Ianus Versus Valens was born and raised in Bazagon. He was the posthumous son of a small time merchant. Ianus was large even as a child, but fearing for his safety, his mother tried directing him away from athletic pursuits. Despite this Ianus always had a love of physical activity, and pursued recreational combat training in his free time anyway. At the same time he continued his father's business, and actually made it big, in relative terms.

The boy was a prodigy, but also rash and entitled. Despite making good profit margins without the need for illicit activity, he quickly dabbled the sale of stolen and smuggled goods, forbidden substances etc. This exploded his earnings and by the age of 30 Ianus was ready to retire.

When he was sailing on one of his last trading trips to Sarzalom, Ianus' vessel was caught in a terrible storm, and everything seemed lost. Facing a watery grave, Ianus pleaded to Plutios to spare his life, in exchange for eternal fealty. When Ianus woke up, in chains, aboard a pirate ship, he knew Plutios had listened to his prayers.

After a few more weeks at sea, waiting to be sold as a slave, Ianus lived through yet another violent storm, and yet again became the sole survivor of his crew. When he woke up in the coarse sand of Jai, just next to him, on the the hard rocky shores of the Grand Cleft, lay a bronze mask, quite akin to the many depictions of Plutios he had grown accustomed to in Bazagon. In front of this mask Ianus swore his solemn vow of service to the god of commerce and industry, and became a Paladin.