Chelina and her littermates were born during the winter season. Her mother was fairly wealthy, but young, and this was her very first time giving birth. She produced only three healthy children, all born quite small and weak. There was Chelina, who resembled her mother the most, taking on the attractive form of a snow leopard, one sister, Neja, and a brother, Dararo. Like most euclides young, Chelina and her siblings could walk and talk just a few days after birth, and were soon abandoned by their mother, and sent to Turra’s main orphanage.
Chelina stayed close to her siblings while she was young, spending as much time with them as she could. She was unwilling to make friends outside her immediate family, and could often be found reading and scribbling on notebooks by herself. She was an antisocial child, always quiet, but very intelligent and thoughtful. She proved to be no problem for the orphanage to care for, and kept her smaller siblings out of harm’s way. She was helpful and considerate, never causing a fuss, so long as she was not required to interact with strangers.
Sketching had always been a very keen interest of hers, and Chelina filled up notebook after notebook of beautiful, abstract designs. She didn’t care for any form of realism, preferring, instead, to expand her mind with shapes and textures that seemed quite unnatural. It was Dararo who later suggested she attempt to make some of these unusual structures she was designing. Supplies cost money though, and no child in the orphanage had any of that, so Chelina concluded that she would simply have to go out and work.
She spent several years working as a maid between several businesses, earning a meagre few secor each month. Dararo took a keen interest in her art and picked up an odd job here or there, selling papers, carrying loads, and so forth in order to help add to Chelina’s savings. Together they managed to scrounge up enough money to afford the tools and materials Chelina would need to bring her designs to life.
Chelina’s initial works were quite crude and unattractive. She never received proper training in sculpting or design. But they were interesting. She attempted to sell many of her first creations on the market for very lower prices, but did not make enough revenue to support her new trade. She and her brother continued their menial jobs for many more years, while Chelina perfected her work.
Finally, a particularly well-crafted piece of art caught the eye of someone important. Chelina later informed the public that she didn’t find the sculpture particularly beautiful, but it is never-the-less remembered today as her first great work. It was a tiny, delicate thing, resembling a small temple with symmetrical beams that criss-crossed through the entire form, creating the illusion of several rooms, windows, and doors –where there were none. It was made from cheap crystal with semi-reflective properties, and set on display with a small candle-light in the center. Each beam had deep grooves and plains, giving the object further depth.
It was Telati, the founder of the Evony Architect’s Guild, who purchased this very first item. It’s unusual shapes and planes intrigued her enough to invite Chelina into the guild, although she was still very young and inexperienced. Chelina agreed and left the orphanage to live the guild barracks, leaving her brother and sister behind. She kept in contact with them until the day of her death.
Under the tutalege of the Evony Architects Guild, Chelina perfected her trade and become one of the most skilled and visionary artists in Turacha. She created many great works and designed several buildings throughout her career, until her death at the young age of 174, succumbing to a sudden and unexpected case of the bruising sickness.