Aurora Equestrian Troupe

The Aurora Equestrian Troupe was a circus troupe that traveled and performed across Europe in the mid-19th century. After finding a permanent base in Birmingham at a new theater, the Aurora Theatre, sales began to plummet. Within a few years, the troupe disbanded as the theater had to be sold.

History

Establishment

The troupe was founded by a former Swedish calvary soldier, Major Wallin, who named the troupe after his wife, Aurora. Within years, they accumulated many talents, including the Wallins' daughter, Tillie Wallin, as a young horse-back rider and novice acrobat. The troupe came to have other acts, like Hugh Robinson as the "African Hercules," Ariel Fine as the young, nonconforming "sprite," and acrobats Jovita Ferreira and Pierrette Arnaud.

Tour of Europe

In 1851, the troupe booked a spot during the Great Exhibition within the Crystal Palace as Wallin and Nell Robinson took care of attendance and the production aspects. Pierrette Arnaud performed the closing act, only to see a woman, Ada Lovelace, being attacked by four thugs. While Arnaud saved the countess, the troupe carried on with the performance despite both ladies leaving the premises quickly. By 1852, although the Great Exhibition had ended, the troupe continued to play in London as it proved profitable.

In 1853, however, Wallin was convinced by both Pierrette and the incoming wars between England and France against Russia to move their act on the road. Within the next few years, they traveled across Europe, eventually reaching Vienna, Austria, while Arnaud searched for a missing friend of the late Ada, Simeon Price. The troupe's business was going well while the acts adapted to keep customers intrigued. However, one night, a stranger came barging in to see Pierrette as Wallin subdued him. Arnaud asked for the man to be let go as she concluded it was Simeon.

However, a threat rose when Arnaud's room was ransacked by the Templar bodyguard Hennighan, who looked for Ada's notes. Realizing it was unsafe, the troupe traveled once more around Europe for the next couple of years. However, while in Prague, both Major Wallin and Tillie were struck with typhoid. Although both seemingly recovered, Major Wallin fell ill again, this time more severely. While in Frankfurt, the troupe was told that Wallin had to retire as his health had become permanently damaged. As their ringleader rested, the whole troupe decided to settle in Birmingham gradually.

Dissolvement of the troupe

Circa 1857, the troupe found a theater and renamed it Aurora Theatre despite sales being lower than usual. However, with Wallin mostly incapacitated and Pierrette's sudden departure, the troupe fell on hard times. Within three years, Major Wallin succumbed to his failing health as the theater had to be sold. The troupe eventually dissolved, with its members going their separate ways; the Robinsons founded a new store due to Hugh's injury, Ariel found new work, Jovita moved to New York to be with her lover, and Tillie began to take on low-paying jobs. Yet, the troupe members still kept in contact with one another despite their work being discontinued.

Reconciling and fighting the Magus

In 1861, Pierrette met with Tillie and the Robinsons and apologized for leaving them and the disbandment of their troupe. Forgiving her, the Robinsons offered their help for her mission to save her mentor, Simeon Price, and equipped her. A year passed and Pierrette called on her former troupe family to help her and Simeon confront the Magus, Oscar Kane, Simeon's former mentor. Hugh, Ariel, and Tillie came to aid Pierrette at Bath while Nell kept Ada's notes for safekeeping. With Simeon's allies, the troupe members waited in an alley until a gunfight broke out in a bunker below them.

Within moments, all of Price's and Arnaud's allies were attacked by Kane's henchmen, but they were able to push them back into the bunker. One by one, Kane's men fell as the troupe surrounded an injured Kane, who held Pierrette hostage. Trying to restrain him, Hugh and Ariel tied a lasso around Kane but were knocked down by a surviving henchman. Luckily, Arnaud finished the job by bringing herself and Kane down over a walkway, which broke the infrastructure of the bunker. As all of the Assassin's allies escaped, Price finally killed Kane, leaving him to be buried in the collapsing bunker. Tillie, Hugh, and Ariel stayed in Bath for a few days to recuperate as Nell soon gave back the notes to Pierrette after the fight was won.

Members

• Pierrette Arnaud – acrobat
• Jovita Ferreira – acrobat
• Ariel Fine – acrobat
• Hugh Robinson – strongman
• Nell Robinson – manager
• Major Leo Wallin – ringmaster
• Tillie Wallin – horseback rider
• Spider Wallin – horseback rider

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy