Backstory
Birth and Parentage:
Nzi'Fuma's parents were members of The Cazav, a secretive sect existing within and without Desnind who follow the Serga Marvanu, a Sev'ryn religion dedicated to the Immortal Lisirra. His father, Tou'touye, and mother Lethu were not of high rank within the religion but had made significant contributions nonetheless. Given their residence in the city of Desnind itself, it often fell to them to entrap and trick foreigners into the temple, to enslave and subsequently perform experiments on. Many within the temple began to value their contributions, and so they became prominent members of the cult. Without much talent, for rhetoric or eloquence to preach the will of Lisirra, they never rose high in the ranks despite these contributions. But when Lethu found herself pregnant with their child, they both had high hopes for their offspring.
The mother, whose familiar was a gypsy moth, often instead of hearing the feathery buffeting of the moth's wings, would often instead hear a faint buzzing sound of bees or flies during the pregnancy. When she brought this issue to the priests and monks of the temple, they all shared in her joy that the child was indeed favored by their mistress.
When finally he was born, they kept him in the city, only bringing him to the Temple when he reached one arc of age. His naming ceremony was held with a good deal of pomp, and the parents dedicated his upbringing and life to Lisirra. He was named Nzi'fuma.
Childhood and Adolescence:
Nzi'fuma was raised with care by the community of the Cazav when his parents were residing at the temple and trained to take his father's trade as a weaver as he grew. He also took part in the luring of foreigners and slaves into the wilderness for capture and experimentation at the temple. His sunny disposition disarmed many an experiment, and nobody suspected he was involved in the disappearances. His parents took a back seat to his own contributions, shoring up their cover identity at Desnind as a simple weaver and his wife.
While learning a weaver's trade from his father, he was also schooled in survival and fieldcraft by Lethu. This became his preferred method of sustenance. She would set him about on scavenger hunts in the wilderness, which he took with great enthusiasm.
It was around this time when he first became aware of a spirit on the edge of his consciousness. It began with a faint buzzing sound that haunted his dreams. At times, the creatures and people he encountered in dreams would burst into a swarm of flies, which would fly around him, to his delight. He has yet to find a familiar in the forest and wetlands. The spirit has yet to find him, and he it, but there may come a day when he finally seeks it out.
Adulthood:
He dedicated his life anew to Lisirra as the true creator of the Sev'ryn. There, he was accepted as a devotee and began his training as a lay monk. His parents were so proud of his entrance, that they arranged for lodging within the city for him, to retreat to when he needed to shore up his cover identity as a Desnind weaver and tailor.
As a lay monk, he took on the vow of Duty to start with. His duty involved providing textiles to the temple, as well as any other Lisirran monks who required his crafts. This often meant crafting simple, jute hair shirts, and garments that would later be laced with experimental drugs and disease vectors. He did all of this knowingly, happily, as he ever did anything. The world was a feast for maggots, and he was hosting the banquet.
Starter Quest: Djinn
The Lady Pestilence is not one to be kept waiting, for any means. She wants to experiment, to mutate, to test the boundaries of the mortal condition. While you sleep one trial, she comes to you in a dream, a mass of buzzing flies and the stench of decay. She tells you to find a young Sev'ryn girl, any will do. She has a new plague she wants to try, and all she needs you to do is bring this little girl to her in Rhakros. Desnind itself does not have the resources to perform the experiment like Lisirra does.
But doing so means you'd leave your responsibility to the temple behind. They'd understand, surely? Unless they think you're lying to shirk your duty. Then you may end up on the slab instead. But should you ignore your Lady for fear of being accused a liar?
The choice is yours.