Va'nei was born soon after the dawn of time itself, one of the first dragons to be hatched naturally. Her parents were a mated pair of earth dragons, and so were Va'nei and all her eggmates. As with most dragons, she aged to maturity and left the nest, striking out to find her own territory. The land she chose was deep in one of the first forests, its trees looming and old, that covered a large, lonely mountain and the land surrounding it. She made her home in a cave there, and lived in peace and solitude for many years. She was very gentle, for a dragon, and became a great favorite of the many animals and nature spirits that dwelt within the wood. As the age of Elves rose, Va'nei was also friendly with many of the fair folk, and taught them the history of the earth, as well as some of the old magics.

But as the age of Elves began to be overtaken by the age of Men, and the short-lived, hostile species slowly encroached upon the wood, Va'nei rose up to defend her home and those who lived within it. She soon became known throughout the realm, her name a mystery, but the race of Men called her the Great Green Protector. None with any intent to harm the wood, its creatures, or the Elves, were permitted to enter - but those few humans who wished to live in the wood, in peace and harmony with the rest of its inhabitants, were welcome. Soon enough, a small colony of peaceful humans was established, and they began to interbreed with the Elves.

For generations, Va'nei watched over the wood, content in her self-imposed duties. But the time came when she began to grow weary. And so, entrusting her location with the leaders of the humans, Elves, and half-Elves, she retreated deep into the mountain, bidding them wake her only if a great calamity were to strike. Taking refuge in the bowels of the great lonely mountain, Va'nei began to sleep. As she slept, the spirit of the Earth itself came to her, expressing gratitude for her centuries of voluntary protection.

She was still somewhat young, for a dragon, and had many years left to live, but the Earth knew that she would one day die. And so it bestowed upon her a great honor; it named her Earthwarden, a guardian of all things of the Earth, and protector of the natural cycle. This would give her eternal life, and allow her to sense when the land, or the trees, or any large number of living things, was in danger, and to go to their aid. Giving her this gift, the spirit of Earth then departed, allowing the dragon to rest and absorb the powers that the Earth had given her.

It was many years later when Va'nei finally awoke, remembering her dream of the spirit of Earth, and the gifts it had given her. Emerging from her cave, she looked upon a world much-changed, but one that still required her protection. She began traversing the world, keeping the order of nature and protecting the earth she so loved. In her travels she came across a valley perfectly suited to her desires, distant and inaccessible by men. Claiming it as her Sanctuary, she began to dwell there.

In this land, she had many adventures, and met many individuals. But the time of the great Cataclysm came, in which the land was sundered and the waters of the world rose to fill the gaps. Retreating into her human form, Va'nei took refuge in a sort of "cocoon" to ride out the disaster, and waited to see where she would end up.