Youssef’s maternal grandfather owned a ranch that supplied grain to the city, and had ambitions to join the merchant council. He was a vengeful man however, and when Youssef’s mother became pregnant out of wedlock she would not name the father out of fear he would be killed. Months went by and Youssef’s mother held, witholding the information from her father. Finally the man publicly declared that if a man declared the child was his and her daughter confirmed it he would take the man as his heir.

A week later two Maraani came forward and claimed to be the father. One the third son of a blacksmith who shoed the beasts of burden on the man's farm, the other a Blue Orc merchant who traded Lapis in the town. Youssef's mother did not verify either, keeping silent, but the grain merchant chose to accept the blacksmith and reject the Blue Orc, claiming the Sereti was not a 'man' and he was not obliged. This was considered a great offense by the Sereti Ogre, who threatened the grain merchant both legally and physically. It became a political topic within Maraan, if the Blue Orc or the blacksmith's son was to be believed. No one of power in Maraan was willing to make a stance, as the loss of grain and wrath of the Blue Orcs were feared by many.

Two weeks before Youssef's mother was due a traveling Paladin made passage through Maraan. The Paladin is rumored to be male, female, and a variety of races depending on who is asked when, but one this is said consistently. The Paladin served a deity of law and judgement. A meeting was made and the Paladin was asked to serve as an arbiter for the dispute. The Paladin, upon receiving the pertinent information got all parties to agree that the true father would be determined by the color of the child's skin. If the child was born with blue skin the granary would become the property of the Orc, while if it held the normal tan brown it the Blacksmith would become legal heir to the estate.

A week later the child was born with skin as red as Arethil's sun. The Paladin declared the child's father was a demon, that the demon was now the rightful owner of the estate. This was also unacceptable to the Paladin, and the demon's property and progeny was to be destroyed. The Blue Orc upon hearing this attacked the Paladin, but was slain, as was every other man, woman, animal, and plant on the granary. The blacksmith's son ran with Youssef and his mother, trying to get them to escape. He managed to get them both off the estate before also being slain. His mother rode out a couple days, but untreated after birthing the horned Youssef she passed shortly after. Youssef, alone in the desert, was miraculously picked up the same day by a band of slavers.

Youssef was raised by a menagerie of species all enslaved working the mines of Kherkhana. He too was raised primarily to work the mines of Kherkhana in service of the Sereti Ogres. As he grew older he worked the mines for the majority of his life.

By chance the tunnel Youssef worked in collapsed as Drakormir woke. One taskmaster was killed by the collapse, while another was injured enough for Youssef and the other miners to overcome. Youssef and the other miners felt fear, but a taste of freedom. It was at this time Youssef became in touch with what he calls 'luck'. With confidence he chose which tunnels to pick, which direction to go, and with a magic touch found a way out. When he did Youssef traveled through Amol Kalit a free man, and eventually discovered his lineage. Swearing that there was no 'law' or 'order', only power and chance he became a fortune teller and flippist, believing there was only chance. Chance that had resulted in the death of his family, and yet his miraculous rescue as a babe and escape from the tunnels. Youssef also began to experience the fear of his kind, and made a decision to go to Malakath, pursuing rumors of a Tiefling civilization.