The Fire Nation does not exist in any way shape or form that we know it. A bunch of warring states spread throughout the Fire Islands, their differing philosophies to the Sun Warriors are the very reason the ancient civilization is slowly cutting itself off from the world. Despite this, the Fire Sages have come forth and joined the Fire Nation in Caldera City, with grand plans to try and unite all of the Fire Isles into one nation. Meanwhile, the warlords Toz and Diyu control large swathes of land. Toz in the south islands while Diyu controls many of the smaller eastern isles.

Ba Sing Se stands as the pride of the Earth Kingdom, as the largest city on the face of the planet it is also one of the wealthiest. Protected by its great walls from any outside threats. The rise of King Hadai also saw the rise of the expansionist era. While the Fire Islands rely on armed conflict to conquer, the Earth Kingdom has largely been formed due to political machinations and the exchange of resources however there have been some suggestions and troop movements to ensure that some people comply with the unification of the Earth Kingdom.

As it stands the Earth Kingdom is unified along the North of the Continent, with its influence starting to spread south towards the Si Wong Desert.

The Air Nomads are a race of spiritually enlightened people, with four temples spread evenly around the world. While other nations concern themselves with economic or political power the Air Nomads for the largest part are not. They concern themselves with spiritual matters, spread throughout the world offering aide where they can, and spiritual guidance to people from the other three nations.

Almost every Air Nomad is an Air Bender, do to the level of spiritual enlightenment they have and while it is rare for an Air Bender to not be an Air Nomad, it has been known to happen.

The Nothern Water Tribe is a male-dominated society. While there are many male and female benders, women are not allowed to learn any form of bending other than how to heal. It is a rich society, its society is based around fishing and then trading through their great merchant ships. Northern Water Tribe ships are the most sought after vessels for trade and commerce throughout the world, their water benders the best at navigating the oceans and ensuring ships make it to their destinations safely and as quickly as possible.



The Southern Water Tribe is similar in size to their sister tribe in the North. The tribe in the South, however, is much more nomadic, while the North maintains a central location and city as its cultural hub. The South maintains several small towns spread along the coast, with parties roaming the wastes and the oceans surrounding making their livelihoods. Their Benders are fewer and farther between, and they do not follow the strict guidelines and rules that those in the North do.



The Foggy Swamp Tribe consists of a group of Water Benders who journeyed across the land from the South to the North, however, once they found the Foggy swamp they decided they had found their true home. Maintaining their nomadic nature from the South, they journey around the swamps maintaining its ecosystems and living their lives in seclusion.

Si Wong City was formed in the desert by the Avatar of the same name. Founded as a metropolis for members of all four nations to come and work together. Using her immense power Avatar Si Wong cleared the sands away and formed channels and wells to bring the city water for the people to drink, sanitization, and for Si Wongs agricultural sector. It is ruled by the council of Four, members from all four bending states from the Council Chambers at the center of the city. It has maintained its independence for nearly a hundred years under Avatar Si Wong, however, in the seventy years since her disappearance, there are fears over whether the expanding Earth Kingdom will allow them to maintain their independence.

There has been a long-standing feud between Si Wong and the various clans of Sandbenders, who say that Avatar Si Won stole the land from them.

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Character Age: 17
Character Gender: Female
Character Race: Fire Nation
Bending: Fire

Skills:


Weaknesses:


Possessions: Sun Warrior Outfit and jewelry, bow and arrow set and a nice teacup set.

Biography:

Supporting Cast: Her father, Khan Ye and the Fire Guru depending on the IC's journey would be an instrument to the GM Team and show what true firebending really is to lesser Firebenders who strayed from the true path. Although they made who Sun Ye is today, I intended to keep their roles minimal.

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Daisuke’s vision swam as the second blow landed and his body turned dispelling some of the force like his grandfather had taught him. The first strike had been worse, he hadn’t expected it, and the drill instructor enjoyed beating discipline into his fresh recruits. The other boys had cautiously and almost imperceptibly stepped back from him.

“When I want an answer, I’ll ask” Masahiro, the seasoned sergeant, yelled, spittle spraying across Daisuke’s cheek. But he did not flinch, he showed no fear even though his bowels were turning to water. Doubtless the young man was recalling Aikido’s final words of advice

“Every moment, every interaction is a test. Show them no weakness my boy, remember who you are.”

The Sergeant stepped to the right, giving a sideways glance which held his usual disdain and a touch of appraisal. “We do not fight for riches; we do not fight for fame. If you believe that then you had best leave now, you are no conscripts, and I welcome any of you weak willed shits to walk away and save me the trouble of beating you out over the next few months.” His withering glare passed slowly, noting every boy that met his eyes and those that did not. “The Nation you help to build is greater and more important then any one of you. Accept that.”

Daisuke’s chest puffed up, and he looked very much like a man who has found the place he fits perfectly. And though the training was rough, and violent, he excelled.

3 years later - Graduation
“Squad Leaders!” Masahiro, flanked by two higher ranking officers, who at this point Daisuke had never seen, though one of the officer’s insignia denoted that he was a General. The recruits were, for the first time, allowed to wear the uniform of the Fire Nation. Daisuke was given permission to wear his grandfather’s swords rather than the standard issue steel. They were all sitting in rows, forming a long rectangular formation. On the sides of their formation were shirtless firebenders, all of whom had graduated the year prior. “When your name is called stand!” Masahiro reached inside his red tunic and pulled forth a scroll, clearing his throat:

“Asaka Yasuhiko” A young man three rows and to the right stood, and the firebenders on each side moved in unison. Their left feet stepped forward and planted as their right hand formed a fist while it drove upward and released a powerful blast. Daisuke inched forward in his seat, he had been at the top of his class, first in nearly every area. His firebending was remarked upon by every instruct-

“Fushimi Hiroyasu” Again, a man stood, and received the fire salute from his new brothers. Daisuke’s hands gripped the seam of his trousers above the knee, his jaw rippled where his teeth were clenched.

“Takeda Tsuneyoshi” The roar of flames filled the open air again. Masahiro had always been hard on Daisuke, though it would be beyond belief if he allowed that to compromise his judgement. Sweat was forming on Daisuke’s brow. To do what he needed to do he must lead.

“Daisuke Sato”

18 months later – Southern Isle Raiding
Fire raged through the air in the distance, and Daisuke ran towards it with his squad. The fight was not going well. Government forces had moved to take an operating base from Warlord Toz. Nation forces had taken the beach under a storm of heat and flame, and they secured a rock outcropping from which to begin orchestrating a deeper strike inland. Slowly they gained ground, but they paid for it in blood. The warlord’s forces were savage, and skilled both in hand to hand combat and bending.

The base loomed before him, little more than a shipping outpost surrounded by hastily constructed barricades.

Daisuke sprinted ahead of his squad and leapt into the air, spinning and bringing his heel around in an arc. A scythe of flame whipped out and tore through the crates and sharpened pikes. Smoke billowed and Daisuke heard the scream of a burning man. They hadn’t been expecting an attack on the western side, which is what Daisuke had been counting on when he petitioned the commander to land 2 miles west around the horn of the island.

The main force was set to attack that morning at dawn, and the larger, though less disciplined militia, would hopefully meet them with force hoping to drive them into the sea and leaving only a skeleton force at the port.
He and his men took the ramshackle fortress rather easily, they dispatched with the few men left behind. Aikido’s blade tasted blood again, and Daisuke raised the Fire Nations flag while his men sounded their signal horns. The warlords troop naturally believed they were now hopelessly surrounded and surrendered, dropping their weapons in the dirt.

It was a good day.

8 years later – Defeat at the Black Cliffs

Daisuke’s hand began to shake, he reached toward his tunic before pulling back with a small jerk. The flask inside called to him, perhaps now more than ever. Oh how simple his path had seen after his first victory so many years ago. He clenched his fist harder to stop the shaking.

At his feet laid the body of Ichiki Kitokuro, face twisted upward in a haunting snarl chest crushed and burned. Ichiki had been with him since the very beginning, he was in Daisuke’s squad when they graduated, and he had followed him ever since. Daisuke had reached captain, and Ichiki a lieutenant in his company.

He knelt down, ignoring the sword cut in his side which had soaked his red robes to a deep crimson. Daisuke closed his eyes, “Thank you, old friend, please forgive me…” Time and again they had defeated the enemy, outmaneuvering, out thinking, finding the tiniest weaknesses, but not today.

Today Daisuke sacrificed 25 men because he knew better, he always knew better.

The General said the defenses were too strong.

Daisuke knew better.

Reconnaissance said that the enemy’s garrison had received reinforcements in the middle of the night, their assault would be impossible.

“Their right wall was still weak, ten thousand troops would make no difference” Daisuke said, because he knew better.

The sounds of fighting began to die down, the Fire Nations flag flew high, he had been right ironically. The wall did collapse under fire from his troops, but he lost half his force just reaching the wall. Daisuke went with them and was the first through the gap, and even in the fog of war he felt that everything was wrong. There were too few men by his side, the enemy believed they had a chance and pressed in. His katana cut a swath, his bursts of flame in defense as much as offense. Catching enemy counter thrusts and dispersing them.

They were calling this a victory, but the cost was too high, his company was decimated and would have to return to the capital to be re-equipped and re-manned.

Daisuke yanked out the flask now, pulling hard from it, tears running down his cheeks. He screamed to the heavens, a bout of flame ascending into the sky.

Character Age: 24
Character Gender: Male
Character Race: Earth Kingdom
Physical Description: A skinny young man though physically fit Gao has lightly tanned white skin, and dark brown eyes. He has dark brown hair that's been clean cut. He refuses to shave all the way through opting to remove as much hair as possible while keeping enough on his head to appear distinct. He has no facial hair, and no noticeable scars on his body though his calloused hands, and bruises on his arms, and legs tell that he is experienced enough upon close inspection. Gao typically is not considered a handsome man, but he isn't ugly either he is extremely plain and tends to blend in with a crowd of average people. He typically wears a simple loose brown shirt, and sometimes a black jacket. His pants are likewise unremarkable simply being a pair of worn white pants.
Bending: Bender/Non-bender: Air Bender - A blunt, and straight forward bender he has more in common with some earth benders than the air nation. However he is still light on his feet, and capable of dodging with ease simply willing to dodge when needed but engages more willingly with direct heavy blasts of wind, and subversive uses of wind to knock people off balance before delivering a brutal gust of wind to send them flying. He is quite adept at redirecting projectiles.
Skills: basic Medical training, hunting (bow, and knives) experience, and basic non bending martial arts
Weaknesses: Gao while even a heavy hitter for an air bender is still lacking in actual real lethal shots. Air bending at its core is not meant for hurting people despite how hard Gao has trained. He also lacks proper training that the normal air benders do. He lacks a strong understanding of advanced air bending techniques.
Posessions: Air Glider

Biography: Born in the Earth Kingdom in a small village young Gao was nothing worth noting initially his parents were farmers, and his fellow villagers generally unimportant. His life in his young years was rather uneventful as the Earth Kingdoms's issues were rarely brought into the village due to their remote location in the northern earth sphere. He spent most of his life learning farming, and hunting as he viewed cities grow in size from afar and from an outsider's prospective he fought it fascinating. These massive cities were large, and prosperous. So many things he'd never seen before were housed there, and it led his imagination wild. However his grand father warned him that nothing good came from the cities that bad men ruled them, and that they would continue to do so into the near future. His grand father had gone to these cities, and had seen many things in his youth from water bending warriors in the southern earth kingdom training on their boats to, earth benders in cities like Omashu, and even the northern air temple, the patriarch of the Xiang family knew many things.

But after some consideration Gao, and his friend Yu decided to travel to one of the cities in the earth kingdom to understand just what exactly they were. After some time travelling, and experiencing the sights all seemed to go the opposite of what his grand father had warned him about. The cities, and the vast armies in places like Ba Sing Se were all amazing and being very self sufficient the duo managed to live a rather poor but ok life in the city for a few months before a gang attacked, and scarred Yu for life burning his hand. An Earth Bender tried to force money out of Gao by force, whom had none at the time, and he decided to fight back. During the fight he learned that he was an air bender after knocking the earth bender on his rear end through a window, and managing to blow back the fire bender with sheer force. He was a strong bender in terms of power but it tired him greatly to use his power for the first time.

Afterward he tried bringing Yu to a doctor they had met while travelling to the city. He had his friend treated, and then returned home shortly after. His grand father was not surprised to learn of his gift, but his parents were.

After discussing it with his village elders young Gao left his village with his grand father, though old he was he insisted to come with Gao, and learn more about himself after he refused to join the air nomads because he knew nothing about them just yet. He didn't want to become a part of something he knew so very little about. Living day to day Gao, and his grand father traveled from place to place as he saw more of the world he saw more cruelty, and less kindness. People in remote areas poached, and or fought over resources especially in more remote areas. People who had power refused to act in some cases, or sometimes chose to help those who hurt the innocent for personal profit. That isn't to say that he didn't see plenty acts of kindness but he felt that the darker ones more outweighed the bad. Though there were good people often their acts of kindness left voids where evil simply reappeared once the heroes left, or died. He learned air bending through his grand father's example, though his grand father was not an air bender, or at least that's what he thought, he knew one as a child, and through scrolls purchased from people in the markets. Gao traveled to the air bending nations in search of guidance in full more so than he could from just scrolls that found their way into small town markets. But he found the air nomads more aloof, and self focused on finding inner peace rather than helping others. He hoped that they would be more active in helping others. However it only seemed they act on bigger ocassions or when they went on pilgrimages, or trips individually. Eventually after a few monthes he left them of his own accord. He didn't get a bison while there but he did pick up an old air nomad flier that Yu would later fix up for him.

Gao decided he would do as he wanted to, and live life as he would. Refusing to join the 'kind' secluded air nation he left on his own journey. He would go through the Earth Sphere learning, training, and fighting through the wilderness, and thugs that tried to stop him learning combat techniques as he learned more about what it meant to be an air bender and some of the villains such as he came across allowed him to see flaws in his own techniques as he fought them. As he is now he is a simple traveler, and occasional vigilante. He doesn't want for glory, or to move up the food chain. He simply travels to better himself, and become stronger as an individual. Though the grey world he walks in sometimes disgusts him he chooses not to use his power for his own gain unless it would better him as a whole, and or to force his opinions onto others. A wandering 'nomad' in a sense he has a home though he doesn't return to it. When the world has finally given him a purpose he hopes its for the best.
Supporting Cast: Yu Sanzang - A rather shrewd young man with a surprising eye for spotting talent, and science. Yu is ahead of his time, and can fairly easily comprehend subjects that are foreign to most people. However he isn't physically intimidating, and his earth bending is rudimentary. The scar on his hand is evident of his early struggles but he has overcome even that with his strong force of will.

Patriarch Xiang - Little is known to Gao about his grand father other than the fact that is an old, and very experienced man. He has many secrets, and has helped Gao quite a lot. It is evident that the man probably knows more about the world than he lets on.

---

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- Taku

_{'I can't tell you what is reality because I don't know myself.'}
________________________________________

Age: 19
Gender: Male
Race: Sandbender Tribes

Physical Description: Siyu is a mud-eyed, burnt caramel-skinned, unusually tall and lanky young man with sinewy muscles that is routinely clothed in the sand-colored robes of his people, meant to protect against the heat and sunlight. His face is adorned with patchy black facial hair, a clear sign of his age that makes him uncomfortable, while the charcoal hair atop his head is kept extremely short.

Bending: Earth; Sandbending Focus

Siyu is an intermediate Earthbender, focusing on Sandbending. His fighting style, like many Sandbenders, is far more 'whimsical' and flow-oriented than most Earthbenders, entailing many acrobatic and aerial movements. In his training, Siyu has sought to acquire balance between offense and defense, preferring versatility as well as well-timed strikes to win. Despite this, he is still an Earthbender and has endeavoured to master more than just his native techniques.

Skills:

• Exceptional Sandsailer: Growing up in Si Wong desert, a person learns to sandsail if possible. Such is Siyu's skill in this matter that he can turn a small stretch of wood and cloth into a personal sandsailer.
• Desert Folklore: Born of desert people, Siyu naturally understands survival and navigation within the Si Wong Desert.

Weaknesses:

• Unconfident: Siyu is young, really young. He lacks confidence in himself in many ways; body self-esteem, ability to connect with others, and his fighting ability.
• Tormented Visions: From a young age, Siyu has been tormented by seemingly unrelated visions, dreams and apparent apparations. One of these is nearly always present and took upon itself the name, 'Avante'. The visions can at times become so intense that Siyu loses sense of reality.
• Si Wong Kong: In the course of his life, Siyu discovered that a native plant smoked by his people to calm the nerves helps with his visions, though his use of the plant has generated a reliance upon it.

Possessions:

• Personal Sandsailer: Similar to a skateboard without wheels, instead being attached to a sail.
• Sandbag: Like most Sandbenders, Siyu keeps a bag of sand on him at all times as sand is what he is most comfortable bending.
• Si Wong Compass: A compass that points directly to Si Wong Rock, crucial for navigation within the desert.
• Crucial Desert Survival Tools: Other small, assorted tools Siyu keeps with him since the desert is a harsh mother.

Supporting Cast:

• Avante: A 'being' visible only to Siyu as far as he knows, Avante's visual form is that of a small mongoose covered in black and white fur. Only the colors are constantly shifting, blending, birthing new colors, and ending those colors. It sits upon Siyu's shoulders, often whispering to him. Avante's motivations and even whether or not it actually exists are still unclear to Siyu, who isn't sure if Avante is an actual spirit or a figment of his imagination.

Character Age: 24.

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Northern Water Tribe.

Bending: He is a skilled waterbender, above average but not a master.

Skills:
•Weapons Training - From his mother he learned how to wield many weapons, most prominently the traditional spears and clubs of his tribe. What most people are unaware of is his skill with swords and daggers as well. He also has a passing knowledge of the Southern Tribe's boomerang and machete-and-shield tactics, but prefers to avoid using them. His preferred style is to use a long dagger, with one hand free to bend water (though some see this style of fighting as 'dishonorable').
•Drawing Water - After spending years in Si Wong City and the surrounding desert, he's become especially adept at drawing water from unusual sources, including from plants and moisture in the air. He's also very precise in his bending, allowing him to use small amounts of water to get a lot done.

Weaknesses:
•Ego - While he's not overly arrogant and will generally let go of most small slights, he is prone to holding long-lasting grudges and isn't afraid of getting back at someone with a disproportionately large counterattack. He gets especially irritated with disrespect or humiliation in any form.
•Superstition - Kosroq, like his father, goes a small step above reverence for the spirits. He regularly makes small prayers to his family's 'patron spirit', Kaita Hi. His arm wrappings are covered in ritual symbols and written prayers meant for good luck and supposedly to ward off evil spirits. If a town or city has a spirit totem, he will usually stop by to make an offering. He occasionally makes small paper talismans to place around any place he stays if he's feeling particularly unlucky.

Posessions:

Kosroq owns a dagger given to him by his father. It's lined with serpent teeth, killed by a hunting party his father was a part of many years ago.

Biography:

Supporting Cast:
•Salla - Kosroq's mother. Publicly the rather docile wife of Narokk, actually an accomplished warrior, saboteur, and military historian. She's calmed down considerably since her youth and now spends most of her time accompanying Narokk on official business and teaching Hanouk. She's learned to accept her status in life, though she often dreams of kicking the absolute hell out of one of the Elders next time they talk down to her.
•Narokk - Kosroq's father. He's considered a future candidate for the council of Northern Elders. He is heavily spiritual. He currently serves as an advisor to the current chieftain of the North, Tarkol. While he enjoys his current status and the security it gives his family, he feels a little regretful about the shady business he and Salla did when they were younger.
•Hanouk - Kosroq's brother. A great public speaker and competent fighter and teacher. The way things are going, he'll likely be the one to continue the family's legacy, unless Kosroq feels like coming back.

---

Character Age:
24

Character Gender:
Female

Character Race:
Northern Water Tribe

Bending:
Kyouna can indeed bend water. Would she call herself a Waterbender? No, not really. This is mostly due to the fact that her most proficient form of bending is healing. The reason for this is that the Northern Water Tribe focuses their attention on the male population and leaves the woman only to know healing. Everything she has learned bending wise has taken her longer and been done alone for the most part. She spent some time in the Southern Water Tribe, hoping to learn but they were so spread out and the small cities she managed to visit were lacking benders which made her journey not as helpful as she had hoped. They gave her some of the basic moves but the rest was up to her. This means not all her bending is the graceful fluid form of movement as she has had to adapt to using other styles of bending as examples to jerry rig to her own bending. Needless to say, it isn’t the best way to go but what can you do? She does hope to one day find someone willing to really properly train her.

Skills:

• Making Tea: She doesn't own a tea shop for nothing. Time, effort, love, and soul goes into making her special blends as well as the classics that everyone adores. She likes giving people a place to retreat and relax. Nothing makes her happier than seeing their smiling faces.
• Cooking: She is actually a pretty good chef. She loves making savory foods and sweet treats to go along with her teas.
• Fortunetelling: Okay, so she might not be completely legit in this area but she has gotten good at reading people to know what they want to hear. She also knows how to keep her fortunes vague enough for multiple meanings. It wasn’t supposed to be this way... You try to cheer someone up one time by “reading” there tea leaves as a “fortune” and suddenly you have people flocking for advice or hope.
• Daggers/Hand to Hand: When you don’t have the best bending skills to protect yourself or least lack of confidence in those skills, the next best things are your hands and small weapons. She isn’t a stealthy assassin or some brawler but she is much more a fighter than she appears and will drop her opponent if given the chance.
• Hunting/Fishing:Her time in the Southern Water Tribe while fruitless in her help for someone to teach her bending was bountiful in other areas. They taught her needed skills to survive so she wouldn’t be wasting money on supplies. They taught her how to trap or fish, the missing pieces she hadn’t learned at home since she was used to cleaning the kills, cooking, and sewing but nothing more. She will ever be grateful to them for that. They made her feel more at home than she ever had in the North but it still reminded her of all she left behind.
  
  Weaknesses:
• Ranged Weapons: Just don’t ask her. Really, don’t. She had horrible aim and would be more likely to hurt herself or her team if you hand her one of these.
• Childish/Stubborn: While most of the time she is calm and patient, there are moments where she is extremely childish and troublesome. This puts her in situations that could have been avoided easily and makes her problematic when she won’t listen to reason.
• Bending: While she can bend, sometimes her own moves lack finesse or take on too much style from another element and it fails her because she herself is not in the right space. She also lacks confidence which is not a positive. This can be extremely bad at a crucial moment.
• Smoking: She knows it is a bad habit but she can’t seem to be able to stop. She has gone as far as to add flavors to her tobacco, creating her own blends to make sweet flavors.
  
  Possessions:
• Has her own jade and gold pipe which cost her a pretty penny but so worth it as it comes with its own carrying pouch for the tobacco but could easily hide other things if needed
• Water pouch, would be dumb for a Waterbender not to have one of these especially in a desert.
• Daggers, she keeps many of them on her body to be used if needed though she hopes that it won’t be necessary
• It’s not really a possession she can carry with her but she does own a tea shop called Tea & La

Biography:
She was born in the Northern Water Tribe, on a night like any other, just another addition to their large tribe. Her life growing up was fairly normal despite her need to question everything, much to her mother’s dismay. She had done her best to deter the way Kyouna would ask why she was not allowed to do the same as the boys or why things were the way they were. It didn’t stop the pranks or defiant nature but at least her mother hoped she would learn to be content with the life she had. Everything seemed to be relatively peaceful for the family when a wonderful surprise happened, her mother had become pregnant. It seemed like there was nothing but smooth sailing and wonderful times ahead of them.

Only life has a funny way of disrupting plans and dreams. Her mother ran into complications, her body giving out before anyone could do anything to stop it. She was gone but in her place was now a new baby brother for Kyouna and a son for her father, one that would need care and attention. It was then that Kyouna learned to be much more patient and gentle than the rambunctious child she had been. She was only ten years old and now, her brother needed her. Her father buried himself in work, barely came home and became much more distant. It was like all the light in his life was gone, just a husk of a man. The soft sides of him becoming rigged and hardened, walls around his heart. This left Kyouna to pull the extra weight that had once been her mother's duties such as cooking, maintaining the house, and taking care of Akolo.

She missed having fun, being a child but at the same time she couldn’t regret it. She loved her brother and wanted to be there for him. She sang the songs her mother used to sing to her. She took care of him and practically raised him. Kyouna will forever wonder and regret what her future decision had done to her brother’s life. When she turned sixteen, her world felt like it had been shackled and controlled like she wasn’t even a person anymore. Her father had decided to arrange a marriage between her and the son of a long time friend with higher status. It wasn’t just being forced into marriage but the person she was to be married off to was a man she had despised for many years. They had been forced to be around each other as children and now she was being told that he would always be by her side.

She had tried to protest to her father, begging him to call it off. All she had received was that she should know her place and stop acting selfish, that he knew what was best for this family and her. The choker around her neck could have been iron chains the way it felt sitting there. Kyouna felt like she couldn’t breathe, drowning in the sorrow and feeling time rushing by her like the pull of a wave. She knew there was a small window to take back her life. She hadn’t been bound by marriage yet and if she could only find a way out, she would have to take it. That minuscule window came in the form of a trade with the Earth Kingdom. They were mostly independent, not needing much from others but occasionally they would trade, sending out supplies. She removed the necklace, wrote her goodbye, took her things and snuck into the cargo. It had been a miserable experience.

She hadn’t stayed long, instantly leaving so she was not anywhere near the city in case someone tried to find her or she had been caught. She became a permanent wanderer, a rough year of struggles and small jobs took up on her way to the Southern Water Tribe since she needed supplies to make it from city to city. The Southern Tribe had been everything she wished the Northern Tribe to be. They seemed to have a lot more freedoms in her opinion. They were all so kind and welcoming, teaching her skills that would greatly improve her life. Sadly, Kyouna had not stayed with them long, the villages still a painful reminder of home but with her newly acquired skills and new ways to practice her bending, she set off to explore new destinations. Eventually, her aimless journey had led her to Si Wong and though she hadn’t planned to plant roots there, that is exactly what happened.

It was just a coincidence or maybe it was fate itself what happened that day. An elderly woman was struggling with her purchases, close to falling over when Kyouna stepped in to assist her. She accompanied the woman during the rest of her shopping even though the woman kept giving her outs if she wanted to. Instead of running at first chance, Kyouna has been more than willing to stay and found herself helping to carry the bags and then heading to the old woman’s shop as her husband manned the place. They had given her a free meal and tea as a ‘thank you’. She watched them as they flitted about, helping customers and watched some of the struggles with ruder individuals. She decided to ask if she could come back again, assist them a bit tomorrow. They had told her there was no need but she had come back anyway, bright and early. Eventually it had become a habit, then the habit of helping turned into a job as they didn’t feel right for her doing something for nothing, that turned into invites from either party on meals and getting to know each other which led to a bond. They told her that she was the daughter they had never had.

They were her new family, her family not by blood but still just as precious and something she had been lacking. The years passed by, she got a place for herself in Si Wong near the Yang’s and started to live a pretty peaceful life. The Yang’s started to think of retirement, asking Kyouna if they could pass the shop to her since they trusted her with it. They knew they had been pushing themselves far too much. They told her to make it her own, that they knew she would make them proud. She changed the shop's name and added more teas to the menu, using the knowledge the Yang’s had provided over the years to make her own. She made sure to keep everything else as it was, a tribute to where the shop had come from and the love she feels for her makeshift family.

Supporting Cast:
Akolo: Is her younger brother. She doesn’t know much about him anymore except he has the same dark hair and light eyes are herself. He always seemed to be a happy child, if not a little too shy and needing lots of praise. Not surprising with how her Father was never satisfied with anything. Akolo is her biggest regret in leaving the Northern Tribe but she couldn’t stay and have her life planned out for her but she also couldn’t bring him when she wasn’t sure how stable her life would be.

Nagisa: was her mother. A kind and giving woman with a heart of gold but of a frail body. She was one of the midwives to the tribe and helped heal the sick or injured. It is hard to find a time that this woman was not loved and respected by those that knew her. She wasn’t perfect by any means, her temper one of the largely noticeable flaws as it was as fierce as a dragon. She had almost caramel colored hair that frames a delicate rounded face and the brightest turquoise eyes. Kyouna misses her very much.

Pheakdei: Is her father. Ever the serious and no room for fun or error kind of man. A Waterbending Master who has taken on many a beast in his days and has scars to prove it. He always expected her to just fall in line and be a meek quiet daughter. Those steel grey eyes always seemed to judge and any softness disappearing with her mother’s death. She got in many a trouble over the years for her childish and stubborn nature and has known what it is to be a disappointment to the man that is her own blood. She got told to step up, grow up, and stop being difficult, that things are the way they are. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he found her to be an embarrassment or even worse than that after her leaving.

Sakda: the suitor she never asked for. He could be called handsome by most standards, chiseled facial features, deep cobalt eyes, sun kissed skin, and shaggy chocolate brown hair but all of this is overshadowed by the overconfident, arrogant, cruel and brash nature of his attitude. These are just some of the more polite things that could be said about this individual, let’s leave it at that. They had grown up closely together much to her dismay, their families friends with one another. It should have been no surprise to her what was to happen next and yet it was. She wanted to crawl in a hole and never come out when he presented her with a betrothal necklace as if he were doing her some amazing favor. She had tried to reject him but her father had stepped in before she could, the families using her to their benefit or more her father was as Sakda’s family had connections in higher society and could set her family up with an easy life at the expense of her happiness.

The Yang Couple: A sweet elderly couple that has become like family to her and the reason she has her tea shop at all. She is very honored to continue their work and what they have built together. She would be nowhere without them. They have supported her, believed in her when she had nothing and she will forever be grateful. Kyouna would do anything if only they would ask but they never do. They are both givers. They once told her that she was the Yin to their Yang, their family finally complete even though it took longer than they had both hoped for. For this reason they call her Yin instead of by her given name.

Character Age: 35

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Earth Kingdom

Bending: Earthbender - Han Xin is an experienced earthbender, but his style is almost exclusively self-taught, with no formal training beyond tips and advice picked up from other benders during his travels. Many of his maneuvers and attacks are improvisational in nature, and this has given him an edge against rival benders expecting a studied style to compete against. He’s even found ways to incorporate stances and motions from other bending techniques into both his bending forms and his spear fighting.

Skills: Beyond bending, Han Xin is a seasoned spear fighter and mercenary, having fought for various princes and lords of the Earth Kingdoms as the nation solidified itself over time. He’s also quite the liuqin guru as well, and greatly enjoys practicing musical freestyling with it in his freetime.

Weaknesses: Han Xin is an alcoholic, plain and simple. He always has at least three calabash jugs of spirits on him at any given time, and he’s been known to add some to nearly any other liquid he consumes, including water itself, if he finds the initial taste unpleasant. Han Xin also suffers from narcolepsy, and while having never fallen asleep while in a fight or on watch for one, he regularly dozes off without care or regard for those around him otherwise.

Possessions: His most valued possession is his Ji spear, a weapon that only ever leaves his person when absolutely necessary. He also carries a trio of knives on his belt for utility and emergency purposes. Three calabash jugs, generally filled with some form of booze, are tied to the belt as well. Strapped to the belt on his back is the case for his liuqin, which he keeps carefully maintained to keep the instrument inside safe.

Biography: Han Xin was born and raised in a small village in the Earth Kingdoms, near the infamous city of Ba Sing Se. His youth was marginally uneventful, without knowing about his latent bending talents at the time, most of his childhood consisted of lessons, games, and getting into brawls with others of his age. One of the few remnants of this time in his life he keeps with him is his early lessons in the liuqin from his mother, the same instrument he learned with them being the one he keeps with him now.

Eventually, Han Xin shaped from a youthful lad into a fine and proper young man, and it was around this time that the King of Ba Sing Se’s men came knocking. Seeking conscriptable people from among the villages surrounding the city, Han Xin was chosen alongside others from his village. Initially, he refused, not wanting to leave his home and people, but he found the speartips of the soldiers rather convincing. Marshaled into the city’s armed forces, it was during his training that Han Xin’s latent earthbending abilities manifested properly. However, a disregard for authority and the rigidity of the style's masters led to Han Xin being mustered back down to the nonbender ranks, with only a haphazard amount of basic rock manipulation to show for it. While he was never reprimanded to the point of an insubordination discharge, Han Xin was by no means a model soldier. He drank, he ignored orders, he slept on duty, and the only thing that kept him in the army was a small village hovel called Xingwei's Rest.

Xingwei's Rest was a small village along the main road towards the capital of Ba Sing Se, and its existence of the garrison was more for the comfort and stability of the region than for any real military advantage, and this took much of the pressure off of Han Xin and his unit. The one thorn in his side was his unit's commanding officer, Lieutenant Gao. The Lieutenant was the poster boy for the ideal officer of the army, dutiful, vigilant, and orderly. And the exact antithesis of Han Xin. The two butting heads was a constant sight in the garrison, and Han Xin skirting by being booted out was as much a miracle as him making through training in the first place. But all things must pass, and eventually Lieutenant Gao managed to get Han Xin discharged on "serviceable merit to the great city of Ba Sing Se", or as Han Xin would put it "We couldn't get you kicked out, so we're asking you politely, yet firmly, to retire."

With a small stipend of cash, pent up frustration, and experience in the army and not much else, Han Xin decided mercenary and bodyguard work might not be a bad way to make some coin. Taking advantage of the rampant banditry and unrest plaguing the solidifying Earth Kingdoms, he found steady work as a weapon for hire, and it was here his unusual and ramshackle bending style took form. Learning stances and moves from enemies, allies, scrolls, and even benders of other elements, Han Xin crafted a unique style that paired well with his spear fighting.

His mercenary career brought him in contact with many a foe and rival, as well. Would-be bandit lords, mercenaries seeking the same contract, and even the occasional private army of some uppity land baron trying to oppose a superior power. But the first and foremost of these was a man named Lai Chen. This man somehow found himself on the opposite end of nearly every contract and job Han Xin worked. Protecting a caravan? Lai Chen was raiding it. Defending a village? Lai Chen was attacking it. The two seemed to be opposites chosen by the spirits to diametrically oppose one another, and even now Han Xin awaits the inevitable next encounter with his longtime foe.

The loosened lifestyle of a mercenary is not a great one to beat old habits, however. Time outside the army solidified his drinking and sleeping, leading to the two becoming a blend of alcoholism and full-blown narcolepsy. As the Earth Kingdoms solidified into relative peace, Han Xin found his work drying up, eventually washing up in the city of Si Wong, hoping to shack up with desert caravans as a guard, while also looking into rumors of war in the Fire Islands as a nice way of making some quick coin.

Supporting Cast:
Lieutenant Gao - Unknown to Han Xin, but his former commanding officer has continued his lofty career in the military of the King of Ba Sing Se, and while the two have not yet crossed paths, Han Xin's mercenary lifestyle leaves this an increasingly likely situation every day.

Lai Chen - The longest-lasting rival of Han Xin's mercenary career, and a man he always seems to cross paths with at the worst of times. It's been a while since their last encounter, moreso due to the lack of work than anything else, and Han Xin has found himself constantly watching vigilantly, almost out of paranoia, for his strongest foe.