Lief was born to a simple but hard working merchant family. Rowan Balbanes, Lief’s father, was a blacksmith proud of his craft. Millicent Balbanes, his mother, had a keen business mind and marketed her husband's swords, knives, axes and breastplates. As Lief grew up and began his apprenticeship Millicent marketed “Balbanes Steel”, until the swords from Lief's shop became a popular commodity amongst adventures. Unable to keep up with demand Rowan worked sleepless nights, but the family was well paid, well fed, and Lief even got the privilege of having some modest tutoring. Eventually Rowan's biggest customer came, a Noble of the house of Banick. The Noble asked for one of Rowan's finest blades, and was presented with a fine backsword. However, the next day came and complained of the blades quality, calling his father a no good thief.


Lief was enraged, and before his parents could stop him said the Banick was a fool who couldn't appreciate his father's work. The Noble said “Very well, show it me” and gave Lief his father's work and drew a sword of his own, beckoning the boy of fifteen years to combat. Lief managed a scratch on the Lord's cheek, but after a strong blow his father's sword shattered. The Noble said he would take Rowan's life for this offense, but one of his advisors told him no. He told the Noble that Lief, untrained, has managed a scratch on his lordship, and that he could be useful. “Let the blacksmith pay his debt with his eldest son, and allow the Banicks to gain a fierce warrior”.


The Noble was persuaded, and Lief was taken away to be a squire. He was partnered with the advisor, a knight named Leopold Banick. While holding the Banick surname, he described himself as “four cousins away from any real influence”, and was remarkably down to arethil. Leopold saw to it that Lief was well treated, and even helped him sneak out to see his family every few months. While their relationship started out of conflict, Lief learned to respect Leopold, and the two grew close.


When Lief was eighteen years of age, three years a Squire, Leopold told him that they were leaving Vel Arin. Spies were reporting that Bhathairk had been supplying slave labor to the Weiroon family. Leopold was to lead a small force to travel to Bhathairk, find proof, and stop any operations. So Lief traveled with Leopold for many months, but eventually the Banick forces were ambushed by Bhathairk slavers. Lief survived, but Leopold was slain. Now Lief struggles with the Squire's Duty, to return his Knight home for a proper burial.