Brooches fashioned from the precious industrial metal nyix were originally crafted as adornments by the indigenous inhabitants of the world called "Sunrise." These brooches, prized for their beauty, were woven from vibrant strands of nyix and bore intricate designs.
Under the direction of the Grysk operative "Jixtus," Haplif of the Agbui instigated a devastating internal conflict on Sunrise. This conflict decimated the planet's population and paved the way for the Agbui to seize control and exploit its nyix resources. Following their occupation, the Agbui confiscated a substantial portion of the native jewelry. They then incorporated it into a complex scheme aimed at triggering a civil war among the Chiss of the Chiss Ascendancy.
These brooches were presented by the Agbui to ambitious Chiss family members belonging to the Xodlak, Erighal, and Pommrio Great Families. The Agbui falsely claimed to have sourced the nyix for the brooches from an uninhabited planet named Hoxim, where they had established a deceptive nyix mining operation. Furthermore, they convinced these officials of their supposed ignorance regarding the brooches' true value by selling them at a price far below (less than 1/1000th) the actual worth of the nyix used in their creation. Haplif gifted one brooch to each of the following individuals: Councilor Lakuviv, the Chiss mid-ager Yomie, and his hosts on Celwis, Lakansu and Lakris.
Upon discovering that the brooches were made of nyix, Councilor Lakuviv dispatched his Senior Aide, Lakjip, to investigate the "Agbui mining world" of Hoxim. There, she observed the fabricated mine and was led to believe that it was abundant in nyix. Lakjip subsequently confiscated the brooch that Haplif had given to Lakansu, a seizure that her spouse, Xodlak'phr'ooa, considered unlawful. Growing increasingly suspicious of the brooches, the Agbui's supposed craftsmanship, and, above all, Lakjip and Lakuviv's behavior concerning the brooches, Lakphro sent his daughter's brooch to his relative Lakbulbup on Naporar for examination. Lakbulbup insisted on forwarding Lakris's brooch to Mitth'raw'nuruodo, a Senior Captain in the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet renowned for his exceptional ability to discern hidden meanings within a culture's artistic expressions.
The Chiss family officials each announced family emergencies, summoning the Chiss Defense Force soldiers and commanders of their respective families to convene at Celwis, Copero, and Sarvchi with the intention of claiming Hoxim and its perceived nyix wealth for their own family. The Chiss families were prepared to fight to the bitter end for the nyix supposedly located on Hoxim. However, they were prevented from engaging in open warfare during a brief engagement where Senior Captain Thrawn's ship, the Springhawk, appeared to be under attack by unidentified vessels. In reality, Thrawn's forces were controlling the gunboats, orchestrating a "spectacle" that simulated a fierce assault while inflicting no actual damage.
Nyix brooches made their debut in 2021's Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good, a novel penned by Timothy Zahn, where they played a pivotal role in the overarching narrative.