Born into a well-off Orenian family, Johan was the treasured child of a woodcarver and a locksmith. His father would eventually be levied into the military, where he remained long after his initial calling. Using influence from his service, Johan's father managed to convince a knight-errant to take his son as a squire. The squireship would begin at an incredibly young age, leaving no time for other studies as it would soon be discovered that the knight had little interest in teaching Johan anything outside of swordsmanship and chivalry. Though the apprenticeship would make him ignorant in academic matters, Johan took excellently to the few things he was taught - and it was almost certain a knight would be made out of him.
Then, Johan's once promising squirehood gradually came to an unfortunate end, as at the age of eighteen he was overtaken by leprosy. His shaky hands would unexpectedly drop the lightest of objects, and a few days would pass before his skin took a dry, sickly tone. A couple months more, and he could hardly lift his sword. Johan would personally seek the aid of a Norlandic sage. But regardless of the medicine man's advice, eating raw Ant Blight and drinking mercury would do him no good. Whether it was from natural causes or a Genie's curse on the family line would make no difference. His ailments were sure to remain.
By twenty and with his father's blessing, Johan departed his family to live as a hermit. He began his journey across Almaris, trying to see the many sights of the land before his passing.
