more outline work

characters/phelan-varrant.md

@@ -95,11 +95,15 @@
 
 ## Backstory
 
-- Raised by a working mother — present in the house but largely absent in attention. Necessity, not cruelty.
+- **Born and raised in Wensley** — a small town in Thorngate duchy, ~10 miles south of Thorngate city. Raised by a working mother (Kimra) who worked as the Corvel equivalent of a life coach / applied psychologist. Present in the house but largely absent in attention during working hours. Necessity, not cruelty.
 - No father figure. Built his own code of conduct through trial, error, and observation.
 - Discovered Flaw Sight young — spent years thinking he was simply better at magic before realizing it was categorically different.
-- Attended **Brannick's Academy** for four years. Licensed at sixteen through the Arcane Compact's educational track. Outpaced instructors by year three; spent year four irritating them by pointing out inefficiencies. Withdrew before completion.
-- Joined the Guild of Necessary Services because it was the only structure that didn't require pretending to be something he wasn't.
+- **Age 12:** Left Wensley for **Brannick's Academy in Thorngate city** (boarding school, Arcane Compact educational track). Four years.
+- **Age 16:** Licensed by the Arcane Compact. Outpaced instructors by year three; spent year four irritating them by pointing out inefficiencies. Withdrew before completion of the advanced track.
+- **Met Leon D'Nardis at Brannick's.** Leon was younger, being bullied. Phelan taught him two combat fire spells as a practical solution. Leon combined them into an unexpectedly effective hybrid on the spot. Friendship seeded there.
+- **Age 16–20:** Remained in Thorngate city rather than returning to Wensley. Four years finding his footing, working the margins, learning about the Guild of Necessary Services through contacts — mostly via Leon's minor-nobility network, which opened doors Phelan's family name did not.
+- **Age 20:** Moved to Drenwick to pursue GNS membership and to be closer to Leon (who had also left Thorngate by then). Joined the Guild because it was the only structure that didn't require pretending to be something he wasn't.
+- **Has not returned to Thorngate duchy since** — approximately twelve years away from the duchy of his birth and adolescence as of Book 3 opening. Letter contact with Kimra maintained at a sparse 4–6 letters/year; last in-person visit ~5 years before Book 3 (Kimra travelled south to Drenwick for a week; Phelan has never returned the trip). Letters stopped ~1 year ago during the Floundry case without him noticing.
 - Has never told anyone the full extent of what he can do.
 
 ---