[OOC] Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

A N N O U N C E M E N T S

July 19th
_{- OOC has been launched!}

[Sep]

A V A T A R:

T H E F A L L O F S I W O N G C I T Y

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Story Prelude

In the generations after Avatar Wan closed the spirit portals humanity has flourished and prospered as they spread throughout the world. Nations have come and gone as humanity has warred between themselves, the Avatar always resurfacing to bring about peace, balance, and harmony. The last great Avatar was the mighty Si Wong, who brought an end to the warring Earth Kingdom and Fire Island raiders forming a great city in the desert of her namesake, which has since been named for her, a place where peoples from all walks of life, and all cultures can come together in peace and prosperity. Since then it has grown into a mighty city, capable of rivaling the great Ba Sing Se.

As Si Wong died while stopping the Dark Spirit Hēi'àn her death was mourned, as agents from the city began scouring for the next Avatar. They were never found. Nearly seventy years later some believe that the Avatar cycle was broken and that the Avatar will never return to the physical world. The world continues, as nations scheme and plot. The Earth Kings eyes upon the great city of Si Wong, while spirits have been seen returning to the physical world in places where humanity has tainted the surface of the planet. Many fear what is coming to pass, and yet there is a glimmer of hope.

The Avatar has returned.

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Out of Character Information

This Roleplay is set centuries before the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Based around the city of Si Wong within the Si Wong Desert it deals with the return of the Avatar after the last one died, and the next one in the cycle was never seen or heard from. This is the story of the return and their battle with dark spirits and movements from the other Nations as individuals all over the world aim to expand their power and territory.

A player will be chosen from those willing to become the Avatar, and this player will be at the very center of the major plotlines that I put forward for the players however everyone is an important member of the cast. I will stress however that this is Open-World. You can go wherever you wish, and interact with whatever you want and even enjoy your own storylines however I'll be watching, always watching and you never know what will happen next.

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Nations/Peoples

Fire Nation

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.

Earth Kingdom

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.

Air Nomads

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.

Water Tribes

Northern Water Tribe

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.

Southern Water Tribe

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.

Foggy Swamp Tribe

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

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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Bending

^{"Fire is the element of power."}

Fire is the element of power, consisting of overpowering force tempered by the unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires. Unlike other forms elemental bending it does not require a present source of the element, and instead, Firebenders can manipulate their own Chi in order to create fire. Firebenders do not have any real defensive movements, and instead, repurpose offensive tactics in order to defend themselves. These can be as simple as quick jabs in order to parry incoming projectiles or to create walls of fire to prevent the enemy attacks.

Those within the various warring states within the fire isles have found that rage and anger can help power their bending, this newfound ideology has brought about the rise in various warlords throughout the Fire Isles.

Certain firebenders are able to generate and manipulate lightning by separating the yin and yang energies, this then creates an imbalance which the universe tries to restore allowing the user to channel lightning. This unique ability is considered a myth, with only certain masters and prodigies able to conjure lightning.

Combustionbending is an equally as rare ability, it requires a bender to focus their chi up through their body and out of their forehead. The resulting explosion is effective at both close and long-range. Most combustion benders have a tattoo on their forehead in order to assist them in focusing their chi. It is extremely dangerous however if anything blocks the flow of chi it can backfire.

"Air is the element of freedom."

Air is the element of freedom. The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly problems and concerns; finding peace and freedom was the key to solving their difficulties in life. Airbenders continually sought spiritual enlightenment, and, as a result, all children born into the Air Nomads were benders. The first airbenders learned their art from the flying bison.

The key to airbending is flexibility and finding and following the path of least resistance. Airbending is notable for being almost purely defensive, as well as the most dynamic of the four bending arts. Airbenders can overwhelm many opponents at once with large and powerful attacks that could prove fatal; however, due to the pacifist nature of the Air Nomads, such attacks are rarely used. Instead, an Airbender strives to use the opponents' energy against them. Due to their aforementioned spirituality, they often adapt to the situation surrounding them and employ negative jing, preferring evasive maneuvers as opposed to direct confrontation.

Airbenders are typically more in tune with the spirit world, and even have the opportunity to project their spirit through the physical world through the use of advanced airbending techniques.

"Water is the element of change."

Water is the element of change. The moon is the source of power in waterbending, and the original waterbenders learned to bend by observing how the moon pushed and pulled the tides. The Water Tribes are the only people who did not learn to bend from an animal, though the Moon and Ocean Spirits took the form of koi fish in the mortal world near the beginning of the Avatar world.

The fighting style of waterbending is mostly fluid and graceful, acting in concert with the environment. Foggy Swamp style waterbending, however, is more rigid and straight. Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy; they let their defense become their offense, turning their opponents' own forces against them. Even when waterbenders do take an attack stance, their moves always appear to flow from one to the other.

Waterbenders also have the unique ability to heal, they use water as a way to connect to the chi of a body redirecting the energy in order to accelerate the natural healing off the body.

"Earth is the element of substance."

Earth is the element of substance, while the people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse, strong, and enduring

The key to earthbending is utilizing neutral jing, which involves waiting and listening for the right moment to strike and, when that moment comes, acting decisively. In other words, earthbenders generally endure their enemies' attacks until the right opportunity to counterattack reveals itself. Earthbending differs from the other bending arts in that it maintains a distinct balance between offensive and defensive capabilities, though waterbending involves a more refined version by channeling defense into offense. Earthbending uses a balance of strength and defense to overwhelm opponents.

Sandbending is an alternate earthbending style that has been adapted for use in the Si Wong Desert by the people that live there. They move quickly in the desert on specialized wooden sailers that are propelled by bending miniature, localized sandstorms behind their sails. Because sand is sediment which travels inflows, their style resembles air and waterbending more than earthbending. It is implied that most, if not all, earthbenders are capable of easily bending sand, but because of the loose shifty nature of sand, it is not an easy transition for the average earthbender.

Lavabending is a specialized sub-skill of earthbending that allows the user to manipulate molten earth. This rare ability allows the bender to phase-change earth into lava, lava into earth, and otherwise manipulate existing lava with great dexterity.

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Character Sheets

Please note when applying, your sheet should reflect the position of your character and the proficiency of their bending. If your character is a master bender then I need suitable evidence to support this. People in positions of power. Governors/Princes/Monks/Princesses/Spirit Guides need detailed sheets as these are people who have influence over others.

[center][img]CHARACTER PORTRAIT IF APPLICABLE[/img]
[h3][b]C H A R A C T E R N A M E[/b][/h3]
[sub]'Iroh level quote'[/sub][/center]

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[b]Character Age:[/b] Self Explanatory
[b]Character Gender:[/b] Self Explanatory
[b]Character Race:[/b] Water Tribe/Earth Kingdom/Fire Nation/ Air Nomad
[b]Bending:[/b] Whether or not they have bending, and if they do how proficient they are.
[b]Skills:[/b] Other than Bending, what skills should we take note of?
[b]Weaknesses:[/b] Not everyone is great at anything, what are their shortcomings?
[b]Posessions:[/b] Do they own anything of note?
[b]Biography:[/b] Where did they come from? What made them who they are?
[b]Supporting Cast:[/b] Are there any NPCs of note in their story? If so fill out their details here!

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Rules

^{These may seem strict, but honestly, I'm here to make sure we all have fun.}
1. While I am willing to consult on ideas/concepts I'm the GM and will always go with what I think is best for the game and its longevity.
2. Characters can die, accept that if you do something stupid you may not survive it. I work on a 3 strike rule. You get yourself into a deadly situation your character cannot survive, I will give you two possible outs.
3. Player drops will initially become NPCs, allowing the player time to send me a PM (which can be a simple as RL stuff going on). Those chars will be spared, others not so much.
4. This is Fantasy, but we're keeping a foot in the door of reality.
5. Romance is okay, but if it goes beyond a kiss take it to PM or off guild (Guild rules)
6. Putting this in casual, I don't expect super long posts but please do your best for quality. I believe in you all.
7. No Super Long Collabs. It's hard to deal with someone who drops in a collab, keep them short so if need be I can offer GM interference or someone can interrupt. If something big happens I.E. your dragon escapes and tears through the city, post as no doubt someone else would notice that.
8. I shouldn't need to say this, but no metagaming, powergaming, godmodding, mary/Gary-sueing, or anything silly like that.
9. Have fun.
10. Do stupid shit? Expect consequences.
11. One character, to begin with, you can only get more if you prove you can handle it.
12. The turnover for posts is once every two weeks. If you do not post within this time without giving an acceptable reason to one of the three GMs the story will move on. Your character will be removed from the roster and turned into an NPC/killed off.

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The OOC is subject to change as things shift and move on. Please feel free to ask any questions.

[Floch]

Sun Ye

SUN YE

_{'Fire is life and death — in between there's balance, so when life gets hard, you just need to iron your resolve to reach the finish line!}

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

Sun Ye possessed raw talent in firebending since 7-years old, when she mimicked her father's stances and accidentally formed a small crater in the ground. From that time until now, she's been sharpening her flame control through breathing methods and religiously upkeeping the Sun Warrior Tribe philosophy; "Fire is life". She also incorporated dancing and defensive maneuvers in her style and dragon fire comprised of green, white and yellow for entertainment display.

Skills:

Sun Ye's a naturally gifted dancer and trickster whose acrobatic moves fluidly shape firebending harmony and fire feints. Unlike Firebenders who thrive in a negative spectrum of emotions, Sun Ye thrives in the Sun Warrior philosophy, she fights with non-aggression finesse by redirecting flames and using her enemy's strength against them. When pushed to her limit, she's not afraid to act with aggression. She also uses the colors of her dragon fire to intimidate, outside of firebending, she's a versed combatant with more dancing and a fine Archer.

Weaknesses:

Drive — The bane of Firebenders like Sun Ye is their lack of drive and when they lose it, their fire becomes weak and stale. This also attributes to the moods that Sun Ye is feeling.

Impatient — Despite her training in patience, Sun Ye is not naturally patient. To her patience isn't virtue but a skill, Sun Ye is prone to stupid moves that may put her in unwanted situations and because she's daring to prove herself, it only make things worse.

People Pleaser — Sun Ye is still a young girl whose discovering her position in the world. She goes hard to preach within her country about enlightenment and how far is life. Apart from this practice, she's such a show off with her flashy fireworks display and at the wrong hands, she could be taken advantage of.

Emotional Outbursts — Sun Ye is emotionally sensitive, often times considering herself to have too much empathy. She's only too sensitive against people who break her trust, making her cynical and callous.

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

Biography:

Due to warring, Sun Ye was born to one of the Sun Villages who isolated themselves from the rest of the Fire Islands populace. She's the daughter and firstborn of the Sun Warrior Chief Khan Ye and Sun Mi, though born with a weak constitution, her parents sought the Fire Guru in their tribe to keep her alive. The tribe placed the infant Sun Ye in the altar and prayed to a Dragon Spirit which revitalized her body.

Since then Sun Ye have a close and loving relationship with the dragons, giving them the same affection like her kind. Sun Ye exhibited firebending at 4-years old and the natural gift of dancing, by the time she was 7-years old she mimicked her father's stances and accidentally formed a crater in the ground. This indicated her raw talent and potential in firebending, as her father, Khan Ye knew that her uncontrolled flames would result to danger without guidance, Sun Ye was given intensive training in flame control. The training was all about technique precision, restraint, and breath methods which Sun Ye had difficulty honing. Nevertheless, Sun Ye rigorously trained to perfect her firebending through a series of dances, accompanied by the dragons and her tribe, she found it boring and lifeless at first and yearned to see if other side was greener.

Beyond her firebending training, she's trained in archery, hand to hand combat, and Sun Warrior discipline. In down times, her parents always told her how the outside world was a dangerous place while Sun Ye thought different and gaining more curiosity each time she listened to their stories. It was a game of risk and reward yet it was familial love, her father agrees to tell her more stories about the outside world if she continually show better firebending, she had doubts but decided to try than nothing at all.

Each encounter proved to be a strong motivator for Sun Ye and in return this allowed her to feel that fire is more than raw emotion and ambition. Each encounter drew her closer to the true essence of firebending and the love of her family and people. Dancing with the dragons and expressing herself through dancing with her people, it was as if fire lives within her like a sun, and over the years she earned few colors of Dragon Fire, white, green and yellow.

Fire was more than life, it was enlightenment, it was fun, it was pleasure, and above all, it was love...

Her parents, grandparents, great grandparents and tribe would enlighten Sun Ye about their lives and how the Fire Islands lacked war. She took in heart that she would go out and see the world one day and enlighten the people about how fire's all about, like the sun inside her that makes her heart, beat.

After honing her skills and deeply rooted to Sun Warrior philosophy, Sun Ye peacefully left her family at 16-years old to see the outside world. Her father and the Fire Guru told her that her firebending training doesn't stop where she's at and was bound to learn more and draw wisdom in her journey. They gave her a teacup set to remember them by and drink tea to have on open mind and clear spirit as well as to remember to never forget who she was.

Sun Ye had been travelling for almost a year as a solo performer, enlightening people with her dance.

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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[Athanasius]

Daisuke Sato

_{’They look at us and see disparate islands, and so they do not fear us. I see a singular people, that, if united, could make the world quake’}

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Character Age: 28

Character Gender: Male

Character Race: Fire Nation

Bending: Fire Bender, skilled but not a master.

Skills: Daisuke is a leader of men, a visionary, and he has never struggled to bring people to his chosen cause. He has been described by his superiors as a brilliant tactician and strategist, accomplishing missions with minimal casualties while exceeding operational expectations. He is a trained killer, and he excels at leading others of the same breed.

Weaknesses: Like any man who finds success at a young age, his arrogance is untempered by age, and it shows. Oftentimes Daisuke has hindered his advancement due to an inability to come under leadership he doesn’t respect. Most recently said arrogance lead him into rash action in the field, and while his company accomplished their mission there were significant casualties.

Beyond his personality Daisuke self-medicates his extreme stress with alcohol, while, in the past, he could play it off as enjoying a drink after a hard day, he now always keeps liquor on his person. Slowly but surely, he is losing control of this vice.

His bending lacks the finesse necessary to take the next step into a near-mastery level. A lifetime of training focused on efficiency and explosiveness works well on the battlefield but has not lent itself to fine technique.

Possessions: Daisuke owns little outside of his ideals, his only prized possessions are his katana and tanto, both received from his grandfather.

Biography: Daisuke was just a boy when his parents were killed by raiding parties in the Eastern Fire Islands. They were not warriors, neither of them could even bend, yet they were cut down all the same. Daisuke had been spirited away by his father and hidden in the brush while the village was sacked. The child was wracked with silent sobs as he heard the screams and panic carry throughout the small fishing community.

He had emerged to find his world altered beyond all understanding, the few survivors sought refuge at Shu Jing, carting along a near catatonic Daisuke. Through no effort of his own, he was deposited with his Grandfather, Aikido Tanaka, a man faced with the loss of a daughter and the responsibility of a child at the same time. Their shared grief brought them closer, and Aikido loved Daisuke as he would have his own son. Aikido was an old man, but his bending had not deteriorated, and the skills he had honed fighting under various warlords were passed on to a hungry Daisuke.

Daisuke, was shaped by that event. As he grew, he heard of the new push for Unity in Caldera City. Would any raider dare to enter a united Fire Nation? Separated, why should any enemy fear nibbling at the edges, killing and raiding away from the cities? Daisuke had found his purpose, and Aikido responded as a man who had a premonition of this event. Daisuke had always shown far more promise than he had, and a vengeful spirit had been growing in Daisuke’s chest for many years.

At merely 16 years, Daisuke left his grandfather’s house, and armed with their family steel he set out for Caldera City to join the new Fire Nation, and he knew in his heart, that he would bring unity to his people or die in the attempt.

Sadly, things were not so easy or so simple. He arrived in Caldera and found out what most children do upon entering the wider world, things are far more complicated and rarely black and white. He enlisted in the Fire Nations military, a grueling academy where he spent three years in training and low-level service environments.

At every level he exceeded expectations. From bending to close combat, and strategic planning to logistics. He was not always the most naturally gifted, but he had the drive necessary to out work his peers. He had learned at a young age with his grandfather, that without hard work talent means nothing.

When he graduated the academy he was honored by being appointed a squad leader, and three men were placed under his command. One of which became a dear friend, Ichiki Kitokuro, Together they began embarking on small missions in the southern isles. Daisukes young squad began to get some attention as they racked up completed objectives one after another. So often in battle, it is the tiniest thing which guarantees victory: Noticing a sluggish changing of the guard, identifying the weak spot in a perimeter, finding an unmanned entrance, pacing out your attack formation. These things become force multipliers, and Daisuke had an innate ability to see and utilize them.

Their success lead to their assignment as a part of a larger offensive against Warlord Toz. The first objective was securing a fortified port with a sizeable garrison of troops. This location was an essential logistical hub enabling the function of a dozen other offensives. It had to fall, and Daisuke had a moment of enlightenment while going over the topographical maps.

The proposed landing area was the only beachhead large enough to quickly deploy the Fire Nation force, they would take losses, but cover was available in the form of numerous rock outcroppings. Beyond that beachhead was a valley that lead directly to the port on the far side of the island. The fighting would be intense, and the confined areas and occupied high ground would be hellish for the government attackers.

But Daisukes comrades were well trained and well disciplined, whereas Toz’s militia were little more than mercenaries, and had been known to break when faced with a determined and organized foe. A weak leadership structure makes a weak army. As Daisuke began playing out the future battle, he saw the fort empty out as Caldera’s finest entered the valley. The enemy’s leaders would know their largest, and only, advantage was in sheer numbers. Because of this the fort would be mostly empty, and there was a narrower approach from the left. It had been rejected by their commander due to the smaller beachhead and cliff face pathway, but a small force could land their under cover of night, and perhaps, with surprise and a healthy dosage of luck, overwhelm a skeleton defense force at the port.

Daisuke petitioned the commander to allow his squad to take a dingy and land to the west. The risk was small, and the potential rewards were massive, the commander allowed it. And Daisuke’s plan was set into motion, at down on the second day, they would assault the western fortifications.

The plan came together, and Daisuke took the fort while Ichiki raised the Fire Nations flag. The enemy, believing they had been surrounded, surrendered en masse. And Daisuke began his ascent, showing his value time and again before reaching Captain at age 26.

Shortly before our story is set to begin, Daisuke and his relatively new command were sent out to the black hills to destroy an enemy compound. Their position was surrounded by fortified walls and a small garrison. Though with their defenses intact the small force could hold off ten times their size. But they had a small issue, the fortress was built on a hill, and over the years the southern side of the hill had begun to wear away and settle. Engineers had added support pillars, but the weak point was still there.

Daisuke put together a plan to send two fainting attacks from the north and west, while he personally led a strike force, armed with explosives, to collapse the support columns. The General expressed hesitancy, the fortress received reinforcements a fortnight ago, the safer plan would be to wait them out, and let their increased number burn through their supplies. Daisuke however argued that this would delay the overall offensive, and this was, after all, his command. The general deferred to the leaders on the ground and sent a messenger to Daisuke advising that he act in whatever way he saw fit but reminding him that discretion was the better part of valor.

Daisuke, in his arrogance, remarked that they could bring in ten thousand troops, it would not make the wall impregnable. He ordered the assault, two forces moved in, feinting towards the walls with siege ladders. Fire roared forth from both the tops of the walls and the assaulting troops. Smoke filled the air, and while the forts attention was directed elsewhere Daisuke attacked.

He massively underestimated the additional strength the fort now had, and he lost dozens just reaching the wall. The explosives detonated and he bounded over the settling rubble. The enemy was thrown into chaos, and the feigning troops wheeled and renewed their assault with vigor. Their advantage was now only the surprise, as the casualties sustained had brought their numbers much closer together. Daisuke whirled, his blades danced and fire whirled around him. They won the day, but at what cost? Ichiki was found dead, and Daisuke knew that he alone was responsible for his death.

Now Daisuke and his decimated company have been sent back to the Capital to refit, and he is given a hero’s welcome, but this glory has turned to ashes in his mouth.

Supporting Cast: Aside from his grandfather I generally like to discover my character throughout the process of writing them. There will not be groundbreaking characters “Oh he’s secretly the Emperor’s son!” though he does have a company of men under his command, and the nature of their relationships aren’t clear yet.

Deeper Dive Backstory

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.

[vancexentan]

A note in case anything seems off I took him from a previous roleplay set around Korra's period so if anything seems off I apologize.

Gao Xiang

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.

[Sep]

I'm going too most likely do reviews late tomorrow. I got a trip away, I'm reading them now and taking notes. If you're on the Discord @ me and I can discuss it now.

[mickilennial]

I'll let you know when this is review-worthy, but right now its just a few fringe notes and starting concept.

WIP

M E I F E N G C A I

_{“When the wind of change blows, some build walls, while others build windmills.”}

---

Character Age:

19-24

Character Gender:

Female

Character Race:

Earth Kingdom

Bending:

Meifeng has been honing her earthbending since she was young, around the age of nine.

Skills:

Other than Bending, what skills should we take note of?

Weaknesses:

Not everyone is great at anything, what are their shortcomings?

Possessions:

Do they own anything of note?

Biography:

For the last few centuries, The Kingdom of Taku has stood as the largest kingdom-state within the western reaches of what has come to be known as the lands of the Earth Kingdom due to Ba Sing Se’s gradual growth through several political alliances and conquests. It is, much like Omashu, one of the few independent realms following Ba Sing Se’s ascension. For those of the Cai Dynasty, they have known that their safety and independence was always situational. Meifeng is the eldest daughter of the current ruler of Taku, Shan Cai, and the only one of adult age. As such she has had to suffer through a life of expectations yet has always been told to temper her own ambitions.

-

-

-

-

-

Supporting Cast:

Are there any NPCs of note in their story? If so fill out their details here!

---

- Taku

[Sep]

@vancexentan Going, to be honest, stopped reading at 'Air Benders Occasionally pop out of nowhere' not in this period, the only time that happened was during Legend of Korra during the Harmonic Convergence. This is the first thing that needs to be addressed, and it's such a big issue that I'm going to pause reading the rest for now.

[vancexentan]

@SepLike I said I made the sheet for Korra specifically after part 3. I even said so in the very first edit. I thought I managed to get all of it out of the sheet clearly I did not I apologize.

Alright it was literally one line I missed I find the tone in the post rather serious like I missed a whole paragraph.

[Sep]

@SepLike I said I made the sheet for Korra specifically after part 3. I even said so in the very first edit. I thought I managed to get all of it out of the sheet clearly I did not I apologize.

Alright it was literally one line I missed I find the tone in the post rather serious like I missed a whole paragraph.

@vancexentan

It's an important error that affects the rest of the sheet, that's all. If you feel me too harsh then so be it, I was merely stating that I wasn't going to continue with an error that throws the whole sheet out of contention.

[vancexentan]

I also feel the need to note the deal with his grand father I have him set to be ambiguous as I feel I can possibly use him for personal growth, or to justify his air bending if needed. His grand father isn't made to be anyone truly big unless you feel like he could be later on. I just feel I could use the two npcs to help along with some possibly interesting stuff in the plot, and can drop, or add more to them if need be.

[Sep]

I'm going to be away till later so I won't be around too offer much guidance till later.

[Dusty]

Hey @Sep I'm interested in this, and I have a idea for a character. But First do we volunteer for the Avatar slot?

[Akayaofthemoon]

@Dusty

Hey, it sounds like once players are accepted, we are to let Sep know if we would like the Avatar slot. Once Sep has the pool of names that want the position, they will be placed in a random generator and a name will be drawn. When the time is right, they will let us know who was drawn as the Avatar. I suggest you check out the interest check if you have not already and join the discord as that is an important part. Sep will not be on much today as they are with family.

[Ascendant]

@Sep This is my submission, and I am in Discord if you have questions.

Siyu Wuzhou

Siyu Wuzhou

_{'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.

Biography

Siyu was born alongside his twin Ishou among the Lanata Tribe of the Sandbenders to two loving parents with a total of seven siblings born in total. But the desert is a harsh mother, and one of his brothers died while he was just a baby of disease. Thankfully, Siyu's young age spared him for the most part from this loss.

At three, Siyu was discovered to be an Earthbender when he tripped and fell while the family was travelling on their sandsailer. Busting his nose, the toddler cried out, blowing away the sandstorm powering their sailer. The entire family was proud to have another bender, and even more proud when Ishou was discovered to also be gifted.

The training of the twins was taken up by the eldest sister, Mei. Mei was one of the better benders in the Tribe, and indeed the Wuzhous had been known for years to produce capable benders. His eldest sister was described as, "a sandblaster," producing high velocity sandstorms and bending that could be likened to having your body stripped layer by layer. Cockiness was perhaps Mei's greatest downfall.

When Siyu was eleven, the Lanata Tribe found itself embroiled in a conflict with the Daiyu Tribe, a tribe well known for endorsing raider tactics against foreigners. Mei was called up along with most of the other benders of the Lanata. Siyu cried for days when he saw she was not among the warriors who returned. A quarter of the Lanata warriors died in the battle, including the Chief. Multiple survivors who had been captured for a time and escaped reported witnessing Mei's gang rape and then murder at the hands of seven Daiyu men, but the Lanatas were so broken it was unlikely anything could be done.

The resulting power struggle split the tribe in two, each claiming the name of Lanata but agreeing to simply separate. The chaos and loss crippled Siyu, who recoiled into himself and ceased practicing his bending. Ishou tripled down, training almost endlessly under her new master, Rattlebreath, a Lanata shaman that was now practically second-in-command and known as a crickly old ass hole who'd whip you without a second though.

Ishou had, up until this time, been one of the brightest stars in Siyu's, and the tribe's, world. Wherever she went, she spread joy. There have been tribesmen who have said that everything the Gods took from Siyu, they gave to Ishou. Mei's death was a turning point for the young woman though. While she still spread joy across the world, it seemed lessened, and Siyu often wondered if his twin wasn't pretending at times. It was impossible to get Ishou to talk about her deeper feelings, so Siyu had little choice but to simply watch.

After two years of watching Ishou endure, overcome, and blossom, Siyu finally returned to his training as well, taking Rattlebreath as his new master. Siyu struggled under the old man's barrage whilst his twin overshadowed him at the same age of fifteen by beating twenty year old tribesmen in duels. Deep feelings of inadequacy and inconfidence bore themselves into the boy.

The only relief Siyu had from the training, the tribe, and his family was sandsailing. Whenever he had free time, Siyu would be out on the dunes, screaming through the desert. With little more than the sound of his sandstorm and the wind, it was precious time to think and reorganize before once more being drowned.

And drowned he was. Ishou's abilities seemed endless, whilst Siyu's abilities were, in comparison, not in the same league. The nickname 'Wasted' became popular for Siyu, implying he was wasted time. In contrast, Ishou finally defeated Rattlebreath when they were seventeen, declaring that night to Siyu, "I am going to right the wrong of Mei's death, Siyu, join me!"

Ishou revealed that she had been planning for years to hunt down the seven men who killed Mei and enact her revenge. Despite Siyu's protestations, Ishou made it clear she would go with or without him, and so he left with his twin.

The first man was easy enough to find, track, and then ambush while he was travelling. Siyu spent the man's last moments attempting to convince Ishou not to take the man's life, but she looked at him with incredible disbelief, "This man raped and murdered Mei, and you want him to live? No." Ishou resolutely ended the man with the coldest face Siyu has yet witnessed.

Three more men the pair successfully kill before coming upon the fifth. Railong Qent, now the leader of his own small band of sandraiders. In total it would be five on two. Those were shit odds in Siyu's opinion, but again, Ishou didn't care. Three of Qent's underlings died in the battle but Siyu was shot through the abdomen with a rock bullet whilst Ishou was wounded four times with rock bullets. Both received numerous other small wounds, the battle ending with Siyu making a desperate retreat with Ishou in tow.

For thirty-eight hours he sailed, and sailed, doing what he could to stem Ishou's bleeding. But it wasn't enough. Ishou Wuzhou passed away in that desert in her twin's arms. The pain is utterly unbearable, Siyu's cries and screams generating a sandnado. He returned to his people with Ishou's body, giving it to the sands with his family.

Siyu did not say another word for months after Ishou's death, preferring instead to lay in his sleeping bag. None could make Siyu stir, not his parents, siblings, or Rattlebreath. When he finally began to speak again and return to normalcy, Siyu spoke of a world of utter madness and insanity, stating that still haunted him constantly. There was even a strange vision that called itself 'Avante' and had taken to jeering at him, calling him names and laughing whilst Siyu was bedridden.

Consulting with Rattlebreath about these strange visions and voices, Rattlebreath called on a number of other Shamans, but Siyu found no relief. He could do little but endure this new world he had been thrust into. It was a world full of Ishou's touch. He could see her in his parents and siblings. Hear her in Rattlebreath's orders. Even the tribesmen who lessened their teasing reminded Siyu of his twin. It was unbearable.

And so he left.

To Si Wong City he went, hoping to the Gods that he could find someone could help him, or perhaps a new life free of his baggage. But life is not easy, even in Si Wong City. A man without connections, money, or real skills beyond sandsailing and sandbending combined with prejudices against sandbenders ended up wrapping Siyu up in a minor theive's gang. It was among these thieves that he discovered the herb known colloquially as 'Si Wong Kong', 'Kong', 'SWK' and 'Shwick'. When smoked, Si Wong Kong causes relaxation in the user, relaxation that turned out to directly lessen the visions and voices. It wasn't long until Siyu began regularly using Kong, a habit that required more and more money. Slowly but surely, Siyu turned more and more to thievery, until the present day.

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.

[Grey Omen]

@Sep Ready for review whenever you are.

Kosroq.

KOSROQ

_{'The spirits help those who help themselves. They're certainly not fond of charity, at least.'}

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's dagger.

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:

Kosroq's Biography.

In the Northern Capital, Agna Qel'a, there were once two families of equal renown. By Earth Kingdom standards, they would be equivalent to middling nobles. In one family, a Northern general had a conundrum - his only child was a nonbender female named Salla. Despite this, he loved her dearly, even defying tradition by training her in martial arts in secret. Still, a nonbender female would never be appointed General or likely any military rank without exceptional circumstances, and despite the tumultuous state of the North during those years, it seemed she would be relegated to be someone else's wife and nothing else.

Luckily, a solution presented itself, or rather, the second family did. A male bender named Narokk had spied Salla and her father training in secret. Witnessing her prodigious talents with blades, spears, and clubs, an idea sprouted - instead of using the general's disregard for tradition as blackmail, they forge an alliance. Narokk proposed this idea to his father, a spirit shaman, who in turn proposed it to the general - as the general's only child was a nonbender female, it seemed unlikely she alone could climb the social ladder of the North, and her talents would go to waste. So, under the guise of the tradition of arranged marriages, the two families would merge, Salla marrying Narokk. Unbeknownst to the other prominent families, Salla was more than a wife - she was a capable assassin and saboteur, never suspected by others. After all, no one in the North would ever suspect the apparently harmless nonbender woman.

The North, though outsiders likely never knew, had been very chaotic for a while. The chieftan was becoming unpopular with many of the well known merchants of the North and there were rumors that some of the Elders and Masters unhappy with him as well. Many of the families seemed to be gearing up for something - not outright war, but political maneuvering was certain at the least. Salla proved to be amazingly talented at her new work, and Narokk was a skilled speaker on the public front. To many, Narokk was a pillar of the community, spiritually and economically as Narokk's family gained influence with many merchants, especially after he married the general's daughter. And most saw Salla as that - a connection to a well known general, not a secret warrior.

The coup that everyone expected happened, though much more quietly than expected. The chieftan, sadly, was brought back from a hunting trip having been attacked by a young sea serpent he had pursued. A great funeral was held, where all the families expressed their deep sorrow at the loss. Having no children, the next chieftan was chosen from the Elders. Narokk was appointed to the position of advisor to the chief. Narokk had never wished to be chieftan - it was a dangerous position. Second to the top was where he and Salla could get work done best.

Years later, after settling into a safer life with significantly less morally grey activities and discovering that they actually did like each other, Salla and Narokk had two children, brothers. The older one was Hanouk and the younger one was Kosroq. Both were benders.

Kosroq grew up being told stories of spirits like Xaa, Widow Shinestalk, Wan Shǒu, Father Glowworm, and their family's patron spirit, Kaita Hi. While Hanouk generally seemed to be favored, Kosroq was never ignored, and his childhood was happy. He learned his waterbending from one of the Masters. Once he hit his teenage years, however, he and Hanouk began their training with their parents. Narokk and Salla, in secret, taught more than just the traditional forms. Narokk instructed them how to fight more pragmatically than the Masters would, especially against other waterbenders, and taught them the intricacies of Northern politics. Salla trained them in weapons and military history. They emphasized that, despite what they had done in the past to get to their position and despite the nature of what they were teaching them, they never expected or encouraged the brothers to participate in the darker side of the North.

Hanouk grew up more like his father. He took naturally to being in the public eye and seemed a natural born leader. Kosroq, on the other hand, took more after their mother (though, ironically, he ended up being the more spiritual of the brothers). He excelled at combat and took an interest in her past adventures, though he was warned they weren't as glamorous as stories made them seem. Eventually he gained his parents' blessing to leave the North. Hanouk stayed home, following closely in Narokk's footsteps.

For a while it was difficult - Kosroq left on a raft and for weeks stuck to the shoreline of the Earth Kingdom. It took him a while to get used to inland travel. His entire life he'd almost exclusively eaten fish, so even hunting animals on land proved difficult in the beginning. He had to adapt his waterbending training to the dirt of the mainland - in the North, everything was ice and water, even their homes, and they could bend practically anything, anywhere. He learned to carry a canteen for drinking water and one for bending water when going far inland. Eventually, moving to more populated locations in the Earth Kingdom, he took work as a caravan guard for merchants. Eventually, he caught the eye of a merchant who had worked with Northerners before and knew Kosroq's father. The merchant offered Kosroq a job 'keeping an eye on his competitor'. After the competitor's caravan mysteriously fell into a river when the bridge broke, losing most of their cargo, Kosroq was paid handsomely.

Kosroq, over time, gained a sort of reputation among merchants as a dependable, if strangely superstitious, doer of dirty deeds. Even the occasional minor Earth Kingdom noble family would hire him for a job once and again. Eventually, Kosroq went to Si Wong City, where work was aplenty.

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.

[Sep]

Hey @Sep I'm interested in this, and I have a idea for a character. But First do we volunteer for the Avatar slot?

@Dusty

Basically what was referenced before. It is still possible that there may be no PC avatar so instead a GMNPC if I don't find anyone suitable, but we'll see!

[Akayaofthemoon]

Hi @Sep,

Here it is! Let me know this there is anything you need adjusted, changed, or clarified.

Kyouna

_{'To change yourself means to change the future'}

---

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.

[ReedeThe23rd]

Han Xin

Han Xin

_{”Keep your friends close, and your enemies at the tip of a long blade.”}

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.

[Sep]

I'm currently working through reviews on discord.

@ReedeThe23rd you're up next.

@vancexentan Me and Inkarnate will return to you shortly.

[Roach]

[app snipped - good luck in the rp folx! <3]