Assassination of Yosi Cedro

The Blazing Avatar, Yosi Cedro, was assassinated in 358 at the World's Fair in Celero.

Background

The previous avatar to Yosi was believed to have been a cruel man with links to the Order of Fire. Since his first public appearance in 336, Yosi had attempted to heal the wounds in the church, reaching out in a spirit of reconciliation to various countries including those who had suffered at the hands of the church previously, such as Celero.

During the late 340s, Celero was afflicted by people who mutilated the hands of the people, burning holes in the webbing of their fingers where present and branding them with eight-character messages, such as ‘ITBE GINS’, ‘LORD FIRE’, ‘BRIM STON’, ‘HELL HERE’, ‘DEAT HORS’ and ‘DOOM CAN! Shortly before the World's Fair, to be held in Celero, investigation by King Andust suggested that they were sponsored by Umajin of Crima.

The First World's Fair was held in the Great Library in Celero in 358. Most of the world's rulers were invited, with many attending in person, including the Blazing Avatar himself. Also among the guests, whether invited or an infiltrator, was a Cree named Thamiel, a fanatic connected to the Order of Fire, who carried with him the sword Sun-Quencher.

Assassination

The Avatar spoke to a number of guests, and expressed admiration for some of the devices on display, before reaching King Andust of Celero. He spoke with him about the rash of mutilations in Celero and the need for an unbiased investigation, and offered to send some of his own monks to assist.

During this conversation, Thamiel pushed his way through the crowd from behind and stabbed the Avatar through the back, before cutting him twice more. The Avatar collapsed immediately, and died within a few minutes, despite the efforts of some of the surrounding dignitaries to bind his wounds. Andust attempted to fend the assassin off with his cane, though guards interposed themselves before his actions were necessary.

Aftermath

Thamiel was quickly subdued, disarmed and taken into custody, where his final fate was unknown.

An investigation conducted by Paco of the Blazing Temple concluded that Thamiel had been one of those who perpetrated the mutilations on the people of Celero, and that he had subsequently been inducted by the Order of Fire and charged with assassinating the Avatar.

The discovery of the connection between the terrorism in Celero sponsored by Umajin and the assassination was a leading factor in the outbreak of the Great Tellurian War shortly afterwards.

The Blazing Temple fell under the control of First Brother Adam, who had Paco discredited and led to great tension across the continent prior to the discovery of the next Avatar, Greta Cardion Divinorum, ultimately culminating in the Red Earth Uprising.

The sword Sun-Quencher was taken to the Blazing Temple by Topiltzin of Gunung for examination. It was later locked away in the deepest vaults of Gunung, from where it was stolen in 462, a little over a hundred years after the assassination.

The assassination (along with a few subsequent incidents) led to carriage of weapons at international events becoming increasingly restricted.