Neko Feline

A ways outside of Templehelm, some 36 years ago, an aspiring court mage hat taken a liking to one of the elven serving girls in the castle where he studied. Shy smiles in the passageways and whispered compliments soon turned to actual courting, with both the serving girl and the mage becoming quite smitten with each other. Their relationship was kept mostly in secret, though nothing is truly hidden from the gossiping cooks, cleaners and ladies-in-waiting. The inevitable happened, and the serving was soon with child. By now, the mage was working his way to more important positions in the courts, a few steps down from being an advisor to the King himself. Surprisingly, the two decided to raise the child in secret, having them join the castle workers when they where old enough. It seemed like this union would work out.

Unfortunately nothing is that simple. The child was born with magical ability. And not just any normal mage, which were fine under the king's rule, but the child, Vanye, was born an "Oracle" - mages usually associated with mind control and prophesying. "Oracle" mages were outlawed in Vanye's home, and she as instead sent to live with her aunt in a remote village, near woods she could hide in.

She stayed their for a long time, helping her ageing aunt with duties and studying alchemy and healing magic as well. While out collecting ingredients she found another Oracle who told her about the islands of Templehelm - a place where mages of all kinds, even Oracles and Illusionists - could live without the fear of being hunted and captured. When she returned home, she told her aunt about the traveller. In a sense, she was asking permission to leave - she loved her aunt and had a duty of care, but the prospect of living out in the open, even learning from other Oracles was a temptation she couldn't resist. Her aunt gave her leave to go, and Vanye made for a ship in cloak and hood, keeping as inconspicuous as possible. While on the ship she learnt the Word of Zephair, becoming a rather enthusiastic follower of his practices - justice, honour, healing the sick. She arrived on Templehelm, eager to make her mark on the land.