In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players are frequently faced with decisions that shape the storyline and the world around Eivor. One such decision comes during a seemingly minor conflict between two villagers, Rowan and Holger. While the dispute may appear trivial on the surface, your choice between supporting Rowan or Holger actually reflects deeper themes of justice, personal responsibility, and leadership within your settlement. This situation unfolds in Ravensthorpe, the Viking settlement Eivor helps build, and showcases how even small events contribute to the immersive narrative experience of the game.
The Dispute: What Happened Between Rowan and Holger
The disagreement between Rowan and Holger starts with a simple incident: Holger has taken one of Rowan’s horses without asking. Rowan, the settlement’s stablemaster, is furious because Holger not only borrowed the horse without permission but also altered its appearance by trimming its tail. Holger, a free-spirited poet and artist, claims he meant no harm and thought the act would improve the horse’s appearance.
This leads to a community dispute that requires Eivor’s intervention. As the settlement’s de facto leader, Eivor must decide who is in the right and what consequence, if any, should be enforced. Although there is no combat involved and the stakes seem low, the choice reveals much about Eivor’s style of leadership and how the community reacts to their decision-making.
Rowan’s Argument
- Claims ownership of the horse and did not give permission for it to be taken.
- Believes Holger’s actions were disrespectful and unprofessional.
- Wants compensation for the misuse and unauthorized alteration of his horse.
Holger’s Argument
- States he only borrowed the horse briefly for creative inspiration.
- Claims that trimming the tail was an artistic decision.
- Feels that no harm was done and sees no reason to offer compensation.
The Choice: Who Should You Side With?
When the argument reaches Eivor, they must listen to both sides and make a decision. The dialogue sequence provides you with three options. Your choice affects the settlement’s perception of fairness and the relationship between these two characters moving forward.
Option 1: Side with Rowan
If you choose to support Rowan, Eivor agrees that taking the horse without permission was wrong and that Holger should compensate Rowan. This decision reinforces the importance of respecting personal property in the settlement. Holger reluctantly agrees but maintains that his actions were artistic in nature.
Option 2: Side with Holger
Choosing to support Holger means Eivor sees no real harm in what was done and believes compensation is unnecessary. This might appeal to those who value artistic freedom or see the incident as minor. However, this could be interpreted as dismissing Rowan’s rights and authority as the stablemaster.
Option 3: Suggest a Compromise
In some versions of the mission, a compromise may be available, where Eivor lightly reprimands Holger but does not enforce a strict punishment. This balanced approach attempts to preserve harmony in the community but may not fully satisfy either party.
Consequences and Impact on the Game
Although this event doesn’t have far-reaching consequences on the game’s main storyline, it plays an important role in how the community of Ravensthorpe develops. It also contributes to your progression in settlement building and leadership role. Eivor’s decision demonstrates how you manage interpersonal conflicts and resolve disputes fairly or not.
Settlement Morale
- Choosing Rowan reinforces rule of law and respect for personal property.
- Choosing Holger may promote artistic freedom but undermine authority.
- A compromise helps maintain peace but may seem indecisive.
Characters will occasionally reference your decision in future conversations, and this contributes to Eivor’s legacy as either a just leader or someone who plays favorites. These smaller narrative moments are key to building an emotional connection to the world of Valhalla.
Analysis of the Rowan vs Holger Conflict
This mission serves as a microcosm of the larger narrative choices in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. It asks the player to consider ethics, fairness, and leadership all in the context of a small disagreement. It also mirrors the balance Eivor must maintain between Viking traditions and the growing need for structure and law within the community.
Key Themes
- Justice vs Mercy: Does justice mean strict enforcement or understanding intentions?
- Tradition vs Creativity: Rowan represents responsibility and structure, while Holger represents freedom and expression.
- Leadership: How Eivor handles disputes reflects their values and affects settlement culture.
Though many players may quickly choose an option and move on, the mission is a good example of how Valhalla subtly weaves player decisions into its world-building. It’s not about right or wrong in an absolute sense it’s about what kind of community you are shaping as Eivor.
Which Option Is Canon?
There is no officially canon answer to the Rowan or Holger debate, as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla encourages players to define their own version of Eivor. However, most players tend to side with Rowan because the theft of property without permission is clearly shown to be inappropriate, regardless of Holger’s intentions.
That said, siding with Holger or suggesting a compromise may reflect a different interpretation of Eivor’s values, especially if the player views artistic expression and community bonding as more important than strict rules. It ultimately depends on your personal roleplay of the character.
Other Holger Disputes
Interestingly, this isn’t the only time Holger causes conflict in Ravensthorpe. He later becomes involved in another disagreement with a villager named Ake regarding the unauthorized use of cloth. These repeated incidents reinforce Holger’s free-spirited, boundary-pushing personality. How you respond to each of these situations can form a subtle narrative arc concerning Holger’s place in the settlement and Eivor’s tolerance for such behavior.
Holger’s Role in Ravensthorpe
- Provides comic relief and cultural color through his poetry
- Challenges norms and rules in unconventional ways
- Acts as a foil to more traditional and duty-bound characters
This makes Holger an interesting character, as he constantly forces players to think about the limits of freedom and the importance of accountability within a community that’s trying to define itself.
The Rowan or Holger decision in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla may not involve grand battles or political alliances, but it plays a critical role in shaping the community and story within Ravensthorpe. These smaller, character-driven moments contribute to the realism and depth of the game. Whether you choose to back Rowan, side with Holger, or find a middle ground, your decision says something about the kind of leader Eivor is becoming. And in the end, that’s what makes Valhalla’s world feel so alive every choice, no matter how small, ripples through the fabric of your Viking saga.