Niga Santamar
| Niga Santamar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nee-ga San-ta-mar | |
| Last appearance | Dissolution (The End) |
| Created by | Kenneth Edberg |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Spymaster |
| Affiliation | The Grey Tower |
| Nationality | Murandian |
| Attributes | |
| Weapon Skills |
|
| Masteries | |
Niga Santamar was a Murandian Spymaster.
Description
Over ninty years old, Niga might at first impression be made out to be a bit senile and off his kilters. With arthritic hands and only wisps of white hair remaining on his scalp, loss of teeth and eyes gone filmy, dressed in layers of robes and slippers, who could ever think that he is still as sharp as ever, and Caden Ives' personal spymaster? The change in Niga's act of being withered and senile comes out when carrying out his duties - when he straightens to his full height and his demeanour turn collected, cold and utterly sharp. Eyes crystal clear and voice not quivering anymore, he delivers what he learns with a highly professional air about him.
Though his looks are clearly deceptive - in its stark contradiction whenever it is shown - he remains a humoristic counter-balance to his liege's grim personality. Though loyal to the death, Niga treats his liege like a disobedient little brother, and is oft rewarded by flying fist or a blood-curdling oath. Niga both dodges the fists and turns the scoldings back on his liege in sour remarks, even getting away with the last word at all times.
Biography
At his old old age, Niga Santamar has gone long from being the middle-aged gentleman that Caden Ives learned to know in his time before he came to the Grey Tower and entered the Warder Yards as a Drin'far'ji. As a sell-sword, Caden saved this resourceful man from a burning mansion in Murandy, and Niga has sworn to serve Caden in gratitude for his life. Being his dead nobleman's secretary and information specialist, the benefit of his services to his more military-influenced liege and soon-to-be-warlord was undeniable.
While Caden trained in the Yards, Niga was sent word and arrived to the Tower in order to join the Serving Ranks. Many years he served there and developed influence and skills that the nations could not offer so readily. Leading his life in the underground networks of the Tower, Niga was only known as a servant to the public. Yet in keeping his liege updated on the whatever information could be gleaned about the Black Ajah's movements and the political agendas of all other Ajahs, his services came in definite fruition when Caden learned about his Promised Aes Sedai - Leanna Damodred Sedai of the Grey Ajah - was captured by the Black Ajah and taken to Illian. With the intelligence he gleaned, Caden was able to join the joint rescue attempt and deliver his future bondmate to safety together with Durent Antian and many others.
Much later, when Caden was made Keeper of the Citadel, Niga followed him there and conducted the maintenance of the defences when his liege was in the darkest depths of depression. As an unofficial steward, Niga adapted to the role readily and with a just hand. As the mask of the Reaper, he held of the Blight for numerous years. Yet in the end, with the destructive development in his liege's persona and the lack of willingness to uphold Caden's duties, Niga surrendered the role to an official Keeper from the Tower Guards instead.
Yet it was Niga who came for Caden when the Citadel was besieged - and called him from the darkness in order to defend the Tower's northern outpost in its most dire hour. Together with Saphire en'Damier Sedai, Firredal Osiellin, Caith Delvin and others, the Shadow was thrown back, and Niga's liege restored to the world.
As soon as Caden let the world return to him, Niga briefed him about all the things he had been able to learn during the years at the Citadel. One of these things were that Caden's biological origin was Arafel, and that he was the rightful High Seat of House Ives.
At first, the Gaidin did not care, and returned to the Mountains of Mist in order to speak with his second bondmate - Miahala Mashera Jolstraer Sha'hal Sedai. After a brief excursion to Baerlon, Caden made up his mind, and it was agreed that the bond would be dissolved so that Caden could return to his true homeland, for the first time since being smuggled out of the Ives estates. Niga Santamar followed him there, and for fifteen years, they both worked to restore order and prosperity. In the end, they succeeded, and Caden was raised to the High Seat - his birthright and the place meant for him to begin with.
Niga was content with his place in Caden's household, but even in knowing happiness at the autumn of his life, the spymaster maintained his connections to the outside world and used his influence to govern the nobles - this time Caden's rebellious kin - from the shadows. Though Niga should have known, his liege was still tormented with a tormented soul, and by leaving Niga as steward of the Ives estates, he left to end his life in the Blight - to carve a path as far as he could against Shayoul Ghoul.
Though he did not show it, Niga was relieved to see Caden return a few days later - with Miahala Sedai by his side. Apparently, his liege had found purpose in his life again, and knowing this, he continued to serve as steward while his liege took the fight against the Shadow back to the Grey Tower. The only time Niga saw his liege again was when the wedding was held at the estates between Caden and Miahala.
Months later, when least expected, disaster struck.
Caden's cousin - Lebane Ives - claimed the High Seat by imprisoning Niga in the dungeons. This was a reaction to Miahala Sedai being pregnant with a new heir to the High Seat. All the work that Niga and his liege had done was annulled over night - leaving the commoners to suffer House Ives' warring ways. Fortunately, Niga was far from helpless in his position, since he had ties both with the locals as well as the household guard. Lebane found the cell empty the next morning, and Niga was - despite his age - already leaving Arafel.
At the end of the Battle of Lights, Niga reached the Grey Tower. Once more, he now serves his liege - still honouring his vow to the young man that saved his life thirty years ago.
Career History
- Westlander
