Background: Taemyr was born in a shadow known to him as Elsborn, though he had no clue it was merely a shadow. His mother, Lydia, was a gentle woman with few ambitions beyond providing a loving home for herself and her son. She raised chickens and was quite in demand among the elite classes for her artistic embroidery. Taemyr's father died when he was very young, and though his mother did her best to answer his questions, he learned the less said the better - the subject always seemed to leave her sad. As a result, he seldom thought about his father unless someone else brought it up. Through his mother's guidance, he was a gentler man than some, though he had a true gift and zeal for archery

image by Dee Dreslough

Despite his excellence in horsemanship and combat, Taemyr held no titles in his homeland. His opinion of royalty was low, lower even than he himself realized, and he bore a deep distrust and resentment against their power. He saw titles as invisible chains used by the aristocracy to manipulate each other and made it a point to avoid any and all competitions where a title would be awarded. Nor was he willing to take employment from any noble, regardless of the inducement.

He had trouble holding a job for any length of time, due to either boredom or his unwillingness to take orders from a supposed superior. He never saw himself as a better person than anyone else, (more capable, easily, but not a better person), but he'd be damned if he was going to accept being treated as inferior. This was often something of a dangerous game played between himself and the aristocracy, something which he was more or less allowed to play due to their actual fear of attempting to take into custody a man who bested their own guards in competition. Each recognized, however, certain limits.

Taemyr was between jobs when he received a visit from a fellow claiming to be his half brother. The man called himself Loren, and claimed that their mutual father was still alive. Taemyr found this intensely insulting to his mother, and they very nearly had a serious brawl over it. Loren's smooth talking forestalled that, and he persuaded Taemyr to follow him, if nothing else than to prove him wrong. They traveled to Amber, and to the Pattern. They had multiple arguments along the way, with Taemyr about to head home several times.

The Pattern was a magically glowing maze etched in the floor of a castle dungeon. Loren told Taemyr he should walk the maze to the center and once there, to instruct it to take him to their father. He warned him, however, that he mustn't stop or it would destroy him. Taemyr flatly refused, distrusting the entire deal, but Loren shoved him, causing him to take the first step. No longer having any choice, Taemyr began the long and arduous struggle to the center. When he finally reached it, Loren had disappeared. Not about to do as Loren had told him to, he commanded the Pattern to take him home. Much to his shock, it did.