Growing up on the family farm in the vicinity of Combe, Braeden seemed destined to take over after his father when the time came. But he had plans of his own, he wanted nothing to do with farms. At the age of 18, he left for Combe to join the local militia.

After two years service, an inappropriate relationship with another soldier caused both him and her to be kicked out and he joined a mercenary company. During the next 12 years he worked for various companies and sometimes on his own.