- The women on Aelana's mother's side have been followers of Ardad Lili for many generations, predating the rise of Mitra.
- Aelena's mother had an arranged marriage with her father, an heir from a wealthy farmer, minor lord and follower of both Mitra and House Darius.
- Her husband, Aelena's father, was a weak willed, gentle and loving man and one of two men Aelena truly loved. He was physically abused by his father, who was a stern Mitran and a violent man. The abuse extended to Aelena's mother after the marriage.
- The first born was a son and was taken by grand father to raise as what he called a true man.
- Aelena was half of twins, the other half being her brother Leandric. He's the only other man she loves.
- They had one more child, a girl.
- As her eldest brother gets older he takes after grandfather and becomes a nasty man and devout Mitran.
- Eldest son abused his father who he deems a weakling, just like his grandfather does.
- Father interferes when the eldest son wants to beat his youngest sister for some perceived slight. Son is angered that his weakling father dares act against him and beats him to death in a fit of rage. Grandfather arranges the thing to disappear.
- Remainder of Aelena's family tries to run but they are retrieved by people loyal to her grandfather.
- Aelena's twin brother is sent to a military academy while she is sent away to marry a much older man. Mother and baby sister stay behind.
- Aelena moves to Talingarde's capitol, where she comes in touch with women who are equally dissatisfied with their situation. They start to come together to talk but as they mostly talk about their frustration Aelena slowly introduces them to Ardad Lili and they turn into a small cult.
- On the night before her wedding Aelena organises a gathering where she ritually sacrifices her husband to summon a servant of Ardad Lili.
- The ritual is interrupted by Sir Balin of Karfeld. A female servant had talked and ratted them out.
- Most other women were sent home as their families were too influential and it was made to look like they didn't quite understand what was going on, as if Aelena tricked them all.
- Aelena was arrested and set to be made an example off and as such was sent to Branderscar before she'd be burned at the stake.