Katya rel Vel is one of the three surviving members of House Vel, an Illigyr merchant house that was dissolved by royal decree about 15 years ago for trafficking with Shadow. The other two surviving members are her father, Gilean and his younger brother, Daitha. She was cursed in a shadow ceremony her father was a part of (likely the principle ritualist) when she was 4 years old. Left with her uncle for the next 17 years, her mind was trapped at her 4 year old level of development. Her curse was recently broken by Mir Shimmer and Lady Salis.