Nelirikk

See also Korval’s House Guard: Nelirikk, Diglon, & Hazenthull and see Yxtrang

Korval's Troop

As described in the novels Plan B and I Dare, and elucidated in subsequent books, Nelirikk, Diglon, & Hazenthull are Korval extended kin, born of the soldier race. They were formerly loyal to the Yxtrang Fourteenth Conquest Corps, which invaded Lytaxin, home of Clan Erob. However, high command abandoned thousands of soldiers on Lytaxin, including first Nelirikk, and later Diglon, Gernchek, and Hazenthull. For varied reasons, beginning with Nelirikk, the three pledged service to Val Con yos'Phelium, the "The Hero” Captain Miri Robertson, and Line yos'Phelium, embracing all of Clan Korval

The Delms gave them the name nor'Phelium. The prefix nor means "you're officially attached to Clan Korval, an acknowledged member of the House Guard"

Nelirikk Explorer - backstory

Nelirikk (center), w The Captain & The Scout

Nelirikk is introduced in the novel Plan B, where he is a main character, fully vetted and described.

• former Yxtrang Explorer, master pilot , similar to a Scout
• dark blue eyes, square jaw, sandy brown hair, scar (Nchaka) on one cheek. Later, he grows a moustache and softly curling hair
• Age unknown but when he meets Miri Robertson he remembers having beard growth for 25 cycles (=standards?)
• Earned the "Heroic Explorer's Starburst Certificate" with "his name listed on the Great Board at Temp Headquarters" for discovering an unusual moon
• multilingual: Yxtrang, Liaden, Trade, Terran, and Rishkak.”
• Questioned by the young Scout, Val Con, who captured and released him on an uninhabited planet , (see The Books (and other stories), Splinter Universe story, "Four Tries for an Yxtrang"
• Was demoted to No-Troop for being captured by "an animal" Liaden

“Beautiful” serves yos’Phelium

Pledged after losing an honorable challenge to Val Con:

“I, Nelirikk . . . I, Nelirikk Explorer, pledge myself on Jela’s honor to the person and line of Val Con yos’Phelium. My blood is yours, now and until my death. May your orders bring glory to us all.”

“The scout sponsors me to his captain, who has the wisdom to value the—resource of an explorer. I pledge to obey the captain’s orders, if she will accept me into her troop.”

Lieutenant Nelirikk Explorer, Aide to Captain Miri Robertson

"This is my aide, Nelirikk nor'Phelium. Field name "Beautiful"

His Insignia: Lieutenant's bars, Tree & Dragon pin, green scarf for Lytaxin Irregulars, Captain's Aide Insignia

excerpt, I Dare

“The arrangements had a certain feel of Beautiful to them— the Compleat Captain’s Aide, Miri thought with wry gratitude, sealing the cuffs of her shirt."

Korval Service Record

Nelirikk and his Captain (Street Cred)

Nelirikk primarily serves Captain Miri Robertson and/or The Scout Val Con yos'Phelium — or anyone of Korval as needed

• Captain’s Aid Lytaxin Irregulars, allied with Clan Erob, defending Miri Robertson and the planet Lytaxin - various missions
• Beneath Solcintra planet Liad - Invasion of Command Prime
• Ongoing service as Lieutenant, House Guard, based at Jelaza Kazone on Liad temporarily, currently on Surebleak. The House Guard also take orders from security chief Jeeves
• Surebleak Road Office duty, protecting the Road Boss
• Planet Vandar - supporting The Scout against possible attack from The Department of the Interior (see Prodigal Son)

excerpt, Prodigal Son

His Interests

• Poker. More poker.

"Nelirikk had a real love affair goin’ with poker—him and Diglon, too. She figured she was doing the revolving poker game down Meruda’s back room a favor by keeping the both of them mostly employed."

• Talizea yos'Phelium, all children — “Nelirikk’s an old softy when it comes to kids”

• Storytelling — “Rikki” entertains Lady Kareen’s cook Esil Lang and kitchen staff

• Scout ships - as a master pilot, he hopes to fly one (and does so, in Prodigal Son). He also flew Theo’s sim.

• History and Lore of Jela, his diaries, and his Tree

Jela’s Troop

All three of Korval’s House Guard honor Jela, a historic figure in Troop legendarium. Songs and stories are told of Jela. The unit where Nelirikk trained paid homage to Jela and employed the shibjela (translates as "Jela's necklace" or "Jela's noose") a graceful wire weapon. (see Jela’s Soldier Lore )

Nelirikk remembers a camp song about little Jela:

"A soldier's opponent is more than might — little Jela was a demon to fight."

(Jela, in Crystal Soldier: "He was giddy with a joy totally beyond reason...He felt as he had when he'd come back to the Troop hall...[after] his single-handed fight against the squad from Recon..." Also Jela's bold "I dare!" before fighting a much larger X-strain soldier at the soldier bar, One Day's Battle.