My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days--a time of peace, when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. But all that changed when the Earth Kingdom attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop the ruthless earthbenders. But when the world needed her most, she vanished.
Eighteen years have passed, and each nation has had trouble within its borders. The Earth Kingdom has taken advantage of the turmoil and continues its conquest. Among the chaos, the spirits still residing in our world have turned to attack people, and the entire world is now unbalanced. Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn and that the cycle is broken. Others believe that the Avatar has gone into hiding due to being born in the Earth Kingdom that's hunting them down.
But I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow the Avatar will return to save the world. We just have to find them first.
The coup that placed King Wei as the Earth Monarch bode ill for the world at large. While many were concerned, few would speak out as the previous King Xiong was an ineffective leader who was more interested in riches than helping his people. But it was out of the pole caps and into the volcano as King Wei proved to be a threat not just to the Earth Kingdom, but to the rest of the world. It began with high taxes and an unfound arrogance against those who were not native to the Earth Kingdom, and over the years said arrogance turned to tyranny. What was once a continent of peace and harmony turned into war and strife as people were forced out of their homes. Benders who refused allegiance were arrested and vanished from the public eye, with rumors surrounded forced manual labor circling heavily.
In an attempt to subdue any that would challenge them, the Earth Kingdom cut food trades with the other nations. As a result, a famine has spread throughout the Fire Nation, and while the Air Nomads have tried to compensate, it is not enough. With the Fire Nation weakened, the Earth kingdom made their first attempt to conquer. Their only saving grace was the interference of the Water Tribes, who sent their own people forward to stop the Earth Kingdom ships from ever touching Fire Nation soil. Even so, things cannot remain this way as the citizens are starving to death, long separated from those that once resided in the Earth Kingdom. The Water Tribes struggle to communicate with one another as the Earth Kingdom has interfered with any attempts at every turn, and the Air Nomads have chosen to protest peacefully, much to the ire of the other nations.
Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could hope to defeat King Wei. With the hopes of all nations on her shoulders, Avatar Korra sought to negotiate with the King. The latter refused, and according to rumors, a fight broke out between the two before the Avatar was forced out of the palace. Before the Avatar could take proper judgment, however, she passed. After twenty years, however, a new Avatar has yet to emerge. What is known is that the Avatar was born in the Earth Kingdom, but many feared they had already fallen into the Earth Kingdom's hands. As the years passed and no new Avatar emerged, the masses began to lose hope. Three days ago, however, several beams of light emerged from the temples around the world, signaling that the new Avatar had awakened. That was when The Rebellion was formed and sprung into action. While their numbers were scarce, they gathered who they could and sent them to the Earth Kingdom. Now, it is a race between the Rebellion and the Earth Kingdom to find the Avatar. Will the Rebellion find the Avatar in time, or will the Earth Kingdom gain the upper hand?
Spanning most of a continent as well as several subsidiary islands, the Earth Kingdom is the largest and most populated sovereignty in the world and encompasses much of the eastern hemisphere. The kingdom operates as a monarchy under the rule of a single Earth Monarch. It is home to most earthbenders and the people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong; they once adhered to a philosophy of peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the other nations of the world before King Wei's reign changed that to a philosophy of spreading their greatness to the rest of the world. Due to their manipulation of earth, earthbenders are virtually immovable, as reflected in the personality of many Earth Kingdom citizens. In general, Earth Kingdom culture is concerned with maintaining face: a person's good reputation and standing in the eyes of others. Respect for the family and one's ancestors is also a very common aspect of Earth Kingdom culture.
Earth Kingdom architecture varies by province. Like the other nations, it is based on its elemental color, in this case, green. The majority of the buildings are made of stone, wood, and plaster; these may be used in conjunction with one another or separately, depending on the available resources. Most buildings have sloping roofs covered with dark gray or green tiles; yellow tiles denote wealth and are used by aristocrats in Ba Sing Se. The Earth Kingdom insignia is often put on important buildings and fortresses as a symbol of the government. Roads vary considerably – in the country, they are usually made of well-worn dirt, while cities have well-made flagstone streets. Much of the Earth Kingdom's population traditionally live in small villages, and tiny settlements of ten or so inhabitants dot the landscape; larger towns, such as Chin Village and Jiaoling, are found more infrequently. Despite this ruralization, a significant portion of the Earth Kingdom's citizens actually live in its largest cities such as Omashu, Taku, Gaoling, and Ba Sing Se.
Even though many parts of the Earth Kingdom have been traditionally mistrustful of outsiders, the Earth Kingdom has a long history of migration. Many live mobile lives as nomads and outlaws, while mass migration of those seeking work or fleeing poverty and unrest has been a common occurrence. In addition, the Earth Kingdom has traditionally harbored populations of Fire Nation and Water Tribe descent. Such foreign migrants usually arrived as traders, workers, and colonists; until last year, they integrated peacefully into the native society. A majority of their villages have been ransacked and conquered as the years have passed, and many benders that lived in them disappeared. Families have trouble contacting their home lands and many are fearful for the fate of their loved ones. Nowadays, there is a fierce prejudice against any benders that aren't earthbenders, and Earth Kingdom soldiers are all too happy to arrest any benders they come across, leading many to go into hiding.
The Earth Kingdom's change in its view of the world has resulted in an unbalanced world. They recognize that despite being a smaller nation, the Fire Nation's military is not to be trifled with, and thus targeted them first in their war of conquest. It started off by slowly lessening how much food was traded while raising prices, and by the time anyone noticed it was far too late. Last year, the Earth Kingdom outright stopped trade and launched their first attack, sending a fleet of soldiers via ships. Recognizing the threat, the Fire Nation called on the other nations to help. The Water Tribes were successfully able to fend off the Earth Kingdom with their superior navy, but as retaliation, the Earth Kingdom has gone out of their way to interfere with any communications between the two sister tribes.
The Fire Nation is an absolute monarchy led by the Fire Lord and home to most firebenders. Geographically, the nation is located along the planet's equator in the western hemisphere and is composed of several islands simply called the Fire Islands. The Fire Nation is the second-largest nation in terms of area, following the Earth Kingdom, while its economy is the most powerful in the world; its strong industrial sector enabled the Fire Nation to create an extremely powerful military.
The dress code and symbols of the Fire Nation are modeled after fire, naturally. Like the other nations, it is based on its elemental color, in this case, red. The majority of the structures are made of stone. They also have red pagoda-style roofs favored by the country. Fire Nation symbols are often put on important or nice buildings for decoration and inside it was common for a picture of the Fire Lord to be kept in a prominent, visible place. The Fire Nation's worldview upholds that only unity, centralism and strict order can ensure stability and prosperity. This does not include restricting freedom and creativity, as these aspects of personal expression are critical to societal development and harmony; however, children do not gain this freedom until they have been taught how to improve the Fire Nation with their actions, and the honor it brings them. These ideas are instilled from an early age.
Fire Nation society places a great emphasis on respect and honor, especially toward the nobility and elders; the concept of the famed Agni Kai stems from these beliefs. Should one be honored enough to be in the presence of a member of the Royal Family, that person needs to prostrate themselves in respect or risk being challenged to an Agni Kai to avenge the disrespected Royal's honor. Upon coming into contact with an elder or superior, it is polite to bow down. Unlike in other parts of the world, this bow consists in placing a hand in a straight fashion with the other being fisted placed underneath it vertically. This represents the superior standing with one below him, bowing. Also when receiving an order in the Fire Nation by a superior it is common to not bow, but make the hand symbol. Bowing is required upon greeting to one, when something nice has happened, after business, and leaving.
The Fire Nation's response to the Earth Kingdom's attacks have been righteous fury; they remain grateful to the Water Tribes for defending them last year and have maintained strong ties to them. However, the same cannot be said for the Air Nomads; while the latter has made a valiant effort into keeping the Fire Nation fed, they refused the Fire Nation's petition for additional soldiers. This has greatly soured the relationship between the two nations as the Air Nomads' peaceful protests have accomplished little while the people of the Fire Nation continue to suffer in light of constantly needing to defend themselves while the Earth Kingdom has cut them off from the many Fire Nation citizens who lived in the Earth Kingdom.
Air Nomads is the collective term for the monastic order of men and women who practice the discipline of airbending and the pacifistic ethics of their theocratic society. They are wanderers by definition, but have four air temples, one located at each corner of the globe, found atop mountain ranges and under cliffs, in the northern Earth Kingdom and on three remote islands, all of which are hard for outsiders to reach. Unlike the other nations, those born to the Air Nomads are, without any seen exception, all benders due to the high level of spirituality of their people. They are a peaceful race who live in large temples and travel the world on flying bison. They are the most spiritual of all the cultures and lived in harmony with nature. Their culture values both altruism and detachment from wealth and worldly affairs, and their relationship with the other nations varies. They are also fun-loving and have a strong sense of humor.
The Air Nomads have the smallest population of the four nations in the world. They have a small economy, based entirely on limited agriculture, and the smallest population of all the nations. Due to the peaceful teachings of their leaders, the nature of the people is calm and tranquil, famously known as peaceful, egalitarian people who embrace a life of simplicity and environmental preservation. They traditionally live according to montastic customs, and the Northern and Southern Air Temples act as homes for Air Monks, while the Eastern and Western Air Temples act as homes for Air Nuns. However, this gender separation is not universally enforced and it is common for many to intermingle. All airbenders grow up to become monks and nuns unless they chose to leave the Air Nomad life behind or are exiled. When monks and nuns stop at villages across the world along their journeys from temple to temple, most peasants gladly provide them hospitality in exchange for help with chores, news, and entertaining stories from other parts of the world, or a promise to relay messages to distant relatives. Air Nomads are raised communally, and often have a main guardian who they are not related to, though they are aware of their blood relatives and often have close relationships with them. Masters of airbending are one of the most visually distinct as they are tattooed with blue arrows.
The Air Nomads have taken no strong stance against the Earth Kingdom's actions, resulting in a tense relationship between them and the Fire Nation in particular. While they have provided as much food and resources as they are able, it is unfortunately not enough. As the only nation without a formal military, they cannot offer soldiers, though fighting goes against their ways; an oath of nonaggression is often declared whenever a new airbender reaches the age of adulthood, swearing to adopt to the pacifistic ways and having direct combat be used solely as a last resort. This has been ill received by both the Fire Nation and the Water Tribes; the former is in disbelief that the Air Nomads would rather protest peacefully than take action, while the Water Tribes have repeatedly urged the Air Nomads to join them. Alas, their pleas have been ignored, though rumor has it that many monks and nuns are starting to doubt their inaction.
The people of the Water Tribe are generally peaceful, and strive to live in harmony with nature and the other nations of the world. Living in the harsh conditions of the poles and the swamp has made the people of the Water Tribes resilient to hardship and respectful of the world around them. There are two primary divisions of the Water Tribe, the Northern Tribe and the Southern Tribe, though both are at least de jure governed by the Northern chief. The Water Tribe is less powerful than both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, due to its geographical location and the small size of its population and economy. The economy is dependent on the ocean, given the country's location and lack of arable land, apparent manufacturing capacity or minable resources.
The appearance of the Water Tribe is based on its corresponding element, water. Each of the nations has its own elemental color, which in the case of the Water Tribes is blue. The Foggy Swamp Tribe is an exception, as they tend to wear green due to their affinity with plants. The Water Tribe is divided into three distinct groups, primarily based on their geography and affinity for waterbending. The Southern Tribe occupies the South Pole, the Northern Tribe occupies the North Pole, and the Foggy Swamp Tribe occupies a swamp in the Earth Kingdom. Family is hugely important to Water Tribe culture. All members of the Tribe recognized each other as kin to an extent, and it was traditional to name a child after a family member. The Northern and Southern Tribes have a positive relation to one another and it is not uncommon for families to travel to and fro, even if the journey is a long one. Generosity is also highly valued among the people of the Water Tribe, to the extent that the generosity of their traders was considered legendary in the other nations.
When the Fire Nation pleaded for help against the Earth Kingdom, they immediately sent forth their waterbenders and ships, successfully pushing away the Earth Kingdom navy. While the two tribes wish to join the defense of the Fire Nation in a more united fashion, continued interference with their communications has resulted in sabotaged operations. That said, both need no cooperation to rise to defend their shared neighbor. They have asked the Air Nomads to act as messengers, but even these take precious time and require a willing Nomad, something that is, tragically, rare these days. The Water Tribe thus has put all their energy into keeping the Earth Kingdom at bay by sea, resulting in many waterbenders constantly fighting in war.
Fire Lord Zhun Li is the current leader of the Fire Nation. He governs alongside the Fire Sages and noble clans. A man of few words, his rule has been challenged by the Earth Kingdom’s actions. While the famine has done much damage, he has ensured that the Fire Nation endures. He has taken great offense to the Earth Kingdom attacking but is grateful for what it has revealed when it came to the relationships between the nations. Finding an unlikely ally in the Water Tribe was a pleasant surprise while the Air Nomads have disappointed him. He is said to have great respect for both Chief Dentak and Kato.
Chief Dentak is the current leader of the Water Tribe, housed currently in the Northern Water Tribe. A boastful and courageous man, he is ignorant to most politics and often leaves politics to his council. While most feel he could do with a little more diplomacy, he has made it clear that actions, not words, are what solve problems. His earnest ways have easily won over his countrymen and it is why they follow his orders without question.
The Southern Water Tribe is currently being led by Kato after communications with their sister tribe have been sabotaged. Kato is much more cautious than Dentak but is just as brave, ensuring that the Water Tribe performs their duties of keeping the Earth Kingdom from taking to the seas. He is a passive man for the most part, but still acts when necessary. He is largely motivated by his wife, Kaea, who assists him in most things. Many state it is Kaea who really runs things but leaves the bigger decisions to her husband so as not to upset their sister tribe.
The Air Nomads have the Council of Elders to lead them. Each air temple has its own council of head abbots, head monks, or head nuns as the political and religious authority. The councils of each temple are composed in accordance with the primary gender residing in each respective temple. It is Head Sister Sangye of the Western Air Temple that has been sending as much food as possible to the Fire Nation, though her pleas for additional help from the other temples were met with silence. As a result, the Council has had many conflicting opinions; some say that Sangye should not have acted without consulting the other temples while others point out that the Air Nomads don’t have much to offer in the first place.
This roleplay is firmly in AU territory. The Hundred Year War was successfully mitigated by Avatar Roku and an era of peace followed through Avatar Aang's time. His successor, Avatar Korra, passed twenty years ago, but her successor has yet to be located. In the meantime, the Earth Kingdom has been left unchecked, upsetting the balance between nations. While some things have stayed the same, others have changed. We're looking for active, driven players to make a small ragtag bunch of misfits--or if you're interested in other roles, there's no harm in asking! Players have the option to play whatever bender (or non-bender!) they please, but I'd like all characters to be in the 18 - 24 year range please. If there are any questions or interest, feel free to ask :)
[hider=CS][CENTER]AHVAHTARR OONG [img]media1.tenor.com/images/72b6de1da9855… [sub][color=darkgray]"Will you go penguin sledding with me?"[/color][/sub][/center] [indent][color=darkgray][sub][u]NAME[/u][/sub][/color] [indent]Ong[/indent]
Claiming the concept now while I work on CS. Airbender who never cared for peaceful ways and as such has not been considered a master despite his proficiency. Wanted to join the Fire Nation to help a year ago but was strong-armed by his fellow monks and only allowed to play messenger for the Water Tribes. Finally said, "Fuck That, I don't care if I get exiled and never earn my tattoos. Someone needs to find this Avatar," after the light beams.
Has metalbending been invented in this timeline? Has the earth kingdom managed to take over the Si Wong tribes?
Metalbending isn't an art known to the public at this time. The Si Wong tribes have remained relatively neutral in regards to the current conflict; sending soldiers ill equipped to the desert to subjugate isn't a good use of resources.
Claiming the concept now while I work on CS. Airbender who never cared for peaceful ways and as such has not been considered a master despite his proficiency. Wanted to join the Fire Nation to help a year ago but was strong-armed by his fellow monks and only allowed to play messenger for the Water Tribes. Finally said, "Fuck That, I don't care if I get exiled and never earn my tattoos. Someone needs to find this Avatar," after the light beams.
I'll put my thoughts out on this once I get the full context in the CS. I will, however, put out a reminder that airbending is strongly tied to spirituality. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!
"When the calm winds you're used to begin to rage, will you be ready with a fury of your own?"
NAME
Ryschi (Pronounced Rye like the bread, and schee like you're a snake saying the first part of Cheeto's. Rye-schee.)
AGE
24
BIRTHPLACE
The Northern Air Temple
ELEMENT
Air
APPEARANCE DETAILS
As pictured above, Ryschi is a young man with brown hair and gray eyes and a non-airbending tattoo he got from a Fire Nation friend of his on his left arm. It's meant to look like a coiling flame, but his friend wasn't a particularly good tattoo-artist at the time. He stands at 5'4" and weighs 120 lbs with little musculature.
PERSONALITY
Ryschi is a man of action with a fierce personality, allowing himself a freedom of expression and movement before fully thinking of where the wind intends to take him. His spirituality leans towards a belief that the gentleness of tradition is restricting the flow and pressure of air. Peaceful clouds may have their place in the sky but so do tornadoes. Because of this viewpoint, he's become rather abrasive with the pacifists of the Air Nomads which has further led him to become quite defensive of criticism. Though, they put up with his antics because he and his sky-bison, Kimo, are the only ones willing to fly through storms to deliver messages. He does however make fast friends with Fire Nation citizens since he understands their passion and feels bolstered by the heat to rise to greater challenges.
BIOGRAPHY
Growing up in the Northern Air Temple, Ryschi was 4 when the Avatar Korra passed away. As he grew, Ryschi felt the change in the air, witnessed the growing anger of the spirits, and sensed that bending had shifted fundamentally. All the elements are tied to the spirits, but airbending is deeply connected to them in a way the others aren't. While others meditated within the peaceful snow, Ryschi found strong winds and harsh colds to balance himself. When it came time for him to travel, he bonded with a particularly rambunctious sky-bison that he named Kimo and left for the Fire Nation to train in the heat the way he did the cold. He made many a friend within the Fire Nation, and picked up on their forceful, quick bending style. Then, he'd return to the Northern Air Temple and begin his meditative practices yet again. Ryschi would continue this pattern for some time, flying to the Fire Nation to heat up his passion for bending and combat and then returning to the cold north to sink back down and center himself and his spirit. This cycle would create a current within him, a need for movement, for action. The Elders were not fond of his intensity and found him to be unbalanced, there was fun and being carefree and then there was eternal restlessness. Thus, he was passed over for certain trainings, or would fail to be "centered" or "aligned" enough for the teachers liking and would be suggested to do the training again. As such, he never earned his tattoos and was never seen as a master. His closest friend within the Fire Nation, Shaw-Fe, attempted to reassure him by tattooing Ryschi himself saying that "You fight like a firebender, and I'd consider you a master." So, when the Earth Kingdom attacked, Ryschi felt a need to defend the Fire Nation and his friend. However, the Elders of the North threatened to refuse to teach him further if he did so which would effectively keep him from ever earning his tattoos. Ryschi relented, and instead offered to be a messenger between the Water Tribes since they at least were doing something to help. With the awakening of the next Avatar, Ryschi refuses to sit still and let the Earth Kingdom have their way realizing that a true master of the winds does not need recognition. Besides, someone will have to teach the Avatar airbending, and it's unlikely to be any of the other Nomads that want nothing to do with the war.
TRIVIA
Ryschi has endured many storms and has thus become familiar with lightning, leading him to become quite jealous of lightning benders for wielding a powerful force of the sky that he cannot.
Howdy! I'm interested, but I know very little about avatar. I understand the basic concepts of bending but have yet to fully see the show. Would it be alright if I joined in? If so, I have three character concepts in mind.
Cool! I will honestly appreciate the coaching! The OOC gave a lot of information, which was why I was fairly comfortable asking to join. I'm going to drop some character concepts I was thinking of for review.
1: Earthbending soldier, warrior, or something of the like. A man who genuinely believes in the earth bender's cause because he doesn't realize just how terrible it is. He, of course, wants to bring the avatar in under the idea that he's protecting them. And by protecting the avatar, he is protecting his people. Issues I could see with this: Mostly just interacting with other player characters. Additionally, my friend informed me that "this is just Zuko", so that may also be problematic? Its a shame because he is my favorite of the concepts, but it may be the least playable. I'm a HUGE sucker for a character realizing that what they've done is wrong, despite believing originally that it was helping.
2: A similar concept to what is above, but a little bit more playable. An earthbending, traveling performer with the intention of finding the avatar. He traveled the land of the Earth Kingdom with a company of players (theatrical performers), performing acrobatic tricks and telling tales praising the power of the Earth Kingdom. He believes that the Earth Kingdom is genuinely the best people to rule and wants to find the Avatar in order to bring them home to safety. Benefits: He's more flexible than 1 and is not actively aggressive towards other bender types. In fact, he would not mind working with them if it means finding the avatar faster. After all, he would NEVER get attached to non-earth benders (/s). Issues: I would have to research traveling performers from cultures similar to the Earth Kingdom. That isn't a big deal because I am already studied in a lot of theatrical culture. But I would want to make sure I'm doing it correctly.
3: A fire bender bounty hunter. She intends to find the avatar with the intent to use him as a weapon to win the war. At least, that's what she says on the surface. She's helped fight in the war so far, but she just wants it to be over. She sees the whole thing as an utter waste of life on both sides of the war. Benefits: Not an earth bender, so easier to interact with other characters. Also has a specific reason why she would help bring the Avatar to a place that isn't the Earth Kingdom.
Jin "I returned from war to find myself a foreigner in my own home."
NAME
Temujin (affectionately, Jin) Jochi
AGE
41
BIRTHPLACE
Ba Sing Se
ELEMENT
Earth.
APPEARANCE DETAILS
Temujin is perhaps a few centimetres above average in height, but a leg ruined in battle makes his posture bring him a little lower than most people. Jin's skin is the light brown of a river beach's sand with increasingly many wrinkles and a collection of minor scars from burns and cuts. His raven hair is tinted with streaks of grey, and he has brown eyes of a light tint that could be likened to gold. Once mighty musculature has been somewhat withered away with age and some disuse but still good tone remains for a man in his early forties.
PERSONALITY
Temujin is a person with very strong principles. He will not lie about who he is, what he plans to do, or really anything unless a very convincing case is made that the life of a good person depends on it. He epitomizes what nobility is meant to be, rather than what it is in the Earth Kingdom. As a thinly veiled slight, he would often be told he belonged more in the Fire Nation, perhaps being adopted from a lost child of theirs. Though he has a certain haughty arrogance to himself that all people of privilege bear, he very deliberately makes a point of being charitable and kind to those less fortunate than he even now as he has little more than the clothes on his back, dropping silver pieces into the cups of beggars even as his stomach growls. All the while, he tries to do such good deeds as discretely and anonymously as possible, fearing that if he does it publicly he would be doing so insincerely, vaingloriously, for the spectacle of charity rather than its literal purpose.
Beyond that, Jin is a deeply hurt person. All of his values and beliefs that he assigned to the Earth Kingdom were brutally crushed as he was stripped of his rank and position and de facto exiled from anything but the recesses of the the nation's society. This fear of betrayal manifests almost as a paranoia, employers of the now mercenary treated with constant suspicion that they might not pay him out or will send him to his death with glee. This learned behaviour contradicts his natural predisposition to trust people and take them at their word, this conflict within leading to many a tearful night. Unfortunately, he often downs these sorrows with drink or other substances, though he has so far been sufficiently disciplined that after consuming them he ceases for at least a week to ensure he does not become dependent on them. Sometimes, when he is not looking, he writes letters to his lost family. To his former wife, to his children some of whom would now likely have forgotten his face, his name. He never sends them, but he reads and rereads them and edits them before inevitably burning them. Over time this has passed into somewhat of an appreciation of poems, prose, poetry. As a soldier he had always sung along with his troops when it came to marching songs, or stuck around with them to sing drunkenly at campfires. Now with great nostalgia those memories bring him yet more interest to that, and even now he oft hums jingoistic tunes of the Earth Kingdom's army.
The familial nostalgia also has him often search for newspapers, books, and any sort of gossip so he might learn what is happening with his children. Sometimes successful he manages to read their name in a list of students graduating from some academy or the likes, but this is rare and far from enough to stifle his ever increasing homesickness.
Though born a powerful bender, and particularly well trained at it, he also takes a particular interest in martial arts, a fact that has intensified when the injury in his left foot much worsened the precision if not quite the power of his bending. Thus Temujin in much of his spare time will practice swordplay, archery, javelin throwing and more. While not a legendary warrior, he has still come to appreciate swordplay and be quite a duellist in his own right.
Meditation has come to be a rare solace to the warrior. He used to dismiss it as sentimental hooey for weaklings from the Air nomads or for some lily livered water benders. In public, he still does so. But when alone, it has come to at least clear his mind from his worst thoughts, the violent, the self indulgent, the self-destructive.
BIOGRAPHY
Honour and duty above all, tell no lies, stand for your homeland, and many such platitudes well rehearsed in adolescence were taken dearly to heart in Temujin, even if the rest of the socio-economic elite of the Earth Kingdom tended to disregard such things the moment they were old enough to have a concern about personal finance. Perhaps ironically, even as a teenager he was seen as a black sheep of his family for his refusal to partake in all sorts of schemes and intrigue that the aristocracy of Ba Sing Se indulged in. He was a problem they knew not what to do with, but when he kicked up his first stone and sent it airborne there was a very obvious path for him.
But Temujin refused an officer's comission that his family wished to give him right away, instead enlisting as a simple soldier. Still, with the combination of his privileged education, his natural talent for earthbending and his disciplined determination he was able to assume the position his father Altan Jochi wished to fast-track him to anyway.
Dutybound, as an officer he grew through the ranks of the Earth Kingdom's Marines participating in engagements both on land and sea to expel the occupiers of Earth Kingdom soil be they taking orders from the land of Fire or from the two poles. Brutal, efficient, he still had a strong code of honour. Any promises of clemency to surrendered foes were followed through with. Slain enemies were always given proper burials, and he thoroughly respected the property of people living in 'reclaimed' territories. Honour and glory were his, medals on his uniform gleaming proudly all the while he was free to not partake in political nonsense.
This was changed when his family had arranged for him to be married, his status as a then-Captain that had got there on his own quite endearing to other prospective families. He flailed and raged to be forced into such a thing, until he met the lady. Their love was instant, and the marriage soon followed.
But though he was happy, this meant quite bad things for him. His wife was of a similarly powerful family, and now he had far more scrutiny upon his every action. Every mercy given to the foe, every time army supplies were used to feed starving captives after a siege, all was quietly recorded into a ledger of blackmail that might one day be used against him.
That day inevitably came when on a campaign wherein refugees of the Fire nation were accosted by troops of another general, things from jewellery to clothes and utensils stolen to be pawned off for his personal wealth. Temujin found such to be a disgrace, and put an immediate end to it. Incensed, General Long immediately paid the rumour-mills to obtain the compilation of these transgressions and had it delivered to the Dai-Li and every important person that would be interested in it. His refusal to partake in courtly life had finally caught up to him.
A dishonourable discharge came, his family was ruined, his name in every black book on the continent. He divorced his wife in a vain effort to preserve her name and to let his children bear one that wouldn't bar them from any opportunity in life. Still in uniform, he became a roving mercenary ever more bitter towards his own countrymen, his oaths, the uniform that kept him warm in the lone rainy nights.
When the Avatar awoke, so too did some semblance of hope in Temujin. Washing, shaving for the first time in years, he marched proudly as perhaps now there was a chance to pay back all those that stabbed him in the back. Perhaps he wouldn't be welcome by those that recognised his face. But his hopes were high that his practical knowledge of the workings of the Earth Kingdom's armed forces would be much appreciated in the coming struggle.
TRIVIA
Going for a more Manchu & Tungusic feel with the fella, i.e. his sword is a Mongol sabre. listened to this while making him
@Kronshi Okay, so after reading this is definitely a solid base but a few questions on this:
1 - Your sheet states that he makes friends with Fire Nation citizens easily. I wanted to touch base to make sure you understood that the Fire Nation citizenship does not like the air benders as a whole right now. Their decision not to take any action in the war has painted them in a nasty light, and the regular citizen knows this. Having individuals friends that are understanding makes sense, but overall public perception of this character as a person in the Fire Nation is very, very poor.
2 - Most of your character's details only mention him in relation to his training and his relationship with the air temple. Who is he, what does he like, what does he do in his free time, and what sort of travels has he gone on that have impacted him in his time as a messenger. The world is in the state of unrest, and has been even before the formal declaration of war, and despite his worldliness, he feels relatively 2D.
3 - Finding the Avatar is a great point in this, but what were his motivations before this? What are his plans once the he reaches his goal? As someone who chafes against the chains of tradition, why is he comfortable accepting what they say instead of changing?
Like I said, it's a solid foundation but it feels a little incomplete and not fully attached to the world. I want to learn more about him as a person, not just his attitude!
1 - This is sadly unplayable unless you could justify this character going with the team right out the bat. We aren't planning on running opposing player factions in this so you won't have the opportunity to develop that realization IC.
2 - This is more possible but unfortunately, the players need to join The Rebellion - a group dedicated to bringing down King Wei and putting the Earth Kongdom back in their place. This is very at odds with the character's motivations.
3 - This is the most realistic idea but the Rebellion is small right now. War, fighting, and other aspects of this conflict are this character's primary source of income and joining the Rebellion would be a full time job, taking away their time and freedom to do so in favor of hunting the Avatar. Why would mercenaries, Bounty Hunters, and other for hire warriors are thriving in this, why give that up? Why is the pointless loss of life so important to a character who gets paid to hunt people and sometimes kill them?
On the surface, there isn't anything wrong with his character. Good options to connect to the plot and the story, motivation for joining teh rebellion, and a reason to stay with the team through hard times. I actually like all of that and think it's a good bit of content to work with to engage with you!
Still, reading it felt like we were reading an NPC rather than a player. This feels like someone who would send the team on their way, carrying their hopes and dreams, because their story is over. They're static, someone you use to make a scene more believable as the main cast returns to place frequently and he can welcome them back and listen to their stories, reminiscing on his own adventures as they do. This is a character I would make be a tavern owner, and surprise the party with a higher level character if shit hits the fan while they are resting.
I have three recommendations:
One, give him activities other than charity that he likes with some specific details. Does he like to read and what? Does he like art and what about it does he like? Does he play an instrument and does he still have one or did he lose it somehow?
Two, this man needs a vice other than depression. He seems to be the perfect person with some broken pieces inside, but little beyond that. Does he have a weakness for sweets, a penchant for drink, a temper or is apathetic about issues?
Three, this'll be wierd but I'd actually dial back his age a bit. My concern is that the age difference between him and the potential other characters will make some of the situations awkward? Not in the sense of the actual age difference, but rather the maturity and sense of priorities l. It could be good, but I just want to make sure we're on the same page!
@Achronum Roger for the first two, but is the third negotiable? I think the youngest I could go without putting the 'old soldier' vibe I'm gunning for into shaky ground is 41 or so
Tikaani stands tall at 6'3". He is physically fit and quite strong, with a toned athletic physique that he is quite proud of, that he obtained from years of training, and generally being active. He has a brown skin tone due to his Water Tribe heritage. His face is round, free of blemishes, and rather boyish. His facial features are marked by large expressive ocean blue eyes, a small nose, and a usually smiling mouth. These features give him a rather youthful appearance. He has short messy black hair, with sideswept bangs that cover his forehead, and go to his eyebrows. He knows his hair is a mess, but doesn't really care to do anything about it, claiming it adds character to his look. Except for the top of his head, and eyebrows, the rest of his upper body is void of any hair.
Like most Water Tribe members, Tikaani wears shades of blue and white in his clothes, colors associated with water and snow. His clothes are usually made from materials one can easily obtain in the South Pole. While at home in the in the South Pole, Tikaani is generally bundled up for the cold. He wears a thick, hooded, blue coat lined with white fur and usually dresses in layers. He wears a pair of white breeches as his bottoms, and tall blue boots as his footwear. He also wears blue with white fur lined mittens on his hands.
When he is not in the snow, Tikaani ditches the coat, and wears clothing that he finds much more comfortable. He wears a blue tunic with a low neckline. The tunic had sleeves at one point, but Tikaani intentionally cut them off, and now there is only fraying at the shoulder area. He wears a white sash tied around his waist. He also abandons the mittens, but does wear a pair of blue leather bracers around both wrists that go up to his elbows.
He sometimes ditches the tunic, and just goes without a shirt altogether. Usually when meditating under a waterfall, or when practicing his bending.
PERSONALITY
The main thing you should know about Tikaani, is that he has been told time and again, that he has the temperament of an Airbender. He is extroverted, bubbly, chatty, and boisterous. He is a very social person. He likes making friends and being surrounded by people. He is not picky about who he gets to know either, preferring to find some good in everyone. He is an outgoing, handshaking, touching kind of guy. He openly expresses affection through hugs, holding hands, as well as stroking and grabbing shoulders. He makes friends easily, and will happily chat up strangers if they interest him somehow. He enjoys social situations, and believes that everyone else would too. He's likely to convince people who he perceives as being lonely to come along with things like 'come on, you'll enjoy it!' or 'you don't know what you're missing!' Especially when he wants somebody to go Penguin Sledding with. While he does need to spend time alone once in a while, he gets bored if he does it too long. He values all his relationships, and will happily stick with anyone he considers a friend.
Tikaani is a cheerful, upbeat person. He can often be found with a smile on his face, even during stressful situations. He often makes jokes, when the situation is tense to lift people's spirits. He may tease others in a 'playful' way, and expect them not to 'take it so seriously.' He does feel bad if somebody does actually get their feelings hurt by what he says. Sometimes his attempts at humor are read as him not taking the situation seriously. While he does joke around a lot, he is capable of getting things done. He just doesn't feel the need to be so dour about it. He often suggests that others not be so serious. He always gets a giggle when he tells someone to 'chill out' considering he comes from a cold place, and can freeze water. In fact, he likes to make Water/Ice puns when he can get away with it.
Tikaani loves being a Waterbender, and enjoys showing off his skills for others in order to get praise. He has high self-esteem and is prone to bragging. He does it in a 'look at this awesome thing I can do!' way, rather than an 'I'm better than you.' way. He enjoys getting attention from others, and If nobody is paying attention to him, he will barge into a conversation or say something in order to attract some attention. He gets very uncomfortable if he feels left out.
He likes to live in the moment rather than dwelling on the past. This means Tikaani is not the best when it comes to organization, or planning. Due to his lack of planning ahead, it makes him impulsive, and he tends to jump into things without a second thought. He gets bored when he is not sufficiently stimulated, and will complain about being bored. He is also not the most tidy person. He does clean up his mess after the fact if it's pointed out to him, but he has trouble avoiding making a mess in the first place. He normally has trouble focusing, however he is soothed by the sounds of rainfall, a rushing waterfall, or the sound of running water in general. Meditating under a waterfall helps him think, and he'll often intentionally leave a faucet running if he's having trouble sleeping.
Emotionally, Tikaani is very easygoing. He is always up for a good time, and loves adventure and trying new things. He is willing to try anything once. He has a very long fuse, and you really have to do a lot to anger him. His anger can be explosive when something does set him off enough. After the fact though, he'll be profusely apologising about it, then expecting everything to all be water under the bridge after that. Even when he does get angry, he is quick to 'forgive and forget.' Aside from anger, he expresses his other emotions rather freely. He cries when he is sad, and visibly expresses his joy when he is happy. He is sensitive to the emotions of others, and will be the first to cheer someone up if he thinks their upset, as well as defend others from bullies.
At the end of the day, Tikaani is a kind and loyal friend who just likes to have fun.
BIOGRAPHY
Tikaani was born in the South Pole, a member of the Southern Water Tribe. Tikaani's father was a warrior, and died in battle when the boy was very young. Thus, the boy has little to no memories of him. All he knows about his father are some photographs his mother had, as well as things his mother told him. For the majority of his life, it was only Tikaani and his mother, and Tikanni was responsible for a lot of household things while his mother worked as a healer in the village. Primariy fishing, and cooking meals. He would go out on boat rides with his uncle on his mother's side to catch fish, and diving for sea prunes and fresh seaweed. His uncle also taught him how to navigate and steer a boat, because Water Tribesman should be able to navigate the seas. His mother however was the one that taught him to cook. The boy really liked to eat, and she felt it best that he learn to make his own meals sometimes. His cheerful and upbeat persona made Tikaani popular with his peers. He found it very easy to make friends with people. In between his chores, he made time to play with the other younger children in the village, whom he thought of as siblings. He particularly enjoyed going Penguin Sledding with them, although he was often the one who had to make sure the other kids didn't hurt the otter penguins.
While he was happy at home, Tikaani has always wanted to leave his small settlement in the South Pole, see the rest of the world, and potentially have a cool adventure. Mainly because he got bored with the day-to-day routine at home. Tikaani finally found some excitement in his life when he learned he was a Waterbender at the age of 12. He found out while he was watching his mother bend, and imitating her movements for fun. Obviously, he didn't have much control of it at that time, and the end result was Tikaani getting wet. After that, he trained with Waterbending masters in the tribe, as well as his own mother to hone his skill. Surprisingly, Tikaani took to bending rather quickly. Even though the masters didn't particularly care when the boy referred to it as 'cool water magic.' His boundless joy and enthusiasm overwhelmed a lot of the people who tried to teach him. He got bored with studying and often just wanted to play. The ones who actually mananged to hold his interest were his mother, and Nukka, the Chief of the southern tribe. He learned a lot during his lessons and became a skilled Waterbender.
At 14 years was the age when a boy takes part in the Southern Water tribe rite of passage of ice dodging. This was usually something a boy did with his father, but Tikaani's father was dead. Fortunately, there was a reason why his uncle taught him to sail a boat when he was younger. He took Tikaani out to sea, and had to guide the boat through iceberg infested waters. It was difficult but Tikaani managed to do it, and he earned himself a Mark of the Trusted on his forehead for proving to be exceptionally steady and dependable.
When he turned 18, Tikaani decided that he learned all he could in his small village. He wanted to leave the South Pole, see the rest of the world. He did after all know how to sail and could Waterbend like no one's business. His mother was hesitant to let her only child go off into the world all by himself. After all she did lose her husband, and couldn’t live with herself if she lost her son too. She had to be convinced to let him go. Tikaani promised his mother he would return someday
TRIVIA
He carries a canteen filled with water both for drinking and bending.
He has a big appetite, and he enjoys traditional Water Tribe foods (including stew made with sea prunes, which is an acquired taste,) as well as more exotic foods. He enjoys sweets the most. As such, he's learned to cook in order to satisfy his appetite.
He knows how to sail, though only a small boat. A big ship is out of his level of experience.
He can use the Water Tribe style club and boomerang.
He is bisexual. It probably won’t come up in the RP
“The Earth King took our kindness for weakness. That won't happen a second time.”
NAME
Zai Yao
AGE
18
BIRTHPLACE
Fire Nation Capital
ELEMENT
Fire
APPEARANCE DETAILS
A young man of average height, like many of his neighbours, Zai has clearly seen better days. While it is clear he was once fit and strong, his cheeks have grown sallow on long days and short rests, and a few visible ribs attest that it's been a long time since he's seen a hearty meal. His dark brown hair hangs limp and lifeless at his shoulders, chopped raggedly with a knife and often pulled back in a ponytail. He dresses like any Earth Kingdom peasant down on his luck, his clothes weather-stained and well worn, and often wears a wide-brimmed straw hat to ward off searching eyes. Underneath, although often rimmed by tired circles, his topaz eyes contrast his tired frame, remaining at all times sharp and alert.
PERSONALITY
"Firebending has no training wheels. Learning requires boldness. You have to step beyond the limits of your control and trust in your ability to wrest it back again. Every time you bend, you walk a razor's edge between control and chaos. It is not for the faint of heart."
Zai is a true son of the Fire Nation: proud, strong-willed, and driven. What little that dares to stand between him and what he wants is met with ferocity and uncompromising resolve. Similarly, his experience shadowing his father in diplomacy has shown him to approach problems from many angles, and given him an appreciation for solving problems with words as well as actions.
However, most of his shadowing was done in talks with existing allies, and they rarely involved truly opposing interests - in almost all cases, a deal could usually be reached to mutual satisfaction. As such, his skill in diplomacy is still lacking when it comes to an obstinate adversary, and Zai can quickly become frustrated with them, too proud to concede too much in the name of compromise. Zai also knows that his instincts and discipline need work; try as he might, he is still vulnerable to letting his own feelings get in the way of getting a truly insightful read on a situation.
Above all, Zai loves his country and his heritage, and chafes bitterly under the yoke of the Earth Kingdom. The insult and betrayal of his father’s disappearance and his own attempted arrest festers in his heart, fueled more by every grueling day and hungry night he spends as a fugitive on their soil. On top of that, anxiety for the fate of his people plagues him, and combined with his stewing distrust and growing hatred for the Earth Kingdom, it is beginning to create a dangerous mix.
BIOGRAPHY
“Dad, why do we get our food from the Earth Kingdom?”
“It’s a beneficial relationship, Zai. We have things they want, and they have something we want. By trading in this way, both nations are made stronger and more prosperous than they were before.”
Zai’s father was a highly ranked government official in the Fire Nation. As the dignitary of foreign affairs, he worked closely with the Fire Lord himself to arrange trade agreements and other dealings with the other three nations. It was a good gig; the nations had always been at peace and maintained amiable relationships, and it was rarely very difficult to finalize deals - there was rarely friction, and most of his job was just a matter of negotiating the minutiae to every party’s satisfaction. He travelled often and had many friends across the world, and considered himself very lucky.
Until things started getting… tense.
By the time Zai, his first son, was born, the Fire Nation’s relationship with the Earth Kingdom was starting to get a little strained. Prices of imported goods, especially food, began to rise, and proved something of a stumbling block for their relationship. It seemed like nothing at first - the Earth Kingdom had a weak harvest this year, the seas were rough that year, and so on - and later, reports of strife inside the Earth Kingdom seemed to confirm that the trade interruptions were simply the result of a series of unfortunate events befalling the Fire Nation’s long-time trade partner.
By the time Zai was 10, the effects of poor trade were becoming noticeable even in the Capital. Shortages were taking their toll even on the aristocracy’s dinner tables, and high inflation was sparking the beginnings of civil unrest. However, the people of the Fire Nation did not easily yield to stress, and their strong sense of unity and patriotism allowed them to band together and maintain order even as their situation grew more and more precarious.
Fortunately, as the son of a dignitary, Zai was shielded from much of his Nation’s growing suffering. He never went hungry, never felt unsafe, and never had to go without. He enjoyed a happy home life and a fine education, receiving firebending training from the same Master who trained the children of the Fire Lord. He took to bending readily and with great enthusiasm, and it wasn’t long before he became an accomplished firebender himself.
But as the years wore on, the Fire Nation’s position only got worse. Trade slowed to a trickle, and although Zai was still sheltered from the worst of it, his Nation’s hardships were always present to him. He was not blind to the suffering of his people; his heart hurt for them, and he wanted nothing more than to learn all he could from his father to follow in his footsteps and serve the Fire Nation.
When he was 17, his chance finally came to make a real difference. Things were becoming desperate for the Fire Nation, and increased reliance on the Water Tribe and Air Nomads was not enough to effectively ease the strain. Zai had shadowed his father for a few years on stop-gap measures with the two more friendly nations, but now the Fire Lord tasked him with his most important job yet: to visit the Earth King and negotiate an end to the trade interruptions. To his delight, Zai was allowed to accompany his father on the trip to observe his father working his magic when it mattered most.
Ba Sing Se was a marvel to behold, and Zai and his father received a royal welcome. Many meetings were held with Earth Kingdom representatives - of agriculture, shipping, fisheries, and many more - and before long, Zai’s head was spinning from the complexity of it all. It was over a month before the Earth King himself would meet with Zai’s father.
But when the time finally came to see the Earth King, Zai's father told him to stay behind. Confused and hurt, Zai tried to argue, but begrudgingly agreed to wait in their guest mansion in the Upper Ring, wondering why his father thought he was unworthy.
But his father never came back.
In a single evening, Zai turned from guest of honour to fugitive - and worse, he didn’t know why. He had to escape the clutches of the Dai Li in Ba Sing Se and flee on his own, his father’s royal escort nowhere to be found. By the time Zai reached the coast, and was turned away, he learned the horrible truth: the Earth King had declared war on the Fire Nation and launched a brutal assault, only barely held off with the help of their allies in the Water Tribe. As a result, the coast was locked down, and Zai was stranded.
It’s been a year since then, and Zai has been barely scraping by, bouncing between small Earth Kingdom villages near the coast and forced to conceal both his identity and his bending under threat of internment. He does not know what became of his father, and he has no way to contact his mother. He watches anxiously from the other side of the sea, scratching for any information he can get on the status of his home, but powerless to do anything to help. All he knows is that somehow, he needs to find his father - and make the Earth King pay for what he's done.
TRIVIA
Zai’s favourite food is blackened eelfish. He’s yet to find it outside the Fire Nation.
In the Earth Kingdom, he goes by "Sho."
Def didn't forget this isn't the interest check anymore
To be honest, I don't really have anything that needs to be changed or added to here. The character flows with the events naturally and the focus on the major event in your backstory offers enough complexity to the character without over-explaining him and his motivations are personal enough to avoid being the standard end the war.
Your character sheet makes me confident that we'll get to learn more about the character in game so please move over Zai over when you have the chance!
I'm concerned that you either skipped over the OOC or didn't fully engage with it. Your sheet has no mention of the current war, that officially started last year, or his thoughts on the issue of being cut off from the Northern Water tribe and having resources stretched thin in an unstainable effort to protect an ally that can't do anything in return. I highly recommend you review the OOC for other details like the world leaders, as there isn't a chief Nukka of the Southern Water tribe.
Your personality section is aggressively excessive. Your character is all over the place and while that may well be the energy he has, pull him back and build a better foundation for his personality. I don't see a natural direction for him to grow off the bat and I think cutting down on the over explaining and tightening his sense of self will help give that direction. He is full if little paradoxes that leave him feeling like he isn't finished, like we didn't make choices just said he'll be everything.
Overall, the character needs more focus and you need a better understanding of the world to really connect it to the rp. I'm happy to answer any questions you have after you review the OOC!
