A normal child. Follows the rules. Doesn't like pain. Is a coward. Doesn't want to inflict pain. But decently smart.

At 12, picked for prep school. Life became different. The family got colder. Resenting her for the privilege.

She didn't like Cheliax. You didn't have to like Cheliax to do well. Nobody is supposed to like Cheliax. But one shall not hope for better. A part of her was lost, along with the hope.

Prep school was more indoctrination. The stakes were higher. The math became interesting, but there were more punishments. 

Still made it through. Muddled. Confused. They weren't teaching them to think well. They were teaching them to think in circles to heighten Asmodeus' lieslieslies greatness. Math was real for slaves. It didn't change every year, like the other subjects. Managed a cantrip. It was fun to cast. With her own skill.

To the academy. New books, new math, new lies. Ended up as the one arranging favours. Hungry to learn. Had to thrive.

Polishing the cantrips wasn't that hard. Spending her social capital to actually get to study helped. Most peers spent what they had on status. Or chasing pleasure.

First took a while. Made it around 19. She finally had it. Real spells. A bunch of theory left, but she had a system. Abstract the shapes. Let them in. Think of math. It's comforting important and joyous immutable. Don't think of the pain. Savour the evenings free of badbadreward assignments. Take notes. All to be a good slave.

Worldwound training. Off to the front. 

It's a better place. There is information. There is a free world out there. Where Asmodeus controls just some playthings, not everything.

Defected by sneaking into an adventuring partys Bag of Holding.

Surprisingly hard to find a good spot. Not feasible to volunteer for the Wound. They would find her.

Did a little adventuring. Eventually made it to Andoran. It's a nice place. Organized defectors. They don't mind your past, if you make it worthwhile.

3rd. Eventually 4th. Getting to the good jobs. No torture. Sometimes a person has to die. But often they had done wrong. It's mostly law-abiding jobs. Except when not.

Slowly the censorship reduced. No more weekly thought detections. She was still afraid. Looking over her shoulder, waiting for the maledictors. But they couldn't catch all the defectors, and she wasn't a high value target.

A long journey. Back to what was supposed to be, but never could be, her home.

Truly a shame that she couldn't make the war. Some friendly fellas found baronies, allegedly nobles are to be replaced. No surprises there. The war might have been her best opportunity for a long while. Oh well. The show goes on.

It seems the Chelish are afraid of her. Oh well. They still need wizarding. A couple of scries. Dungeoneering with paladins. They are so Good it evokes an unique kind of annoyance. But also she knows. Cheliax desperately needs them. It needs examples. Ones who didn't get all hope whipped out.

There's hints about an opportunity. Convention, plotted by archmagi. Plausibly a deception, but worth the risk.

Nobles and priests get invited. Then a popular election. Locals think it's a trap from the new regime. She shares gifts from her collection. It helps push through.

She is elected, and going to Westcrown.