"Wait a moment." ... “You’re from Fire, you’re looking for the Avatar and you despise An as well?” ... “Would you believe me, if I told you I was after the exact same things? Cause, I am.” ... “Maybe we could help each other out. I like your reasoning after all, but surely An wouldn’t keep important prisoners and informants locked up in a rundown bender prison in the lower ring. They’d be kept where it’s easier to secure them in the inner ring. Away from potential riots or peasant revolts. I’m Huo by the way, uh, just Huo. Anyway, I’ve got a plan to sneak into the inner ring during the coronation ceremonies when most of his army will be distracted at the main gates with the crowds. Maybe you could come with me, I just need to find a…. Is that….?”
...
“Those two are air benders.” ... “Listen, can you hear that?” ... “They must be cut off from that way, but…. But we could clear a path here. There’s not so many guards. What do you say, um…?”
Zhen had to wince at the point about the Inner Ring. He wasn't anywhere near used to Ba Sing Se - more than one prison in the same city? Hadn't even crossed his mind.
On the other hand, apparently the spirits were with him. Because of course they were, now that he was searching for the Avatar. At least he had an ally, now.
Much to his surprise, he found his lips quirking up. How long had it been since he had enjoyed the company of anyone from Fire? Stone and ash, even the ship's crew, the trader's caravan, he'd only tolerated, and they were Earth! Ren had been a blessing, but other than him...
Well, best take the opportunity while it was there.
"Zhen. Yeah, if you're up for it - how good are you on the offence? I'm assuming you know Mountain? I'm better at Dr - Wave, so I should probably focus on defending, if you want to split it that way."
Almost unconsciously, his stance straightened; limbs loosened as he rolled his shoulders, lifting slightly onto the balls of his feet before dropping back down again, checking his readiness. Rooting was important, but Dragon Style emphasised the flow. Above all else, you had to be smooth.
Ironic, given he hadn't had an actual friend for... it must have been seven years now, and even then the fact he'd had to hide his firebending had made him more or less a drifter on the edge of the little cliques. A year or so ago, he'd have scowled at that, and two further before it would have pulled a snarl out of him, but a memory of the old lizard rose unbidden - a chiding nudge with one knuckle, claw curled carefully away, an amused huff of breath ruffling his hair.
You must learn to let go.
Smiling quietly, Zhen felt the fire begin to blaze within, heat coiling in his gut.
He'd never actually fought anyone with firebending, not properly. And despite the danger, despite the chaos of stumbling into things without more than the barest semblance of a plan... he found himself looking forward to it.
Fire burns now. Be in the moment, and let it carry you. - Zhen Long
“You’re helping break someone out! Who in their right mind would try a prison break in daylight, in the middle of Ba Sing Se? You’ve got nowhere to run, you’re surrounded by walls. You’ll be helping your friends escape only to surely get recaptured. And worst of all AN controls the city, and it’s not like he takes kindly to those of us from Fire.”
...
“Sorry,” she whispered, keeping her voice low as if to make up for the earlier proclamation. At least they were running along a seemingly deserted avenue. “I shouldn’t have said that, but I promise my lips are sealed. I'm no friend of An or the Earth Kingdom.”
Zhen blinked, eyebrows climbing. That... hadn't been a reaction he'd expected. "Not... necessarily. I had intended to get a read on the situation first, though you're right in that the risks of involving myself could very well outweigh the benefits. I'm not looking for anyone specifically, but..." Well, she was Fire. And from the look in her eyes at that last, he very much doubted she was a turncoat for An. Still, he thought, double-checking for guards with a careful side-to-side of his eyes, best keep his voice low. "An assassinated the last Avatar, but it's been twenty years; if he had the new one, he'd have made a big deal of it by now. He's a very... straightforward sort of man, from everything I've heard of him. But by the same token he's not just going to give up - so he has to be looking, still, and that means he needs information. Which means he needs people to get information from, and it's most likely that the ones he thinks are his best shot? Are being kept right where he can keep an eye on them."
He grimaced. Thin reasoning, faith over basic logic, had always irritated him. Ironic.
"It's a stretch at best, I'm aware, but it's not like I've got any other options. My best plan before the bell was to wander around and hope I came across a likely-looking rumour. And at the very least, if there is a decent shot at a successful escape, a flame burns brighter with more fuel; finding a group I can be assured oppose An as much as I do isn't something to scoff at, even by itself."
Shrugging, he slowed his pace slightly. There was a distinct clamour rising above the general (slightly panicked) city noise and the bell's strident resonance.
A commotion drew Huo attention at that moment, accompanied the sound of a nearby bell. A small detachment of city watchmen and An’s soldiers sprinted past, a half dozen or so of them, seemingly in a rush to get wherever they needed to be. The one in the front held a lit lantern, and the firelight shone bright on Huo’s face as they ran by. “Get to your home girl, there’s about to be trouble.” The growled order had a note of seriousness to it, and Huo didn’t doubt for a second that there would be trouble afoot, soon enough.
“I’ll get right on that sir.” She muttered, shielding her eyes from the glare. The force moved away, clearly not intent on enforcing a curfew, merely suggesting it. At least, that’s how Huo saw it. The night was still young, and despite her worn feet Huo felt an irresistible curiosity to know what this ‘trouble’ might be. She was about to take off after the soldiers when a lone figure jogged past, seemingly matching her intentions to follow them. He was a young man, well built with a complexion that was hard to make out in the twilight, but Huo could’ve sworn he hailed originally from the Fire Islands, the same as her. Trotting to keep pace she reached up and tapped this stranger on the shoulder, who’s name, unbeknownst to her, was Zhen. “Hey there tall guy. You don’t happen to know what’s going down do you? One of ‘em said there was going to be trouble, and he looked serious about it too. Like pentapox epidemic serious.” Huo tilted her head, angling her ears to get a better read on the mysterious bell’s reverberations. “They’re headed straight for that chime too. Reckon it’s an alarm of some kind?”
Briefly, Zhen sent a mental thanks to Ren for his help learning to dull his instinctive reaction to whirl on anyone getting close to him in his blindspot, especially if they touched him. Starting a fight with someone in the middle of the city while the guards were on high alert would have been... not the best idea. Especially not a girl a head shorter than him and about as much less broad, given the Earth Kingdom's views on women. Even if he was pretty sure she was Fire.
Slowing a little to let her keep pace, tossing the apple core into a bin as they passed, he considered.
"Most likely. I don't know Earth protocol, but - no smoke, and no sound of battle, so it isn't a fire or a large-scale attack, but it's something big or they wouldn't have rung a city-wide bell at all." Even on this deserted street, they were passing banners and wall scrolls declaiming the glorious coronation... "Especially since it's An's big day; they wouldn't want to damage their reputation if they could avoid it, which means they really do need all hands tending the flame. That leaves us... probably a prison break. Benders, not just genpop."
He side-eyed her for a moment, watching to see if she'd react to the Fire Nation colloquialism he'd slipped in, or the military terminology. Being out here alone was a fairly significant indicator - Earth Kingdom and women, again - but it was better to confirm his suspicions before actually taking the risk of revealing himself.
If he knew where Zhen had gone - immediately after disembarking, no less - Ren would have had him doing dropstance and surgehops for a month. He'd probably have admitted it was a reasonable idea afterwards, mind, but the grumpy old lizard had a thing about his 'reckless streak'.
Still, capital of the Earth Kingdom and centre of An's power or not, Ba Sing Se was probably the best place to gather rumours that might hint at the Avatar's location or status. It had taken a couple of weeks to get there, most of which he'd spent pulling his weight as a grunt labourer - first to pay his passage on the ship, then in order to travel with a merchant caravan going his way - and suppressing the urge to bend, except in the smallest of ways.
That, obviously, couldn't continue; at the same time, however, he had no desire to be outed to An's forces as a firebender. He didn't know exactly what would happen then, but the rumours suggested nothing good.
Hence why he was standing on the road just outside the Impenetrable City, staring up at the massive gates in consideration. Once he went in, he probably wouldn't get a chance to seriously start firebending until he left again, and given how huge Ba Sing Se was... it could take him weeks to find a lead.
On the other hand, what other options did he have? Wander around aimlessly and hope for the best? Visit all the remote mountaintops and valleys one by one and hope the Avatar didn't move to one he'd already searched?
Sighing, he got into line.
No, he wasn't armed. No, he hadn't committed any crimes by the laws of the Earth Kingdom. No, he didn't have any enemies likely to come looking for him. Yes, he'd stay out of trouble. Yes, he'd report any suspicious activity (hint hint especially Water Tribers hint hint.)
That guard wasn't anywhere near as subtle as he thought he was. Judging from the look his partner was shooting him, she'd be giving him an earful once they were off duty. Still, division in the ranks was no concern of his. At least it indicated there wasn't quite enough fuel for the fire; he'd have a much more difficult time staying hidden if An's thugs were tending the flame too closely, to say nothing of how much less willing people would be to talk.
Briefly offering thanks to Agni (and, after a moment's thought, Guanyin) for how simple it had been to get through, he settled into the well-worn groove of 'patrol walk', a steady gait that could carry him through hours of walking. Best to get the lay of the land first.
About ninety minutes later, munching absently on an apple, Zhen found himself walking down a much emptier street than most he'd passed through, and bristling with far more soldiers too.
Distantly, a bell was ringing, loud and strident.
The soldiers started running.
... Well, something was happening.
Finishing his apple, carefully restraining his gait to a sort of loping jog - not an attention-grabbing run, but not attention-grabbingly unworried either - and plastering a concerned expression on his face, he headed in the same direction as An's goons, keeping a careful distance behind them.
"All things are connected. To bend lightning, one must know water. To bend heat, one must know air. And to bend lava, one must know earth. Only the Avatar can bend multiple elements - but anyone can study them."
- Zhen Long, lecturing to an advanced firebending class in his old age
P E R S O N A L
Nationality: Fire Ethnicity: Fire
Gender: Male Age: 19 Height: 5'9"
B A C K G R O U N D
Zhen was born a peasant child to a peasant family, in a peasant village in a Fire Country backwater. His father was a farmer, and his mother worked the loom. He grew up on spirit-tales and wistful smiles, and never asked why, every few months, maybe every year if they were lucky, they would rush down to the rough-hewn hole that passed for a basement and pull the trapdoor firmly shut, light blocked out by the rug that slid back in place atop it. The noises unsettled him anyway; he didn't really want to know what made them.
Still, he didn't like the look that would be on his father's face when they came back out, a tightness about the eyes as they slid almost lifelessly across a half-empty storehouse, scattered grain trod carelessly into the dirt.
When he got a little older, he realised that these unpleasant interludes in an otherwise slow and simple life were raids, evil bandits right out of his mother's stories come to loot their food and valuables.
So where, he wondered, were the benders, the Avatar, come to stop them?
When he got a little older still, the candle-flame decided it liked him, following his fascinated fingers to and fro.
And he decided that if nobody would save them, he'd just have to do it himself.
Of course, it wasn't that simple. A firebender couldn't just command the flame to do his bidding, not so easily. He needed training - and there was only one place to get it.
The bandits, as it turned out when he grew old enough to be sat down and have certain facts of life explained to him, weren't bandits at all. They were the loyal soldiers of the local lord, off on leave and having a little fun.
So naturally, he wanted nothing to do with them. But the lord decreed that all firebenders must join his army, and to do otherwise was punishable by execution. If he wanted to learn, he had no other options. And no bender could go without bending for long; hiding himself would be a horribly risky undertaking.
At twelve, he joined Lord Josin's Firebender Cadet Corps. At sixteen, laughingstock and favoured target, barely able to do more than project a simple burst of fire, he deserted. For four years, he had swallowed his objections, his disgust at the callous disregard and entitlement that infested Josin's army of thugs, the quiet resignation of his fellow peasant Cadets and the cruel, mocking superiority of those who hailed from military or noble stock - and most of all, his hatred for the brutish, aggressive firebending they drilled mercilessly into every Cadet, tolerating not even the slightest of deviation.
So he ran. And he kept running, kept ahead of the retrieval squads for as long as they were after him (more a formality than anything, he was useless, a talentless failure; they only wanted him back to make an example), until, eventually, he hit the mountains.
Even then, he kept running. Up into the foothills, up the mountains themselves, past the treeline and deep into rocky crags and caverns.
Until, finally, he found what he never knew he'd been looking for.
He found dragons.
And he found a teacher.
P E R S O N A L I T Y
Still possessed of much of the drive of his earlier youth, Zhen's time with the dragons has nonetheless greatly benefited his ability to keep an even keel. Though he feels strongly, and is naturally inclined to act decisively and on instinct, he has grown far better at banking the flame, so to speak, than he once was; even still, however, there are times when his passion overcomes his reason.
With a strong bent towards justice and fairness, Zhen finds himself, to a certain degree, railing against the nature of the world - and far more against the nature of spirits, at best capricious, at worst operating on a logic entirely alien to the human mind. Unfortunately, his time with the dragons has not left him unmarked, and many tend to be curious about what could draw and keep a dragon's attention to a mortal man.
Beyond all else, Zhen will not tolerate tyranny or abuse of authority, and after the Cadet Corps, refuses to swear allegiance to anyone or anything but his own judgement. A diehard free spirit, placing any sort of expectation of obedience on him will inevitably result in his deliberate flouting of that expectation. For someone he respects, whose skills in an area he acknowledges as superior, he will follow reasonable instruction, but he would refuse even the tutelage of a master if it came at the expense of a teaching style reminiscent of the uncompromisingly harsh drills of his youth.
At the same time, however, he has no compunctions acquiescing to the request of a trusted friend, however few of them he has.
This is not a comprehensive listing. Further Techniques may be added.
Using an augmenting Technique such as Fire Burst causes an increased expenditure of stamina, and chi where appropriate, over the cost of a normal firebending manoeuvre.
Universal Techniques Inner Fire: Journeyman
The fire of life that burns within, from which a firebender draws his flames. With proper cultivation, it may grow great indeed.
The active manipulation of chi as it is used in firebending, moving with the breath that fuels the flame.
Novice: Small, momentary increase in physical or bending power Apprentice: Moderate momentary or small sustained in physical or bending power Journeyman: Significant momentary or moderate sustained in physical or bending power Expert: Great momentary or significant sustained in physical or bending power Master: Exceptional momentary or great sustained in physical or bending power
Mountain Style: Novice
The ancestor of firebending as it will be during the Hundred Year War, Mountain Style is direct, favouring power and aggression over subtlety or great finesse. Users must rely largely on overpowering their opponents' attacks, but there is something to said for sheer overwhelming force.
Novice:Simple Blasts & Continuous Flame; Basic Physical Deflection Apprentice:Rapid or Large or Shaped Blasts; Simple Deflection & Continuous Flame Journeyman: Two of Rapid or Large or Shaped Blasts; Strong or Wide or Rapid Deflection; Strong or Wide or Shaped Continuous Flame Expert:Rapid, Large and Shaped Blasts; two of Strong or Wide or Rapid Deflection; two of Wide, Strong or Shaped Continuous Flame Master:Endless Onslaught; Wide, Strong and Rapid Deflection; Wide, Strong and Shaped Continuous Flame
Dragon Style: Journeyman
A dragon's firebending, sometimes referred to among knowledgeable humans as Wave Style, emphasises control and the flow of fire over its unchecked fury. Users may learn to manipulate their flames into complex paths mid-flight, exclude allies from wide-area strikes, and simply allow their flames to roll around an opponent's defences rather than wasting their strength in a direct contest.
Novice:Basic Fire Projection; Simple Deflection & Continuous Flame Apprentice:Simple Blasts; Wide or Rapid or Controlled Deflection; Wide or Shaped or Controlled Continuous Flame Journeyman:Rapid or Shaped or Controlled Blasts; Two of Wide or Rapid or Controlled Deflection; Two of Wide or Shaped or Controlled Continuous Flame Expert: Two of Rapid or Shaped or Controlled Blasts; Wide, Rapid and Controlled Deflection; Wide, Shaped and Controlled Continuous Flame Master:Rapid, Shaped and Controlled Blasts; Cloak of Flame
Study of Air: Untrained
All things are connected, and thus firebending may touch upon air. In addition to modifying one's firebending Styles, Study of Air unlocks appropriate mixed-element bending Techniques up to its own skill level, though each kind must be trained individually.
At each skill level from Novice to Master, you may select one of the following:
Learn an airbending descriptor. If you have studied Autumn Leaf, you may learn Quick or Evasive. If you have studied Summer Storm, you may learn Knockback or Redirecting. At will, you may substitute an appropriate firebending descriptor with any known airbending descriptor.
Learn to feel the heat in the air around you, making you sensitive to fluctuations in air temperature caused by living beings.
Focus on a mixed-element Technique, advancing one fire/air Technique by one level. This advancement may not cause it to exceed the skill level of Study of Air.
Other idea, by GM approval.
Study of Earth: Untrained
All things are connected, and thus firebending may touch upon earth. In addition to modifying one's firebending Styles, Study of Earth unlocks appropriate mixed-element bending Techniques up to its own level, though each kind must be trained individually.
At each skill level from Novice to Master, you may select one of the following:
Learn an earthbending descriptor. If you have studied Stone Style, you may learn Mighty or Implacable. If you have studied Soil Style, you may learn Unbalancing or Burying. At will, you may substitute an appropriate firebending descriptor with any known airbending descriptor.
Learn to touch the memory of fire in volcanic earth and stone, and the heat of the forge in worked metal, allowing flame to be drawn from the former and either to be heated at a reduction in stamina expenditure.
Focus on a mixed-element Technique, advancing one fire/earth Technique by one level. This advancement may not cause it to exceed the skill level of Study of Earth.
Other idea, by GM approval.
Study of Water: Untrained
All things are connected, and thus firebending may touch upon water. In addition to modifying one's firebending Styles, Study of Water unlocks appropriate mixed-element bending Techniques up to its own level, though each must be trained individually.
At each skill level from Novice to Master, you may select one of the following:
Learn a waterbending descriptor. If you have studied Ocean Style, you may learn Surging or Deep. If you have studied Moon Style, you may learn Deflecting or Scattering. At will, you may substitute an appropriate firebending descriptor with any known airbending descriptor.
Learn to draw out the fire within water, leaving ice in its wake.
Focus on a mixed-element Technique, advancing one fire/water Technique by one level. This advancement may not cause it to exceed the skill level of Study of Water.
Other idea, by GM approval.
Novice Techniques Extinguish: Journeyman
The ability to douse a fire is fundamental; all firebenders must learn to put out what they ignite. At higher levels, one may learn to extinguish the chi-fuelled flames of other firebenders, if control can be wrested away.
Novice: Extinguish Candleflame Apprentice: Extinguish Campfire Journeyman: Extinguish Bonfire or Simple Firebending Expert: Extinguish Wildfire or Moderate Firebending Master: Extinguish Firestorm or Powerful Firebending
Inner Warmth: Apprentice
By drawing on one's inner fire, one may ward off the cold, or provide heat to those in need.
To bend flame is to breathe. Above all else, a firebender must be able to draw in the air to fuel the fire, or if worst comes to worst, retain as much of it as possible. Chi, as with all things, may bolster one's lungs.
Novice: Breathe Evenly Under Exertion, Hold Breath x2 Apprentice: Endure 1km Elevation, Hold Breath x5 Journeyman: Endure 2km Elevation, Hold Breath x10 Expert: Endure 4km Elevation, Hold Breath x25 Master: Endure 8km Elevation, Hold Breath x50
Apprentice Techniques Fire Bolt: Apprentice
A streak of focused flame, flying far and true, striking fiercely.
This technique negates a normal attack's ability to impose splash damage. At will, one may select either range, accuracy or power to gain the listed benefit. Alternatively, from Apprentice level onwards, one may reduce the benefit by one step to apply it to two attributes, or by two steps (from Journeyman onwards) for all three.
Novice: Small Increase Apprentice: Moderate Increase Journeyman: Significant Increase Expert: Great Increase Master: Exceptional Increase
Fire Burst: Apprentice
A blast of fire that explodes upon impact, covering a wide area in flames.
This technique imposes a moderate reduction in attack power. At will, one may reduce the area by one step (from Apprentice level onwards) in exchange for reducing the loss in power, or by two steps (from Journeyman level onwards) to have the Burst carry the full power of a normal attack.
Novice: Small Area Apprentice: Moderate Area Journeyman: Significant Area Expert: Great Area Master: Exceptional Area
Fire Leap: Apprentice
Enhancing one's speed and jumping capability with a precisely timed burst of flame.
Novice: Jump or Lunge x2 Apprentice: Jump or Lunge x3 Journeyman: Jump or Lunge x4 Expert: Jump or Lunge x5 Master: Jump or Lunge x6
To join one's flame with another's, and let the both be greater for it. A difficult endeavour, for fire is fierce and wild and independent in a way no other element can match, but in return, the result is just as much greater.
Novice: One's own firebending will not disrupt the firebending of other firebenders unless deliberate. Apprentice: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with a one-step increase in power, area or range. Journeyman: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with two total steps of increase spread across power, area and range. Alternatively, two different attacks and/or Techniques, selecting characteristics from each at will. Expert: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with three total steps of increase spread across power, area and range. Alternatively, two different attacks and/or Techniques may be combined, selecting characteristics from each at will and adding one step of increase to power, area or range. Master: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with four total steps of increase spread across power, area and range. Alternatively, two different attacks and/or Techniques may be combined, selecting characteristics from each at will and adding two total steps of increase across power, area or range.
All such effects are limited by the lowest Cooperative Firebending level in the cooperating group. More than two firebenders cooperating successfully results in either the addition of an extra attack or Technique to the gestalt or an additional one step of increase to power, area or range per firebender beyond two.
When attempting to work with Benders of other elements, the Cooperative [Element]bending level of the group is limited to the lowest skill level regardless of element, and additionally limited by the lowest Study of [Element] skill level belonging to any participant, where the relevant element may be any involved in the combination technique.
Fire Surge: Untrained | Requires Fire Leap
A powerful rush of flame, to push or lift as the user desires.
These effects stack additively with those of Fire Leap. For example, a firebender with Expert in Fire Leap and Journeyman in Fire Surge could rush forwards at fourfold speed, then leap or lunge with an impulse sufficient to accelerate them to ninefold.
Fire Blade: Untrained
A condensed, sustained flame, that may be shaped into the likenesses of simple weapons.
Applies the intensity of one's Inner Fire to melee attacks at up to short reach, as of a club or shortsword.
Novice: Form Fire Blade Apprentice: Extend Reach (Medium - longsword, shortspear) Journeyman: Flow Around Parries Expert: Extend Reach (Long - longspear, staff) Master: Fluid Shape
Expert Techniques | Locked - Requires Inner Flame Expertise and a Style Expertise Unifying Flame: Untrained | Requires Cooperative Flame External Flame Control: Untrained Jet Propulsion: Untrained | Requires Fire Surge Fire Lash: Untrained | Requires Fire Blade Lightning Generation: Untrained
Heat Redirection: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Hot Dust/Wind Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Lava Redirection: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Hot Sand/Soil Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Lightning Redirection: Untrained | Requires Study of Water Hot Water Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Water
Master Techniques | Locked - Requires Inner Flame Mastery and a Style Mastery Consuming Flame: Untrained | Requires Unifying Flame and External Flame Control Dragon's Breath: Untrained | Requires Surging Breath Mastery Fire Flight: Untrained | Requires Jet Propulsion Pressurised Flame: Untrained | Requires Fire Lash Psychic Firebending: Untrained
Fire Whirl: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Heatbending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Lavabending: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Flash Melt: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Lightningbending: Untrained | Requires Study of Water Molten Glass/Metal Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Water
Pyroclastic Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air & Earth Mastery Plasmabending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air & Water Mastery Magmabending: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth & Water Mastery
Basically, he's pretty good at Dragon Style but has a fair way to go before mastering it, and knows the very basics of Mountain Style. Due to living on top of a mountain for three years, he's got chi-based breath enhancement down pat; even at eight kilometres above sea level he can still get all the air he needs.
O T H E R S K I L L S
Competent mountaineer and survivalist.
Hates, but knows, military firebender drill and basic tactics.
Decent hand-to-hand combatant, mostly soft-style based on Dragon Style firebending.
Surprisingly excellent campfire cook.
M A J O R P L O T H O O K S
Finding Home - Zhen never learned to read or write as a child, and the Cadet Corps saw no need to teach him. As a consequence, maps were things he heard more experienced members of Josin's army talking about. He knows his home lies on the mainland, and that it's somewhere in the south, but nothing more than that.
Mastering the Flame - Though he learned much from the dragons, Zhen has not yet fully grown into his art. His skill is enough to keep safe on the road, and to seek further advancement alone without the risk of working a fundamental flaw into his bending forms, but he still has a long way to go.
The Avatar's Answer - The Avatar has disappeared. Abandoned their duty, and the people who rely on them. They have lifted no finger to help the hundreds, the thousands slaughtered in the Fire Lords' pointless warring. Zhen's feelings on this topic are many and complex, but above all else he wants to look them in the eye and ask: Why?
S A M P L E P O S T
"Spirits fucking take it-!"
A flare of bright yellow-orange light splashed off bare stone, before fading away.
There was a rumbling sigh. "Did that make you feel better, young one?"
"... No."
"You have suffered much, I understand. But though fire and water oppose, they are all too similar - they both have their ebb and flow. If you cannot learn to let go, you will never grasp the truth of flame."
"Let - you want me to just let go?! To just forget about - Josin, and his rabble of spirit-forsaken thugs, and -"
"No, young one. Not forget. Fire is life, but it is also passion; to deny your grievances, your fury, is to deny your own flame. But at the same time, if it is all you can return to, you will burn yourself away from within. I do not ask that you cast it away - only that you learn to set it aside, to accept what you cannot do in the moment until the time comes that you can. To allow yourself time and space for more than just revenge."
Cloth rustled faintly in the background, half-lost under the thump of someone dropping to the ground.
"It - hurts. Knowing he's out there, that nobody's stopping him, that there are more just like him. That there's nothing I can do about it."
Somewhere in the gravelly bass that replied, there was concealed just the bare suggestion of a smile. "And that, too, is fire. Endlessly, always, we burn. Even when all there is to burn is ourselves. It is something we must all come to terms with. But this, I think, you know already."
"... Yeah. Yeah, I know." A snort. "Alright, you old lizard, let's get back to it. What am I doing wrong this time?"
For several long moments, silence stretched out.
"Ren?"
"Truthfully, young one, I think there is little more I can teach you. Or, rather, little more I should." Again, just the barest wisp of a smile crept in. "All hatchlings must leave the nest eventually. You have grown well here, sheltered beneath my wings - but if you wish to become all you could be, I cannot coddle you forever. Fire must burn freely, or it is not fire at all!"
"... Already? I mean, I knew this was coming, but... two and a half years?"
This time, the smile was far more evident. "Oh, young one, you really have no idea, do you? Mountain Style did not suit you at all, no, and you were nearly extinguished beneath it - but you are talented, and your fire burns bright within, when given a chance to blaze unrestrained. You have come very far indeed, in this time, and I am proud of you."
A moment of wordless - word-lost - silence. "... 'Cmon, Ren, I'm not that good..."
"Yet. Your beginning in the art of firebending left much to be desired, this is true - though through no fault of your own - but in two and a half years, you have come further than I would expect to see in five, perhaps closer to ten. A decade or two from now, I do not doubt I will see you stand tall among the ranks of masters. In fifty, you will be a figure of history, and I shall be proud of your accomplishment, and take pride in having been your teacher. But part of that is knowing when to let you go. Because a flame cannot be cosseted - if you try, you will only smother it. And you are beginning to grow restless here, even if you have not or cannot see it yourself."
Finally, there was laughter.
"Shit, Ren, you're wiser than I'm ever going to be. I'll miss it. You really think it's time for me to leave?"
"Age and wisdom, young one, often go hand in hand. But yes - it is time you spread your wings and fly." Powerful coils, as much spirit as mortal flesh, moved over each other, the soft hiss of scale on scale almost blending into the wind. "Truthfully... there is another reason, too. You have told me of your frustration with the state of the Fire Nation - though recently, an uneasy truce has come to be between the Lords - with the world at large, and as a part of that world, the Avatar. But... there is really no easy way to say this. The Avatar is missing. Since the assassination of Avatar Er at the hands of the Earth warlord An, the world has awaited his successor, but though twenty years have passed, they have not revealed themselves."
"And you expected any better? It's not like the Avatar even cares. Bridge to the Spirit World and all - but you know what spirits are like."
"Perhaps it is so. Or perhaps it is otherwise. By the metrics of Lord Josin's reign, you are a coward and a traitor - but do those labels define you?"
"... Fine. So, what, you want me to find the Avatar? Seriously?"
"If you wish. It would be a long journey, one that would take you to many places. You would have many opportunities to study bending, both of fire and otherwise. And there is far more to learn in the world than only that; I have seen and learned much in my life, but there is much more I simply cannot teach you. And... if you did find them... wouldn't you have an opportunity to discover an answer?"
"Oh, fuck off. You're a canny old bastard, you know that?"
The amusement could only have been missed if one was deaf. "Why, thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
As the sun set, the mountains echoed with laughter.
D E S I G N N O T E S
On Names: Zhen does not, in the present, have a last name. He is a peasant, from a peasant family. In the Avatar world, from what we see in canon, the only people with last names are the ones who have things to pass on (the Bei Fong merchant family, say) but don't have enough status that when people say their names, everyone knows who they're talking about (Ozai/Iroh/Zuko/Azula - they're the royal family, everyone in Fire knows them.) Thus, the quote under the image, from Old Man Zhen, is attributed to Zhen Long. Long is Chinese for dragon - I figured once he got more famous, and word of him being trained by the dragons got around, he might well end up being called something along those lines. So it's sort of a nickname turned title turned surname.
High-End Bending Abilities: Yes, I've got some wacky shit in there. I don't expect Zhen will ever actually get that far, or at least not in the scope of the game, I'm just envisioning capstone abilities that would be awesome. Maybe I'll find a high-power game somewhere in the future and break out Old Man Zhen, the walking volcanic eruption :v
"All things are connected. To bend lightning, one must know water. To bend heat, one must know air. And to bend lava, one must know earth. Only the Avatar can bend multiple elements - but anyone can study them."
- Zhen Long, lecturing to an advanced firebending class in his old age
P E R S O N A L
Nationality: Fire Ethnicity: Fire
Gender: Male Age: 19 Height: 5'9"
B A C K G R O U N D
Zhen was born a peasant child to a peasant family, in a peasant village in a Fire Country backwater. His father was a farmer, and his mother worked the loom. He grew up on spirit-tales and wistful smiles, and never asked why, every few months, maybe every year if they were lucky, they would rush down to the rough-hewn hole that passed for a basement and pull the trapdoor firmly shut, light blocked out by the rug that slid back in place atop it. The noises unsettled him anyway; he didn't really want to know what made them.
Still, he didn't like the look that would be on his father's face when they came back out, a tightness about the eyes as they slid almost lifelessly across a half-empty storehouse, scattered grain trod carelessly into the dirt.
When he got a little older, he realised that these unpleasant interludes in an otherwise slow and simple life were raids, evil bandits right out of his mother's stories come to loot their food and valuables.
So where, he wondered, were the benders, the Avatar, come to stop them?
When he got a little older still, the candle-flame decided it liked him, following his fascinated fingers to and fro.
And he decided that if nobody would save them, he'd just have to do it himself.
Of course, it wasn't that simple. A firebender couldn't just command the flame to do his bidding, not so easily. He needed training - and there was only one place to get it.
The bandits, as it turned out when he grew old enough to be sat down and have certain facts of life explained to him, weren't bandits at all. They were the loyal soldiers of the local lord, off on leave and having a little fun.
So naturally, he wanted nothing to do with them. But the lord decreed that all firebenders must join his army, and to do otherwise was punishable by execution. If he wanted to learn, he had no other options. And no bender could go without bending for long; hiding himself would be a horribly risky undertaking.
At twelve, he joined Lord Josin's Firebender Cadet Corps. At sixteen, laughingstock and favoured target, barely able to do more than project a simple burst of fire, he deserted. For four years, he had swallowed his objections, his disgust at the callous disregard and entitlement that infested Josin's army of thugs, the quiet resignation of his fellow peasant Cadets and the cruel, mocking superiority of those who hailed from military or noble stock - and most of all, his hatred for the brutish, aggressive firebending they drilled mercilessly into every Cadet, tolerating not even the slightest of deviation.
So he ran. And he kept running, kept ahead of the retrieval squads for as long as they were after him (more a formality than anything, he was useless, a talentless failure; they only wanted him back to make an example), until, eventually, he hit the mountains.
Even then, he kept running. Up into the foothills, up the mountains themselves, past the treeline and deep into rocky crags and caverns.
Until, finally, he found what he never knew he'd been looking for.
He found dragons.
And he found a teacher.
P E R S O N A L I T Y
Still possessed of much of the drive of his earlier youth, Zhen's time with the dragons has nonetheless greatly benefited his ability to keep an even keel. Though he feels strongly, and is naturally inclined to act decisively and on instinct, he has grown far better at banking the flame, so to speak, than he once was; even still, however, there are times when his passion overcomes his reason.
With a strong bent towards justice and fairness, Zhen finds himself, to a certain degree, railing against the nature of the world - and far more against the nature of spirits, at best capricious, at worst operating on a logic entirely alien to the human mind. Unfortunately, his time with the dragons has not left him unmarked, and many tend to be curious about what could draw and keep a dragon's attention to a mortal man.
Beyond all else, Zhen will not tolerate tyranny or abuse of authority, and after the Cadet Corps, refuses to swear allegiance to anyone or anything but his own judgement. A diehard free spirit, placing any sort of expectation of obedience on him will inevitably result in his deliberate flouting of that expectation. For someone he respects, whose skills in an area he acknowledges as superior, he will follow reasonable instruction, but he would refuse even the tutelage of a master if it came at the expense of a teaching style reminiscent of the uncompromisingly harsh drills of his youth.
At the same time, however, he has no compunctions acquiescing to the request of a trusted friend, however few of them he has.
This is not a comprehensive listing. Further Techniques may be added.
Using an augmenting Technique such as Fire Burst causes an increased expenditure of stamina, and chi where appropriate, over the cost of a normal firebending manoeuvre.
Universal Techniques Inner Fire: Journeyman
The fire of life that burns within, from which a firebender draws his flames. With proper cultivation, it may grow great indeed.
The active manipulation of chi as it is used in firebending, moving with the breath that fuels the flame.
Novice: Small, momentary increase in physical or bending power Apprentice: Moderate momentary or small sustained in physical or bending power Journeyman: Significant momentary or moderate sustained in physical or bending power Expert: Great momentary or significant sustained in physical or bending power Master: Exceptional momentary or great sustained in physical or bending power
Mountain Style: Novice
The ancestor of firebending as it will be during the Hundred Year War, Mountain Style is direct, favouring power and aggression over subtlety or great finesse. Users must rely largely on overpowering their opponents' attacks, but there is something to said for sheer overwhelming force.
Novice:Simple Blasts & Continuous Flame; Basic Physical Deflection Apprentice:Rapid or Large or Shaped Blasts; Simple Deflection & Continuous Flame Journeyman: Two of Rapid or Large or Shaped Blasts; Strong or Wide or Rapid Deflection; Strong or Wide or Shaped Continuous Flame Expert:Rapid, Large and Shaped Blasts; two of Strong or Wide or Rapid Deflection; two of Wide, Strong or Shaped Continuous Flame Master:Endless Onslaught; Wide, Strong and Rapid Deflection; Wide, Strong and Shaped Continuous Flame
Dragon Style: Journeyman
A dragon's firebending, sometimes referred to among knowledgeable humans as Wave Style, emphasises control and the flow of fire over its unchecked fury. Users may learn to manipulate their flames into complex paths mid-flight, exclude allies from wide-area strikes, and simply allow their flames to roll around an opponent's defences rather than wasting their strength in a direct contest.
Novice:Basic Fire Projection; Simple Deflection & Continuous Flame Apprentice:Simple Blasts; Wide or Rapid or Controlled Deflection; Wide or Shaped or Controlled Continuous Flame Journeyman:Rapid or Shaped or Controlled Blasts; Two of Wide or Rapid or Controlled Deflection; Two of Wide or Shaped or Controlled Continuous Flame Expert: Two of Rapid or Shaped or Controlled Blasts; Wide, Rapid and Controlled Deflection; Wide, Shaped and Controlled Continuous Flame Master:Rapid, Shaped and Controlled Blasts; Cloak of Flame
Study of Air: Untrained
All things are connected, and thus firebending may touch upon air. In addition to modifying one's firebending Styles, Study of Air unlocks appropriate mixed-element bending Techniques up to its own skill level, though each kind must be trained individually.
At each skill level from Novice to Master, you may select one of the following:
Learn an airbending descriptor. If you have studied Autumn Leaf, you may learn Quick or Evasive. If you have studied Summer Storm, you may learn Knockback or Redirecting. At will, you may substitute an appropriate firebending descriptor with any known airbending descriptor.
Learn to feel the heat in the air around you, making you sensitive to fluctuations in air temperature caused by living beings.
Focus on a mixed-element Technique, advancing one fire/air Technique by one level. This advancement may not cause it to exceed the skill level of Study of Air.
Other idea, by GM approval.
Study of Earth: Untrained
All things are connected, and thus firebending may touch upon earth. In addition to modifying one's firebending Styles, Study of Earth unlocks appropriate mixed-element bending Techniques up to its own level, though each kind must be trained individually.
At each skill level from Novice to Master, you may select one of the following:
Learn an earthbending descriptor. If you have studied Stone Style, you may learn Mighty or Implacable. If you have studied Soil Style, you may learn Unbalancing or Burying. At will, you may substitute an appropriate firebending descriptor with any known airbending descriptor.
Learn to touch the memory of fire in volcanic earth and stone, and the heat of the forge in worked metal, allowing flame to be drawn from the former and either to be heated at a reduction in stamina expenditure.
Focus on a mixed-element Technique, advancing one fire/earth Technique by one level. This advancement may not cause it to exceed the skill level of Study of Earth.
Other idea, by GM approval.
Study of Water: Untrained
All things are connected, and thus firebending may touch upon water. In addition to modifying one's firebending Styles, Study of Water unlocks appropriate mixed-element bending Techniques up to its own level, though each must be trained individually.
At each skill level from Novice to Master, you may select one of the following:
Learn a waterbending descriptor. If you have studied Ocean Style, you may learn Surging or Deep. If you have studied Moon Style, you may learn Deflecting or Scattering. At will, you may substitute an appropriate firebending descriptor with any known airbending descriptor.
Learn to draw out the fire within water, leaving ice in its wake.
Focus on a mixed-element Technique, advancing one fire/water Technique by one level. This advancement may not cause it to exceed the skill level of Study of Water.
Other idea, by GM approval.
Novice Techniques Extinguish: Journeyman
The ability to douse a fire is fundamental; all firebenders must learn to put out what they ignite. At higher levels, one may learn to extinguish the chi-fuelled flames of other firebenders, if control can be wrested away.
Novice: Extinguish Candleflame Apprentice: Extinguish Campfire Journeyman: Extinguish Bonfire or Simple Firebending Expert: Extinguish Wildfire or Moderate Firebending Master: Extinguish Firestorm or Powerful Firebending
Inner Warmth: Apprentice
By drawing on one's inner fire, one may ward off the cold, or provide heat to those in need.
To bend flame is to breathe. Above all else, a firebender must be able to draw in the air to fuel the fire, or if worst comes to worst, retain as much of it as possible. Chi, as with all things, may bolster one's lungs.
Novice: Breathe Evenly Under Exertion, Hold Breath x2 Apprentice: Endure 1km Elevation, Hold Breath x5 Journeyman: Endure 2km Elevation, Hold Breath x10 Expert: Endure 4km Elevation, Hold Breath x25 Master: Endure 8km Elevation, Hold Breath x50
Apprentice Techniques Fire Bolt: Apprentice
A streak of focused flame, flying far and true, striking fiercely.
This technique negates a normal attack's ability to impose splash damage. At will, one may select either range, accuracy or power to gain the listed benefit. Alternatively, from Apprentice level onwards, one may reduce the benefit by one step to apply it to two attributes, or by two steps (from Journeyman onwards) for all three.
Novice: Small Increase Apprentice: Moderate Increase Journeyman: Significant Increase Expert: Great Increase Master: Exceptional Increase
Fire Burst: Apprentice
A blast of fire that explodes upon impact, covering a wide area in flames.
This technique imposes a moderate reduction in attack power. At will, one may reduce the area by one step (from Apprentice level onwards) in exchange for reducing the loss in power, or by two steps (from Journeyman level onwards) to have the Burst carry the full power of a normal attack.
Novice: Small Area Apprentice: Moderate Area Journeyman: Significant Area Expert: Great Area Master: Exceptional Area
Fire Leap: Apprentice
Enhancing one's speed and jumping capability with a precisely timed burst of flame.
Novice: Jump or Lunge x2 Apprentice: Jump or Lunge x3 Journeyman: Jump or Lunge x4 Expert: Jump or Lunge x5 Master: Jump or Lunge x6
To join one's flame with another's, and let the both be greater for it. A difficult endeavour, for fire is fierce and wild and independent in a way no other element can match, but in return, the result is just as much greater.
Novice: One's own firebending will not disrupt the firebending of other firebenders unless deliberate. Apprentice: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with a one-step increase in power, area or range. Journeyman: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with two total steps of increase spread across power, area and range. Alternatively, two different attacks and/or Techniques, selecting characteristics from each at will. Expert: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with three total steps of increase spread across power, area and range. Alternatively, two different attacks and/or Techniques may be combined, selecting characteristics from each at will and adding one step of increase to power, area or range. Master: When executing the same attack or Technique at the same target as another cooperative firebender, they may instead act as one effect with four total steps of increase spread across power, area and range. Alternatively, two different attacks and/or Techniques may be combined, selecting characteristics from each at will and adding two total steps of increase across power, area or range.
All such effects are limited by the lowest Cooperative Firebending level in the cooperating group. More than two firebenders cooperating successfully results in either the addition of an extra attack or Technique to the gestalt or an additional one step of increase to power, area or range per firebender beyond two.
When attempting to work with Benders of other elements, the Cooperative [Element]bending level of the group is limited to the lowest skill level regardless of element, and additionally limited by the lowest Study of [Element] skill level belonging to any participant, where the relevant element may be any involved in the combination technique.
Fire Surge: Untrained | Requires Fire Leap
A powerful rush of flame, to push or lift as the user desires.
These effects stack additively with those of Fire Leap. For example, a firebender with Expert in Fire Leap and Journeyman in Fire Surge could rush forwards at fourfold speed, then leap or lunge with an impulse sufficient to accelerate them to ninefold.
Fire Blade: Untrained
A condensed, sustained flame, that may be shaped into the likenesses of simple weapons.
Applies the intensity of one's Inner Fire to melee attacks at up to short reach, as of a club or shortsword.
Novice: Form Fire Blade Apprentice: Extend Reach (Medium - longsword, shortspear) Journeyman: Flow Around Parries Expert: Extend Reach (Long - longspear, staff) Master: Fluid Shape
Expert Techniques | Locked - Requires Inner Flame Expertise and a Style Expertise Unifying Flame: Untrained | Requires Cooperative Flame External Flame Control: Untrained Jet Propulsion: Untrained | Requires Fire Surge Fire Lash: Untrained | Requires Fire Blade Lightning Generation: Untrained
Heat Redirection: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Hot Dust/Wind Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Lava Redirection: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Hot Sand/Soil Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Lightning Redirection: Untrained | Requires Study of Water Hot Water Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Water
Master Techniques | Locked - Requires Inner Flame Mastery and a Style Mastery Consuming Flame: Untrained | Requires Unifying Flame and External Flame Control Dragon's Breath: Untrained | Requires Surging Breath Mastery Fire Flight: Untrained | Requires Jet Propulsion Pressurised Flame: Untrained | Requires Fire Lash Psychic Firebending: Untrained
Fire Whirl: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Heatbending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air Lavabending: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Flash Melt: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth Lightningbending: Untrained | Requires Study of Water Molten Glass/Metal Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Water
Pyroclastic Bending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air & Earth Mastery Plasmabending: Untrained | Requires Study of Air & Water Mastery Magmabending: Untrained | Requires Study of Earth & Water Mastery
Basically, he's pretty good at Dragon Style but has a fair way to go before mastering it, and knows the very basics of Mountain Style. Due to living on top of a mountain for three years, he's got chi-based breath enhancement down pat; even at eight kilometres above sea level he can still get all the air he needs.
O T H E R S K I L L S
Competent mountaineer and survivalist.
Hates, but knows, military firebender drill and basic tactics.
Decent hand-to-hand combatant, mostly soft-style based on Dragon Style firebending.
Surprisingly excellent campfire cook.
M A J O R P L O T H O O K S
Finding Home - Zhen never learned to read or write as a child, and the Cadet Corps saw no need to teach him. As a consequence, maps were things he heard more experienced members of Josin's army talking about. He knows his home lies on the mainland, and that it's somewhere in the south, but nothing more than that.
Mastering the Flame - Though he learned much from the dragons, Zhen has not yet fully grown into his art. His skill is enough to keep safe on the road, and to seek further advancement alone without the risk of working a fundamental flaw into his bending forms, but he still has a long way to go.
The Avatar's Answer - The Avatar has disappeared. Abandoned their duty, and the people who rely on them. They have lifted no finger to help the hundreds, the thousands slaughtered in the Fire Lords' pointless warring. Zhen's feelings on this topic are many and complex, but above all else he wants to look them in the eye and ask: Why?
S A M P L E P O S T
"Spirits fucking take it-!"
A flare of bright yellow-orange light splashed off bare stone, before fading away.
There was a rumbling sigh. "Did that make you feel better, young one?"
"... No."
"You have suffered much, I understand. But though fire and water oppose, they are all too similar - they both have their ebb and flow. If you cannot learn to let go, you will never grasp the truth of flame."
"Let - you want me to just let go?! To just forget about - Josin, and his rabble of spirit-forsaken thugs, and -"
"No, young one. Not forget. Fire is life, but it is also passion; to deny your grievances, your fury, is to deny your own flame. But at the same time, if it is all you can return to, you will burn yourself away from within. I do not ask that you cast it away - only that you learn to set it aside, to accept what you cannot do in the moment until the time comes that you can. To allow yourself time and space for more than just revenge."
Cloth rustled faintly in the background, half-lost under the thump of someone dropping to the ground.
"It - hurts. Knowing he's out there, that nobody's stopping him, that there are more just like him. That there's nothing I can do about it."
Somewhere in the gravelly bass that replied, there was concealed just the bare suggestion of a smile. "And that, too, is fire. Endlessly, always, we burn. Even when all there is to burn is ourselves. It is something we must all come to terms with. But this, I think, you know already."
"... Yeah. Yeah, I know." A snort. "Alright, you old lizard, let's get back to it. What am I doing wrong this time?"
For several long moments, silence stretched out.
"Ren?"
"Truthfully, young one, I think there is little more I can teach you. Or, rather, little more I should." Again, just the barest wisp of a smile crept in. "All hatchlings must leave the nest eventually. You have grown well here, sheltered beneath my wings - but if you wish to become all you could be, I cannot coddle you forever. Fire must burn freely, or it is not fire at all!"
"... Already? I mean, I knew this was coming, but... two and a half years?"
This time, the smile was far more evident. "Oh, young one, you really have no idea, do you? Mountain Style did not suit you at all, no, and you were nearly extinguished beneath it - but you are talented, and your fire burns bright within, when given a chance to blaze unrestrained. You have come very far indeed, in this time, and I am proud of you."
A moment of wordless - word-lost - silence. "... 'Cmon, Ren, I'm not that good..."
"Yet. Your beginning in the art of firebending left much to be desired, this is true - though through no fault of your own - but in two and a half years, you have come further than I would expect to see in five, perhaps closer to ten. A decade or two from now, I do not doubt I will see you stand tall among the ranks of masters. In fifty, you will be a figure of history, and I shall be proud of your accomplishment, and take pride in having been your teacher. But part of that is knowing when to let you go. Because a flame cannot be cosseted - if you try, you will only smother it. And you are beginning to grow restless here, even if you have not or cannot see it yourself."
Finally, there was laughter.
"Shit, Ren, you're wiser than I'm ever going to be. I'll miss it. You really think it's time for me to leave?"
"Age and wisdom, young one, often go hand in hand. But yes - it is time you spread your wings and fly." Powerful coils, as much spirit as mortal flesh, moved over each other, the soft hiss of scale on scale almost blending into the wind. "Truthfully... there is another reason, too. You have told me of your frustration with the state of the Fire Nation - though recently, an uneasy truce has come to be between the Lords - with the world at large, and as a part of that world, the Avatar. But... there is really no easy way to say this. The Avatar is missing. Since the assassination of Avatar Er at the hands of the Earth warlord An, the world has awaited his successor, but though twenty years have passed, they have not revealed themselves."
"And you expected any better? It's not like the Avatar even cares. Bridge to the Spirit World and all - but you know what spirits are like."
"Perhaps it is so. Or perhaps it is otherwise. By the metrics of Lord Josin's reign, you are a coward and a traitor - but do those labels define you?"
"... Fine. So, what, you want me to find the Avatar? Seriously?"
"If you wish. It would be a long journey, one that would take you to many places. You would have many opportunities to study bending, both of fire and otherwise. And there is far more to learn in the world than only that; I have seen and learned much in my life, but there is much more I simply cannot teach you. And... if you did find them... wouldn't you have an opportunity to discover an answer?"
"Oh, fuck off. You're a canny old bastard, you know that?"
The amusement could only have been missed if one was deaf. "Why, thank you."
"That wasn't a compliment!"
As the sun set, the mountains echoed with laughter.
D E S I G N N O T E S
On Names: Zhen does not, in the present, have a last name. He is a peasant, from a peasant family. In the Avatar world, from what we see in canon, the only people with last names are the ones who have things to pass on (the Bei Fong merchant family, say) but don't have enough status that when people say their names, everyone knows who they're talking about (Ozai/Iroh/Zuko/Azula - they're the royal family, everyone in Fire knows them.) Thus, the quote under the image, from Old Man Zhen, is attributed to Zhen Long. Long is Chinese for dragon - I figured once he got more famous, and word of him being trained by the dragons got around, he might well end up being called something along those lines. So it's sort of a nickname turned title turned surname.
High-End Bending Abilities: Yes, I've got some wacky shit in there. I don't expect Zhen will ever actually get that far, or at least not in the scope of the game, I'm just envisioning capstone abilities that would be awesome. Maybe I'll find a high-power game somewhere in the future and break out Old Man Zhen, the walking volcanic eruption :v
So, @Bluetommy, how much longer have I got to get a submission in? I'm mostly done, but there's some more fine-tuning I'd like to do if I've got the time, though I can also just bang out the rest of the text tonight if I need to.
@Rokoran so where does plant- or bloodbending fall?
Waterbending. It's all internal water, after all. I haven't got this all perfectly fleshed out or anything - I'm still faffing about with the firebending stuff - but I'd probably go with it being similar to Lightning; you can get basic internal water manipulation at Expert, but then to do mass or complex stuff, you'd need the Master-level version of the technique.
In terms of lavabending being equally possible in both the firebending and earthbending disciplines, there is precedent from the show, two of the known lavabenders are Kiyoshi, an earthbender, and Roku, a firebender. It makes complete sense to me that these disciplines are connected in such a manner.
LoK actually jossed that, IIRC - by canon lavabending is a specialised Earth technique. Which is stupid.
In terms of cross-bending abilities, study of the other bending arts has been shown to lead to greater abilities in the show, Iroh creating lightning redirection through studying waterbenders being the most obvious of these. In terms of the examples you gave, I don't think it makes sense for airbenders to be able to stormbend simply by watching waterbenders, unless the storm already exists it makes little sense to me for Airbenders to suddenly gain the ability to create storms, mud has been bent by both water and earthbenders without any interaction between the two, and heat manipulation is an intermediate level firebending technique, Iroh uses it to heat tea, Zuko uses it to melt ice, Sozin uses it to attempt to halt a volcanic eruption. None of these people outside Iroh had had the chance to study airbenders prior to use.'
So, in order - airbenders certainly couldn't stormbend just by watching waterbenders; I see Stormbending as a Master-Level technique (which means Inner Gale and one Airbending Style at Mastery) also requiring Mastery in Study of Water and Study of Fire. That's like, endgame stuff. And doing anything big with it would probably completely wipe you out even then, plus falling into Dangerous Forbidden Move classification, because if you let a storm get out of your control and it grows? Hurricanes are Avatar territory.
You are more or less correct about mud, I threw that in mostly offhand; that would probably be Novice level in Study of Water/Earth for earth/waterbenders, respectively, since mud is stiffer than water but more fluid than earth. You could get that just by carefully watching the appropriate type of bender do their thing for a while, but if you want to start getting deeper into Study of [Element] you need to actually learn the forms and what they do, and then start experimenting with how you incorporate some of those things into your own style. Master-level Study of Water means mastering Master-level waterbending forms and then picking out the bits that are applicable to your own element.
Heatbending, as I visualise it, is not quite the same thing as heat manipulation - heating tea and melting ice, the way I've been thinking of them, fall under the 'can radiate warmth' part of Inner Flame, the most basic Universal-level firebender skill; what Sozin does with the volcano is Novice or maybe Apprentice level heatbending, just moving it from one place to another. Combat heatbending, though, I see as stuff like throwing around blasts of superheated air, more or less instantly dropping the space around someone to minus fifty and then dumping that all onto the guy standing next to him: just as dangerous as most sorts of firebending, and a whole lot less visible.
If you look at the Avatar wiki, there's a line about heat manipulation, referring specifically to Sozin's heat redirection: It appears to operate on a similar principle to Iroh's redirection of lightning technique. Hence, if Study of Water leads to lightning manipulation, Study of Air leads to heat manipulation - and if lightning redirection graduates into proper, controlled lightningbending, logically speaking, heat redirection should graduate into heatbending.
Hmm, this is all quite interesting, I see no reason to say no. In terms of defensive firebending, be sure to recall that for a long time those arts were forgotten, and even if my setting is earlier in the timeline, the warlike state of the Fire Islands and aggressive focus of the most powerful warlord may lead to it being far rarer than the aggressive form.
If this structure will help you, I won't stop you, though this is a casual RP and I won't expect the same from everyone else.
Also another piece of setting information that I may have forgotten to mention, as this RP is far earlier in the timeline, the spirit world will be more closely linked with the physical.
Well, it's not purely defensive, it's just more focused on control and the flow of fire rather than aggression and power; that results in better deflection. It doesn't, in and of itself, give you anything special, or at least not until you hit Mastery and unlock Cloak of Flame, the defensive counterpart to Mountain's Endless Onslaught. Rather, if Mountain Style is a straight line, Dragon Style is an arc or a circle; you can stab things better with a line, but moving in an arc is better for deflection. Both Mountain and Dragon defend by knocking things away or just incinerating them with fire; Dragon is simply better at it than Mountain, as Mountain is better on the offence than Dragon.
And the reason my firebender knows Dragon style, and is in fact better at it than Mountain, is that he learned from a dragon (this being centuries before Sozin wiped them out, they're probably a lot more common.) He's peasant-born, so his parents couldn't teach him, and none of his family are very fond of any of the warlords - that's part of why he's searching for the Avatar, in fact, because he's hoping the Avatar will lay down the law on them.
WOAH DUDE! This is a little complication, but like really cool. I might be like... Behind on info, but is that stuff all legit canon names for things or did you make some of it up? I kind wanted a fire bender, but now idk if I could compete lol Still really cool though
Oh, I know it's complicated. I just enjoy that sort of thing.
Most of those names aren't canon; Lavabending and Lightningbending are, and we know that Iroh studied waterbending to come up with his lightning redirection technique, as well as the fact that he could breathe fire without external motions. So Study of Water/Earth/Air is a formalised name for doing that sort of thing that I came up with, and Inner Flame and Surging Breath describes the firebender ability to manipulate both flame and chi by breathing, but most of the other stuff isn't canon.
Cross-element bending abilities I drew primarily from Embers, in which - among other things - Zuko invents hot water bending in order to disguise himself on the run, then later, working with Toph, molten glass bending (which they can both do) while she also learns to bend ashes in the air above an open flame. So I took that and went along the logical progression.
Chi use by warriors is also, I think, from Embers (Sokka learns it) - we get hints of that being the case in canon, both because Piandao is simply too awesome not to be doing something wacky and because chi-blocking causes paralysis rather than just stopping bending. That is, if no chi means you can't move, more chi should mean you can move more or more powerfully. I say I think because I don't know if it ever actually became an acknowledged thing in canon or just fell under 'this is a fantasy world, there are people who can take on a hundred men using only a sword and come out without a scratch.'
Okay, so here's a question - how far into fanon are we allowed to go? Because there's some canon stuff that... really doesn't make sense, and some fanfiction stuff (principally Embers-derived, I will admit) that really does.
Principally, I'm thinking:
Lavabending should be equally possible with fire or earth, and should require the user to study the bending forms of the element they don't have, and possibly water as well (earth that's hot like fire and flows (somewhat) like (really thick, sometimes, depending on type) water.)
Similarly, there should be other cross-element specialisations; a firebender might learn to bend heat by studying airbending, hot water (more specifically the 'fire' in hot water, but effectively) by studying waterbending, or steam by studying both, just as a waterbender might learn mudbending from studying earth or an airbender stormbending (as in genuine rain-thunder-and-lightning storms, not just huge winds) from water and fire.
Active chi use should be for more than just bending and mystical extrasensory perception; high-level warriors like Piandao, for example, defeating a hundred men or fighting blindfolded, should be active chi users. Likewise, strong benders should be capable of enhancing their physical power with chi, or even creating a surge in the power of their bending, at the cost of stamina.
Which ties into my (firebender) character sheet thusly: Skill classification (as in difficulty/advanced-ness) goes universal/novice/apprentice/journeyman/expert/master Skill level (as in how good you are) goes untrained/novice/apprentice/journeyman/expert/master
There are seven Universal skills: Inner Fire (how powerful your flame is, and some incidental bonuses like not freezing), Surging Breath (firebender chi use), Mountain Style (firebending technique one, aggressive), Dragon Style (firebending technique two, defensive), and then Study of Earth, Study of Water, and Study of Air; so, for example, if my firebender progressed to Expert Inner Fire, Expert Study of Water and Expert Mountain Style (or Master Dragon Style), he could learn Lightningbending and Lightning Redirection, or Controlled Lightningbending at Mastery.
A Waterbender, alternatively, might have Inner Flow, Surging Tide, Ocean Style and Moon Style, and then Study of Earth, Fire and Air.
Obviously this is fairly complicated, but I like to have a bit of a structure to work with. Is this all okay, or do I need to adhere to canon rules?
EDIT: Also, this would, double obviously, be a lot of work, it's not the sort of thing anyone can just breeze through. I'm thinking long-term here, mostly.
