Kasai Shukun - Born of Ash in Snow

[MelonBallZ]

  

Born of Ash in Snow

 

Born amid an ancient conflict the young Kassarus finds himself embroiled in the fighting and searching for something more to life.

  

 

Kassarus's witnessing the aftermath of his first battle, 1831 AC.

 

 
 
Across all of Eternia the gift of magic only blesses approximately two percent of the population. What was once a dispute with merit had long since devolved into a gluttonous power vacuum that devoured  lives with no respite in sight. Instead of clearly defined factions vying to take control of the Theria mercenary bands under the employ of shifty benefactors wage a war in the shadows of snow. Magi reign supreme in these conflicts as they unleash waves of devastation that obliterate the common soldiers quickly thus elevating to positions of power until their inevitable demise.

 

"An accursed location whose taints runs to the core and feeds upon the darkness that lies in the hearts of men. A beautiful city with a such promise wilted away and festering slowly in ice. Even now those who have plunged it into chaos have never truly atoned. A shame.."

- Kasai Shukun on Theria

 

 

The Crimson Crowns returning from a successful excursion, AC 1833

 

Kassarus was born amid the conflict from the brief encounter of a furtive soldier and his mother Melanis, the widowed scion of a great House that had fallen out of the graces of the fickle fortunes of power in tumultuous Theria. Naturally he followed the path of all youths of the frozen hellscape and found himself in the employ of the Crimson Crowns at eight years of age working as a 'runnerboy' that maintained the supplies and logistics.

 

Upon the cusp of his tenth nameday, searing in the flames of war, the course of fate took a drastic turn as his arcane abilities manifested for the first time upon the field of battle. Karst Ironheart, leader of the mercenary company, took keen interest in the boy's potential appointing him an officer and budgeting to have him properly educated that he might serve the band as a potent investment.

 

That investment was repaid in full as Kassarus took to his studies fervently reading in the brief times of rest as his physical and mystic might grew with each passing battle; He accelerated through the ranks until he was second only to his mentor. Such was the nature of their work that old faces were replaced by new and upon Karst's untimely death Kassarus found himself at the head of the company at twelve years old.

 

 The Crimson Crowns were brought into what might have been their Golden Age. That difference in age between the leader and benefactors proved negligible in the face of his shrewd negotiations, reputation for honoring contracts, and brutal efficiency upon the field of battle. With his penchant for revelry and taste for the finer life in tandem with the devastating flames that rendered his enemies smoldering ash he was nicknamed 'Kasai Shukun', The Fire Lord.

 

All of this momentum came to a halt when Kasai's mother, ever ailing and stricken with weakness, perished while he was afield. The loss was devastating and drew his mind from the efforts at hand clouding his focus. This marked the first shattering loss under the command of the Captain Shukun. Overwhelmed by the tribulation of budding youth, the loss of his only living family alongside his brothers-at-arms, and the guilt of failure he departed from Theria abandoning the remnants of the company.

 

 

 

  Melanis and the unknown soldier, 1821 AC

 

For three years Kasai roamed the heartlands south of Theria searching for a niche to call his own. The conflicts between Osrona and Achyon provided no shortage of opportunities for a man of his profession, but ultimately the life of a sellsword provided little in the way of purpose as neither faction held ideals that truly resonated with the young man.

 

Though he excelled in the life and never found himself short on the indulgences of his lavish lifestyle it seemed hollow and hopeless until he met the manager of the Waystone, Tartarus Task, who offered him the opportunity to join the tavern with a new profession. Uncertain, but searching Kasai accepted and was quickly integrated into the employ of Ema Okabe as a bartender and eventually co-manager of the location.

 

With the failures of his past put behind him they were not resolved and he turned instead to the arts he had once enjoyed while training as an officer among the Crimson Crowns in search of deeper meaning. For four years he has whittled his time away writing poetry, plays, and stories of the life he used to live while serving patrons of the traveler's rest and absorbing their tales as inspiration for his works.

  

 

 

Late evening at The Waystone Inn, 1837 AC