Torben was born and raised in the city of Varhelm in a harsh, mountainous environment. He grew up in a modest home alongside his parents and two older brothers Herleif and Thorkel, all of whom were deeply devoted to the Red Faith. From a young age, his father taught him the value of hard labor and the stoicism required to survive the freezing northern climate. When Torben was fifteen, a local band of ruffians raided their family's small tavern on the outskirts of the city, claiming the lives of his parents and scattering his brothers. Forced to flee the ruined home into the freezing wilderness, he resolved to live up to the ancient meaning of his name, which translates to "thunder bear" and represents untamed strength and resilience.
