Xavier Murdock is one of the most accomplished bowmen in the land. From an early age, it was evident that he possessed the skills of a marksman. The ranger grew up around the town of Aegeus, and at the age of twelve, elder members of the Archer’s Association approached him to join their guild.
The people of the Archer’s Association knew Murdock’s parents were not good role models. Murdock’s father drank heavily and was always found acting unruly throughout the villages. Most townsfolk would agree that he spent more time in the local jails than he did a free man. Murdock’s mother always stood by her husband, no matter what he did wrong. Murdock and his younger brother, Seth, were literally on their own at a young age.
Murdock tried his best to adhere to the codes of the Archer’s Association. Unfortunately, the other children taunted young Murdock about his family. Never being one for rules, he often fought with his fellow members. Feeling like an outcast, Murdock quit the association after only two weeks of training.
Murdock had a close relationship with his younger brother, since they did not receive nurturing from their parents. One winter afternoon, when Murdock was fourteen and Seth was twelve, the boys went with their parents to Argos for supplies. While in the town, their father drank himself to excess at a local tavern, then created a ruckus outside of the bar. Several townspeople tried to subdue him, but it only made him angrier. During the melee, someone fell and knocked several barrels into a horse drawn wagon. The crashing sounds startled the steed, which then ran off in freight. Murdock and Seth were close to the wagon when the horse fled. Murdock managed to elude the reckless animal, but his brother slipped on the snowy ground and fell. The horse and wagon trampled the small boy, immediately killing him. Though no one would admit it at the time of the accident, it was later determined that Murdock’s father caused Seth’s death. Murdock never forgave his father, and returned home only to retrieve some of his belongings. He has never seen his parents since.