Assassin's Creed Valhalla

• 1. Viking Expansion And Settlements

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  In 873 AD, political pressures in Norway prompt Eivor Varinsdottir and her adoptive older brother Sigurd Styrbjornsson to lead their clan of Vikings to settle new lands in Anglo-Saxon England. The clan comes into conflict with the kingdoms of Wessex, Northumbria, East Anglia, and Mercia over the next several years. They face forces led by rulers including Alfred the Great, the king of Wessex. Eivor's clan establishes a settlement named Ravensthorpe after leaving Norway. This community becomes the hub for all future raids and diplomatic efforts. Eivor aids jarlskona Soma in reclaiming Grantebridge from the Order of the Ancients. She befriends the Sons of Ragnar led by Ivar, Halfdan, and Ubba Ragnarsson. These alliances help install Ceolwulf and Oswald as Kings of Mercia and East Anglia respectively. A conflict with King Rhodri of Wales ends when Eivor kills an increasingly bloodthirsty Ivar. Her hunt for one Order member takes her to Vinland where she recovers a strange artifact. The game explores cities like Winchester, London, and York alongside parts of Norway and dreamscapes of Asgard and Jotunheim.

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• 2. Modern Day Animus Narrative

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  In 2020, the unexplained strengthening of Earth's magnetic field negatively affects the planet. Layla Hassan, Shaun Hastings, and Rebecca Crane receive a signal with coordinates in New England. There they exhume a Viking raider's remains. Layla enters the Animus to view the raider's memories while struggling with the Staff of Hermes Trismegistus' influence. In 855 AD in Norway, a young Eivor Varinsdottir witnesses warlord Kjotve the Cruel sacking her hometown. He kills her parents before she is rescued by Sigurd, son of King Styrbjorn of the Raven Clan. Seventeen years later, Eivor pursues vengeance against Kjotve but fails. She recovers her father's axe and touches it to experience a vision of Odin. Valka induces another vision of Sigurd losing an arm before being consumed by a giant wolf. Layla realizes these are actually visions of the Isu shortly before the Great Catastrophe. Loki found another way to ensure his survival after being forbidden to reincarnate himself. Sigurd and Basim discover an Isu relic and Sigurd comes to believe himself a god. Fulke captures Sigurd and tortures him removing his right arm. Eivor rallies allies to kill Fulke and rescue Sigurd who has begun experiencing strange visions. Later Eivor accompanies Sigurd back to Norway to investigate his visions finding an Isu temple with a tree-shaped computer system. The siblings connect themselves to it and are seemingly transported to Valhalla where they enjoy endless battles until Eivor realizes it is just a simulation.

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• 3. Norse Mythology And Isu Lore

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  Eivor's visions continue as Valka gives her an elixir that makes her dream of Asgard from Odin's perspective. Hoping to avert his own fated death during Ragnarök, Odin imprisons Loki's son Fenrir. He retrieves a magical mead from Jotunheim that will allow him and other Aesir to be reincarnated. Layla realizes these are actually visions of the Isu shortly before the Great Catastrophe. Loki found another way to ensure his survival after being forbidden to reincarnate himself. Sigurd and Basim discover an Isu relic and Sigurd comes to believe himself a god. Fulke captures Sigurd and tortures him removing his right arm. Eivor rallies allies to kill Fulke and rescue Sigurd who has begun experiencing strange visions. Later Eivor accompanies Sigurd back to Norway to investigate his visions finding an Isu temple with a tree-shaped computer system. The siblings connect themselves to it and are seemingly transported to Valhalla where they enjoy endless battles until Eivor realizes it is just a simulation. Upon awakening, Eivor is confronted by Basim who reveals himself, Eivor, and Sigurd to be reincarnations of Loki, Odin, and Tyr respectively. Seeking revenge on Odin for Fenrir's imprisonment, Basim attacks Eivor but is defeated and trapped in the simulation. Sigurd then abdicates leadership of the clan to Eivor who returns to England. Later Eivor and her allies join Guthrum's assault on Wessex defeating Alfred's forces at the Battle of Chippenham. Eivor tracks down Alfred who reveals himself as both the leader of the Order and the Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ.

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• 4. Development History And Design Choices

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  Assassin's Creed Valhalla had been in development for more than two and half years by its announcement in April 2020. The main development was led by the Assassin's Creed Origins team at Ubisoft Montreal supported by fourteen other Ubisoft studios worldwide. Ashraf Ismail served as creative director having previously led work on Assassin's Creed Origins and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The game's narrative director was Darby McDevitt who was lead writer for Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Black Flag. USGamers Mike Williams described the large scope and effort behind Assassin's Creed Valhalla as equivalent to the series' grand unifying theory. McDevitt explained that Valhalla story was written as a recap of all prior Assassin's Creed games connecting them in non-trivial fashions. Ismail cited Michael Crichton's 1976 novel Eaters of the Dead playing a major role in influencing Valhallas setting. Elements of Norse mythology appear in the story based on how Eivor and Vikings may take uncommon events to be signs of their gods involvement. In researching the time period, Ismail and McDevitt found most historical records of Viking expansion into Britain were written decades if not centuries after event. They often written from perspective of Anglo-Saxons portraying Vikings as bloodthirsty invaders. Development team felt this overlooked Vikings success in settling England and contributions made to agricultural practices. In June 2020 among other issues related to sexual misconduct within Ubisoft Polygon reported that Ismail said he would step down following accusations of multiple extramarital affairs with younger fans.

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• 5. Gameplay Mechanics And Accessibility Features

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  Ubisoft announced they would release exclusive mission titled The Legend of Beowulf for players who pre-ordered game. Additional post-release content made available through season pass included several story expansions first titled Wrath of Druids takes Eivor to Ireland eliminate cult druids called Children Danu. Second titled Siege of Paris sees Eivor travelling Francia for Siege of Paris. Similarly what done for Origins and Odyssey Ubisoft developed additional Discovery Tour mode for Valhalla removes all combat allows players roam Medieval England Norway own pace learn more about history culture embarking guided tours curated historians. Mode titled Discovery Tour Viking Age released free October 2021 serving third installment Discovery Tour sub-series. In June 2021 Ubisoft announced Valhalla would be first Assassin Creed game receive second year support including new updates expansions. December 2021 Ubisoft released free crossover mission with Odyssey titled A Fated Encounter sees Eivor encounter Odyssey protagonist Kassandra investigating series mysterious occurrences Isle Skye. Third story expansion Dawn Ragnarök released March 2022 focuses Norse mythology introduces dwarven realm Svartalfheim where Eivor must step back role Odin rescue son Baldr fire jötunn Surtr. August 2022 free rogue-like game mode Forgotten Saga released again follows Odin travels Niflheim confront Hel demand Baldr resurrected after death in Dawn Ragnarök.

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