As told by Raven:
"II was born in the frontier village of Ty'Karalis in the eastern region of the plateau. My village holds a tentative position, being so close to the humanoid territories, and we often face attacks and raids. Most of my people are elvish, but there are some humans who dwell among us, as well as a few halflings and gnomes and even one dwarvish family. Surprisingly, there is little racial tension and it is not uncommon for humans and elves to marry.
"My mother, Rainia, died when I was born, leaving my father, Darianil, a leather worker, to care for me. He loved me very much, but I think he blamed me for the death of my mother. When I reached the age of 15, what my people call the Age of Testing, I underwent a series of physical and mental aptitude tests to determine my abilities and what my interests were. I chose the path of the warrior.
"Warrior training for my people is intensive. For the next decade, I learned the way of the hand, the bow, and the sword. I learned about the humanoids, our enemies, as well. But one cannot be a true warrior without experience. So, for ten more years my fellow students and I made patrols into the forest with experienced warriors to lead and guide us. As we gained confidence and experience, the patrols lasted longer and longer. We learned to live off the land. About two years before I gained my status as a warrior, my patrol encountered an old human, who was being attacked by goblins. We moved in to save him, but it was not necessary. He proceeded to hurl screaming magical bolts of energy into them and they fled. One however, fired an arrow at the old man in defiance. I threw myself in between him and the hurling missile expecting to feel it bite into me, but instead it bounced off my skin! My patrol went to dispatching the remaining goblins and the old man disappeared.
"I returned home from the patrol to find that my father had remarried, to a human woman named Bethany. I was shocked and hurt that my father would sully my mother's memory in this way. And I immediately went out on another patrol.
"Finally, I was made a full warrior, and given my bow. I spent all my free time searching for the old man we had encountered those few years ago. I was uncomfortable at home so I stayed away as much as possible. One day on one of my treks, I saw the old man sitting in front of a huge oak tree. He introduced himself to me as Cooshie and said that he had been expecting me. He said that I had great potential and he would like to show me the way of the K'tykas, the wild mage.
"For the next four decades, I studied with Cooshie every free moment that I had, returning home less and less. My step-mother had given my father another son. I remember in the early years with Cooshie, there was a great shaking and the plateau experienced the first night. I was very frightened and I wondered if we would ever see the sun again.
"Cooshie and I worked very hard. He taught me how magic works, ways to use plants in and out of magic, and of course the way of K'tykas.
"One day I went to visit with Cooshie and found him lying still in his bed. He had died in his sleep, but he had left me a note and some gifts. The note said that he loved me and that I had great potential. He left me a beginning spell book (with a few spells I have yet to understand), a spell scroll, and some herbs. A note in the scroll said that the scroll and herbs were for me to use when I needed a friend.
"I returned home, my half-brother, Martil, had long since reached the Age of Testing, and had nearly completed the way of the ranger. My step-mother was in her sixty's and my father was totally unprepared when, five years later, she died.
"I stayed with my father for the next 15 years, helping him with the leather shop. My brother and I grew closer as we helped our father cope with his loss. My brother had married, to a human named Shaela, and had a one year old baby daughter (named Bethany after my step-mother) when disaster struck.
"Before dawn one morning the village was raided by a small tribe of orcs. They had surprised us, but we were gaining the advantage. My brother and I were fighting back to back and we saw the orcish witch doctor in the middle casting a spell. I recognized the spell as a fireball and tried to push my brother out of the way. I remember readying myself for the impact and suddenly it was all quiet. The ground was charred and burned but I was unscathed! I looked around and saw that nothing was moving, like time had stopped! I maneuvered over toward the witch doctor and it was like time caught up with me finally and everything started to move again! I slew the orc and looked around. My people had routed the humanoids, but my brother was dead, incinerated by the fireball.
"In the almost twenty years to follow, I took care of Shaela and raised Britany as if she were my own daughter. Britany was married at seventeen to Merrick, a human trapper, and she is very happy. Shaela married again to a half-elven warrior named Blaylock. My father and I had grown much closer after the loss of my brother, but it was time for me to go.
"I travelled here, to Cherifar, and I've been here for a few months. Now, I am ready for adventure!"