Gunner Mah was born in a small town where his father was the only blacksmith in the region. Working as an assistant to his father, Gunner learned how to make all kinds of weapons. During the busiest time of the year for the armory, a terrible plague hit the town. Gunner's mother died which devastated both father and son. During their mourning, they grew very close.
Once the plague ended, war took its turn, however, unlike the plague, war added to the family's business. Gunner never made it into battle. His father kept him safe, working in the shop. Finally, the war made it's way to their home. Gunner's town was overrun. Gunner's father was slain by one of his own swords, and, while dying, he made Gunner swear to never use a sword to hurt a soul. Gunner, whose own soul was in torment, swore to his dying father never to touch a sword again. After his father's death, Gunner burned down the smithy and stayed in the war-torn city helping the wounded and praying for an end to the violence. When the new ruler ordered all the remaining members of the town to be killed, Gunner led a large group of refugees in escaping. As the group traveled, looking for a place to live, all the rest of his townsmen died. Gunner finally found a home when he reached San Lorenzo and Bokonon. Gunner's cynical view of life and the failings of humans turned him to Bokonon. Bokonon's teachings fulfilled the gap in Gunner's life that his father's death had left. Working as a doctor in the house of hope and mercy in the jungle, Gunner's guilt over the death of his entire town slowly faded. Bokonon came to Gunner as his most powerful servant and gave him a block of the sacred strawberry ice cream and told him to share his teachings with the world. So, Gunner left his new home to help the world. Everywhere he went the people chased him out, suspicious of his different beliefs. Finally, Gunner came to Elidor, where the king Alfred, shrugged and welcomed Gunner and his strange beliefs. Then and there, Gunner vowed to protect his new king with Bokonon's teachings. Seeing this devotion king Alfred wisely moved the over protective Gunner out of the infantry and placed him in the king's own personal guard. In the guard, Gunner quickly rose to sergeant and eventually took charge. Unfortunately his dramatic charges with no thought of personal safety soon depleted the guard of all members but himself…