consept for my wizard:
Vendia Chardic
Young girl who was daughter of an wealthy merchant (and for that was able to read and write). When the king's tax collectors descided to raid the merchant house for extra taxes. Whent he collectors came, and her father disagreed and fight broke between the house guards and the collectors men. She was hiding in the basement, only to see her mother captured and rest of the family and their servants and last of the guards, put to sword. She was only 14 at the time. She stayed in the ruins of their family estate, trying to manage, by scavenging and eating what she was able to gather, selling what was left from the looters, except one book. The book seemed special, and was filled not only with words, but pictures and diagrams. When she opened it, something inside awoke. Magick. Not some parlor tricks, but real magic from the ages long gone.
Vendia stayed for longer that she had originally though, reading, swallowing the book and its secrets. When she was ready, she knew few real spells and had bind an bird to her will. To work as her guide and protector, on her quest for vengeance.