Nei

Nei (ネイ, Nei) is a supporting character in Suikoden III. Nei is a travelling musician and troupe leader.

History
"An elf and accomplished traveling busker. She is like a big sister to Toppo and Shabon."

- Nei's profile

Nei was an orphaned elf woman who was raised by an elderly human man who was an entertainer by trade. Due to her unique upbringing, she held no prejudice against humans at all. After her grandfather passed away, Toppo was to first person able to make the crying Nei smile with one of his pantomime performances.

Afterwards, the two began traveling together as performers. While they were performing, they took in the orphaned Shabon after bandits attacked the village they were performing in. The three soon bonded as if they were family and traveled together, performing in different parts of the continent.

She was a talented musician and plays the bouzouki as the leader of the trio's travelling troupe. Her dream was for her troupe to have a theatre of their own in the future. Nei's troupe would perform in Vinay del Zexay just as the War of the Champions broke out.

Later, Nei would join the Fire Bringer with her troupe after Shabon was rescued from the harassment of Guillaume. Having heard of Budehuc Castle, she was delighted to move on to an area with people to bring cheer to with her performances. At Budehuc Castle, she would sometimes talk with Roland.

Following the war, Nei returned to her life of freedom, travelling with Toppo and Shabon.

Music
Nei's theme is considered the aptly-named song "Toppo, Nei, Shabon Theme", which is played by and around the troupe in Vinay del Zexay and is reprised later during Suikoden III. It is shared across the troupe, meaning it is also the theme for Toppo and Shabon. The song is track 15 on disc 1 of the official Suikoden III Original Soundtrack.

Trivia

 * The bouzouki is a Greek string instrument usually made of three or four strings.