Maevrim

Throughout the history of every world, of any time, there is the constant presence of war. Whether small squabbles over what could barely be called "provinces" to massive assaults lasting hundreds of years, this enduring aspect of society continues its fierce reign. Of the many victims, the most tragic is often the fate of the children. Their homes destroyed, fathers killed in battle, mothers starving to death while giving the last of the grain to their sons and daughters...the young ones are abandoned without the knowledge, and sometimes the will, to survive. But those who struggle are often stronger for it.

1

Her first memories are sketchy - mostly noise, hunger, fear...being very alone, and always afraid. But cutting through the flashes of pure insanity was a soothing presence, soft voices whispering and guiding her.2

Their "time to be", they called her: Maev re me in their tongue. "You will live, you must live - you are ours!" They taught her to follow the animals of the wild, to learn from them what was good to eat, or not. Creeping through the underbrush, she learnt the necessity of stealth and silence.3

For many years, this was her life. She saw others like her at times - but their presence was always shadowed by an overwhelming fear, and nightmares of her past always followed. The fear gradually abated over time, and she discovered that these sentients could lead her to safe food just as the animals did.4

It was this that brought her to Northshire Abbey as a curious teenager. Here she developed a new skill; "Stay silent often, listen well, and utilize what you learn" the voices said. She hid herself among the peasents seeking shelter near the abbey, learning to copy their tongue and mannerisms. From the others skulking in the shadows, she learned the art of blackmail against the nearby priests and townsfolk. 5

But, eventually she took too many risks and was caught. Rather than have her thrown to the wild once more, a man called Dane Winslow decided to teach her to use her intellect in a different way. He had the priests teach her how to read and write in their library, and helped her find jobs nearby as a scribe.6

After a time, he explained to Maevrim (as he called her) what he was, and that he believed the voices were beings reaching to her from the Twisting Nether. He taught her to focus her strengths and the darkness he knew was within her, setting her on the path of a Warlock. He sent her to an associate of his, Cylina Darkheart, and her circle in Goldshire for further training. Under their guidance, Maevrim came to realize the full extent of the demon's plans for her--and that she would never be left on her own again.7