Tormod is introduced in Path of Radiance as the self-proclaimed leader of the Laguz Emancipation Army—which is not an army so much as it is a ragtag bunch of, as the name suggests, Laguz brethren emancipated from enslavement. In the continent of Tellius, two races of people coexist in the furthest sense of the word: Beorc and their beastmen counterpart, Laguz. Tormod is a Beorc boy who was raised by Muarim, a former Laguz slave, and thus bears characteristics that vaguely resemble the culture of the latter.
In the design document book, Tellius Recollection, the character profiles reveal that Tormod is the son of a disintegrated noble family from the Empire of Begnion, where illegal enslavement of the Laguz runs rampant. Muarim was a slave of this residence and rescued the surviving infant to nurture as his own when the household collapsed, forging a tight bond with the young Tormod over the years. It's unlikely that Tormod remembers his birth family, and his relationship with Muarim is such that he probably never wonders.
Tormod loves his surrogate Laguz family and distrusts the Beorc in turn for their corrupt morals. For this reason, he attacks companies sent by Begnion's Senate to the desert where his own band of Laguz resides with little to no provocation. In order to cover up their illegal activity, the nobles of the Senate brand the Laguz Emancipation Army as a bunch of thieves responsible for trespassing on the property of the aristocracy, fueling Tormod's resentment and hot-blooded temperament.
In Radiant Dawn, he showcases a complex where he complains at his old comrades for their being "too tall" [while he remains vertically challenged]. He likes meat, but dislikes vegetables. In the first game, he was drawn to be approximately thirteen years old.
A Stalwart Leader
His giant ego notwithstanding, Tormod is a revolutionary in that he dreams of ending the enslavement of Laguz in spite of his army's disadvantageous position. Because of his partially Laguz upbringing, the Beorc customs that might usually tame others do not apply to his philosophy, insofar that he lacks nearly all sense of social etiquette. While flawed, he's just as passionate about achieving his goal and proclaims that bleak battles are his specialty. It's this resolution that propels him forward against multiple setbacks, unhindered by what others say or do to him.