She had an older brother and was spoiled by her father with whatever she wanted.... doted on by the servants and her mother overlooked her developing snootiness because it amused them to watch her order the servants about; a tiny red-headed toddler making the household scurry about in search of a missing toy
or to find just the right snack to keep her happy. Marsella adored her big brother, Tiernan, 8 years her senior and, spent much of her time on his heels. The two had a unique bond as they seemed to be complete opposites. She, boisterous and out going and healthy as the horses she loved; he, quiet and studious, often a bed with numerous coughs.
They would visit her uncle in Shelzar often, sometimes two or three times a year, despite the dangers of the journey. This is, until the trip they took shortly before Marsella's 7th birthday, when their ship was ambushed by pirates. The crew was overpowered by the bandits, the guards killed outright, along with anyone else who put up any serious resistance. Anything of value was taken, including the people. The bandits themselves were mainly interested in a quick profit, and sold the lot off to Chardunite slavers on an island in the Blossoming Sea, but not before stopping in one of the local taverns. The pirate captain had taken a bit of a shine to the girl, nicknaming her Celye, and not being entirely heartless (although heartless enough for a pirate), he needed a way to get rid of her without losing face. In the tavern, he met a fellow from Fangsfall, an ex-soldier, down on his luck. He did seem to suffer some minor disability as a result of a war wound, but he had a trade and a woman at home. This man seemed the best chance for her, a stable life.
So, through some skillful card-playing, the captain managed to lose the girl to the other man, although still taking a fair bit of the fellow's purse in the process. The captain also gave the man a signet ring, telling him to give it to the girl when she came of age. Not finding much luck in the islands, and now saddled with the responsibility of a young girl, the man, Herman Valeman, returned to Fangsfall, otherwise empty-handed, having left in hopes of striking it rich on some adventure. When he arrived home, there was nothing good for him to find; his home had been fired, his wife missing, probably dead or worse, for it looked like there had been a titanspawn raid here, months ago, perhaps not long after he had left. These circumstances hardened his heart, and a feeling of betrayal crept in. He had fought hard to protect these lands, had lost partial use of one of his legs defending it, and yet, while he was away, the same people he protected had not
seen fit to do for him. And on top of it all, the responsibility of this red-haired little brat was dropped in his lap!
In the coming years, he taught Celye the craft of leatherworking, had her doing the cooking and cleaning, training her as his servant, although he had her call him "uncle", and kept from her anything he knew of her true background. He has never given Celye the ring the pirate captain gave him, for fear that it might give Celye "ideas", and he wants to make sure he gets his worth out of the girl. He found several ways of having her 'earn her keep,' most of which any normal person would find unkind to say the least. Using Celye's saucy good looks any way he could for coin or drink, and she accepted it as her lot in life, at least until she could work her way out of his clutches.
By the time she was twenty, Celye was hardened and bitter to men, having to deal with the rudest of remarks and suggestive comments. She determined to be the best leathercrafter and get a Guild membership so she could finally tell her neighbors where they could go!