In the Chest of Souls Epic Fantasy, Mal Kayman is Valenese by birth.
From the time he was orphaned outside the Lost City, he has been trained to be a leader of men. He gained personal training under General Monus and General Han, both legendary Generals of their day.
He has a personal vendetta against the monster that ate (yes, I said ate) his parents. He hates slavers and would go out of his way to kill one. He plans on ridding the world of slavery - if he survives the blood-sport known as Cubes. This is not an easy thing to do when so many want you dead.
This character morphed from the early stages of writing into someone much more intense that what I thought he would be.
Note: I can't remember where online I even got this picture. I just know when I saw it I considered it for two different characters and Mal won.