Their older sister, Delshara, and Brianna, did not get along. Brianna was also strongly attached to their father, and Branleth's conservatism favored women in peaceful paths - certainly not in a warrior's guild. Delshara, on the other hand, loved heroic epics and re-playing them out with her practice sword. When the aging Branleth and Delshara had their final quarrel, Delshara abruptly left the family home for Easlen. Brianna did not mourn much to see her sister go, but her mild dislike turned to contempt when Branleth died in an attack scarcely a week after Delshara's departure. They did not correspond personally, only exchanging messages through their sister Elora. The stalemate continued for years, but both twins survived Delshara's ordeal in the Lanakhan deserts and finally her death years later. Brianna was remarkably saddened by it, and wrote a song about her famous sister - the "Dirge for the Defender", which she personally counted as one of her best.

Eventually, the twins left home to establish themselves in Easlen and furthering their education. Elora joined the druid's guild and became beloved of Leheirden, the Goddess of Nature. Brianna immediately attached herself to the troubadours' and had the honor of speaking on occasion to her Goddess, Tiffreylaana. Tiffreylaana was a friendly deity who encouraged the arts in all forms, and Brianna's constant efforts to write, sing and play instruments found favor with her. She was eventually rewarded with a title, the Seeker of Lyrical Inspiration. As one of a particularly talented group of troubadors in the guild at that time, Brianna's own gifts did not really make her unique - but her songs were heartfelt and true. For her, this was enough.

Unlike their older sister, the twins had more than their share of good looks. Jacien Palemoon, Cerrick and Alera's son, came between them - if only good-naturedly, for really nothing could part the bond between the sisters. Elora pined after him while Jacien and Brianna began a relationship. Brianna was sympathetic to her sister's plight, but her own heart could not stop its call to his. The two were married in a little inn off the Eastern Road. The trio of them were quite happy with each other - although Elora still longed for him - and were quite often found in the courtyard, singing and talking, the picture of perfect contentment.

Jacien's aunt, Alexis Telaar, went through a series of tragedies and heartaches during this time - an enchantress of note and once a Magi Vizier, her heart had hardened and coarsened due to a vicious and painful marital betrayal. She exchanged the Golden Rose of Jezebel for the third-degree burns of Cynderheart, God of Hatred. Her outlook turned evil, and she became a notorious necromancer - the "Witch of Lake Avernon". Her transformation was sudden and deep, and few in Tarn escaped her wrath - she burned down part of Emerald Forest, stole babies just to cause pain, and raised general havoc and confusion throughout the land. Just at the end of Brianna's pregnancy - an unexpected, though not unwelcomed event - she kidnapped Jacien at Lake Avernon. Finding few to help her, Brianna, as heavy as she was, went to rescue him. Travelling painfully, she arrived at the Lake. During a pleading exchange, Brianna finally secured her husband's release - at the risk of tainting her unborn child. It was a decision that haunted her for the rest of life, knowing that whatever happened to her child was going to be part of her conscious decision. Brianna went into labor after her return, delivering Kirana - the namesake of Jacien's lost twin sister. The most frightening thing about the delivery, besides its speed, was the baby's eyes - a swirling miasma of black, not the gentle brown that they were expected to be. The second astonishing fact about the child was her stunning beauty - in a newborn, an incredible thing - full-lipped and perfect.

Jacien and Brianna made do with what they had. They loved their daughter, but they forevermore regretted that their child was the price of Jacien's freedom. The strained peace was forever shattered, however, with Brianna's sudden and unexpected death. Jacien had been away on a mission with the Crusaders when she died of a miscarriage in a bed in the troubadours' guild. She had apparently not even known she was pregnant. The bed was found completely bathed in blood, more than is normal in a miscarriage, and her body lifeless on the sheets. A macabre sight was found on the wall - a toddler's palm prints, marked red and crusted with blood, up the wall by the bed. The baby Kirana was never seen again.

Jacien was devastated with grief and, after a search of Tarn revealed nothing of the baby, travelled away into the wilds of Kahiki Isle. It is said that he did find love again, although the lady's name is not recorded by history. Whether he thought or did more about his daughter is unknown, although it would have been hard to understand if he did not. As for the child Kirana, it -is- known that a young woman looking remarkably like her became possessed by the malevolent spirit of Alexis, executed for her wicked deeds by the Empire. It is now thought that Alexis had something to do with Brianna's death and that she raised the child in Lake Avernon, hoping to raise her into a successor worthy of her.

Last Modified: August 23, 2004