Spoiler: Art! Spoiler: House Kassambara House Kassambara finds its roots dug far into Regalian and Farah'deen history. The Kassambara family was long known for turning out steadfast warriors and leaders in addition to forging well crafted weapons and armors. Their trade soon found them sailing to Regalia over two hundreds years prior to current date. As the decades went on, Kassambara armor and warcraft knowledge gained notoriety. The mainline of Kassambaras continued to grow their roots as fearsome warriors, while others began to diverge into paths of tactician training and expanding upon the family's metallurgy practices. With family lines split by marriage and the like, the extended family soon collectively came to bind themselves under the name Kassambara as they spread throughout Aloria in honor of the first major patriarch of House Kassambara, Abadou Kassambara. Spoiler: Expanded Life Story Childhood-Teens - 0-18 Kinda outdated oops Yao was born to Aiicha and Issiaka Kassambara in Kankagner. Yao spent the first few years of his life growing up with his family in between Kankagner and Regalia. The newest in a line of fierce Keleden warriors, Yao was trained at an early age to wield a sword, and before long, Yao would enlist in the Kollokana Academy Songay at age thirteen, staying with some of his family in the area. After graduating, Yao returned back to Regalia at sixteen, where he would live with his family for the next two years. Adulthood - 18-30 Upon his entry to adulthood, Yao was abruptly cut off from his family, per Songaskia tradition. He immediately went back to Farah'deen to begin schooling at the Oussafalin Academy Songay in order to begin making a name for himself. Through many intense trials, Yao quickly established himself as a formidable commander and soldier. Within three year’s time, he graduated and found himself placed in command of his own regiment. As he continued making a name for himself, he was once again welcomed into the family at 25 years old. Ever the people-pleaser among his family, he took up a hobby in mixing drinks for the ever-frequent parties hosted by the Kassambaras and their neighbors alike now that he found himself with a bit more free time. Disaster struck the Kassambara family when his mother was lost at sea due to a large storm. This loss devastated the family in Regalia for quite a length of time. As Yao's military leave ended, he returned to Farah'deen to continue serving. Yao would continue to serve faithfully, bloodying his sword for Masaya one campaign at a time, especially during the First Songaskian War. The Kassambaras in Regalia found themselves in quite the awkward situation due to the war. They fled Regalia, going back to Farah'deen. Adulthood - 31-Current With the outbreak of the Songaskian Civil War, stability between some of the noble houses became to waver as a group of houses evidently aimed to dispose of several others not in support of the usurper. The Kassambara House in Farah'deen had put its support behind Musamansa Koné, which drew attention from those backing his uncle. Yao and his now-reunited family were well aware of the situation and where it placed them. An appointment was called between a handful of friendly houses and the Kassambara house to discuss recent events and how to properly prepare for a counter attack. The entire appointment was a sham from the start. A couple of those who had arrived early lay dead in the meeting room as Yao and his father entered. Soldiers from the largest of the opposing houses made their appearance, surrounding the two. Yao drew his swords as his father did the same. Standing back to back, they fought the aggressors, the floor becoming covered as bodies littered it. It was only a sudden yell of pain that broke Yao from his trance of slaughter as he turned to see his father pierced by a trio of spears. Without a moment’s thought, he threw his swords at two of the spear holders, sending them reeling as he lept in the air at the third, cracking their skull in with a dragonscaled fist. Yao turned his attention to his father as he moved to him, losing sight of his surroundings as he held him close. A stinging, piercing sensation entered his side, then another at his back, then another in his other side as he weakly raised a hand to his father’s face, closing his eyelids over his lifeless gaze. Yao would sit there, life draining from him as his mind raced, his world collapsing around him. The muffled voices of soldiers surrounding him became more and more faint as his vision went black. Then there was nothing. Life had not forsaken the Songaskia yet, though. Yao’s eyes opened wide as he took a pained, deep breath, crimson ichor running from his back as a purple glow radiated from his visage. His lifeless father still laid in his lap. The soldiers from before seemingly all left, the sound of his brother N'faly and some houseguards sprinting down the hall sounding. Yao looked around, taking in his surroundings as he saw his two swords still embedded in the bodies. He weakly moved over to them, pulling them out. He sheathed them before turning back to his father’s corpse, stooping down to pick him up. He limped his way back to their noble manor, shattered. Questions raced through his mind. Why was he alive? What was he to do? His first order of business was a path of vengeance. Yao was quick to reorganize what the family had left and plotted a personal crusade against his father's murderers. It would not be long before the Songaskia's task was completed. He soon after took his formal place as patriarch of the family, the first of his line to do so as an Archblood. After tending to local affairs for another couple of years, Yao set his sights back on Regalia to forge a new future for himself and his family, a future that would soon see him cleansed of his Archblood affliction, granting him another chance at life. He took an oath to utilize it to the fullest, all in honor of his father.
