Spider Wallin

Harald Wallin (born 1868), better known as Spider Wallin, was a performer for the Aurora Equestrian Troupe, son of Tillie Wallin, and grandson of Leo Wallin, the founder of the Aurora Troupe.

Biography

Early life

Spider was born in 1868 to veteran circus performer and single mother Tillie Wallin. Working around the new Aurora Troupe, he watched his mother and fellow troupe members, especially the renowned acrobat Ariel Fine. On one night in 1870, the former troupe member and new British Assassin Pierrette Arnaud joined him in watching Tillie's new routine together in the crowd. However, Tillie lost her footing and fell to her death while performing, making Spider an orphan at the age of two.

Raised by Aurora Troupe

For the next three years, Spider stayed with Ariel and their lover Jim while maintaining an education from Hugh and Nell Robinson and harnessing his performing skills by Fine. Arnaud visited him again and he told her about how he wanted to learn how to ride horses but wanted no one to be sad. With Pierrette explaining that honesty is how the troupe works, Spider understood and agreed to talk with Ariel later.

However, by 1876, Spider became more rebellious and started to miss circus practices. Hanging out with the street kids, the troupe tried to find him and discipline him but to no luck. Pierette found him but was met with resistance as Spider admitted to wanting to be alone and forgotten. In the summer, the troupe began their summer tour, much to Spider's discontent.

Living with Pierrette

By 1882, Spider was taken in as Pierrette's ward at Anne Blunt's horse estate due to his malcontent with the troupe practices. He started working with her horses on Crabbet Farm by providing free labor and tended to her horses. However, while working, he heard a conversation between Pierrette and a visitor, the British Assassin George Westhouse, about saving Queen Victoria from a Templar assassination plot.

On Queen Victoria's arrival at the Windsor Royal Station, Spider took one of Anne's horses, followed Pierrette, and stood by to check on any suspicious characters. However, a shooter came from the crowd, went beside Spider and his horse, and shot at the queen's carriage. Immediately, Spider's horse knocked back the shooter before the shooter was restrained by the public. After incapacitating the shooter, Spider rode back to the farm and went back to his work. However, when Pierrette confronted him for being reckless and demanded an apology, he left angry and went missing for four months. Despite Pierrette's best efforts, Spider could not be found.

Returning back to Pierrette

For the next seven years, Spider lived and worked on his own but returned home when he learned his old caretaker Ariel Fine had died. Visiting the cemetery, he was seen and hugged by Arnaud, who had also gone to pay her respects. Arnaud offered a new chance by having him live with her and do whatever he wanted. Before they could visit Fine's grave, the British Assassin Angelica approached them and delivered a message from Arnaud's old mentor Simeon Price about the Austrian Templar Countess Konstanze von Visler's presence in Paris. Arnaud offered Spider to accompany her and save the world, to which he accepted.

Saving Paris and the Assassins

In Montmartre, Spider and Pierrette met with Simeon as they all went to meet with the French Assassins and their leader Michel Moulin. Learning that the Eiffel Tower may be used as a weapon, Spider suggested they pose as workers while Moulin planned to blow up the tower to stop the Templars. Spider was given the task to push back any civilians away from the tower before it came down. After planning their explosive act, Spider rested until he woke up to Pierrette telling him that the tower was a trap. Explaining that the Templars planned to frame the Assassins, Spider was told to tell the Assassins while she tried to meet Simeon. However, he followed Pierrette, who traveled by bike, and saw Konstanze suddenly attack and severely injure her. Aiming a gun he had, he fired at Konstanze before she could kill Pierrette, but before he could help further, Pierrette strongly ordered him to inform Simeon before the explosion came true.

In a race against time, Spider climbed the tower and caught sight of Simeon, Konstanze, and the young girl Gisela, who was using an Apple of Eden to immobilize Simeon. Jumping at Gisela, he knocked out the Apple from her hand and wrestled her away from it. At the same time, he informed Simeon of the Templars' true plans while Price engaged his former lover in a fight. He held Gisela down until she pushed him off, grabbed the Apple, and pushed Simeon away from Konstanze. Although Konstanze was heavily wounded from Price having thrust his Hidden Blade against her neck, Spider and Simeon watched as both women glided down to the streets, though Konstanze lost stability due to her wound and crashed to the ground, dying on impact.

With minutes left before the tower exploded, Spider and Simeon reworked a light signal and sent a coded message below to Michel and the Assassins to stop their plans. Once the time was up, nothing happened and the tower remained standing. Leaving the tower, both were informed by Michel of Pierrette's survival but her recovery to be long due to a shattered hip. Grabbing a carriage instantly, Spider drove it with Simeon inside. While riding, they heard the public shouting out their message, "No gods no masters," which made Simeon swell with pride and purpose to fight for everyone's freedom.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Resurrection Plot