Nir NPCs
Zazaz, the last of the waterworks Maintainers - a genetically engineered sub-race of the kobolds that had lived in the depths below Nir. Zazaz's "soul-task" is the take care of and operate the waterworks gate and corresponding controls. He is the last of his tribe, the others having died from age or killed and eaten by their cannibalistic cousins. Zazaz has taken to hiding in an old genetics lab with Kruun the Old, a rat that had been crossed with a blue dragon in hopes of creating living batteries for machinery. The Maintainers must attend to their soul-tasks, regardless of the danger it puts them in, the need and emotional reward received from attending to their task was programmed into their dna by the Nir. If they do not fulfill their purpose, then they are overcome by depression, loss of appetite and will eventually die. It's why the Maintainers and others of their kind were so easily wiped out by their savage cousins, their tasks forced them out of hiding and into public places where they were found and killed. Zazaz has been clever and very lucky thus far, though he had finally been caught, having established a relationship with Clan Strong - he would inform them of the kobolds patrol routes & tactics and they would pay him with beer and bread. He was captured by one of the Hunger priests and his gang and was being interrogated when the Ree companions came to his "rescue".
Ashtir Dumaa, a vain and pompous half-janni bard who was once a guardian of Al-Lorin (janni & human-genie halfbreeds enslaved by magical collars to genie masters). When the city fell, the collars were temporarily deactivated and he fled north beyond the mountains. He lived a rather wretched live, making a meager living as a vagabond, adventurer & entertainer. He eventually met a goblin-snake mercenary priest of Shall, named Krinnis and found that they worked very well together, eventually becoming friends. They established themselves as a successful bounty hunter duo. Ashtir and Krinnis were recently hired by the terrifying Andaro Halfwraith of Sedas to track down an escaped kaishan slave and retrieve some important schematics she had stolen. An elven knight, Danilis, who was apparently responsible for the slave's theft & escape, was sent with them. Due to a terrible misunderstanding while in Nir, Krinnis was slain and both Ashtir and Danilis were captured by the Ree companions.
Ashtir has been accompanying and assisting the party.
Skitik, one of the Nirish kobold Stewards, Stitik tends to the High Hall of Toba Starskipper. Years ago she managed to seal off the entrances into her hall by causing a cave in at the main entrance, burying the outer door. There are two small entrances, not well known, and too small for the Drudge and the smaller kobolds are terrified of the Stewards' powers, so they do not dare enter her domain. The entrance to the great library of Nir is located down a corridor from the High Hall, but is guarded by a daemon that had been set there by one of the Drudge Sorcerers. Stitik possesses the power to commune with the Alfred crystal archives as well as the shadow of Toba echoing throughout the crystals of Nir and his companions she had guarded until those worthy to claim them appeared.
Toba, not as dead as believed. He had left a shadow of his mind within the crystal archives and through his powerful mental abilities and knowledge of the psionic crystal network he was able to safeguard his mind long after his death, and the dark fate of his people. Toba had taken an interest in his descendant Barron and his companions and had hijacked the transportation AI Alfred 21 hologram, claiming to be an "unshackled ai" so that he could directly interact with the Ree adventurers. Toba's story varies depending on which tapestry, mural or storybook one reads in Nir. His "ghost" isn't entirely clear on the true story himself, as he only possesses a fraction of Toba's memories. The truth of the tale was lost when Toba was cast into the Primordial Hunger. Unless perhaps his daughter, who had been exiled to a place called Sanctuary with other Nir who disagreed with how the Nir were treating other races as slaves documented their story.
Fade, a Factotum kobold with the soul-tasked as a kitchen sculler. Of the four Factotum that the Ree adventurers had...captured? Rescued? He seems the only one who has not had his individuality and personality crushed by the long servitude to the Drudge, Jeffrey. Fade and Zazaz have started to develop a friendship.
Sitha, a medusa who had been trapped in Sanctuary and now lives in Nir after the party rescued her. She knew Aidan's father.
Meg, Bran's niece and Queen of the Goblins
Nebee, the most skilled of the goblin psions. He has been speaking with the Chosen and doing a lot of study in the Nir library. He has some theories about their programming, their "soul tasks". He believes that there might be a way to alter the psionic sequences in the Hatchery chamber's construction to remove the branding of future generations. He can see no possible way to correct the conditioning in existing Chosen without damaging them, but believes he may be able to spare future generations the mental/emotional conditioning that has plagued the Chosen since the Nir "ascended" them.
