You see, us Montaguese have a rough history. For over 500 years in the past, the Niap Empire dominated our land. About 15 years ago (in the year 583), the Montaguese rebeled against Niapish opression. My father, a commoner by the name of Manuel led the army which defeated the Niap garrison in the Land known as Montagal. Unfortunately he was severely wounded in the final battle (I was 6 at the time) and King Diniz took me and my mother in to the royal palace. I grew up there and learned much about the world around me. But King Diniz did not live entirely up to his promises. In 590 he changed the contitutional monarchy into an absolute monarchy. He began to expand Montugal into a larger empire. Education was controled be the state but my mother kept the freethinking part of me alive. I fought in several of Montagual's small expantional battles and eventualy joined the Montagues Royal Navy. I always had an interest in the unknown people and places of the world and my dreams of exploration became a reality. Finaly, about two years ago, I arived in the Hinterlands where I became a mantis. Shortly after, King Diniz realized the potential of creating a mantis army and wished to have me captured and brought back to Montagal for study. When I refused to return, he locked my father and mother in the dungeon and threatened to kill them if I didn't return. He also threatened to declare war on Darkenwald if Rosha did not hand me over to him. Magius Darkstar, a personal servant to Diniz, offered to personaly capture me and bring me back, but he realized later how wrong it would be to do this to a friend. He also realized that King Diniz was just using him. So Magius aranged for my father and mother's release from the dungeon, but too late. They both died of a strange and powerful version of the cold in their lungs caused most likely by the cold and damp environment of the dungeon. Now I live in Darkenwald and have sworn to protect the friends I have here.