Lythir VaSuun

 is a drow mage of the Xhorhas Empire. While leading an ambush against the Muck Men in the Ashkeeper Peaks, Lythier and his war party were engaged in battle with the adventuring party known as the Mighty Nein. As an NPC, is played by Matthew Mercer.

Appearance
Despite the disadvantage in numbers against both the Muck Men and the Mighty Nein, Lythier's use of dunamis to manipulate the battlefield provided a remarkably strong advantage, potentially honed over generations of beacon use.

Xhorhas
Leading a Xhorhasian war band of gnolls, with an echo knight (Kryn warrior) escort, Lythier ambushed the Muck Men along the Ashkeeper Peaks. The Mighty Nein (hidden nearby) decided to enter the fray on the side of the Dwendalian scouts.

Caleb, Nott, and Fjord helped keep Lythier and the gnolls occupied, while Beau, Jester, Caduceus, and Yasha focused their attention on the echo knight on the other side of Caleb's Wall of Fire. Jester and Caduceus’ Bless helped the party brave Lythier’s Cloudkill and allowing their attacks to get through the Kryns’ high armor classes.

The Muck Men were almost all wiped out by the echo knight’s swift blows and Lythier’s spells, which controlled the reality of the battlefield.

Having taken heavy damage, Lythier and the echo knight retreated. The death toll from the battle was eight Muck Men, five gnolls, and one barlgura (summoned by Fjord with Summon Greater Demon). Although the Nein could still consider it a victory, the ramifications of two powerful Kryn soldiers escaping alive (who know their descriptions) remains to be seen.

The Favor
Lythier met the Mighty Nein again when they arrived at the Aurorahold to seek payment from Lady Zethris Olios for dealing with a demonic incursion in Asarius (though the adventuring party failed to recognize the mage without his armor). He inspected the magic items brought by the Nein, confirming their claim to Lady Olios. He then removed a crystal from the Abyssal anchor to permanently deactivate it.

Abilities
Unless otherwise noted, the following abilities are assumed from the standard Dungeons & Dragons materials:

Drow Abilities

 * Superior Darkvision
 * Sunlight Sensitivity
 * Drow Magic
 * Dancing Lights (cantrip)
 * Faerie Fire (spell)
 * Darkness (spell)
 * Drow Weapon Training

Wizard Abilities

 * Spellcasting (Intelligence-based ability)
 * Arcane Recovery
 * Arcane Tradition (Dunamancy)

3rd-level

 * Counterspell

4th-level

 * Dimension Door

5th-level

 * Cloudkill

Gravity Well (ability)
After affecting another creature with any spell effect, Lythier could use this ability to push the target 10 feet in any direction of his choice.

Manifest Echo (bonus action)
Lythier summoned an echo of himself on his turn that was able to cast a spell on its own...in addition to allowing the mage himself to cast another spell at the same time.

Compress Gravity (spell)
This spell, cast via Lythier's shadowy echo, dealt force damage to Fjord and Caleb and halved their speed despite their successful Constitution saves.

Vacuum Blast (spell)
Cast by Lythier himself, this spell dealt additional force damage. Fjord and Caleb succeeded, taking half damage. Kolden failed, taking the full damage and getting pulled 20 feet into a vacuum-like hole, which tore his body to shreds.

Notable Items

 * quarterstaff
 * spellbook

Quotations

 * Lythier (when asked by Fjord why he has come to talk to the Bright Queen): "That is my business, but, uh...it seemed convenient to 'fix my wagon to yours' in this travel. I was already in the middle of discussing business with uh, Lady Zethris.  So, um...here we are.  Strange bedfellows, yes?"
 * Lythier (interrupting to tell the room about his fight in the Ashkeeper Peaks): "My Queen, if I could speak!...My eye has been caught by these travelers. For their smell is alien...their intent unclear.  I myself still recover from wounds suffered along the western edges of the Ashkeeper mountains, not a week before!  As does my partner: a lauded echo knight in your service, my Queen.  We came upon a troop of Dwendalian scouts seeking weakness in our borders!  Wishing subterfuge upon our brave soldiers!  We did battle, and slew many of their filthy ilk...but were forced to flee when the tides turned against us!  When these creatures...these allies of the Empire...assailed us!"