Avaris was 9 when his Mother and Father were returning from the Capital on business. Traveling with his newborn sisters and house retainers the carriage and its accompaniment were set upon. Vitali being the stalwart Cavalier he was charged headlong into the attackers to protect his house and family. As the battle began to turn ill for the Terekhov’s, Zhenya instructed Iain, a retainer from Vitali’s father's days to safeguard Natasha and the family signet ring. Iain kept the young infant quiet among the wreckage until the raiders were done and left. Iain was badly scarred from the fires but managed to get back to Countess Lovell. Delivering the news to Avaris and his father's ring. Unfortunately, the raiders had stolen the family sword along with the majority of their commerce efforts in the city. Following this tragedy Countess Adalecia Lovell, who had already taken the Terekhov family in as retainers would ensure the continued tutelage of young Avaris. At 19 Avaris was Knighted, having won his first tournament, the Duke of Evreux, awarded him his spurs and his position as a Knight of the Realm. On that eve, Iain would come to Avaris and usher him out in the dead of night to a secret gathering. Several hours ride into the wilds from Evreux, Avaris was met with a group of aged Knights in a small clearing. Most he recognized from the Tournaments, from all over the Kingdom, they did not seem to be Knights of anyone lord. There he was offered the chance to join an ancient and secret order of Knights, the Order of the Eastern Star. His father and his father before him served this order, were keepers of supernatural happenings in the world and would strive to ensure creatures from beyond the mortal realm did not endanger the Kingdom or its people. On the return trip, Iain would tell Avaris of the great spirit and dark power which resided beneath the old Terekhov Manor and why how it was this dark power that caused the demise of their family. 3 years ago it was revealed Tristan, a ward of the Countess Adalecia was in fact his half brother, a bastard. The man was always part of the household but never trained with the other lads with sword and horse, instead seemed to be groomed by the Countess for some other purpose, before now Avaris would not have given him much time beyond the occasional social encounter around the household.