Backstories

Initial Backstory, will prolly update it as I tailor it even more.

Normalcy was exactly the word that Adrasteia would have described her life in her early years. She lived with her father, alone in a small house close to the forest, where they largely sustained themselves with a basic farming lifestyle. The isolated nature of the house meant that Adrasteia never really knew anyone close to her age, but it made life quiet and safe. During the summer months Adrasteia would run around in the grass, climbing trees and swimming in a nearby lake, in the colder months, she and her father would huddle next to the fire, while he would carve small wooden toys for her. One winter, for her 15th birthday, her father presented her with a glorious wooden bow, and Adrasteia would insist on making the most use of it was she could, practising her shooting on nearby trees.

The family of two kept to themselves, and while they had the tools to hunt, preferred to live largely off the land, aware that there was a small elf clan somewhere in the forest, and did not wish to give any cause for offence. Adrasteia often wondered if her father was lonely, but he never said anything, and he deflected all questions Adrasteia asked him regarding who her mother was, and why she left.

Life, would have continued onwards in this manner had evil not arrived at this house shortly after Adrasteia’s 16th birthday. Playing in the forest, Adrasteia was suddenly snatched by a group of five mages, who dragged her back to her house where she saw her father, cut and bleeding, bound in a corner. Adrasteia was then strapped down upon the kitchen table, while the mages did horrific things to her, while her father was forced to watch. The mages claimed they were simply running tests, but it was a transparent lie as the torture and abuse pushed her to the limits her human body could withstand. Just when Adrasteia couldn’t take anymore, one of the mages stepped forward, healed her wounds, and they continued on.

Adrasteia lost track of time, she had no idea how long the experimentation and torture went on, as the mages only stopped when it appeared that their magical reserves were running low. At this, the leader forced her to her knees, and forced her to watch as he casually cut her fathers throat, laughing as he did so. One of the other mages stepped towards her, his own blade ready, however the leader quickly admonished him, reminding him that one generation must live, to grow up, have children, and repeat the cycle. The mage told Adrasteia that failure to find someone, and to continue her line would result then them returning for her earlier than expected, threatening her with the certainty that they would continue to work on her until she accepted her position. At this, the group swept out of the room, and left.

Adrasteia lay in that house for a very long time, unable to move, crushed by sorrow and suffering great pain. By chance, an elven ranger was passing by, and found the girl. Aware that she was severely hurt, he carried her to his clan and they eventually healed her physical wounds. Aware that she had no family left, the old ranger took her in, trying to give her shelter and safety, yet Adrasteia did not feel safe. She was tormented by nightmares, and she did not fit in with the other elfish children, both due to her race as well as the events that had brought her here. Adrasteia did however, find favour with the elf deity Calistria, understanding the role of revenge only too well. Adrasteia realised that the ranger could not offer her true safety, nor could he aid her in her quest for vengeance, and left the clan at night, her only possession the bow her father had given her.

Adrasteia became a hired gun, a bounty hunter for hire that would only accept tasks against mages. She would take them alive if required (although preferring to simply eliminate them), but always questioned each mage she encountered, as to the identity of the five men, who they were, why they had come after her family, how they had found them, and where they were now. She recorded any information in a small notebook, determined to take revenge against the mages that had ruined her life. The notebook gradually expanded, as Adrasteia recorded anything that could give her an edge against spellcasters. Now, a fully fledged mage hunter, Adrasteia travelled to Finem to undertake a job given to her by the Temporis Family, in exchange for information on the mages shes hunting.

Loric Splendentium
A sheltered eldest son of a noble white-collar family, I spent my early childhood alone. I was happy living in the luxury, fawning over the parades of the Imperial army and their golden parade regalia. Besides that, all I remember from that era are the awkward saxophone classes and a heist with my little sister. Eager to read she was, she wanted to get a look on THOSE books in THAT section. That was the first time her spellcasting prowess surprised me. Casting Vanish when I had just failed my Read Magic test... In the wee hours of the night we made off with the most interesting book she had found (we naturally logged the loan in the records; we are not criminals) titled Path of Defiance, or was it Defense... We were heavily apprehended afterwards when uncle B freaked out seeing Rusko lay on her couch, flipping the pages of that book. That was the last time we did something objectively mischievous. The saxophone classes however continued to the day I enlisted to the army. Oh, I am late for the evening get-together with my friends. Writing this sentence has made me even more late. Stupid diary. ((Gloss: In retrospect, stupid me.))

My sister was my best friend. She helped me with my magic and engineering homework and I taught her how to fly a kite. When I began as a student in this university, my sister was overwhelmed with grief. Well, at least I was able to visit her on leaves and she had the wonderful Miyamora babysit her every now and then. Ugh, Scrying class. I'm not one to question the wisdom of my parents, but why do I have to study Divination, the most boring school there is?

This school is boring. Having to write diaries for "Self-Discovery in Preparation for Pre-Advanced Cantrips". Rusko could blast through this course, but then she would spend all her time reading... I'll have to take her out for exercise when I visit home. Hmm taking Miyamora out... ...Well, one can always dream... I shouldn't let Rusko do my homework for me. I'm thinking in writing now.

My soul weeps. Why did you have to leave? What cruel fate might have befallen your nation...?

I have taken upon me to protect those around me and ultimately, this nation. I will drop out of this institution and join another, the royal army. This is not to fulfill my lifelong dream but instead a journey into the unknown, a sacrifice to the streets and halls that shielded me in my adolescence and a step forward in the plans Iomedae has laid down for me. Perhaps one day I will get assigned to Callipelu, so that we could see each other again...

Oros Avengard of the Bronze-Scale Clade, son of the retired Imperial Captain Mordecai, has just joined the Empire's Military at the age of 20, (much to his father's chagrin, he did not enlist at the youngest possible age) but is nervous about his reception.

People have treated him differently ever since he was born, as he was raised in one the most prestigious families in an already highly regarded Dragonblood lineage. Many even believe the Avengards were descended from a great and powerful dragon named Maelstrom...
His enlistment seems to be no different than his life previously; his fellow recruits look to him as if he was their instructor and hang on his every word as if it was spoken by a wise man.

This would delight many, but only makes Oros more uncomfortable. He has never been one to accept special treatment (though often it was not his choice) and he feels the stares of the other recruits whenever the commanding officer mentions his name. So much expectation, so much prejudice and for what?

While his strength is adept and he has no problem using a sword, he was never particularly smart and he certainly hasn't had any practical combat experience. However, he has studied the ways of dragons in an effort to learn of his heritage and has a grasp on some of the lesser magics that many Draconic tribal leaders performed. Hopefully his stern, yet powerful presence can inspire those around him if he is thrust into the role of leadership as he seems fated to be...

Life in the empire was simple, as long as you were rich and of the right blood, like the Lupi family. A long line of tieflings, they have been loyal to the empire for years. But that didn't stop the young heir of the family to fall in love with a simple low class human citizen and marry her. Their life was happy, even with the prejudice they had to face at times, they still lived a life of luxury and peace. Only twenty years ago were their sons born, twins, one human one tiefling, Luctes and Umbra. Umbra was strong and quick on his feet, he was raised to join the military just like his father had once. Luctes was clever and curious, he was raised as a scholar and to serve as tactician. Soon the enemies of the empire would tremble before the combined forces of the twins, or that's what they liked to pretend as kids, if it weren't for the incident a year ago...

It was a simple walk their parents took, but only one of them came back, their mother had been assassinated... The culprit was a member of rebels, spouting some nonsense about the mother betraying her own people. The family was devastated. Shortly after the funeral, some other aristocrats came to the father. They wanted his help and fortune to fight against the rebel forces, offering to avenge his wife. But the father just sent them away, angry for being disturbed during this period of mourning, while his breath reeked of alcohol and his eyes betrayed all the nights he had already spent sleepless. The twins found the visitors both uncouth and suspicious, so as they left their home, they began to follow their steps. This little adventure led to a shocking reveal, their mother's death was staged by the empire, both to remove a potential risk in the mother and too gain support from those who refrained from picking sides till then, especially the father.

The twins, not wishing to burden their father with this reveal, kept it to themselves, not even discussing it till the time was right. That time never came... Only a week later their father had passed on as well, his body being unable to take the lack of sleep and liquid bread could not replace the real deal. The twins now left alone, sat across from each other on the family table, with it being finally time to talk about which they kept hidden till now, who is to blame for the fate of their parents?

Luctes: "The empire is corrupt, they are willing to kill the innocent just to make their own lives easier!"
Umbra: "The whole rebellion is destroying the lives of many, how many more families must be split up before they realise what they are doing!"

The brothers stared at each other in silence, slowly comprehending what the other just said

Luctes: "I can't believe what I'm hearing, our family was destroyed by the selfishness of this wretched empire!"
Umbra: "The empire is our home, how can you speak such words brother! Yes the empire isn't perfect, but plunging it into chaos will just makes things worse, till the rebel threat is dealt with we can't focus on weeding out the corruption!"
Luctes: "Punishing the corrupt? The empire will award them a medal first for stopping a rebel spy, you heard them if they were found out they prepared "proof" that our mother was a rebel sympathizer, is it not enough they are dead, you want them to be branded traitors as well?"
Umbra: "I would never let those lies besmirch our family name, I would reveal the truth at all cost, but you, you are actually suggesting treachery my brother! You would actually condemn the family to be named traitors to the empire! I can try and reveal that my father and mother were loyal, but you actually are wishing for the rebels to succeed!"
Luctes: "What if I am brother? I will not stand for this corruption any longer, the empire proved it's beyond helping now, I would gladly support the rebels even if I have to FACE MY OWN BROTHER!"

Umbra could no longer take this, with a swift motion he crossed the table, drew his sword. In a fraction of a second his blade what at his brothers neck, causing it to bleed from a small scratch where the two connected.

Umbra: "I would kill you, even as my brother, I wouldn't spare you for your words, you are betraying the family, you are betraying our parents! There is one reason I will let you go, you are unarmed. I refuse to kill an unarmed man, so get out of my sight and pray we never meet again. I will eradicate the rebellion and then reform the empire even if it means I will have to kill you if you ever stand in my way"

Luctes did the only thing he could, he ran, he simply kept running. Not from fear, but because he feared staying any longer would destroy the resolve he built up, he'd join the rebels and he'd stop his brother, and cure the disease that is the current empire, even if it means his brother had to die... But Luctes was no warrior, and he had no talent for the arcane, if he joined the rebels at that time, he'd become nothing but an useless foot soldier, and die fighting for them without accomplishing anything. He was raised a tactician but the rebels would never trust him with that if he just showed up out of nowhere. He wandered the countryside alone, surviving on fruits he managed to identify through his attained knowledge, looking for an answer to come to him. It wasn't until a few weeks later, as he woke up at down, having slept under a tree on top of a hill, when he was about to just give in and join the rebels and hope for the best, and then came the sunrise. It was blinding, like the sun was directly infront of him, like he could touch it. He reached forward and then the whole world went white. When he regained consciousness, he found his hand grabbing something soft, and strangely alive. A small puppy, with the most peculiar fur, he could have sworn it was an accurate star map. After a few minutes of cross checking, it was indeed deemed to be an accurate star map, also the puppy could fly.

Luctes spent a few months on that hill, communing with the spirit of Heaven and understanding his new power better, and 9 months ago, he joined the rebels. He didn't want immediate attention, in fear of possible spies finding out his true identity, so he stuck to the background, acting as a healer, given some tactical advice to the wounded from time to time. Luctes Lupi was no more, there was only Luce. Luce heard many stories of the highly ambitious Umbra Lupi, rising through the ranks of the military and being one of the premier supporters of anti rebel task forces, soon the brothers would clash...