Nynian Rychtair

Nynian Rychtair Athrawes (born September, YOG 845 ), known publicly as Ahnzhelyk Phonda, was a native of the Temple Lands and the owner of Madame Ahnzhlyk's, one of Zion's most discreet brothels.
 * For the Safeholdian figure of legend, see Nynian Rychtair (fictional character)

She was born the illegitimate daughter of Zhoel, a Vicar of the Church of God Awaiting, who hid her with her aunt and uncle in order to avoid embarrassment. After her father became Grand Vicar, she had to go completely into hiding and changed her name to Ahnzhelyk Phonda. Because of her father's behaviour, she developed a deep resentment of the Temple.

In YOG 862, she was placed in the convent of Saint Ahnzhelyk (a common place to sent rebellious children) where Sister Klairah recruited her into the Sisterhood of Saint Kohdy. (HFQ)

She later became a member of the Circle, a secret Reformist movement led by Vicar Samyl Wylsynn. She did not, however, inform Wylsynn about the Sisterhood or its purpose.

In the Year of God 894, the Circle was betrayed to Grand Inquisitor Zhaspahr Clyntahn by one of its own members, and eventually purged. The Grand Inquisitor had almost a tenth of the vicarate executed along with dozens of bishops and archbishops as well as their families and staff. However, Nynian had created a secret network independent from the rest of the Circle, and, with the assistance of the seijin Ahbraim Zhevons, was able to flee towards the Empire of Charis with the families of several Circle members, including the Wylsynn family. 

She then settled in the Charisian Quarter in Siddar City under the name Aivah Pahrsahn, and continued to work for the underground, coordinating with the Archbishop of Glacierheart. She had established substantial holdings in the Republic decades before (assisted by the resources of the Sisterhood of Saint Kohdy), which she could now use to her advantage, quickly becoming part of Siddarmarkian high society.

When the Temple launched a full scale attack, carefully timed with multiple Temple Loyalist uprisings, on Siddarmark in order to overthrow the Lord Protector, 'Aivah' deployed a force of well-armed infantrymen of Charisian extraction under her personal command who came to the Republic's defence, allowing the Lord Protector and his cabinet to remain in power and make a stand against the Church.