[OOC: I don't think I've added a description beyond the initial one, so here is how Fray appears when Tasia meets him.]
As the room is almost bare, Tasia would find Fray sitting at a writing desk. As Tasia enters Fray rises, greets her, then asks her to sit.
"I suspect that most of my experiences as a Magus are non-exceptional, especially as a Follower of Bonisagus. I am English born and raised, being apprenticed only sixty or so miles from my birthplace. Master Amilica was very dutiful in my education and was very encouraging of my interest in transformations, even though this was outside her own background. And like many Bonisagus my apprenticeship was a shared responsibility between many magi."
"Shortly after my gauntlet I traveled to a small covenant called Woodenhall in Wales which was recently formed and joined with the Magi there, where I lived until recently. It was a covenant far more volatile than I was used to, and it took many years before the personalities of the Magi adjusted to each other. Being in the middle of the isles meant that resources were scarce, and we had to make do sometimes. I spent most of my time studying and avoiding the banter of the surrounding politics, as I really don't have a good head for it. "
Looking downward, but smiling slightly, "My wife always said that it was a good lesson for Magi to live simply and pragmatically, and I agree."
Fray's tone softens, and he sighs as he continues, "I really wish now that I had understood my brethren more, and perhaps circumstances would be different now.", pausing, "Sorry, I am being unclear."
He looks back up as Tasia, "My reason for coming all the way here is to start again."
"A handful of years ago Woodenhall's founder became embroiled a dispute over both magical resources and political self interest. Callser was the most political and eloquent of all the Woodenhall magi, and we trusted him. Jerbiton tend that way and he'd always been far more interested than I was. Over time I think he was baited by another magus into some sort of ongoing competition. He would tell us about meetings with these wizards and describe in detail his negotiation of the particulars. Callser was effective, and we started to see some benefit from his efforts. He also unfortunately let his pride get the better of him, and the baiting escalated into a very open animosity between Callser and two other Magi. One was a Tytalus from Loch Leglean, and the other a Verditius from Stonehenge."
"I don't know when the Wizard's War was officially declared, only that Callser seemed pleased with himself, in spite of the danger he'd put the covenant in. We all warned him to withdraw from the War or at the very least concede, but he wold not be moved."
"A short while later the Tytalus ambushed Callser on the grounds of the covenant, and attacked. The fight was altogether as violent and brutal as you'd expect, and poor Callser was outmatched. The Tytalus brought his ignem arts and was unrelenting in his attacks, even after Callser was clearly beaten. I was below ground in my lab, and didn't know of the attack until after it was concluded. The resulting fires almost immediately destroyed one of the main covenant buildings, and two of the covenfolk were killed when it collapsed. My wife was one of them."
His hands held tightly together, Fray begins to show tears, "The Quaesitory investigated, and I'm told that eventually Woodenhall will get some form of compensation for the damage. Compensation. I don't know if you have family or not Tasia, but I can assure you that the word is far more insulting than it sounds."
Clearing his eyes, and sitting upright, "I think that if I stayed in England I would seek the Tytalus, and I'm afraid of what that might mean. So I am here instead; as far from home as I could find, and greatly in need of distraction. Master Amilica told me that when she lost her husband her work was all that kept her, and I am hoping that she is right."
"So - I seek to be engaged in starting anew, and to be honest I really don't care as long as I am not idle."