On her twelfth birthday, Jagya’s father, kennel-master to a marcher lord, entrusted her with a puppy named “Brighteyes” to raise and train. Jagya was determined to impress her father and Brighteyes responded to her dedication, learning quickly and demonstrating that he would never slink from any danger which threatened Jagya.

Two years later, Void attacked the manor. Jagya tried to get to her father, but Brighteyes tackled her. The building she had been trying to reach collapsed; the hound had saved her life. Together, they fled, and when they returned a few days later, the manor was empty but for corpses.

The manor was no longer safe, so they had to make their way in the Wilds. Jagya trained herself to use the crossbow with deadly accuracy. She disguised herself with trophies from her kills, appearing increasingly like the Voidbeasts she hunted. Brighteyes, meanwhile, grew large and fierce. Jagya trained him to corner prey and to lure Voidspawn into ambush, but unplanned encounters were inevitable.

In close-quarters fights, Brighteyes proved the bane of many Voidspawn. But discolorations appeared in the hound’s eyes and his fur fell out in clumps. Brighteyes was gradually being Consumed — a process about which Jagya knew tragically little. She decided they must seek a healer in the Heartlands.

The Void presence had waxed since the manor attack. They traveled cautiously. After many days they reached a village. When Jagya approached, her outlandish garb caused alarm. Brighteyes sprang to her defense, and the villagers saw that he was Tainted.

The pair took to living in the Wilds again. Jagya sought rumored cures for the Taint, but only the Void Hunters she met told her anything of substance. Looking at the pair admiringly they told her, “There’s no cure, girl, but join us and we can promise neither of you will live to become monsters.”