Born in the city of Rashda with the given name of Abd al Zivat, meaning Servant of Zivat, his life was an odd mixture of slavery and opulence. His racial heritage marked him as a descendant of the cities original rulers, prior to the arrival of the hobgoblins and the powerful blue dragon Zivat Sandshock.
His father often "entertained" many guests and held lavish parties, leaving many members of the family growing up in all walks of life. Abd al Zivat was the last, conceived the night before the ill-fated hobgoblin invasion and born in the rule of the new draconic master. With his looks, he was quickly taken as a slave to serve as entertainment, learning dance and intrigue from his handlers. His beatings were done in such a way to leave no obvious or lasting marks.
He listened and played the role of good slave for many years as the rage simmered within his heart, which his masters took note of when he'd let his guard down. And so began the other part of his training, that of an assassin to kill their friendly rivals in the guise of entertainment to assuage any hostilities. His skill in the Order of the Hashashim was that of a skilled slave, which he was, to get in close to a target, woo them with his dance and kill them as they slept.
He hated his tasks but took to them, knowing the lessons and pain would only help his eventual escape. He sought out secrets and methods of moving about the city without being noticed, sometimes all the while standing out as much as he could until he could finally secure his freedom.
He secured enough coin and secrets to get himself smuggled out of Rashad with a caravan headed to the city of Setnomeru, hidden within the heart of the Kabai Desert with a merchant he was to kill.
Once in Setnomeru, he changed his name to Asim al Adil, the Defender of the Just... at least, his own form of it. Although paranoid that his footsteps may be traced, he stayed in the hidden city several years, until a band of the Explorer's Guild came through town to investigate the ancient ruins the city was built upon. He ingratiated himself to them, performing odd jobs until they agreed to take him with them when they left.
Following the guild, tagging along much as himself was an educated, if somewhat wispy young lady yearning to learn all the secrets of the guild and perhaps to join them, herself. He learned her name was Gracen Líadáin, and once you got to know her, she opened up and was quite amiable. They both spoke of families they didn't have, Asim bragging of doting parents and many siblings, all the while always keeping a wary eye on the door. They traveled together for a year's breadth before parting ways, their interest lying on separate paths... for now.!
