In Zakail....

Ecorto the Lost Director tells you, "Greetings, human. Call me Ecorto. I have disjoined myself from those who plan your eradication because I disagree with their methods. Their plan to construct a New Singularity in this realm is madness. Even now they gather and imbue material to construct their monstrous dream. Find the repositories of the New Singularity in the desert, the southern mountains and the Obsidian Plains, human."
Ecorto the Lost Director gives you Ecortos Chisel.
Ecorto the Lost Director tells you, "Take this chisel, scrape slivers from the pillars they assemble, and bring the joined elements back to me... Be careful, however. The Singular material is quite strong, and could break the chisel."

Ecorto the Lost Director says, "Oh, were not united any more than you are."

Presumably this NPC is related to future quest dungeons