Orphaned at a very young age due to a war that ravaged between the city-states of the Lemurian Archipelago, Erica never got to know her parents. Her timid nature not exactly conductive for survival on the streets, she instead begged artisans and engineers to run some errands or do some menial tasks in exchange for some scraps of food, learning a thing or two about the crafts via observation in the process.
One day in her teen years, she angered a blacksmith. Afraid she just searched for a place to hide, ending up as a stowaway on a Dwarven vessel. The crew craftsmen and warriors. Terrified of the consequences of being found, she staid in hiding, but was quickly found once she fell asleep in a corner of the cargo-hold. And despite the captain's fury, she was allowed to stay as long as she made herself useful.
Learning the ropes from a gnomish deckhand, more quickly than anyone expected, she diligently performed any task, no matter how menial, to the utmost of her ability. Both these traits earning her some respect and an invitation to the crew, since she didn't seem to have any place to go. Erica accepted and sailed the seas for years with the crew. Learning many tidbits about various crafts, sailing and fighting. Spending all spare coin on materials and tools so she could tinker on all manner of ideas in her spare time.
Once stories of a new world to explore reached Erica's ears, she packed the most essential things, said her goodbyes to her 'family' and, with their blessing, left to sate her curiousity.