Aurora Equestrian Troupe

The Aurora Equestrian Troupe was a circus troupe that traveled throughout the continent of 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

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 Wallin's 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.

Troupe days

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. One of its acrobats, Pierrette Arnaud, performed as the male lead, Mazeppa, as its 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 premise and act quickly. By 1852, although the Great Exhibition 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 versus Russia to move their act on the road. Within the years, they traveled across Europe and found their way in 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 to come. However, one night, a stranger came barging in to see Pierrette as Wallin subdued him. Yet, 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 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 yet 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 soon decided to move their troupe to a permanent base 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 Robinson's founded a new store, due to Hugh's injury, Ariel had found new work, Jovita moved to New York to be with her love, and Tillie had begun to find low paying jobs. Yet, the troupe still kept in contact with one another despite their work being discontinued.

Reconciling and the fight against the Magus

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

Within an instance, all of Price's and Arnaud's allies were in another fight within the alley, but they proved to overpower 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 bring her and Kane down over a walkway, which broke the infrastructure of the bunker. As all of the Assassin's allies were leaving, Kane was finally killed by Price as the room soon buried Kane. 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.

Appearances

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