Ritchie grew up in Ribëra, Aventüria, just a few blocks from where Robert Kyme spent his childhood. As such, the two were acquainted from a very early age. Some friction arose between the two men during their time at Central High School when Ritchie began dating a young woman by the name of Lara Clarke-- someone whom Robert had secretly harbored a deep empathy for since middle school. This culminated in college with Robert confessing his feelings to Lara and requesting that she leave Ritchie for him. Lara instead tried to pair Robert with her long-time friend Carol Evans. After college, Lara and Ritchie were married, and Ritchie put his business degree to use by starting his own real-estate company. His first customers were the newly-married Robert and Carol Kyme.