[CHAR] Avatar: The Wind of War

[Nevermind]

Malik

Age:
25

History:
Malik's father was a tradesman of the Northern Water Tribe by the name of Sakari. Sakari, like the majority of his kind, was situated in the capital of the North Pole. He was by no means a rich man, in fact he often found himself barely making ends meet, and due to being a single father, he struggled to care for his child. And, despite his rather humble profession, Sakari was a man of pride, and a man of morals. Two qualities that are perhaps more commonly found in a warrior than a trader, but qualities he had, nonetheless. These two qualities, however, gave Sakari quite the dilemma. Could he raise this child and risk having it struggle in life like he had himself, or would he have to swallow his pride and ask for help? In the end he decided on the latter, begging his older, more successful brother, Tuktu, to take Malik in and raise him. Tuktu reluctantly accepted, and before he could have any second thoughts, Sakari went missing whilst out at sea.

Tuktu was a waterbending master, and was renowned as one of the greatest waterbenders alive. Tuktu took Malik in, but he did not love him. He already had three children, all of which he cared for dearly, so Malik was more like a permanent guest than an adopted child. Malik received plenty of love from his aunt, the woman that took the primary 'mother figure' role in his life, but he was always constantly striving for his uncle Tuktu's approval, and no matter how well he did he could never attain it.

One thing Malik had in common with his uncle was his skill for waterbending. Ever since he could walk, he was ten steps ahead of everyone else his age in terms of his ability to bend. This was partly due to the exceptional training he received from his uncle at a very young age, and partly down to the fact that he was simply gifted with great talent. As a young boy he attended the Water tribe's school. Despite already being versed in the basics of waterbending prior to his school years, Malik still went through training that any waterbender his age was expected to be given. He excelled in this environment and was, by quite a distance, the most gifted student of his generation.

Though Malik was very similar in many ways to his father, he was given many more opportunities. He had been told that his father had wished to be a warrior, but he could not bend or fight, so he would have been useless. Malik was quite the reverse - not only could he bend and fight, but he had spent years in school learning the history of war, tactics and anything else that was relevant to being a warrior. The prospect of being a soldier filled him with anticipation, so he followed that path.

He served as a warrior of the Tribe throughout his late teens and, for the most part, due to the Tribe's isolation, had very little to do other than stand on look-out or scout around the city. Being a rash young man, Malik struggled with being confined like this and had some minor issues with taking orders. When he was a boy, working through school, he had never seen life as a warrior like this. Standing still, waiting for something to happen. It was not what he had hoped for, but, he knew he could not ask for any more.

By his early 20s, Malik was already on the verge on mastering waterbending, which was seen as quite an exceptional feat. He received no praise from his uncle, however. The only reward for his years of hard training in that respect was his uncle scolding him for his arrogance. Which was not much of a reward.

It was at this time that Malik was delivered one of life's cold hard lessons. He fell for a girl in the tribe, a waterbender like him. She pretended to love him back but he soon learned that she was just trying to find a way for his uncle to tutor her. She had never cared about Malik.

At the age of 22, only days after getting his heart broken, Malik was with a small group of warriors scouting the lands around the city when they came to blows with some wild men - one of which, Malik noted, was a woman, only armed with a basic club, evidently unprepared for battle and only wishing to protect herself. Malik and the group fought well and quickly defeated the barbarians, but when the fight was over, a small few remained standing. One of them was the woman. Rukk, Malik's superior, ordered for Malik, being the strongest waterbender of the group, to finish them off. Malik refused, believing that the killing of weakened enemies who could just as easily be taken prisoner was bad enough, even worse if it was a defenceless woman. Rukk called Malik weak, and then went to finish the barbarians off himself. Malik stopped him and let them get away.

When they returned to the city, Malik was scolded for acting against his superior. Malik responded poorly, verbally lashing out at his superiors. As punishment for his outburst, Malik was temporarily suspended from his work as a warrior. Though, he had no intention of ever returning to his service. Unable to accept what had happened, Malik left the North Pole on bad terms with everyone there, including his uncle.

Malik set out in to the world alone as a young man, his link with the Northern Water Tribe forever broken due to his refusal to fall in to line. He found himself in the Earth Kingdom, where he travelled and studied for several years, spending his time honing his abilities and learning about the history of the world. He struggled to find himself a calling in life, but this was no different from when he had lived in the North, as he had not been happy with the future he had there, either. To this day he travels, seeking a place to call his home, or someone to follow.

Skills:
From a young age, Malik excelled in waterbending and it's many uses. By his early 20s he was already verging on becoming what is considered a 'master', due to being tutored by his uncle since he could walk. He still has things to learn, but now, at the age of 25, there is very little on which he can improve.
In addition to his bending skills, Malik is very agile and strong, having spent years training as a warrior of the Northern Water Tribe. He is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, and although there are probably many who can best him in a spar, he is certainly above average. These are very much his secondary-skills, though, and are not too out of the ordinary for a warrior.

Personality:
Malik is typically a calm and composed man. He does not come off as aggressive or overly arrogant. In fact, people probably take good first impressions from him. He is assertive and alert, but can be laid-back and have a sense of humour, depending on the context.
Malik can, however, be hot-headed and act of reflex. Most of the bad decisions he has made in his life have been decisions he has made five seconds before he has carried them out. Though typically calm and responsible, Malik can become very passionate if the situation is significant enough. He is often very stubborn, and is unlikely to back down easily, whatever the circumstances.
He has few friends, but those he chooses to befriend are very important to him. There are few people he cares for and has loyalty for, but to those people, he is completely invested in and unwaveringly loyal.
He wants to be a man of honour. He wants to be the man his father wanted him to be. He fears death, but he will give his life if he must.
Malik has a guard that he rarely lets down, but when he does, he is vulnerable and easily manipulated. He can often go from having no trust for someone to completely trusting them, if he feels they deserve his faith. This may not always work out in his favour, however. If he cares about someone, he will put his life on the line for them and do whatever he can for them - even if they do not necessarily care for him, and are perhaps using him.

Appearance:
Malik has the typical dusky skin-tone and icy blue eyes of a member of the Northern Water Tribe. His dark brown hair is moderate in length and quite messy in it's arrangement. He usually keeps his hair in a pony-tail, and has a small flick of hair on the right side of his face. He has a warrior's physique - strong, yet agile. He is quite tall, standing somewhere around six foot.

Sample post:

Sample Post

3 years ago...

Malik stood in silence on the deck. His arms were crossed over, resting comfortably on the side of the ship as he peered down at the blue maw of the sea. He was wearing light furs and leathers, one of many practical garments that he had taken with him from the North Pole. That was the bulk of what he had with him: clothing. He had one or two personal mementoes and some gold pieces that he had received in exchange for his North Pole currency from a trader he had met back on the docks before he had departed, but other than that, he was leaving his homeland with nothing. But he needed very little. As long as he had the basics to survive, he was confident he could make his way in life. He was independent and capable.

He had left following a spat with his uncle, and the chieftain of the Northern Water Tribe. They had called his lack of obedience unacceptable. They called it defiance. As if refusing to kill weakened enemies who would most likely surrender if given the chance was a bad thing. He scoffed at the thought of it all. When he was a boy he had dreamed of being a legendary warrior, saving damsels in distress in slaying evil beasts. What was he doing instead? Slaughtering innocents? That was not the kind of man he wanted to be.

"Hey, kid," one of the deckhands spoke up, approaching Malik and giving him a friendly nod. "What's a boy like yourself doing all by himself, travelling so far from home?"

"Why should the travels of a 'kid' bare any relevance to you?" Malik retorted, frowning slightly at being labelled a child.

The deckhand shrugged slightly, clearly not intuitive enough to understand the hint that Malik was dropping. "Passes the time I guess."

"Let's just say... I don't think the Northern Water Tribe is part of my fate."

"But you don't have anyone with you?"

Malik peered at him. "No."

"Why not?"

"I don't need anyone with me." He smirked slightly. "I can handle myself, don't worry."

The man chuckled slightly. "All right, kid. Well, best of luck out there. It's a big world. Lots of dangers. If you ask me, you were best off staying in one of your comfy ice huts in the North Pole."

"They're not as comfy as you make them sound."

The man chuckled again. "Yeah, yeah. Anyway, we should hit the coast of the Earth Kingdom pretty soon, kid. Might want to pack your things up."

"Okay, thank you."

The Earth Kingdom. The nation of spring, Malik had once read. Some people linked the Earth Kingdom with spring, just like the Water Tribes were linked with winter, which had always fascinated him, because seasons meant very little to the Water Tribes. Snow would always fall, and the tide would always roll in, whatever the time of year. Any change that a new month would bring was so marginal that it would go completely unnoticed by the locals and would seldom make any kind of difference, significant or otherwise, to life in the North. The hulking blocks of ice remained, and the stinging chill of cold was always on the skin of those out in the wind. That was how it was.

Anyone who had never ventured south would have no real concept of the changing of seasons, save for a few picture books from the school. Malik had been one of those people, having only a limp grasp on the idea of a land where the ground was green and not concealed by thick layers of white. But now he saw the horizon of a new land. An expanse of green and yellow and all kinds of colour. It was surreal to witness, as the two other expanses that he had laid his eyes upon had been the endless white of the North Pole and the endless blue of the ocean. Both endless and bland. Flat. This new world was the reverse - full of life, deep and ever-changing.

It was not only the sight of the Earth Kingdom that Malik was fascinated by, but it's heat, too. He had not anticipated it to be so different. Over the course of the boat journey he had slowly shed the various furs that he wore until he was only clad in a very basic layer of clothing. He could now understand why people visiting the North Pole were so dramatic about the climate. He had always thought that they were overreacting, but perhaps it was, to them, as cold as they said.

Malik noted in his head that he was in a place that was not really regarded as hot. There was the Fire Nation, and there were deserts in the Earth Kingdom, he believed. Surely they were even more of a difference than here. Neither the Fire Nation, nor the desert, were places that he was eager to visit. They were places lacking in water. A place lacking in water is no place for a waterbender. Malik could bend well out of quite minimal supplies of water, but he was no miracle worker. He felt more content with the prospect of spending his days in the more pleasant reaches of the Earth Kingdom.

[Tomahawk]

Name:
Jin Zoulu

Date of Birth:
38 BG

Description:
A career soldier, Jin is in peak physical condition; tall and lean, his body is filled with hard, utilitarian muscle. His hair is dark and lengthy, styled either in a traditional top-knot or left to hang free; a ridge of grey lines his temples, outing his age for the world to see.

He is a handsome man, his jaw strong, his features sharp - though a certain gentleness is evident in his eyes. Scars won in battle mar his flesh, including a handful of healed burn wounds earned during Agni-Kai.

Skills:
Jin is an exceedingly talented fire bender, exemplified by his rapid rise through the Fire Nation military's ranks: he was, in fact, the second youngest man named Captain in the nation's history. By many standards, he is thought to have mastered the art of fire bending; Jin would insist that no man or woman alive could truly perfect their bending, and that they should forever strive to improve.

Of his talents outside of bending, Jin is a trained cavalryman and proficient with a short blade and spear. His talent with martial weapons is nowhere near comparable to his bending prowess, but he recognizes that not every battle can be won by fire.

Biographical Timeline:

• 38 BG. Jin is born in a remote Fire Nation village, Hira'a, the son of two livestock ranchers.
• 33 BG. A rancher's son, Jin learns how to milk moo-sows, harvest pig chicken eggs, and shear wooly pig wool. He begins to attend Hira'a's single-room schoolhouse.
• 31 BG. Jin's affinity for firebending manifests; he is sent to Hira'a's single bending master, Tai Zhong, alongside a handful of other young benders.
• 30 BG. Hailed as the most talented firebending youth in Hira'a, Jin is made Tai Zhong's personal pupil, beginning private lessons with the firebending master.
• 28 BG. Jin's prowess as a bender advances, and he is given the responsibility of teaching the youngest benders in Hira'a.
• 23 BG. Now a young man, Jin accompanies Master Zhong to the Capital City on business. He is exposed to the splendor of aristocratic Fire Nation life and the grandeur architecture of the city, and develops a strong desire to leave Hira'a and explore the world.
• 20 BG. Jin celebrates his eighteenth birthday and is considered a man. Against his father's wishes, Jin enlists in the Fire Nation military when a traveling recruiter visits Hira'a. Within a month he is training in a Fire Nation military academy.
• 19 BG. Jin graduates from his basic training, improving his firebending and fostering skill with a spear and shield, the pu dao, and komodo rhino riding. On leave before his first deployment, Jin meets Jia, a young performing artist in the Capital City theater; the two are enamored with each other, spending almost every day of his two weeks' leave together. Shortly before deploying, Jin proposes to Jia in a traditional Fire Nation ceremony; despite her family's wishes she accepts, and husband and wife relocate together to Yu Dao, a Fire Nation colony in the Earth Kingdom.
• 18 BG. Jin receives a promotion for his part in quelling Earth Kingdom rebellions in and around Yu Dao. Jia gives birth to a girl, whom they name Li.
• 15 BG. Jin leads a sortie against an organized bandit clan plaguing Yu Dao and defeats their leader, a defected Fire Nation sailor famed for his talent as a firebender, in single combat. He is promoted to Captain, the second youngest soldier to reach the rank in Fire Nation history.
• 14 BG. Jia gives birth to a boy. Jin proposes that he be named Hai, in honor of Jia's father.
• 8 BG. Leader of the Fire Nation infantryman garrison in Yu Dao and master firebender, Gang Bo, grows disillusioned with the nationalistic attitude of his peers and flees east, into the Earth Kingdom. Dispatched to bring him to justice, Jin corners Gang outside of the commercial hub of Taku. The two battle, first verbally and then physically, engaging in Agni-Kai. Unable to return him willingly to his post, Jin is forced to kill Gang. Upon his return to Yu Dao, Jin is made leader of the city's garrison and, having defeated a firebending master, is considered a master in his own right.
• 1 BG. Late in the year, Jin is informed that he will be leaving Yu Dao temporarily to assist another brigade of Fire Nation soldiers in an assault on hostile airbenders.

Sample Post - 8 BG

"Good afternoon, my light," Jin greeted his daughter, Li, the pair laughing as he swept her into a dangling one-armed hug. His other arm behind his back, Jin inquired, "How was school, dear?" as he set her back on the ground. "Boring!" she whined, frowning. "We studied arithmetic all day, and now my head hurts!" Jin chuckled, stooping low to offer the girl his surprise: a tiny komodo rhino plush, cute as a button. She squealed, taking the toy from him; "Straight from the Capital City. Might that help with your headache, dear?"

Before the girl could even reply, a pint-sized blur had shifted between them, and her rhino was gone! "Hai!" she shrieked, taking off after the boy who had pilfered her plush. Jin watched the pair, grinning with amusement, as his wife slipped an arm about his midsection. "Hello, love," Jin greeted Jia, turning to peck her lips. "How was work?" she asked. Before he could answer, she bellowed at her children, now just about out of sight, "Hai! Li! Supper soon!"

Jin pushed down the unease and frustration that work had brought; Gang Bo could wait one more day. "It was just fine," he replied, taking his wife's hand and starting towards the door to their home. "Something important has come up, though, Jia; I fear we may have to postpone my leave." Disappointment was plain on her face, and Jin sighed. "I'm sorry, my love. I know just how badly you want to see your parents. You know I do, too -"

Jia interrupted him with a mirthless laugh. "Please," she said, rolling her eyes. "If you and my mother bicker any more, you might have to settle your differences with Agni-Kai, Jin." After a moment's pause, her expression softened, and she placed her hands upon Jin's chest, kissing him. "It's fine," she insisted, after they had separated. "We'll visit my parents next month. What's so important that Commander Bo delayed your leave?"

"I'd rather not talk about it," Jin lamented, shaking his head. "It's a sour subject. It can wait."

Jia examined him at length. "Fine," she said, deciding not to pester him further. "Why don't you go gather up Li and Hai while I set out dinner, then?"

[Pietra]

Kala Hishen

Appearance:

Having the typical features of any Earth Kingdom woman, Kala has olive skin, and dark brown hair. Time training in the light of the sun has tanned her skin considerably, and lightened her hair slightly. Her wide eyes, though worn and tired, always with bags beneath them, are a pale green. She could be called pretty, but not beautiful- she has too many scars to be aesthetically appealing. On her back, she has a burn from the nape of her neck to the small of her back, jagged and dark. Due to this, she always wears high collared outfits, concealing her long, slender neck. Her body is built with strong bones, and very little fat, except around her hips and thighs; beneath her loose fitting clothes, she is incredibly muscular.

Age: 27

Personality:

Quiet, and civil, Kala is a gentle person. Just by looking at her, and talking to her, one would never know that she is a master of swordplay. She is nothing if not modest, though she is very knowledgable in many subjects, especially history and military tactics. Her speech is ever so eloquent, as are her movements graceful. In battle, she is singularly minded, but able to manage multiple tasks at once. Her concentration and focus are unmatched by anyone she has ever fought in the past, no doubt due to her meditative practices.

Master of: Non-bending skills

Skills:

Swordplay - Her mother was a master swordsman, and she trained Kala with swords from toddler to teenager. Eventually, she went on to forge her own swords, which she dual wields in battle. She is now one of the greatest masters of swordplay in the world, it being her primary talent, as she has developed her own style combining the movements of dance taught to her by her father with the traditional methods taught by her mother.
Hand-to-hand Combat - Kala's uncle, an earthbender, taught her hand-to-hand combat, so that she would be able to defeat a bender one on one without being armed with sufficient weaponry.
Dancing - As a professional dancer, Kala's father trained her from a young age in the art of dance. She was privy to excellent training from him, mastering styles known by the poor and the privileged alike, from all four of the kingdoms. Her favorite is water dancing, as the movements are the most conducive to swordsmanship.
Blacksmithing - Kala travelled to the fire kingdom to learn the art of blacksmithing. Befriending one, she learned to forge her own swords, and did so from an alloy of steel and obsidian. Eventually, she married the smith, and during their short time together, became even more familiar with the skills necessary to forge and improve weaponry and armor alike.
Meditation - In recent months, Kala has become more solemn and stoic, and has begun to meditate. This has greatly improved her concentration and focus, and has aided her when she finds it difficult to sleep. She has regularly practiced meditation since she was a child, she has simply increased the frequency as of late.

Weaknesses:

Fire - Kala was overtaken by the soldiers of the fire nation laying siege on her hometown, when one of them shot fire at her back, leaving a jagged and ugly scar that covers almost her entire back. Due to the traumatic event, she has developed an intense phobia, a fear of fire- more specifically, fire benders. If she is controlling the fire, it is much easier, but still hard for her. Smithing is difficult to do as well as she could before, and cooking is often impossible to do alone. Fighting against a fire bender is not an option.
Her Daughter - Kala's daughter was stolen from her, by fire nation soldiers. She does not know the girl's whereabouts, but would do anything to see her, to save her, even though she doesn't even know if she's alive.

History:

Kala was born in the western side of the earth kingdom, to a dancer and his wife, a sword master. Her father trained her in the art of dance, styles from all four kingdoms, and her mother in the art of swordplay. Her uncle, an earthbender of the earth kingdom army, taught her the arts of hand-to-hand combat, and helped her train herself to the point where she could fight against a bender, and win. They all supported her, when she decided to follow in her mother's footsteps.

The first step of her journey to become a legendary swordsman required that she forge her own sword. The blacksmiths in the earth kingdom were fantastic, there was no doubt about that- however, their caliber was greatly exceeded by the fire nation. As a mere teenager, she made her way to a fire nation colony of the earth kingdom, disguising herself in fire nation clothes to hide her identity as a true born earth citizen. She did so against the wishes of her family, who insisted that the land was full of dangers. Once there, she began familiarizing herself with the layout of the land, with the people, and with their customs. Through this process, she was able to assume the identity of a fire nation citizen.

After a year of intense study of the fire nation people of the colony, she felt ready to continue her journey, to the fire nation itself. Boarding a boat as a stowaway, meant only for soldiers of the fire nation, she remained undiscovered for quite some time. However, upon docking, she made the mistake of coming up early- one of the soldiers spotted her, and took her back to his cabin for questioning. As a lieutenant, he did not have much power, but he did act as her arresting officer. Kala did not fight back, as she knew that this would be seen as an act of guilt. Brought to a minor court, Kala was pardoned. The sign of an earth kingdom citizen, apparently from one of the colonies, sneaking to the fire nation was not seen as an illegal act, but as one that was expected by Sozin. She claimed that she wanted to become a fire nation citizen, and was welcomed into the small city with open arms.

Kala befriended a blacksmith, who taught her how to forge a sword. Over the course of a year, through constant trials and errors, Kala eventually forged two swords, deciding to dual wield, rather than using a shield of any sort. Her swords were made of an alloy of obsidian and steel, a beautiful black metal, both strong, and durable. After a year of working with the blacksmith, they became more than friends- the man proposed, and they were married.

She felt invincible, armed with her dual swords, and happily married, until she received a letter from her family. They were being attacked by armies sent by the fire nation. The soldiers were laying siege to their homes, trying to break through to the center. Though the earth kingdom was holding its own, her family was frightened, and they needed her to come home. Saying a teary goodbye to her husband, Kala promised to return, with her family in tow, to bring them to safety, as she had truly come to love the fire nation, and was sure that the 'siege' was a misunderstanding.

Once again, she stowed away on a fire kingdom ship, sending in reinforcements to lay siege to the earth kingdom. This time, she was smart, and escaped the ship unscathed. However, she was faced with the problem of returning to her city- after two years, much had changed. Namely, the walls protecting the city were now surrounded by fire nation soldiers, waiting, and occasionally attacking. Kala saw no option other than to use brute force to try to force her way back to her home.

In the dead of night, Kala snuck through the fire nation camps, hoping that sleep would keep them occupied. Taking out guards one by one, she was able to take out around three dozen of those stationed around the area before one slipped away. He blew a horn, and woke the infantry. Overwhelmed by firebenders all around her, Kala was overtaken. A soldier seized an opportunity, and sent her flying into a wall with a burst of flame to her back.

She woke up in a bed that was all too familiar- she was home again. Her parents, her city, they had all surrendered. Her hometown was colonized by the fire nation, and she began to see how truly horrible that was. For one thing, the taxes were tremendous; the fire nation soldiers also claimed military rights over the goods made by the citizens, taking things for free from hard working civilians. Kala felt idiotic for taking so long to see the injustice, and was about to set out to fix it, when she was given a reason why she could not fight.

Another year had passed since she had come to the city, and she had been comatose the entire twelve months. During that time, they had discovered that she was pregnant- that was the factor which convinced her family to surrender, and caused a domino effect. While in her coma, Kala had been cut open by the fire nation soldiers, and her baby taken into their custody. All she was told was that the child had been a girl, and was still alive. Kala swore vengeance on the fire nation- however, she found that she had two newly formed weaknesses; her daughter, as she did not want them to harm her, and a fear of fire. The trauma from that fight had been enough to create a newfound phobia, which she could not help.

Upon receiving word from the fire nation soldiers that her husband had been accused of treason, and killed for it, Kala determined to set aside her fears, and do what she could. She caught wind of the avatar's death, and the subsequent birth of the new one, and set her mind on one new goal- to find and train the avatar as best she can, to help him defeat Sozin. She was smuggled out of the city by a wine merchant, and has proceeded to wander the world in search of the avatar.

[Free Faller]

Appearance

Saili’s features are all fairly common place among the peoples of the Earth Kingdom. Her skin is a coppery, warm tone that’s pulled over tightly corded muscles and good for hiding the dirt she’s covered in the vast majority of the time. She keeps her hair cut relatively short for easy maintenance and it’s usually pulled back from face in some manner or another, and is an oaken, middling brown color. Her eyes are almond shaped and a vivid green and do an admirable job at ruining any of Saili’s attempts to hide her emotions, especially when her traitorously expressive and mobile eyebrows come into play. Her mouth is thin and is usually set in a crooked, single dimpled smile. She’s taller than your average Earth Kingdom woman by a good few inches, and her clothing is in keeping with the simplistic nature of earthbenders. It’s also important to note that she, like many other skilled earthbenders, does not wear shoes as she is stronger when her feet are in direct contact with the earth.

Name: Saili
Age: 28
Personality: If one were to put Saili next to a rock and compare them, they’d be pretty hard pressed give you more than a handful of differences between the two, including the horribly obvious ones. This close affinity towards her element, however, is one of the largest reasons she makes such a capable earthbender. Her stubbornness cusps on a near legendary level, and it might be more plausible to shift a mountain than to change Saili’s mind from something she’s decided on. Of course, while fighting, people will often refer to this trait as more of an ‘unwavering tenacity and endurance’ than stubbornness. Which might be very true when she’s fighting to protect her homeland or friends, but sounds ridiculously pretentious to her ears for any other occasion.

A combination of having a quick mind and decisive attitude can make her seem brash, however she is actually quite the patient individual. Being firm and confident is important, as earthbending does not respond to hesitancy well, but knowing when to strike and when to defend is also an important aspect; timing is everything for a neutral jing fighter such as herself. An outgoing woman, Saili is generally friendly to any who haven’t given her a reason not to be and makes for an interesting companion if one doesn’t mind her candid and frank manner of speaking. Her temper is very cool as well, and most insults and raised voices are met with a crooked little grin and a lifted eyebrow. She can be infuriating to more hotheaded people in these instances, as her cavalier attitude seems to stoke their fires more. If she actually manages to get angry she’ll go very quiet and still, every muscle in body tensed… and said anger may or may not be accompanied shortly thereafter by hurling boulders. Nobody wants that. (Note: angry quiet is not to be confused with pensive quiet, where she stares off into space with a bemused look about her, or uncomfortable/frightened quiet, where she furrows her brows and chews the inside of her cheek.)

Skills:

• A master earthbender with many years of service within the Earth Kingdom military, she’s no stranger to the stresses and rigor of war.
• Aside from knowing most of the master level techniques of earthbending, she also is skilled in the use of seismic sense.
• Seeing as earth is the “element of substance,” Saili is physically strong and all ripcord musculature to be able to bend all the bulk.
• She’s pretty good at throwing some random things from the forest into a pot and cooking them together into something edible, and most of the times tasty. That’s to say, she’s a decent cook in or out of civilization.

Weaknesses:

• Very dependent on her earthbending.
• She’s as decent as any soldier should be at hand-to-hand, but if she has to resort to it it’s probably not going to end well for her.
• She highly prefers her feet firmly planted on solid ground. Boats, water deeper than what she can stand in, tree houses, even riding animals can make her a little iffy. She’ll avoid these situations if she can at all help it.
• In relation to the last, she does not like being unable to work her element. At best it makes her uncomfortable and at worst she reaches an almost phobic level of tension and nervousness, depending on the situation.

History: Saili was born and raised in Taku, a coastal city in the northwestern region of the Earth Kingdom. The city was known as a hub for commerce, as its ports handled many of the imports and exports from other nations. Both of Saili’s parents worked in this industry, her father working on a cargo ship as a crewman, and her mother in a warehouse. While her father would be away for varying lengths of time, her mother was still a constant in her young life despite her constant working. Often Saili would find herself trailing after her mother all day until it was that she grew old enough to be left to her own devices.

Saili and her own devices usually meant running amok through the crowded of streets of Taku, a pack of her friends around her. Like most kids their age, they often played at being heroes of great grandeur, or even the next Avatar knowing full well that the first was nigh impossible, and the second was completely so. Regardless, Saili grew up with the idea that she was meant to be something more than a what her parents had achieved especially when she had first learned that she was an earthbender.

It was her ticket to adventure in her life, or at least something a bit more interesting. When she was old enough she enlisted into the Earth Kingdom military, bent on expanding her knowledge and determined to master this new facet of herself that she had discovered. Bender recruits were trained separately from their non-bending counterparts, of course, but still her basic training class made up of those from Taku and the areas around was quite large.

Regardless, Saili was better than them all. Impressed, her trainers sent her and several of the other top recruits to Taku’s earthbending masters with the intention of testing their limits and priming them for promising careers. Saili studied hard for years under their tutelage and eventually became a master in her own right and even began to expand upon the militaristic style of earthbending she had been taught and add her own little flair to things.

Her abilities coupled with a down-and-dirty, lead from the front personality and leadership style meant that she rose quickly to the rank of sergeant, but no further. And she never wanted to be any further either, if it meant sitting in cramped rooms thinking of strategies and plans. She was perfectly happy doing her rounds within the city limits and leading patrols and scouting parties in the areas outside the city limits under their protection. She'd much rather work her body in tandem with her mind, rather than just sitting and thinking all day long.

But everything changed once the Fire Nation attacked… (I’m sorry!)

After Sozin’s comet struck and obliterated the Air Nomads it was Taku that came under siege by the Fire Nation; the first Earth Kingdom city to be attacked. Saili had been on wall duty that notorious day, and although she had not been facing the port, she still remembers the exact moment the first explosion rocked the city to its core. Things after that became somewhat of a blur. She knew she had run to go meet the enemy threat, and that the Earth Kingdom soldiers and benders held onto the city for a few days; only long enough for the civilians to flee out of the inland gates and into the heart of the Empire. The Fire nation’s navy was too large and they decimated Taku’s port before barraging the rest of the city. Saili fought the entire four days before the city fell completely to the Fire Nation. She didn’t think she slept once, and that exhaustion probably resulted in her flighty memory of many of the particulars. Though, it's pretty common that bits and pieces will float up in her dreams at night.

After the last of the bystanders left Taku’s gates, the Earth soldiers abandoned the city to their enemy, Saili among the last groups of fighters to leave as a sort of rear guard. Most of the refugee groups scattered into the winds, going every which way to seek safety within the heart of the largest of the nations. Saili decided to remain in the outskirts of her hometown for some time, keeping watch on the enemy army from afar and scrounging together any lingering refugees and sending them onward towards Ba Sing Se or other settlements inland.

After a while there was no more point to her presence, as there was nothing more she could do that would be productive so close to this new Fire Nation stronghold. So Saili left to wander the nearby settlements and villages, wanting to link up with her fellow Earth Kingdom soldiers to create some semblance of a fighting force for the area, and hoping that she’d find her mother among the refugees there. Or to hear news of her father’s ship, which had been at sea at the start of the siege, and learn if it had made it away safely.

Now she fights the good fight, helping the effort against the Fire Nation by helping to establish guerilla forces and resistance fighters from among the willing civilians and scattered military, and teaching Earth Kingdom citizens how to stand against the Fire Nation’s advance. She’s only one woman, but she’ll do whatever she can.

[AmazinglyVivid]

Name: Daiyu

Age: 32

History:

Daiyu's parents were airbenders who decided early on that they did not want to spend their lives in the same temples they'd grown up in. Ever since they got their arrows they were allowed to travel wherever they wished, and they used this freedom to travel, well, everywhere. They were free spirits who were overjoyed when they realized that they would be bringing a new life into the world, but had no intention of raising said child. When the time for Daiyu's birth came close, they decided to make for the Eastern Air Temple.

The flighty nature of Daiyu's parents meant that they were easily distracted from their journey. They were in the heart of the Earth Kingdom when they started their journey, and frequent side trips to visit friends or attractions meant that Daiyu was not born in the temple. With no nuns to take her away after her birth, her parents grew attached quickly. They found more and more distractions to prolong their journey. Daiyu was four years old when an old friend encountered the family and chastised her parents. Airbenders should be raised in temples, and the road was no place for a child, besides. Not long after that encounter, an encounter with dangerous brigands on the road convinced her parents that the other airbender had been right. They brought her to the Eastern Air Temple, were Daiyu's mother had grown up, and left her behind.

Daiyu was confused, sad, and angry in turn. She did not want to live with these strict women and be forced to meditate and practice airbending. She wanted to run barefoot on the beach, and visit new, exciting places, and sleep under the stars, as she had with her parents. She wanted them to come back for her. She was a problem child who alternated between lashing out at both the nuns and other children and outright ignoring them. At times, her behavior was to spite the authority figures who she believes to be responsible for keeping her from enjoying her life, and sometimes, it was to spite the parents who'd abandoned her.

As she grew older Daiyu lost all but a few memories of her parents and the world outside, but that just served to make her angrier. The only nun who could really command her respect was the old Revered Mother Meifen. The head of the temple was wise and firm, but with a wry sense of humor that could bring a smile to Daiyu's face even on her darkest days. Meifen was the only nun who never got frustrated or flustered at her; when she threw a fit, the old woman simply chided her and guilted her into calming down and apologizing.

Daiyu's temper didn't get any better as she aged, and its affect on her bending was clear. To begin with she was already behind the other children her age and, with her refusals to practice or meditate, her skill at bending was very poor. After Meifen became more involved in her rearing, Daiyu did more of what she was supposed to do, but only reluctantly. It was always still exceedingly clear that she would rather be somewhere else.

Most of the children that Daiyu grew up with started to master their bending by their late teens. With that mastery came their arrow tattoos, and the ability to travel as they wished. Daiyu's envy at their ability to leave made her even more disagreeable, but it also fueled her motivation for her training. With Meifen's help, she was able to become a master not long after twenty-one. Still very late, but all that mattered to her was that she was free.

The next several years she spent defying as many of the teachings she'd grown up with as possible. She drank, ate meat, fought, and took men and women both into her bed. A bit of experimenting and pushing the limits of what they were familiar with was normal -even expected- for Air Nomads fresh into the world, but Daiyu took it entirely too far. What's more, because of the limited time she spent outside of the temple as a young child, she thought herself worldly and experienced enough to handle anything that life could through at her. She thought herself invincible. And she was wrong.

At the time, she'd been travelling with a companion. After leaving the temple she had become more sociable, and so she made extra money by allowing travelers bypass forests, mountains, and seas by riding with her on her sky bison, Uppi. She and her companion were travelling to Ba-Sing-Se, and had made camp for the night. They went to a nearby river to bathe and, upon returning to their campsite, found that it had been ransacked. Their food, their money, everything was gone; but the bandits who'd stolen from them left an easy trail to follow. A furious Daiyu pursued. She realized early on that they had bender among them, and were fairly competent warriors, but she hadn't cared. The encounter that followed left her and Uppi injured, and one of the women who'd stolen from them, dead.

She tended their wounds as best she could and started towards the Eastern Air Temple, dropping her companion off at a village not far from their original destination. She was distraught. Her actions had gotten the sky bison she loved permanent scars on her tail and belly, but it was the death she'd caused that truly came as a wake-up call. She was twenty-six the rainy night she returned to the Eastern Air Temple. But, the manner with which she explained the situation to the Revered Mother was that of a child who'd done something wrong and was desperate for forgiveness.

When the Revered Mother refused to grant her what the sought, forgiveness and confirmation that there wasn't something wrong with her -"I cannot tell you the words you want to hear, child," the old woman had said, "the peace that you seek can only come from within"- she lashed out. Even then, the old woman did not anger. When Daiyu begged forgiveness for that, too, the Revered Mother repeated her answer and suggested that she get some sleep. Daiyu complied.

Those events changed Daiyu. She decided to stay at the temple and become a nun to attempt to atone for her actions. She found some semblance of peace in caring for sky bison and, later, becoming something of a personal attendant for the aging Revered Mother. She was not welcomed warmly by those who remembered her actions as a child, but she didn't particularly feel the need for friends. When she was not fulfilling her duties, she dedicated herself to practicing her airbending and meditating; however, she still found the later as difficult as she did when she was a child.

If she were honest with herself, she'd realize that she had no true desire to relieve herself of earthly attachments. She was passionate and had a deep desire to experience life to the fullest; but her guilt kept her at the temple. She knew that she'd never be wise and serene like the old woman, but damned if she wouldn't try. Her training she steadily improved at, until she became one of the very best benders at the temple. Her difficulties with meditating and finding inner peace frustrate her, though now her anger is directed at herself, rather than at some authority figure who is making her do these things. Still, she had no intentions of leaving the temple again until fate forced her to.

Skills
Airbending- Daiyu was a master in the technical sense when she left the temple for the first time, in that she'd learned all thirty-six forms required to receive her tattoos. However, she'd still had a lot to learn about the art. In the six years since she returned to the Eastern Air Temple she seriously dedicated herself to becoming a true master, and her improvement has been remarkable. Though she takes her vow of non-violence very seriously, were she to break it, there are very few who could best her.
Healing- Part of her education growing up included basic first-aid. Since returning to the temple, caring for sick and wounded people and bison has been just another one of her duties, so she's grown more knowledgeable in that area.
Herbology- Daiyu can recognize many edible plants, and those useful in healing.
Cooking- Having cooked for herself when she traveled, and for groups while at the temple -excepting senior members, most nuns are expected to participate in the preparation of meals- Daiyu is a competent chef.
Sewing- Daiyu can make and mend clothing, another duty required of her as a nun.
Music- While travelling, Daiyu picked up the ability to play several instruments, most notably the ruan. She is also a decent singer. She doesn't have much range, but her voice is pleasant enough to listen to. Though she rarely gets the chance to play at the temple, music is one of the few things she really enjoys.

Appearance
Daiyu is tall for a woman, with shoulders and hips just slightly on the broader side. She is strong from her daily chores and airbending exercises, and so has some muscle mass to her, but overall she's quite bony, with very shoulder blades, collarbones, hipbones, etc. All the time she's spent outside has given her a bit of a tan, but she's naturally on the paler side. Like many Air Nomads, her eyes are grey and if she chose to grow out her hair, which she usually keeps shaven, it would be a light brown. Scars and marks from the multiple conflicts she got in when she roamed, most notably that final fight, decorate her body, mostly her arms and hands, though there are a few larger ones on her torso. The most notable of her scars starts at her right temple, stretches over her sharp cheekbone and ends at her collarbone. She wears the traditional robes of her people, including a wooden medallion to symbolize the higher level of bending mastery she's attained since returning to the temple.