Ryuko Kawada

is one of the most skilled and talented gladiators in the popular bloodsport, frequenting circuits throughout Kig-Yar space, the frontier, Jiralhanae territory and even circuits in Remnant space, and the ancient arenas on the Jiralhanae and Kig-Yar homeworlds. Despite her success, she abhors her position as a slave, and those who hold power over her. Determined to fight her way out of the pits, she has passed from owner to owner, most considering her too difficult to control.

Early Life
Born on the world of Falaknuma in 2554, she was born to Shinichiro and Carol Kawada. At the time of her birth Falaknuma was encountering a period of economic hardship, as it had escaped the war intact but possessed little industry that could help in the rebuilding of the UEG. Her father, an electrical engineer, found it difficult to find work, especially since many positions in UEG space had been filled, and one of his other alternatives was enlisting in the UNSC. He instead found himself approached by representatives of the Sangheili Republic. With Sanghelios recently stabilised, they were looking for people of all trades and all races to help them rebuild their home worlds. At the age of five, the Kawada family moved to Sanghelios for a better future.

Growing up on Sanghelios
Finding work as serfs in the state of Vadam, her father worked as an electrical engineer, repairing damage to the state's structure and the Keep itself, while teaching other serfs to do the same, while her mother worked as a low level administrator. Growing up amongst Sangheili youths, she became tough, boisterous and learned to fight early on. Growing up alongside the youths, she became fluent in Sangheili, almost abandoning her native tongue, and learned to fight like a Sangheili, becoming accustomed to using a sword. Over the next decade, her family rose the ranks of the Keep, until her father became one of the lead engineers maintaining the ancient systems of the Keep, while her mother became retainer of Keep Elder, Lak 'Vadam. Ryuko herself grew up to be tough and lean, and extremely quick witted.

Ambush
Just after her 17th Birthday, she accompanied her parents on a diplomatic mission alongside Elder Lak. Voyaging off Sanghelios itself, they journeyed several lightyears from the home world when the diplomatic party was ambushed by unknown assailants. In the chaos, Lak 'Vadam was killed, and Ryuko was separated from her parents. Most of the party was killed and those who were survived were thrown into a prisoner hold.

Those few that survived were taken to a Kig-Yar trader station and immediately sold on. Slavers bartered and traded the survivors, and soon most were in a dozen separate cargo holds going off to every end of the Frontier. Ryuko herself was sold to a Kig-Yar slaver who intended to sell her on as a servant, only after he broke her.

The Slave Pit
Stripped of all her clothing and possessions, she was bound up, and thrown into a slave pit on his vessel. Starved for two weeks during the journey through slipspace, the slaver approached her with food on the basis she becomes an obedient slave. Her only response was to spit in his face. Another two weeks in the pit did nothing to change this attitude. Infuriated with his purchase, he sold her for a portion of her acquisition cost to a arena owner, who figured she'd make a fine warm up for the match ahead.

First Match
Brought to the arena a shadow of the girl the slavers bought a month earlier, she'd lost a significant amount of weight.