Rhaelon Ando

Rhaelon Ando (安多·雷隆; Ānduō Léilóng) is the 24th Fire Lord of the Fire Nation, succeeding Taiyomizu Hu in 180 AG. Before his ascension to the throne, he served as the Grandmaster of the Fire Nation. Rhaelon is a Fire Nation national of Solandu origin, born among the Sun Warriors before later leaving his tribe and resettling in the Fire Nation.

Background

Early Life

Rhaelon Ando was born and raised in La Bayān to a Sun Warrior father, Itotia Kin'dāla and a Fire Nation mother, Akari Ando, whom he had never met during his childhood. His parents met during a rare event between their nations, and took an immediate liking to one another. However, nine months later, his father opened his door to find a baby left on his doorsteps covered in nothing but swaddling clothes and a small hairpin bound in red silk.

His father raised him alone, and though not an unkind man, he was private about his son's mother, treating the topic as a wound best left undisturbed. Over the years, Rhaelon managed to learn a few details about her. A woman from the Fire Nation, her family name was Ando while her given name still mysterious, and his straight, dark hair had come from her. Though, his father provided little explanation beyond the common understanding that had she wanted to be part of Rhaelon's life, she would have returned.

When Rhaelon was five, his younger half-brother Enzou was born to his father and his new wife, a Sun Warrior woman.

Childhood

Rhaelon grew up immersed in the customs and traditions of the Sun Warriors. He attended ceremonies, witnessed the reverence afforded to the dragons, and learned to regard fire as a living force rather than merely a weapon.

As a child, he followed his father from place to place. Despite his upbringing, Rhaelon never pursued a role within the Sun Warriors. He was content to remain a Tribesman of the Ibu Dohai, helping his people gather food and hunt. His pottery was uneven, and he rarely possessed the patience to correct it.

Nevertheless, he became a capable firebender through years of practice. He was neither particularly flashy nor a prodigy, but his calm demeanour and attention to his breathing allowed him to bend fire with considerable precision. He trained whenever he could, and would often work until sunset before practising his bending well into the night. By the time he considered leaving La Bayān, he believed himself to be a better firebender than most of his peers.

Later Life

At the age of 22, Rhaelon left La Bayān for the Fire Nation. His departure followed no great falling-out, he simply informed his Bal (Solandu word for father) of his intention to leave, and his father accepted the decision, parting on good terms and promising to remain in contact through letters. His younger brother was 17 at the time, and Rhaelon offered him little in the way of a proper goodbye.

Rhaelon initially left due to his desire to learn about his mother and the life she had left behind. With only her surname and the hairpin she had left with him, he had little to start his search. However, he wanted to experience the Fire Nation for himself; to walk its streets, learn its customs, and understand the culture to which he half belonged to.

Eventually, he settled in Kayamato, a place far from the bustle of Caldera City.