http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/AssassinsCreedValhallaTheOrderOfTheAncients

Main Character Index

A list of characters affiliated with the Order of the Ancients in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.

For the main Valhalla index, see here.

Many of these characters are Walking Spoilers and their entries feature a lot of in-game details that are not hidden behind spoiler tags. As a big part of the game is figuring out the identity of the Order members, read at your own risk.

The Order of the Ancients

This sect of the Order is a secret society of pagans based in Anglo-Saxon England that spreads their ideals through propaganda. They are led by the Grand Maegester known only as "The Father".

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In General

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/anglo_saxon_order_of_ancients.png

Arch-Enemy: To the Raven Clan and especially the Hidden Ones.
Aristocrats Are Evil: Just like in Origins and Odyssey, the Order draws much of its membership from the social elite which is predominantly comprised of royals, bureaucrats, business owners, priests, military personnel and even law enforcement.
Ancient Conspiracy: Just like the Templars, the Order works from the shadows to achieve political and economic dominance over the world (in this case 9th century Europe).
Cult: The Order worships the Isu and their culture. They also want humanity to adopt First Civilization customs, ideals, and especially their advanced technology. In fact, their entire religion is basically a pagan, Crystal Dragon Jesus version of Christianity with a Holy Trinity consisting of the Father of Understanding, the Mother of Wisdom, and the Sacred Voice, which are analogues to Jesus Christ (the Son), the Father (God), and the Holy Ghost respectively.
Evil Counterpart: To the Hidden Ones.
Expy: In terms of structure and members, they're basically an early medieval version of the Cult of Kosmos from Odyssey. They even suffer the same fate, with their leader becoming disillusioned and sabotaging their group from within.
Hiding Behind Religion: While the Order isn't calling themselves Templars yet, by this point they've started to co-opt the Church for their own purposes. Aelfred even notes that despite his public piety, Charlemagne was one of their members, or was otherwise influenced by them, as Alcuin of York's attempt to warn Charlemagne of the Order only seems to have gotten him killed.
Hijacked by Jesus: Eventually, this becomes a sign of their final transformation into the Templar Order. As The Order nears complete destruction, Aelfred plans to excise the Mother of Wisdom and the Sacred Voice from their pantheon of worship, leaving only the Father of Understanding, whom he interprets as the Christian God. The Templars, founded by Aelfred, would follow this model.
- Doubly ironic and eventually Inverted, since the Knights Templars would eventually realize Religion Is Wrong and seek to disprove it entirely, and their successors would mostly become atheistic who use the Corrupt Church for their own gain. While Aelfred did rid the Order of pagan Isu worship (which, to be fair, probably saved humanity from being enslaved by Juno and then Instruments of the First Will-esque Order of Ancients), ultimately the Templars have Outgrown Such Silly Superstitions, including his.
Humans Are Bastards: Are firm believers in the inherently evil nature of man, but unlike the Templars, they believe that the Isu should rise again to lead the humans. Some, like Selwyn, use it to justify themselves for all the torture and murder they commit, condemning men to pain for not being perfect like the Isu were (in their minds).
Irony: Despite considering all gods fake, a letter found in Aelfred's study written by Alcuin of York to Charlemagne on May 10, 804^note notes that they worship the Isu, who they think are pagan gods. Shaun notes that the Order during this time period has more in common with the Instruments of the First Will than they do with the modern Templars, seeing Isu as superior to humans with quasi-religious reverence, while by contrast, the Hidden Ones at this stage are basically indistinguishable from the Assassins they would one day become.
The Man Behind the Man: Kjotve's profile implies that the Order was behind his rise to power in Norway, as his clan was relatively insignificant before his fast and brutal rise to power.
Multinational Team: The Order of 9th century Europe has English, Francian, and even Scandinavian members amongst their ranks.
Predecessor Villain: Not only are these guys the predecessors to the Templar Order, but Shaun Hastings believes they are also the precursors of the Instruments of the First Will (i.e. Juno's followers).
Red Baron: Like in Origins, members of the Order are always referred to by their nicknames.
The Remnant: It is suggested that the English Order of the Ancients is one of the last prominent strongholds of the Order, with the organization's other branches having been defeated. The spread of Christianity and Islam in the current era has also caused paganism's influence in general to decline. A note discovered in a dungeon by Eivor reveals that the Order still exists in Ireland and France.
Theme Naming: This time around, the Order of the Ancients members all use code names based around tools or instruments of some kind, or, rarely, a weapon like The Seax.
Villain Respect: When killing zealots, some will remark about how impressed they are with Norsemen. Heike the Raven-Banquet even tells Eivor that he believes the pagans are perfect and strived to fight as they did. This does not extend to the more noteworthy members of the Order, however.
We Are Everywhere: As Hytham tells Eivor, the Order exists in all levels of society, from the peasantry to royalty.
World Tree: The insignia of the Order in England is the Yggdrasil, the mystical world tree of Norse Mythology.

Grand Maegester of the Order

The Father (Unmarked Spoilers)

King Aelfred the Great

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/acvalhalla.jpg

Voiced by: Tom Lewis (English)^note

The King of Wessex from 871 to 886 CE and later king of the Anglo-Saxons from c. 886 to 899 CE, and is secretly the Grand Maegester of the Order. He opposes the Viking invasions of England.

All for Nothing: Alfred is a devout Christian who hates the Order of Ancients for using Christianity to push their political agenda, and works with Eivor and the Hidden Ones to destroy them. Alfred later creates the Templar Order with the goal of bringing world peace with genuine Christian ideals. After Alfred's death, the Templars would once again use Christianity as a mask to take over the world through force, up to and including taking over the Papacy.
Aristocrats Are Evil: Subverted. While Aelfred is a royal monarch and a member of the Order of the Ancients, he's actually a Well-Intentioned Extremist who wants to save England from Norse invaders.
Anti-Villain: A very firm Well-Intentioned Extremist. While initially antagonistic to Eivor until the assassinations of all his followers in the Order, his actions are primarily to protect his homeland from invaders. If anything, Alfred actually works with Eivor to eliminate the last vestiges of the Order within Wessex and the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Britain.
Big Bad Ensemble: Shares the role of Big Bad with Basim/Loki for Valhalla.
The Chessmaster: He might not be a physically imposing threat, but his intellectualism gets him just about everything he wants in the end: sure, he might have been deposed at story's end, but he manipulated Eivor into destroying the Order of the Ancients for him, laying the groundwork for The Templar Order to rise up in its place. And concerning his deposal, he's not going to stay a pauper for long, and will one day re-ascend to the throne as the first king of a united England.
Dramatic Irony: Aelfred sought to rebuild the Order of Ancients under Christian values and rejecting Isu paganism. He ends up creating the Templar Order, which just like the Order before them uses Christianity as a cloak for their activities.
Everyone Has Standards: Upon learning of the massacre Herefrith commits in Lincolnscire after losing the shiremoot for ealdorman, Aelfred sends him an outraged letter ordering him to stop and await judgement. The Bishop ignores this order and continues the massacre until killed by Eivor.
Evil Brit: Subverted. He is the main antagonist of Valhalla and he is certainly British but he's actually a Well-Intentioned Extremist that wants to protect the Kingdom of Wessex and all of England from Viking conquest as well as undermine the Order of the Ancients so he can create a new order built on Christian principles.
The Exile: Is basically exiled to the Somerset Levels after losing his position, but he'll end up becoming the first king of a unified England in 886, more than a decade following his defeat of Guthrum's forces at the Battle of Edington several months after the game's events. For what it's worth, he doesn't seem terribly upset about it. He regains the crown by the time Eivor decides to set off for North America.
Friendly Enemy: By the time that Eivor leaves for North America, they and Aelfred have a fairly warm and respectful relationship despite being on opposite sides to the point that Aelfred offers to make them a lord as long as they swear allegiance to him. While they refuse, they ultimately part on friendly terms as Aelfred wishes them luck.
Foil: To his second-in-command Fulke.
- He's a Non-Action Guy who's revealed to be a good guy, while Fulke is an Action Girl who's revealed to be evil.
- Fulke is devoted to the Isu and works alone, while Aelfred is devoted to serving Christ and is almost always surrounded by guards.
- Fulke enters the story in captivity and ends up dead before she can build a legacy. Aelfred exiles himself and starts Walking the Earth, before eventually returning to the throne and becoming a known historical figure.
- Fulke is absolutely dedicated to the ideals of the Order of the Ancients and will do whatever she can to find Isu vestiges in England. Aelfred hates the Order of the Ancients and plots their destruction from within.
Foregone Conclusion: Aelfred would reform the Order of Ancients into the Templar Order, all under his Christian values. The franchise's very first game shows how well that went...
The Fundamentalist: Unlike in Mercia, he and his West Saxons abhor the idea of living alongside pagans. Eivor's refusal to convert is unforgivable to Aelfred and the two remain enemies until the end of the war. Years later, when Eivor refuses a second time, Aelfred is initially upset again but relaxes once he understands that Eivor does not wish to spread Viking aggression to new lands but to discover themself.
Genocide from the Inside: He ends up bringing down the Order from within by secretly directing Eivor towards its members.
Gone Horribly Wrong: He founded the Templars with the best of intentions, but they became the most oppressive force in human history. They also end up betraying Aelfred's Christian ideals, with the organization becoming internally agnostic/deistic after (re)discovering the Pieces of Eden.
The Good King: Aelfred is a wise and benevolent ruler of Wessex despite his membership in the Order of the Ancients.
Good Running Evil: It turns out he only got his position as leader of the Order due to nepotism after his older brother died (King Aella of Northumbria was originally next in line after Aethelwulf before Ivarr and Ubba killed him), despises his organization, and sought to destroy it from within when he realized how evil they were. Unfortunately, Basim's plan to make the Vikings invade England to destroy the Order ruined that since now he needed the Order's resources to prevent the Vikings from burning England to the ground. That said, he takes every opportunity to have Eivor undermine the organization by secretly sending them intel on Order members.
Aelfred: I was their master, and I loathed them.
Historical Domain Character: Aelfred the Great would become the first king of a unified England, and also later agreed to the Danelaw with Guthrum the Old, which held that Danish law would hold sway over Anglo-Saxon laws in Danish-controlled lands. Like the game shows, he was also a strong advocate for education in Old English rather than Latin, opening learning to the greater masses.
Historical In-Joke: While speaking with Eivor in the post-game as an exile, Aelfred forgets about the cakes that he was supposed to watch over and they burn, upsetting the peasant woman of whom he is staying as a guest. British and English players will no doubt chuckle over the fact that even in a video game, Aelfred simply can't be relied upon for baking.
Historical Villain Upgrade: King Aelfred the Great is one of Britain's most venerated ancient rulers (hence "The Great"), and is one of the main antagonists. It's ultimately a downplayed example since he is actually trying to destroy the Order from within, only for Basim's plan to destroy the Order by using the Vikings forcing him into an Enemy Mine situation with them.
Irony: Despite his hatred of the Order, his belief in a "Universal Order" that convinces men not to fight is actually pretty in-line with the more Well-Intentioned Extremist branch of Templar ideology. It's implied that Aelfred will end up reforming the Order of the Ancients into the Templar Order, which McDevitt all but directly confirms in an interview.
Kick the Dog: Casually tells Eivor and Guthrum about Ubba's death in combat while they're negotiating as an afterthought, and as if to add insult to injury has trouble getting his name right. Considering Aelfred's nature as The Chessmaster, it's very likely he was intentionally misremembering Ubba's name.
King Incognito: Following his exile he ends up living as a commoner in Somerset, and implicitly asks Eivor not to let the woman he is working for know his true identity.
Last Disrespects: While telling Eivor and Guthrum about Ubba's death, Aelfred has some trouble getting his name right and treats it like an afterthought.
Lean and Mean: In contrast to most other characters Aelfred is slim and gaunt, and while not evil definitely has a ruthless streak. Eivor and Guthrum call him either "eel-king" or "elf-king" because of it. Historically the real Aelfred suffered from a lifelong illness that is now believed to have been either Crohn's disease or haemorrhoids, giving him a gaunt appearance and being the likely cause of his relatively early death in his early 50s in 899.
Manipulative Bastard: After the Order in England is dismantled by Eivor thanks to Aelfred's manipulations, he speaks to Eivor about how he despised the Order for their use of Christianity as a veil to hide behind, and as such, he engineered their downfall.
Meaningful Name: His name means literally "elf-counsel", or more loosely "wise counsel" in Old English and he certainly is both wise and somewhat elfin in appearance.
Mirror Character: Alfred's role brings parallels to Aspasia to the point where he could be considered a Spear Counterpart. Both leaders of their respective villainous orders, but would plot their downfalls upon learning that their selfish desires clashed with their well-intentioned goals, using the protagonist to dismantle them before revealing their true identities once they kill off all of their members.
Non-Action Guy: Is not a fighter, leaving that to people like Fulke and Goodwin.
Our Founder: It is implied in Aelfred's final conversation with Eivor and his "Poor Fellow-Soldier" alias that he will create the group eventually known as the Templar Order in accordance with his Christian beliefs.
The Philosopher King: Spent most of his life studying as he wasn't expected to become king, and as king attempted to increase education in Old English as opposed to Latin, leading to conflict with Hilda, the Quill.
Real Men Love Jesus: Unlike basically everyone else in the Order, Aelfred is a truly devout Christian, and even the Norse note his faith gives him a deep inner conviction that won't be easily broken. The Order's cynical use of Christianity for its own purposes is also something that deeply offends him as a result. It's for that last reason (in addition to their other pagan beliefs) that Aelfred works to destroy the Order.
Spare to the Throne: Was the youngest of five brothers, so it wasn't really expected that he would become king, up until they all died.
Spear Counterpart: Of Aspasia, being the leader of the main antagonistic group but laying the steps for the protagonist to dismantle them.
Teeth-Clenched Teamwork:
- Aelfred turns out to be Eivor's mystery contact in Winchester, and they barely tolerate each others' presence as each are planning on wiping the other out, but they have to work together to take out the Order members hiding in Winchester. As he puts it after Eivor's killed the Wincestre Order members:
  Eivor: Have the laws of hospitality been thrown out, Aelfred? I did exactly as you agreed.
  Aelfred: That you did. But do not mistake necessity for friendship.
  - Though when they meet during Aelfred's exile post-story, their interaction is much warmer and even ends on a pleasant note.
    Aelfred:' I do not know if we shall meet again, Eivor. God willing, we will... as one lord to another, perhaps.
- This is also his relationship with the Order at large, as while he detests them he needs their resources to push back the Vikings.
Villain Has a Point: While an antagonist, he's a king dealing with raiders pillaging his land and threatening his people.
Villain Respect: Though by the end "villain" is pushing it, there is no doubt that the main story ends with Eivor and Aelfred respecting one another immensely, even if they disagree on just about everything. "The Last Chapter" shows that by the time Aelfred reclaims the throne, the two are on largely friendly terms to the point that he is among the people that Eivor makes a point of saying their goodbyes to before leaving England.
We Can Rule Together: Repeatedly offers Eivor the chance to join their side, as long as they convert to Christianity. That sticking point is, unfortunately, precisely the last thing Eivor is interested in. In their last conversation years after he reclaims his throne, he offers to make Eivor lord of a significant portion of England, this time requesting their allegiance not only to Christ but also to the Templars. Eivor refuses with finality and returns to Aelfred the cross that he once gave to them.
The World Is Just Awesome: While in exile, Aelfred speaks with Eivor and takes note of the world around him. It's a very religious version of this trope, but Aelfred's sincerity of belief is enough to move Eivor.
Aelfred: Look around you. God's works are wondrous. They cannot be ignored, nor resisted.
Xanatos Speed Chess: Tries to destroy the Order from within, only to have that plan inadvertently derailed by the Viking invasions. After Aelfred learns about Eivor and Hytham, he ends up manipulating them into destroying the rest by giving Eivor hints on where to go and who to look for unknowingly.
Young and in Charge: Became head of the Order at the young age of 22 after his brother, King Aethelred of Wessex, died.

Maegesters

The top brass of the Order who are just only below the Grand Maegester. Four of them lead a branch within the Order of the Ancients.

In General

Apparently Powerless Puppetmaster: They're respectively an imprisoned heretic, a disgraced and exiled nobleman, a local sheriff, a bard, and a nun, but as the leaders of the Order, they're the most powerful people in England, second only to the Father, who is not an example of this trope.
Co-Dragons: In terms of rank, they're all only second to the Grand Maegster.

Paladin Fulke (The Instrument)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fulke_acv.png

Voiced by: Gaia Weiss (English)

An independent Maegester of the Wardens of Relics and mystic from Flanders who studies the history of the Isu. She takes an interest in Sigurd after discovering his bloodline may be descended from the precursors.

The Bad Guy Wins: After Eivor defeats her, Fulke proclaims that she has already achieved her goal of breaking Sigurd's mind. Subsequent chapters following her death has Sigurd's relationship with his clan deteriorate as he only sees himself a god, and even expresses gratitude to Fulke despite the torture.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Pretends to be an ally for Sigurd, Eivor, and Basim after they free her, although her only goal was to recover the Sage Stone and she didn't truly care about liberating Oxenefordscire from Eadwyn. Fulke quickly turns on them after the battle and sells out Sigurd to King Alfred as a more useful hostage than Basim in order to explore his connection to the Saga Stone.
Carry a Big Stick: When she's cornered by Eivor at the final stage of her battle, she fights with a giant, spiked crucifix she pulls out of the ground.
Climax Boss: She is fought halfway through the story in what's the biggest assault in the game thus far, a decisive battle involving nearly all allies Eivor has gathered up until that point to take down Fulke and her forces for good.
Combat Pragmatist: During the first portion of her boss fight, she uses the darkness of the church basement to sneak attack Eivor, and will put out the torches lighting the place in order to make it harder to see her.
Dragon-in-Chief: With the Father of the Order secretly, or not-so-secretly, helping wipe out his own organization, Fulke comes closer to the primary villain of the group. As the Grand Maegester, Aelfred does very little.
Dual Wielding: During the first portion of her boss fight, she dual wields a sword and flail.
Duel Boss: Fights Eivor 1v1, first in the darkened basement of her castle's church, and then outside while surrounded by Vikings.
Foil: For Aelfred, her boss:
- Aelfred is a good guy who is introduced as an antagonist, Fulke is a villain who is introduced as an ally.
- Aelfred is a devout Christian who is almost always surrounded by guards, Fulke is obssessed with the Isu and works alone.
- Aelfred exiles himself but later returns to the throne and creates a legacy that is remembered to the present, Fulke is introduced in captivity and dies without leaving a legacy at all.
Jeanne d'Archétype: Checks most of the boxes; from the tomboy cut of her hair, to her hearing voices, and being considered a heretic, not to mention actually being good at combat. Heck, she's even French. (Well, Frankish.) Unfortunately she throws Eivor and Sigurd under the bus the very moment she has the chance, so she lacks the usual purity of heart such characters have.
The Heretic: She is a proud and vocal Gnostic, with the influence of the Isu being the secret truth behind the evil fiction of Christianity. For this she was imprisoned by the devout Lady Eadwyn.
Irony: The Order of Ancients during 5th century BCE sought to kill anyone who carries the blood of an Isu. In contrast, Fulke seeks one to unlock their true potential.
I Work Alone: Unlike the other Maegesters, Fulke works alone instead of being in charge of an Order branch.
It's Personal with the Dragon: Eivor's personal animosity against Fulke for her betrayal and mutilation of Sigurd far outstrips any hatred of the Father, who is targeted purely on account of being the Order head.
Meaningful Name: Her title of "The Instrument" brings to mind the Instruments of the First Will, who are also fanatically devoted to the Isu and seek to bring them back. Out of this tree of Order members, she's also the only one whose name isn't a tool, weapon or musical instrument; instead it is "The Instrument."
- It also relates to Shaun's Database establishing that the Order of Ancients likely schismed at some point due to Aelfred, dividing into the modern Knights Templar Order and the Instruments of the First Will (i.e. those who still worshipped the Isu). Fulke's title likely was the inspiration for their group's name.
No, Mr. Bond, I Expect You to Dine: Fulke ambushes one of Eivor's meetings by showing up at a banquet hall hosted by Cynebert, helping herself to the feast and inviting Eivor to the same food while Cynebert's corpse is just sitting there. Eivor's too pissed off to indulge and throws an axe at her, which she casually blocks with a wooden serving tray, continues the conversation, and then leaves before siccing the soldiers outside on Eivor and Basim.
"Not So Different" Remark: During their banquet conversation, Fulke asks if she and Eivor are any different when they both "cull the flock" of people they dislike as they please.
Rank Scales with Asskicking: In terms of rank, she's second only to Aelfred amongst the English and Norse members of the Order, and is a skilled warrior.
The Starscream: Eivor can find a document in the Order's Wincestre temple which reveals she had learned of Aelfred selling out members of the Order to the Hidden Ones and has ordered his assassination and removal as leader, with indications that she planned on taking the title of Grand Maegester once he was disposed of.
Symbol Motif Clothing: A proto-Templar who wears crucifixes with her clothing.

Gorm Kjotvesson (The Keel)

Voiced by: Boris Hiestand (English)

The Maegester of the Wardens of War and the son of Kjotve the Cruel, by the time Eivor runs into him again he's busy working on an Order project in Vinland, otherwise known as Saint Brendan's Island.

Adaptational Name Change: The only known son of Kjotve the Rich (here called Kjotve the Cruel) was Thor Haklang.
Call-Forward: His entire arc in Vinland is one to III, where he finds the location of the Central Vault, but cannot open it, and also serves as the means by which the North American tribes gained a Crystal Ball.
Dies Differently in Adaptation: In history, Kjotve the Rich's son died at the Battle of Hafrsfjord, the same one that led to Harald Fairhair gaining the sole throne. Here, he escapes Norway and is killed years later in Vinland.
Dirty Coward: During the attack on Kjotve's fortress, he hides in the successive rings of the fort, then the temple, and finally flees from Eivor rather than face them.
The Exile: Harald's first act as King, at Eivor's behest, is to banish him from Norway on pain of death.
Good Scars, Evil Scars: The right side of his face is scarred and he happens to be a villain.
Rank Up: After being exiled, Gorm managed to work his way into the Order that by the time Eivor is in England, Gorm is already a Maegester, a rank higher than his father.
Small Role, Big Impact: It was Gorm who brought Juno's Crystal Ball of Eden to North America where it eventually falls into the hands of a Kanien'kehá:ka tribe. A millennium later, the Crystal Ball will then be passed on to Ratonhnhaké:ton.
This Isn't Heaven: Being a Viking he expects to go to Valhalla after he dies in battle, so when he finds himself in the Memory Corridor and talking with Eivor after being assassinated he suffers a Freak Out at first.
Unwitting Pawn: Was one of Juno's many pawns across history to ensure her release by Desmond as Juno was the one who manipulated him to bring a Crystal Ball to North America.
Villainous Breakdown: Has a complete mental breakdown when he realizes that he isn't going to Valhalla when he dies, but rather to Niflheim (or so Eivor defines the Memory Corridor nexus).
Gorm: Wait. Wait. This is not the hall of five hundred doors. This is not the rock of the fallen. Where are the women on the winged horses? Where are the Choosers of the Slain?
Villainous Friendship: With Vicelin. A letter found on Vicelin's body from Gorm has him wishing him well in his Lunden operations and that he cannot wait to tell him about his adventures in Vinland.

Reeve Derby (The Vice)

The Maegester of the Wardens of Law. He's a reeve in Eurvicshire.

Dirty Cop: A Reeve (Sheriff) along with being a Maegester of the Order.
Face Death with Dignity: After Eivor kills him, his White Room conversation has him calmly accept his death and declare he will now be judged by the Gods. Even when Eivor coldly condemns him to Helheim, Derby calmly accepts his fate and replies that even Helheim needs a reeve (which actually seems to frustrate Eivor a little).
Hanging Judge: He loves to enforce rules, which is why he rose to become the Magester of Warden of Law, because it allowed him to enforce rules even more harshly. When Eivor condemns Derby to Helheim, he retorts that even Helheim will need a reeve to enforce order.

Tatfrid (The Lyre)

The Maegester of the Wardens of Wealth who joined the Order by accident after sparing Bishop Herefrith during a raid in Wessex.

The Bard: His cover in Grantebridge is that of a bard.
The Determinator: Why Herefrith recruited him to the Order. It was his unwillingness to give up that made him rise to the rank of Maegester.
Expy: Of Nyx the Shadow from Odyssey, being a regular person who's one of the highest ranking members of the Order.
Les Collaborateurs: Before joining with the order, he was a Saxon who worked with the Norse.

Sister Blaeswith, The Archbishop's Shadow (The Rake)

The Maegester of the Wardens of Faith, a noblewoman originally forced into a convent after a youthful tryst gone wrong, before finding a new love in the Order.

Behavioral Conditioning: She did this to Beneseck of Bath, aka The Bell, by ringing a bell over and over at him to condition him into a killer at the sound of a bell ringing.
He Knows Too Much: When she revealed her heresy to the Archbishop, he was so horrified that she had to silence him.
Nun Too Holy: Is a nun who just so happens to be an Order member, and by default is hiding behind religion.

Palatinii & Preosts

Higher-ups within a branch of the Order and lieutenants to the Maegesters.

In General

Co-Dragons: As the Maegesters serve as the seconds in command to the Grand Maegester, the Palatinii and Preosts are the seconds in command to their individual Maegesters.

Wardens of War

A branch of the Order led by Gorm Kjotvesson, specializing in warmaking and weapons trafficking.

Vicelin (The Compass)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/acv_vicelin.jpg

"Lunden is only a beginning. My order reaches further than your tiny boats can take you."

A Palatinus of the Wardens of War and a Francian sailor recruited by the Order with promises of all the ships, gold, and power he needed to bring stability to the world. He is in charge of the Order's Lunden operations.

Arc Villain: Of the Lunden arc, with Avgos and Sister Frideswid acting as his lieutenants.
Disproportionate Retribution: Eivor, Stowe, and Erke killed his lieutenants to draw him out. They succeed, but Vicelin is so cautious and determined to eliminate them he sails a fleet into Lunden's harbor and sends an army into the city, declaring he is perfectly happy to burn it down and kill everyone in the city.
Epic Flail: Wields a massive flail in his fight against Eivor.
Expy: Of Sibrand from the first game. He's docked on a ship far enough away from the shore that you have to parkour your way to him. He also calls out his guards for not helping defend him. Thankfully, this time you can swim to him without fear of being desynchronized (after getting past all the archers and springalds).
Jerkass: At least as far as Avgos is concerned. He specifically calls Vicelin a prick in one of his personal journals.
Father Neptune: A Francian sailor with white hair, though age doesn't seem to have slowed him down in any way. He even makes an analogy to the Order as a swirling tide that has all men at its mercy, no matter how much power they have.
Vicelin: "A man at sea may have gold and glory. But he is always a slave to the churning tides. '''We''' are that tide."
Large and in Charge: He is a massive man, towering a couple feet over Eivor, who even describes them as being "large enough to ford an ocean", and is the leader of the Order in Lunden.
Panthera Awesome: In the Temple of Sulis Minerva located in London, there is a jaguar being kept caged up, and a note in the same complex from Vicelin about utilizing the oil barrels for their coup attempt. Given his friendship with Gorm, and how jaguars are native only to the Americas, it seems his friend brought it back for him as either a trophy, a pet, or a weapon of war.
Sore Loser: With his plans for Lunden in tatters, Vicelin decides to just burn it down. It helps that he hates the city anyway and comments how nice it looks while burning, saying that Boudicca was right to try burning the city down back in the Roman era.
Villainous Friendship: A letter found on his body from Gorm indicates the two were good friends, with Gorm promising to regale him with tales about Vinland soon.

Avgos Spearhand (The Arrow)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/acv_avgos_spearhand.jpg

"Without a foe to consume, we devour ourselves!"

A Palatinus of the Wardens of War and formerly a warrior in the Great Heathen Army, Avgos became a military commander in Lunden and used his position to recruit archers for the Order.

Ambition Is Evil: He joined the Order due to feeling he never rose as high in rank within the Great Heathen Army as he deserved to.
Bald of Evil: Has not a hair on his head, and happens to be the Order member who personally killed Governor Tryggr.
Badass Army: Was charged with turning the population of Lunden into an effective army, all while his sect plotted to enact a coup for the Order's larger goals throughout the land.
Beard of Evil: Has a thick beard, as you might expect from a Viking, and he's a villain.
False Friend: Stowe thought of him as a brother, all while Avgos plotted to murder their governor and take control of the city while pinning the blame on him and Erke.
Hoist by His Own Petard: His White Room conversation ends with him riddled with the very arrows he ordered to be fired.
In the Back: Eivor can assassinate him just by stabbing him in the back with the Hidden Blade while he's giving a speech to his followers.
Master Archer: Highly skilled with a bow. What else could you expect from someone called 'The Arrow'?
"Not So Different" Remark: When Eivor calls him a king-killer and a coward, Avgos justifies himself by saying Eivor would do the same thing in their position.
Sadist: Notes found in Crepelgate Fort have him praise the Romans, the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Anglo-Saxons for their proclivity for creative torture methods — from the bronze bull to crucifixion or the wheel, so long as it causes a painful death, it meets Avgos' approval.
Shout-Out: His death in the Memory Corridor, being feathered with a absurd amount of arrows before falling dead on the ground, is almost exactly like the first Viking scene from American Gods, though the amount of arrows this time is less ludicrous.
Stout Strength: Is a noticeably short man and built stockily, but being an archer he needs to be strong.
The Starscream: Worked under Governor Tryggr and was complicit in murdering him, with the intention of taking over control of Lunden, as Fridiswid was tied to the Church and Vicelin is a Frankish sailor — and thus one of the very types of outlanders the combined Norse/Anglo-Saxon population would have hated.
Villain with Good Publicity: His "Lunden for Lundeners" speeches were quite popular in the city. Following his assassination many citizens are upset and blame Stowe and Erke for failing to protect him, unaware that Avgos killed Governor Tyrggr.

Sister Frideswid (The Leech)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/acv_frideswid.png

"We should be stronger, faster, smarter. I could have fixed us. I could have made us better."

A Preost of the Wardens of War and a surgeon working at the Forum in Lunden, Sister Frideswid is fascinated by anatomy and uses her skills as a barber to experiment on hapless victims and eliminate enemies of the Order.

Affably Evil: For all her crimes, her politeness and desire to do good seem genuine. She's also quite cordial to Eivor in the Memory Corridor, even though he just killed her, explaining her motivations and asking him to take her book with him before her Face Death with Dignity moment.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: She is a prominent healer in Lunden with a good reputation, being known as "The Good Sister". Erke is stunned by the revelation of her identity, as she had once fixed a broken leg of his that he thought would need to be amputated but now bears no sign it was ever injured.
But for Me, It Was Tuesday: In her Memory Corridor, Frideswid explains that she has lost count on how many people she had killed. Downplayed in that she actually seems shocked and distressed, rather than apathetic or boastful.
Deadly Doctor: Many of her victims were patients who had features that caught her interest and were therefore selected to be vivisected.
Dragged Off to Hell: Her White Room conversation has her dragged down by the ghosts of her victims willingly after she gives away her Leechbook and medallion to Eivor.
Expy: Of Garnier de Naplouse from the first game. Both are inhumane scientists who have no qualms experimenting on innocent patients, and both perform their atrocities under the guise of religious piety. Both also present themselves as Well Intentioned Extremists trying to improve humanity.
Eye Scream: She tends to remove the eyes of her victims, and whether they were alive or dead at the time of the removal is never elaborated upon.
Face Death with Dignity: After her assassination, the Leech simply allows the ghosts of her victims to drag her to Helheim. She also passes her book and discoveries on to Eivor, so her work and the pain she caused won't be in vain.
Heel Realization: Downplayed but the Leech actually shows a little regret in her actions, explaining that she has become greedy in her pursuit of research.
Humans Are Flawed: Frideswid's main reason for her actions is believing in this trope, seeing how humans are created with weak and fragile bodies and she sought to improve them. Eivor counters back by saying how humanity's individuality is what makes them perfect.
Just You and Me and My GUARDS!: Justified. She's a nun and likely doesn't have much combat experience, especially compared to the Norse/Dane warriors, so she flees into the courtyard if Eivor doesn't assassinate them through stealth, so that all of her guards will join the battle.
Mad Scientist: She is conducting experiments on the people she butchers in a bid to make humans "better" and less likely to break and easier to mend. One girl, Regna, is noted to have been targeted due to having one blue and one green eye, which she notes is the sign of imprinting by the ancient ones, specifically "The One Reborn", Aita.
Nun Too Holy: She is a sister belonging to a organization which does not believe in God and who butchers people for her own twisted interests and "science".
Primal Fear: Dialogue between two guards in the Garrison to the right of London says that she developed a fear of fire, likely due to the loss of her family and the scars she received from the blaze that killed them.
Self-Made Orphan: Implied, her bio mentions a fire that wiped out her entire family shortly after she developed her interest in anatomy while observing her paralyzed sister. It's unclear if it was intentional or if it was an accidental fire due to her experimentation and studies.
Serial Killer: At least a score of bodies are attributed to her work, although it can be difficult for the Reeves of Lunden to determine an exact number due to them frequently finding only limbs. Frideswid's victims are all notable for the surgical removal of their eyes.
Shear Menace: Uses a pair of barber's shears sharp enough to easily slice off a person's head like it's nothing. Like, say, Governor Tyrggr's.
Take Up My Sword: Following her assassination, Frideswid entrusts Eivor with her "Leechbook" which contains the findings of her research. Eivor can either give the book to Erke, believing that for all her unethical actions, some of Frideswid's research may still do some good, or burn it.
Villain with Good Publicity: Frideswid is beloved by the people of Lunden for her role as a healer, unaware of her unethical actions. Following her assassination, the citizens blame the Reeves for not protecting her.
Well-Intentioned Extremist: Her White Room conversation has her maintain that her work was necessary to build upon the work the Isu did in making humanity so that they could evolve and survive. She even requests that Eivor continue her work and gives them her "Leechbook", which contains cures and fixes to dozens of ailments that she learned by vivisecting people. Eivor can decide either to keep the book, or have it burnt.
What Beautiful Eyes!:
- Says this almost verbatim to Eivor in her memory corridor scene when she sees their eyes, showing that in her last moments she realized Eivor was a Sage, thus adding weight to why she entrusted her book to Eivor. A reincarnation of one of the Ancient Ones would be the best one to improve upon humanity.
- Also one of the reasons she targets various people. A few notes scattered throughout Lunden show that anyone who had heterochromia was missing, and not just Regna, w/ heterochromia being the sign of Aita's Sages. It's unlikely that all the missing were sages of the Isu however.
Would Hurt a Child: Erke mentions several children among her victims, and Eivor finds her most recent one is Regna.

Hunta, son of Hunta (The Baldric)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of War who is a drengr from Norway. He recently married into an influential Saxon family and became a successful recruiter for the Order.

Warrior Poet: He's a skald that managed to charm Norse and Saxons alike, which is what got him recruited to the Order. His last words to Eivor are a lyric lamenting his life and death, for which Eivor tells him to be glad that he goes to Valhalla with a poem on his lips.
Worthy Opponent: Unlike most of their targets, Eivor wishes them well before sending them off to Valhalla.

Leofgifu (The Scabbard)

"We are both a clot and cancer. We sit heavy in water, and yet we spread like a river's current."

A Palatinus of the Wardens of War who controls the military activity in Grantebridescire.

Badass Boast: Subverted. Her death speech is an attempt at intimidating Eivor with the Order's anonimity and reach, but Eivor just mocks her for trying to scare them with "frail words".
Hired Guns: Used to be a bandit before becoming a mercenary.
Missing Mom: Lost both her parents to plague at a young age.

Kjotve the Cruel (The Axe)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kjotve_acv.png

Voiced by: Björn Bengtsson (English)^note

A Palatinus of the Wardens of War and leader of the Wolf Clan, he was a vicious warlord who had an ongoing blood feud with the Raven Clan, and was the first Norseman recruited into the Order of the Ancients.

Abusive Parents: Gorm's bio implies that Kjotve was physically abusive towards him.
Create Your Own Hero: His enmity with the Raven Clan, and particularly his execution of Eivor's father, seals not only his doom, but that of his clan and the England branch of the Order of the Ancients.
Dies Differently in Adaptation: In history, Kjotve the Rich escaped the Battle of Hafrsfjord, the same one that led to Harald Fairhair gaining the sole throne, and fled Norway with some allies to another island. Here, he doesn't survive the battle itself, with his son taking his role.
Dual Wielding: Fights with both a regular hand axe and a normally two-handed Dane axe in each hand.
Duel Boss: Invoked by Eivor fighting them one on one at the beginning of the game by calling a holmgang.
Evil Old Folks: By the start of the game, he appears to be visibly aged but he is the first member of the Order that Eivor has to kill. Not to mention that he instigated a massacre of an entire village over their allegiance to Harald Fairhair.
Eye Scream: If you happen to lose your health during your battle with him a 2nd time — as the 1st time you lose all your health, a scene plays with Odin telling you to fight on — he will first slam one of his axes into Eivor's body before grabbing Eivor by the head, inserting his thumbs into their eyes, and finally snapping their neck. Then he triumphantly turns to his cheering crowd just to add insult to injury.
Foil: To Harald Fairhair. Where Harald uses diplomacy — backed up by his army — to achieve unity through all of Norway, Kjotve simply throws his forces at the entire region in a bid to conquer it for the Order and himself. Kjotve has built shipyards and fortresses/military camps on any spare plot of land he could find to help in his war effort.
Good Old Fisticuffs: During the first portion of his boss fight, he'll fight Eivor hand to hand before going for his axes once he's taken enough damage.
Grievous Harm with a Body: During the second portion of his boss fight he'll grab the corpses littering the pit he and Eivor are fighting in and try to smack Eivor with them.
Historical Domain Character: Is based on Kjotve the Rich, king of Agder during the late 9th Century, and leader of the western Norwegian kings who opposed Harald Fairhair.
I Lied: Seventeen years prior to the main story, Kjotve promised Varin that he would allow the rest of the clan to live if Varin surrendered. After executing Varin, Kjotve proceeded to go back to his promise and kill the remaining members of the clan, with only a few survivors who managed to escape.
Impaled with Extreme Prejudice: Has this happen to him in his Memory Corridor, when Eivor summons a tree with Odin's spear and leaves him impaled in the trunk.
Kick the Dog: Killing almost all of the inhabitants of an entire village certainly counts as an example of dog-kicking villainy for Kjotve.
Metronomic Man Mashing: Does this with poor Hytham by smashing him from side to side when he attempts to assassinate Kjotve during his duel with Eivor.
The Magnificent: On top of his usual names in the game, the prequel comic identifies him by his historical title as "Kjotve the Rich."
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Has two of these. Most characters call him Kjotve the Cruel, which is a fair assessment of his character, but he is also known as "The Axe".
Neck Snap: How he kills Eivor if the kill animation plays out.
The Nothing After Death: Claims that he fought so hard because he knows "only darkness" awaits him after death.
The Oath-Breaker: Eivor makes a point out of Kjotve breaking his oath to spare the lives of the Raven Clan in return for Varin's life.
Starter Villain: He's the first major antagonist you deal with in the game.
Why Couldn't You Be Different?: Has a low opinion of his son Gorm, who he doesn't think is capable of ruling after him, and thus wishes to conquer Rygafylke before his dying day.
You Killed My Father: He's the one who killed Eivor's parents and thus their feud with him is deeply personal.

Wardens of Law

A branch of the Order led by Reeve Derby, specializing in keeping order.

Audun (The Vault)

A Preost of the Wardens of Law. A former raider turned thane in Jorvik who is part of King Ricsige's council.

Acrofatic: Audun is surprisingly fast despite being an overweight man.
Ambition Is Evil: He was already a wealthy man in Jorvik after his raiding days with Halfdan, but joined the Order because they promised him even more power. His ambition seems to have expanded further, as he desires to contribute to the Order's future and even reach other worlds.
Arc Villain: The main villain of the Jorvik arc.
Dirty Coward: Once he sees Eivor has their sights on him, Audun quickly flees for his life.
Enlightened Antagonist: Audun joining the Order of Ancients seems to have somehow opened his mind to greater knowledge of the world and the universe unknown, uncommon and even heretical to most people at the time. In his Memory Corridor death scene, he dismisses both Norse cosmology as primitive, declaring that there are countless worlds and suns to be explored and his desire to help the Order of Ancients reach them. Odin approves of his wisdom, but Eivor dismisses him as delusional or at very least apathetic to their own world and its people.
Audun: Eivor, you are wrong. Held back by your primitive cosmology. Nine worlds worlds in the tree? No! Nine times nine thousand worlds, and as many suns!
Odin: Nine nights I hunt in the tree, sacrificing myself to myself. So does the Wise One seek wisdom...
Audun: Countless spheres, awaiting our gift, our enlightenment!
Eivor: I only live in one world. You live in none.
Expy: Of Abu'l Nuqoud from the first game, being a rich Fat Bastard who uses a party, in this case, the Yuletide festival, to poison the guests. They even have the same opinion on nobles, seeing them as the true parasites of the city. In fact, if you've played the first game, it makes the choice of accusing a noble of being The Vault much more obvious.
Greed: The Order tempted him to join with promises of wealth and power, which he took. Though it seems greed alone isn't what motivates him, given his disgust for common aristocrats and his desire to contribute to the Order's future till they can reach other worlds.
Pet the Dog: In the past, he took Grigorii from the streets and provided him with food and shelter. This is the reason why he is so loyal to Audun to this day.
Tampering with Food and Drink: Audun plans to kills the nobles of Jorvik at the Yuletide festival by using poisoned wine.
Visionary Villain: In his White Room conversation he talks about not only spreading the Order's message around this world, but even to other worlds in the cosmos.

Grigorii (The Needle)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Law originally hailing from Eastern Europe, and a dockmaster of Jorvik.

Dark and Troubled Past: Grigorii was an orphan when he was younger and he was ignored by everyone until he was adopted by the Vault.
Expy: To Tamir from the first game, being the man who controls the wares of the city. He even stabs a merchant who fails to pay him in the middle of a market.
Heel Realization: Downplayed. When Eivor accuses them of making too many suffer in pursuit of the Order's goals and not being as kind to others as the Vault was to him, Grigorii readily admits that Eivor is right and that he perhaps deserved to be killed. It doesn't stop him from giving the usual "I'm only one of many" spiel that the Ancients/Templars use when they're dying to try to discourage Eivor.
I Own You My Life: To the Vault, due to him taking him in as an orphan when no one else would. Odin himself lampshades this trope is why Grigorii devoted himself with Undying Loyalty to the Order.
Odin: A life debt is a strong motivator. It took hold of this one's hugr (mind/thought), drove it and never let go.
Literally Shattered Lives: At the end of his White Room conversation, he freezes up before shattering after Eivor takes his medallion.
Snow Means Death: It's snowing in his White Room conversation with Eivor.
Undying Loyalty: Is loyal to the Order and particularly the Vault for saving his life as a child.
We Have Reserves: Tells Eivor that the Order will go on unhindered even after his death as he's only one cog in it.

Abbess Ingeborg (The Firebrand)

A Preost of the Wardens of Law, Ingeborg had her tongue scrubbed by a priest when she was younger for spreading "heresies and lies", which taught her that knowlege was power controlled by the Church, and eventually led her to the Order.

Body Double: She's got a couple of body doubles in the area in which you encounter her, dressed and appearing identically.
Expy: Of Jubair al-Hakim from the first game. While al-Hakim burns all kinds of books, Ingeborg targets any piece of writing related to Christianity as she sees them as a poison to the minds of people. She even pushes a man into a bonfire like Jubair and uses decoys to trick her assassin.
Face Death with Dignity: She attempts this, performing Self-Immolation in her White Room conversation to showcase her devotion and righteousness. Then Eivor consigns her to Helheim, "where colder and crueler fires await", at which point her fire turns ghostly blue and she loses her calm and starts panicking just before disappearing to dust.
Malevolent Masked Man: When doing her scroll burnings she wears a mask over her lower face along with her followers.
Self-Immolation: In her White Room conversation she burns herself on her own pyre as Eivor consigns her to Helheim.
Soft-Spoken Sadist: Speaks calmly while having a priest burned to death when he protests her followers burning scrolls.

Gunilla (The Adze)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Law who oversees shipbuilding and naval operations.

Dark and Troubled Past: Once belonged to a shipbuilder family that is now destroyed. Due to this, she yearns for an orderly world.
Used to Be a Sweet Kid: Gunilla is described as being a good kid prior to meeting a noblewoman who introduced her to the Order.

Tata, Defender of Otta's Wyrd (The Dart)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Law. A stable master, he joined the Order because of his admiration to the late King Offa of Mercia, a member of the Order.

Legacy of Service: His grandfather served directly under King Offa of Mercia.
Old Soldier: He's a man of graying hair, and Eivor respectfully jests he must have seen "100 summers", to which Tata jokes back that it feels thus.
Undying Loyalty: To King Offa. By his own words, he kept Offa's tradition going without flinching or hesitating, and believes Offa would be proud of him for it.
Worthy Opponent: Downplayed, but Eivor clearly has some respect for him being an Old Soldier with Undying Loyalty towards the late King Offa.

Eanbhert (The Vellum)

A Preost of the Wardens of Law. Trained as a scribe, he took on the most difficult assignments through his precision.

Meaningful Name: "Vellum" is another term for "parchment", which scribes write on.
Welcomed to the Masquerade: Eanbhert managed to find out about the Order on his own and sought them out, joining later.

Wardens of Wealth

A branch of the Order led by Tatfrid, specializing in being the economic backbone of the Order.

Bishop Herefrith (The Crozier)

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/herefrith_acv.png

A Preost of the Wardens of Wealth. As the bishop of Lincolnscire, Herefrith gathered considerable political influence within the Viking ravaged region. With the current ealdorman falling ill, he saw his opportunity to succeed the ealdorman and take control for the Order.

Alas, Poor Villain: A downplayed example. In his White Room conversation, he laments how he had to pretend to be a Christian priest to carry out his Order's work, wishing he could have lived as the Ancients (Isu) did. Eivor takes the time to sympathetically lecture him on his (and many human's) folly.
Eivor: That's the folly of mankind, Herefrith. We wallow in our failures, like happy pigs in a sty of shit. (in a light tone) You should have learned to enjoy it.
Arc Villain: He is the primary antagonist of the Lincolnscire story arc.
Dirty Coward: Hides in a church with a few bodyguards killing civilians while his army holds back Eivor and his allies. If he spots Eivor, he then flees into a tunnel to escape.
False Friend: Hunwald believed him to be a friend of his family and a honest advisor, all while he was trying to undermine them.
Hiding Behind Religion: Admits in his White Room conversation that he "died inside" the day he put on a priest's robes for the Order, as he hates Christianity and calls it a "common religion for common men".
The Mentor: To Havelok, the other Order member stationed in Lincoln who operated under Herefrith's orders.
Sanity Slippage: Being denied the status of ealdorman sends him spiraling into madness as he kills the population of Anecastre. Not that he's any better if he gains it, either. It just takes him a little longer to crack.
Sinister Minister: A bishop and a conniving bastard angling for complete political control of the region.
Staff of Authority: His moniker already clues the player in on his actual occupation; one definition of a "crozier" is a hooked staff carried by a bishop as a symbol of pastoral office.
Villainous Breakdown: If he loses the shiremoot, he angrily tears off his cross and opens the doors to let in Order soldiers to massacre the attendees, declaring that the shire must be cleansed in blood. He then retreats with his remaining men to Anecastre, where he begins massacring its population while declaring them "pagans", with even his own men being horrified. King Alfred even sends a letter ordering him to stop and await judgement for his actions, but Herefrith ignores him.
Villain with Good Publicity: He is a trusted figure in the region and no one suspects he is behind the attacks on the other candidates for ealdorman.

Wigmund (The Tang)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Wealth, he leads an uprising against Jarlskona Soma in Grantebridgeshire to drive her Summer Army from the region and install himself as the region's new ruler to secure it for the Order.

Arc Villain: He is the primary antagonist of the Grantebridgescire story arc.
Aristocrats Are Evil: Believes being noble born makes him better and more suited to ruling than everyone else.
Defiant to the End: A rather pathetic, loathsome, and Dirty Coward variant, possibly combined with Villainous Breakdown. His White Room conversation has him running from Eivor and demanding people to come sacrifice themselves for his sake. The rest of his Motive Rant and final words are him justifying himself by declaring common people worthless and that they should yield everything to the Order and aristocrats like him. He scorns Eivor's declaration that people will hate him, believing that it will just give him more power, and using his last words to demand people "YIELD" pathetically even as Eivor corners him and sends him to Hell.
Dirty Coward: When Soma comes to retake the city he flees and leaves his lieutenant and army behind to fight and die for him. During the White Room conversation, he's constantly running and demanding people to come fight and die for him, up until Eivor corners him against a gate.
Expy: Wigmund brings to mind the worst decadent, elitist and entitled Templar aristocrats like Flavius Metellus or the Italian/Roman Templars like the Pazzi, Barbarigo and Borgias, all of whom believe that the Order (but especially themselves) have the right to just use, drain and then discard lower-class people as disposable pawns and resources, essentially seeing the Order as a way to glorify themselves, without a single hint of Jerk Justifications or Well-Intentioned Extremist motivation. Thankfully, Wigmund never gets remotely close to a Piece of Eden...
Entitled Bastard: His Motive Rant during White Room conversation boils down to him pathetically crying out for people to fight and die for him to save him from Eivor, then declaring that common folk are worthless for having no land, riches or titles, and that the Order of Ancients and aristocracy in general have the right to demand and take everything from them. Both Eivor and Odin are disgusted by him and essentially wish for him to be Dragged Off to Hell.
Wigmund: Yield to us! Give us what we are owed. The trade, the riches, the legacy! All of it! Yield, yield, yield!
Eivor: If your Hell is real, I'm glad you'll get to see it.
Jerkass: Wigmund somehow manages to stick out as being among the worst of the Templars, proto or modern. Even Odin is disgusted by him.
Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Both the reason for his recruitment and what he himself believes in. His ability to curry influential partnerships was why the Order sought him out, and many of the notes scattered through the shire are messages to thegns loyal to him.

Gifle (The Ash-Spear)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Wealth. He forges links with bandit groups to bend them to the Order's will.

Alas, Poor Villain: He wished to his life had been "a carnival of drinking ale and pissing", but in his last moments laments to Eivor that the price for it was killing for the Order.
Gifle: I used the Order to live a life of ale-drinking, but the price of my ale was murder. Sad, really...
Expy: He's The Hedonist agent for the Ancient Conspiracy with ties to the criminal world but who's Not in This for Your Revolution and cares only for ale. Gifle is essentially an Anglo-Saxon Thomas Hickey, though one far more regretful for his deeds.
The Hedonist: He never cared for the Order's goals and rules, being Only in It for the Money so he can live the life of "drinking ale and pissing".
Hidden Depths: Despite his base motivation, Eivor kindly says he could have lived such a life if things were different, but Gifle oddly enough replies that "we (humans) have not reached such a point", implying he's not as indifferent towards the Order's goal of a perfect world order as he made it appear. And despite being The Hedonist, he still has enough morals to lament that the price for his ale was murder.
Not in This for Your Revolution: Gifle couldn't care less about the Order's aims, and is more about the perks he gets from his position.

Mucel, Heir to What He Tells (The Lathe)

A Preost of the Warden of Wealth, who formerly served Aelthelred. He specializes in shipbuilding and fashioning wooden implements of torture.

Torture Technician: Specializes in creating torture devices.
Undying Loyalty: He served Aethelred, the future Lord of Mercia who will marry Alfred's daughter Aethelflaed, and takes pride in that.

Patrick (The Anvil)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Wealth descended from the lords of Hwicce, Patrick serves the Order as its blacksmith.

Fat Bastard: Has a noticeable gut, is generally heavyset, and happens to be an Order member with a serious Lack of Empathy.
Lack of Empathy: When Eivor asks if he's made boats for the orphans created through the weapons he's crafted for the Order as well, he refers to them as a "brigade of bastards". Though this seems motivated mainly by his disgust with Christianity.
My Country Tis of Thee That I Sting: His last words are lamenting to Eivor that his people were from the Hwiccan Kingdom, but are now being ruled by "Christ-beaten bastards".
Retirony: Is making a boat for him and his family to escape the Order by crossing the sea when he gets assassinated by Eivor.
Retired Monster: When Eivor tracks Patrick down he's attempting to get away from the Order, but more because he's tired of it than any moral scruples.

Havelok (The Billhook)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Wealth and a landholder in Lincolnscire. Once a member of the Great Heathen Army, Havelok settled in Lincoln after being recognized by a member of the Order for his ruthless intelligence, gathering soldiers across the shire for Bishop Herefrith's plans.

Manly Tears: He claims he cried the first time he killed a man. He also seems fairly sorrowful talking to Eivor.
My God, What Have I Done?: Admits in his White Room conversation that this was his reaction the first time he killed for the Order, but eventually justified it to himself with what the Order was building.
You Can't Fight Fate: He tells Eivor he justified his actions by telling himself he's merely fulfilling a foretold destiny determined by the whim of gods.

Wardens of Faith

A branch of the Order led by Sister Blaeswith, specializing in political and religious affairs.

Ealhferth (The Seax)

A Preost of the Wardens of Faith, the Bishop of Wincestre.

A God Am I: Odin makes the observation that he seems to believe he's akin to a god, but in Odin's eyes that's an admirable quality.
BFS: Fights with a massive two-handed sword.
Dark and Troubled Past: When he was a child, his mother was killed by Vikings. That day made him hate God because he believes that all he did was watch.
Evil Stole My Faith: Tells Eivor in his White Room conversation that he came to the belief that if God existed He was evil because as a child growing up in the north, his mother was murdered by Vikings for a copper ring and God allowed it to happen.
Expy: His appearance, armor, behavior and Odin's claims that he sees himself as akin to a god brings Deimos and Cesare Borgia to mind. Unlike both of them, however, Ealhferth seems much more saner and grounded in reality, acting more like a defiant Nay-Theist who believes the Order will free humanity than a Blood Knight Glory Seeker. He also shares some traits with Robert de Sablé from the first game, namely him tricking his assassin with a body double during a funeral while the real one is near a king, who he plans to kill.
Face Death with Dignity: Mixed with a little Defiant to the End. After his Motive Rant to Eivor, he tosses him his Order seal and key, walks into his own grave and warns Eivor that things will the Order will only become worse for everyone.
Faking the Dead: He does this by killing the gravedigger's close friend Loef and burning his face. What gives it away is that he's a burly man and Loef was skinny.
Historical Villain Upgrade: Ealhferth was bishop of Wincestre during the time of the game, though apart from that basically nothing is known about him past his name and position. Him being part of an evil organization is uncertain.
My Death Is Just the Beginning: As he sinks into his grave in his White Room, he tells Eivor the Order will transform into something worse for everyone. 100-200 years later, it becomes the Knights Templar.
Sinister Minister: He's bishop of Wincestre, an Order member, and is willing to have an innocent man killed so that he can fake his own death.
The Starscream: His sister Harriet reveals that he plans on making Aelfred step down so that he can be king of Wincestre.
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Describes himself as literally "the wolf in lamb's wool" for the Order, so that they may free the people of Christianity's shackles.

Selwyn (The Gallows)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Faith, a reeve and executioner in Wincestre.

Hanging Judge: As a reeve of Wincestre, he throws people in jail on the flimsiest charges at best and publicly executes them at worst, hence why they call him The Gallows. He later justifies this to Eivor by claiming that the Order of Ancients condemns all men to pain for being a shadow of the perfection of the Isu, meaning he's hanging people for being, human.
Expy: Of Majd Addin, the similarly Hanging Judge of Damascus, though unlike him, Selwyn believes he's doing the right thing rather than it just being to sate his sadism.
- His Motive Rant, saying that the Order is justified in condemning people to torture because they're imperfect compared to the "perfection of the Ancient Ones" is also reminiscent of Edward Braddock, who believed that Murder Is the Best Solution for creating a One World Order. It also sheds a light on how some Templars justify their countless Kick the Dog and Moral Event Horizon moments.
Karmic Death: In his White Room conversation, he gets hung like all his victims at the end. This while justifying the Order of Ancients (and by extension Templar Order) can condemn people to pain as to punish them for not being "perfect" like the "Ancient Ones" (which, by extension, would also apply to the Templars themselves).
The Perfectionist: His White Room conversation brings this aspect of himself (and both the Order of Ancients as well as the Templar Order) to light. For him and the Order, all men must be condemned to pain for "all men are but a shadow of the perfection we should know". As in, Humans Are Flawed unlike our Abusive Precursors intended (or themselves were), so it's okay to torture and kill as many as needed so the Order can create their One World Order.
Social Darwinist: Joined the Order because he felt the weakness of humanity was responsible for so many problems in the world.

Hilda (The Quill)

A Preost of the Wardens of Faith who manages a network of child spies in Wincestre.

Blackmail: She blackmailed the priests to teach her to read and write.
Dirty Coward: Despite her talk while it seems she has Eivor at her mercy, as soon as they close the distance, she runs off.
Dying Curse: Her last words are a curse that Eivor not die in peace.
Expy: Of Talal from the first game; mostly in terms of the gameplay situation. They both trap their assassin below them and gloat about their motives, after which they try to run and cover their escape with multiple guards.
Hypocrite: Despite her complaints about Aelfred wanting to expand education to the masses, she herself was a poor person who benefited from education. Though in this particular case, she could be complaining about Christian education (as she calls it a slave faith), though it's clear she shares in the Order's elitism regarding who should have knowledge in society.
The Fagin: She recruits the children of Wincestre as her spies. She's even surrounded by children in her White Room conversation.
Stay in the Kitchen: Being a woman in 9th century England meant she had few opportunities growing up, especially in the church.

Beneseck of Bath (The Bell)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Faith who is a monk of Brimclif Monestary in Hamtunscire.

Bald of Evil: Has not a hair on his head, and is a murderous Serial Killer for the Order.
Enhanced Interrogation Techniques: Blaeswith broke his will by continuously inflicting the sound of the bell on him.
Pet the Dog: He claims he used the silver he got from the Order not just for his own pleasure, but also shared it with many who were in need. Eivor doesn't excuse him for his crimes, though.
Serial Killer: He meets wealthy donors who support the monastery, murders and robs them, and then buries them in the monastery's graveyard.

Heika of Friesland (The Sickle)

A Palatinus of the Wardens of Faith. She manages a bakery in which she uses her knowledge of poisonous weever fish to poison the Order's targets.

Evil Laugh: In her White Room conversation. After dubbing Eivor to be enslaved by the Hidden Ones, she laughs mockingly until they take her seal and she vanishes.
Poison Is Evil: She poisons her bread to kill people the Order prefers dead.

Yohanes Loukas (The Oil)

A Preost of the Wardens of Faith who finds influential people, dispatches them, and replaces them with his own family members.

Bald of Evil: He's a balding man who kills people for the Order.
Nepotism: Kills influential people in order to replace them with his family members.
"Not So Different" Remark: When Eivor calls them out on their actions, Yohanes asks what right they have to judge since Danes think little of killing Saxons as they please, which Eivor disagrees with.
Thicker Than Water: His main drive is helping his family, no matter what scruples he may need to discard to do so.
Villain Has a Point: When Yohanes calls Eivor out for judging him for killing, pointing out that the Danes in general kill Saxons as they please with no care and thus aren't that diffeent. Eivor claims they value lives and honor no matter their nation, to which Yohanes politely reminds them that they did just kill him (and have been killing many others).
Yohanes: You are a Dane! How can you speak of the value of a life?! All are ranked as less-than-the-axe to you!
Eivor: Not true. I see honor in many people, many places.
Yohanes: You have proved here that your compassion has a hard and brutal limit.

Zealots

Mercenaries for the Order who protect them to assist and enforce their decrees during the 9th century.

In General

Armor Is Useless: Averted: They all wear heavy armor, and are some of the toughest human opponents in the game. Their full-body armor may also explain why they can't be assassinated without taking them down in combat first.
Contractual Boss Immunity: Eivor cannot assassinate them until their health bar is depleted.
Elite Mooks: Are basically the Order's most elite soldiers.
Expy: Are basically Valhalla's answer to the Phylakes in Origins, powerful warriors compelled to try to kill Eivor on sight.
Giant Mook: Bercthun, Horsa, and Hrothgar are so large that unlike the other Zealots who are mounted, they travel on foot.
Last Lousy Point: Unlike the main members of the Order, there are no clues on where to find these guys; not helped by their tendency to move a lot.
Shrouded in Myth: Nothing is known about their early lives.
Villainous Friendship: They each have one to a member of the Order.

Woden (Pagan-Hole)

A Zealot who is a much-trusted courier of The Sickle.

MacGuffin Guardian: Protects one of the tablets needed to get Excalibur.
Meaningful Name: "Woden" was the Germanic name for Odin, used by the pagan Saxons among other Germanic tribes.
Long Range Combatant: Prefers using arrows and uses flash grenades, mines, and creates a ring of fire to keep Eivor away.
Revenge: He tracked and killed all the people who massacred all his fellow villagers over a two year period.

Heike (Raven-Banquet)

A Zealot originally hailing from Freisland.

Dumb Muscle: There's an inverse relationship between his strength and his intelligence.
Heal Thyself: Carries rations in order to heal himself while fighting.
Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Wields an unbreakable shield in his fight with Eivor.
Poisonous Person: Uses poison grenades.
MacGuffin Guardian: Protects one of the tablets needed to get Excalibur.

Bercthun (War-Hedge)

A Zealot who serves as a messenger and factotum to The Bell.

Bad People Abuse Animals: For some reason he has a particular hatred of tortoises, is capable of crushing their shells with his bare hands, and takes great satisfaction in doing so.
Charles Atlas Superpower: Can crush a tortoise shell with his bare hands.
Undying Loyalty: He serves the Bell as their courier and hatchet man in particular.

Hrothgar (Rat-Lord)

A Zealot who is employed by The Oil for any tasks requiring brutality.

Heal Thyself: Carries rations in order to heal himself while fighting.
MacGuffin Guardian: Protects one of the tablets needed to get Excalibur.
One-Steve Limit: There is a Hrothgar involved in the Legend of Beowulf storyline, but they're two separate characters.
Poisonous Person: Uses poison grenades.

Cudberct (Eel of Earth)

A Zealot who is a trusted adjutant of The Anvil.

Hitman with a Heart: He mourns his victims and often contributes silver to their funerals.
Javelin Thrower: Attacks with throwing spears.
Poisoned Weapons: Fights with a poisoned spear and uses poison grenades.
Villainous Friendship: Is friends with The Anvil.

Horsa (Frown-Hoard)

A Zealot who often serves The Lathe.

Face Death with Dignity: During his White Room conversation he's perfectly calm while conversing with Eivor.
Javelin Thrower: Attacks with throwing spears.
Smoke Out: Uses smoke bombs to conceal his location.

Osgar (Sword-Cloven)

A Zealot who is relied on by The Billhook to implement his schemes.

Flunky Boss: Summons backup soldiers and a wolf to fight with.
One-Handed Zweihänder: Wields a two-handed sword one handed.
Sadist: Is described as a sadist in terms of combat.
Wine Is Classy: Comes from a line of winemakers, and loves drinking it following an assassination.

Kendall (Blood Brewer)

A Zealot who is a favorite of the Order for eliminating targets due to her vicious nature.

Slashed Throat: Got the nickname "Blood Brewing" from all the throats she slit fighting, whose blood was said to be enough to fill vats with blood.

Beorhtsige (Joy-Canker)

A Zealot who was a stalwart friend of The Vellum.

Evil Redhead: His beard is red from the blood of his kills.
Villainous Friendship: Is friends with the Vellum.
Weapon Specialization: Specializes in using spears.

Wealdmaer (Geld-Remover)

A Zealot who was a boon companion of The Dart.

Lightning Bruiser: Fast, strong, and durable, with a particular specialty in dodging attacks.
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: His sobriquet basically means "ball ripper".
Religious Bruiser: Is a skilled warrior who claims to follow the old gods, that is, the gods the Saxons are believed to have followed before converting to Christianity, such as Hretha and Ēostre.
Villainous Friendship: Is friends with The Dart, and they often play chess together.
Warrior Poet: He has made a series of poem on the topic "heads lopped from shoulders".

Cola (Cniht-Scribe)

A Zealot who delivered emergency communications to The Adze.

Close-Range Combatant: He prefers to fight close-in but can handle the bow well.
Stout Strength: One of the shorter Zealots, but just as dangerous as the rest.

Callin (Long-Sorrow)

A Zealot specializing in stealth.

Acquired Poison Immunity: Uses poison gas and poisoned weaponry, and happens to be immune to poisons.
The Hermit: He lives alone in the woods.
My God, What Have I Done?: As he dies he expresses regret for his time in the Order.
Real Men Eat Meat: Any poor birds that wander his way will be caught and eaten by him.
Stealth Expert: Described as a master of stealth, which he honed hunting birds in his territory.

Eorforwine (Molten-Innocence)

A Zealot whose past brought them to the Order.

Good Scars, Evil Scars: Got her face horrifically scarred in an accident involving fire, and fears people seeing her face as a result.
Self-Made Orphan: Eorforwine killed her father in his bed.
Warrior Poet: As she dies, she tells a story about a worm and Woden.

Redwalda (Dire-Scop)

A former monk turned Zealot.

My God, What Have I Done?: When Eivor kills him, he expresses regret at having devoted himself to a life of violence, and that he wishes he remained a peaceful monk.
Sadist: He killed his father, a wealthy lord, but not for inheritance, but for pleasure.

Wuffa (Death-Boon)

A Zealot who was a frequent drinking companion of The Ash-Spear.

Sadist: She prefers to mortally wound her targets and watch them bleed to death rather than killing them quickly.

Others

Charlemagne

The King of the Franks and the Lombards who became the first crowned emperor of the Carolingian Empire, the precursor state to what would eventually become known as the Holy Roman Empire.

Founder of the Kingdom: The legendary French monarch who founded the Holy Roman Empire.
The Good King: Charlemagne is fondly remembered by the Franks and the Holy Romans as a benevolent monarch who created a powerful empire amidst the chaos and turmoil of post-Roman Western Europe.
Historical Domain Character: A legendary French monarch who created a powerful empire that covered most of central and western Europe through his military conquests of northern Italy and Germany. He was also crowned by Pope Leo III as the legitimate emperor of Rome.
Historical Villain Upgrade: The real Charlemagne was not a member of a pagan cult and secret society nor was he implied to be responsible for the death of Alcuin of York.
He Knows Too Much: It's implied that Charlemagne had Alcuin of York killed to prevent anyone from becoming aware of the Order's existence.
Our Founder: The French king responsible for the formation of the Carolingian and Holy Roman Empires. Eivor finds his letter from Alcuin of York in the study room of King Aelfred.
Predecessor Villain: To King Aelfred the Great, since he was a Christian monarch who led the pagan Order of the Ancients.
Posthumous Character: He's been dead for over 57 years since he created the Carolingian Empire.
Royals Who Actually Do Something: It doesn't get much more apparent than the founder of the Carolingian and the Holy Roman Empires.

Louis II of Italy

The King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor from 844 to 875. He became the sole ruler of Italy and the Holy Roman Empire after the death of his father Lothair I in 855. Like his great-grandfather Charlemagne, he was a member of the Order of the Ancients. At some point prior to 873, Louis requested Fulke to decipher Isu text, transcribed by a Palantius during Charlemagne's reign.

The Ghost: He's alive for the first few years of the events of Valhalla but otherwise never appears.
Historical Domain Character: The King of Italy and Holy Roman Emperor that ruled with his father Lothair until the latter's death which left him in charge.
Like Father, Like Son: Louis was a leader of the Order of the Ancients much like his great-grandfather Charlemagne.
Predecessor Villain: Like Charlemagne and Aella, Louis is a European monarch who was a high-ranking member of the Order.
Posthumous Character: He is already dead when Aelfred and Eivor eliminate the English branch of Order of the Ancients in 878.

Aella of Northumbria

The King of Northumbria before being killed by Ivarr and Ubba, and prior to his death, heir apparent of the Order of the Ancients as Grand Maegester.

Aristocrats Are Evil: He was the king of Northumbria and a member of the Order of the Ancients.
Cruel and Unusual Death: Ivarr and Ubba killed Aella by having him blood eagled.
Historical Domain Character: The King of Northumbria most famous for having Ragnar Lothbrok put to death before getting killed by his sons in revenge, though there is some debate on whether he was literally blood eagled, or if he just died in combat and the description of his body upon death merely described how it looked once the carrion birds were done having their fill.
Predecessor Villain: To Aelfred the Great, since he is an Anglo-Saxon king and a member of the Order.
Posthumous Character: Has been dead for around seven years by the start of the game.
Small Role, Big Impact: In-story Ivarr just treats him as another notch on his axe, but his death set the stage for Aelfred to eventually rise to the position of Grand Maegester, and orchestrate the Order's eventual downfall.

Arthur Pendragon

See Assassin's Creed: The Templars

Al-Si'la

For her profile, see Assassin's Creed: Mirage.

Characters / Assassin's Creed: Valhalla - The Order of the Ancients

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Grand Maegester of the Order

King Aelfred the Great

Maegesters

Paladin Fulke (The Instrument)

Gorm Kjotvesson (The Keel)

Reeve Derby (The Vice)

Tatfrid (The Lyre)

Sister Blaeswith, The Archbishop's Shadow (The Rake)

Palatinii & Preosts

Wardens of War

Vicelin (The Compass)

Avgos Spearhand (The Arrow)

Sister Frideswid (The Leech)

Hunta, son of Hunta (The Baldric)

Leofgifu (The Scabbard)

Kjotve the Cruel (The Axe)

Wardens of Law

Audun (The Vault)

Grigorii (The Needle)

Abbess Ingeborg (The Firebrand)

Gunilla (The Adze)

Tata, Defender of Otta's Wyrd (The Dart)

Eanbhert (The Vellum)

Wardens of Wealth

Bishop Herefrith (The Crozier)

Wigmund (The Tang)

Gifle (The Ash-Spear)

Mucel, Heir to What He Tells (The Lathe)

Patrick (The Anvil)

Havelok (The Billhook)

Wardens of Faith

Ealhferth (The Seax)

Selwyn (The Gallows)

Hilda (The Quill)

Beneseck of Bath (The Bell)

Heika of Friesland (The Sickle)

Yohanes Loukas (The Oil)

Zealots

Woden (Pagan-Hole)

Heike (Raven-Banquet)

Bercthun (War-Hedge)

Hrothgar (Rat-Lord)

Cudberct (Eel of Earth)

Horsa (Frown-Hoard)

Osgar (Sword-Cloven)

Kendall (Blood Brewer)

Beorhtsige (Joy-Canker)

Wealdmaer (Geld-Remover)

Cola (Cniht-Scribe)

Callin (Long-Sorrow)

Eorforwine (Molten-Innocence)

Redwalda (Dire-Scop)

Wuffa (Death-Boon)

Others

Charlemagne

Louis II of Italy

Aella of Northumbria

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