Jon was born and raised in Rynmere, and grew up under the employ of House Warrick. His father
Morgan had been a blacksmith for the noble family his entire life, and so in turn Jon was brought up with a hammer in his hand. He automatically fell into an apprenticeship with his father at a young age, grandfathered into the profession just as his father and his father before him. They worked predominately with the Warrick's horses, making shoes, nails, but also repairing military wagons and artillery. It exposed Jon to the Moseke Knights and Skyriders early in his childhood, and he quickly found himself with an infatuation. Much to his father's vexation, he spent less and less time focusing on the forge, and more time training or running off with his friends whom had already joined the order as Squires and Pages.
But it wasn't meant to be. Near the time Jon was close to mustering the courage to break free of his father's expectations, his mother fell ill. So he put his hopes of becoming a Knight aside and returned to his duties, joining his father full-time in order to help support the family the best way they knew how. Jon spent the next several arcs watching his old friends grow up and leave or become successful soldiers while he continued on with the hammer. He eventually learned to accept his lot in life and find some sort of comfort in his own routine, but could never shake a certain restlessness that hounded him.
His mother's constitution never improved, and she passed away soon after he turned twenty-two. Jon's father didn't take her death well, and quickly retreated into himself. He continued his work, but there was no pride in it, for he no longer found any joy in life. After his wife's death, the relationship with his son became strained and distant. Jon was eventually offered a contract to maintain the armor and weapons of a small mercenary band, as well as shoe their horses. He took the job, but left his father with his life's savings so he might finally have some comfort. The gesture was not only meant to ease his own guilt for leaving, but he hoped that it might allow his father to relax more in his advanced age.
He travelled with the freelance company for several arcs across the width and breadth of Idalos. He appreciated the exposure to different cities and cultures, but never could quite shake the draw back to home. It was always there, no matter how far he went. Over time he became more than the company's blacksmith. He trained with them, helped with odd jobs, and found a deep, meaningful sort of contentment in lending his sword to those who needed it. It was no knighthood, but it was something.
Jon wrote regularly to his father even though he never received much back in way of replies. His uncle would periodically update him on the rest of the family, and that was enough. He'd been gone almost 6 arc when he received the news that his father was ill, and that his uncle suggested he come sort out the affairs. It was a strange feeling to finally return to Rynmere. Not much had changed except the obvious state of deterioration his father was in. So he yet again found himself putting his life on hold to care for a sick parent. He fell back into that routine rather easily, and although their relationship was still strained, Jon was glad to be home.
