- "I am Nyssa. Daughter of Ra's al Ghul. Heir to the demon."
- —Nyssa to Oliver Queen[src]
Nyssa al Ghul (Arabic: نيسا الغول); (born May 10, 1985), also known as Nyssa Raatko (Arabic: نيسا رعتكو), is a member of the League of Assassins. She is also the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, and the ex-lover and close friend of the late Sara Lance. She was the one who brought Sara to Nanda Parbat.
Biography
Early life
Little is known about Nyssa's life, except that she is the daughter of Ra's al Ghul and seemingly a high ranking member of the League of Assassins. She presumably met Sara, who was on the brink of death after being swept away from the Amazo. She took Sara in and nursed her back to health. At some point after this, Nyssa fell in love with Sara.
Season 2
In "Heir to the Demon", Nyssa arrived in Starling City to find Sara Lance. A scan of her passport declared her an active A.R.G.U.S. threat and agents attempting to detain her were met with brutal force at her hands. Following this she quickly left the airport.
Nyssa eventually found Sara, and kissed her much to Oliver's surprise when he was watching. She revealed she hadn't decided which she would do, also indicating that she knew Oliver was with them. Sara asked Oliver to let her handle Nyssa. The two walked away and discussed their former relationship. Nyssa expressed how hurt she was that Sara had just left her without saying goodbye. Sara responded to her with warmth and feeling, apologizing. She begged Nyssa to release her from the League just as Ra's al Ghul had done previously with Malcolm Merlyn, but Nyssa brushed this off as a horrible one-time mistake. After sharing another close moment, Sara told Nyssa she wouldn't go back, and to do what she had to. Sara stood waiting as Nyssa drew her dagger from her thigh. A surprise to her, Nyssa wouldn't kill her, leaving.
Later on, a member of the League kidnapped Sara's mother Dinah Lance, working with Nyssa. Oliver and Sara tried to stop them as they drove away, however Nyssa drove them back with a deadly stream of arrows. Nyssa called Sara, telling her that she had 24 hours to rejoin the League or Dinah would die.
Nyssa holding a dying Sara in her arms.
It is revealed Nyssa tricked Sara into coming back to Starling by poisoning Laurel Lance with snake venom, and having witnessed the other League member kill himself earlier, Sara decided to take his poison vial and told Nyssa she would rejoin the League. Upon arriving with her father, Nyssa released Dinah. She was happy to see Sara back, only to be shocked to see Sara had taken the poison. This sent Nyssa into a despairing rage. When Sara's parents arrived she immediately and swiftly disarmed Quentin and was about to kill them before being blocked by The Arrow. The two engaged in archery and hand-to-hand combat where Nyssa disarmed and almost killed Oliver with her dagger. However Oliver managed to trap her in a chokehold. As this happened, Sara struggled towards them, begging Oliver to spare her former lover. Oliver hurried to Sara's side, saving her with the herbs taken from Lian Yu. Touched by Sara's would-be final act, Nyssa declared Sara free from the League. As the police arrived, Nyssa was nowhere to be found.[1]
Sara later contacted her and agreed to join the League again if Nyssa would help save Starling City. Nyssa and a group of League members joined Oliver's team and armed themselves with arrows containing the cure. Oliver instructed Nyssa and her group that no one should be killed. They then confronted Slade in his office and beat all of his soldiers while he managed to escape. Nyssa and Sara managed to quickly take out Isabel Rochev who began to mock Oliver. Although technically acceding to Oliver's demand that there be no killings, Nyssa herself delivered the coup de grâce on a disarmed and neutralized Isabel Rochev, telling Oliver that "your reticence to do what is necessary is why your city burns". The group then went to the tunnel to engage Slade's Mirakuru-infused thug army. The group used their archery and close combat skills to beat the soldiers. Nyssa personally made several shots during the melee in the tunnel which saved Oliver or Roy. When Slade's plan had been derailed, Nyssa swore to Sara her father to keep her safe. She then took a willing Sara away with her on a ship to rejoin the League. [2]
Season 3
Upon Sara's disappearance, Nyssa storms into the Arrowcave, aiming an arrow at Oliver[3]. Oliver informed her of the death of Sara. Shocked with grief, she revealed that Malcolm Merlyn was still alive and that Sara had come to Starling City to trace a rumour that he was here. She visited Sara's grave where she meets Laurel, she swears a blood oath to avenge Sara's life using the Arabic Words "أقصم بحياتي", which mean I swear on my life, the rest of the oath is undistinguishable. She went to Sara's safehouse where she and Oliver found pictures and notes Sara had made while investigating Malcolm. Team Arrow and Nyssa found out Merlyn was hiding in a Buddhist temple. Infiltrating the temple she confronted the leader who was meditating (unaware it was Merlyn, as the leader had passed away years ago). Realizing it was Merlyn, she tried to kill him however he incapacitated her easily and fled the scene. Oliver managed to put a tracker on him. Nyssa was angry at Oliver that he did not attempt to kill him. After learning Oliver had talked to Malcolm and did not believe he killed Sara she became furious at him. Learning Thea was actually his daughter, she kidnapped Thea. Trying to lure Malcolm in, Oliver freed Thea and the two started a fight. Merlyn showed up and a wild melee started in which Malcolm managed to overpower Nyssa, and told her he did not kill Sara and suspected her own father Ra's al Ghul to be the killer. After a discussion Oliver refused to kill Merlyn, and told Nyssa he would not allow the League of Assassins to come near him. Angered by Oliver she shared her thought with Laurel and encouraged in her training to become stronger before leaving Starling City.
She was later shown informing her father, who assured her Malcolm would face justice. She did appear to have doubts about Malcolm's guilt in Sara's death, especially when her father stated that Sara "was never truly one of us". Upon hearing of Oliver's decision to protect Malcolm, he declared war.
She later left to Starling city with a group of assassins and captured Oliver. She informed him that he had 48 hours to find Sara her killer or the League would start killing citizens. After this she was present when the deathline had passed and her father talked with Oliver. Oliver said he had killed Sara which made her react in disbelief. Oliver lied that he killed her because she begged him as she did not want to return to the League. He then challenged her father for a trial by combat which he accepted.
She was present on the mountain where Oliver and her father would have the duel. She said she envied Oliver as he would see Sara soon (in death). her father engaged Oliver in combat. Being unarmed Ra's easily dodged Oliver's sword strikes. He ultimately mortally stabbed him and threw him off the mountain.
Personality
In the heat of battle, Nyssa shows a cold demeanor and a cold blooded killer side. When not in the heat of battle, contrasting what people would expect from her being in the League of Assassin as well as Ra's Al Ghul's daughter, Nyssa shows a warm, kind, and caring side.
Her pain is evident in her first appearance, heartbroken that Sara had left her behind. She was more upset over this than any apparent betrayal of the league. She refuses to kill Sara, even when she is offered the opportunity to do so. She finds herself stricken with grief when she discovers that Sara had poisoned herself, rushing to her aid and crying. An ultimate act of "kindness" on her part was releasing Sara from the threat of the League of Assassins; touched by Sara's undying care for her as the woman begged the Arrow not to kill her; despite being on the verge of dying herself. Her "friendliness" is also show in her debut; giving a warm smile and a playful wink to a young boy waiting in line near her at the airport. Nyssa also seems to be very moral as she simply subdued the guards that tried to arrest her during her debut and didn't involve innocent people and simply made her way out after she subdued them.
Nyssa can be just as cold as any other member of the League of Assassins. She acts more so out of personal vendetta than loyalty to the League. She wouldn't kill Sara, but she resorted to kidnapping her former lover's mother in retaliation. She delivers an ultimatum, declaring that she would show Sara how it felt to have someone she loves taken from her if she does not return. This act of vengeance for Sara leaving her continues. She feels once again abandoned when Sara would rather die than return to the league, and to her. She declares that if this were to be the case, she would kill Sara's family. However, she quickly abandoned this when she realized Sara would rather die than return to the League and chose to free her rather than letting her die. This implied she still cares for Sara despite them no longer being lovers. Even when Sara agreed to return to the League of Assassins in exchange for them helping subdue Slade's army, she told Quentin Lance she would die before she lets Sara die.
After Sara got killed she became furious and was convinced Malcolm was the killer. In the proces she even abducted Thea to draw Malcolm out. When Oliver did not believed Malcolm did it she quickly considered him an enemy as well, and was prepared to kill him. She had a deep hatred for Malcolm as she was convinced he had killed Sara despite him swearing on his daughter he was not responsible, it was later revealed she was correct as he had drugged Thea and had her kill Sara.
Nyssa is shown to be knowledgeable of cultures and respectful even when she is on a vendetta. This was shown when she referred to "Jansen" with the honourific "sensei" before threatening to kill him over Malcolm's location.
However, she is also arrogant towards people who are more powerful then she is, like Oliver and Malcolm, the latter who she threatened to kill, only to be bested by him.
Abilities
- Peak of human physical condition: As a highly skilled assassin, Nyssa is shown to be in top physical condition with fast reflexes.
- League of Assassins training: It can be assumed that Nyssa had gone through the training all League members do. She likely possesses skills with a variety of other melee weapons such as swords, darts or the dagger that she keeps at her thigh.
- Master hand-to-hand combatant/Martial artist: Nyssa has displayed that she is highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, with a prowess that seems to rival Oliver's. She was able to easily beat five armed guards in a matter of seconds. She faced the Arrow head on in a close quarters battle in which she almost beat him. She proved herself an agile fighter, using her light weight and flexibility to her advantage. But on two separate occasions, she has been defeated by Oliver and Malcolm. Nyssa is also noticeably much faster than Oliver and Malcolm.
- Master archer: Nyssa demonstrated skills in archery that also rivaled Oliver's. She was able to fire multiple arrows in rapid succession from a moving car at an even faster moving target. She was able to face off against the Arrow in a duel of archers and nearly won; depriving the Arrow of his quiver with one of her arrows. She was able to quickly fire arrows while dodging his shots at her. Keeping up with the Arrow in this fashion had only been done by Malcolm Merlyn.
- Master swordswoman: As a member of the League of Assassins, Nyssa is a master swordswoman. In "The Magician", she used a sword against Oliver and Malcolm.
- Free running/Acrobatics: Nyssa is shown to be highly skilled in entering and leaving buildings. Like Sara she uses a scarf to quickly descend down from ceilings.
- Toxicology: Nyssa displayed a familiarity with poisons, using a small amount to poison Laurel Lance in a ruse to bring Sara back, as well as knowing that Sara was poisoned immediately. She later used a dart to make Roy pass out.
Equipment
- League of Assassins Costume: Nyssa wears a custom suit of black robes, unique from the usual garb worn by League assassins. Her suit differs in that it features loose fitting garbs and a red shoulder pauldron.
- Customized Compound Bow: Nyssa wields a personal compound bow, similar to that of Malcolm Merlyn. It is possible that this bow is signature to the League of Assassins.
- Customized Hunting Arrows: Nyssa carries a number of black arrows with her at all times. These arrows feature a special red fletching and tip.
- Quiver: Nyssa wears a black quiver to keep arrows on her back at all times.
- Dagger: Nyssa carries a personalized dagger at her right thigh. It features a gold trim and a marked blade. She draws this dagger upon seeing Sara and during her battle against the Arrow.
- Sword: Nyssa can proficiently wield a sword.
- Scarf: Nyssa uses a scarf to descend down a ceiling. She also used a scarf to block Malcolm's arrows.
- Darts: Nyssa was shown using a dart to poison Roy Harper and make him pass out.
Appearances
Arrow
Season 2
Season 3
Trivia
- In the DC comics, one of the daughters of Ra's al Ghul is actually named Nyssa Raatko. In "Heir to the Demon", Nyssa's passport is under this name.
- Nyssa is the fourth character who uses a bow as her main weapon other than Oliver.
- In the promo for "Heir to the Demon", Nyssa is shown in full costume battling Roy Harper, however this scene did not make it into the final episode.
- Nyssa has a habit of introducing herself to characters who do not know who she is, like Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak; like when she said, "I am Nyssa. Daughter of Ra's al Ghul. Heir to the demon".
- Her name in Arabic (نيسا الغول = Nyssa al Ghul) in English literally translates to "Woman Ghoul" or "The Ghoul's Woman" with Nyssa meaning "woman" and al Ghul meaning "(the) ghoul". Though because her father's name "Ra's al Ghul" in the DC comics translates to mean "The Demon's Head", Nyssa's name in the DC universe means "The Demon's Woman".
- Nyssa's advice for Laurel to turn her hips because it's where the power comes from is the same advice Oliver gave Diggle in season 1.
Gallery
Concept artwork
References
- ↑ "Heir to the Demon"
- ↑ "Unthinkable"
- ↑ "Corto Maltese"