He was born among the people of Mormântia, likely near Karsov’s frontier or a satellite hamlet close to the Duskwood or another old forest. As an infant, he became the price paid for a broken taboo. A priest of Illus burned sanctified flame inside a fey hollow to “cleanse” it. The flame did not cleanse corruption. It insulted an old power that had kept worse things asleep. The fey took a child so that mortal light would remember old darkness had laws too..

The villagers told themselves he died. Though that was not the end of his story.

He was raised beyond mortal roads by fey captors, guardians, or adoptive “kin,” and in time he became neither fully stolen child nor fully free man. He is now a Speaker of The Warrens, a mediator between Mormântia’s human survival-culture and the ancient fey covenants underneath the land.

He wants to protect Mormântia but he does not fully belong to Mormântia.

He understands the fey even though he may not fully trust the fey.

He was a victim of the old bargain, but he also believes the bargain was necessary.

"Your walls are young. Your chapel is young. Your baron’s name is young. The thing beneath the hill remembers when your grandfathers were nothing but looks in the eyes of lovers. Listen when I tell you where not to cut."

The Baron may not like him, but cannot ignore him. The Hounds may distrust him, but need him as a guide. Priests of Illus may challenge his theology, but some Lantern Bearers recognize that restraint includes respecting boundaries. The common folk may fear him as a bad omen, but they still come to his door when milk curdles, children dream in Sylvan, or a hunting party vanishes without blood.