His mother, Krys had fallen in love with a stallion Ilean who, without warning, had left. Krys was heartbroken, and Nocturnal, fearing it may impair her ability to rule, turned into an Ilean look a like to give Krys comfort. Ilean was never seen again, and Krys fell into a deep depression. She was kidnapped by Direwolf who deposited her in the Valley where she was sacrificed by Elite to summon back Carnage. Romek always felt very bitter towards his mother who he felt wasted her life (he had only ever known her as lounging around, wallowing in her own self pity and sadness). He looked down on her outwardly, although he loved her very much. He grew up feeling he was inadequate and didn't make her proud. He always wanted to be a soldier as he felt like he would be more respected. Romek spent the first three years of his life believing his father was Ilean. Nocturnal dropped many bombshells at once - that she was his 'father', and that he was to be General of the Army. He coped with it the only way he knew how, by suppressing it. The Deserts went to war with the Valley and Romek went along as their new General. He seeked justice for the killing of his mother, primarily.