Nin-Kiggia

Nin-Kiggia, commonly known as Ninnin, was an artificial lifeform with a draconic appearance and one of the Moongazers, a group of dragon researchers on the Frost Moon.

Profile

Nin-Kiggia, meaning "messenger",^[1] was created by the dragon researcher Lusalim as an artificial data-based lifeform in the time before the Heavenly Principles invaded Teyvat.^[3] Lusalim raised Nin-Kiggia as his daughter,^[4][5][6] and eventually entrusted the final step of Project Moongazer to her.^[7]

Appearance

Although Nin-Kiggia was an artificial life form, she appears to have had a draconic form. Her appearance can be inferred from a recording named "Nin-Kiggia's Mark" during Project Moongazer (Part 2).

In this recording, Nin-Kiggia has light brown and beige scales and wears a silver mask covering her eyes and forehead. She is dressed in a ceremonial white and gray hooded robe over a gray inner garment. The robe is adorned with gold geometric patterns and green accents. Two large wing-shaped structures, similar to those of the Secret Source Automaton: Overseer Device, float behind her back, while two smaller ones frame her head. Her lower body is not visible, but it was likely serpentine, like that of other dragons, such as Kukulkan.

Quests and Events

World Quests

• Moon Gazing
  • Act III: Project Moongazer
    • Project Moongazer (Part 2) (as "Nin-Kiggia's Mark")

Story

While working on Project Moongazer, Lusalim came up with the idea to "engrave the full measure of a researcher's affections, desires, and ideals into data." Through an unknown process, he wanted to create a new information-based life-form, that could be reborn from the data again and again, possibly in a form that no longer resembled a dragon. He intended to name this being "Nin-Kiggia," meaning "messenger."^[3]

At some point, Nin-Kiggia was created and came to be known as Ninnin. During the early stages of Project Lunar Veil, she could barely speak, yet uttered the words "Lunar Veil." Lusalim later suggested this as the project's name, believing that she had already understood its purpose.^[8]

Nin-Kiggia was raised by Lusalim,^[5] and eventually became a researcher in her own right, being listed as someone to contact for updates to the Ia-Ilimmu Storage Array Index and referred to as "Researcher Nin-Kiggia."^[9] She was also a test participant in an experiment by Nu-ur-Gestug involving cognitive contamination. After leaving the affected area, she immediately realized that the subject of the experiment was abnormal and beat Nu-ur-Gestug with a stick, telling him to focus on actual work.^[10]

Additionally, she contributed to the preservation and interpretation of the message received by Ibni-Belum. In Moongazer's Engraving, Vol. 2, she provided a verbatim translation of the message and added several notes.^[11]

After Lusalim surrendered the precious results of his research to the Heavenly Principles, he entrusted Project Moongazer, then only one step away from completion, to Nin-Kiggia. Its final step required Nin-Kiggia to gather the data of all the Moongazers in the sea at the moon's core in which she succeeded.^[7][12]

Nin-Kiggia documented her father's deeds in a record, calling him the chief architect of Project Lunar Veil, the designer of Nin-Kiggia's Game of Life and the executor of Project Moongazer.^[2]

Legacy

By the time the Traveler and Columbina reach the moon's core during the World Quest Project Moongazer in Series Moon Gazing: Act III - Project Moongazer, Nin-Kiggia herself is long gone. Instead, they encounter "Nin-Kiggia's Mark," an imprint left behind to serve as a recording.^[12]

Nin-Kiggia's Mark tells the Traveler and Columbina that Eggie was created from the Moongazers' data to be the project's newest executor. The Mark notes that Eggie may have inherited the name of a previous Moongazer and jokingly suggests that it might actually be her own name. This seems to be the case, as Eggie had previously recalled her true name being Ninnin,^[13] Nin-Kiggia's nickname.

The Mark then speaks as if addressing Eggie directly, stating that she will likely remember her mission to continue Project Moongazer. To complete this mission, Eggie has to open the Moongazer module inside the Eye of Ibni-Belum and transmit the message carried by the Stellar Blackbody out into the universe once more. Before disappearing, Nin-Kiggia's Mark tells Eggie to complete her mission and salutes her and all her fellow Moongazers.^[12]

Trivia

• Being a data-based lifeform, Nin-Kiggia is quite similar to the Thirteen Sovereign Lords of Natlantea.

Etymology

• "Nin-Kiggia" is a compound word of Sumerian/Akkadian origin.
  • NIN (Akkadian: 𒎏) means "lady," "queen," or "mistress," and often used as part of a title for priestesses (Nin-Dingir, "divine lady"). It also appears in the names of several goddesses in the Mesopotamian pantheon (Nin-gal, Nin-Ti, Nin-Shubur).
  • "Kiggia" is most likely an alternative spelling of the word Kingia (Akkadian: 𒆥𒄄𒀀), which means "messenger," "message," or "obligation."^[14]

Other Languages

Change History

References