The Port-Lord of Cliffsunder, Wrys had been the active statesman representing the Helefir family since the age of twenty, when his mother passed from a sudden illness. Rigid and well-kept in appearance, Wrys developed a reputation as an unapologetic and somewhat cold steward of Cliffsunder, but the city remained prosperous under his rule. The noble families were largely kept in check, and the great city of marble ran as it had since Common Unification.
In truth, Wrys was uninterested in his family legacy, and fairly incompetent at statesmanship. After his mother's death, he avoided responsibilities and had many dalliances with different women. This included an unknown Elven wanderer from Ardhon Miniel, who's name he had stricken from historical records. Their union resulted in the conception of his first son, the Crossborn Ulre Helefir; Wrys would give Ulre his family's name, but due to not being of full Cliffsunder lineage, Ulre was not considered eligible to become the next Port-Lord. This technicality overrode his status as firstborn, and his elven heritage did not help his claim.
After the shame of having Ulre, Wrys was pressured by his sister Wreya Helefir into meeting her friend, Oona von Yonwood. Oona was a clever and beautiful graduate of the Whiteharbour Academy, and quickly charmed Wrys; he gave her a high position to run the Grandport, as she had experience with shipping logistics from her time at the Fayan Trading Company. Oona would eventually charm her way into marrying Wrys, bearing him a son who could truly inherit his family's title in Caelas Helefir.
The sadistic and prideful Caelas would grow up punishing and ridiculing Ulre, and Oona would frequently mistreat the elfborn, but Wrys cared little for his family's squabblings. Rather than focus on building his city or fathering his sons the Port-Lord would wile his days away in his aviary. He had grown fascinated with a particular Vulture, who he named Warwick Helefir, much to the chagrin of his family.
Oona became fed up with her disparate and uncaring familial affairs, and decided she needed time away. Having grown bored of Wrys' reclusiveness, she applied to become Cliffsunder's Torchbearer in the Council of Commonlight in secret, then left for Emblem. This only further increased Wrys' time with Warwick; Wrys eventually altered his will to ensure that a sizeable portion of his estate went to the vulture, who never left his shoulder.