Sage Ninukab

Sage Ninukab

Race

Dredge

Level

80

Location

Dredgeways
(Thunderhead Peaks)

Sage Ninukab is a dredge standing atop a tall peak in Refiner's Joy, next to the Thunderhead Keep Volatile Delivery adventure. Being the collective's sage, he has travelled the world in search of knowledge, and has words of wisdom to offer the Pact Commander, according to their race.

Location

Shiverpeak Mountains

• Thunderhead Peaks
  • Dredgeways
    • Refiner's Joy

Dialogue

If asura

Oh, it's an asura! I greatly admire the krewe system.

Of course you do. It's the perfect social system.

I wouldn't say that, comrade! The lack of a centralized authority has led to the existence of the Inquest, who have betrayed and exploited my kind.

You have my sympathy—we share this particular adversary.

The krewe system isn't responsible for the Inquest!

Responsibility is a construct of the mind, but I've observed the reality of Metrica Province. Asuran society claims to oppose the Inquest, but in practice they allow them to recruit and operate.

Well, I certainly don't.

That's one model. But it's incomplete without a motive.

The unethical research that the inquest[sic] carry out—do they always keep the results secret?

You're saying that the Inquest are passively tolerated for their research?

I'm only making observations and asking questions.

Well I for one admire it. A busy mind is rare among your kind.

You...have much to learn.

As do we all.

I've thwarted them repeatedly. I'm living disproof of your theory. QED.

An educated dredge, I take it?

My role in the collective is to be a sage. I take my job seriously.

How admirable!

If charr

A Charr! My condolences for the hellscape of your homeland.

It's not perfect, but at least everyone knows their place.

Certainty is comforting, I suppose. Perhaps one day you'll awaken as the Olmakhan have.

You can enjoy communing with those kittens and leave the fighting to me.

There's something to be said for their way of doing things.

You want to say that again?

Charr society is dreadful, isn't it? The strong control the weak and rule through fear.

It's not fear. It's respect.

Respect for the ability to do violence sounds a lot like fear to me.

Are you calling me a coward?

I'm calling you smart. Except for your unenlightened politics.

I could prove to you that might makes right, but you aren't worth it.

You know what? I'll take the compliment.

I kill Elder Dragons. No charr scares me. Respect is deeper than fear.

Well, Commander, heh, I'll definitely say that I respect you! Ha.

Damn right.

If it works, it works

If human

A human, eh? How's absolute monarchy working out for you?

Queen Jennah is a friend of mine. What are you implying?

I mean no offense! But a charismatic monarch that everyone loves is just a smoke screen for the real power apparatus.

And what's that?

The rich, of course. The oligarchs of Divinity's Reach are the true power behind the city.

Jennah answers to nobody.

Really? Is that why families like the Beetlestones were so willing to ally themselves with the White Mantle when it served their profits?

Caudecus has been dealt with.

But the system ensures that the problem will persist. There will be more Caudecus Beetlestones, mark my words.

I'll be ready for them.

How do you know so much about Divinity's Reach?

My role in the collective is to be a sage. I take my task seriously and devote myself to worldly knowledge.

Well, just leave human matters to the humans.

Not after I had something to say about it. Good-bye.

I hadn't given it much thought.

Evidently.

I'll be going.

What's wrong with Jennah's rule? (Same as "Queen Jennah is a friend of mine. What are you implying?")

If norn

A norn. I've studied your kind extensively.

And what have you found?

Norn society is based on kin relationships and hero worship. Is that right?

That's the long and short of it.

It sounds unstable and miserable to me.

That's your opinion.

Why would you think that?

Hero worship is isolating because you know you'll never live up. And it requires you to lie about those you admire most.

I would never lie about the dead!

A legend is a lie, even if just by omission. We are all flawed, and no accomplishment is truly an individual one.

That's why family is so important!

I'm only saying that maybe you'd be less obsessed with death if you accepted your weaknesses, your kin's weaknesses, and your neighbour's. Humility is pacifying.

I don't want to talk about that.

That...does remind me of someone...

That sounds like the least interesting thing I can think of.

If sylvari

A sylvari! I've finally met one!

Pleased to meet you. What's your story?

My role in the collective is to be a sage. I try to learn as much as I can, often by traveling. So, I'm a bit like a sylvari!

That's true!

With an important difference—although I'll admit that I enjoy my work, I do it for the collective, not for my own curiosity.

That makes sense to me. You've got mouths to feed. Such as your own.

Don't you think you have duties? You didn't choose your scarcity-free life any more than we dredge chose to be enslaved, or blind, or hungry.

I have a Wyld Hunt, so I never want for purpose. I protect Tyria.

Is a Wyld Hunt duty, or is it whim? If your Wyld Hunt told you to slay me now, would you?

Of course not!

Why not?

Because! I...I would consult with the Pale Tree.

And why does the Pale Tree dictate your actions? Duty.

Well, she is my mother.

I just wouldn't. Good-bye.

I would. But it won't.

Comforting.

Good-bye.

Your questions confuse and delight me. I'll think on them.

I strike my own path.

Such a life is not afforded to a lowly dredge. Good luck in your travels.

Good-bye.

Sounds boring.

Don't you just love new experiences? Bye now.

Quotes

Greeting

• For the moletariat.
• Hello.
• Hello, comrade.
• Comrade!
• Greetings, comrade.

Trivia

• Ninukab appears to have been named after Mikhail Bakunin, a Russian revolutionary anarchist. ("Ninukab" is "Bakunin" spelled backwards.)