Born in Sharlayan, Moenbryda was cheerful and assertive even as a child. She grew up fascinated by knowledge that surrounded her and was best described by her instructors as always eager to learn. Sensing in him the same draw to the unknown, she sought to befriend Urianger Augurelt, a quiet boy who far preferred the company of books to that of other children. With much aplomb, Urianger ignored Moenbryda's nigh-constant pestering; however, the stubborn Sea Wolf would not be put off so easily, and could oft be found lurking beside the boy, reading complex treatises over his shoulder. The two eventually grew close, and it was not uncommon to see the two late at night in the Great Gubal Library hunched over a stack of tomes and a smuggled plate of cockatrice meatballs.
In the time when Sharlayan sent envoys to Garlemald, her parents were among those who went - skilled diplomats who Moenbryda did not see eye-to-eye with. However, they did not return with the group. In fact, quite a few did not return. It was after this that she first knew loss, and first grew to hate. It was something she hid, however, and felt not many needed to know. Why would they?
Once she had grown, Moenbryda joined Urianger in studying under Louisoix Leveilleur - after assisting Urianger in entering the Studium. After demonstrating a striking talent in aetheric research, she became an Archon. However, while she did participate in the Circle of Knowing, Louisoix bid her remain in Sharlayan—an order she followed with great difficulty. Having seen twenty and nine summers, she has come to Eorzea at last to lend her expertise to the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. In times before Louisoix left for Eorzea, as an Archon, she also spent a lot of time with his grandchildren - taking care of them and seeing them as her own family, after her own losses.
After her sacrifice to stop Nabriales, Moenbryda shouldn't have woken again. But her aether - what made her, well, her was preserved. She thought it was a freak accident - and perhaps it was. Or perhaps it was a side effect of how she sacrificed herself. Either way, a gemstone-like crystal was left behind, and Urianger pocketed it. He didn't let anybody else know about it.
Still, he mourned. He thought that it was simply a remnant of her, a reminder. Time passed. He had begun to mess with new patterns for Carbuncle - if he could replicate his creation of a familiar out of Topaz for another gem, he could pass it on to Alphinaud. There were many sleepless nights as he played with gems, played with ideas. One day, he was playing with new ideas... and it reacted with the crystal which held Moenbrydas' aether.
She re-appeared, along with the Carbuncle made of her. Urianger didn't know how to explain, but he didn't need to straight away. Because, well. Moenbryda was just happy to be alive, at first. More... she thought she had been in a deep sleep. It took him time to tell her the truth. And now, well? She doesn't know what to do with herself.
ON HER GEM/CARBUNCLE: While Moenbryda is alive, yes, most of her aether is concentrated in the Carbuncle who follows her. If her Roegadyn body is destroyed, she can re-create it - and if her Carbuncle one is destroyed? It'll take some energy, but she can come back as well. If both of them are wrecked, she'll need somebody to summon her back up.
Her gem is currently being kept by Lyse, along with the spell documents.