Nixian's Links
"Hm? Oh yes, Kathios. Such a shame her spell didn't work, her work was so very interesting. This is precisely why I didn't want to risk a strong fighter's life testing her enchantments, though. Oh, well." Nixian thinks Kathios is dead honestly. Kathios is very much not dead but the blast knocked her out for a good bit, enough for Nixian to get someone to relocate the body.
"Oh. *Her.*" Kathios has history with Nixian and frankly is probably looking for revenge. After all, Nixian may have enabled her research into necromancy, but the Empress is also responsible for Kathios's... lack of a face.
Nixian and Raujal have a villain/hero thing. Nixian thinks Raujal is an annoying little brat and *maybe* a real threat to her power, but ultimately Nixian thinks she can handle Raujal and the Aeri Resistance.
Raujal and Nixian have a hero/villain thing going on. Raujal hates Nixian's guts, as Raujal sees Nixian as unfit to be leading the Empire, not to mention hating the Empire's existence in the first place. Their priority is getting Nixian off the throne, then working with Nixian's daughter to reconstruct the Empire in a way more considerate to the citizens.