Hundreds of Years Before the Birth of Avatar Aang...
Water.
Earth.
Fire.
Air.
For years, the four peoples have lived in harmony, balanced by the eye of the Avatar. But things are changing. Twenty years ago, Avatar Er passed away, assassinated by the cruel Earth warlord An, who has united the scattered Earth people for the first time in history. Our people awaited the return of the Avatar, but he never came. Many a brave man has gone in search of him or her, but those men often go missing, never to return. It seems as if someone wants the Avatar to stay hidden. Things must change, someone must find the Avatar and restore balance.
The world of Avatar has evolved over its long history, and in the early days of the Earth Kingdom, when few of the four nations have united, is far different from the times of Aang and Korra. The Air Nomads still wander among their many mountainous temples, but the men of the Fire Islands have yet to renounce their spirituality and take up their militant stance.
Above all, the world is a far less united and far more dangerous place, even the Avatar may find it difficult to ensure peace in such a turbulent time.
If the Avatar is to be found, there needs to be drive, determination, and the spirit to turn adversity into success.
But most of all, there needs to be hope.
The Four Peoples
The Fire Islands are a large archipelago of volcanic islands, extending from the far west towards the Earth Kingdom in the east. The Islands have a long history of conflict amongst the petty kingdoms that hold land there. There's a sharp division amongst the many people who live in the Fire Islands, and it is not uncommon to find those with ancestry from the Earth Kingdom in the far eastern islands, many of whom have paid tribute to powerful Earth warlords in the past.
Though their long history of conflict has divided them, the many petty kingdoms of the Fire Islands have forged a defensive alliance due to the growing power of Earth Warlord An, headed by the powerful Lord Jiang, the lord of most of the largest island. Despite this alliance of convenience, there is an aura of distrust amongst the Lords, and many worry that as soon as the Earth Warlord is defeated, the men of the Islands will be at each-other's throats once more.
Life in the islands is simple, most work as farmers for crops such as wheat or rice. Tea is a staple of Fire Islander cuisine, and tea houses offer many peasants the only amount of chatter and discussion that they will receive in their lives. Hot springs are common, heated by the volcanic activity that brings the Islands their shape. Honor and family are important values amongst Fire Islanders. Spirituality involves honoring the great dragons that gave the benders their skill, and the sun spirit, who gives them their strength.
The armies of the Fire Lordships are diverse in armament and tactics. The men in the far east dress in drab greens much like those of the Earth Kingdom and rely on defensive tactics, maintaining a location and not letting the enemy budge them. Meanwhile the troops of Lord Jiang clad themselves in black and fight aggressively, charging enemy formations to overwhelm them through sheer force. The Armies are built of professional soldiers, organized carefully and built to fight on even if the commander is slain.
The Air Temples of the Air Nomads are spread across the many mountains of the world, three placed upon islands and a fourth on the northern mountain range of the Earth Kingdom. (Not on the map but whatever). It is no coincidence that these mountain ranges are also home to the populations of Flying Bison, who live in the temples alongside the air nomads. The air nomads move from temple to temple based on the movements of their bison herds, who they rely on for food, companionship, and transport.
The Air Temples are unique in the fact that the majority of their population are benders. This is a necessity, as the Air Temples are constructed with benders in mind. It is not known how the Air Nomads ensure that every member of their temple is able to bend, and this is a mystery that they are unlikely to solve for anyone else.
The culture of the Air temple is based almost entirely upon spirit worship, companionship, and a tradition of passing wisdom onto the next generation.
The Air Nomads are staunchly neutral, staying out of all worldly affairs. However, there are some amongst the temples who fear aggression from outside sources. These hardliners have taken to improving the defenses of the air temples when able, and have begun to teach more violent airbending techniques. These hawks are heavily reprimanded if caught, and some are even exiled.
Conflict is anathema to the Air Nomads, but when forced to fight, they usually avoid attack and cause opponents to hurt themselves through skillful maneuver. When a master airbender lets loose however, the results are catastrophic. Tornadoes are the least of your worries; a group of master airbenders are capable of causing hurricanes, enough to completely obliterate an enemy force. They are best left alone, though some suggest they aren't as invincible as they seem.
The Water Tribes are a loosely organized people who live on the isolated continents to the extreme north and south. These lands are cold half of the year and frigid the other half. The men of these lands are tough and independent, but also quite united in their independence, no matter how oxymoronic that may sound.
The Water Tribes are ruled by a chief, who is chosen through an election by all members of the tribe. Criminals are brought into a circle amongst their family and the chief and his advisers, who discuss a constructive way to reintegrate the criminal back into society. This is a demonstration of the Water Tribes' values. Family is incredibly important in all aspects of Water Tribe life, no-one leaves their family by choice, only by necessity. Banishment is considered a fate worse than death, and is reserved for only the worst of the worst.
Perhaps the least admirable thing about the Water Tribes is the way they treat women. Women are married by their parents at the age of 16, and marriages of love are relegated to only exist in the more liberal Southern Water Tribe. Women are never trained in how to bend. This compared to the Fire Islands, who allow women to attain similar positions to that of men.
Militarily, all Water Tribe men are trained as warriors, meaning that at a moment's notice, the entire Tribe is able to mobilize to protect their lands. The Water Tribes' strength is their defensibility; holding the land of the Water Tribes is very hard even in the summer months due to the freezing cold and use of guerrilla tactics by the Tribes. The tribesmen also possess perhaps the greatest navy in the world, even the massive Earth Kingdom lacks their expertise. The Fire Islands ships may be better built, but the lack of unity means that in naval combat the Water Tribes are simply unbeatable.
Usually the Water Tribes maintain neutrality, but the death of Norther Water Tribe Avatar Er has brought a great amount of friction between them and the growing Earth Kingdom of Warlord An, and open war is a distinct possibility.
The largest continent in the world, the lands of Earth were always divided amongst generals and warlords, with the King of the ancient city of Ba Sing Se chief among them, though the Kingdom of Ba Sing Se was only one among many. Warlord An of Xi Shan was another of these many Kings, but through shrewd rulership, backstabbing of allies, and building of mercenary armies, he was able to become so powerful that no other warlord could challenge him. He proved unable to take Ba Sing Se in a siege, but was able to take it when challenged to a duel by the king. After An had defeated him, the King of Ba Sing Se gave up his city in exchange for keeping his title. An exiled him and his family soon after, and they now herd Flying Bison for the Air Nomads.
The men of the Earth kingdom are divided and of many cultures. Among all men of Earth, the values of steadfastness, loyalty, and stability are most valued. Men of the Earth Kingdom may seem rude at first, but bluntness is considered more valuable than dancing around an issue. Pretty much every man outside Ba Sing Se is either a farmer or working for their king in some manner. Young men go off to find a wife, then claim a farm of their own. Benders can find work building houses or simply build their own and continue their farming.
The military is often one of the few ways for Earth Kingdom men to make a name for themselves, and the army of Warlord An is the largest in the world. An's army is massive but unprofessional, far from the very professional Fire Islands armies. Most soldiers are part-time, and discipline is nonexistent. These armies are more than able to overwhelm through sheer numbers, and with the ambitious An at the head, many fear that his wrath will be unstoppable.
OOC Information
Rules
0. If there are any lore or rule disputes, the GM's word is final. 1. No metagaming, godmodding, etc. 2. No ERP. If it's *completely* necessary take it to PMs but we're RPing based on a family show so it really shouldn't be. 3. Don't be a dick OOC 4. Take personal squabbles somewhere else. 5. Post your CS in the OOC *first*. Do not post it in Char until it is accepted, and only then can you post IC. 6. Post at least once a week and warn me if you have to disappear for a bit. 7. No canon characters. It's hundreds of years prior to the show so no playing Aang or Zuko or anyone else who appears in either of the shows. 8. Read the wiki if you're not sure about something, and if that doesn't work, ask me. 9. In the spirit of the original show, try to keep things a little closer to PG than to R, there will be death, but please don't go around with characters slashing throats. 10. Keep your characters reasonable. Sure a firebender from the Air Nomads who can talk to animals is interesting, but it makes absolutely no sense. 11. Give us stuff to work off of when you post. Don't write a ten paragraph post about your character blowing his/her nose. 12. One character only.
[hider=CharacterName][center][h1][color=INSERTHERE]Character's Name[/color][/h1] [center][img]Image URL[/img][/center] or [color=INSERTHERE][b]Appearance:[/b][/color] if you'd rather use a description or can't find a good image.
[color=INSERTHERE][b]Age:[/b][/color] Teens to Twenties preferably
[color=INSERTHERE][b]Personality:[/b][/color] A few traits, likes, and dislikes, don't go super in depth, characters never end up like the original concept.
[color=INSERTHERE][b]Background:[/b][/color] A paragraph or more.
[color=INSERTHERE][b]Bending Ability:[/b][/color] Which of the four and skill level. If non-bender switch this to skill and describe what they're strongest in.
[color=INSERTHERE][b]Other:[/b][/color] Weapons, inventory, other skills, quirks, basically any extra information that you haven't put above.
[color=INSERT HERE][b]Sample Post:[/b][/color] A good length post. I'm not asking for something huge, at least 4000 chars should be more than enough[/hider]
Background: Chuntao was born and raised in the Air Nation with her mother and father. When she was a child, she use to have problems with airbending during her training and she doesn't know why, she think it because she doesn't think straight or she not moving right but no matter how hard she try, she can't bend.
Until one day while she was outside bore of her mind, she thought it would be fun to a little dance and her fans. While she dancing, she saw some little lefts move a little, she thought it was just the wind but when she kept dancing with her fans, the lefts move when she moves and it was that moment she realized she can only airbend with her two fans.
Even tho she can only airbend with her fan, she was overjoy that she can airbend. She hope that someday someone will notice her gift and try to be the best airbender she can.
Bending Ability: Airbending.
Other: her weapons are a pair of fans
Sample Post: A good length post. I'm not asking for something huge, at least 4000 chars should be more than enough
@Bluetommy Tell me what you think. I worked off what we discussed.
Anitelu
"The water rises from the land, fills the skies, and falls to the sea. This is the pulse of the world. The flow of it. All we are is but ripples in this flow."
Age: 19
Personality: Anitelu is, like most of his tribe, pacifist and calm. In fact, his willingness to leave the tribe and travel marks him as a hothead by their standards.
Background: Though considered part of the Southern tribe, Anitelu and his people have moved north, settling in the spiritual oasis of the Foggy Swamp. Anitelu was born in the clay town on the western coast of the Earth Kingdom, eldest son to a young couple. His father was a bending instructor, and so "Ani", as he was known, was taught the tribe's unique form of plantbending from an early age. No prodigy, he nevertheless earned a fair amount of respect among his age group. Now grown, he assists his father in instruction, while regularly meditating on the nature of water and its passage through the environment. Anitelu's mother has also decided it's high time he choose a bride, and has pestered him about it incessantly; at least once a week. Being sent by the elders to find evidence of the new Avatar has provided a welcome relief from these domestic matters.
Bending Ability: Waterbending. Anitelu has mastered the skill of bending plants, like most of his tribe. He is unskilled with any form of waterbending that involves ice.
Other: Anitelu shares the ability to sense plants, animals and people around him through the water in their bodies with most of his tribe. Other than that, he carries a whalebone machete, wooden boomerang, and a waterskin; common bender equipment for his tribe and their Southern relatives. He also carries a meditation blindfold woven from the plants of his home.
Sample Post: The water was transparent, but shallow, in the mangroves at the edge of the Foggy Swamp. Despite its name, the day was bright and clear. Not that this mattered to Anitelu at the moment, who had blindfolded himself. Without sight, the movement of water through the world was much clearer. He was equally capable of feeling the wind as an Air Nomad, so long as it was this humid and close to the sea. A frog squirrel climbed the tree behind him. The roots and branches of the tree defined the room, and Anitelu reached out to pull the water from the ground beneath him, hardening the mud to solid clay, and he went through the 15th form.
"Brother," Latai, his youngest sister, flinched as the water under Anitelu's control stopped close enough that her breath caused ripples on its surface. He had 'seen' her coming, of course. Few benders in his tribe could be surprised successfully. "Father said the elders have called you." Latai had taken a step back. He turned to face her, calling the water back to him. He let it splatter on the ground, rejoining the mud. "You shouldn't wear that thing. It looks weird."
Laughing, Anitelu walked forward, ruffling her hair affectionately. "A master can see without his eyes, sister." He made no effort to remove the blindfold, following her back to their house. Baked clay, it had little water in it. He had to rely on his hands to find the door. Only when he was inside, the gentle chatter of his family around him, did he take off the cloth and let himself see. The living area was crowded, but he had little time to greet everyone. His meeting with the elders was soon. His father passed a bowl to him, and Anitelu had just enough time to greet his mother before he and his father left.
"What do the elders want, Father?" He couldn't contain that one bit of curiosity, no matter the composure he was expected to have. The river boat was different to that of the seagoing boats the traders used; flat with a wide bottom and a pointed bow. They weighted their luggage in the middle, Anitelu at the front and his father steering at the back.
His father sighed, his wrinkles deepening slightly as he frowned. "They sense something amiss. That's all they would tell me." No amount of meditation was needed for Anitelu to pick up on his father's anxiety, and as he swung his arms to get the boat moving, he couldn't help but mirror his father's frown.
There was only one place they were going; the centre of the swamp. The Banyan Grove tree, on whose roots only the elders were permitted to meditate. From there, it was said, they could see the whole world. Their warnings had saved the tribe from ignorant earthbenders many times. Was there to be another attack? Or worse, had something happened to their sister tribes?
Personality: Joyous, aloof, melancholic. He is a slow speaker and enjoys nature; food is his greatest vice, his favorite meal is lobster crab stir fry. He can be defiant and is suspicious of most authority.
Background: Born to a village of farmers along the coastal tip of the Earth Kingdom's borders, Budo grew up aiding his elderly randparents and his two siblings on the farm. From an early age, Budo worked well with scythe and sickle and was an apt hunter of all manner of game thanks to his unusual height, weight, and strength. For much of his youth, Budo's life was mundane--until he discovered his ability to bend. Once his grandparents discovered his talents, they enlisted Budo in warlord An's army. After some time, Budo found himself disillusioned with the regimented life of military life and thus deserted. He has spent his recent years trying to avoid capture and raise enough money to leave the Earth Kingdom completely.
Bending Ability: He is a learned Earthbender, able to perform all basic techniques; his style of bending is sluggish and powerful but lacks the speed and fluidity of some of his fellow benders. He prefers to plant himself and makes use of a mixture of Muay Thai and Huang Gar kinetic motions when bending.
Other: Carries a fishing pole, scythe, and a metal pot for cooking. He is a skilled cook, hunter, and his massive build makes him a devastating bender when he is rooted.
Appearance: Xiuying's decision to rebel against societal norms reflects strongly in her physical appearance. She has short, messy chestnut hair that frames her light brown eyes. A small, barely visible scar runs across the left side of her mouth from an accident with some farm animals early in her life. Her nose curls up and comes to a slight point.
Her smaller figure is neatly contained in a skin-tight, sleeveless neutral green top that extends to roughly mid-thigh. A thin, leather belt wraps around her midriff. Her arms are covered in off-white wraps, giving her the appearance of a fighter. She wears simple, brown leather boots along with equally plain pants that allow for plenty of mobility when required.
Age: 17
Personality: Xiuying is headstrong and determined, perhaps a little too much so. She can be quite stubborn, and doesn't stop at a simple "no". Growing up in such a small community, she didn't get much social interaction beyond her own family. She tends to lack a filter when speaking, opting instead to say exactly what is on her mind instead of holding back.
Background: Xiuying lived a modest life in a rural village, where her priorities were nothing more than tending to the farm animals, and ensuring dinner was cooked in time for her brothers. It was quite pleasant, albeit incredibly monotonous. Nothing ever happened on their little farm. One day, several members of Warlord An's army came seeking willing soldiers to join their ever-growing army.
Xiuying's four brothers all shipped off that day, seeking glory and honor among the ranks of the army. They were all talented benders, as that was their favorite past-time when they weren't doing chores around the farm. They'd have miniature bending wars, simulating war grounds in their own backyard. Xiuying longed to join them, to show them what she was capable of. They always came up with excuses as to why she couldn't join, ranging from "Teams won't be even" to "You're a girl, you'll get hurt."
Xiuying took their rejection and fueled her desire to be a great bender. She would show them one day just how great she could be. Her only goal in life is to become the greatest Earthbender to have walked the earth. Xiuying knew that she couldn't improve her skills if she were stuck on some dinky farm. She snuck away in the night and headed for Ba Sing Se, where she hoped to find someone willing to teach and train her in the art of Earthbending.
Bending Ability: Novice Earthbender. Xiuying has only picked up rough techniques here and there as she observed her brothers, and even then, her technique is quite sloppy.
Other: Xiuying carries a small satchel that holds the only the essentials. Traveling food, money, etc. She has left everything else behind in favor of starting fresh. She is incredibly comfortable around animals, and has often chosen the company of animals over humans because she feels as if they understand her, despite not being able to talk.
Sample Post: Xiuying stood atop a hill, far enough away from her brothers down below that she could just barely make out what they were saying. It was the usual talk of their next adventure. They were discussing teams, how they would modify the combat this time, and so on. Xiuying wondered why they had to have such specific rules when it came to their play-battles. If she were in their position, all she would care about is throwing rocks at each other. That's all Earthbending was after all, right?
That's what it was to her, at least.
Xiuying followed behind her brothers, making sure to move with finesse and avoid stepping on dead branches or leaves. She was surprisingly quiet, which made it that much easier to stalk her prey. As they split up to find their starting positions, Xiuying knew that the time to strike was now. She readied herself, planted her feet, and began her onslaught of rocks. One after another, she fired big ones, small ones, any thing and every thing she could.
The first wave of rocks connected. Her brothers collapsed for only a brief second as they took no time at all to locate the source of their ambush. Unfortunately, Xiuying hadn't planned this far. Her brothers immediately darted after her, intent on getting their revenge. The tables had turned, as Xiuying wove her way through the rainfall of rocks. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her and then some, as she used the earth to push herself, allowing her to take longer strides and cover a much larger distance before her brothers inevitably caught up to her.
In a feeble attempt of defense, Xiuying encased herself in a thick wall of rock. Of course, her brothers could simply bend the rock out of the way, as they were stronger and more competent benders than Xiuying was. They trapped her feet, not allowing her any escape now.
"Ying, the battlefield is no place for a girl. Let alone one that is so incompetent at bending. Go do your chores. The hopping llamas still need to be fed," he brother, Mao said.
Xiuying unshackled herself and sulked away from her brothers. She dejectedly began the trek back to their farm, where she would hear the same thing her brother had just told her. But it wasn't fair. Why do her brothers get to have all the fun and learn how to be incredibly earthbenders while she is stuck tending to the animals? She was just as capable as them, and she knew it. Just because she was a girl didn't mean she lacked talent. She just had to practice and train, then she would show them what she is really capable of.
@Hydrophobe "her skin-tight pants and arm-wraps give her the appearance of a fig"
If you say so.
This sheet needs a bit of a clean-up, but I do like what I see.
Ah, I had cut a portion of the appearance just before posting it to rewrite it and left that first paragraph on accident. I mean, figs are cool? I'll fix it up.
- Dislikes - Unneeded violence Rudeness People who don't take her seriously Those who disrespect the spirits
Background: Born in the Northern Water Tribe, Nadia was taught from a young age that balance meant everything. Whether it was the sun and rain coming together to bring life to plants, or light and darkness both being needed in the world, balance was necessary. Of course, as she grew older, what her elders had meant was 'know your place'. For as long as she could remember, the old ways were what governed their tribe, where everyone had their duty to fulfill and that was the end of it. There was no going outside of the elders' wishes, what was planned for your future was set in stone if they so willed it.
And for a long time, Nadia accepted it.
Of course, things would change. It wasn't until a journey outside of the tribe that she got to see the world with her own eyes. But before she could fully explore, she would get whisked away back to the safety of the walls she had grown up surrounded by. Those same walls soon became a glided cage as she quickly realized the tensions between the Northern Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom grew, and yet nothing was done. The Tribe was convinced they were safe, but Nadia felt that even with that, what of the rest of the world? For a tribe that preached about balance, they were so self-absorbed that they wouldn't admit that things were wrong.
And with that, Nadia decided she would seek out the Avatar--the only one she believed could take on An-- herself.
Bending Ability: As a waterbender from the Northern Tribe, Nadia is a skilled healer. However, she has no experience using her skills offensively, as teaching women martial bending is outlawed. Whatever she does know is purely self-taught, though turning water into ice and vice versa is child's play to her as she used to help maintain the buildings in the tribe.
Other: Carries a water skin that has a sewn on pocket around her waist, along with water it holds her currency and betrothal necklace. She also carries a small journal, often writing her adventures in it.
Sample Post:
The pier was mostly empty, with very few people giving her even a passing glance, but for once it was to Nadia's benefit. With bag in hand, she made her way to the end, spotting the small canoe that was promised to her. Taking in a deep breath, she approached it cautiously, constantly looking around. No, she needed to relax a little, she was going to look suspicious at this rate. The canoe was empty, and as she would place her bag down, the crunching of the snow alerted her that someone was approaching.
Expecting the worst, she immediately froze in place, but as she turned, she was only met with concerned eyes. A girl of similar height approached her dock, stopping at the small steps. Her hair was parted into numerous braids, all ending with small, golden beads. Her blue eyes were illuminated by the moonlight, arms crossed with her violet jacket keeping her warm. "Did you think I was your father?" The gentle girl asked, shaking her head, the beads in her hair clinking against one another quietly. "Though, with how you kept looking this way and that, I was sure you were expecting some sort of sea monster."
Letting out a breath of relief, Nadia nodded at her as she met her eyes. "Miakoda...I thought you didn't approve of my departure?" She asked, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm only here to put in my last shot at getting you to stay," She replied, frowning slightly. "I'm begging you, reconsider. This is a fool's errand, don't you see?"
"What would you have me do instead? Remain imprisoned where there is nothing I can do for anyone?" How many times were they going to have this conversation? Taking in a deep breath, Nadia tried to sympathize. There was little understanding between them, and Nadia wasn't going to change her mind now. She couldn't. "You may not want to admit it, but I know you agree that something must be done."
"And you would chase the hope of finding a single person in the entire world?" Miakoda kept her voice quiet, but her distress was imminent as she descended the steps. "Warlord An is relentless, I'm more than certain the Avatar is well-kept in a dungeon. Your search will be in vain!"
"Then that is where I'll go," Nadia insisted, staying strong to her devotion. "Our world is not the only one in danger without the Avatar. I must do what I can with the moon guiding me."
At this point, Miakoda would become frustrated with Nadia, though she managed to contain herself. "How can you be so certain you'll even be able to?" She asked, walking up to her. "I don't understand you."
She wasn't certain. "I have to try. Right?"
Miakoda never imagined that Nadia would throw her own words back at her. The girl's eyes watered, but she refused to let the tears flow. Instead, she would take Nadia's hands in hers. The two stood in silence, a single moment of clarity between the two. No matter how much reasoning she had, she would not convince her. The realization hit the girl hard, her hands shaking against her will.
"I understand your concern, but something must be done. I must do whatever it takes to spare our people war," Nadia admitted quietly.
It seemed that finally Miakoda would admit defeat, pulling herself away from Nadia. "Come back soon, okay?" She said, clasping her hands together.
Nodding, Nadia would hop onto the canoe, kneeling down and sitting on her feet. Bringing her arms up, she began to slowly bend the water around the canoe, propelling herself gently through the water. She looked back at Miakoda, who gave her a small wave, and with renewed confidence, Nadia continued forward into the night.
Addendum: In the culture of the Sandbending tribes, it's a sign of great trust, to expose one's face and hair, towards other people. Mostly done only towards family or the own tribe. A tradition hailing both from the biting sun and the necessary habit of raiding and stealing from each other. This tradition has not helped, with the perception that all Si-Wong nomads are thieves, robbers or cactus juice peddlers.
Age:
18
Personality:
Sha-Kush holds onto a proud sense of duty, honor and obligation towards his people ways and traditions. Raised by the desert almost as much as by his parents, he still harbors a lot of quirks and behavior that may seem strange towards people who never have set a foot into the Si-Wong desert, yet are as natural as breathing for the nomads. Growing up as the wise elder brother, or at least striving to be one, many of these behavior still can be found in him, guiding and teaching, yet also rather quick to challenge others position of leadership, and a slight feeling of superiority.
Background:
Born into one of the countless tribes of the nomads of the great Si Wong Desert, Sah-Kush was a member of the Urush-Lee people, hailing from a family of minor chief of a band of Sand-Sailors. Living off the harsh desert, like their people always had, sailing its mighty dunes using their bending abilities, from water-source to water-source, always vigilant for easy prey or rival raids.
His father, Chief Osh, had from an early age attempted to make a leader and potential heir out of him, and would strictly, yet lovingly train him in the ways of his people, the traditional way of Si-Wong sandbending, the history of their people and the code of honor of the desert. With multiple siblings being born, Sha early took an role to raise and guide them as well, trying to share the knowledge his father had educated with him.
It was at this time, with a Warlord rising in the green land beyond the Si Wong desert, that even the nomads would no longer be able to ignore the tides of war. Supply caravans, filled with valuables like steel, food and weapons made for opportune targets for daring tribes of desert nomads. With Shas father advising for caution in such raids, other tribes took full advantage of the situation. Knowing fully well, that neutrality was no longer an option, Osh rallied his tribe to the Warlords banner, declaring allegiance to his cause under the hope, that it would keep the war out of the desert.
Soon, Sha would get his first taste of battle, as he had to fight against his own people under his fathers leadership. True to the way of his people, they would hit fast with their Sand-Sailors, strike hard and quickly, before retreating back into the sea of dunes. Raising their cups of water in the Warlords name, the highest honor the people of the desert could grant, Sha began to feel a sense of duty, for the man he fought for and before long, would join his father onto his first expedition outside of the desert, into the land of green, he had heard so many stories about.
Years passed, and Sha grew up as his fathers right hand, fighting with his tribe, his friends and his brothers for the great Warlord. Great glory was won in the subjugation of the South, and Osh was soon declared "Warchief of the Desert", bowing only to the great Warlord himself. Yet, Osh was still a father, rather then a tyrant, and he lacked the iron fist that the the Warlord An so valued in his subject. Disgruntled in Osh "weakness", he soon would find a chance to see them replaced!
The chance came with the vile tribe of the Zeng-Wu, brutal raiders and cunning barbarians. Envious, over the favor of the Warlord, the Urush-Lee held, they ambushed them during a feast, they had been invited to. Their camp looted, their Sand-Sailors crushed and with many killed, the Urush-lee were beaten to the edge of extinction. Yet the final insult came, when the great Warlord, whom Osh and his people had served so long and faithful, declared the Zeng-Wu as the new tribe in his favor, and their Chief, the cruel Teng, the Warchief of the Si-Wong Desert.
With his father crippled from the attack, and his people broken from the shame they had endured, Sha left his Brothers in charge, before traveling to the Si-Wong rock. There he swore, that he would sate this shameful betrayal, both from the Warlord and the Zeng-Wu!
Bending Ability:
Sha-Kush is an skillful sandbender, able to harness his abilities in combat. Yet, he does not sees himself as an earthbender, struggling to learn even the most mundane techniques, using any earth that is not sand.
Other:
Followed around by his loyal deer-dog Bo, Sha-Kush also carry with him a slim and hollow Kanabō, the traditional weapon of the desert nomads, filled with sand from around the holy Si-Wong rock. He also carries additional sand in his bandolier around his chest, both for combat and religious reasons. For the latter, he also carries a bottle of cactus juice with him.
Sample Post: An oath in a sandstorm
The air felt stale around Sha-Kush, as he saw the rock in the morning. The most sacred place of his people, the single titanic rock in the desert, was claimed to be cast down the sky, by wrathful gods, to punish the wicked for turning from them, creating this very desert. It was a beautiful sight, yet for the foolish, it could be a deadly trap.
Buzzard wasp, staved for food, would sometimes attack even humans and when they did, even a skilled sandbender would be pushed to his limits, trying to ward off the waves of scavengers. Yet, if one knew how to approach, not waking their deep slumber with loud noises, one could easily access the rock, without fear nor danger.
Climbing off his sand-sailor, Sha-Kush finally once more felt sand back under his feet, feeling the countless little rocks beneath him. It was so different from standing on wood, dead and silent. Each rock below him had been in this desert since the days of his great-grandfather, traveling with the wind, roaming the dunes just like the nomads did.
With the great Rock in the distance, Sha-Kush took a knee, before taking a hand of sand, letting the grains flow over his skin, before finally letting fall back onto the ground. His heart was pumping faster and he could feel his hands shiver, once more remembering that he would have to leave this sacred desert.
"I am Sha-Kush! Son of Osh, grandson of Ikko. I am here, to proclaim an oath on the sacred Stone, you have cast down to punish us!" For a moment, there was silence, and a cold hand of doubt layed down onto the nomads shoulders. What had he expected? A Spirit to come down as a witness? Something to give him a justification that he was doing the right, and not venture out on an fools errant, while leaving his tribe in their hour of need?
Then a wind rose, growing stronger and stronger by the moment. Sha-Kush could hear the Sand-Sailor behind him cracking, the wind slowly tossing sand against the dried wood. The Wind would not fade, only growing stronger and stronger. The Nomad had to push his scarf higher, as the sand began to flow around him, tearing and wrathful. It was then, that he realized, that the wind came from the Si Wong Rock!
"I swear on the Water that i have drank, on the Water that my Father drank and on the Water that my Grandfather drank! I swear on the Sand i walk and on the Sun and Moon above!" By now, Sha-Kush had fallen on his knees, the Rock fading from his vision, as the storm of sand was all around him. Biting on his teeth, the nomads smashed his fists into the ground, feeling the sand below him creep up his hands and knees, stabilizing him in the middle storm. His breath began to fade from his lungs, and each second felt harder then the next.
"I...proclaim....that.." He had to reach deeper and deeper below him, turning the sand into a solid foundation to kneel on. His lungs now were burning, and everything inside him screamed at him to let go, seek shelter and outlast the storm anywhere but out here. "..that we have been betrayed and shamed by the Zeng-Wu and the great Warlod.." The wind was tearing on his scarf, and razor sharp sand cut into the fabric and the few inches of exposed skin. A numb feeling overcame the sandbenders body, as he could feel the darkness creep onto him. He was fully exaughted, gasping for air and close to passing out. "A...and...and...AND THAT I WILL WIPE OUT THIS DISHONOR!" Letting go of the ground, the wind blew off his scarf, and the storm hit him like a fist. Then there silence again.
The storm faded away in an heartbeat. Sha-Kush fell over, gasping as he pulled aside his scarf, his lungs screaming for sweet air. He did not knew how long he just lay there, glaring at the blue sky, still feeling the sand on his face, the roaring of the storm still fresh in his ears. Some cynical souls would say that it had been just a Sandstorm, catching him at the right time, yet for Sha-Kush, its was obviously a sign of the spirits of the desert! His oath had been witness, and there was no turning back now!
