Oyama Hio

Oyama Hio was born in the year 451 to his mother Yoritomo Oyama and father Hida Kamuro. Upon the death of his older brother Oyama Tokichiro and disappearance of his mother in 470, Hio became Daimyo until 498. He died in the year 500.

Brought up in a way that could be considered normal for second child of a Daimyo, Hio was taught in the finer aspects of everything a young noble would need to know. Everything except for the position of Daimyo reserved for their elder sibling. Ever since he was young, Hio was envious of the treatment of his older brother Oyama Tokichiro. While he watched his older brother being groomed and molded for position of Daimyo, Hio had to contend himself with getting his parents attention by other means, namely by attempting to copy and outperform everything his older brother did. When Tokichiro showed a fondness for calligraphy, Hio poured himself into art and on several occasions stayed up entire nights to complete a single letter. When Tokichiro's natural brawn aided him in his study of bushi, Hio started to practice archery extensively until his mother complained about his consistent lack of fingernails and bloody bandaged hands. All of these attempts to outshine his brother got Hio attention, but not the kind he yearned for. His unsuccessful attempts only brought him the anger of his mother, since Hio's intentions and jealous emotions were apparent to everyone, and was bringing shame to the family. Yorimoto gave Hio an ultimatum; that he stop these ridiculous acts of attention or he would be sent away. Two months later after no change in Hios behavior, he was sent off to the Yoritomo courtier school. While it is unexpected for noble children to be sent away for specific education, Hio took this forced and early departure to the school as a slight. On his first night at the school, Hio prayed to the gods for his brother to be gone. He would later regret these words.

At the beginning, Hio found it hard to adjust to the new environment. However, his years of spiteful and relentless attention to detail gave him an edge in what he would later excel in, that being of a courtier. Instead of his brother, Hio found much greater pleasure from picking apart and destroying his opposition in mock-up court settings. While considered almost cruel and excessive by the schools senseis, Hio's destructive and blunt words were considered to be effective and he was showered in the praise he had been searching for his entire young life. After several years of apprenticeship and travelling, Hio decided to return home to visit a family he had only been hearing about in letters or the occasional visit. While the return home was happy for all members, it did not last. Shortly before Hio's 19th birthday, his mother Yorimoto called the family together. This is when she explained she would be leaving her family behind and promptly disappeared in the year 470. Oyama Tokichiro was make Daiymo on the spot, however it was not to last. While on walk with his wife, Tokichiro fell off a cliff and into the ocean due to a sudden and sharp change in the wind. It is not known if Tokichiros wife pushed him or if it was one of the many storms the island is famous for.

After all these years, Hio had finally gotten his wish and assumed position of Daimyo.

Hios sharp tongue and perceptive nature brought the island much prosperity and fame during his reign. However Hio lost much of it later in his life from political blunders and miscalculations attributed to his loss of mental capacity. It is commonly said that Hios extensive and relentless use of his mind had aged it twice as fast and Hio had garnered himself a disease of the mind. This is attributed to his excessive work, since he ran as many duties as he possibly could and often would neglect his wife, children and social gatherings. In the end, Hio was half blind, could not write or walk properly, and would forget even the simplest things. In 498, his daughter Oyama Haru considered him to be unfit for Daiymo and replaced him. With his mind faltering and failing a little more every day, Hio lived a pained and humiliating existence for two more years. As he could not handle a sword, much less a quill or chopsticks, Hio ended his life in the only way he could. One night, Hio sneaked out of the manor and disappeared. As his body was never found, it was assumed that Hio had crawled into the sea to join his brother.