History.
In the time between Korra's triumphs and her death, technology would progress in leaps and bounds. The discovery of spirit energy once siphoned from spirit vines opened a whole new horizon for technological advancement during what was once an industrial age. Varrick, who was able to reverse engineer Kuvira's machine, refined the process of harvesting that energy and its respective uses ballooned. He unceremoniously dubbed the new source of energy "Synergy". Satomobile Industries turned out the modern car, vehicles with engines that ran purely on synergy. The airship turned into the first spaceship and simple railcars became bullet trains allowing for quick transportation around Republic City. Varrick would go on to design smaller versions of Kuvira's cannon, giving birth to the first man-portable plasma emitting weapon. However, not wanting to further upset the fragile balance of the spirit and physical worlds, he would eventually abandon these designs. It was in truth Korra's last request, her fear being that these innovations would be the fuel for the fires of another great war.
And so a century would pass and Korra's legend would come to a close. The spirit of the Avatar would reincarnate and unto the world would be birthed a new hero. At least at the time, that was the hope.
After ten years, The Great Panic began. A tumultuous and confusing time when the people of the world searched for the Avatar and found none. In this panic, the citizens of the world clung to a simple truth: the last Avatar to disappear was Aang and soon after his disappearance, an entire nation of Benders engulfed the world in a war a century long. Out of this truth was born a fear and from this fear, action. Conflict broke out among the Bending nations and their leaders began to butt heads in an attempt to discover the secrets the others were hiding. The Earth Kingdom received the worst of it as did its sister city Zaofu. The Avatar was, after all, in line to reincarnate as a native Earth bender. Small raids and infiltration by the other nations were constant, most of which served as taunts to lure the Earth Kingdom and her armies outside its impervious walls. Ba Sing Se began preparations to reply in kind. The Republic, formerly Republic City, had by now grown into its own nation of benders and non-benders alike. Concerned for their own safety, the President and his table of advisers moved to take action... and not just for themselves. Fearful that the entire world would not only submerge itself in another war but would also never be free of it, they agreed it necessary to eliminate the only viable threat. They believed strongly that Benders had been and always were the cause of all great conflicts past and present.
The Great War. A conflict that would be remembered by all. The Republic moved swiftly. Reviving old designs by the late Varrick, they began production on new and improved synergy weapons. Firearms made of platinum capable of emitting small sporadic beams of volatile spirit energy. They provided the most obvious of benefits: giving those without the gift to bend a way to fight back against Benders. Armed with both their new found technology and a thorough training in Chi Blocking, The Republic marched on Zoafu, their first target. The most prominent and powerful Earth benders resided in the city and as expected, the city proved the most difficult to occupy. However, fresh and in full force, their march was near unstoppable and the citizens of Zoafu found their power over earth and metal helpless against the weapons of the Republic. After its occupation, Zoafu was used as a base of operations for the Republic to wage their campaign against Ba Sing Se. Rallying the other nations to their cause was an easy task. They already believed the Earth Kingdom was hiding the new Avatar and their past with Republic City placed them at odds with everyone else.
The siege that followed was rather quick. Synergy cannons were used to punch large holes in the earthen walls while continuous assault from the air softened up defenses for those on the ground. From there, a combined assault comprised of Fire and Water nation and Republic forces stormed the capital. It was the first time in the history of the world that Ba Sing Se had been successfully invaded.
What followed in the wake of Ba Sing Se's conquest set the stage for the state of the world as it is now. While playing at searching for the Avatar, the Republic made preparations for the second phase of their war, with again, a little help from a long passed Varrick. With the only people capable of defending themselves against conventional firearms out of the way, the Republic turned their guns around to face the rest of the world and began the Great Cleanse. Bombs were dropped and millions were slaughtered. The Fire and Water nation were the first to go with their capitals reduced to dust. The Air temples and their people were similarly destroyed when their diplomacy helped only to postpone the inevitable. The Air nomads, still a budding nation, were once again chased into oblivion.
At the end of the war, the Republic made Ba Sing Se its permanent home and effectively the last city on Earth. The rest of the world lay beaten and scarred. A kind of synergy radiation blanketed much of the landscape around the former capitals of each nation and the war's effects on the world drained it of its vitality. Flora and fauna began to die out, soil became infertile and many sources of water were left undrinkable. Despite this, the Republic set to work rebuilding, erecting the walls it tore down and shutting their sins out with the world they destroyed. The nation grew once more, stronger now without the threat of the bender or another war.
Today the Republic stands alone in its strength and its people grow fat and happy. Or at least those of the Inner Ring do. Technology has continued to develop. Artificial intelligence exists. Wearable technology is widespread and prosthetic enhancement is available although still in its early stages and limited to those with power or those who are better connected in the Underground. The population continues to grow and most remain complacent in their perceived safety, content to live a life confined in walls and eat themselves full of whatever propaganda is fed to them. Others however suffer from a world whose resources cannot match the demand. There are more mouths to feed than there is food. Money is collected and kept in the gilded vaults of the central most ring, leaving the rest to vie for scraps or drown in destitution. Drug use, crime and death is rampant in the crowded and polluted streets of the Lower Ring and those seeking shelter beyond the walls are cut off from most infrastructures of support and are at the mercy of an angry, vengeful world.
Rule is held by one King Wu VI who is advised by a room of select individuals, and his word is enforced by the Republic Security Force. Bending continues to be outlawed and remains punishable by death to this day. The world outside the city remains a mystery to most. An unforgiving place rumored to be home to fiends or no longer habitable after the war. Other rumors persist of a place where Benders can live free. Far past the horizon in the distance. If a person could cross the barren deserts and brave the nightmares that call it home, they could find it. |
