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Brynae Vanderbit was a very unfortunate woman. She came from a line of textile merchants located in Illadin. Her family was well off, they earned plenty to put more than just a simple roof over their heads and food on the table, but when the new continent appeared her family became greedy to become the first to expand their trade. In their rush, Brynae’s father broke promises to friends and stole off in the middle of the night with a ship despite the superstitions at the time.

While he was gone Brynae and her mother were attacked by Extremists who had invaded the western coast of Yael where they once enjoyed spending time away from home. They had known about the changes to the area, the arrival of malicious creatures who did unimaginable things but her mother brushed off the rumors. Later others in the city whispered that the Vanderbit family was too rude and greedy. They were simply pushing their luck until the gods had enough and when Brynae’s mother ventured into Extremist territory her time had come. Brynae barely escaped while her mother was lost, her body tumbling from a cliff the last haunting image that Brynae remembers of her existence.

Brynae returned home and learned of more ill fortune. Her father’s ship was lost, the few brave Yaeli who had followed him gone to the deep waters. With a heavy heart young Brynae found herself taken in by her mother’s sister who unlike her parents was more typical of Yael with a deep belief in the gods and superstitions. Your parents simply were born too bold for this world of ours. Her Auntie would tell her often, a constant reminder that Brynae should learn to live a better life to appease the gods. Despite her Auntie’s warnings, Brynae's grief led to more reckless events, her depression creating more miserable choices.

A cursed existence. Many believed that the actions of Brynae’s parents had angered the gods and cursed the family. Brynae’s Aunt started to become desperate, her prayers to the Sanctum increasing. If only Dafiel and Lurin could forgive Brynae for her parent’s mistakes. However, while Brynae’s Aunt fervently prayed Brynae found herself devoid of hope. She had simply lost too much and had little faith in the gods’ forgiveness. They were cursed and would have to deal with the ill fortune. That was the last thing that she had yelled at her Aunt before the older Yaeli woman fell to illness leaving Brynae truly alone.

Then when all was lost came hope. Makas, a simple Yaeli hunter with a good heart, found himself enamoured by Brynae. There was just something about her, a haunting beauty with sorrowful eyes, that tugged at his soul. It took weeks but eventually he managed to win her heart and she opened up to him about her family’s curse. She feared that her cursed existence would never grant them happiness. Makas was persistent and believed deeply in the power of the Sanctum and the gods. Surely if they spoke with them and received a blessing the gods could forgive Brynae. Desperately in love, Brynae followed Makas and allowed a ceremony to take place both sealing their love and asking for the gods’ blessings. Like her Aunt who had passed on, Brynae found herself suddenly fervently praying for forgiveness so that she could have a good life with Makas. She did not deserve him but perhaps Lurin could convince Dafiel that pure love was worthwhile and that Brynae had suffered long enough for her family’s greed. She spent many days praying for forgiveness, following rituals given to her by a Priestess so that her life could start anew.

Marriage to Makas led to a blissful life. Brynae had a good husband and they found themselves blessed with a child shortly after consummating their love. Everything was at peace and she truly believed that Lurin had spared her. They would have simple lives away from the greed of her family’s legacy and start fresh in a smaller village away from the cities. Then came the birth of their son. At first horrified by his appearance, Makas and Brynae spun a tale that perhaps the gods had taken her curse but that there had been a residue within her body which had touched their child. Brynae was terrified that it meant her son would be cursed, that the ill fate would follow him but to her surprise it seemed that everything he did seemed to help others instead. Had the gods gifted her son to absorb the bad luck and instead turn it to good fortune? Perhaps his darker coloring was because he absorbed the curse from Brynae so that she could live a happier life. Tears fell from her eyes at the thought. Her poor child was both cursed and blessed at the same time.

Soon tales of the darker child spread through the smaller village. At first many feared he was cursed but as he started to grow many noticed the good that happened near him instead. Rumors bloomed that whoever visited the child had good fortune. The gods had given him the ability to fight against bad luck and so gifts upon gifts started finding themselves at Brynae’s door as villagers visited the special child. As he grew older many in the village found it easy to confess their woes to the gentle mannered apprentice. Esais’ gentle nature made it easy for others to like him and he grew up surrounded by his family’s love. When he was older he began to understand the rumors and learned enough of his mother’s history to start believing that the gods truly had blessed him so that he could keep the curse away. Feeling a sense of responsibility, he stayed dedicated to his loving mother and began training himself so that he could be healthy and strong enough to continue protecting her.