grounds, staring into the mist. It is where he begins most days. This way.
Eivor followed Toka to meet Sigfred as they stopped in the middle of a bridge.
- Toka: Our burial grounds. Sinric ... my father lies there, with the others. We should go.
Eivor and Toka went to the Burial Mounds, outside Melun.
Toka and Eivor overlooking the burial grounds
- Eivor: There is something ... calming about this place.
- Toka: It is a beautiful land, or would be if it was not filled with Franks. There is Sigfred. You go ahead. He may not be happy to see me return with so few allies.
Eivor went closer to meet Sigfred, who was talking to Sinric's grave.
- Sigfred: I will not rest, brother. We are almost there. Your honor will be redeemed, I swear it.
Toka left as Eivor walked towards Sigfred, who stared at his brother's grave. Soon, an elk appeared in front of him.
- Eivor: Sigfred?
- Sigfred: You came, Wolf-Kissed. Good.
Eivor approaches Sigfred
The elk left as Sigfred walked forward and placed a carving near the gravestone.
- Eivor: You knew it was me?
Sigfred turned around.
- Sigfred: Pierre sent word ahead. Your axe will be a boon to us.
- Eivor: I heard your axe has been busy as well.
- Sigfred: Yes, I have slain many on the open field with honor, as Odin intended.
- Eivor: It is our way.
Sigfred faced the grave again.
- Sigfred: But it is not their way. The Franks dragged our jarl Sinric from his bed, and gutted him like a coward. They did not even bury him, just left his body for the animals to take. I raised this mound for him.
- Eivor: You want me to join your side against these Franks.
Furious, Sigfred rounded again and began shouting.
- Sigfred: There is no side! There is only blood-debt, and vengeance, and Helheim for those I split with my axe.
- Eivor: I know of blood-debt, and vengeance. When the time comes, Sigfred, you will have my axe.
- Sigfred: Good. It is as I hoped. Now, we will feast, and I will tell you of my plans for Paris.
Sigfred led the way back into the settlement.
Eivor makes to follow Sinric.
- Sigfred: This is Vidarr. A more noble beast I have never known.
- Eivor: The god of vengeance. It is a good name.
- Sigfred: Many Franks have met their end beneath his iron hooves. He hates them almost as much as I do.
- Eivor: You placed a carving at Sinric's grave.
- Sigfred: Sinric won it from me in a holmgang when we were children. It is Eikthyrnir, who watches over Odin's hall in Valhalla. He was holding it when I found him. It was the only way I knew him after the animals had gotten to his body.
Sigfred and Eivor traveled and went inside the longhouse in Melun. Time passed as Toka gave a speech to those present in the longhouse.
The Elgring Clan holds a feast
- Toka: Ours will be the greatest raid since Ragnar sacked Paris, and brought longships full of silver back to King Horik! We will fill our warchest with silver and our mugs with mead! Blood and glory! Skal!
- Sigfred: This is not just about silver, Toka!
- Toka: He hates being disturbed while he eats.
- Eivor: You know, Ragnar returned with more than just silver.
- Toka: More than silver? What was it? Swords? Precious jewels? Wine!
- Eivor: Stories ... of a dead saint defending Paris. Horik was so awed, he freed the Christians and executed his raiders.
- Toka: Really? That does not sound glorious.
The feast stopped as a commotion was heard outside. Warriors went outside as Toka and Eivor looked at each other, wondering why. Outside, a bishop spoke aloud among Sigfred's dead warriors as he stood with an escort of Bellatores Dei soldiers.
Bishop Englewin arrives at the longhouse.
- Engelwin: "Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good to thee." Kill the heathens. Bring me Sigfred's head, and that one as well. Leave the stripling alive to tell of it.
Engelwin left as his soldiers abided.
- Toka: The what!
Toka ran into fight.
- Sigfred: Bishop Engelwin. This is a good night.
Sigfred joined Toka to fight Engelwin's forces.
- Eivor: O, shit!
Eivor joined the fight.
Eivor fighting a Bellatores Dei soldier
- Eivor: Horses give them advantage, but it will not be enough.
Eivor, Toka, and Sigfred held back and defeated Engelwin forces. Sigfred interrogated one of the attackers, his boot on the man's head as he lay prone.
- Sigfred: Where did Engelwin go?
- French Soldier 1: Mmmphhh ... mmph
- Eivor: Sigfred, wait!
Sigfred smashed the soldier's head with his boot.
- Eivor: What did he say to you?
Sigfred walked away towards with no answer to Eivor.
- Sigfred: Toka, see to the wounded, and find the watch! They should have warned us of the attack.
- Toka: I told he doesn't like to be interrupted while eating.
- Eivor: We needed that soldier alive to question. Wild heart, level head.
Toka and Eivor survey the aftermath of the skirmish
- Toka: O, I like that!
- Eivor: Where is Sigfred going?
- Toka: My guess is to find that bishop, Engelwin. He hates him above all others. It was he who killed Sinric.
- Eivor: Yes, his sword-brother and your father. I am sorry, Toka.
- Toka: Nothing has changed. If anything, the attacks grow more frequent, as you see.
- Eivor: Randvi was right. I have to stop this before it reaches Ravensthorpe.
- Toka: Pff! Unless you can convince their king to surrender, you may have to kill every soldier in Francia.
- Eivor: If we take Paris, many of their soldiers will die. Charles knows that. The threat of it will force him to negotiate.
- Toka: That oath-breaking coward will never meet you! Even if he does, his word is worthless. Better to kill him.
Eivor left Toka to find Sigfred.
Outcome[]
Eivor met Toka's uncle Sigfred in Melun, discussing a plan to attack Paris to avenge the death of Toka's father, Sinric. They were later interrupted and defended themselves against a Frankish attack led by Engelwin.
Gallery[]
