Almyra was born Ma Ai Ling in Yong Ping, to parents who were not entirely comfortable with Yong Ping being separate from Ai Guo. Her parents, disregarding her well-being and her own dreams, pushed her to work hard so she could attend university in Ai Guo, and she joined hundreds of others aspiring to become master alchemists. Although the first course in the series only taught rudimentary herbal medicine, students fought tooth and nail to guarantee themselves a spot in the next class. When others cracked under the pressure or succumbed to the violence of fellow students, Almyra was one of the few who survived, and the only one given a spot who rejected it. Hardened by the relentless, vicious competition, she set her mind on leaving and moved to the other side of Yong Ping: a bustling, multicultural center by the sea. There, she changed her name, dyed her hair, and became accustomed to living with different people. She found the ever-changing town and its constant state of busyness, as well as the tranquility of the sea, refreshing. She befriended travelers who stopped by the town, envied how they freewheeled through life without being pushed towards one specific purpose, and collected bits and baubles she received from them as gifts. She hoarded these trinkets in her hovel by the sea and watched the sailors come and leave the docks every day, and after three years she almost felt at ease.
However, the university's scar on her never truly healed. The basic herbal knowledge she'd fought to learn never faded, although she tried to forget it. And even after eking out a living for three years, she found employment difficult; her managers reminded her of her parents and any competition between employees reminded her of the university students. She found it impossible to work under anyone else and only relaxed when she could take charge, so she constantly left her job to seek others. The only job she could keep was at a tavern where the tavern keeper and employees became a second family for her, and even then, it didn't last: the tavern keeper was replaced after a few short months. Anxious and frustrated, she decided to take control of her own fortune, gathered her trinkets, and and left for Talon's Port.
As a D&D character, her alignment would be lawful neutral, and her stats (highest to lowest) would be: Wisdom, Charisma, Intelligence, Constitution, Dexterity, Strength. Not a great D&D alchemist, but great for roleplay.
