It was nearly twenty years ago now - General Azaki Gosetsu was a proud and well respected samurai in the Minkaian Empire, and had few equals when it came to the art of the blade. For decades he served his lord and country as a hand of war. According to rumors, Gosetsu could draw his blade, and strike down his opponent so quickly that no living man had ever seen the path of the blade, for only the kami could witness such divine technique. It would be Gosetsu's only wish that the kami had blessed him with the wisdom to be more than just a killer, for one day his lord asked of him to seek out enemies of the empire - Gnolls had made their way to the shores and disrespected the rule of Minkai, unruly and dangerous, and their affront to the order of the Empire would not stand. "Hunt them down. Kill them all, and leave no survivors. Kill the last of their kind on our shores in the name of the Empire". And so it was done..... almost. Gosetsu stood in the center of a large former camp of gnolls, having slaughtered each one in the name of his duty and Empire. There he stood in reflection, until he noticed a sole survivor - a small pup, barely even just born. The parents had clearly tried to fiercely defend this child, as animals would, Gosetsu though, and yet this child does not cry. There he stood, looking upon this child for what seemed like a lifetime - waiting for its cries and for his blade to finish his duty and strike down the last of his lords enemies. Neither would come. Reflecting there in the moonlight shining upon the blood soaked ground, Gosetsu felt the grief of his years catch up to him. He sheathed his blade and picked up the child in some loose cloth. Silently he and the pup walked from the scene, never able to return to the duty of the empire again. Gosetsu grew to be known as a traitor to the empire and settled into quiet farm life, away from the eyes of those who would seek the justice of his death. He taught his adoptive son the art of the field and the sword, and fought off the occasional attacker who would discover his identity. The day came when Katsuo was fully grown and had learned nearly all the former General could teach, but Gosetsu's body betrayed the skill he possessed. Another intruder came to claim their lives as a traitor and a beast, but this time Gosetsu could not demonstrate that divine skill he once had. He had expected this, however, and sent Katsuo off to a trusted friend to ferry him to a far away land, Varisia. There, he heard, someone reviled from their birth may find opportunities, and Katsuo was ordered to go so Gosetsu could live on through Katsuo's bladework. Gosetsu gave his life buying the child he was once ordered to kill time to leave Minkai, and Katsuo left to Varisia, to Sandpoint. He could never be the samurai his father was but he needed no such title to demonstrate the godly skill of General Azaki Gosetsu that could sunder the very heavens themselves.