Valas freed himself and fought his way through the Underdark with only his bare hands and the chains holding them. When he reached the surface at the Black Raven River's source he encountered a group of Black Raven barbarians who eagerly attacked him but were easily defeated. Seeing his great prowess and in awe of his peculiar appearance (he had jet black skin and fiery red eyes) the simple barbarians considered him to be a warrior spirit and bestowed upon him the honorific of "Black Raven" which he kept until his death.