The unforgiving mountains of Skybreen breeds a hearty people. People of strength and self-sufficiency. And the Fjölmennr barbarians of eke out a harsh and bitter life between the Skybreen Glacier and the Hoystr Mountain. Among the many peoples that move along the frozen lands, the Rammligr Clan are among the most famous and powerful. They produce tenacious warriors, and powerful Runecasters that work diligently to protect their people. But that doesn't always mean that they are a good people. Thrain Ulfriksson was one such person. He towered over even his massive peers, and his body was thick with iron thews. He was a proud warrior, and often clashed with the King of the tribe. To the point that during one particularly vicious argument, Thrain actually struck the Jarl. Banished from the Clan, Thrain made his way from Skybreen and made his way to Bretagard, to see what riches he could win for himself.

He was not heard from for fifteen years.

But during one dark night, Thrain returned to his people. He would not speak of what he had witness in the south, but he bore a terrible limp, and his left eye had been destroyed, and was buried beneath a mess of savage scars. His fiery and proud spirit had been tempered by hardship and battle, and he sought forgiveness for his youthful indiscretion. The prizes and treasure that he brought with him went far in smoothing over harsh memories. But Thrain brought more than simply gold and weapons. He brought with him a wife that was already heavy with child. Already tight-lipped about his adventures, Thrain would not explain how they had met or wed, but his new spouse was clearly an Alu-fiend. Even the fortune that Thrain had gifted the tribe was not enough for them to fully accept her. But Urilora was a kind soul, and weathered their derision and neglect with equal grace.

It was into such and environment that Aezira was born. Though Urilora died in giving birth to her, she lived long enough to name her after her mother. Though visibly heartbroken at her passing, Thrain lived on as best he could, raising Aezira as best he could. And while he raised her with all the love he could give, Aezira inherited her mother's disdain and shunning from the rest of the time, despite being a sweet child. Unwilling to let his daughter be a victim to small minded people, Thrain taught her to hunt and fight, despite his painful injuries and the gendered expectations of the Rammligr. For her part, Aezira loved learning the art of battle, and cherished the thrill of hunting reindeer. Like her father, she grew in height and musculature, until she rivaled or surpassed many boys her own age. But despite her prowess, this training only made the rest of the Rammligr mock and isolate her even more.

Unwilling to put up with this abuse any further, Aezira decided to leave the Rammligr and reside in Sevalgr, whom the Tribe was on good terms with, and their more cosmopolitan nature would allow her more social acceptance. Thrain respected her decision, but decided to remain with his people, as he wanted nothing more with outside cultures. And so every few months, Aezira would brave the tundra and visit her father for a few days before returning to the Sevalgr area. This pattern continued for a number of years, becoming a mundane routine. But one particularly harsh autumn, her journey to visit her father took a darker turn. When she arrived at the Rammligr village, she found it under attack by a raiding party of Draugr from the Hoystr Peak. Most of the men were out undertaking the last major hunting party of the year, and thus the village was relatively unprotected. Only Thrain, the very old warriors that remained, and few fierce women who decided to shirk their expected roles and fight for their survival was the only defense the children and infirm had. She only had a few moments to take in the battle before she witnessed the horror of her father being cut down. Filled with a fury that she had never known before, Aezira took up her father's sword and fell upon the Draugr raiders with all the rage of the berserkergang. But it was more than that. Red, burning power burned forth from her body, striking down the Undead with sheer magical fire. Such was her wrath that she turned the tide of battle in the defender's favor.

For this act of valor, she was hailed as a hero by both the survivors, and the warriors upon their return. It was then that she was given the title of The Hellrune, for runic magic was the only type they understood. Despite the heartache of losing her father, she had finally found acceptance among her kinfolk, and it was the happiest days of her life. But she knew that if she stayed too long, superstitious minds might gain root again. She did have the blood of the Abyss flowing through her veins, after all. And there was that power that bubbled up beneath the surface when she was filled with rage. She would need to find a teacher to harness and control her power.

At first she sought tutelage with Runecaster of her village, but the old woman informed her that Aezira's power was different than anything she had experienced, and that she could not teach her. However, in her youth, the Runecaster had made acquaintance with the legendary Tyvar Kell, who had told her of a fantastical realm in the multiverse that was dedicated to the study of magic in all it's varied forms. Perhaps there, she could learn about this strange power that dwelled within her. Using her limited ability to contact other planes, the Runecaster sent a message to the plane of Arcavios in hopes of aid.

A month later, a strange and glowing letter carried in an envelope stylized like an owl appeared in Aezira's home. It did not take her long to read it, but before she knew it, Aezira found herself in a whirlpool of light and color so bright that she had to shut her eyes against the all encompassing light. She felt like she was motionless, but falling through an abyss at the same time. When she finally lurched to a halt, she found herself on her knees, looking up into the kindly and aged face of a tall man in blue-white robes.

"Welcome to Strixhaven, mage-student..."