Story background, attempt 2

Falgarth Wilderscotch was born and raised outside the town of Therrel, located in the Xian woods. His father, Plourde, was a hunter/guide who would take adventurous people from Therrel and its surrounding areas to the ruins of Saklesh on hunting trips. Here it was that young Falgarth learned to respect the wild beasts and other creatures that stayed in the woods around his home. Since the woods were fraught with peril, his father taught him to use the sling and avoid traps and pitfalls. Falgarth got quite good a trap and beast avoidance but never became very proficient with the sling.
Falgarth learned herb lore and healing at the knee of his mother, Illyan, who was skilled in healing. Though it was never confirmed, some believed she had magical abilities. She was even called "hedge witch" by the town children, though never to her face!
On one trip to the ruins, his father was gored in the leg by a wild boar. Plourde was able to kill the boar with the help of the group he was leading but unable to continue the journey. After some argument about leaving Plourde behind at camp or returning home, Falgarth successfully toke over the group, leading them in and out of the ruins without further incident. Unfortunately, Plourde never fully recovered from the goring and later died from infection. Illyan was distraught as she was unable to cure her husband, though she tried valiantly. She sent Falgarth to her ancient uncle in town to learn more about healing and herbs so that something like this would never happen again.
"Uncle", as he was known to Falgarth, was a very old and wise man, skilled in healing and arcane arts. He owned a well-known apothecary. Noticing the skills that Falgarth held, he was suitably impressed. He put Falgarth to work in the apothecary, working with customers as well as gathering and preparing herbs and poultices. Seeing the lack of arcane knowledge, he decided to fill that gap.
The political climate changed in town as people that were against the use of magic came into power, and magic came into disfavor as the "Devil's Work". Aware of this, Uncle hired a young fighter to train Falgarth in the use of the staff and dagger. Falgarth quickly became proficient at these weapons, though his sling was still a very weak area.
Soon after, while Falgarth was out in the forest getting replacement herbs (which sometimes took as long as a month), Uncle was taken in, tried and convicted of knowledge arcane by a kangaroo court. The penalty was death and all his lands and apothecary were taken and sold. When Falgarth returned, he realized he was living the life of a criminal in the eyes of the Elders of the town. He had to flee or be killed. When he went back home to his mother, he realized that she, too, was taken and murdered as a hedge witch. He decided to leave town and return when he became more powerful. He was going to challenge the Elders…someday.