Once upon a very idyllic time, there was a happy otter family, living peacefully next to one of the countless minor rivers in south-eastern Calabria, at the very outskirts of the dominion of the Sarthald house. Outwards, the family didn't make much of a fuss, and their neighbors all thought that they were an absolute model of traditional prosperity.

They were partially right.

The head of the family, father of one well-behaved and four noisy children, upheld the family values outwards with a firm but loving approach. He was known everywhere as Rex Darkpaw, a successful merchant with some economical importance but mostly influential through his sucessful contacts with the Rinaldi and the local minor houses.

As mentioned, there was one well-behaved child in the family. This was not Risla.

With one timid, scholarly younger brother, and three older brothers with tempers like crazed ferrets, Risla grew up in a constant mêlée. Their mother, Lienne Darkpaw, had a rather unique method for rearing her young; let them brawl it out, and if they'd have a problem, teach them a new dirty trick or two to keep the balance in the constant struggles. This proved to be amazingly efficient and saved Lienne a lot of trouble, as Rex was absent for long periods during his frequent travels.

Risla always had a romatic streak, and in the always well stocked attic she found her magical box; a crate of old books and a sword. She promptly claimed these invaluable treasures, and as she learned to read (more or less as a spin-off of her milder brother's literary progress), she started pawing her way through the magical realm of history. The books told of a vixen heroine of the past, Iria, who brought justice to the poor oppressed people, and defeated the wicked. Risla dreamed of becoming like this vixen one day, and in secret, she practised with the sword in the attic.

She never quite figured out the concept of fiction.

They found a letter later in the attic, on top of the crate of the neatly stacked books. It read: Have gonne out into the Worlde to putte an Ende to Unjustice and Oppressione of the Poor and Helplesse. Won't be back for Supper.