Nihim Sethi

## Appearances

The Shadow of What Was Lost

**Nihim** is an old friend of Taeris Sarr. He has been posing undercover as a priest of Marut Jha Talkanar in Thrindar, but leaves this operation to assist Taeris' traveling party on their journey through Deilannis.

## Description

### Appearance

Nihim has long black hair, which he keeps bound when on official business. He is considerably tall, and moves with a sure step and confident air befitting his prominent station.

### Personality

While undercover, Nihim maintains a stately and professional veneer suitable for a high priest. His private interactions reveal that his sense of humour and faith in El remains strong and active despite the facade.

## History

**This section write-up is in progress.**

### Dangerous Knowledge

Nihim worked closely with Taeris Sarr and Thell Taranor in Tol Athian before the Unseen War. Jakarris si'Irthidian, the leader of the prewar Augurs at the time, had Seen that those three were fated to survive the events of the revolution, and entrusted them with knowledge pivotal to Andarra's protection via memory transfer. Nihim received in-depth knowledge of Andarra's enemies.

Jakarris had also Seen the specifics of Nihim's death: He would be killed in approximately twenty years during a journey through Deilannis, but his sacrifice would be for the benefit of one of the most important men of the age. Jakarris swore that nobody else would be harmed in the process. Nihim chose to share this information with Taeris, his closest friend, and resigned himself to his fate soon after discovering it.

### Post-Revolution

Alongside the other two Jakarris had entrusted with his knowledge, he attempted to use it in defense of Andarra. The results of the trio's experiments created the sha'teth.

At some point after the Unseen War, Nihim incurred a great debt to Taeris after requesting assistance in saving a woman. The events were partially responsible for Taeris' exile from Andarra and ostracism from Tol Athian.

Nihim later left Tol Athian to work undercover as a priest in Thrindar, Desriel. It is speculated that Nihim was providing information to the Athian council during this time.

## Activities in *The Shadow of What Was Lost*

### Undercover Assistance

Upon realizing that Thrindar is far more crowded and policed than he expected, Taeris decides to seek the help of Nihim in getting his traveling party across the Desriel-Andarra border. He guides them to the temple of Marut Jha Talkanar, where he knows that his old friend Nihim is working undercover as a high priest. Leaving the boys to wait in the temple's sitting room, he fetches the false priest from deeper inside the temple and introduces him to the travelers. Nihim is heavily inebriated at the time (providing Davian and Wirr much amusement), as Talkanar's doctrine states that followers must celebrate the month of Jil'imor by engaging in debauchery. He requests an hour to clear his head, and invites Taeris' party to wait inside the temple — which is much safer than usual since his followers are all out celebrating.

When Nihim returns, far more sober, he properly greets Taeris' party and hears out the request for assistance in getting a message to the King. He informs them that Princess Karaliene is there in his stead, but agrees to carry Taeris' message requesting urgent help and extraction to one of the Gifted in her entourage. Before he departs, he asks Taeris to speak with him in private, and the pair use the time to catch up and discuss their shared history. He returns soon after with two Desrielite soldiers in tow, and instructs the pair to escort Taeris' group to see the Princess.

### Abandoning the Charade

Despite Nihim's best efforts, the Princess is unable to help Taeris in any meaningful way. Word of this reaches the false priest and, relying on intuition alone, he decides to abandon his post and ride towards Deilannis, where he expects to find a dejected Taeris and his companions. His assumption is correct, and he catches up to them on the road, offering his help for their journey. After briefly butting heads with the touchy Aelric Shainwiere, he once again leaves the group to speak privately with Taeris, unaware that Davian is eavesdropping on them.

The pair discuss Nihim's abandonment of the priesthood, and somberly grapple with Nihim'a inevitable fate — which was confirmed by Taeris' arrival to the temple. Nihim expresses gratitude at the chance to live a meaningful life, but also shares his regret for being unable to repay Taeris for saving a woman's life at high cost to himself. Taeris comforts him by claiming he bears no grudge or ill will for the events of the past. Nihim warns Taeris to be careful on his journey, and asks an emotional Taeris not to mourn his absence. As they return to camp, Nihim compliments Karaliene's choice of escort, and teases Taeris' frustrated inability to learn of her connection to Wirr.

Before they return, the pair discover the presence of a sha'teth spying on the camp. It sees them, but doesn't attack, preferring to demand that the travelers hand over Caeden instead. The group, Nihim included, emphatically refuse, and it leaves, causing the ex-priest to speculate that the creature must have reason to fear the young man. Coincidentally, they both draw first watch and Nihim takes the opportunity to learn more about the mysterious traveler. They discuss philosophy, faith, and the nature of free will, largely coloured by the potential existence of El and Shammaeloth. As Caeden's attention begins to wane Nihim offers to take the watch alone, but encourages the young man to consider these topics and define his own beliefs in order to better understand himself.

### Embracing Destiny

Nihim continues to escort the group on a peaceful and relatively straightforward journey towards Deilannis. He shares Taeris' uneasy vigilance, thinking it unlikely that the sha'teth would simply give up its pursuit after one rebuke. His suspicions are proven right as the sha'teth returns with a partner, and the pair frantically harry the group all the way to the edge of the forsaken city (which the sha'teth are unable to enter). Safely within the boundaries of Deilannis, Taeris asks all of the travelers to wear a Shackle for safety. They are one short of equipping everyone but, aware of the false priest's fate, Nihim and Taeris insist that Nihim does not require one. Wirr's shackle somehow causes him great physical pain and it is decided that he should be exempt from wearing it, yet Nihim still refuses it when it is offered to him instead.

As the group ventures through the city, they are assailed by visions of ghostly ex-inhabitants and Banes. One such vision appears behind Dezia Shainwiere, causing Wirr to panic and attack it with Essence. The blast summons a ferocious beast, which causes the group to break into a sprint to escape. Mysteriously, Caeden remarks that he knows the path to the Northern Bridge and Taeris orders the younger travelers to follow Caeden at all costs. Taeris attempts to stay behind and learn more about Deilannis but Nihim reprimands him for being callous with the group's safety and convinces his old friend to follow and protect them.

Despite his foreknowledge of subsequent events, Nihim joins the group in attempting to escape the city. He falls as the result of an injured ankle and, despite his insistence on being left alone, is dragged by Davian into the ruined remains of a house. The pair attempt to hide, but are quickly discovered by the creature, which slowly approaches Davian with the apparent intent of killing him. Nihim emphatically states that Davian is not supposed to die here, and leaps in front of the young Augur, receiving a mortal wound in the process. The beast then curiously examines Davian, speaking to him by name in Darecian, before peacefully leaving the house.

Still conscious, Nihim remarks upon the creature's apparent familiarity with Davian. As the young Augur desperately attempts to carry the Gifted man to safety, Nihim asks him not to bother and reveals that his death here was Seen by an Augur decades ago. Stubbornly, Davian still attempts to carry him, but the task proves physically taxing. As Davian puts the man down for a rest, Nihim uses the last of his lucid moments to impart two important messages on the young man. He tells Davian that Taeris believes him to be the man written of in Alchesh's ancient texts and Seen by generations of Augurs, fated to stop Aarkein Devaed from destroying the world. He attempts to reveal the nature of a Control link between Davian and Taeris that the fugitive had been hiding, but loses his grip on life before he can fully describe it.

Before Davian can process the death of the priest, he is whisked nearly a century back in time by Malshash. He asks his tutor if it is possible to travel back in time and save Nihim, but learns that it is impossible and mournfully accepts the loss of the ex-priest. Elsewhere, Taeris and his companions (who mistakenly believe Davian died alongside Nihim) mourn as well, and Taeris shares his bitter bewilderment at the apparent inaccuracy of the Augur's old vision. When Davian returns to Deilannis in the present, he is saddened by the sight of Nihim's corpse. Lacking both the time and the energy to provide a proper burial, he regretfully abandons it — and the barren streets of Deilannis serve as Nihim's final resting place.