A * next to a character's name indicates that they are a reader-sponsored cameo.
Nal'sarkoth clan symbol
The Nal'sarkoth are originally from another underground city called Mimaneid, which is why they appear somewhat darker than standard Chelians, as well as seeming to have shorter ears than other drow. In some ways a rival to the Val'Illhar'dro as both clans hold a monopoly on trade, but they also work together for their mutual benefit and are on friendly terms with each other. It also helps that their trade links are mutually co-operative, the Illhar'dro mostly focus on underworld contacts and expansion, whereas the Nal'Sarkoth specialise in overworld trade and settlements as explained by the writers in the Nal'Sarkoth clan podcast
. open/close all folders
General
- All There in the Manual: The clan's history, as written by the clan's creators.
- Animal Motifs: Their clan mount appears to be some type of yak◊ called a Haledri.
- Bodyguard Betrayal: According to the Daydream story set in Mimaneid, the Nal'sarkoth were originally allied with the Kashyra, a clan they had hired to do mercenary and security work for them, but this became an example of Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal since the Kashyra didn't feel appreciated by the Nal'sarkoth, so they were eventually overthrown, the original leader killed and only Rel'lumia and a few others escaping to Chel.
- Color Motif: Lots and lots of green, which represents fertility and abundance, a fitting color for a clan of merchants. Appropriately, they have an affinity for wood and plants.
-
Contest Winner Cameo: A variation, in that they were created by two fans as part of a contest and then added to the series' official canon, and as a fairly major player in Chel's political scene, too. - Elemental Eye Colors: Most members of the clan seem to have green eyes, which fits with the fact that they tend to have wood affinities.
- Everyone Went to School Together: It's not canon that the two clans would recognize each other, but it has now been confirmed that the Jaal'darya also once lived in Mimaneid.
- Green Thumb: The clan's hat, since they're among the only people in Chel who know how to work with plants, have affinities for wood and have major ties to the surface, and because green dye is expensive and hard to get they use it as their clan's color.
- Hufflepuff House: So far they've played this role in the main story, but they're very important in the Path To Power and Relic Hunters games.
- Intrepid Merchant: Like the Illhar'dro they have many ties to the surface and trade is their main source of income.
- Noble Fugitive: The entire clan became this after having to flee their home city of Mimaneid before they settled in Chel.
- Odd Couple: Their house is made up of various races, and not just drow. This is due to a need to bulk up their numbers and the fact that their trading covers a vast network area. Some dwarves and even halmes head minor sub-houses but when entering Chel are almost always accompanied by a drow.
- Properly Paranoid: They designed their home in Chel so that an attack like the one that drove them out of Mimaneid couldn't happen again, and they actively cultivate positive relationships with other clans to avoid the jealousy and discontent that caused it. Unfortunately, it happens again during the Puppeteer Incident when Rel'lumia is killed by her own bodyguards.
- Self-Made Orphan: Rel'lumia's second daughter attempted this but failed.
Rel'lumia
Rel'lumia Val'Nal'sarkoth
The Illharess of the Val'Nal'sarkoth clan.- Bodyguard Betrayal: She used beast guards to keep herself safe. But when Kharla'ggen's Phlebotinum Overload People Puppets all the fae, the beast guards themselves, who were immune to this power, took advantage of the event to betray and kill her.
- Character Tics: Gesturing with her fan◊.
- Death by Irony: She was theoretically the best protected when Kharla'ggen was ordered to kill all the clan leaders, since her goblin bodyguards were immune to Kharla's People Puppets power. And yet, she was the only great clan leader to be killed during the event since said guards took advantage of it to betray her instead.
- Dies Wide Open: When her corpse was found after the Puppeteer incident, her eyes were wide open and of the pupil-less/iris-less variant, suggesting she died in agony.
- Green Thumb: As is her clan's hat.
- Immigrant Patriotism: Though originally from Mimaneid, Rel'lumia shows a large amount of concern for her adopted homeland.
- Proud Merchant Race: At the Ill'haress gathering called by Zala'ess preTimeSkip, she is one of the most vocal supporters for drow expansion to the surface world.
Ini'riia*
Ini'riia Val'Nal'sarkoth*note
Rel'lumia's eldest daughter and heir. She knows Kel'noz from many years ago, appearing in early chapters chronicling Ariel starting Orthobbae. She later attends the Council Dome meeting in Chapter 16, as a Nal'sarkoth representative. Her most recent appearance is in Chapter 38, when she is caught up in the Vloz attack on North Cliff. Her concept art can be found here.- Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Notably averted during chapter 38. Her hair is very frizzy, likely from the heat, and she seems to have a burn on her right cheek. Amusingly, her white dress seems to be spotless, meaning it got off better than she did.
- Bullet-Proof Fashion Plate: In Chapter 38 she wears a pure white dress that somehow manages to escape damage.
- Curtains Match the Window: Though her hair is almost certainly dyed.
- Giant Poofy Sleeves: On her dress in Chapter 38, though a bit lower down than most, and her actual shoulders are bare, leaving them as semi-detached sleeves.
- New Old Flame: For Kel'noz if you take the Daydream story where she has a crush on him as canon.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Was concerned with the fate of one of the landlords in her district in Chapter 38.
- Side-Story Bonus Art: She has also appeared in a Daydream story chronicling Mel'arnach's own years at Orthobbae.
- Unexpected Successor: Despite being heir, she never actually expected to become clan leader, but with the clan constantly killing its own leaders one by one, she ends up as a Reluctant Ruler anyways.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Delivers a small pep-talk to Ariel along these lines.
Gailen
Gailen Val'Nal'sarkoth
Ini'riia's youngest son, and a classmate of Ariel's. He is put in the spotlight in the maybe canon contest story Disharmony. The first time we see him since Ariel was at school is in Chapter 39 where he is waiting for Shinae to give birth.- The Bus Came Back: After disappearing from the story after Ariel leaves Orthorrbae, he reappears in Chapter 39, waiting for Shinae to give birth. He then fades away from the story again, before re-reappearing in Chapter 51, having apparently been looking for Shinae this entire time.
- Disappeared Dad: His father is from another city, though Ini'riia hopes to meet him again someday.
- Dogged Nice Guy: As Shinae's boyfriend, although the contest story Disharmony shows that he can give as good as he gets in terms of snark.
- Heroic BSoD: The sight of Shinae's deformed stillborn baby sends him into a minor one, and tells them to burn it before she sees it.
- Green Thumb: Like most Nal'Sarkoth, he has an elemental affinity for wood.
- The Masochism Tango: This was the opinion of most people regarding his relationship with Shinae in Disharmony.
- Official Couple: With Shinae after the timeskip, thanks to a side story by Zeerose.
- The Quiet One: His first spoken line of dialog is 15 pages after his first appearance.
- Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Describes his relationship with Shinae, for a given definition of Shinae's energetic.
- Security Blanket: How he seems to use his tiktikki.
- Shrinking Violet:
- During introductions he looks very nervous and clutches his tiktikki.
- Word of God on his relationship with Shinae also suggests this:Gailen remainednote simply because he is too good of a man, patient or perhaps a touch masochistic.
- During introductions he looks very nervous
- Understanding Boyfriend: To Shinae, and how! No wonder Word of God above suggests that he is a masochist.
Kyolr'gan*
Kyolr’gan* note
A Nal'sarkoth soldier and Ini'iria's bodyguard, first seen during the Vloz attack on North Cliff in Chapter 38.- Badass Cape
- BFS: His sword is massive.
- The Stoic
- Understatement: Half-heartedly calls Ariel out on this, when she mentions they picked a bad time to visit.
Aba'della*
Aba'della*note
A young Nal'sarkoth present at Snadhya's gathering Felde, first seen in Chapter 44. His unseen mother has raised him to be a mate to Nidraa'chal supporters. Due to his young age, he is shy and retiring... but due to the nature of the role he was raised to play, he is not hesitant about making suggestions to potential mates. His concept art can be found here
◊.- Baby Factory: He is a gender-inverted form of this trope; he was constantly starved and kept malnourished because he was only seen as breeding stock for Nidraa'chal females. This is why he's so tiny and feminine-looking.
- Cute Bookworm: Described as this on his concept page.
- The Dark Arts: Studies nether summoning as a hobby, though males are incapable of performing it.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: And how! In fact many forumites were initially confused to whether or not he was a girl until the creator cleared things up.
- The Ingenue: In appearance, which makes it weirder hearing him say things like:Aba'della to the much older Ash'mita "Should we retire to a bedroom to..."
- Long-Haired Pretty Boy: Like most drowolath males.
- One Head Taller: He and Ash'mita Sullisin'rune are an inversion of the trope.
- Precocious Crush: Appears to have one for older drow females, though this is largely due to his upbringing.
- Shrinking Violet
- Shy Green Haired Boy: His mother is suggested to be a member of the Nal'Sarkoth, but has not been named yet in the comics. He even has to be escorted around the gathering at Felde by Ash'mita as otherwise he would be approaching any available female on the off-chance of them being Nidraa'chal.
- Sheltered Aristocrat: Raised this way by his mother.
- Summon Magic: He has studied nether arts but, as a male, cannot open nether gates.
- Tagalong Kid: It looks like Ash'mita sees him more as this than as a prospective mate.
- Tiny Guy, Huge Girl: A small male drow compared to the taller Ash'mita.
Erusa'kel*
Erusa'kel*note
A Nal'sarkoth Tax Collector and Nidraa'chal agent first seen at the Felde meeting, during Chapter 44. His concept art can be found here
◊.- Badass Bureaucrat: And how! He even intimidates Chrys'tel.
- BFS: The sword he wields is absolutely massive.
- Bouncer: He takes this role very seriously as Mel'arnach and later Chrys'tel found out.
- Dramatic Ellipsis: He frequently punctuates his sentences with these to give himself a more ominous tone.
- Evil Debt Collector: Or rather, an evil tax collector to be precise.
- Give Me a Reason: He keeps his anger under control, but it's very clear he'll cheerfully accept any excuse to vent it. Violently.
- Insult Backfire: When Lulianne (actually Khaless in disguise) calls him a creep, he says that hearing it from her, he considers that a compliment.
- No-Sell: He can fool empaths.
- Obviously Evil: So much so, it appears to be deliberate on the creator's choice.
- Psychotic Smirk: Sports one of these when he insists on escorting Mel'arnach and Lulianne.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: He has the red eyes of a tainted and is decidedly creepy.
- Spiteful Spit: After stabbing a Sullisin'rune spy, he contemptuously spits on her dying body.
- Suppressed Rage: In a constant state of this.
- Trademark Favorite Food: His concept art states that he likes fruits of any kind.
Kane'ohe*
Kane'ohe*note
An Ys council member and Nal'sarkoth representative. She is also a Nidraa'chal agent. She appears in Chapter 45, informing the Tur'geis' Sarghress squad that they are no longer welcome in Ys. Her concept art can be found here
◊.- Deep Cover Agent: She ostensibly represents the politically neutral Ys colony and Nal'sarkoth interests, but she has been a Nidraa'chal agent for decades.
- Faux Affably Evil: Her politeness only enhances her arrogance and contempt for those not under Snadhya'rune's banner.
- Karma Houdini Warranty: In Chapter 45, she banishes a Sarghress squad from Ys. The squad threatens that the Sarghress clan will overrun Ys in the future, which Kane'ohe dismisses as an empty threat. Several years later in Chapter 54, the Sarghress leadership itself takes over Ys after negotiations fail, thanks to Kane'ohe attempting to strike a one-sided deal that favors Snadhya'rune.
- Laser-Guided Karma: She and the Ys council kick the Sarghress out of town in Chapter 45, telling them to "fuck right off" for not knowing who Snadhya'rune is or what her goals are. Some chapters later, Ys is held under siege by the Sarghress-Kavahini alliance, with the entire council subdued and taken prisoner.
- Mole in Charge: She secretly ensures that the drowo'lath surface colonies remain subservient to Felde and, in turn, Snadhya'rune. The Sarghress clan's takeover of Ys is their first step to unite the colonies against Felde.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat
- Precision F-Strike: She delivers news of banishment to the Sarghress squad with a tone of feigned courtesy. When they refuse to accept this, she cheerfully tells them that they can fuck off.
- Smug Smiler: Much like Snadhya'rune, unfortunately.
- Sophisticated as Hell: As she said to the Sarghress before kicking them out of Ys in Chapter 45:Kane'ohe: This is the new beginning for drowkind, lead by our beloved Lady Snadhya'rune. Do you know what that means? No? Well you can fuck right off!
- Subordinate Excuse: Idolizes Snadhya'rune. Her concept art implies this is not entirely platonic...
- Underestimating Badassery: In both her appearances, she fails to see the Sarghress clan as a serious threat, which eventually leads to her downfall in Chapter 54. This is partly because Kane'ohe is confident that Snadhya'rune and the Nidraa'chal will protect her from any repercussions.
Apura*
Apura Nal'sarkoth*note
A Nal'sarkoth soldier serving in Quain'tana's forces. Debuted in Chapter 50. Their concept art can be found here
◊.- Green Thumb: Has a wood affinity.
- Emotional Bruiser: Has shades of this.
- Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: Carries a shield.
- Mood-Swinger: Noted as such in their concept art.
Viri'sylvia*
Viri'sylvia*note
An ambitious and ruthless Nal'sarkoth envoy and merchant. She becomes a powerful Nal'sarkoth faction leader after the death of Illharess Rel'lumia. Debuted in Chapter 50. Her concept art can be found here
◊.- Betrayal Insurance: Despite being a supporter of Snadhya'rune, she is fully aware that the eldest Sharen daughter will eventually betray her. Because of this, Viri'sylvia keeps Nishi'kanta as a guest and prisoner in secret until she can trade her to Snad in return for favors.
- Curtains Match the Windows: She dyes her hair solid green to match her eyes.
- Four Eyes, Zero Soul: This bespectacled merchant is a traitorous, scheming power-grabber who will sell you to the highest bidder, and is not ashamed to admit it.
- Greed: Unlike most drowolath nobles, Viri'sylvia is mainly interested in gaining wealth. She is willing to offer her resources to the highest bidder no matter who it is.
- Green Thumb: Like many of her clan, possesses a wood affinity.
- Jerkass Has a Point: She makes a point in that while most of the nobility have been fighting a costly civil war, the commoners have been suffering from disease, hunger and poverty as a result of said war.
- The Napoleon: She is very short even by drow female standards, and quite sensitive about it.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Her alliance with Snadhya'rune is purely for practical reasons. Snad controls a good deal of the trade among the drowolath settlements so Viri'sylvia considers an alliance with her to be both logical and profitable.
- Slasher Smile: As seen in her concept art, she's capable of pulling off a rather sinister one.
Return to the main character index here.
