Arapomo Thora

Overview

A respected commander of the Iksen army, Arapomo was designated supreme commander of the small army that sailed with the grand expedition that ultimately discovered and settled in Dosjorya. Aware that there was no going back for any of them, and no way to communicate with their homeland, Arapomo and the expedition's leader, Oshah Kodear, strove to build a safe and prosperous new home, even through the War Against the Gendirlo. Failure was not an option, for failure meant the death of everyone that sailed with them. 

Background

Arapomo grew up in the Iksen capital of Sacksden deep in the Byeaden Pass of Tyoka's volcanic mountains. His mother grew up in a small coastal village and Arapomo often visited the coast while growing up. While this inspired a desire to sail the oceans, he realized his true calling was in the military when an invading army raided the southern territories of the Iksen Kingdom. These raids continued on and off for two decades, allowing Arapomo to join the military, train and fight, and eventually rise to the rank of captain. When the nation finally retreated, experiencing an invasion at their own southern border by the nation that would become Dargon, Arapomo sought to continue his military career, serving for another eleven years and earning a promotion to commander.
When the Iksen king decreed that expeditions be sent far and wide to search for new lands ready for habitation, he asked for distinguished commanders to join and become supreme commanders "where ever the seas carry them." Arapomo was one of those chosen and eagerly agreed, excited to live out his childhood dream of sailing past the horizon. As he had no wife or children and his parents had already passed away, he felt there was nothing stopping him from joining any of the grand expeditions.

Duty in Dosjorya

The first year in Dosjorya was spent in peace, though Arapomo knew this new wild land could hold any sort of danger. He ordered his army to conduct regular training drills against imaginary targets and enemies so that his men would not grow incompetent in their complacency. This proved to be a life saving measure once a Gundent was killed and the Gendirlo began to fight back.
Though at the time he was considered under Oshah in terms of power, Arapomo often acted independently when organizing and moving troops. The fighting style of the Gendirlo reminded him of the battles he participated in as a fighter and a captain, lending him enough experience to successfully fight back and maintain a large enough fighting force despite the Gendirlo having superior numbers. When the fighting had finally ended, Arapomo drew from what he had learned in Dosjorya to create a new army, similar to that of his native Iksa but adapted to this new land.

Legacy

Though details of his life have largely been lost to time and a disinterest from Dosjoryans of anything relating to their former home, those that know of Arapomo know that he singlehandedly led the first Dosjoryans through the toughest circumstances one could imagine and carried them through to calmer, prosperous times. Every person that has earned any sort of leadership position in the military is taught about Arapomo and his accomplishments, and those that rise even farther learn the true nature of the position Arapomo created for Dosjorya.
Soon after the war against the Gendirlo had been settled, Oshah reminded Arapomo that even though peace had been achieved and that the army had achieved many impossible victories, far too many still lost their lives and the Supreme Commander needed to consider the cost of human life in any future skirmishes. It was justifiable when the lives of tens of thousands were at stake, but the fledgling Dosjoryan nation could not afford to endure more battles for petty reasons. 
Understanding Oshah's concerns and already worried about the same thing, Arapomo threw his sword into the Grashen River, never to be found again. He then had a blacksmith forge a new sword, one to be passed down to future supreme commanders, that would symbolize the weight of the position. The blade was tempered to be extremely hard, so much so that if it saw battle, it would shatter the moment it hit another weapon. Arapomo himself ground a keen cutting edge that could slice through skin if anyone so much as touched the edge. Finally, he rubbed a skin irritating poison on the entire sword.
The meanings behind the sword were notions that Arapomo did not want to be lost in time. The weakness of the blade paralleled the idea that supreme commanders were not all powerful or above scrutiny; they could not order men or material to be squandered or used inappropriately, lest they be imprisoned and tortured. The sharp edge showed how easily the supreme commander could bring pain to others, how all it could take was a single word or action. From this, the name "Face of Death" arose as one way to describe the supreme commander position. And the irritant symbolized a reluctance a supreme commander should have for exercising their power. Few would willingly grab a sword that would make their skin itch and burn, and the same should be true of the might of the Dosjoryan army so that the supreme commander so that they cannot, in any circumstance, forget or overlook the consequences of any action they take. 
Beyond the lessons he left for future supreme commanders, Arapomo's success in the war allowed him to place the military in a position of power, giving it the ability to act independently if needed. Oshah was an equally competent leader for his role, but not all leaders will be as great and capable, and this separation of power allowed the military to resist any orders by outside influences. As the Order of Innena grew and became as vital in maintaining peace, Arapomo's wishes for independence allowed the two organizations to hold equal but separate power in Dosjorya, each using what their strength was to help maintain peace and build a new society.