Valachi is a bastard and an orphan, the unfortunate spawn of some Sczarni vagabond and a Varisian whore. He never knew his parents, as the father left the night after his conception, and his mother dumped him at the temple of Pharasma a few days after his birth. As Valachi grew up, his wild nature kept him at odds with the trappings of Ustalav society, and he consistently alienated those who fostered him. Eventually, at an age of ten, he ran off to fend for himself. On the streets of Caliphas, Val begged, hunted rats, associated with gangs, and stole - whatever it took to survive, but always he was a loner. After offending a prominent band of thugs he was chased out of the city, and in the wilds he finally found his niche.
Valachi befriended the son of a free woodsman, and by their charity, took shelter in their barn. It quickly became his home. The close, crowded aspects of city life that he chafed with for years were alleviated in the free ranges of the wilderness, where Val could roam to his content. The freedom also softened his personality, and he matured into a gracious man.
As his adolescence progressed, elements of his ancestry bloomed. He found he could extend sharp claws from his hands at whim, but also forced a feral aspect to his features. Though he never knew, Valachi suspected one of his parents was a werewolf. He learned to use his claws to good effect, but the fear of being found and hunted for being a lycanthrope has haunted him for years. Finally, driven to search out the truth of his roots, Valachi returned to Caliphas and sought the help of Professor Lorrimor.
