Lydia was born to [fathers name] and [mothers name] in the rainy cold north coast region. Her father was a well regarded shipwright and her mother, captain of a fishing vessel.
When she was young, her father would show her models of the ships he built, and she would visit the shipyard to watch as the models in her room slowly grew and took form in the dry docks. Sometimes she'd find her father and help, fetching water, and even in the later years, learning a few of the tools of the trade and helping that way.
She wouldn't stay at the shipyards for too long however, she joined her mother's crew at the age of 15 to help keep the fishing business afloat. She worked for years, balancing her schoolwork and studying with the long hours and physically demanding tasks on the fishing boat. She even managed to spend time with her mother's sister, [aunt's name] who somehow managed to teach her to blend in with polite society. This continued until her 20th birthday.
Three days after she turned 20, her father inexplicably disappeared. He had become a bit reclusive in past couple years and her and her mother were concerned, but he never said a word about what was causing his change in behavior. After he disappeared, Lydia and her mother set out to search for him. A few of the dockworkers said he had boarded a ship for a southern land a few days prior.
With this knowledge in hand, they searched. They searched for years, Lydia learning everything her mother knew along the way. They searched across the eastern coast and even across the short part of the great sea looking an finding very little. They searched until they found a lead in a former pirate. It didn't go very far however, her mother became injured in a storm and Lydia had to take control of the ship to bring her mother home.
After her mother's injury, she searched for a few more years before growing weary of the task and returning home. By now she was 26 and had proven herself to be a capable sailor. She went home to her aunt and struck a deal.
With that, she raised the funds to buy a boat and began to trade, using her knowledge of the world gained in her searches, she knew where to get the best fruits and grains, and what have you, very valuable items and commodities for good prices. She sailed for her aunt and uncles company for many years, building up a reputation for being a wise and effective, if not salty, sea captain.
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