852 - Chieftainness of Kazham. Jakoh Wahcondalo's mother, a mercenary by trade, took her daughter with her to the Marquisate of Tavnazia. Since her mother was often absent due to her chosen profession, the young Mithra received her education at a famous private school in the Marquisate's capital. It was in Jakoh's eleventh year of life that war descended upon the city. Through her mother's insistence, Jakoh was accepted aboard a departing merchant vessel already overflowing with refugees. The ship later capsized in violent weather, leaving the Mithran girl to drift on the ocean for days, clinging to a piece of the battered vessel. She was eventually picked up by the Bastore pirate Gilgamesh, rescuing her from an almost certain death. In the year of 871, a maturing Jakoh learning the pirate's life in Norg was to face the biggest challenge of her life. While sailing around the shoreline of Elshimo Island, the Bastore pirates became embroiled in a territorial dispute with the fisherwomen of Kazham. With neither side willing to back down, it was decided that the question of territory would be answered by the outcome of a duel between two chosen champions. For whatever reason, the hope of the pirates fell on the slim shoulders of Jakoh Wahcondalo, who had yet to raise a blade in battle. Her opponent was to be the boomerang-wielding "Headhunter Polly," one of the most renowned warriors in Kazham. To the amazement of all those present, Jakoh defeated her experienced adversary using nothing more than a single dagger, a keepsake from her mercenary mother. The deed catapulted her to hero status overnight. Impressed by the young Mithra's courage and cunning, the then Chieftainness Romaa Mihgo kept her side of the bargain by surrendering part of Kazham's territorial waters. In addition, Romaa also proposed the export of foodstuffs to the supply-poor pirates, on the condition that Jakoh consent to become a citizen of Kazham. After reflecting on the words of Gilgamesh who simply said, "Your path is your own," she chose to leave Norg and take up a position as Romaa's assistant and bodyguard. In 879, Romaa Mihgo declared her retirement and elected Jakoh as her replacement before the entire town. Though originally skeptical of Romaa's decision to invite the fiery Mithra into their community, the inhabitants of Kazham had grown to love the former pirate's courageous daring and straightforward manner. The decision to accept Jakoh as Chieftainness was unanimous. After assuming the position of Chieftainness, Jakoh used her negotiating skills and the intelligence gathered by her pirate allies to vastly improve Kazham's economic standing. She transformed what had previously been an isolated settlement into an independent power that demanded the respect of the Mithran homeland to the south, and the nation of Windurst to the north. Romaa Mihgo's faith in her chosen successor had proven to be well placed. Illustration by Mitsuhiro Arita