Alynda's family history is unknown. As a toddler, she wandered into Sanctum of the Sun with a kitten in her arms and a giant spider on her tail. Alynda stayed for fostering; the spider stayed for supper. Her earliest memory is of the Focusing Crystal of Timbal hanging from Khadgar's belt. To this day, she doesn't know how it came into her possession. When asked at the time, she said "Furblog did it" and pointed to her stuffed bear. She cried when Khadgar tried to take back his orb, but willingly traded for a pearl and a glass of melon juice. Her elders weren't sure whether to praise her or punish her. They also didn't know if she should be trained as a rogue because of her pickpocket skills, or as a mage because of her ability to get past the anti-theft wards. Eventually her love of fire tilted the scales, and it was as a student mage that she faced the Second War. Her deepest regret was being unable to fight at her hero's side. Alynda does not condone unnecessary violence, but her definition of 'necessary' may be fuzzy. While she certainly does not condone violence against elders, kittens, children, and helpless lads locked in tall towers, you really don't want to get between her and the saronite vein she just slaughtered Scourge to get to. And she doubts she will ever be happy until she finds a gem that can match the beauty of a burning ember.
