Who is the Real Traitor: Lork or Gerhild?
In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, the decision of who the real traitor is becomes crucial—it’s between Lork and Gerhild. Initially, Rollo has agreed to take Estrid away on his ship, but upon arrival at his camp, the scene is a violent ruin, indicating betrayal. As you dig deeper, it becomes clear that:
- The traitor who betrayed Rollo in the Essexe Old Wounds quest is Gerhild.
- Both Lork and Gerhild claim they were hunting rabbits for Rollo’s return.
- Lork even mentions seeing Gerhild speaking with a Saxon, raising suspicion.
Further investigation reveals that:
- When confronted, Gerhild fabricates an alibi, claiming she was with a local soldier. In contrast, Lork confesses to hiding in the bushes during the attack.
- Using Odin’s Sight can expose a patch of bushes, ing Lork’s and implicating Gerhild.
- Examining the game rack demonstrates that there was no need for hunting, as it is already full of meat.
Moreover, Gerhild held a grudge against Rollo for his relationship with Estrid, making her betrayal even more likely. She has no solid alibi for her survival during the attack, while Lork has a blood oath to Rollo—a serious commitment for the Danes.
Ultimately, if you make the right choice and identify Gerhild as the traitor, she will be executed, ensuring Estrid’s safety during her escape to Francia. However, if you opt for Lork instead, Gerhild remains free and poses a greater threat later in the game, potentially injuring Estrid in the process.
In summary:
- The real traitor is Gerhild.
- Choosing Gerhild prevents injury to Estrid.
- The decision placed on the player significantly influences the storyline.
Analyzing the Choices: Gerhild vs Lork in Valhalla
The survivors have narrowed the betrayer down to two: Gerhild, Rollo’s shield-sister, and Lork, a supposedly-faithful warrior pledged to Rollo’s father. Either Gerhild or Lork is the Essexe traitor; however, Eivor will have to gather evidence to work out who.
Both Gerhild and Lork are lying about their whereabouts. Gerhild claims she was hunting rabbits, while Lork also says he was hunting rabbits but implies he saw Gerhild talking to a Saxon, suggesting her guilt. Rollo, however, agrees that Gerhild was lying about hunting, as she’s always been a poor archer.
Based on the evidence you’ve collected, the Essexe traitor is Gerhild. You know this because both warriors lied about their whereabouts, but Lork is the only one you can pin down. The only way Gerhild could have been around the camp for him to see and not caught up in the attack is if she was in cahoots with the Saxons.
It’s actually Gerhild who is the traitor. If you keep talking to them both, Gerhild will say she was off with a local soldier but Lork will it that he hid.
The traitor who betrayed Rollo in the Essexe Old Wounds quest is Gerhild. You are given two options, Lork or Gerhild, and it’s clear from the available…
The true traitor is Gerhild. If you accuse Gerhild (the true traitor), then Estrid won’t get injured later in the Essexe story arc.
What Happens When You Choose Lork in AC Valhalla?
In AC Valhalla, choosing Lork has significant consequences:
- If you choose Lork instead of Gerhild, Estrid is injured while trying to escape to Francia. This choice complicates the storyline.
- Choosing Gerhild results in her immediate death, which prevents Estrid from getting injured. Therefore, selecting the right traitor is crucial for Estrid’s safety.
- By picking Lork, you allow Gerhild to walk free. This leads to a more challenging narrative, as her betrayal will affect later events.
- Ultimately, if you choose the wrong traitor, such as Lork, it results in dire consequences, including Estrid’s injury during her escape. This, in turn, influences the game’s ending in ‘A Beviary of Broken Hearts.’
Is Gerhild Innocent or Guilty?
Gerard Richardson’s Innocence
Gerard Richardson maintained his innocence from the beginning. At his sentencing, he stated, ‘I didn’t kill Monica Reyes and I am never going to it to it—to something that I didn’t do.’ In 2013, Y-STR testing on the bite mark swab produced a complete profile and excluded Richardson. Furthermore, Richardson was also excluded from the victim’s vaginal swab sticks, ‘genital gauze swabbing,’ and a fingernail clipping.
Richardson was released on October 29, 2013, and fully exonerated on December 17, 2013. Although there were multiple suspects in the case, Richardson’s dental impressions were the only ones submitted for comparison with the bite mark on the victim’s body. Forensic dentist Dr. Ira Titunik declared the dental impressions a match, leading to Richardson being charged with Reyes’ murder just five days later.
Innocence Project and DNA Evidence
Much of the Innocence Project’s work focuses on cases where DNA evidence (e.g., blood or other bodily fluids) is central to the case. These cases typically involve sexual assault or murder. However, DNA exonerations represent only a portion, about 15%, of all exonerations in the United States.
Interestingly, in almost half of the cases that the Innocence Project takes on, the clients’ guilt is reconfirmed by DNA testing. To date, among the cases handled by the Innocence Project, about 43% of clients were proven innocent, while 42% were confirmed guilty. Evidence was inconclusive and not probative in 15% of cases.
Over the past decades, DNA testing has uncovered hundreds of examples of the most important type of trial errors: innocent defendants convicted of serious crimes.
Rollo’s Dilemma: Trusting Lork or Gerhild
To establish who the traitor is, you first need to speak to both Gerhild and Lork to get their side of the story.
Ask after Gerhild’s location at the time of the Saxon attack. She’ll say she was out hunting rabbits.
Next, ask Lork, and he’ll also claim he was hunting rabbits. However, he’ll say that he saw Gerhild talking to a Saxon, implying her guilt.
When Eivor remains skeptical of his story, he’ll make allusions to his loyalty to Rollo and his father, but lets slip that he’s tired of the fighting life and of his oath to Rollo’s family.
You’ll see a game rack up by the fire, and a flattened patch in the bushes. Inspect the game rack, and you’ll observe that there’s plenty of food left. This suggests that both Gerhild and Lork are lying about their whereabouts.
Tell Gerhild that you know she was lying, and that Lork says she’s the traitor. She’ll reply that she was out at a romantic encounter with a Saxon local. Then, tell Lork that you know he was lying. He’ll it that he was slacking off, asleep in the forest when he was woken by the attack. He says that he hid in the bushes, corroborating the flattened patch you found.
Based on the evidence you’ve collected, the Essexe traitor is Gerhild. You know this because both warriors lied about their whereabouts, but Lork is the only one you can pin down. You know that he hid in the bushes after slinking off for a nap. However, the only way Gerhild could have been around the camp for Lork to see her and not caught up in the attack is if she was in cahoots with the Saxons.
The identity of the traitor is indeed Gerhild. Therefore, you should choose her during the AC Valhalla Old Wounds traitor quest. If you pick the wrong traitor, Estrid will get injured later. After making your choice, Rollo will ask you to help him find and rescue his Danes.
Once you pick Gerhild, she will then be executed. If you make the wrong choice and choose Lork instead, Gerhild will walk free and will make things much trickier for you later on in the Essexe story arc.
Additionally, look for signs of fear, anxiety, or guilt when interacting with Gerhild or Lork. Subtle cues such as body language or tone of voice can reveal the traitor.
Consequences of Choosing the Wrong Traitor
If you choose Lork instead of Gerhild, the consequences are significant. Gerhild will walk free, complicating the Essexe story arc later on.
Moreover, if Gerhild is chosen, she will face immediate death. Consequently, towards the end of the story arc, Lork will prevent Estrid from an impending attack.
Additionally, if the wrong traitor is chosen, Gerhild will later pose a threat to Estrid.
In another context involving Soma’s traitor: if the wrong traitor is chosen during this quest stage, it results in the death warrant for one of Soma’s trusted circle . Importantly, Galinn will attempt to eliminate the adviser who was not executed earlier. Although the adviser will be seriously injured, Eivor insists that he will survive.
Fan Theories: Is Lork Lying About His Loyalty?
Fan theories surrounding Lork’s loyalty explore different dimensions of character relationships and motivations.
For example, the theory regarding Gollum suggests a dark twist on Frodo’s past. According to Redditor u/SnakeyesX, Gollum killed Frodo’s parents, Drogo and Primula, when Frodo was just 12 years old. They argue that Frodo’s parents were drowned by Gollum in the Brandywine River during his search for Bilbo after the events of The Hobbit. Notably, Gandalf mentions in the books that Gollum never reached the Shire during this search, although it is possible that he could be incorrect or even lying. However, the timeline seems off since Gollum is believed to have been elsewhere when Frodo’s parents died. This theory adds a complex layer to the already fateful relationship between Frodo and Gollum.
Moreover, another theory proposes that the Gollum side of Smeagol’s split personality may be a manifestation of the Ring itself. This idea suggests that Gollum represents an entity within the Ring which torments and distorts its holder’s mind over time. This makes it plausible that “Gollum” is just a name for a malevolent presence within the Ring. Nevertheless, given Tolkien’s description of the Ring being infused with part of Sauron’s soul, it is likely that Gollum is merely Smeagol’s twisted persona cultivated through his years of struggle with the Ring.
Additionally, there are intriguing fan theories about other characters. For instance, the character Adar is speculated to be a “father figure” for the orcs. Some theorize that if we consider the corrupted elf origin of the orcs, Adar could very well be their progenitor, possibly being an elf captured by Morgoth and corrupted through means of reproduction.
Shifting gears, one more theory suggests that Galadriel may actually be Sauron in disguise. This theory posits that Sauron has shape-shifted into Galadriel, creating a different narrative. Coupled with potential romantic developments between Halbrand and Galadriel, as hinted by their flirtatious interactions in trailers, these theories add layers of complexity to the unfolding story.
