Volnar was born and raised in a small town, populated mostly by Nagaji, that was situated where a road through a large forest crossed a river, and Volnar was quite frequently bored growing up. Both the road and the river were only lightly traveled, and his kin had very little interest in anything but their immediate environs, whereas Volnar was insatiably curious about everything. He devoured what few books there were in town, and incessantly pestered what few travelers would talk to him. Often teased, even by his own clutchmates, for his bookish leanings, his above average strength and speed soon taught everyone not to take it too far. The teasing still took its toll, and it wasn't until the lone human in town, an elderly man named Rathin, took a shine to him that he started to feel less out of place. One of the few living there willing to talk about anything and everything, Rathin eventually took him on as an apprentice and taught him how to trap and hunt, and survive in the wilderness. He also guided Volnar when his magic began to develop, and encouraged him to keep his capabilities quiet. It wasn't until much later that Volnar thought it strange how the teasing and attempted intimidation seemed to stop completely once he was under Rathin's wing. And much, much later than that before Volnar realized that many of Rathin's lessons were more applicable to intelligent humanoids than animals. Though he avoided speaking about his past directly, Rathin let enough slip in the various tales he told that it became clear to Volnar that he had traveled extensively at some point in the past. About two years ago, Rathin abruptly set out on a trip that he said would take 2-3 months, with no additional explanation given. After about a year with no word, Volnar started ranging further and further afield on his trapping expeditions, until one day he just kept going in the direction he knew human lands to lie, looking for his mentor. Several months later he's ended up here, and wondering if this was really such a good idea after all.
