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.

Career and Reign

In 177 AG, Rhaelon Ando ascended to the Supreme Council of the Fire Nation as Grandmaster, succeeding Zaj Hinotatsu. He joined the governing council responsible for overseeing the nation's affairs and its branches under the authority of the Fire Lord.

In 180 AG, Rhaelon succeeded Taiyomizu Hu as the 24th Fire Lord. In his first broadcast, he announced the execution of the Earth Kingdom's Minister of Rites Hue Tung for his alleged crimes; being banished and repeatedly violating the banishment by trespassing as well as assaulting a woman. It was revealed that Hue had been brought to the Fire Nation by an unidentified man, though the circumstances remained unclear.

After learning of the minister's death, the Earth Kingdom had kidnapped its Grand Sage Amaririsu Akagi who was later released. Rhaelon apologised on behalf of the Fire Nation for actions that had violated the sovereignty of the Earth Kingdom, including those of former Legal Chancellor Xue Feng who had attempted to incite disorder across the Sand Tribes and Republic City, both territories of the kingdom.

Early in his reign, Rhaelon introduced major legal reforms that changed the Fire Nation's legal system. Among these reforms was the abolition of the office of Legal Chancellor previously held by Xue Feng, and granting Daimyos the legal authority over their respective provinces.