Gustaf has been a mercenary since his 17th year. He left his home in Grimmenhagen for many reasons, but chief among them was that his family had too many mouths to feed. When Captain Dukolv's company came around to recruit, he was among the first to sign up. His mother and father were upset, but knew it was better for him to go.

After only a year in the company, the Storm of Chaos made it's way into Imperial lands. With barely any combat experience under his belt, Gustaf did his best to survive the onslaught of beastmen and mutants that his company was sent against. He never saw the worst of it, and from the tales he heard, he was very glad of that. But as always, with war came grim tidings: his family had been killed during the attacks on Middenland. Having been away from them so long, the loss was slightly easier to handle... slightly.

After the war, the company was given patrol duty along Ostland's northern boarder. This position barely lasted until winter, when the local lords saw no more need to keep the rowdy and unpredictable mercenary companies around anymore.