Kethys grew up in a small farm just outside of Trunau, just outside of the orc lands in Belkzen. Normally, a half-orc in such a place would be heavily discriminated against, but not in trunau. The frontier town was surprisingly hospitable to half-orcs, and Kethys was no exception.
The green skin came from his mother, and though she died from a plague when Kethys was only a few years old, he could still remember her affectionate nature. His father would often talk about his mother, making sure that Kethys knew from an early age that he was a child born of affection, not out of conflict - or, as the children in town put it, a "rape baby".
Growing up, Kethys showed signs of being an alchemist, one who created magical effects in potion form. His father, a veteran of the recent giant and orc wars in Trunau, took him to the frontier town to apprentice him under the famous Sander Thistlewight, a halfling alchemist known far and wide as one of the heroes of Trunau.
Under Sander's tutelage, Kethys became fairly adept at the alchemists' trade, even managing to create his own formula to turn himself into a hulking beast, strong and swift. He was on his way towards mastering the art of potion making as well.
He also fell in love with another half-orc, Mawrya Longtusk. Despite her name, Mawrya's tusks were no longer than his own - well, perhaps a little. But, she had a smile that would light up a dark night, and she could throw a knife better than anyone Kethys had ever seen. It wasn't long before Kethys was talking with his father about how to go about marrying this girl of his dreams.
It was a few months later, with the happy couple kissing in the trees, that it happened. Mawrya gave a slight gasp, and Kethys turned to see a strange darkness descending upon them. He looked into his love's eyes and saw true fear there, and then the darkness...
