Marcella

Marcella
Biographical information
Species	Human
Political information
Affiliations	Hidden Ones British Brotherhood

Marcella was a Hidden One from Rome who operated in the 9th century as the leader of the new Lunden bureau, the Hawk's Nest.

Biography

Before joining the Hidden Ones in England, Marcella was once a slave and tortured by a Roman slaver by the name of Cyrus, a member of the Order of the Ancients. During her captivity, Marcella managed to escape from Cyrus and his torture, but remained hunted down by him. Once she joined the Hidden Ones, Marcella had to remain stationary in Lunden. In the late 9th century, Marcella and Hytham built a new bureau within Lunden called the Hawk's Nest, where Marcella was appointed as its leader. Both Hidden Ones sent letter of invitations to notable warriors within the isles as they awaited their guests.

Meeting Niamh

In 878, Marcella met with Niamh of Argyll, who was the only respondent from their invitations. However, Marcella became harsh and cold in her reception towards Niamh as Hytham welcomed her into their bureau. As she and Hytham questioned Niamh, Marcella remained reluctant to welcome Niamh into their ranks. The next day, after Niamh trained with Hytham, she and Hytham were asked of the Order by Niamh. Shocked, both Hidden Ones admitted to their war with the Order and revealed a list of Order targets. Bluntly, Marcella ordered the death of one of the Order members, Father Deoric, a priest in Cote. She could not assist due to the consistent hunt for her, thus they left Niamh on her own to deal with the matter. Time passed as she and Hytham received a familiar guest, the seeress Valka of the Raven Clan, to talk about Eivor Varinsdottir's current whereabouts. Later talking about Niamh, Marcella admits that Niamh mostly likely died due to her inexperience, contrast to Hytham's beliefs. Marcella also divulged of her own prejudice, by stating that Niamh's people are all selfish and they only look out for their own kind.

Once Niamh formally entered, Marcella turned sour as they all asked about Niamh's mission. Once Niamh told the events in whole, especially her mistakes, she considered the information as she reluctantly agreed with Hytham to make her an initiate. She infers that Niamh's honesty about what went wrong showcased the ability to learn. However, Marcella opposed Hytham's gift of the hidden blade to Niamh, but to no success. The next day, Marcella caught wind of Hytham asking Niamh to accompany him to a keep along the Tamesis River, manned by Cyrus. Marcella, still stuck, relays that Cyrus is a horrific monster who tortures all his captive women. Marcella asked if Niamh may go alone, due to Hytham's health, but Hytham reminded Marcella of Cyrus' abilities. To no avail, Marcella remained silent as Hytham and Niamh left.

After Hytham and Niamh arrived back with their rescued victim, Marcella later confronted Niamh about their new guest's disappearance. As Niamh revealed that she took Ebba back home, she relented once Hytham accepted Niamh's reasoning. Luckily, Marcella and Hytham received Cyrus' notes from Niamh as Niamh left them to think about her next plans. She and Hytham discussed their next steps as she wanted to meet with Valka about Eivor and the sword, Excalibur. However, her plan was moot as Niamh met with Valka first to go on a mission towards the Order's nunnery. After the nunnery mission went sideways, Marcella met Niamh once she came back. Confronting Niamh, she accused Niamh of being with the Order and a thief, despite both Niamh's and Hytham's denials. However, Marcella was soon challenged to a trial by combat by Niamh, who wanted to prove her worth and trust.

With no hesitation, Marcella fought Niamh ruthlessly as she wanted to kill the witch-warrior. The fight ensued as a crowd started to grow among them. Despite Marcella's rage, she was stopped by Niamh's words and Hytham's final intervene. Angered, Marcella walked away from the crowd as Hytham and Niamh left to talk privately. Marcella stayed within Lunden and received notice of the events that transpired from Niamh's betrayal, to the reconciliation, and about Valka's plan to create a fake sacrifice for Excalibur. Weeks passed, Excalibur was known to be destroyed, except to the Hidden Ones and Niamh's clan, the Women of the Mist. However, Marcella was not invited to Avalon, as Niamh knew both women could not see eye to eye.

Personality and Traits

Despite being a high-ranking member of the Hidden Ones, an organization dedicated to protecting the powerless and persecuted from oppressive megalomaniacs, Marcella shows many questionable personality characteristics. Unlike Hytham, Marcella is shown to be arrogant, proud, distrustful, hot-headed, bloodthirsty, disrespectful, prejudiced and extremely paganphobic; especially against the Pagans of the British Isles like the Caledonians. This level of prejudice was always present whenever she would interact with Niamh of Argyll, an act which always made Hytham uncomfortable.

During a conversation with Hytham, he revealed to Niamh that Marcella's misogynistic mindset and this is likely due to being traumatised from her time as a slave for Cyrus, a member of the Order of the Ancients. He went on to state that having being forcibly pit against other women by someone like Cyrus has deeply warped Marcella's view of women as a whole; turning Marcella pathologically hostile to every woman she encounters. However, he also went on to state that Marcella needs to sort out her own issues and come to grow as a person, she she can evolve beyond her trauma and her prejudices.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Sword of the White Horse (first appearance)