As with any good fandom, gamers filled with the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla hype have pointed out a touching detail in the trailer. The scene involves the game’s protagonist Eivor on the battlefield and is a fitting nod to Norse mythology.
Highlighted in a recent Reddit thread, the detail in question appears on the chaotic battlefield - rumored to be the Battle of Edington - during the trailer’s conclusion. In the hazy backdrop of war, we see Eivor’s berserkers taking a heavy blow from English soldiers, depicted by one clan member being brutally stabbed through the back. In an immediate act of vengeance, Eivor takes out his comrade's killer with a throwing axe, and moves across the field to his side. It is here where the crucial detail lies - in both the male and female variant of the trailer - as Eivor retrieves the viking’s fallen axe, and returns it to his lifeless hands.
Eivor’s act of returning a weapon to the fallen is a wonderful moment to include amidst the frenzy of battle. In Norse mythology, it is believed that if you die in battle whilst holding a weapon, then you’re guaranteed safe passage to Valhalla. Die without a weapon, and you’re doomed to roam Hell for eternity. The myth states that Odin, the God of war and death, would only welcome honorable warriors into his majestic hall; known as Valhalla. This honor, however, stretched beyond dying with a weapon in hand. Odin considered warriors who lived a noble life, treated a friend and foe equally, and kept true to their word as other signs of honor.
The inclusion of such a heartfelt moment during the chaos of battle reflects the viking’s devotion to their beliefs, and their family. Letting your guard down in the heat of war is a vulnerable move, but Eivor’s sentiment demonstrates compassion for a brother. Taking the time to give a fallen soldier safe passage to Valhalla is a softer note for Ubisoft to include within harsher scenarios. It’s an important detail to capture within the early promotions of the game, that communicates the strong, mythological thread that will weave throughout the game.
In an interview with Gamespot, creative director Ashraf Ismail and narrative director Darby McDevitt explained how Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will combine viking lore with Assassin’s Creed canon, in a fluid and fresh mix for the franchise. Valhalla will carry it’s own narrative before merging with AC history, but fans can still expect familiar and exciting combat that honors the franchise's style.
Source: Reddit