Gunner Valenntyne had extremely high expectations to live up to throughout his youth. Born to Valenntenia's oldest family, one which prided itself on the many great men and women it had contributed to the City across the generations, it was a foregone conclusion that the latest in that line would grow to serve in the Vanguard and be Appointed as one of the fifteen Guardians of The Rune. His upbringing, though, was difficult. As both of his parents were Guardians, they were often outside of the City, working to better the world through the powers of their stones. This left Valenntyne often alone or in the care of the Tower Somners. This, coupled with the fact that he showed little of the aptitude that they'd expected from him strained his relationship with both of them even when they were present.

Eventually, he was indeed enlisted into the Vanguard at the young age of only thirteen years old, and ladled with prodigious goals to meet. Unfortunately, Gunner simply did not have the talent that his parents or siblings had, or much talent with magic and combat at all. He served in the Guard for five years but was eventually discharged due to poor performance and insubordination. This final disappointment effectively severed the ties between Gunner and his parents. Many of the other young men and women his age looked down on him for his failures, and he was allowed to stay in his family home out of courtesy alone.

Sick of the heavy burden placed unfairly on his shoulders, and confident in his ability to do better without the judgment of others, he fled Valenntenia with a large amount of his parent's money. With nothing but a sword, his horse, and a book he'd found hidden away in his father's vault, supposedly full of old magic, he set out in search of his true calling, whatever that may be.