Frideswid

"The Ancient Ones, the arbiters. They built us out of simple pieces. So easy to break. So difficult to mend."

―Frideswid, 873.

Sister Frideswid (died 873), also known as The Leech, was an Anglo-Saxon nun and a Preost of the Order of the Ancients' Wardens of War sect who lived during the 9th century.

Biography

Early life and activities

Born in the Kingdom of Wessex, Frideswid bore witness to a horse accident in her early childhood, in which her sister broke her spine. Frideswid was intrigued by the injuries, and the fact that, while her sister's physical being was gravely damaged, her mind and soul remained intact.

Following this incident, Frideswid began a lengthy study of anatomy, in the pursuit of making humans into something more durable. Some time after her sister's accident, Frideswid lost her entire family to a tragic fire, leaving her without anyone to look out for her.

Taking note of Frideswid's aptitude for anatomy and healing, as well as her willingness to experiment on humans, often performing cruel procedures, the Order of the Ancients recruited her into their ranks, and she quickly became a Preost of the Warden of War.

Discovery and death

"There must be an improvement. We should be stronger, faster, smarter. I could have fixed us. I could have made us better. You've such beautiful eyes. Finish it... would you?"

―Frideswid's dying words to Eivor Varinsdottir, 873.

In 873, Frideswid worked from a monastery in Lunden, where she built a reputation for being able to heal any ailment or injury a man could sustain. She was loved and respected by the community, including the local reeves, Stowe and Erke. Alongside two other members of the Order, The Arrow and The Compass, Frideswid infiltrated the villa of Governor Tryggr, where the three proceeded to kill the governor and several of his guards. Afterwards, Frideswid took the governor's head, as well as several of the guards' eyes, for experimentation.

When Stowe and Erke, alongside the Viking shieldmaiden Eivor Varinsdottir of the Raven Clan, discovered Tryggr's body, they investigated the attack and found several clues that led them to a hidden temple, where the Order of the Ancients had made their hideout. There, Eivor found high-quality surgical equipment belonging to Frideswid. While investigating several bodies that had washed up from the river Thames, Eivor and Erke caught wind of a blacksmith with a reputation for shady dealings. Eivor observed this blacksmith and eventually interrogated him, thus identifying Frideswid as the Leech.

Frideswid's final moments

Eivor sought her out at the forum in Lundun, where Frideswid kept several patients, and killed her. With her final words, Frideswid told Eivor of the difference she had tried to make, and how humans as a species were flawed, but she might have been able to make them better. After Frideswid's death, Eivor took the sister's book, containing all of her medical findings, and delivered it to Erke near St. Paul's Cathedral.

The city of Lunden, unaware of Frideswid's illicit actions, was enraged at her death, blaming their reeves for not doing their job. Similarly, The Compass, who had been away from the city, caught wind of Frideswid's death and sailed a small flotilla up the river to lay siege to Lunden in retaliation.

Trivia

• In Frideswid's cutscene in the Memory Corridor, her last moments differ when compared to other Order members who have their medallion taken by Eivor, as she experiences her work in the form of dead bodies surrounding her, until two corpses pull a willing Frideswid down.
• Her cutscene echoes those of two Order members assassinated by the Medjay Bayek of Siwa in Assassin's Creed: Origins. Like Taharqa, her spirit is "drowned" in the Memory Corridor, and like Berenike, the "room" is filled with a number of corpses created through her own doing.
• Frideswid shares many similarities with the character Garnier de Naplouse from the 2007 video game Assassin's Creed, as they both abduct individuals to operate on them in their hospitals. Even if their patients suffer through their treatment, both Frideswid and Garnier believe it is a small sacrifice to better their conditions.

Gallery

• 
  Frideswid confronted by Eivor in the Memory Corridor

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (first appearance)
• The World of Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Journey to the North – Logs and Files of a Hidden One (mentioned only)