Nicholas Goldentree is the son of a fairly wealthy Lord Goldentree, who accumulated his wealth through banking and investments. He expected his children Steffan and Nicholas to take up his trade after he retires to keep the family's coffers overflowing. However Nicholas had a taste for other pursuits rather than sitting around weighing gold all day and sealing the occasional dirty deal. He sought adventure and fortune, but his father routinely made it clear to him that adventuring was not the proper path to take.

Nicholas ignored his father's preachings and one night he slipped away from the family home, taking only the clothes on his back his coin purse, spear and family shield. This angered his father who blasted Nicholas off the family tree, which the young adventurer could care less about. He eventually used the sword training his family's wealth provided to good use, becoming a sellsword for travelers to see them safely to their destinations.