The History of Ostensia
Year 307- Aila’s Story
An infant child is born and she was given the name Aila, meaning “light bearer”. As she grew she became aware and overjoyed about her Talent to speak with animals, which she called “Whispering”. The villagers did not embrace the blessing she offered and so Aila became left home to offer her assistance, as well as finding others like herself.
Though her travels took her all over Ostensia, it was not in vain. It took Aila’s soft soul and good-hearted nature to bring out the other Talented. Under her nurturing hand they learned the arts of healing through natural ways and came to accept their gifts. Aila directed all her energy to assisting villages rather than learn more on the Talent. She simply accepted it as a blessing and took the gifts her animal friends offered her.
They called her a Sage, a learned and clever soul. At the age of 45 she found and married a scholar named Cailan, five years later she bore a charming baby girl (Sage‘s bodies do not age the same). They raised Preita as both a Whisperer and a scholar, making her one of Ostensia’s most important historical figures.
Cailan passed away at the age of 70. Ten years later at the age of 80 Aila, too, left the world, leaving her charges in the hands of her ambitious daughter.
Year 387- Preita’s Story
Unlike her mother, Preita wanted to know all she could about the Talent. It was a curiosity that wouldn’t end with her. She conducted countless experiments and tests concerning Whispering, taking detailed notes on her findings. Theories were written down and passed on to her six children. Through Preita’s studies, Whisperers learned about how the Talent is passed on and how it never diminishes through the generations.
Unfortunately, Preita died during the birth of her son Liam, she was 73 (definitely pushing her body by then). Thanks to Preita, Ostensia received not one Sage, but two. Her oldest twins received her Sage abilities and carried on the tradition of herbalists and scholars. Her four other children traveled and started their own families, helping to spread the Talent.
Year 430- Keiran & Keira’s Story
The twins went their separate ways but stayed diligent in their work and taught many people, Talented and not, about the ways of Whispering. They discovered animal families and classes, found how they, too, passed through generations genetically.
Their personal lives were disregarded and not much was known about them. Keira married a merchant in 462, had five children and died around 502. Keirnan never married and the number of children he sired is unknown, he was 111 when he died.
The inheritants of their gifts were not their children this time, but their faithful students Brae and Desta.
Year 520- Brae and Desta
By now Brae and Desta had many people to reach out too, for the people of Ostensia had been passing on Talent for over 200 years. There were hardly people left who didn’t have Talent. It wasn’t until the students received the twin’s powers did they discover the ability to shape shift. After extensive studying they concluded the gift was to be reserved to Sages only, in case it was used in evil ways.
The Sages continued to travel as hermits, assisting and teaching at every opportunity they could. Desta was blessed with two very gifted daughters, Kyna and Flynn, who accepted her responsibilities when she died in 602. Brae was said to have had children, but it was his student Fagan who took on his Talent. Brae’s death date is unknown.
Year 594- Kyna, Matthiae, and Fagan’s Story
Fagan started off strong, but soon began to show tendencies of his “evil” side. He began teaching all of his students Sage secrets, such as shape shifting and the ability to acquire familiar’s senses. Fagan had gone what we call today, rogue.
Flynn was last seen with her young apprentice Matthiae. What happened during her travels with the young elf is unknown. Matthiae himself may be the only one to know how his master died or where she is buried.
As for Kyna, she was kept busying filling in for the corrupt and absent Sages.
Year 604 - Matthiae, Kyna, and Fagan’s Story continued
Fagan has infected the ambitious and greedy Whisperers of Ostensia, Kyna is having a hard time trying to handle Fagan while trying to help the rest of the people. Matthiae vanished after his master deaths and has only recently returned, keeping his identity hidden from the public.
Year 612- Winds of Change
The King was bedridden with a seemingly incurable disease. To help the ailing King three trusted members of the noble court formed a council to help him rule. But as we all know when one is given such power they are not always willing to give it up…
The Sage’s themselves seemed to be offering little help. Fagan remained rogue and at large, teaching his pupils secrets belonging only to the sages. Matthiae returned to the mainland to learn of Ostensia’s dilemmas, though he remained hidden from the public eye. Kyna, the only available Sage, disappeared. The Oracle of the Elves disappeared, leaving both her own people and the humans with no way to know what the future would hold for them.
Year 613- The Not So Distant Past
The King is dead and the Council has seized power in light of the fact that he produced no male heir before his death. There is now only one legitimate Princesses of Ostensia as the eldest was murdered during her elaborate ball. The princess is now engaged to the Duke of Shadesburne and it seems that soon he will become king. Not all are for this however.
Sage Kyna is dead, leaving no apprentice to replace her and Matthiae has revealed his identity to Princess Amata and one of the council members, as well as the Oracle who remains missing. Fagan continues to further his plans, his Hell's Performers growing.