Valen was born with the proverbial silver spoon and spent most of his life eating off of one. Born to a minor noble family in Taldor Valen knew a comfortable and easy life. His family's lands weren't the largest but were fairly sizable the it made many farmlands look small. Although noble born, Valen was the third born son and as such had virtually no responsibilities. He had the life many would give anything to have. He always had the best tutors, best clothes, best horses, and best training. But it was all dull to Valen. Nothing in his life had spice or the verve of life. Valen dreamed of going out into the world and experiencing it for himself, like the adventurers he heard about in the various bardic tale. He longed for the open road.
His father unfortunately forbade it. He saw anyone "lolligaging around like a homeless vagabond beneath a man of Valen's upbringing and stature." His father wanted him and his two brothers to run the family estate and business when he retired, and to settle down and raise a family. None of which sounded interesting to Valen. He'd start a family eventually, but as he currently saw it he, "didn't want all the lovely women of the world to miss out on the adventure that was Valen."
After another of a heated arguments and shouted words Valen had had enough. He was tired of living under his father's thumb and brothers' shadows. It was time he left and made a name for himself despite lacking any martial or magical talents. So gathering a few things he set off. Valen quickly learned that the world was much different that the stories of bards.
After traveling down the wrong alley one night Valen found himself face to face with a group of brigands. They demanded his cloak and money. Valen, lacking any real defenses found himself at a loss. Valen ran but the thugs quickly over took him. They beat him and just when he was about to be killed something extraordinary happened. A voice spoke into his ear and told him to move his hands and say some words. Not sure what to do Valen did as bid. Color shot forth from his fingers dazing one of his attackers. The others jumped in surprise. "'ow'd 'e do tha'?" one of the thugs squaked.
Valen feeling emboldened, jumped to his feat. The voice whispered in his voice again. Doing as instructed beams of scarlet fire rushed from his fingertips catching two of the other thugs, setting them ablaze instantly. Their cries of pain quickly filled the alley. One of the remaining two ran while the other stood in shock terror. Valen, giddy off the new found power stalked toward his final assailant.
'Strike him down. Rend his throat. Show him no one crosses you and lives!' The voice urged him. Valen nodded and raised his hand back to strike at the would-be thief, but a squeaking caught his attention. Valen blinked at the thug wasn't a thug at all but a frightened street urchin. Then child's eyes were wide with fear and streaming tears covered his face. He had just been about to murder a child. A child who'd done nothing more than witness a mugging. Valen looked at his hands in shame and was horrified. His hands weren't his own. His hands hand become vicious scarlet claws with tough hide. Valen looked at the damage he'd wrought and noticed something else besides the stench of death. He smelled sulfur and brimstone.
Valen picked up his coin purse and dropped a few gold for the urchin. "Tell no one you saw this." He told the child gravely. The urchin quickly nodded and ran off taking the coin. Whatever had just happened was magic and he'd done it. But Valen suspected it's source and knew that from then on he'd have to be careful how he used his new found power. But has changed his last name to protect his family and vowed himself to tell no one from whence he suspects his powers stem. At least until such time as he can determine their true origin.
After traveling a few more months and contemplating on his talents Valen decided it was time to put them to use and gain control of them. Before they gained control of him. He thus signed up with the first mercenary band he found and was assigned to the Iron Carnival.
