From what the masked ranger has revealed of himself in quests and the Blinking Pug, one gathers he's a half-orc man hailing from the Eahmian Wilds of the Old World. Raised by his human mother, the young Ashen Hawk was trained to be a warrior fighting for good by his orc father. He grew up to hunt bandits, and continues to do so in the New World.
After transitioning to the New World and going on a few quests, Ashen Hawk has shifted into an all-around fighter with melee, ranged, and even some healing.
After his death at the hands of Baron Cesil, the Ashen Hawk revealed his true name and face as {REDACTED}. It was only after taking revenge on Cesil, along with support from Selene and Cornix, that he decided to take on the mantle of Ashen Hawk once more.
Some people blame him for the undead outbreak of Unekawa's Reach, but in truth, it was only partially his fault. But he resolved it by absorbing the necromantic energy into his arm- a cursed reminder of his previous failures.