Niall

Niall is a mage in the Circle of Mages. You may talk to him during the Mages origin quest, and in the Broken Circle questline.

Background
During the mage origin quest, you find Niall talking with another mage about the different views on how mages should conduct themselves. Niall believes in Isolation, that mages should take their magic and form their own society away from all the people who hate them.

(Reference to real life personage: Niall of the Nine Hostages)

In ancient Ireland there was a high king, Niall (ancestor to anyone with the surname O'Neil, or its variants) who had at one point had possession of 9 hostages from various Lords and Vassals for assuring allegiance.

In the Fade there are many captives,namely, the 4 characters from the Player's party, and the 5 distinct NPC's (4 power-related NPCs as well as Niall himself) and due to the unlikely chance the naming was random, this an obvious reference to the actual Niall.

Involvement
During the Breaking the Circle quest Niall led a group of mages to try and stop Uldred but they were put to sleep by the sloth demon, Niall came into possession of the Litany of Adralla, which prevents blood mages from taking over your mind. The Warden will then meet him in the fade. He provides brief explanations on what happened at the Circle and on the Sloth Demon's realm. After you defeat Sloth, he will tell you to retrieve the Litany of Adralla from his body.

Strategy
You will never have to fight Niall.

Quotes

 * Niall: "Something happened, didn't it? You look a little different. What happened?"
 * Warden: "I became a mouse."
 * Niall: "Did you? Did it help? I know I saw the tiny holes. Were you small enough to get through?"