Iapetus of Rennes, Magus of Tytalus

Iapetus is illegitimate, the offspring of a petty Norman baron, and the youngest (and beloved) daughter of a middling Breton merchant.  Seduced by the baron, Iapetus' mother died in childbirth; he was brought up by his mother's family, who viewed him more as an obligation than a gift.

As a young child, he roamed the streets of Rennes, playing with whatever children he could find.  Partly because of the inevitable resulting misadventures, he was enrolled in a strict grammer school, where he was taught the elements of grammer and latin; perhaps his family thought he might be of use as a clerk?  These plans came to naught when he was almost abducted by enemies of his father, who thought to use the child against the Baron (leverage?  blackmail?).  Taken on the street, Iapetus' vocal resistance amused a Tytalan maga, Gaia, who intervened on his behalf.  Recognizing the child had the Gift, Gaia arranged to take him under her wing as an apprentice.

Iapetus' time under Gaia's tutelage was both rewarding, and a grueling test of his will and endurance.  Gaia's line within Tytalus ultimately descended from the Titanoi purged from the House years ago; having lived a life of suspicion and isolation, she did not hesitate to push Iapetus to his limits and beyond, in order to ensure he would have the strength to survive.  At the same time, she recognized, and encouraged (if harshly), his evident gifts (such as his capacity for Creo magic), and his interest in matters of the body, medicine, and disease.

Having passed his gauntlet, Iapetus travelled to the Holy Land, in search of new knowledge, and an opportunity to act free of the scrutiny of his former master, his House, and the wider Order.  Hearing of the opportunity to found a new Covenant in North Africa, Iapetus has travelled west.  The young magi, proud of his hard-won ability, is driven by a desire to challenge, and ultimately conquer, disease and death.  Affable, and a notorious gossip, he is capable of ruthless fixation in pursuit of his goals, a characteristic enemies would to well to acknowledge.

Character sheet:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Rs61Ftl_q2gKQuGEF7fdpYJxW2iMT24Lf5BCEoFzXl8/edit#gid=1793989632