Nydas Okiro

 is a human sorcerer/bard and the guildmaster of the Golden Scythe, a merchant guild. He is played by Lou Wilson.

Appearance
Nydas is 5'10" and has a stocky build. He wears his hair in shoulder-length dreadlocks, with gold caps at the ends, and has a golden ring at the end of his beard. A long scar runs over his right eye, and he has a tattoo of three x's over his left eye. His eyes are hazel with gold flecks. He wears red clothing, a red cap, and a golden pin symbolizing the Golden Scythe.

Personality
Nydas is outgoing and diplomatic. He is also generous, having funded a university for sorcerers.

Background
Nydas is a former pirate.

Nydas made preparations for the parade the Golden Scythe was putting on for the Replenishment, dealing with the various logistics and issues that had come up and meeting with some of the children from the sorcerer's academy. He spoke with one of his merchants about some potential cash-flow issues, and received a letter and a fruit-and-nut loaf from his brother and sister-in-law. The letter revealed that Zerxus's son had been staying with Nydas's brother's family in Cathmoíra. He also spoke with a magister, Milus Phren, who asked for a favor; Nydas found this strange as Milus was too low level to be seeing him.

Later that evening, Nydas arrived at the party at the Palazzo Por'co with the gift of a rare Marquesian tree for Patia.

Nydas went to the Golden Scythe vaults and convinced Alessander to give him four prototype and secret automata known as "Taxmen" to assist with Laerryn's experiment. He then observed Laerryn's successful use of the Astral Leywright, and was deeply moved. After the working drew a noticeable portion of the city's magic to the Arboreal Calix, he then went with Laerryn back to the Palazzo Por'co to regroup with the rest of the Ring of Brass and determine next steps.

When the group split up, Nydas joined Zerxus to go to the Hall of Prophecy. He convinced Sofyra, one of the oracles, that he and Zerxus had been sent by Loras and should be permitted in, but simultaneously realized that Sofyra believing him was strange. He learned that Volucia had been helping the oracles with strange prophecies and madness that had struck many of them, but had recently renounced her magic entirely and left. Sofyra then showed him the "false" prophecy, which foretold the fall of Avalir. He seemed to believe the prophecy was true, but told Sofyra everything was fine, and then left with Zerxus to join the rest of the party.

During the fight with Lacrytia Hollow and her allies, Nydas summoned Sha'korzhan, the draconic spirit of the Golden Scythe, and did significant damage to many enemies. He also successfully used Detect Thoughts against one of the mages to learn their plans. After the fight, Nydas told Cerrit, Patia, and Zerxus about the "false" prophecy, and realized that Cerrit had in turn realized that Nydas was hoping they were indeed false.

The Ring of Brass then reconvened at the helm in the Meridian Labyrinth and Nydas chose to fail Zerxus's Zone of Truth, but vehemently defended Laerryn and Loquatius's choice to resist it. He then, with Patia's assistance, showed the memories of the mage to the group, revealing the plan to attack not just Avalir but the Giant's Slumber in Cathmoíra. He also saw a memory from earlier, in which Lacrytia revealed that Patia's help in funding the Sorcerer's University only came because Patia was able to reframe it as a project to aid Avalir.

As the party discussed what to do next, Nydas scried on his brother Eadalus, who seems to be peacefully writing, although Eadalous was not near the Giant's Slumber. As they all went to the Arboreal Calix, he apologized to Zerxus, who told him that there was no need and Nydas had been right. At the tree, Nydas realized that the fiends seemed to be surrounded by blossoms at times, and that the Tree of Names seems to be some form of extraplanar protection. He also connected it with the prophecy, and when he noticed Laerryn beginning to cast Blight, begged her to stop. This led a fight to break out as Loquatius tried to frighten Nydas. Nydas used Hold Person to stop both of the Seelies, and was saved from Dweomer entering and casting Disintegrate by Zerxus casting Counterspell. He successfully grappled Laerryn, even after she broke free of his spell, but she then cast Blight while grappled.

Nydas survived the explosion of the Tree of Names, though he was knocked unconscious and lost his Bag of Holding. He was healed by Zerxus and went with the rest of the party to the Hall of Prophecy, where he broke the magic circle around Karwen so she could provide them with the new prophecy.

Nydas summoned Sha'korzhan again to take him to the Golden Scythe and Loquatius to the Herald's Tome. At the Golden Scythe, he told Alessander and Badran to prepare the ships to save the people of the city, especially the children from the Sorcerer's University, and to send their automatons to protect the population. As he turned around, Badran stabbed him in the back, saying gold was more important than people; Nydas disagreed, telling him gold's purpose is to elevate people, and with Sha'korzhan's help, quickly killed Badran as Alessander mobilized the ships and taxmen. Eadalus also asked Zerxus about him during this time, and he verified he was alive and well.

Nydas then returned to the Astral Leywright to join the rest of the Ring of Brass in protecting Laerryn while she modified it to transport the primordials and avert annihilation. He asked Zerxus if there was anything he could do to prevent Zerxus from losing himself. In the battle, Nydas and Sha'korzhan both did significant damage to the taxmen and to Vespin Chloras, but were ultimately felled by the taxmen. As his dying action, Nydas stabbed Zerxus in the heart as an intended mercy kill. He realized, as he died, that the sorcerous children had escaped on the skyships, and received a last message from his brother, indicating that Eadalus and the rest of his family had escaped in time.

Relationships
Nydas and Zerxus are longstanding friends, and Zerxus took this into account when Nydas defended Loquatius and Laerryn's choice to resist Zerxus's Zone of Truth. Nydas is also especially close with Laerryn, having been a major supporter of her work with the Astral Leywright, and with Patia, who helped him fund the Sorcerer's University.

Notable items

 * Bag of Holding
 * Defender scimitar
 * Ring of protection

Abilities
Nydas has at least 3 levels in sorcerer and at least 10 levels in bard. Because he has proficiency in Constitution saves, his first level is in sorcerer. As a bard multiclass, he gains one extra proficiency in any skill of his choice.
 * Skill proficiencies: Arcana, Deception, and Insight

Sorcerer abilities

 * Spellcasting
 * Sorcerous Origin: Draconic Bloodline
 * Dragon Ancestor
 * Draconic Resilience
 * Font of Magic
 * Sorcery Points: ≥3
 * Flexible Casting
 * Metamagic
 * Heightened Spell
 * Quickened Spell

Bard abilities

 * Spellcasting
 * Bardic Inspiration (d10)
 * Jack of All Trades
 * Song of Rest (d8)
 * Bard College: College of Swords
 * Bonus proficiencies: medium armor, scimitar
 * Fighting Style: Dueling
 * Blade Flourish
 * Extra Attack
 * Expertise (Insight, Arcana, Deception, and one other)
 * Font of Inspiration
 * Countercharm
 * Magical Secrets

Appearances and mentions

 * Exandria Unlimited: Calamity

Trivia

 * Brennan Lee Mulligan, Dungeon Master for Calamity, said that if Nydas was a cheese he would be parmigiano reggiano.