Thoroughbred Valski. Grew up and was roughhousing with pups as soon as he was big enough to roughhouse with the pups in his family. Got a bit of his index finger bitten off (right hand) when he was a child from a pup's overprotective mother so it has always looked a bit stunted after...

Parents are both beast tamers of Valsk first and hunters second and prefer non-violent ways to subjugate wild animals outside of a hunt (if possible) and will only kill when the animals are deemed a definite threat to Valsk. Their methods shaped the foundation to Tyrsten's defensive style of fighting which focuses more on subduing his opponent than killing. 

Influenced by his father's carefree nature, Tyrsten was an upbeat, eager young man full of charm during his teens. However, after his father died from a somewhat careless mistake approaching a rabid bear, Tyrsten changed. His mother yelled at him constantly to be more careful and made it clear that he must take over his father's responsibilities as the eldest as she would not able to support their family alone.

Seeking to flee from this new grim reality of a world without his father, he would ride off far into the wild for long hunts and found a companion in young Alis. He began fetching her every time that rare game was spotted and grew fond of the girl rather quickly. After a short courtship, he asked for her hand but was rejected as she was wise enough to see that they were only in love with the escape from reality they provided for each other. With his pride and confidence somewhat shattered, he chose instead to delve into honing his skills as a tamer and training his mind and body to become the best of Valsk, swearing to never make such a mistake again. After all, he, like his father, had underestimated his prey and overestimated his own abilities.  

Afterwards, Tyrsten grew into a more serious man as he took on more and more responsibilities from his mother and watched over his younger siblings who began their own lives as well outside of the household. He was still particularly fond of the memory of the day when his brother finally bested him in a sparring match, even if losing to Tyrwen did sting his pride. (Fighting a man is not like fighting a bear, Tyrsten!)

When Valsk was invaded, Tyrwen quickly rushed to defend the city and begged Tyrsten to watch his back. Tyrsten agreed but promptly turned and forced Astrid and Tyra to flee. The decision at the time caused quite the shouting match but in the end Tyrsten convinced Astrid to watch after Tyra as his sister was by far the least well-versed in fighting in the family and had no business anywhere near the city should it fall. He grimly reminded his mother of what happened to young women captured by their enemies and packed some of their things for them before sending them off. 

He unfortunately discovered that his experience taming wild beasts barely prepared him for the battlefield, where everyone fought tooth and nail to survive. Though his brother and he both survived the initial attack, they were both captured and harshly "disciplined". Confident that Alis would not abandon the city, he ordered his brother to swallow his pride and bide for the time when Alis would return and the two brothers feigned acceptance and went home where they began training much more seriously in secret to hone their combative skills. 

When the whispers of rebellion came, the two were ready for their taste of revenge as they had much suffered under Aer's rules. Freedom, however, came at a cost as Tyrwen died as the city was reclaimed. His last words to Tyrsten were, "Protect Valsk. Protect our people. Do it... in my stead. Please." 

Hellbent on carrying out his brother's dying wish as well see to his death avenged, Tyrsten immediately enlisted in the Valski military and worked tirelessly so he could gain a recommendation into the Helvarg.

On the appointed day where he had to prove his worth, he found himself facing Alis as his opponent. He had to defeat her to be considered, and he took on the challenge gladly. In the process, he insinuated that she was still failing in her duties as a margrave and living up to her people's expectations in order to bait her into close quarters where he had the advantage. He acknowledged afterward that he knew he probably hurt her feelings, but only because he wanted to see her grow stronger.

His mother returned shortly after and brought him news that his sister would be staying in Valevo as she had found a new home there and that the elves were looking fairly threatening once again. Upon hearing that some members would be dispatched to Valevo, Tyrsten immediately requested to be included on that list to be dispatched as he feels like he had failed to protect his brother and must not fail his sister too, should the attack come.