It's hard to nail down the exact origins of Raz Blackpaw, though enough has been uncovered to reveal that from his earliest days, he was illegally indentured to a Sivadian named Robert Deardon. For reasons unknown, Deardon strongarmed Blue Sparrow, proprietor of Quaquan's Coyote Cafe, into taking Raz on and garnished whatever meager wages the youngster earned. Sparrow would later claim that she took no action against the Sivadian for fear of the cub's welfare. Then, in 3003, Timonese senator Zia Crue was kidnapped.