Giric Tousseau was an elven druid from Ayr-su-Arymis. During her lifetime, she met and befriended Selderin Vermth and helped him create the Tower of Oblivion. As Selderin wanted to add ever more pocket dimensions to the tower, she was tasked with gathering mages. These mages would have their life force sucked until death to keep the dimensions running.
When the cost became too great, and she wanted out, Selderin cursed her into an owlbear form for eternity and placed her in the tower's Soul Mines, where she would be kept alive for centuries, always at the bring of death, and her life force powered the tower and it's expansion.
The heroes of the Ardenian Heritage freed her from her suffering, which she was thankful for.