Niamh of Argyll

Niamh of Argyll
Biographical information
Species	Human
Political information
Affiliations	Women of the Mist Hidden Ones British Brotherhood

Niamh of Argyll was a Celtic witch-warrior of the Women of the Mist from Caledonia and a member of the British Hidden Ones who was active in Mercia in the late 9th century. In 878, she briefly infiltrated the British Hidden Ones as an initiate to learn of their intentions in Britain and from there was able to reclaim Excalibur from Eivor Varinsdottir for her people. Despite her betrayal, Niamh was eventually able foster a friendship between the Women of the Mist and the Hidden Ones against the Order of the Ancients and their allies, the Descendants of the Round Table.

Biography

Early life

From a young girl to a novice witch-warrior, Niamh defended her people from Viking raiders during the Viking expansion. Becoming a full-fledged witch-warrior for her village in Argyll, Niamh followed her mother's footsteps and even took on an apprentice, Birdie. The witch-warrior training took four-years, during which Argyll was unprotected.

Spying on the Hidden Ones

In 878, Niamh learned of the Hidden Ones and their attempt at establishing a foothold in Lunden. Dictated by The Lady of Avalon, the leader of her clan, the Women of the Mist, she was assigned to infiltrated them by becoming a Hidden One herself. With Birdie, Niamh took her horse, Mathan, and rode towards Lunden, Mercia. Passing through Hadrian's Wall, she ventured through England for the first time but later came across a trio of bandits, who captured Birdie. Niamh challenged and defeated the bandits, who were injured or ran away. From this event, Niamh sent Birdie back home as she continued to Lunden alone.

Niamh arrived at the Hawk's Nest along the Tamesis River and met with the Hidden Ones Hytham and Marcella. After briefly introducing themselves, she quickly settled in and began to rest within the tavern. The next day, Niamh met with her hosts again as Marcella shares her distrust of her. On the other hand, she began to test her abilities with Hytham quickly afterwards. However, during the test, she blended into a crowd of worshippers and was approached by a nun, who shared rumors of women being kidnapped by an organization called the Order of the Ancients. After the test, Niamh soon relayed the information to the Hidden Ones, who confirmed their ongoing war with the Order. In fact, Niamh was later assigned her first Order target, the priest Father Deoric, in Cote. Reluctant, Niamh agreed, left, and traveled to Cote.

Niamh infiltrated Cote in a disguise as she noted the community and later Deoric's sermon within his Church. Later, she traveled to the countryside and found a Celtic pagan house and an inhabitant, Wisweth. After a short standoff, Niamh talked with Wisweth, who told her about Deoric's actions of desecrating her husband's cairn and his forceful conversion laws. Seeing how Deoric disgraced Wisweth's husband's grave, Niamh headed to his house and waited for an opportunity to kill him. Gaining access, Niamh privately confronted the priest, who began to tease and insult her presence. However, she attacked the priest, who became scared and befuddled. With no time, Niamh quickly killed Deoric and recovered his notes. However, her killing led the Cote community to resort to attack and kill Wisweth in her home. Remorseful, Niamh headed to Avalon to talk to The Lady.

Search for Excalibur

Atop Glastonbury Tor, Niamh met with The Lady and admitted her shortcomings from her last mission and how she wanted to quit. Yet, Niamh was told to continue as the mention of Excalibur among Deoric's notes means that groups, like their foes, the Descendants of the Round Table, may be hunting for their holy sword. Wanting to be assured, she was graced by The Lady's hand as she left to return to the Hidden Ones in Lunden. She arrived back at Hawk's Nest, only to hear a new visitor within the bureau talking to Marcella and Hytham. After her eavesdropping, Niamh made herself known yet also relayed the mission's successes and failings to the Hidden Ones. However, due to her honesty, she was offered the rank of initiate as Marcella determined she had the ability to learn from her mistakes. She also received a Hidden Blade from Hytham, against Marcella's sentiments, while Valka tried to ascertain her true motives. The next day, Niamh woke up and met with an awake Valka. Tense, Niamh made sure to discuss her own distrust of Vikings as Valka assured her of only wanting to learn and accept other religions. However, Niamh gave off an unsure presence, which Valka picked up.

However, their conversation was cut short as Niamh was asked by Hytham to join her on a quest to a keep guarded by another Order member, Cyrus. Niamh accepted but Valka and Marcella shared their worries and questions on Hytham's current wellbeing as well as Niamh's experience. Nevertheless, Niamh and Hytham continued to travel along the Tamesis River and soon found the keep. Together, they infiltrated the keep and tried to find both evidence of Cyrus' presence as well as the hostage. Although they found the pagan woman, Niamh noticed Hytham being attacked by a guard. After helping him, Niamh later found Cyrus' room and notes between the Order and the Descendants looking for Excalibur. After helping Hytham escape with the hostage, Niamh went to find the horses, only to be met by Cyrus.

After a brief conversation, Niamh was soon attacked by Cyrus. Overpowered, Niamh went a different route and moved Cyrus back towards Mathan. After enough times, Niamh made Mathan startled as her horse knocked out Cyrus cold. Going to kill him, Niamh hesitated as she reminded herself of Deoric and left Cyrus naked, bloodied, and weaponless. Niamh and Hytham left with the woman and headed towards Lunden. At Hawk's Nest, Niamh tended to Hytham's wounds as well as the woman, Ebba. Once Hytham went to rest, she talked with Ebba, who detailed of Cyrus' plan and current works at the Order's nunnery. Niamh also heard that a Woman of the Mist was recently captured and interrogated at the nunnery. Helping Ebba, she led the woman back to her home. However, Niamh found herself in front of her allies as she explained herself, especially to an irritated Marcella. However, as Hytham understood, Niamh later presented evidence of Order's partnership with the Descendants as Hytham knew to contact his ally Eivor Varinsdottir about Excalibur. After explaining herself, Niamh left the tavern to collect her thoughts.

Niamh thought of a plan to infiltrate the nunnery with Valka's help. Asking Hytham, she received his blessing as she left for Avalon to discuss news on Excalibur. With no formalities, she told The Lady of Excalibur being with the Norse Viking and wanting to ask it back. Immediately, Niamh saw The Lady demand it back as Niamh questioned why the Descendants wanted it so much. Niamh was given the truth of how the Descendants originally consisted of the sons of Avalon, especially its founder, Mordred. Torn, Niamh agreed to retrieve Excalibur as she left for Ravensthorpe. Arriving at Valka's home, Niamh found and met with the seeress. She asked Valka if she can come to the nunnery and explained that if the women are hurt, she would need medical help. As Valka quickly accepted, Niamh and her left for the nunnery and soon found themselves in a tense environment within the town near the nunnery.

Soon, Niamh and Valka were attacked by a young girl, who was initially hostile. However, Niamh assured no harm as the girl spoke of the nunnery and its soldiers condemning all pagan women and how most women never returned from there. Seeing no choice, Niamh left the girl with Valka as she went to the nunnery. Inside, Niamh found and killed a guard and then stole his armor to blend with the soldiers. There, she noticed the horrible conditions and the hurt women all around. Niamh started to save the women slowly but knew she needed to do more. Despite Valka's signal to leave, she ventured more in until she saw an alive Cyrus. Before she could hide, she was spotted by Cyrus and soon surrounded by the guards. Hopeless, Niamh almost relented as the captive women started to fight back. Although many imprisoned women died, Niamh escaped with other women as she left with Valka away from the nunnery.

Arriving back at Hawk's Nest, Niamh was soon confronted by Marcella, who questioned her loyalty and insulted her honor as a Hidden One. Fed up, Niamh challenged Marcella to a trial by combat to determine her loyalty. However, their fight began to grow as an audience formed around them. As Marcella fought to kill, Niamh held her own while speaking aloud of Marcella's prejudice. With Hytham's help, Niamh stopped the fight as Marcella stormed off. Privately, she and Hytham went to speak about their next step, which was to travel to Caledonia and meet with Eivor. Hiding her true mission, Niamh agreed to their last mission. As they traveled past Hadrian's Wall, she made sure to guide Hytham correctly through the bogs and hidden traps. Meanwhile, Niamh knew she had to betray him for her real objective.

Retaking Avalon's sword

After their ventures through the woods, Niamh and Hytham found Eivor and her warriors fighting against the Picts. Seeing Excalibur in Eivor's hands, she joined the fight along with Hytham and Eivor and pushed back the Picts. She was then quickly introduced to Eivor, who invited them back to her encampment. While Hytham and Eivor left to discuss matters, she was left with Eivor's warriors and felt tensions grow. Luckily, mentions of Valka calmed down the warriors' worries as Niamh left to investigate and find Eivor's tent. After a while, she found the tent but hid once Hytham and Eivor came to talk about the Order's interest in Excalibur. She continued to hide until Hytham and Eivor coincidentally left to find her. Niamh rose from her hiding place and saw her opportunity in front of her.

Taking Excalibur, Niamh tried to escape the encampment but was found by Hytham and Eivor. Within their conversation, however, Niamh was asked by Eivor about the sword she was carrying. Silent, Niamh was immediately attacked by Eivor, who accused her of working with the Order. Niamh told them it was for her people before running off. Taking another horse, she tried to run off and hide. Yet, she was followed by a shocked Hytham, who took her horse and let it loose. On foot, Niamh found a Pictish village and was confronted by a mother. Trading favors, Niamh was able to stay and blend after her son's illness. After losing Eivor's warriors, Niamh found another horse and left for Avalon. On foot and tired, she continued until she noticed that she was being followed by two Briton soldiers.

Ambushing the soldiers, Niamh killed one and interrogated the other soldier. She was told that the Order knew her appearance as well as the location of Hawk's Nest. Knocking the soldier out, she noticed she was poisoned. No place to go, she headed for Valka to make sure Hytham and the bureau remained safe. Ill, Niamh found lodging at an inn and slept at its stables. However, she awoke to a Descendant holding a knife to her throat, Quickly, she incapacitated the soldier, who told her of Hawk's Nest already being destroyed. Leaving the young Descendant in shame, Niamh pushed forward and traveled to Valka's hut. There, Niamh was met by an upset Valka, who initially tried to kill her. However, she explained how her clan had a history with the sword and its true value by comparing it to Mjölnir's significance for Valka's people. Once Valka listened and understood, Niamh was given medicine and told to rest.

Fooling the world

The next day, Niamh woke up to hear Valka and Hytham argue on Niamh's current status. Although Valka explained Niamh's points, the witch-warrior noticed a group of nine Descendants coming towards them. Warning her allies, Niamh waited and made the first attack against the Descendant soldiers. Luckily, Niamh had help from Hytham and together, they killed all their attackers. Niamh answered all of Hytham's questions along with Valka as a calmer Hytham asked Valka about the next step. As Valka explained the plan, an unwell Niamh was given the chance to take the real Excalibur to Avalon while Valka and Hytham will fool the world. Requiring more rest, Niamh slept as the rest planned. The next day, Niamh was readied and counseled by Valka about her part of their ruse as she hugged Valka for her help.

Niamh was seemingly chased by Hytham and Valka as "Excalibur" was in their possession. Being chased off, she actually held the sword as Valka and Hytham left for White Horse to burn and sacrifice the fake replica. At Avalon, she returned and presented the sword to her Lady. However, Excalibur began to glow in Niamh's hands as it has decided a worthy suitor. Weeks passed, she and The Lady invited Hytham and Valka to Avalon as they conferred the response of the ceremony. With the Order losing interest and the Descendants in disarray, their plan of Excalibur being gone to the world succeeded. More news arose as Niamh was chosen to the next Lady of Avalon. The choice to be a liaison with the Hidden Ones or a Lady in waiting was hers to choose. Happy, Niamh was hugged by her new friends as she was now able to choose what life she wanted.

Personality and traits

Niamh had dark auburn hair which she plaited and held back with an orange ribbon. She wore the garb of her people and a leather pouch at her hip. She wore a lunar tattoo on her upper forearm, a symbol of her faith in Avalon. Niamh was strongly faithful to Avalon and the ways of the Women of the Mist, and would carry out the will of the Lady without question.

Skills and equipment

Being a member of the Women of the Mist, Niamh was able to decipher their coded messages with little difficulty. Taught by the women of her clan, she was skilled in herb craft and later learnt the way of the sword to protect Avalon. Niamh trained for four years to become the witch-warrior of Argyll, replacing her mother. After joining the Hidden Ones, Niamh was given a Hidden Blade by Hytham.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Sword of the White Horse