Cristophus of Odenwald was a strange man. In the eyes of mundanes, he was a wise man living in the woods, always ready to help the sick or wounded. In the eyes of other magi, a follower of Bonisagus with little ambition or talent. He never even wanted, or bothered, to perform a longevity ritual. He lived at the edge of Odenwald, there studying the forest and concentrating his magic in the arts of life and growth. He was a true guardian of the forest; no nobleman of the region would dare to cross him and try to settle Odenwald.

During his wanderings in the woods, he stumbled upon a baby boy, left alone in the forest. He quickly sensed the special nature of this boy, and took him as his own. Ulrich, as he let the child be christened, grew quickly, and such was Christophus' delight in watching the boy grow and learn, that he conceived five more children of his own. The mother of these children was a simple handmaiden, Adelheid, whom Christophus later married. The remarkable thing was, that all of their children were blessed with the gift!

After the death of Adelheid, Christophus decided that it was time to send the boys to the best teachers around Europe, and so the boys were separated for fifteen years.