Myridian's Background
Myridian was the product of a torrid relationship between Onadelle DeMornay, daughter of Alexavier DeMornay, a Billet of St. Cuthbert, and Richal Aspyre, an upcoming priest of Nerull. Onadelle had kept her relationship with Richal a secret up until the point that she was carrying his child, as obviously, her father would not approve. She was stifled by her overbearing father, and found Richal and his evil ways an exciting and intoxicating alternative to the strict routine forced upon her by Xavier. When Xavier discovered that Onadelle was pregnant, he packed up their belongings immediately, and moved to Castle Ehlenestra just outside of the Vesve Forest. Onadelle was livid, but in her condition, there was not much she could do. A week after Myridian was born, she disappeared, presumably back to Chendl and Richal.
Xavier raised Myridian with a forceful hand, determined not to make the same mistake with her that he'd made with Onadelle. At as young as 3 years of age, Myridian was made to accompany Xavier to the temple, and sit quietly with her hands folded in her lap for the hours that he taught the older children. She dared not fidget or complain, for to do so would bring the strap from her grandfather's robe pocket.
Once she was old enough to read, she was made to study the works of St. Cuthbert for hours, and recite passages by heart. Myridian soon learned that a mistake was seen by her grandfather as a lack of sincerity, and would result in a red welt across her palm from the leather strap.
Xavier erroneously thought that his strict methods, and unbending attitude would keep Myridian pure and obedient, and receptive of St. Cuthbert's ways, unlike his failure with Onadelle. It only made Myridian hate him and his god that much more, and made her that much more determined to get herself from underneath her grandfather's thumb. Myridian was smart enough to realize that to reveal even the slightest hint of her desire would mean that Xavier would smother her that much more, so she quietly plodded through the thick texts and obeyed sweetly, waiting for her opportunity.
It came in the form of a young boy sent to Xavier for instruction. His name was Josef, and he was wild and bold, just like Myridian dreamed of being. They took to each other instantly.
Josef was as undermining as Myridian when it came to his studies. Together with Xavier, they were the epitome of goodness, and Xavier thought Josef the ideal companion for Myridian. He was far from lax; however, he did allow them to study and play together.
Gradually, Josef and Myridian became bolder, and took to sneaking out at night together, exploring the nearby forest, and each other, and sneaking through the near empty town, staying just one step ahead of the guard patrols in their mischievous antics. Josef was to become a paladin of St. Cuthbert, and in addition to Xavier's instruction in religion, he was also learning the art of the sword. At 13, he was hardly skilled, but once, he was able to skewer a rabbit. Myridian had held the dying animal's chest to her ear, and her breath had been jagged as it took it's last breaths, and it's heart pumped it's life blood down over breast. Myridian was enthralled.
Part of Myridian and Josef's studies involved learning the practices of the evildoers of the Oerth. It was these lessons that Myridian studied eagerly, and when she and Josef came across the statue in the recently burned clearing the night the moon was to be full circle, there was no question what power had been at work there.
Myridian and Josef snuck out as soon as possible the next night, and arrived to find a ceremony to Iuz in full swing. Josef retched as a foul odor wafted to his nose, but Myridian seemed unphased by the smell. Her green orbs reflected the firelight as if it burned within them, and her fascination only grew as the ceremony progressed. Several times Josef prodded her to leave, but she all but ignored him, watching as if in a trance. By the time they had tied the lamb to the bone altar, Myridian discovered that at some point she had stood up behind her rocky hiding place. Having gone unnoticed, she stepped from behind the rocks to creep forward rather boldly, much to the chagrin of Josef, who's terrified whispers beckoned her back. The sound of the drums drowned out her approach enough for her to get within a few yards... or so she thought, for just as she had gotten into a comfortable place to watch, a hand grasped hold of her shirt and lifted her into the air brusquely, demanding to know what she was doing there. Almost instinctively, she had voiced her desire to join them. Doubting her sincerity, the man carted her over to where the ritual was being performed, thinking to make her the bleating lamb's replacement. One of the elders, impressed by her boldness, stopped him, however, asking her who she was, and who her parents were. When she explained that she lived with her grandfather, a Billet of St. Cuthbert, he decided to give the girl a chance to prove herself.
Taking several empty incense bottles from his pocket, he threw them to the ground, crushing them with a rather nasty looking staff, and instructed her to remove her shoes, and walk across the broken glass. Terrified, yet with a growing sense of excitement, Myridian did it. As the shards of glass bloodied her tender soles, tears stained her cheeks, but she didn't cry out, and a strange feeling of euphoria overcame her. The elder was decidedly impressed, and lead her to the altar, handing her an ornate dagger, upon the handle of which was carved a fat demon, it's claws forming the base of the hilt. When he indicated the bound animal, Myridian didn't hesitate, plunging the dagger into the creature's chest with a sadistic grin upon her face. Seeing the glorious potential of corrupting this child of St. Cuthbert, the priest granted her to stay. Meanwhile, Josef stole away undetected, going back to retrieve Xavier. By the time they returned, however, the group, and Myridian (then 13 years old) , were gone, and the only sign they had ever been there was the circle of scorched ground.
Myridian lived in a network of caves with this group for a little over a year, until she heard of a temple in Greenreach that was accepting youths her age as candidates for the priesthood. The Temple of the Screaming Skull - which was rumored to be more of a cult than a true clergy of Iuz, although the higher-ups of there denied this - boasted turning out the most most disciplined and most skilled priests in all of Iuz's land. The entrance requirements were strict, the most important of which was the fact that only males were allowed study. Determined to be accepted regardless of the stringents, Myridian shaved her head and bound her breasts tightly with scraps of cloth, and made the journey to the temple.
Breezing through the entrance requirements as easily as she had proved herself the night of the first ritual, Myridian was accepted. Keeping up the male deception proved easier than she had thought, as all the boys were required to wear hooded robes, and were not allowed to speak unless spoken to, and even then, they weren't permitted to speak above a whisper.
Myridian's time at the temple veritably flew by. After three years, the night finally came for their induction ceremony, and the now 17 year old girl thought that she had succeeded in her deception. Unfortunately, one stage of the ceremony required them to disrobe and be bathed in virgin blood. When Myridian refused to take off her robes, she was stripped, and her ruse was discovered. Once again, her death was demanded, but her quick thinking spared her life for the second time, when she reasoned that since Iuz was the god of deceit, what greater deception than her three year guise as a male to become one of his chosen? Her life was granted, but her deed did not go unpunished. While she had achieved her priesthood, she was denied the mark of Iuz: a brand in the shape of a skull surrounded by drops of blood, a sigil that signified one's commencement from the Temple of the Screaming Skull, and the one thing that set a priest apart from all others. Not to be outdone, Myridian waited until the ceremonies had finished, and the iron had been returned to it's place within the sanctuary. Stealing in under the cover of night, she lit a single candle, and held the iron over it until it glowed bright orange, and applied the mark to her lower back herself, leaving a scar on the inside of her hand in the process because of the awkwardness of the position.