Once upon a time, not so very long ago as you might think, the Merfolk and Cecaelia lived in peace. Of course, all peace between the two races was relative, as both had a long history of disquiet with the other. There had been many a war between them in the ancient days, but now the two were officially truced. So willing was Merqueen Athena to heal the relationship between the races that when a young Cecaelia showed prodigal talents for magic, she was invited to the court and given the rare opportunity to properly hone her skills from the best witches the Merkindom had to offer. Over time, she became great enough that she reached the title of High Mage. Many merfolk were displeased by the development, for the social animosity was far from dead – however, the young Cecaelia had the friendship of the Queen, and no one could challenge the decision – not even King Triton.
As time passed, however, tensions between the races refused to die. Merfolk still hated their Cecaelia peers with a disgusted passion, and the Cecaelia felt oppressed by the resentment of the Merfolk who ruled over them. Tired of being regarded as second-class citizens at best and monsters at worst, they began to speak out against their oppressors. It began as peaceful demonstrations, but as the Merfolk continued to react in violence and anger, it exploded into war and massacre. Innocent Cecaelia were killed or wound up behind bars in the palace dungeons. The young Cecaelia witch was devastated, and first pleaded, then demanded that the conflict come to an end, and her people be answered to and set free. However, the King – and even the Queen, who until now had seemed her steadfast ally – refused to hold back.
The Cecaelia saw now the superficiality that their gesture to grant her power had been. Feeling betrayed, she used her magic to break the locks of the dungeon and free her sisters. However, it was all a disaster. The guards stopped them as they made their escape, and the slaughter was devastating. Few if any of the prisoners survived. For her actions, the witch was sentenced to death, but in a last-minute change of heart, in light of the position she had once held among them, she was banished. To this day, she still offers up her talents to Merfolk in need of aid, as she did in her days at the palace. However, if they are unable to fulfill their end of the bargain, she will not hesitate to enact on her spite towards them all. And all the while, she is awaiting her opportunity for the ultimate vengeance…