Grym knows nothing of his biological family; he was a foundling left outside a small Varisian caravan. Growing up, he displayed a startling intellect to match his elven nimbleness. His foster family traveled the countryside, selling alchemical remedies prepared by their clan's adopted son.
Shortly before Grym reached adulthood, his family was accused unjustly of trading pesh on the fringes of Magnimar's jurisdiction, and their possessions were confiscated as part of the investigation. Grym eluded capture and made his way to Magnimar itself, driven to find the true source of the contraband. Tracing the pesh dealings to a group of Sczarni smugglers, Grym dogged his quarry up the Lost Coast, into Riddleport, and from there to the metropolis of Absalom.
Grym finally located the Sczarni in Absalom's Coins district and instigated a clamorous pursuit. Grym eventually tricked the criminals into confessing their crimes in plain view of the city guard, and the young half-elf made plans to return to Magnimar and clear his clan's name.
On his way to the docks, Grym was unexpectedly intercepted by Pathfinder Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine. During the chase, he had apparently bowled over Shaine in the street. The preposterous vocabulary of Grym's hurried apology to the loremaster made an impression, and the Master of Scrolls used his resources to find and identify a potential Pathfinder.