Nellie

"There's a woman who can help. Unfortunately, she'll remind you of our childhood neighbour...if the Ripper doesn't get to her first."

―Jacob's letter to Evie, hinting her to seek Nellie, 1888.

Nellie (born c. 1864) was a prostitute working in London during the Victorian era. An acquaintance of the Assassin Jacob Frye, she assisted his twin sister Evie Frye in freeing the city's brothels from Jack the Ripper's influence.

Biography

Early life

Nellie: "Oi, what kind of man gets his jollies hurting a defenseless girl?"

Abusive Man: "Oh, god, please... let me go... don't tell my wife."

Nellie: "So now yer sorry, eh? Don't you ever lay a hand on one of us girls again. We know who you are."

—Nellie and her girls confronting an abusive man about his assault of a prostitute, 1888.

Born between 1863 and 1865, Nellie was one of the many women in London who turned to prostitution to make a living. In March 1888, she became acquainted with Jacob Frye, who had witnessed her jumping to the defense of a fellow prostitute on Dorset Street. Impressed, he offered to buy the two of them a drink, but Nellie refused, leading Jacob to get all three of them dinner at the Frying Pan pub instead. Since then, she and Jacob became close friends.

Autumn of Terror

Nellie: "Katey? Oh, he can't, no, he can't have... And Lizzie? Not both, not in one night..."

Jacob: "Nellie, remember what I said. Now go."

—Jacob urging Nellie to flee London following the murder of Eddowes and Stride, 1888.

In 1888, Jack, one of Jacob's initiates, took control of the Rooks; in response, Jacob ordered several female initiates to go undercover as prostitutes in an attempt to lure him out and assassinate him. One of these women, Mary Ann Nichols, was Nellie's roommate, and the first to die by Jack's hand. In the next months, more fell victim to the serial killer, whose actions spread fear throughout London.

Jacob comforting Nellie

On 30 September, news reached Nellie that two more women had been murdered, leading her to seek out Jacob. The two subsequently visited the crime scene of Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes, whose deaths left Nellie grief-stricken. Worrying for her safety, Jacob handed Nellie some money and told her to leave Whitechapel. Nellie reluctantly agreed, but when the money eventually ran out, she was forced to resume her work under Lady Owers, who supplied Jack the Ripper with information.

Evie's return

Nellie: "She knew you'd come, Miss Frye. Lady O is the Ripper's eyes and ears in London..."

Evie: "Kill her, and Jack will be forced to show himself."

—Nellie warning Evie about Olwyn Owers, 1888.

Sometime after, Nellie was seized by some Rooks at the brothel she worked and forcibly escorted to the Kenway Mansion, despite her protestations. Upon arriving there, Nellie was taken to the main hall, where Owers gave a speech about the unfortunates of London she intended to continue 'helping'. As Nellie listened, Evie Frye, intent on finding her missing brother, appeared behind her.

Nellie face to face with Owers

Fearing retribution, Nellie told Evie they could not speak at the mansion and, when pressed, explained that Owers was in league with Jack the Ripper. As she prepared to depart, Owers approached her prostitutes and gave them a thinly veiled warning to not step out of line. However, upon spotting Evie amongst the crowd, Owers ordered one of her men to take Nellie, following which she left for her manor.

Locked into a carriage, Nellie inadvertently served as a decoy for Evie, who nearly killed Nellie in her attempts to stop the vehicle, thinking Owers was inside. After being liberated from the carriage, Nellie explained Owers' role in Jack the Ripper's operations, leading Evie to conclude that she had to die. Evie then called for an escort to send Nellie to safety.

Later, after Owers had been dealt with, Nellie had her fellow prostitutes help Evie with blending in, while the Assassin assisted them in turn by stopping abusive clients and shaming them in front of the citizens. Evie also helped Nellie to rescue prostitutes that had been kidnapped by the Rooks, and liberate brothels under attack by the Ripper's underlings.

Trivia

• Nellie shares her face model with Lucy Thorne.

Gallery

• 
  Nellie with Jacob
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  Nellie and Jacob at the crime scene
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  Nellie speaking with Evie at Kenway Mansion
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  Evie comforting Nellie

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – Jack the Ripper