Velya Edrian

**Velya Edrian** was born Avieve Maelandrin, the third daughter of Baron Torol Maelandrin and his wife Priya. Her childhood was spent in Drakehall, the ancestral home of the Maelandrin family, in the Malkin region of Suldura. During this time, she knew Luxanna and Solaris Silverleaf.

## Early Life

From a young age, Velya studied sorcery under the tutelage of her father and her elder sisters. Although she did possess her family's sorcerous bloodline and had some magical ability, she did not show as much innate talent as did her sisters Navani and Laila. However, Velya demonstrated more of a scholarly bent than her sisters, and began research into some of the magical anomalies of the Faewood.

In 489 AC, Velya learned that her father intended to marry her to Margrave Caswell Malkin. Because both Navani and Laila had already had children, the childless margrave believed that Velya might be able to bear him an heir. However, Malkin had already been married twice, with both of his wives unable to conceive, and both dying under unusual circumstances. Velya expressed her concerns to her father, who insisted that she go through with the marriage, and locked her in her chambers lest she try to abscond before the ceremony.

> *"I prayed to every god that I had heard of. But it was not a god who responded."*
>
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Unable to find anyone who would help her escape, Velya desperately prayed for help, and was answered by the fiend Lisindor. Lisindor made a pact with Velya, granting her the magical power that she needed to escape from Drakehall and her father.

## The Mayakara

Velya fled to the circle of Sulduran mages furthest from Dragon's Roost, the Westmarch Mayakara. She created a fake identity as Velya Edrian and sought the protection of Guild Mistress Nilene Guinevra. Although she realized that Velya was lying to her, Nilene also recognized her as being in need of protection, and allowed her into the Mayakara. As a member of the nobility, Nilene later learned that one of Baron Maelandrin's daughters had gone missing on the eve of an arranged marriage, and correctly deduced that Velya was actually Avieve Maelandrin.

During her time with the Mayakara, Velya continued her research into anomalies in the weave of magic. She also took on an apprentice, Jesrin, and became close with Leonas Kestrel, another Mayakara. From time to time during this period, Lisindor would call on Velya to do small tasks, but his involvement in her life was minimal.

In 499 AC, Velya met Saladin when Errtu sent him to deliver a message to Lisindor. Velya passed on this message, which included information about Corvyn, Grimyse, and Holg.

## Travels With the Party

During the Siege of Westmarch, Velya took part in the defenses of the city. After the Siege, Saladin requested as his boon that a member of the Mayakara be sent with him to train him in sorcery. Having discovered that Velya was also pact-bound, Saladin chose Velya as his tutor. Velya therefore traveled with him and the rest of the party to the Faewood and Nuramek.

In Nuramek, Velya took part in the Siege of the Cinderforge. Afterwards, she told Saladin that she had made the decision to also rebel against her fiendish patron, and was now fully loyal to Saladin and to the party rather than to Lisindor. She also revealed that she had developed romantic feelings for Saladin.

Later, Velya also journeyed with the party to fight the fiend Graendel. During this fight, Velya was revealed to be a warlock. This caused a conflict between Finnbjorn and Saladin, and it was decided that Velya could no longer be permitted to travel with the party. Therefore, Velya did not accompany the party to Mordingard. While the party traveled, however, Velya was captured by agents of Errtu and Lisindor, who held her prisoner and then attempted to use her as a hostage to get Saladin to turn himself and the relic Shamshira over to Errtu. The party, with the help of the recently resurrected Thadwin Bronzewright, freed Velya and brought her back to Nuramek. They then escorted her to Seaspire Keep where she would be under the protection of the Mayakara.

During the Malkin Rebellion, Velya traveled to the crown warcamp near Kainen's Hollow as part of the Mayakara contingent sent to aid in the war effort. Her father, Baron Maelandrin, was one of the chief supporters of Margrave Malkin, and the baron was executed after Malkin's defeat. Velya was offered the opportunity to take up her old name and become the Baroness Maelandrin, but turned it down in favor of continuing to travel with Saladin. The Maelandrin barony was instead given to Nuramek in thanks for their support during the war, and Elend Tavore became the new lord of Drakehall.