Qalaiša
- Nachzehrers' Withered Court (formerly)
- Military Commission of Kazdel (formerly)
Qalaiša is an NPC in Arknights. She first appears as the subject of Encounter: Northwind Witch in Expeditioner's Joklumarkar before becoming a supporting character in A Kazdelian Rescue.
Background[edit]
Qalaiša, better known as the Northwind Witch, is a Nachzehrer lady known for her kind and motherly demeanor, as well as her remarkable polyglot abilities. While she is hospitable to guests, she does not hesitate to punish those who intrude upon her privacy—especially those who uncover her secrets—by unleashing Rotchasers and Rot Eaters at the offenders.
As a former key figure of the Nachzehrer Court, Qalaiša refused a promotion awarded by the Military Commission of Kazdel and her master after experiencing the chaos caused by the joint crusade that nearly tore Kazdel apart in Terran Year 898. She decided to flee the war and migrate to Sami. Due to her racial traits, she initially suffered from constant physical pain after distancing herself from war for long periods of time. To alleviate this, she soaked herself in Sami's icy springs, which helped mitigate the pain. Despite having left her kin behind, Qalaiša continues to hold the memories of her tribe and still helps them.[2]
Story[edit]
A Kazdelian Rescue[edit]
Nymph arrives at Qalaiša's house with flowers, intending to ask about the Revenant fragments and share a teatime. Qalaiša gratefully accepts the flowers but departs for an errand, instructing Nymph to sit still and not touch anything unfamiliar. However, Nymph accidentally touches one of Qalaiša's experiments, triggering a vision of her memories. In one memory, Qalaiša instructs a deserter to head north. In another, she helps Nymph soak in an icy spring, revealing in conversation that the deserter perished on his journey.
A third, unrefined memory shows Nezzsalem recognizing Qalaiša's rejection of the Military Commission’s offer. Back in reality, Qalaiša returns and is shocked to see Nymph near one of her unfinished trinkets. Her presence causes Nymph to snap back to reality. Qalaiša demands the girl to explain everything.
Qalaiša explains that the trinket, filled with her memories, was specifically designed to help veteran Nachzehrers recover from the trauma of war. She confirms Nymph’s suspicion that a Revenant fragment is causing disturbances in her house. She uses her Arts to subdue the slag, but in the process, Nymph’s Arts unintentionally bring down the house. Qalaiša is angered and Nymph immediately begins repairing the damage.
She is one of the people invited by Nymph to the Soul Furnace's core to witness the soul-appeasing ritual performed by the Liches.