Nial

Nial was the king of the Picts during the reign of Kull. Although the Picts acknowledged his overlordship of all the tribes, Nial's rule was not absolute. He generally did not interfere in Pictish tribal affairs, nor did he take tribute except from the Nargi, the Dano, and the Whale-slayer tribes, all of whom lived on the island of Tathel with his own tribe, the Tatheli. In return for their tribute he protected them from other tribes.

When two Pictish tribes went to war, Nial did not get involved unless the conflict encroached upon those tribes that were under his protection. When such battles were over, Nial served as an arbiter between the two tribes and resolved such issues as reparations, the return of stolen women, and so forth. In such cases his judgment was final. Whenever the Picts were threatened by foreigners, Nial was able to make the tribes put aside their own quarrels and fight together against the common enemy.

Nial was wise enough to know that though he could have dominated the entire Pictish nation with an iron hand if he wished, especially with the help of Valusia as an ally, the constant threat of Pictish revolt would have been more trouble than it was worth.