Hey friend! After 60+ hours sailing longships and raiding Saxon halls in Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla, I feel like I‘ve really gotten to know the fierce Viking warrior Eivor Wolf-Kissed. But for all her blunt force trauma, Eivor‘s motivations and allegiances are far more nuanced than a typical pillaging Norse.
Let‘s dive deep into untangling who (or what) our conflicted hero is really fighting for in 9th century England. Grab an ale horn and settle in!
A Viking Childhood Forged by Tragedy
As we know, Eivor wasn‘t born "Wolf-Kissed" – she earned that badass nickname later in life. Here are some key facts about her early years:
- Born in Norway in 847 AD to Rosta and Varin, relatively minor nobles.
- Only about 9 years old when a rival clan attacked and killed her parents.
- Saved from the slaughter by the Raven Clan‘s King Styrbjorn.
- Adopted by Styrbjorn and raised alongside his son Sigurd like a sibling.
- Scarred for life when a wolf bit her neck during the attack. Thus her legendary moniker!
Losing her family so young in such a violent way clearly molded Eivor into a formidable and fearless warrior. But it also left deep emotional scars that drive her just as strongly.
As we‘ll see, avenging her parents‘ deaths plays a major role in shaping Eivor‘s path down the line. The wolf attack also gives us the first hint that powerful animal spirits guide and protect her.
Raiding and Conquering for Glory
After coming of age, Eivor firmly embraces the Viking lifestyle – right down to the braided hair and sweet face tattoos. With her adoptive brother Sigurd, she raids villages and monasteries across northern Europe for wealth and renown.
Here are some numbers illustrating Eivor‘s success as a Viking raider:
- Over 200 axe and shield kills by age 17.
- Sailed on raids of France, Spain, England.
- By 20, captained her own longship crew of over 50.
- Won 3 major naval battles against Saxon kings in England.
But Eivor dreams of more than just loot and glory. With Sigurd, she hungers to build a thriving Norse settlement in England – a kingdom to call their own.
They catch the eye of King Harold, who awards them lands around Ledecestrescire to settle. In exchange, Eivor and Sigurd pledge loyalty and troops to help Harold unite the four kingdoms against Viking invaders.
It seems Eivor‘s motivations are clear at this point – fight alongside her brother to gain power and prosperity for their people. But fate, as it often does, has WAY more in store for our headstrong heroine.
The Creed of the Hidden Ones
The first twist in Eivor‘s fate comes when she meets Hytham, a member of an ancient order called the Hidden Ones. As they build alliances across England, he mentors Eivor in the ways of his creed:
- Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent
- Hide in plain sight
- Never compromise the Brotherhood
With Hytham‘s guidance, Eivor realizes she can serve her people‘s interests while also upholding justice in the shadows. She joins this precursor order to the Assassin Brotherhood and adapts their principles and lethal skills to her own ends.
While her allegiance still lies with her clan and people, she now also fights for the freedom of all people under the Templars‘ control. It‘s an interesting dynamic – the brutal Viking driven by a compassionate creed. But Eivor believes her axe can still spill blood in service of peace and righteous purpose.
Confronting Her Destiny as Odin Reborn
This is where things really get supernatural for our historically-grounded hero!
Eivor discovers a secret vault created by the ancient Isu, a prior civilzation which was viewed as gods by humans. Inside, she relives Odin‘s memories and realizes she is his reincarnation, fated to wield his legendary spear and avert the cataclysmic prophecy of Ragnarok.
I won‘t delve too deep here into the expansive Assassin‘s Creed lore. But the key revelation for Eivor is that she is a goddess-gifted savior called the "drengr of ragnarok" – the one who will stop the world from ending.
This discovery profoundly alters Eivor‘s motivations and sense of purpose. She still fights for her people and the Hidden Ones‘ ideals. But above all, she now embraces her transcendent destiny as Odin reborn.
Every battle and every alliance from this point brings her closer to fulfilling that ultimate fate – protecting the world from prophesied doom.
Eivor‘s Most Heart-Wrenching Betrayals
Unfortunately, Eivor‘s noble commitment to her destiny puts her at odds with some former friends and allies. She is forced to fight, sabotage or even kill some she once considered closer than kin:
- Her childhood friend Kjotve the Cruel became a bandit warlord. Though it pained her deeply, she slew him to protect her village.
- The scholar Fulke betrayed Eivor in pursuit of Isu artifacts. Eivor exacted revenge for this deception.
- Alliance with King Rhodri broke down over his acts of conquest against neighbors.
- Eivor reluctantly killed the ambitious Faravid for treachery at King Halfdan‘s request.
- She was later forced to turn against Halfdan when his obsession with Surtr drove him insane.
- Most heartbreaking of all, Eivor has to leave her once-inseparable brother Sigurd when his quest for divine power corrupts him.
Though Eivor tries to keep her humanity through these wrenching ordeals, her commitment to the greater good steadfastly guides her hand. Destiny propels her beyond earthly ties of friendship or clan loyalty to serve cosmic purpose.
My Take on Eivor‘s Deeper Purpose
For all the amazing historical immersion of Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla, I‘ll admit the Aletheia / ancient prophecy / reincarnated gods plot is a bit of a narrative mess. But here‘s my take on what ties Eivor‘s journey together:
At her core, she represents the enduring power of free will in the face of destiny.
Past lives and supernatural forces may shape Eivor‘s path, but her choices and actions ultimately define her. She forges her own fate through force of will – wolf-kissed Viking, Hidden One acolyte, warrior against End Times.
No prophecy or divine intervention can override Eivor‘s freedom to determine the course of the world. Hers is the saga of heroic self-determination conquering even the gods themselves.
Well my friend, thanks for sticking with me on this journey through the winding fates of one of gaming‘s great heroines! Let me know if you have any other thoughts on the motivations that drive the complex and commanding Eivor Wolf-Kissed. Skål!
