Editing Mahbaley Seiso (section)

== Back Story ==
Mahbaley belongs to Seiso, the royal house of Ancalia; she is, in fact, one of the children of Arad, the last king of Ancalia. Like all Arad’s children, she was given an extensive education in all matters related to things of state--military strategy, diplomacy, history and the like. (Since the position of High Negus was elective--upon the death of the Negus, Ancalia’s nobility elected a new one from among the dead monarch’s children--it was important that all potential heirs receive this training.) Her tutors were scholars of the Unitary Church, who sought to mold her into a just ruler and a devout Uniter. She was a thoughtful, quiet child, preferring study to training with arms or court social events, but dutifully undertaking all that was required as part of her training.

And then the Night Roads erupted across Ancalia. The kingdom rapidly slid into chaos. High Negus Arad, Mahbaley’s father, saw what was coming and sent her and his other  younger children into exile, seeking to preserve the royal blood like, while her older siblings remained at home in a futile effort to turn back the tide. At the age of sixteen, Mahbaley was forced to become a wanderer. Given the widespread view that Ancalia had brought this curse on itself, no other noble house or government would give shelter to Mahbaley or any of her younger siblings who accompanied her into exile. She found herself forced to fall back on her martial training and work as a mercenary and wandering adventurer, taking jobs across Vissio and in the border squabbles between Patria and Dulimbai (fighting for both sides at various times). She learned about military strategy in a very practical way, as well as how to survive and move stealthily in the wilds. She tried to provide for her younger siblings and keep in touch with them, but events worked against that and she now only has a rough notion of where some of them are. Eventually, however, she found a something of a home for herself, becoming a member of the mercenary Company of the Red Lion. During this time, the quiet, studious child became hardened by battle and travel. She grew popular enough among the Red Lion to be elected one of their lieutenants. They did not care one way or another about her royal bloodline--they simply saw a competent, thoughtful soldier.

The Red Lions were involved in a dispute between nobles in Vissio, when they found themselves betrayed and not simply being defeated, but in danger of being wiped out to keep their silence. Their captain was slain and Mahbaley was seriously wounded--when she suddenly found new abilities and senses waking in her. She was able to tell where all her fellows were and even look through their eyes and communicate with them telepathically. A ringing command from her caused many of their foe to flee. Using these abilities, she was able to marshal the Red Lions to break through the ring of enemies surrounding them and defeat them. Mahbaley was elected the new captain of the Red Lions on the spot.

Mahbaley remains a strong believer in the Unitary Church, though her life as a wandering mercenary means she has been less than devout in her practice. She is one of those who believes her new gifts are from the One, to be used in restoring creation. Now that she has this power, she believes it is her duty to build a force which she can use to cleanse Ancalia of the monsters and Night Roads that plague it, claim the throne for herself and restore the kingdom to its former glory. To this end, she is gathering exiled Ancalians and anyone else willing to follow her around her, building on the nucleus of the Red Lions. She knows the time is not yet right to return to Ancalia, so for the time being she continues to work as a mercenary captain, though she tries to pick and choose her battles and use her abilities in a way that is dutiful to the power the One has given her.