Nyktos

by Dominique Wesson

**Nyktos** (*pronounced: Nik-toes*) is the current Primal of Death and the King of the Gods.

## Biography

### Early Life

Not much is known about Nyktos' early life. He was born after his mother was killed by Kolis, earning him the nickname "Blessed". After his father's death, he was tested by his uncle multiple times to determine if he still had embers of life in him. It is suggested that Kolis had individuals Nyktos cared about being killed in front of him, so he could bring them back to life. However Nyktos believed he had convinced the False Primal of Life that he does not care for his mother and hates his father and thinks he was weak.

At some point before Seraphena Mierel is brought in the Shadowlands as his future consort, he had the Primal Maia remove his *kardia* - the part of the soul responsible for loving. He did not want love to be used against him and his greatest fear would be turning into Kolis.

## Personality

Nyktos is often described to be thoughtful, grounded, honourable, methodical and trusting. He is shown to be smart and calculating, having a façade when dealing with other Primals. He also did not treat mortals as harsh as other Gods or Primals, shown in the way he talked to Princess Kayleigh, when they visit Irelone. He is respected by his guards and subjects. They feel safe and comfortable bringing issues and problems to his attention and seeking his advice. Aios had claimed that where Nyktos is, is the only place she feels protected.

## Physical Description

Nyktos is described as incredibly tall and muscular with thick, wavy, red-brown hair, and eyes that glow silver with eather. His skin is a lustrous, golden-brown color. His cheekbones are high and broad, his nose straight as a blade and his mouth full and wide. He wears a silver band around his right biceps, which is where his horse, Odin, is being called from - Odin is an extension of Nyktos, but still a living being. Furthermore, Nyktos has an ink sprawling across the entire length of his back, from the upper swells of his rear all the way to the edges of his hair. In the center of his back is a circular, twisted swirl that grows larger, lashing out to form tick tendrils, that reach around his waist to flow along his hips. The ink is made of drops that represent blood. They represent someone whose life was lost by his hands, actions or because of decision he made or didn't.

## Powers & Abilities

### Powers

* **Empathy**: Like his Granddaughter, Penellaphe Balfour, Nyktos is gifted with the power of empathy, allowing him to reach out and feel emotions in people. In A Shadow in the Ember, Nyktos told Seraphena this gift comes from his mother's side.
* **Shifting**: Nyktos is able to shift into the form of a white wolf.

### Abilities

* **Weapons Expert**: Nyktos is an expert with several kind of weapons, due to his preference to often fight with them instead of using his eather.
* **Skilled Fighter**: Even without weapons, Nyktos is an extremely skilled figher.

## Gallery

by Alicia Mestre Bruceby Ani Larminaby Fernanda Fernandez
## Trivia

* According to Reaver, Nyktos doesn't have a last name.
* Nyktos is represented as a father and has an affiliation with the night, moonlight, and the wolven. He often turns the day sky into dark in order to signal his sign of approval (which was seen at Poppy's and Casteel Da'Neer's wedding).
* Nyktos is related to Poppy (grandfather/granddaughter), as she is a direct descendant of his as is Millicent.
* As a Primal of Death, Nyktos is not not able to visit souls that have passed through judgement. There is a risk of destroying the mortal's soul if the are in the Primal's presence for any extended period of time. That is the balance to prevent them from creating their version of life. There is no exact rule for gods or other mortals, but it would be unwise.
* Nyktos' mother's soul was destroyed by Kolis, but Eythos' soul was captured by him. Nyktos asks Holland if he know what happened with his father, but unfortunatelly the fate of a fallen Primal is hidden from the Arae. *"His soul wasn't destroyed." Ash's skin had thinned as wisps of eather swirled in his eyes once more. “Kolis still retained some ember of death in him, just like my father retained some of his ember of life. Enough power for Kolis to capture and hold a soul. He has my father’s soul."*[*citation needed*]

## References

1. ↑ Pronunciation Guide in *The War of Two Queens*
2. ↑ Chapter 47, *A Light in the Flame*
3. ↑ Chapter 41, *The War of Two Queens*