But Reitia was never like most people. From early on she'd been an independent soul. Her parents, while loving, had little tolerance for her unique views on the world, and frequently left her in the care of the halfling nanny they'd hired to care for her.

The weathered old woman had led an adventurous life, most of which she neglected to share with Reitia's parents. In secret, she taught her young charge cantrips of healing and simple magics, and a bit about the use of weapons, and how to defend herself.

Reitia - Tia to her family - was a quick study and a dedicated pupil. It wasn't long before her visions for her own life changed drastically, and she saw herself serving Nicah as a warrior and healer.

It took her some time to work up the courage to tell her parents. She'd never expected them to cooperate, but their stubborn refusal to even allow her to speak of it infuriated her. For the first time in her life, she spoke against her parents, and refused to do as they asked. Her sisters, one already married and one nearly so, tried to calm her, to assure her that the match her parents had chosen would suit her. Tia allowed them to think they'd calmed her. Dishonesty didn't sit well with her, and it was with no small amount of guilt that she set herself to leaving, all the while playing the role of obedient daughter. She prayed nightly for forgiveness for her lies, but she wasn't sure that it was enough, since she always told them the next day again.

Finally, with the aid of her now-retired nanny, Tia snuck out of her house and left. She took with her some things given her by the old halfling, a small amount of money she'd managed to save, and a few prized possessions. She left behind her full name and any association with her wealthy family. She loved her family dearly, and regretted leaving in such a manner. But she saw no other way, as her parents refused to bend.

She heard of a call for people to gather to scout near the swamps where the Lizardmen were emerging. It seemed a perfect opportunity to serve her goddess, sharpen her skills, and escape her home, in case her parents sought to search for her.

Reitia is a mirror image of her black haired, dark eyed mother. She's tall, slender, and utterly graceless when she's not fighting, or actively paying attention to what she's doing. She'll trip over her own feet when she's distracted, and sometimes takes innocent bystanders down with her. That clumsiness, and a slightly crooked tilt to her smile, are the only physical traits she took from her father. She suspects her own stubborn nature and willfulness come from him as well though.

Small things tend to delight Tia. The novelty of mundane life hasn't yet worn off, and simply staying in an unfamiliar inn is an adventure to her. She never holds a grudge, but can lose her temper quite easily, exploding in a flashfire rage that's gone as quickly as it comes. Usually though, she's cheerful and lighthearted. Her early life was sheltered and secluded, and she had few friends aside from her sisters, whom she had little in common with. She's witty, but rarely hurtful, and highly sensitive to people's moods. She speaks her mind, but does usually try to do so in a tactful manner. She doesn't always succeed, but she does try. She still retains a great deal of her naivety, which some find annoying and others find charming. She's a smart enough girl that she can't be duped twice, but she may well put too much faith in the good intentions of others.

Most of her ambitions simply involved getting away from her home and serving Nicah. Part of her wishes to see more of the Empire her people built. She was raised to believe in its principles, but her halfling mentor often spoke out against it, grumbling at its unfairness toward races that were not Castellan. Her nanny often spoke wistfully of the companions she'd met in her travels. Some small part of Tia wishes that for herself, to find that bond with someone who was much like her. She'd known few who were like her in her old life. She hoped to find more in this new one.

Above all, Tia wishes to do good. She wishes to serve her goddess and help those who cannot help themselves. She wants to be remembered for her deeds, and successful enough to one day return to her parents and apologize for the lies, the deceit, and the sudden leaving; but have them see that their child had made a wise decision, in the long run. She's a creature of the sunlight, and rarely dwells on dark thoughts. But on her gloomiest days, she fears failure, loneliness, and returning to those she left behind broken and defeated, only to find herself no longer welcome.