Corwin MacTaggard was born on the fourth year of the Dragon on the world of Earth. His family came from a small island that was located in the northern part of the world. The MacTaggards were world walkers and used Earth as their base. As merchants the MacTaggard's had traveled to many lands in the trade of rare and exotic goods. As time went on the young man that would be become Corwin grew and learned the ways of his family. Corwin would follow his family's ways, or so it seemed to most that knew his family. His first few years of life were happy ones. He lived with four sisters and seven brothers. The family began teaching him early. By his sixteenth year he already knew his numbers and had already learned how to move his body in a fight. As he grew he continued his education and began learning the many needs of a world walker. He learned their arts of walking but also tolerance for the many worlds he would find. He also learned about the business of his family from the many worlds he visited. He learned advanced numbers and accounting, for as a working merchant he would need all these skills and more. He also learned to read and write in many different languages. It was during this time, on his sixteenth birthday, that his life changed. Since his fifteenth year he had accompanied his father on a normal trading expedition. During the later part of his sixteenth year Dark bandits who attacked the group tried to take the trade goods. The guards were able to kill the bandits but at a terrible cost: his father was mortally wounded during the attack. As his father's life ended he came to a temple set deep in a cave. The dark skinned priest laughed as Corwin's father lay dying. It was during this time that he developed his deep hatred for the elves of the lower earth, which would guide part of his life. Corwin made sure the trade group was safe and then returned to the area. Only Corwin knows what happened for the next two weeks.
After avenging his father's death Corwin wondered the worlds until he came to a city named Hoinbeth. The city was in the middle of a civil war between the forces of light and dark, with the forces of neutrality trying to hold the balance. Corwin came to the city expecting to find some pleasure and rest. What he found was neither. The illusionist Jarrveena recruited him into the battle against the necromancer Drake. Corwin joined forces with the illusionist in the form of a young woman named Lisa who had been killed by Drake. With Jarveena's help Corwin was able to defeat Drake's plan and restore balance in the besieged town. This event made Corwin a powerful enemy and ally. It was this adventure that gave Corwin his first great sword. Corwin would during this time reestablish his faith in his god Nuada god of war.
Corwin next traveled to the kingdom of Illian by way of the lands controlled by the Ravenscar nation. Never a member of the nation, Corwin met Sir Roland of Ravenscar and befriended him while in that part of the world. It was during this time when Corwin established the war hammer and shield as another one of his weapon combinations. He also met the woman Katrin. When he left the land he left in the company of Roland and finally found himself in the nation of Illian. In Illian Corwin met the Regent of Illian Tanis and his Dukes the men whom where in charge of the many parts of the nation. Corwin became a trusted member of the Illian guard and quickly moved up through the ranks to become the Duke of the Illian records and the northern lands. This was the time when he meets his first companion Cory of South Amber a woman who was a renegade of the Illian nobility. For a time she became his companion and learned many of the ways of fighting and battle. She had come with Corwin to escape an arranged marriage to one of the renegade families of Illian. It was also during this time that Corwin met Beleg former duke of the North, Gilbert kings champion, Garth, Rogalan, and the other members of the Illian nation.
During this time Corwin would fight in the Ramen wars with Mordem, the many border battles, and mercenary battles the Illian engaged in. Corwin met many of the men he would later call friends at this time. These men included the Cleric Andric, Tarim of Valdimar, Keldar general of Mordem and Greywulf, head of the Ramen church. He would fight with and against these men for the next few years. As time went on Corwin would also meet the last regent of Illian, Andreas of Greystone, who at the time was fighting on all fronts to keep the embattled country. Gilbert and Sir Roland left the country, but Corwin stayed for a time. By this time Tanis had left the nation never to be seen again. Corwin was offered a place in the new nation but he decided to stay with Illian.
Corwin continued as a noble of the Illian realm until the days of Illian were numbered in weeks. At this time Corwin also won one of his greatest victories: the Necromancer Drake, one of his most hated enemies, died during a battle within North Amber. He also saw the death of Cory in the same battle. Corwin, because of this day of tragedy and this day of victory, declared his days of wandering would begin again. He visited Lockweir, Mordem, Valdimar and many other countries in and outside the realm.