Kemendil is part of a displaced population that has greatly suffered the final years of the War of the Ring. His family household in Cair Andros has been besieged, re-taken, and destroyed over the long conflict between Gondor and Mordor. He spent most of his teenage years and early adulthood partaking in skirmishes to reclaim this critical piece of land, becoming familiar with battle tactics and sword-skill. During these troubled years he also befriended the daughter of a merchant from Rohan, Maebh, whom he fell in love with and eventually married. They had two children; Maireadh and Ferendil.

Kemendil has always been fascinated by the mechanisms and technologies used to defend the kingdom, such as catapults, ballistae and trebuchets. He was mentored for a time in these arts at the Scholar's Guild in Minas Tirith before entering the service of the city garrison as part of a team that repaired, built and operated siege engines.

While living in the White City, his children had a peaceful upbringing until Ferndil decided to join the garrison after his father. He performed poorly, was accused of insubordination and eventually chased out of the city after he was found in bed with the Captain's daughter. This dishonour was hard to forgive and thus his family name was badly tarnished, something Kemendil has been struggling to repair ever since.