Finfolk Princess Halia arrived on the shores of Aurelica from the depths of the Western Sea, perennial habitat of the ancient Finfolk whose lore stretches back to the Sea God’s granting of sentience and metamorphosis-like tails and tentacles in return for zealous worship. Finfolk’s capacity for tolerance and intelligence quickly made their nascent underwater kingdom a beacon of peace not just for those underwater but also for surface-dwellers lucky enough to enjoy trade with the generous people.

The birth of Halia, currently the youngest of Finfolk princesses, was reported a strange time of prophecy and miracles – denizens of the deep and Sea Giants alike trembled with the foreboding or withdrew fearfully as a tremendous whirlpool erupted from the ocean floor, revealing all manner of coral, stones, and shells within a maelstrom of sand and grit. It was there the Finfolk found the last Tide Pearl, another sign of Halia’s special status, used to complete and enhance the mighty Sea Lantern. All Finfolk seemed united in celebration of Halia as the “Whirlpool Spirit” foretold by the Sea Witch, come to defeat the Sea Giants and bring peace and prosperity to all.

Halia naturally developed into an extremely confident if naive young leader from within her opulent underwater Palace of the Dawn. Seeking always to do good, Halia’s encounter with a drowning sailor named “Borden” from Pirate Island provided an opportunity to save a poor surface-dweller’s life. Impressed by Borden’s wit, Halia expected her generosity to be returned. Instead Borden returned to the surface with three Dawn Pearls from the Ocean Lantern before the theft was noticed. Having enabled the heist and determined to clear her name and restore the protective artifact, Halia set out to right Borden’s wrong. Her first stop: dreaded harbor of the Free Cities.