Ariel Fine

Ariel Fine (1821 – 1889) was an agile performer and acrobat for the Aurora Equestrian Troupe. After the troupe disbanded, they continued their work for another circus revenue, but remained close to their former troupe members.

Biography

Troupe days

Not much is known about Ariel's past, except that at some point they joined the Aurora Equestrian Troupe under Major Wallin's leadership. In 1851, Ariel performed with their troupe at the Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace, where they were billed as "Neither Man Nor Woman But Sprite of the Air." With the rest of the troupe, they continued to perform in England until the spectacle of their entertainment started to fade and die out.

Between the years of 1853 and 1855, Ariel and their troupe traveled across Europe as they and Hugh Robinson began to create an act together in order to keep audiences entertained with new performances. However, after Prague, Ariel and their troupe noticed that both Tillie Wallin and her father had typhoid fever. In 1855, while in Frankfurt, although the Wallins recuperated, the troupe soon witnessed her father fall ill once more. The doctor told them that the major's health had deteriorated and that retirement was necessary. Together, Ariel and their troupe talked about the future, which led them to agree with Arnaud's idea to settle in Birmingham.

Life after the troupe and fighting the Magus

Within the next six years, the troupe disbanded as Ariel found work as an acrobat for Astley's Amphitheatre. By 1862, they, Hugh, and Tillie answered the call from Pierrette to help her and Simeon Price as backup against Price's former mentor, Oscar Kane. In an alley in Bath, Ariel waited with their troupe family, including Arnaud, and Price's men, Sawyer Halford and Byron Ockham, while Price confronted Kane in a nearby bunker. However, a fight ensued in the alley after gunshots were heard in the bunker. Within a matter of minutes, the alley fight led to the bunker as Kane's forces were dwindling.

Ariel fought against one of Kane's henchmen and was able to quickly slice his throat. As Kane was cornered and held Arnaud hostage, Ariel and Hugh threw a lasso around him and began to restrain him. However, one of Kane's remaining men pushed Ariel and Hugh down as Kane was let loose. Yet, Kane lost to Arnaud, who broke the walkway after she pulled them both over it. Ariel and their allies soon escaped the crumbling room as Price dealt the final blow to Kane. Afterwards, they and the rest of the troupe recovered in Bath for a few days before going back home.

Raising Spider

By 1870, Ariel took charge of the new Aurora Troupe along with Tillie, her two-year-old son Spider Wallin, and their new company. They also found a partner in the troupe's new horse trainer, Jim. During one afternoon performance, they orchestrated the performance setup with Tillie about to perform a new routine. However, Tillie faltered and fell to her death, to which Ariel blamed herself.

For the next three years, Ariel and the troupe raised Spider, who was only interested in learning horse riding and being free from his family. As time passed and they reached their wits' end, they agreed for him to be taken in by Pierrette and her friend Anne Blunt. However, he ran away from them after an argument with Pierrette.

Death

In the winter of 1889, Ariel died of natural causes in their home at the age of sixty-eight, being survived by their lover Jim. At their gravesite, the Robinsons, Jim, and Arnaud paid their respects, with Spider later arriving as well to pay respects to his late guardian.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy (first appearance)
• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Resurrection Plot