Avatar: Legend of spirits past.
- Thread starter BoSPaladin
- Start date
Bandits!
BoSPaladin
The Paladin
[X]Promise to marry Kya one day of course.
[X]You and your friends will be safe with Momma. Encourage the other adults to kick the bandits butts.
Blaike
It was decided then. Better to deal with trouble before it began and as for his wife? Well, she would keep the kids safer than he could.
Beside him Iroh took a deep breath and nodded and the Kyoshi warrior Anne unfurled a small shield and war fan before likewise pronouncing herself ready.
For his part Blaike only drew his scarf up to cover his mouth and grim expression, his dark brown eyes peeking from the shadows.
Marching towards the sounds of battle they arrived on a ridge overlooking a half dozen beetle tribe on their namesake mounts surrounded by perhaps twice their number of bandits, some mounted on savage looking mongoose-lizards. Among the bandits were a number of benders, notably two metal benders were doing most of the talking but Blaike spied a number of people either overtly bending or waiting to do so, chiefly fire and earth benders though of course most of them were simple weapon users armed with spears or blades.
"Do we ask them to stop?" Anne wondered, answered by a bolt of lightning from Iroh striking one of the leaders in the chest, electricity coursing through him and sending him to the ground twitching. Taking her cue Anne leapt forwards unfurling a small shield that she leapt atop, gliding down the sands and dodging a blast of fire, leaping forwards and coming up in a roll, her war fan cracking the firebenders wrist with a meaty crack before she struck him several times in the stomach and chest with powerful punches, finishing with a strike to the jaw that sent him reeling to the ground unconcscious before Anne turned to the trio of weapon users.
The merchants stood defenseless as meanwhile Iroh swore, embattled with a pair of benders, one each of fire and simple earth, having to defend himself from either side.
For his part Blaike charged towards the remaining metalbender, dodging jagged shards that whistled by his head, slipping to the side and sliding over the sands before responding with a gush of sand that impacted the metalbender aiming to bury them only for blades to erupt from their wrist as they charged into the strike, their helmets mask covering and protecting their face as they carved their way through the flood of sand and leapt at Blaike, blades flashing and whirling, sand dripping from them as easily as rain.
See! Shit like this. Was why everyone was fed up with metalbenders and their bullshit. Powerful defense, ungodly attacks and to top it all off they had a level of speed that was frankly unfair. Not to mention they avoided an earthbenders most common weakness by carrying their element with them everywhere. Blaike was interrupted from his musings by a flurry of blades that he barely dodged and another he didn't one striking his arm and opening it up with a spray of blood and through it all the metalbender was utterly silent. It was that, above all else that chilled Blaikes blood.
"You know!" He called out replying with a plume of sand as the metalbender flipped away, sending another errant shard of metal whistling towards his head. "We only stunned your friend!" He tried only to receive another blade that he leapt over using the sand to propel himself into the air. Okay. Fine. Reaching the ground Blaike slammed a fist down and sand erupted outwards, knocking some of the still fighting bandits from their feet and leaving sand hanging and whirling in the air in a miniature storm. Just in time Blaike dived downwards avoiding yet more knives as he tunneled downwards into the sand towards the source of vibrations from where the metalbender was stood.
Breath almost gone Blaike reached outwards and grabbed a slender ankle and yanked downwards, propelling himself upwards even as he dragged his foe into the sand leaving them buried up to the neck and holding a whirling pile of sand above their head threateningly.
"Surrender or your boss gets it!" Blaike warned dissapating the storm and revealing the battlefield. Anne having already defeated her foes and moving onwards to help the general with his pair of benders, still, thankfully all three heeded his words and quickly stopped fighting. Breathing a sigh of relief Blaike started counting, meeting the grateful smiles of the beetle tribe with short nods before he stopped and tore the helmet off the almost buried bender.
"Hey, weren't there more of you!?" He demanded of the scarred woman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Verna
"Alright kiddo's inside." She ordered firmly, chivvying the youngsters inside, Zoe helpfully suggesting that they do some reading lessons to which Verna nodded distractedly. Pulling a small storybook with pictures from her pack she entranced Farrukh with tales of the moon spirit and her capricious nature, enticing the mighty ocean towards her, then at a whim pushing him away once more. As the twins and the princess began to explain the letters and Kanji to Farrukh Verna glanced out the window and with a sigh growled, making sure to pull her goggles up, Melissa hiding a gasp as she too saw the trio of bandits.
"Right. You kids stay here." Verna ordered, swiftly yanking a cover over the windows and holding a finger over her lips to shush the hyper child. "I gotta tinkle." She lied brightly earning giggles as she slipped outside and stalked towards the bandits where she folded her arms and glared at them. "Look, I haven't had my coffee yet, I'm still a little grouchy from this morning, so hows about you pretend you didn't see me, I pretend I didn't see you and we all walk away moderately happy, or at least with none of us bleeding and screaming." She offered reasonably.
"I can think of a few things that would make us happy." One bandit snickered, his eyes fixed on her lecherously. Okay, him first then Verna decided.
"Look. I'm guessing you've got bounties on you and like them I'm really not that concerned about dead or alive sooo... scoot?" Verna offered.
"Get her." The talkative ordered, one of the trio rushing at her with a spear. Verna dodging the clumsy thrust, grabbing the shaft, and slamming her foot down onto the side of her foes knee, making him fall to the ground screaming before yanking the spear from his grip and bashing his nose with the blunt end, uncaring of the spray of blood that erupted spraying across her goggles and Idly considering the spear Verna planted the pointed head in the sand and kicked at the shaft breaking it off and leaving her with a serviceable staff that she twirled menacingly before taking a stance.
"Last chance." Verna said voice soft and menacing.
"Look bitch you better- Gurk!" The bandit tried, cut off as Verna kicked out and with a spray of sand propelled the razor sharp head of the spear flying through the air to land in his neck with a gush of blood, the rocks floating around his hand falling to the ground as he likewise crumpled. The last bandit wasn't that smart either, charging at her with a sword before she casually swept his legs out and with his eyes open comically wide in shock she slammed the staff into his ribs and hammered him into the ground leaving him groaning in pain and nursing several broken ribs as Verna gave the staff a final twirl and regarding it thoughtfully.
With none of the bandits in any state to go anywhere she covered the dead one with a sheet and wiped the blood from her face before stepping back inside, leaning the staff against the wall and cuddling up to her little boy, barely even out of breath as she helped him sound out his words, patting Melissa reassuringly as the girl hugged her tight. "Your aura is sad." She whispered, Verna instead flashing her a smile and ruffling her hair.
------------------------------
Blaike
"Wow, she really is going soft." Blaike mused to looks of awe as they came across the corpse and the two injured survivors moaning softly. Receiving incredulous looks from his fellows.
"You mean that two are still alive?" Iroh asked thoughtfully.
"Well, yes, that too. But I'm referring mostly to the fact that the dead guy wasn't beaten to death." Blaike shrugged, enjoying the looks of shock he received.
From there it was a simple matter to tie up the bandits, separating the weapons users from their weapons, leaving the metalbenders without their armour, along with them, and any other benders painfully chi-blocked and sending them on their way to Misty palms with the beetle clan after showing them just how the giant beetles tore apart a dead body.
Bandits sufficiently cowed and slightly green, and with the merchants grateful they promised to pass the criminals along to the law and any bounty along to him, or at least to one of his clan who could pass it on to him, the next time he saw them. Finding that acceptable Blaike agreed while offering to let them take a reasonable price to pay for their lost wares and cover the cost of transporting the prisoners. Knowing their code of honour Blaike judged he'd see his payday next time he came back this way, and with that they parted ways with the merchants and continued their journey.
---------------------------------------------------
Farrukh
Dadda was like... the best sandbender ever! While propelling the sand speeder with his bending he made sure to regale you all with tales of how he'd hidden in a storm and defeated a hundred benders single handed! Coughs from the old general asking him if perhaps he should be more humble? His words agreed with by the old Kyoshi warrior Ann who nodded along with his words.
"How's humility working out for you then?" Dadda grinned as you made sure to smile too though you were unsure of the joke. Thinking a moment you nodded and made your contribution to the conversation.
"Momma got scared she had to go pee!" You giggle. Momma growling at that and swatting the back of your head playfully, all of the adults besides her chuckling at you. "Love you Momma." You made sure to console her as she planted a wet kiss on your cheek. "Love you too." She promised back.
A week of lessons passed and you reached the edge of the desert, Omashu standing proudly before you, protected by it's long thin bridge and the massive canyon around it's walls, while, outside there were fields of crops manmade streams filled with water that momma called irrigation ditches, and here and there deep wells leading to a supply of water beneath the ground, brought up either in buckets as drinking water, or pulled from the earth to provide damp soil and mud for planting.
The lush greenery set against the backdrop of the mountains, tops tipped with white at this time of year always took your breath away as you gazed onwards in wonder.
"Momma!" Kya cried. Rushing towards where a familiar airship was parked and the familiar looking woman waited to sweep her into a hug. "Your messages from your uncle tell me you've been having adventures." She smiled at her daughter as Hawky screeched proudly and turning to your parents the lady curtsied politely. "My thanks for your offer of transport and for protecting my only child." She said politely.
"Your pay is enough." Dadda grunted as you looked on.
"And rest assured, you will be compensated as agreed, however, I would be remiss if I didn't admit there was a debt owed, but please, these are things we can discuss later." She offered. "You must be exhausted from your travels, please enjoy what little hospitality I can offer under these circumstances." She said, leading you imperiously through the gates and through an earthbent lift into one of the highest portions of the city and a fancy hotel where you and your friends busied yourselves with leaping on the beds, the twins in particular spinning and tumbling with whoops of joy as all four of you laughed.
You've got a week of rest and relaxation in Omashu with your family and friends. In addition to your ongoing sandbending and combat training. What do!?
Pick Four
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Meditate and relax with the old general.
[X]You've seen momma practising with her new staff, an old familiar smile on her as she twirls. You wanna learn that too!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Blah blah blah. Other people say important service for trade and goods. You say high speed superslide! Ride Omashu's delivery chutes.
[X]You still have the metalbenders armour, try and wear it and play police and triads! It's not quite the right style for the metalbending police but still...
[X]Make up time! The girls want to show you how to put on Kyoshi make up, this time you're determined to remember for yourself.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]Just relax and nap.
[X]You and your friends will be safe with Momma. Encourage the other adults to kick the bandits butts.
Blaike
It was decided then. Better to deal with trouble before it began and as for his wife? Well, she would keep the kids safer than he could.
Beside him Iroh took a deep breath and nodded and the Kyoshi warrior Anne unfurled a small shield and war fan before likewise pronouncing herself ready.
For his part Blaike only drew his scarf up to cover his mouth and grim expression, his dark brown eyes peeking from the shadows.
Marching towards the sounds of battle they arrived on a ridge overlooking a half dozen beetle tribe on their namesake mounts surrounded by perhaps twice their number of bandits, some mounted on savage looking mongoose-lizards. Among the bandits were a number of benders, notably two metal benders were doing most of the talking but Blaike spied a number of people either overtly bending or waiting to do so, chiefly fire and earth benders though of course most of them were simple weapon users armed with spears or blades.
"Do we ask them to stop?" Anne wondered, answered by a bolt of lightning from Iroh striking one of the leaders in the chest, electricity coursing through him and sending him to the ground twitching. Taking her cue Anne leapt forwards unfurling a small shield that she leapt atop, gliding down the sands and dodging a blast of fire, leaping forwards and coming up in a roll, her war fan cracking the firebenders wrist with a meaty crack before she struck him several times in the stomach and chest with powerful punches, finishing with a strike to the jaw that sent him reeling to the ground unconcscious before Anne turned to the trio of weapon users.
The merchants stood defenseless as meanwhile Iroh swore, embattled with a pair of benders, one each of fire and simple earth, having to defend himself from either side.
For his part Blaike charged towards the remaining metalbender, dodging jagged shards that whistled by his head, slipping to the side and sliding over the sands before responding with a gush of sand that impacted the metalbender aiming to bury them only for blades to erupt from their wrist as they charged into the strike, their helmets mask covering and protecting their face as they carved their way through the flood of sand and leapt at Blaike, blades flashing and whirling, sand dripping from them as easily as rain.
See! Shit like this. Was why everyone was fed up with metalbenders and their bullshit. Powerful defense, ungodly attacks and to top it all off they had a level of speed that was frankly unfair. Not to mention they avoided an earthbenders most common weakness by carrying their element with them everywhere. Blaike was interrupted from his musings by a flurry of blades that he barely dodged and another he didn't one striking his arm and opening it up with a spray of blood and through it all the metalbender was utterly silent. It was that, above all else that chilled Blaikes blood.
"You know!" He called out replying with a plume of sand as the metalbender flipped away, sending another errant shard of metal whistling towards his head. "We only stunned your friend!" He tried only to receive another blade that he leapt over using the sand to propel himself into the air. Okay. Fine. Reaching the ground Blaike slammed a fist down and sand erupted outwards, knocking some of the still fighting bandits from their feet and leaving sand hanging and whirling in the air in a miniature storm. Just in time Blaike dived downwards avoiding yet more knives as he tunneled downwards into the sand towards the source of vibrations from where the metalbender was stood.
Breath almost gone Blaike reached outwards and grabbed a slender ankle and yanked downwards, propelling himself upwards even as he dragged his foe into the sand leaving them buried up to the neck and holding a whirling pile of sand above their head threateningly.
"Surrender or your boss gets it!" Blaike warned dissapating the storm and revealing the battlefield. Anne having already defeated her foes and moving onwards to help the general with his pair of benders, still, thankfully all three heeded his words and quickly stopped fighting. Breathing a sigh of relief Blaike started counting, meeting the grateful smiles of the beetle tribe with short nods before he stopped and tore the helmet off the almost buried bender.
"Hey, weren't there more of you!?" He demanded of the scarred woman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Verna
"Alright kiddo's inside." She ordered firmly, chivvying the youngsters inside, Zoe helpfully suggesting that they do some reading lessons to which Verna nodded distractedly. Pulling a small storybook with pictures from her pack she entranced Farrukh with tales of the moon spirit and her capricious nature, enticing the mighty ocean towards her, then at a whim pushing him away once more. As the twins and the princess began to explain the letters and Kanji to Farrukh Verna glanced out the window and with a sigh growled, making sure to pull her goggles up, Melissa hiding a gasp as she too saw the trio of bandits.
"Right. You kids stay here." Verna ordered, swiftly yanking a cover over the windows and holding a finger over her lips to shush the hyper child. "I gotta tinkle." She lied brightly earning giggles as she slipped outside and stalked towards the bandits where she folded her arms and glared at them. "Look, I haven't had my coffee yet, I'm still a little grouchy from this morning, so hows about you pretend you didn't see me, I pretend I didn't see you and we all walk away moderately happy, or at least with none of us bleeding and screaming." She offered reasonably.
"I can think of a few things that would make us happy." One bandit snickered, his eyes fixed on her lecherously. Okay, him first then Verna decided.
"Look. I'm guessing you've got bounties on you and like them I'm really not that concerned about dead or alive sooo... scoot?" Verna offered.
"Get her." The talkative ordered, one of the trio rushing at her with a spear. Verna dodging the clumsy thrust, grabbing the shaft, and slamming her foot down onto the side of her foes knee, making him fall to the ground screaming before yanking the spear from his grip and bashing his nose with the blunt end, uncaring of the spray of blood that erupted spraying across her goggles and Idly considering the spear Verna planted the pointed head in the sand and kicked at the shaft breaking it off and leaving her with a serviceable staff that she twirled menacingly before taking a stance.
"Last chance." Verna said voice soft and menacing.
"Look bitch you better- Gurk!" The bandit tried, cut off as Verna kicked out and with a spray of sand propelled the razor sharp head of the spear flying through the air to land in his neck with a gush of blood, the rocks floating around his hand falling to the ground as he likewise crumpled. The last bandit wasn't that smart either, charging at her with a sword before she casually swept his legs out and with his eyes open comically wide in shock she slammed the staff into his ribs and hammered him into the ground leaving him groaning in pain and nursing several broken ribs as Verna gave the staff a final twirl and regarding it thoughtfully.
With none of the bandits in any state to go anywhere she covered the dead one with a sheet and wiped the blood from her face before stepping back inside, leaning the staff against the wall and cuddling up to her little boy, barely even out of breath as she helped him sound out his words, patting Melissa reassuringly as the girl hugged her tight. "Your aura is sad." She whispered, Verna instead flashing her a smile and ruffling her hair.
------------------------------
Blaike
"Wow, she really is going soft." Blaike mused to looks of awe as they came across the corpse and the two injured survivors moaning softly. Receiving incredulous looks from his fellows.
"You mean that two are still alive?" Iroh asked thoughtfully.
"Well, yes, that too. But I'm referring mostly to the fact that the dead guy wasn't beaten to death." Blaike shrugged, enjoying the looks of shock he received.
From there it was a simple matter to tie up the bandits, separating the weapons users from their weapons, leaving the metalbenders without their armour, along with them, and any other benders painfully chi-blocked and sending them on their way to Misty palms with the beetle clan after showing them just how the giant beetles tore apart a dead body.
Bandits sufficiently cowed and slightly green, and with the merchants grateful they promised to pass the criminals along to the law and any bounty along to him, or at least to one of his clan who could pass it on to him, the next time he saw them. Finding that acceptable Blaike agreed while offering to let them take a reasonable price to pay for their lost wares and cover the cost of transporting the prisoners. Knowing their code of honour Blaike judged he'd see his payday next time he came back this way, and with that they parted ways with the merchants and continued their journey.
---------------------------------------------------
Farrukh
Dadda was like... the best sandbender ever! While propelling the sand speeder with his bending he made sure to regale you all with tales of how he'd hidden in a storm and defeated a hundred benders single handed! Coughs from the old general asking him if perhaps he should be more humble? His words agreed with by the old Kyoshi warrior Ann who nodded along with his words.
"How's humility working out for you then?" Dadda grinned as you made sure to smile too though you were unsure of the joke. Thinking a moment you nodded and made your contribution to the conversation.
"Momma got scared she had to go pee!" You giggle. Momma growling at that and swatting the back of your head playfully, all of the adults besides her chuckling at you. "Love you Momma." You made sure to console her as she planted a wet kiss on your cheek. "Love you too." She promised back.
A week of lessons passed and you reached the edge of the desert, Omashu standing proudly before you, protected by it's long thin bridge and the massive canyon around it's walls, while, outside there were fields of crops manmade streams filled with water that momma called irrigation ditches, and here and there deep wells leading to a supply of water beneath the ground, brought up either in buckets as drinking water, or pulled from the earth to provide damp soil and mud for planting.
The lush greenery set against the backdrop of the mountains, tops tipped with white at this time of year always took your breath away as you gazed onwards in wonder.
"Momma!" Kya cried. Rushing towards where a familiar airship was parked and the familiar looking woman waited to sweep her into a hug. "Your messages from your uncle tell me you've been having adventures." She smiled at her daughter as Hawky screeched proudly and turning to your parents the lady curtsied politely. "My thanks for your offer of transport and for protecting my only child." She said politely.
"Your pay is enough." Dadda grunted as you looked on.
"And rest assured, you will be compensated as agreed, however, I would be remiss if I didn't admit there was a debt owed, but please, these are things we can discuss later." She offered. "You must be exhausted from your travels, please enjoy what little hospitality I can offer under these circumstances." She said, leading you imperiously through the gates and through an earthbent lift into one of the highest portions of the city and a fancy hotel where you and your friends busied yourselves with leaping on the beds, the twins in particular spinning and tumbling with whoops of joy as all four of you laughed.
You've got a week of rest and relaxation in Omashu with your family and friends. In addition to your ongoing sandbending and combat training. What do!?
Pick Four
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Meditate and relax with the old general.
[X]You've seen momma practising with her new staff, an old familiar smile on her as she twirls. You wanna learn that too!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Blah blah blah. Other people say important service for trade and goods. You say high speed superslide! Ride Omashu's delivery chutes.
[X]You still have the metalbenders armour, try and wear it and play police and triads! It's not quite the right style for the metalbending police but still...
[X]Make up time! The girls want to show you how to put on Kyoshi make up, this time you're determined to remember for yourself.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]Just relax and nap.
Last edited:
- Location
- At the end of the world
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
Water - Air - Fire - Earth.
P.S.: For people who may think that spa day is unnecessary, think about it - it's first time ever that he can play this so many water if he can be comfortable with water now, then it will help with his waterbending later. And i just feel that it will be fun.
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
Water - Air - Fire - Earth.
P.S.: For people who may think that spa day is unnecessary, think about it - it's first time ever that he can play this so many water if he can be comfortable with water now, then it will help with his waterbending later. And i just feel that it will be fun.
Last edited:
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]You still have the metalbenders armour, try and wear it and play police and triads! It's not quite the right style for the metalbending police but still...
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]You still have the metalbenders armour, try and wear it and play police and triads! It's not quite the right style for the metalbending police but still...
KidFromPallet
Pokemon Fan
- Location
- Pallet Town
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
- Location
- The Void
[X]Meditate and relax with the old general.
[X]You still have the metalbenders armour, try and wear it and play police and triads! It's not quite the right style for the metalbending police but still...
[X]Make up time! The girls want to show you how to put on Kyoshi make up, this time you're determined to remember for yourself.
[X]Just relax and nap.
Let's be a kid, relax and have fun.
[X]You still have the metalbenders armour, try and wear it and play police and triads! It's not quite the right style for the metalbending police but still...
[X]Make up time! The girls want to show you how to put on Kyoshi make up, this time you're determined to remember for yourself.
[X]Just relax and nap.
Let's be a kid, relax and have fun.
Last edited:
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
[X]Take hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
Opening your mind to new possibilities
BoSPaladin
The Paladin
[X]Spa day! Relax in the massive baths and swimming pools. More water than you've ever seen before to play around in!
[X]Take Hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
Garbed in shorts you look warily at the body of water, deeper than you are tall. "Is this for drinking?" You ask, the girls giggling softly before looks from the older women, your momma included silence them.
"Watch me." Lady Ann says, slipping her legs into the pool and sliding in where she leans forwards and begins to paddle her feet and swing her arms in circular motions propelling herself towards you, righting herself where her feet touch the bottom and holding her arms out. "Come on. I'll hold you and show you how to float." She promises, at her words you carefully clamber in and she catches you where she lays you on your back and, after a moment releases you allowing you to float unaided.
"Hey! This isn't so bad!" You call out before beginning to kick your feet at the Kyoshi islanders instructions. With you more confident she nods to herself calling one of the older girls to hold your hands and pull you along on your front as you lift your head for breathes and soon fall into a steady rythm, relaxing at the strange sensation of your face being enclosed in water as Melissa softly encourages you, while nearby Kya is being taught by Zoe.
"Hey mom! Look! I'm swimming!" You call out as she slips into the pool and relaxes near the edge, fully covered in a bathing suit and with her goggles pulled over her face.
"I see you Farrukh." She assured you with a wave before wading over to you and taking over guiding you as you swim, Melissa taking the opportunity to dart out of the pool only to be snatched up by the waterbending lifeguard who holds her suspended above the ground held by a water tentacle. "No running." She orders in annoyance before releasing her back into the pool with a splash, Melissa on nodding and grinning before again exiting the pool, this time however walking carefully, even if you do spy the waterbender surreptitiously keeping the tiles dry.
Watching Melissa you gawp with awe as she bounces along a springy board and with a flip dives into the pool leaving barely a ripple, soon after Kya imitates her, instead tucking her legs into a ball and creating a massive wave before the lifeguard blows her whistle and hands out another warning, prompting the adults to calm you down a little and you nonetheless leave shortly afterwards where you see Kya's mom hand the lifeguard several coins with a bow before thanking her for looking after them. Coins the girl red-faced tries to refuse only for the fire nation lady to not take no for an answer. Your mother and Ann bowing too as you instead wave happily at her joined by your friends.
"She kept us safe didn't she?" You ask your mom. "That she did." She replies easily.
The spa proves different yet again. You receive a massage with a man rubbing your shoulders and back before pressing against your feet and several points along your spine. It seems nice enough but nothing special and you say so, Lady Ann grinning at that. "I'd be surprised if you had aches and pains at your age." She pointed out rotating her heavily muscled shoulder with a blissful sigh.
Next up is a simple steam room, where you sit and relax in the sauna, your groups mothers chatting amiably with your momma raising an eyebrow when Kya's mom casually shoots a minor fireball at a pile of heated rocks.
"Oh excuse me." Kya's mom apologises. "I should have given warning."
"Not at all, you certainly know your way around a flame." Momma compliments the other woman.
"The basics and little else, I assure you." Kya's mom laughs.
"The basics are for battle Lady." Momma points out with her smile on her face.
"Oh certainly, but please, my friends call me Eliza, and how is your bending?" The fire nation matriarch asks.
"Decent enough, though perhaps we shouldn't flaunt our abilities." Momma answers politely while inclining her head towards Lady Ann who laughs.
"Don't worry about any jealousy on my behalf." The warrior grins. "Close quarters like this. Easy." She promises looking entirely unconcerned.
From your position you and your friends watch the exchange with interest. There's something happening here but you're not sure quite what, Kya taking the opportunity to pass on a bag of popped corn between you as Melissa says something about their aura's being snarled up like a bunch of angry badger-cats thrown in a sack.
Still, you eventually escape the spa-day somewhat more relaxed, or at least alive and you wave at the lifeguard girl, even if the adults seem a tad more on edge. They're laughing and joking together but there's some competitiveness there, more amongst your mom and Kya's than anything but Ann is playing along too.
Weird.
Upon making your plans for the next day you mention wanting to go to the highest point in the city with Hawky. Lady Eliza nodding at that and informing you that would be the palace, inviting you to accompany her if you promise to behave. Hawky voices your agreement at that and the nights meal is comprised of an array of plates and platters of various meats, rolls, buns and stews, and you eat ravenously before Kya nudges you and begins to instruct you in etiquette and manners in an imperious tone as her mother looks on smiling.
Stern faced guards bearing traditional weapons in Omashu uniforms bar the way to the palace but upon sighting Lady Eliza earthbend open the great gates and allow you access. You walking closely behind the fire nation royalty holding Kya's hand as she looks pleased as punch. Both ladies are dressed in their finest gowns and festooned in jewellery, you too are garbed in expensive earth kingdom clothes of rich greens and soft browns, your hair washed clean of sand, scented and neatly styled, the silver owl coin as the only jewellery you own hanging from a leather band on your neck on full display.
As you pass the guards bow to you and for a while you bow back until you notice that Eliza and Kya mostly ignore them and carry on. At last arriving outside a pair of double doors you can see you're already far above the city and stopping for a moment lady Eliza leads you to a balcony where you gasp at the sight of the entire city lay out before you and beyond the walls, the desert and other things, squinting you can see a long thing moving along a raised road of some sort and above you Hawky circles and screeches.
"Now, Farrukh." Lady Eliza addresses you. "I might be a while in meetings with the King of Omashu, so please wait a while. Don't stray too far and if you need anything please ask a guard. Kya will be coming inside with me to make proper introductions."
"Alright." You agree, walking up to the tall railings and feeling the wind against your face and blowing through your hair before sitting back against a pillar behind you and beginning to play with the small pouch of sand you'd brought with you. Looking out above the city, relaxing in the shade, it felt comforting and you fell into a state of tranquility barely noticing the time slip by as the sun arced across the sky. Eventually being roused by a small voice and a girl your own age scrubbing the floor with a brush in a servants uniform looking at you questioningly. On top of her head a pair of cat ears sat, wiggling slightly as you stared.
"Er Sorry?" You ask prompting her to repeat herself.
"I asked is the sand yours noble master bender- Nya?" She asked gesturing with her brush. "Only, I'm supposed to clean the floors Nya!"
"Oh. Yes, sorry." You admit, scooping it back away safely. "Only I'm not a master. I'm not even sure I'm a bender yet." You admit blushing.
The girl stares at you for a second before collapsing into laughter and hammering the ground in amusement. "Not a bender he says!" She laughs before standing and brushing a tear from her eye.
"What?" You ask feeling vaguely insulted.
"Okay, just a moment ago you had a scale model of the entire city." The girl points out gesturing towards your bag of sand.
"What?" You demand wondering if indeed you had been bending, you'd kind of lost track of what you were doing. "Uhm, who are you anyway?" You ask the girl.
"This is my secret identity!" She proclaims loudly. "By day I'm a mild mannered maid! But by night! I'm shining princess spirit warrior Lysana! Saviour of the city and vanquisher of criminals!" She tells the world, her voice booming out. "I got the idea from my favourite mover show." She adds in a more normal voice. "Anyways, dust bunnies and evil will not wait! Away!" She yells once more, slipping her feet into her brushes and skating away on them.
------------------------------------
Taking you back to the fancy hotel Eliza leads you into a ballroom where she announces that you should learn to dance properly, and to that end she has arranged a blushing but eager Kya to be your dance partner her also needing to learn formal dances.
"I don't know any formal dances." You say. "Wouldn't Kya learn better with someone like general Iroh?"
"Her great grand uncle with back pain and a dodgy hip?" Eliza points out to your and Kya's giggles. "No, no. I'm sure you'll do fine." She says taking your hands and guiding one to hold Kya's hand, the other going around her waist. "Not one inch higher or one inch lower." She warns you seriously looking ready to spit fire. Nodding quickly you agree and Kya's own free hand is placed on your shoulder, the pair of you standing close.
Humming softly Eliza carries a tune and guides you in the moves of a standard waltz, stepping back and forth, moving across the empty ballroom and making occasional tweaks to your posture, stopping to teach more difficult steps and having you practice that several times before continuing and having you rehearse entire sections until at last you completed the entire dance from start to finish, ending with a twirl from Kya.
"That was fun." You admit. "But, why me?" Eliza only shrugs.
"I needed a partner her own size for Kya to dance with. That and it's good for her to have friends who treat her like a normal girl. Anyway! Next up is the dance of the dancing dragon!"
This time as you dance Eliza teaches you of the schools of firebending, that taught during the hundred year war using anger and emotions to fuel ones flames, and the sister style to that, instead tightly controlling ones emotions, there exists however another major school, as firebenders are empowered by the sun it also gives light and life to the world, even on a smaller example fire is used to cook food and without it the desert at night would be freezing and unlivable, the key being, that firebending could not only be fuelled by anger or by calm acceptance but also by happiness and listening to her you nod along, falling into a similar state of focus as when you looked over the city and at the conclusion of the dance a small burst of fire erupted above yours and Kya's hands making you both jump in surprise.
"Kya?" Her mother asks making her blush before the woman shook her head. "Well, at least it seems like the sun warrior style agrees with you. But try to be a little more careful." Kya only nods quietly, unsure and looking at her hands.
-----------------------
Your next few days fall into a familiar rhythm. Visiting the palace and enjoying the view where you take to attempting to recreate the sand sculptures of your father in between your various lessons, among them sparring matches with the twins.
Despite your practice you don't manage to make a single grain of sand so much as twitch when you focus on it and instead spend your time watching Hawky saw and looking out at the city and the snaky thing in the distance.
"It's called a train." Your mother informs you following your gaze and hugging you warmly as you rush to her.
"You're always so quiet!" You accuse her. "And how did you get up here!?" You ask having left her behind at the hotel.
"Would you believe I bent open the gates and fought my way through an army to get here?" She asked innocently.
"Hey! That's not an answer, that's just another question!" You giggle as momma sticks her tongue out and pulls a face. Nearby footsteps clicking against the stone floor sound nearby and momma silently presses her back up against a wall around the corner hidden from sight, just as an elderly man limps onto the balcony and eyes you suspiciously.
"Aha!" He exclaims wagging a bony finger covered in rings at you. "I thought there was someone leaving sand all over my palace!"
"Sorry Sir." You say dropping your head down.
"Eh? Sir? Sir? The correct mode of address is sire but at least you're respectful." He grumbles muttering to himself. "Now. How'd you get in?"
"I- walked? Sire?" You try.
"Walking eh?" The old man rumbles rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You sure you didn't scale the walls or leap from an airship or flying bison or infiltrate by glider or wingsuit or sneak inside a delivery cart or earthbend your way through secret passages?" He demands.
"No sire."
"And you're not a figment of my twisted imagination?" He asks poking you to be sure you're solid.
"No sire... I- walked in the front gate." You say confused.
"Hmmm. Yes, that makes sense. I see what you mean, you do have feet... Guards!" He suddenly yells interrupting his musing. A small squad of soldiers scurrying forwards, one of them saluting as he steps forwards smartly.
"Yes sire?" He asks.
"The child claims he simply strolled through the front gate lieutenant. Have you anything to say to that?"
"He was accompanying crown princesses Eliza and Kya of the fire nation Sire!" The soldier says swallowing nervously.
"And you just let him in? If Princess Eliza brought an invading army would you let them pass without question too?"
"I- No sire. Sorry Sire." The guard says scraping and bowing. "Would you like him to be removed sire?"
"Now what would the point in that be? No, he succeeded in getting past you whilst you failed in stopping him. Should I reward failure and punish success?! Why if I did that the whole kingdom would fall apart!" The king says acting shocked. "No, no, the one that shall be removed is you. You are now demoted to zookeeper!" He tells the soldier, the man looking at him nervously.
"We uh, don't have a zoo or any animals sire." The lieutenant says.
"Then you are promoted to head zookeeper and you better get right on building me a zoo and find some animals fast!" He yells at the man before stomping on the ground and earthbending open a hole that the lieutenant falls into screaming, hitting a slide and zooming down propelled at breakneck speed by a wave of earth.
Swallowing nervously you can't help but step back as the old king turns to you. "Now, why are you leaving sand everywhere?" He asks.
"I'm. Trying to earthbend Sire. But so far I don't think I can." You admit, waving a hand at the pile of sand ineffectually. The king stopping at that and thinking.
"Oh well." He shrugs. "Here, have a reward for getting past my guards anyway." He decides slipping a glowing ring off his finger, a small crystal set in a gold band. "Catch!" He snaps as you reach a hand out to take it, instead tossing it over the balcony where you snatch at it, fingers just missing before you curl them backwards and the ring snaps back to you, hitting you lightly in the chest and falling to the ground with a tinkle as you stare.
By now the king is guffawing loudly, snorting, hollering and slapping his knee. "That there is a special little rock called Jennamite!" He laughs. "The best part is it's edible! Why it's all I ever eat!" He grins showing you a mouth full of missing and broken teeth. Wincing and resolving to instead eat your greens you slip the ring on a finger and bow to him. "And you say you can't earthbend." He grins ruffling your hair. "When you doubt, you close your mind to the possibilities."
"Thank you sire." You say staring at the gem.
"You're welcome, now, I gotta go. That crazy old energybender Jinora wants to check all my younglings in case the avatar is hiding out in my city. Them and the white Lotus. Even brought some Kyoshi warrior to help check too!" He snorts. "Why look there she is now!" He says pointing to a sky bison lazily drifting through the sky, aiming to land near the palace. "Course, if they do find the poor kid they'll probably seclude them somewhere." He grumbles, muttering to himself.
"Why are you telling me this Sire?" You ask the old king.
"Why? Why?! Well because they've been doing this for years and doing the same thing and expecting different results is crazy!" He guffaws, cackling and giggling once again before shuffling off, twitching with laughter as you watch before he earthbends open the massive gates to the throne room and skips inside leaving you to sit and think.
Not long after Eliza and Kya leave the throne room and approach you, Kya looking out at a set of airships painted in fire nation red.
"Where are we going now?" You ask. "The king said something about an energybender and the avatar."
"He talked to you?" Eliza asked surprised. "Anyway, no, there's going to be a cultural festival today, a celebration of our alliance. There's going to be a re-enactment of some of the battles of the war, some events and interactive exhibits, then we're going to conduct wargames with modern tactics and such. As Kya's betrothed you're more than welcome." Eliza says gently nudging you in the ribs. "She needs a dance partner after all, plus Kya is too old to be the avatar."
Pick one.
[X]You're an Earthbender. Grab your parents and go to this testing thing. Just in case. If nothing else you can show them your newly acquired bending abilities, that's something to be proud of.
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
An: Phew. This was a biggie but it just felt right to have the king of Omashu in there being crazy. Or maybe not so crazy. Always hard to tell. Anyways. Choice is yours reveal yourself as avatar and gain the white lotus and airbenders and whoever else to protect and train you if you want. Of course, Doing that might blind you to other possibilities. At the end of the day, as the Avatar it is your choice.
So, vote. Discuss. But remember rule 10. Let's all play together and have fun!
[X]Take Hawky to the very highest part of the city and look out as far as you can. The world is bigger than you could have ever imagined. The desert just goes on and on but beyond the mountains you see the airships coming and going, even a huge long snake thing travelling along at high speeds in the distance.
[X]Kya's mom wants to teach you formal dancing for some reason?
[X]You've seen dad making more pretty sand sculptures, it looks fun. Try and copy it!
Garbed in shorts you look warily at the body of water, deeper than you are tall. "Is this for drinking?" You ask, the girls giggling softly before looks from the older women, your momma included silence them.
"Watch me." Lady Ann says, slipping her legs into the pool and sliding in where she leans forwards and begins to paddle her feet and swing her arms in circular motions propelling herself towards you, righting herself where her feet touch the bottom and holding her arms out. "Come on. I'll hold you and show you how to float." She promises, at her words you carefully clamber in and she catches you where she lays you on your back and, after a moment releases you allowing you to float unaided.
"Hey! This isn't so bad!" You call out before beginning to kick your feet at the Kyoshi islanders instructions. With you more confident she nods to herself calling one of the older girls to hold your hands and pull you along on your front as you lift your head for breathes and soon fall into a steady rythm, relaxing at the strange sensation of your face being enclosed in water as Melissa softly encourages you, while nearby Kya is being taught by Zoe.
"Hey mom! Look! I'm swimming!" You call out as she slips into the pool and relaxes near the edge, fully covered in a bathing suit and with her goggles pulled over her face.
"I see you Farrukh." She assured you with a wave before wading over to you and taking over guiding you as you swim, Melissa taking the opportunity to dart out of the pool only to be snatched up by the waterbending lifeguard who holds her suspended above the ground held by a water tentacle. "No running." She orders in annoyance before releasing her back into the pool with a splash, Melissa on nodding and grinning before again exiting the pool, this time however walking carefully, even if you do spy the waterbender surreptitiously keeping the tiles dry.
Watching Melissa you gawp with awe as she bounces along a springy board and with a flip dives into the pool leaving barely a ripple, soon after Kya imitates her, instead tucking her legs into a ball and creating a massive wave before the lifeguard blows her whistle and hands out another warning, prompting the adults to calm you down a little and you nonetheless leave shortly afterwards where you see Kya's mom hand the lifeguard several coins with a bow before thanking her for looking after them. Coins the girl red-faced tries to refuse only for the fire nation lady to not take no for an answer. Your mother and Ann bowing too as you instead wave happily at her joined by your friends.
"She kept us safe didn't she?" You ask your mom. "That she did." She replies easily.
The spa proves different yet again. You receive a massage with a man rubbing your shoulders and back before pressing against your feet and several points along your spine. It seems nice enough but nothing special and you say so, Lady Ann grinning at that. "I'd be surprised if you had aches and pains at your age." She pointed out rotating her heavily muscled shoulder with a blissful sigh.
Next up is a simple steam room, where you sit and relax in the sauna, your groups mothers chatting amiably with your momma raising an eyebrow when Kya's mom casually shoots a minor fireball at a pile of heated rocks.
"Oh excuse me." Kya's mom apologises. "I should have given warning."
"Not at all, you certainly know your way around a flame." Momma compliments the other woman.
"The basics and little else, I assure you." Kya's mom laughs.
"The basics are for battle Lady." Momma points out with her smile on her face.
"Oh certainly, but please, my friends call me Eliza, and how is your bending?" The fire nation matriarch asks.
"Decent enough, though perhaps we shouldn't flaunt our abilities." Momma answers politely while inclining her head towards Lady Ann who laughs.
"Don't worry about any jealousy on my behalf." The warrior grins. "Close quarters like this. Easy." She promises looking entirely unconcerned.
From your position you and your friends watch the exchange with interest. There's something happening here but you're not sure quite what, Kya taking the opportunity to pass on a bag of popped corn between you as Melissa says something about their aura's being snarled up like a bunch of angry badger-cats thrown in a sack.
Still, you eventually escape the spa-day somewhat more relaxed, or at least alive and you wave at the lifeguard girl, even if the adults seem a tad more on edge. They're laughing and joking together but there's some competitiveness there, more amongst your mom and Kya's than anything but Ann is playing along too.
Weird.
Upon making your plans for the next day you mention wanting to go to the highest point in the city with Hawky. Lady Eliza nodding at that and informing you that would be the palace, inviting you to accompany her if you promise to behave. Hawky voices your agreement at that and the nights meal is comprised of an array of plates and platters of various meats, rolls, buns and stews, and you eat ravenously before Kya nudges you and begins to instruct you in etiquette and manners in an imperious tone as her mother looks on smiling.
Stern faced guards bearing traditional weapons in Omashu uniforms bar the way to the palace but upon sighting Lady Eliza earthbend open the great gates and allow you access. You walking closely behind the fire nation royalty holding Kya's hand as she looks pleased as punch. Both ladies are dressed in their finest gowns and festooned in jewellery, you too are garbed in expensive earth kingdom clothes of rich greens and soft browns, your hair washed clean of sand, scented and neatly styled, the silver owl coin as the only jewellery you own hanging from a leather band on your neck on full display.
As you pass the guards bow to you and for a while you bow back until you notice that Eliza and Kya mostly ignore them and carry on. At last arriving outside a pair of double doors you can see you're already far above the city and stopping for a moment lady Eliza leads you to a balcony where you gasp at the sight of the entire city lay out before you and beyond the walls, the desert and other things, squinting you can see a long thing moving along a raised road of some sort and above you Hawky circles and screeches.
"Now, Farrukh." Lady Eliza addresses you. "I might be a while in meetings with the King of Omashu, so please wait a while. Don't stray too far and if you need anything please ask a guard. Kya will be coming inside with me to make proper introductions."
"Alright." You agree, walking up to the tall railings and feeling the wind against your face and blowing through your hair before sitting back against a pillar behind you and beginning to play with the small pouch of sand you'd brought with you. Looking out above the city, relaxing in the shade, it felt comforting and you fell into a state of tranquility barely noticing the time slip by as the sun arced across the sky. Eventually being roused by a small voice and a girl your own age scrubbing the floor with a brush in a servants uniform looking at you questioningly. On top of her head a pair of cat ears sat, wiggling slightly as you stared.
"Er Sorry?" You ask prompting her to repeat herself.
"I asked is the sand yours noble master bender- Nya?" She asked gesturing with her brush. "Only, I'm supposed to clean the floors Nya!"
"Oh. Yes, sorry." You admit, scooping it back away safely. "Only I'm not a master. I'm not even sure I'm a bender yet." You admit blushing.
The girl stares at you for a second before collapsing into laughter and hammering the ground in amusement. "Not a bender he says!" She laughs before standing and brushing a tear from her eye.
"What?" You ask feeling vaguely insulted.
"Okay, just a moment ago you had a scale model of the entire city." The girl points out gesturing towards your bag of sand.
"What?" You demand wondering if indeed you had been bending, you'd kind of lost track of what you were doing. "Uhm, who are you anyway?" You ask the girl.
"This is my secret identity!" She proclaims loudly. "By day I'm a mild mannered maid! But by night! I'm shining princess spirit warrior Lysana! Saviour of the city and vanquisher of criminals!" She tells the world, her voice booming out. "I got the idea from my favourite mover show." She adds in a more normal voice. "Anyways, dust bunnies and evil will not wait! Away!" She yells once more, slipping her feet into her brushes and skating away on them.
------------------------------------
Taking you back to the fancy hotel Eliza leads you into a ballroom where she announces that you should learn to dance properly, and to that end she has arranged a blushing but eager Kya to be your dance partner her also needing to learn formal dances.
"I don't know any formal dances." You say. "Wouldn't Kya learn better with someone like general Iroh?"
"Her great grand uncle with back pain and a dodgy hip?" Eliza points out to your and Kya's giggles. "No, no. I'm sure you'll do fine." She says taking your hands and guiding one to hold Kya's hand, the other going around her waist. "Not one inch higher or one inch lower." She warns you seriously looking ready to spit fire. Nodding quickly you agree and Kya's own free hand is placed on your shoulder, the pair of you standing close.
Humming softly Eliza carries a tune and guides you in the moves of a standard waltz, stepping back and forth, moving across the empty ballroom and making occasional tweaks to your posture, stopping to teach more difficult steps and having you practice that several times before continuing and having you rehearse entire sections until at last you completed the entire dance from start to finish, ending with a twirl from Kya.
"That was fun." You admit. "But, why me?" Eliza only shrugs.
"I needed a partner her own size for Kya to dance with. That and it's good for her to have friends who treat her like a normal girl. Anyway! Next up is the dance of the dancing dragon!"
This time as you dance Eliza teaches you of the schools of firebending, that taught during the hundred year war using anger and emotions to fuel ones flames, and the sister style to that, instead tightly controlling ones emotions, there exists however another major school, as firebenders are empowered by the sun it also gives light and life to the world, even on a smaller example fire is used to cook food and without it the desert at night would be freezing and unlivable, the key being, that firebending could not only be fuelled by anger or by calm acceptance but also by happiness and listening to her you nod along, falling into a similar state of focus as when you looked over the city and at the conclusion of the dance a small burst of fire erupted above yours and Kya's hands making you both jump in surprise.
"Kya?" Her mother asks making her blush before the woman shook her head. "Well, at least it seems like the sun warrior style agrees with you. But try to be a little more careful." Kya only nods quietly, unsure and looking at her hands.
-----------------------
Your next few days fall into a familiar rhythm. Visiting the palace and enjoying the view where you take to attempting to recreate the sand sculptures of your father in between your various lessons, among them sparring matches with the twins.
Despite your practice you don't manage to make a single grain of sand so much as twitch when you focus on it and instead spend your time watching Hawky saw and looking out at the city and the snaky thing in the distance.
"It's called a train." Your mother informs you following your gaze and hugging you warmly as you rush to her.
"You're always so quiet!" You accuse her. "And how did you get up here!?" You ask having left her behind at the hotel.
"Would you believe I bent open the gates and fought my way through an army to get here?" She asked innocently.
"Hey! That's not an answer, that's just another question!" You giggle as momma sticks her tongue out and pulls a face. Nearby footsteps clicking against the stone floor sound nearby and momma silently presses her back up against a wall around the corner hidden from sight, just as an elderly man limps onto the balcony and eyes you suspiciously.
"Aha!" He exclaims wagging a bony finger covered in rings at you. "I thought there was someone leaving sand all over my palace!"
"Sorry Sir." You say dropping your head down.
"Eh? Sir? Sir? The correct mode of address is sire but at least you're respectful." He grumbles muttering to himself. "Now. How'd you get in?"
"I- walked? Sire?" You try.
"Walking eh?" The old man rumbles rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "You sure you didn't scale the walls or leap from an airship or flying bison or infiltrate by glider or wingsuit or sneak inside a delivery cart or earthbend your way through secret passages?" He demands.
"No sire."
"And you're not a figment of my twisted imagination?" He asks poking you to be sure you're solid.
"No sire... I- walked in the front gate." You say confused.
"Hmmm. Yes, that makes sense. I see what you mean, you do have feet... Guards!" He suddenly yells interrupting his musing. A small squad of soldiers scurrying forwards, one of them saluting as he steps forwards smartly.
"Yes sire?" He asks.
"The child claims he simply strolled through the front gate lieutenant. Have you anything to say to that?"
"He was accompanying crown princesses Eliza and Kya of the fire nation Sire!" The soldier says swallowing nervously.
"And you just let him in? If Princess Eliza brought an invading army would you let them pass without question too?"
"I- No sire. Sorry Sire." The guard says scraping and bowing. "Would you like him to be removed sire?"
"Now what would the point in that be? No, he succeeded in getting past you whilst you failed in stopping him. Should I reward failure and punish success?! Why if I did that the whole kingdom would fall apart!" The king says acting shocked. "No, no, the one that shall be removed is you. You are now demoted to zookeeper!" He tells the soldier, the man looking at him nervously.
"We uh, don't have a zoo or any animals sire." The lieutenant says.
"Then you are promoted to head zookeeper and you better get right on building me a zoo and find some animals fast!" He yells at the man before stomping on the ground and earthbending open a hole that the lieutenant falls into screaming, hitting a slide and zooming down propelled at breakneck speed by a wave of earth.
Swallowing nervously you can't help but step back as the old king turns to you. "Now, why are you leaving sand everywhere?" He asks.
"I'm. Trying to earthbend Sire. But so far I don't think I can." You admit, waving a hand at the pile of sand ineffectually. The king stopping at that and thinking.
"Oh well." He shrugs. "Here, have a reward for getting past my guards anyway." He decides slipping a glowing ring off his finger, a small crystal set in a gold band. "Catch!" He snaps as you reach a hand out to take it, instead tossing it over the balcony where you snatch at it, fingers just missing before you curl them backwards and the ring snaps back to you, hitting you lightly in the chest and falling to the ground with a tinkle as you stare.
By now the king is guffawing loudly, snorting, hollering and slapping his knee. "That there is a special little rock called Jennamite!" He laughs. "The best part is it's edible! Why it's all I ever eat!" He grins showing you a mouth full of missing and broken teeth. Wincing and resolving to instead eat your greens you slip the ring on a finger and bow to him. "And you say you can't earthbend." He grins ruffling your hair. "When you doubt, you close your mind to the possibilities."
"Thank you sire." You say staring at the gem.
"You're welcome, now, I gotta go. That crazy old energybender Jinora wants to check all my younglings in case the avatar is hiding out in my city. Them and the white Lotus. Even brought some Kyoshi warrior to help check too!" He snorts. "Why look there she is now!" He says pointing to a sky bison lazily drifting through the sky, aiming to land near the palace. "Course, if they do find the poor kid they'll probably seclude them somewhere." He grumbles, muttering to himself.
"Why are you telling me this Sire?" You ask the old king.
"Why? Why?! Well because they've been doing this for years and doing the same thing and expecting different results is crazy!" He guffaws, cackling and giggling once again before shuffling off, twitching with laughter as you watch before he earthbends open the massive gates to the throne room and skips inside leaving you to sit and think.
Not long after Eliza and Kya leave the throne room and approach you, Kya looking out at a set of airships painted in fire nation red.
"Where are we going now?" You ask. "The king said something about an energybender and the avatar."
"He talked to you?" Eliza asked surprised. "Anyway, no, there's going to be a cultural festival today, a celebration of our alliance. There's going to be a re-enactment of some of the battles of the war, some events and interactive exhibits, then we're going to conduct wargames with modern tactics and such. As Kya's betrothed you're more than welcome." Eliza says gently nudging you in the ribs. "She needs a dance partner after all, plus Kya is too old to be the avatar."
Pick one.
[X]You're an Earthbender. Grab your parents and go to this testing thing. Just in case. If nothing else you can show them your newly acquired bending abilities, that's something to be proud of.
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
An: Phew. This was a biggie but it just felt right to have the king of Omashu in there being crazy. Or maybe not so crazy. Always hard to tell. Anyways. Choice is yours reveal yourself as avatar and gain the white lotus and airbenders and whoever else to protect and train you if you want. Of course, Doing that might blind you to other possibilities. At the end of the day, as the Avatar it is your choice.
So, vote. Discuss. But remember rule 10. Let's all play together and have fun!
Last edited:
- Location
- At the end of the world
You mean, like with Korra? No thank you. Her life before Republic City, apparently, was so booooring it entirely pass off screen.
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
P.S.: Too many western names. Oh well, sailor maid was hilarious, so i forgive you.
BoSPaladin
The Paladin
front page, character sheet and bookkeeping updooted and stoof.
- Location
- Illinoise
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
- Location
- USA
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
- Location
- Earth
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
KidFromPallet
Pokemon Fan
- Location
- Pallet Town
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
The path to success is clear! We must master every facet of every element before people realize we're the Avatar!
The path to success is clear! We must master every facet of every element before people realize we're the Avatar!
Teambuilding Exercises
BoSPaladin
The Paladin
[X]Join Kya and Eliza and go enjoy the festival with everyone! You can show your skills and maybe even take part in a mock battle!
"Okay." You agree smiling as Kya slips her hand in yours and you head out to the main street of the upper parts of the city. Travelling down winding streets you pass through crowds of young children borne by hopeful parents, all heading to the palace to enjoy the hospitality of the earth king in the hopes of perhaps even seeing their child recognised as the Avatar.
You meanwhile are heading the other way outside the city gates and to a field with a row of parked airships and formations of fire nation soldiers putting on a parade with a marching band, children pointing and laughing and running round excitedly, some of the older ones swinging spears or axes beneath watchful eyes, others enjoying the food from a variety of stalls, especially the spicy fire nation cuisine. Here and there groups of Omashu soldiers and benders intersperse with the fire nation making friendly jokes and showcasing their own skills, some even setting up friendly bending matches for the crowds amusement.
Kya for her part tugs you along to a metal contraption with a rock set in a bowl on a long arm of some sort, excitedly telling you that it was a catapult, invented to throw rocks that would be set alight by a firebender.
"That's crazy!" You laugh. "You're crazy!" You wag your finger at her. "Firebenders can't earthbend."
"Oh ho!" An older man in a leather apron and military insignia chuckles. "But you're right. Firebenders can't earthbend that's why we turned to technology, watch, and be amazed!" He says, pulling out a hammer and striking a pin knocks it out of position, releasing the arm to rotate, flinging the rock through the air to land in an empty field in the distance. Your eyes going wide in amazement as a rock, far too big for you to lift is sent crashing through the air by a single man without even bending.
"Technology can do all that?"
"Oh this baby is an antique!" The engineer says patting the metal catapult fondly and pointing along a line. We've got our oil powered fire tanks, the first hot air balloons, even mecha tanks and mecha suits and planes! Not to mention modern firebending cannons which concentrate power allowing it to go further then there's shock gloves..." He chuckles. "Why, armies have always had non-benders and today with technology they're more important than ever."
Before you can beg for more demonstrations Eliza is chivying you along, passing you and Kya each a sticky bun that you chew upon and heading to where a crowd is gathered for some sort of demonstration where an earthbender is easily manipulating a massive marble ring, rolling it around like a coin on it's edge to smash through walls and rotating it to block incoming firebending attacks.
This time it's Kya who seems shocked, gawping at the man. "It's much bigger than a pro-bender disk isn't it?" She asks, her mother nodding at that, explaining that during the hundred years war earthbenders from atop city walls would heave down massive boulders onto the invaders. It being a favoured tactic and strategy to let the fire nation waste their strength against massive fortifications.
"Speaking of, it's almost time for the main re-enactment of the first siege of Ba Sing Se." Eliza notes, leading you along with a gathering crowd to where groups of earthbenders are busy constructing a miniature fort, only three stories high and nothing in comparison to the real thing or even Omashu's own walls, but it should suffice for a minor demonstration. As you watch the fort is completed and you and the princesses are led to a private viewing box in the stadium being formed out of the ground to give the crowds an elevated view of the battlefield.
Inside cultural advisors, tutors and historians eagerly await to educate Kya on some aspect or other of the war and this siege in particular, tea is brought to you while you wait and by now the stands are filling with Omashu residents eager to see the spectacle and to your surprise the troops forming up on 'Ba Sing Se's' walls are receiving jeers and boos while the array of fire nation troops receive cheers, the loudest reserve for a middle aged man in a generals attire riding an ostrich-horse onto the field.
"Why are they cheering the fire nation?" You ask confused, a bespectacled historian happy to answer you.
"Ba Sing Se, despite providing the earth kingdoms leadership largely- by the latter stages of the war especially, maintained a defensive focus, rarely venturing beyond their own walls and then of course they surrendered, ending all aid and supplies that they did send to those still fighting. Omashu's own king surrendered of course, but that was as part of a greater plan to counterattack on the day of the black sun, ba Sing Se on the other hand had to be liberated by outside help. As for general Iroh, well he was famed as Dragon of the west, winning many victories for the fire nation over his lifetime but upon retiring he aided the white lotus, eventually ending the war by coup in supporting his nephew the fire lord and avatar Aang. Before retiring for good, this time to act as a tea-maker and scholar. And of course, nowadays the fire nation counts many as their friends while backing their Independence, such as here in Omashu."
Thanking the man you turn back to the opposing armies as, at the sound of a gong the audience falls silent and the battle falls underway, beginning with a rash of catapult flung rocks striking at the walls, the earthbenders own projectiles falling short as they cannot reach as far as the fire nation technology. Despite that however, the fire nations rocks are unable to go over the wall, or even damage it much, any cracks or damage swiftly reformed by the confident earthbenders.
As the announcer explains, the defenders of the city couldn't hope to stand against the professional skilled fire nation troops in an open battle, yet neither could the fire nation get through their walls. The siege carried on for many months until struck by inspiration Iroh and his best officers led a daring attack. Feigning a charge against the wall to use explosives Iroh and his elites reached the walls.
You watch as 'Iroh' leaps upwards, running up the side of the walls propelled by a stream of flames trailing behind him, he and a half dozen other officers reaching the top and swiftly defeating the defenders, many of whom fall over 'dead' or else retreat. With that and another volley of rocks the walls are breached and the fire nation troops flood in, a hundred thousand men (or so the announcer says of the real battle) trying to file through the breaches to be met with the defenders spears as they desperately held them off while waiting for reinforcements, both sides battling mightily, until a young man in ornate armour falls.
"Irohs own son was slain in the fighting, along with many of their best officers, forced to lead the charge. Without them the fire nation troops begin to break and Iroh himself distraught with rage is dragged from the field. With that, the battle ended as a costly draw, a waste of men for all sides. With their elite earthbenders slain Ba-Sing-Se would pull back many of its troops from the frontlines, and the fire nation would instead rampage unopposed in the rest of the kingdom. Slowly devouring it."
A morose silence falls across the crowd and the soldiers, actors and stuntmen of both sides come out intermixed and take a bow to applause before Eliza clears her throat and stands to make a speech into a microphone.
"Though today is a festival, the dead on both sides should remain in our thoughts as we reflect on the mistakes of the past. Still, it is on this day, over a hundred years ago that the great war ended, and that is something to celebrate. I would like to thank the many skilled men and women who put on this display for us and once again commit the fire nation to the path of peace. We stand here today as allies and friends, willing to defend one another, with cities like Yu Dao, Republic City and our own Alliance with Omashu standing as examples of what we can accomplish when we all work together. Thank you, and enjoy the festival."
Falling back into her seat Eliza is ambushed as Kya leaps atop her cuddling her mother, a held arm out inviting you into the embrace as you join them.
"That was nice Mom." Kya says simply as you nod in agreement. Eliza smiling at the pair of you before gesturing for you to scoot off and passing Kya some coins.
"Unfortunately for me, I'm working the rest of the day. I've got meetings like you wouldn't believe with Jinora, white lotus officials, representatives from Kyoshi, some business leaders, diplomats... Anyway, you go have fun."
"See you later?" Kya queries. Her mother nodding at that and waving as you leave the room. Passing the twins along with a bunch of other Kyoshi warriors, Ann gives permission with a roll of her eyes and pumping their fists Zoe and Melissa quickly join you, running off to enjoy the festival.
-------------------------------
The girls quickly direct you to an earthbender shooting gallery where you're given a set of clay bending disks to hit several metal targets that swing about with loud clangs and pings. Trying your best your first shot falls short, the second misses on a veering trajectory off to the side and the third clips one of the closer targets earning you the consolation prize of a green mask that you stick over your face.
From there you watch Zoe engage in a contest of strength, hitting a target with a hammer and sending a weight upwards to clang a bell and choosing a colourful ribbon to tie her hair back with and finally Melissa and Kya compete in a head to head, shooting down discs with throwing knives and fireballs respectively, finally ending in a draw that has both girls teasing one another.
After that a guy calling out catches your attention inviting you to take part in a trap house experience, claiming to show the true terrors of storming an earth kingdom fortress.
Sharing a look the four of you each declare that you're not scared and you're led inside to where an attendant asks you your ages and checks your heights, pronouncing you all able to go ahead. "However." She says strictly. "On this mission you are supposed to be playing the part of common fire nation soldiers, so, no firebending, and especially no water or earthbending if you have any okay? Please only use the weapons provided." She finishes handing you each a wooden (blunted) spear.
Agreeing to the terms you're sent inside where a serious looking fire nation officer addresses you, Kya quickly falling into a cadet stance and while you look lost the twins own Kyoshi warrior stances earns them growls and creative insults before you shuffle into position copying Kya and the officer announces there just might be hope for you as he smiles and ignores your giggles before sending you onwards to clamber a ladder to the next floor where a wobbly bridge without rails awaits. Attempting to run across confidently Zoe is struck by an inflatable ball that sends her into a cushioned net wherein the officer growls at her to carry on. "You might be dead but there's plenty more recruits! Move! Move! Move!"
Melissa is next, expertly dodging the balls with flips and jumps, sticking out her tongue where she reaches the other side and the floor is earthbent away, sending the older child back down to the first floor, you just about manage to edge your way across, several balls just missing your head or skimming your hair and Kya punches away a ball that almost unbalances her only for her to barely recover and join you, the Kyoshi twins catching up sheepish but excited.
Ahead of you is another officer yelling at you to stop and in the room ahead of him are three grizzled soldiers, as you look on one steps onto a stone with a click and a wall slides into place ahead of them, before another erupts between their group and yours, next you hear a hollow boom and a trio of screams and when the wall grinds open it reveals walls spattered with pink and red to your, Kya's and Zoe's delighted screams of horror. There's no time to waste however as the ceiling opens and 'earthbenders' throw more inflatable balls at you all forcing you into the trapped hallways where melissa rubs the wall and licking her finger happily announces that the soldiers ahead of you tasted like melons as you all pull disgusted faces at her. Even the 'officer' hiding his face in his hands at her display.
Finally you continue on down a secret passage the officer 'finds' only for a massive boulder to begin rolling towards you slowly, Melissa and Zoe dragging you and Kya along and then escaping back to the beginning panting and excited, the Lady who read out your introduction showing you pictures of yourselves as you panicked, Kya quickly buying them all up for blackmail purposes before you return the toy weapons and leave the trap fort. Each of you regaling the others about your favourite parts.
"Alright, enough of these distractions for children." Kya announces snootily, conveniently forgetting that minutes ago she was as terrified as any of you. "Time for the real wargames! We shall crush our enemies! Drive them before us! And listen to their wails as they beg fruitlessly for the avatar to save them!"
"Yeah!" Melissa agrees.
"Scared." You mutter to yourself shivering.
"Taking it maybe a tad too seriously princess." Zoe warns her hands on her hips as she glares. "Besides, if you wanna be in charge there's boardgames we can play, but the actual wargames will have actual military officers telling us where to go."
"Really?" You ask curious as Zoe explains.
"Oh yes. It's kinda like a big game of capture the flag. We took part in one a few months ago. The Kyoshi navy simulated an invasion with actual warships, the defenders had paintmines that 'sunk' a ship and then when the invaders reached the shore there were referees everywhere and stuff and if you get caught breaking the rules you'll be kicked off."
"What, why? That doesn't sound very fun." Kya sulks. "Besides I am a princess."
"I don't think you being a princess will matter. The wargames aren't supposed to be fun, they're supposed to be serious training and a chance to try out new tactics for real. Or, as close to real as we can get. They're not going to want to ruin it by having someone without experience in charge." Seeing Kya getting angry Zoe quickly changes tack. "Look, think of it this way, the officers taking part will need this experience in case there's ever a real war. The reason they let civilians take part is because in a real war those same civilians might actually need to be conscripted, but if you do take part there's like a whole bunch of stuff you need to agree to."
"It's similar to pro-bending." Melissa adds by now much calmer. "Like no aiming for the head and you're supposed to keep your flames or rocks small."
"If you don't bend what did you do?" You ask the pair.
"It was pretty fun really. We were part of a formation of Kyoshi warriors, we stood at the front of a formation with our shields to protect them, then helped ram down a door and stormed the town hall and captured a radio." Zoe tells you. "You still want to take part?"
"Yeah." You answer nervously, Kya taking a moment before she too nods in agreement.
From there you're led to a sign up area where a large crowd of people are all writing their names and applying to take part. The four of you stick together with Kya paying your fee and an Omashu soldier asks your age, name and bending status. Thankful for your recent reading lessons you manage to write 'Hanshi aged four' and tell the soldier that you're a beginner earthbender, where upon he sets a small but heavy rock on the table and has you lift it, when you're unable to he pats you on the shoulder sympathetically. "Sorry kid, non-benders for you, and your age puts you firmly in the kids league."
"Aww." You say sadly, the soldier lightly flicking your chin at that. "Hey, sometimes the kids ones are the most fun, but do well, listen to orders and you might get promoted." He says seriously, directing you to where Zoe and Melissa are already waiting amongst a bunch of about two dozen other children. You're the youngest there, but the oldest can only be twelve at most.
Watching Kya, she breezes through her tests, lighting a candle with ease and steadily ramping up the power of her shots at the firebenders instruction until he has her stop. "Yeah. Firebender easily." He nods before reciting stern warnings, his words backed up by the senior officer behind him who Kya clearly recognises. With her being led away to 'join' the fire nation the rest of you are informed that you're bandits trying to steal food from a united republic train and are each handed a small shield and wooden baton along with helmets and chest guards.
For a few minutes the guards give you some instructions, showing you how to lock your shields together, front row facing forwards while the rest hold your shields above your heads and having you stand in formation while an earthbender readies himself with several clay disks in front of you.
"The trick is that with overlapping shields the force is spread out amongst you, they're strong and fire resistant and you also have your helmets. It's very important that you don't take them off for any reason. If you think it becomes damaged then lie face down on the ground and call for a marshall. They will rescue you. This is important because while we will be simulating fire and earthbending against you it is very real. Anyone who can't follow orders leave now. If you follow orders we'll keep you safe. If not you will end up hurt." Meeting all your eyes he nods satisfied before beginning to strike, scattering disks against your shieldwall as they shatter and break, shuddering blows shaking your limbs but you remain standing until the earthbender runs out. "Well done. You all pass basic training. Get out there and have fun boys and girls."
Being led out to a field you spy a facsimile of a train. A long vehicle without any moving parts made of earth and with a large boulder in front of it blocking its 'tracks'. Atop of it is stood Kya doing her best to look menacing and waiting nearby is another soldier, a young cadet of about fifteen with him and numerous referees stood around observing. "All yours cadet." The officer salutes the youth and swallowing thickly the boy addresses you all.
"Okay troops. This is what we've been trained for. There's the target. Stick together and follow your training and we'll win." He says looking confident. "Move out." He says, slotting into position at the front of the formation and leading you onwards. It quickly turns out that actually marching while keeping in proper form is actually harder than you'd thought, the wet mud beneath you not helping as gaps begin to show with people drifting apart.
At that point Kya receives a nod and sends scattered bursts of fire at you all, people tensing up and freezing before the cadet snaps out orders for you to reform, one boy at the front who'd gotten too far ahead turning round to rejoin the group only to receive a flamestrike in his back, knocking him to the ground where he tries to sit up. "You're dead." The cadet snaps out quickly taking the boys former position and taking a strike of his own that he leans into before you snap your shield up next to his making sure to overlap. The Kyoshi sisters forming up on either side of the pair of you as the cadet orders everyone back to where it's safe, some scattering with half of those managing to get behind trees and the rest taking minor strikes.
"Press forwards!" The cadet orders and you nervously begin to do so, slowly and carefully. Those behind you that have been taken out either getting up and being led away by the referees or carried away for a check up. All the while a firebender stood over kya's shoulder relays instructions into her ears. Despite that however you take no further losses and manage to reach the crest of a muddy hill. Climbing it while being hit by Kya results only in you all sliding backwards, almost losing more soldiers as people slip and stumble until eyeing Zoe, the Cadet splits the formation in two, each group numbering a half dozen each with you wedged between Melissa and the cadet in the front row protecting the front and those behind you protecting you from strikes from above.
With the groups split Kya focuses on those circling round and despite wanting to run while she's distracted the cadet instead urges you steadily onwards where you manage to reach the top of the hill and at last with Kya raining flames from above and pounding on your shields you make it inside the train and to a flag, a series of whistle blows sounding and signalling the end of the exercise.
"Hold fast!" The officer overseeing the exercise calls out. "Troops, assemble!" At the cadets nod the lot of you head outside and rejoin Zoe's group, put together you have a dozen survivors in total while Kya is stood before you. "First up. I'm Captain Han and congratulations on winning this challenge." Han says handing out cards to all of you 'non-benders', bits of plastic with your pictures, names, ages on and some minor details written along with a small metallic chip. "Second, against a master bender you'd all be dead." He chuckles before holding up a finger at your faces. "That said, Kya's little display represents roughly what an average firebender can put out. If she'd been going full power those of you 'dead' would indeed be dead or badly burned, but all of you here in front of me would all be alive and mostly unharmed. Further, because she was using weaker strikes than normal, she was able to continue for longer without getting tired. I want to remind you all that your common soldier has always had a place on the battlefield, something I hope you all see and appreciate over the coming days. Lastly, you all followed orders, and so long as you continue to do so we would be happy to have you continue taking part in this weeks events. We'll want to talk to some of you individually, but for now a checkup in the medical pavillions is in order. At ease."
With his speech concluded you follow him away and a low buzz of excited conversation breaks out, several kids congratulating Kya in amazement as she blushes happily though she's sweating slightly from her ordeal. You all share a round of high fives and excitedly talk about how cool it was to feel the earth disks smashing into pieces. Passing through the tents you see some of the kids formerly from your group sporting bruises or mild grazes but they're all happy enough and most are willing to try again, further down adults are being seen to by a small number of healers, them sporting more serious injuries such as broken bones or the occasional burn.
Here officer Han addresses you once again. "As you can see, despite our extensive safety precautions accidents do happen. We investigate and if found to be deliberate offenders can and will be severely punished, that, and even in circumstances where everyone is following the rules you might still end up hurt. Something to bear in mind going forwards." He finishes seriously.
From there you're further sorted, for some this was already enough of an experience, for you, your friends and a small number of others you're hungry for more and you find yourself in a room with a pair of officers, one in green, and one in fire nation red. "Hiya Hanshi, we've got some good news and some bad news for you today."
"Did I do something wrong?" You ask quietly.
"Quite the opposite, actually but let me explain, bad news first. You're not the first young child we've had involved, however, most volunteers your age are benders that we can use in one role or another, for non-benders we normally maintain a cut off age of seven at the very least for frontline duties, now, while we have you down as an earthbender your scores aren't high enough to continue in that role and due to your stature we can't use you as a soldier amongst older children. This is for your own safety."
"Kay." You say.
"That's the bad news. The good news is that we have a technical role I think you'll like." She says, her and the fire nation officer both smiling, the fire nation officer introducing himself. "You can call me Jian, I'm one of the technical engineers and it just so turns out you're about the right size to fit into a mecha suit."
---------------------------------------
"Right!" Jian is saying after having lifted you into a mecha suit. "It's turned off anyway but still don't touch anything just yet. This is a state of the art piece of tech. Most of the weapons, flamethrower, grenade launcher, all stripped out. Unfortunately the lightning glove is built in so we can't remove that but we have limited it's power. You can shoot stunning bolts, shock anyone you come into contact with and you have a net launcher and bola gun for crowd control that you can also electrocute if commanded to do so. With me so far?"
"Most weapons took away. Limited stun weapons only for use on command."
"The nets are fire at will but we want you to try and focus on benders, they're under orders that if they get hit by the net they're to assume it's electrocuted and cease all activity."
"Nets good. Lightning bad, use on orders only. Try to get benders." You recite.
"Good. This stick here to move forwards, other one is to turn. Don't try and run, you won't be able to anyway. We'll be feeding you orders by radio. If it cuts off look for an officer in fire nation uniform and listen to them. If you really get stuck find another Mecha suit and support them. Scenario is we're being sent to retake an earth kingdom fort from Earth Empire rebels. You'll mostly be up against civilians benders. That means no pro-benders, no trained soldiers and no-one who uses bending in their day to day jobs. They shouldn't be able to hurt the suit but we'll be monitoring just in case. Got all that?"
"This to move, this to turn, don't run, walk. Listen to the radio. If that turns off look for a fire nation officer. If I can't find one just follow another mecha. Fighting earth empire rebels."
"Good, good. Get up and walk around, we drop in five." Jian tells you, clapping you on the shoulder before shutting the suits pilot compartment with a hiss of pressurised air. Standing is as easy as pressing the stick forwards, heavy lumbering steps that rattle against the blimps cargo hold. Jian getting into a mecha of his own and performing his own checks. as you quiver excitedly. All too soon however Jians voice sounds over the radio giving you a minutes warning.
"Hey Hanshi you nervous?"
"Yes! You scream to his laughter.
"No need to shout, comm check is just fine." He says soothingly. "Hey, I was in your shoes twenty years ago! Do well and you might be doing this for real some day! For now just relax and have fun!"
"Thanks!" You respond stomach in knots.
"By the way!"
"What!?"
"I forgot the countdown!" Jian laughs, next thing you know you're hurtling downwards, clamps around your shoulder released as heavy boots impact the street and you land amidst a half dozen earthbenders of various shapes and sizes gawping at you. "Suit two, engage." A female voice chimes in your ear, the earthbenders being highlighted. Dragging a targeting reticule over them you press a button and a mesh cable net bursts from your wrist to wrap around them as they shriek and are dragged towards you before going limp. Instantly a score of earthbenders begin pelting the suit with bending disks, each of them plinking harmlessly off the hull as you grin.
"Next target. Male." The female voice says again, another bender highlighted on your screen as you shoot at them, bolas snapping out and tying their arms flat at their sides as they fall to the ground and quickly stop struggling.
"Suit two, advance, fire at will." You are ordered, beginning your slow march forwards as behind you firebenders shoot light bursts of fire at the benders, troops with spears and shields scurrying forwards in groups and taking cover in houses, one or two adding their own bolas to the mix, the earth empire rebels falling back as the soldiers behind you cheer and you move up through winding streets.
"Halt, halt." Jians voice says urgently. "They've got me stuck in a hole, command please advise."
There's silence for a long while as you halt and then the womans voice sounds again. "Mecha one we will engage rescue when objective is pacified. Mecha two, allow infantry to go first and remove any benders, support where possible. How copy?"
"Uhh. Yes." You say unsure as you halt and let the fire nation soldiers proceed ahead of you, several of them splitting off to search the newly constructed houses to either side as you move onwards. And apart from needing to push a satomobile that's blocking the street out of the way the earthbenders seem content to back up and slowly give ground, apparently having no answer to the massive power of your mecha suit as you grin, occasionally taking potshots at them.
That suddenly stopped when a new voice sounded over the radio. "Requesting heavy support We are engaged with megafauna! Please assist!"
"Say again Delta?" The female officer asks over the radio.
"A ten tonne skybison just took out my firebenders! Requestin-" The line abruptly goes dead at that and you cast about for an officer only to see a grim faced line of soldiers behind you. Meanwhile the screen in front of your face is displaying a map with a dot indicating where Delta squad is, not far judging from the map and the sounds of roars and crashes that reach your ears.
Pick one.
[X]Advance, you're the closest thing they've got to being able to fight that thing on equal footing. It's technically a bender, so it's a priority target for you to take out.
[X]Hold position and wait for further orders. At least here the narrow streets should offer some protection.
[X]Back up, retreat, head back to the nearest command post and try to see if you can help get the radio working again.
A.N Phew. Another doozy. Anyways, yeah, Sky bison are effectively superheavy tanks and airbending masters. The wargames are testing not only weapons and tactics but also trying to answer important questions like. "If the fire nation starts a war would the air nomads be able to effectively counter them? And how exactly does one defeat a massive ten tonne wild animal? Or would airbenders with their wingsuits act as effective soldiers rather than simple police?"
So yeah. The wargames are massive training exercises and also an attempt to recruit new soldiers while drumming up support for the state and showcasing military might to act as an effective deterrent. It's fun, promotes physical fitness and provides good practice for each nation.
Those involved in this one include, The fire nation, Omashu, some advisors and observers from the United republic, along with a small force of airbenders, largely from republic Cities Air Temple Island and some Kyoshi warriors from Kyoshi Island, mostly there to act as tacticians and instructors.
Let me know what you think so far and feel free to ask any questions.
"Okay." You agree smiling as Kya slips her hand in yours and you head out to the main street of the upper parts of the city. Travelling down winding streets you pass through crowds of young children borne by hopeful parents, all heading to the palace to enjoy the hospitality of the earth king in the hopes of perhaps even seeing their child recognised as the Avatar.
You meanwhile are heading the other way outside the city gates and to a field with a row of parked airships and formations of fire nation soldiers putting on a parade with a marching band, children pointing and laughing and running round excitedly, some of the older ones swinging spears or axes beneath watchful eyes, others enjoying the food from a variety of stalls, especially the spicy fire nation cuisine. Here and there groups of Omashu soldiers and benders intersperse with the fire nation making friendly jokes and showcasing their own skills, some even setting up friendly bending matches for the crowds amusement.
Kya for her part tugs you along to a metal contraption with a rock set in a bowl on a long arm of some sort, excitedly telling you that it was a catapult, invented to throw rocks that would be set alight by a firebender.
"That's crazy!" You laugh. "You're crazy!" You wag your finger at her. "Firebenders can't earthbend."
"Oh ho!" An older man in a leather apron and military insignia chuckles. "But you're right. Firebenders can't earthbend that's why we turned to technology, watch, and be amazed!" He says, pulling out a hammer and striking a pin knocks it out of position, releasing the arm to rotate, flinging the rock through the air to land in an empty field in the distance. Your eyes going wide in amazement as a rock, far too big for you to lift is sent crashing through the air by a single man without even bending.
"Technology can do all that?"
"Oh this baby is an antique!" The engineer says patting the metal catapult fondly and pointing along a line. We've got our oil powered fire tanks, the first hot air balloons, even mecha tanks and mecha suits and planes! Not to mention modern firebending cannons which concentrate power allowing it to go further then there's shock gloves..." He chuckles. "Why, armies have always had non-benders and today with technology they're more important than ever."
Before you can beg for more demonstrations Eliza is chivying you along, passing you and Kya each a sticky bun that you chew upon and heading to where a crowd is gathered for some sort of demonstration where an earthbender is easily manipulating a massive marble ring, rolling it around like a coin on it's edge to smash through walls and rotating it to block incoming firebending attacks.
This time it's Kya who seems shocked, gawping at the man. "It's much bigger than a pro-bender disk isn't it?" She asks, her mother nodding at that, explaining that during the hundred years war earthbenders from atop city walls would heave down massive boulders onto the invaders. It being a favoured tactic and strategy to let the fire nation waste their strength against massive fortifications.
"Speaking of, it's almost time for the main re-enactment of the first siege of Ba Sing Se." Eliza notes, leading you along with a gathering crowd to where groups of earthbenders are busy constructing a miniature fort, only three stories high and nothing in comparison to the real thing or even Omashu's own walls, but it should suffice for a minor demonstration. As you watch the fort is completed and you and the princesses are led to a private viewing box in the stadium being formed out of the ground to give the crowds an elevated view of the battlefield.
Inside cultural advisors, tutors and historians eagerly await to educate Kya on some aspect or other of the war and this siege in particular, tea is brought to you while you wait and by now the stands are filling with Omashu residents eager to see the spectacle and to your surprise the troops forming up on 'Ba Sing Se's' walls are receiving jeers and boos while the array of fire nation troops receive cheers, the loudest reserve for a middle aged man in a generals attire riding an ostrich-horse onto the field.
"Why are they cheering the fire nation?" You ask confused, a bespectacled historian happy to answer you.
"Ba Sing Se, despite providing the earth kingdoms leadership largely- by the latter stages of the war especially, maintained a defensive focus, rarely venturing beyond their own walls and then of course they surrendered, ending all aid and supplies that they did send to those still fighting. Omashu's own king surrendered of course, but that was as part of a greater plan to counterattack on the day of the black sun, ba Sing Se on the other hand had to be liberated by outside help. As for general Iroh, well he was famed as Dragon of the west, winning many victories for the fire nation over his lifetime but upon retiring he aided the white lotus, eventually ending the war by coup in supporting his nephew the fire lord and avatar Aang. Before retiring for good, this time to act as a tea-maker and scholar. And of course, nowadays the fire nation counts many as their friends while backing their Independence, such as here in Omashu."
Thanking the man you turn back to the opposing armies as, at the sound of a gong the audience falls silent and the battle falls underway, beginning with a rash of catapult flung rocks striking at the walls, the earthbenders own projectiles falling short as they cannot reach as far as the fire nation technology. Despite that however, the fire nations rocks are unable to go over the wall, or even damage it much, any cracks or damage swiftly reformed by the confident earthbenders.
As the announcer explains, the defenders of the city couldn't hope to stand against the professional skilled fire nation troops in an open battle, yet neither could the fire nation get through their walls. The siege carried on for many months until struck by inspiration Iroh and his best officers led a daring attack. Feigning a charge against the wall to use explosives Iroh and his elites reached the walls.
You watch as 'Iroh' leaps upwards, running up the side of the walls propelled by a stream of flames trailing behind him, he and a half dozen other officers reaching the top and swiftly defeating the defenders, many of whom fall over 'dead' or else retreat. With that and another volley of rocks the walls are breached and the fire nation troops flood in, a hundred thousand men (or so the announcer says of the real battle) trying to file through the breaches to be met with the defenders spears as they desperately held them off while waiting for reinforcements, both sides battling mightily, until a young man in ornate armour falls.
"Irohs own son was slain in the fighting, along with many of their best officers, forced to lead the charge. Without them the fire nation troops begin to break and Iroh himself distraught with rage is dragged from the field. With that, the battle ended as a costly draw, a waste of men for all sides. With their elite earthbenders slain Ba-Sing-Se would pull back many of its troops from the frontlines, and the fire nation would instead rampage unopposed in the rest of the kingdom. Slowly devouring it."
A morose silence falls across the crowd and the soldiers, actors and stuntmen of both sides come out intermixed and take a bow to applause before Eliza clears her throat and stands to make a speech into a microphone.
"Though today is a festival, the dead on both sides should remain in our thoughts as we reflect on the mistakes of the past. Still, it is on this day, over a hundred years ago that the great war ended, and that is something to celebrate. I would like to thank the many skilled men and women who put on this display for us and once again commit the fire nation to the path of peace. We stand here today as allies and friends, willing to defend one another, with cities like Yu Dao, Republic City and our own Alliance with Omashu standing as examples of what we can accomplish when we all work together. Thank you, and enjoy the festival."
Falling back into her seat Eliza is ambushed as Kya leaps atop her cuddling her mother, a held arm out inviting you into the embrace as you join them.
"That was nice Mom." Kya says simply as you nod in agreement. Eliza smiling at the pair of you before gesturing for you to scoot off and passing Kya some coins.
"Unfortunately for me, I'm working the rest of the day. I've got meetings like you wouldn't believe with Jinora, white lotus officials, representatives from Kyoshi, some business leaders, diplomats... Anyway, you go have fun."
"See you later?" Kya queries. Her mother nodding at that and waving as you leave the room. Passing the twins along with a bunch of other Kyoshi warriors, Ann gives permission with a roll of her eyes and pumping their fists Zoe and Melissa quickly join you, running off to enjoy the festival.
-------------------------------
The girls quickly direct you to an earthbender shooting gallery where you're given a set of clay bending disks to hit several metal targets that swing about with loud clangs and pings. Trying your best your first shot falls short, the second misses on a veering trajectory off to the side and the third clips one of the closer targets earning you the consolation prize of a green mask that you stick over your face.
From there you watch Zoe engage in a contest of strength, hitting a target with a hammer and sending a weight upwards to clang a bell and choosing a colourful ribbon to tie her hair back with and finally Melissa and Kya compete in a head to head, shooting down discs with throwing knives and fireballs respectively, finally ending in a draw that has both girls teasing one another.
After that a guy calling out catches your attention inviting you to take part in a trap house experience, claiming to show the true terrors of storming an earth kingdom fortress.
Sharing a look the four of you each declare that you're not scared and you're led inside to where an attendant asks you your ages and checks your heights, pronouncing you all able to go ahead. "However." She says strictly. "On this mission you are supposed to be playing the part of common fire nation soldiers, so, no firebending, and especially no water or earthbending if you have any okay? Please only use the weapons provided." She finishes handing you each a wooden (blunted) spear.
Agreeing to the terms you're sent inside where a serious looking fire nation officer addresses you, Kya quickly falling into a cadet stance and while you look lost the twins own Kyoshi warrior stances earns them growls and creative insults before you shuffle into position copying Kya and the officer announces there just might be hope for you as he smiles and ignores your giggles before sending you onwards to clamber a ladder to the next floor where a wobbly bridge without rails awaits. Attempting to run across confidently Zoe is struck by an inflatable ball that sends her into a cushioned net wherein the officer growls at her to carry on. "You might be dead but there's plenty more recruits! Move! Move! Move!"
Melissa is next, expertly dodging the balls with flips and jumps, sticking out her tongue where she reaches the other side and the floor is earthbent away, sending the older child back down to the first floor, you just about manage to edge your way across, several balls just missing your head or skimming your hair and Kya punches away a ball that almost unbalances her only for her to barely recover and join you, the Kyoshi twins catching up sheepish but excited.
Ahead of you is another officer yelling at you to stop and in the room ahead of him are three grizzled soldiers, as you look on one steps onto a stone with a click and a wall slides into place ahead of them, before another erupts between their group and yours, next you hear a hollow boom and a trio of screams and when the wall grinds open it reveals walls spattered with pink and red to your, Kya's and Zoe's delighted screams of horror. There's no time to waste however as the ceiling opens and 'earthbenders' throw more inflatable balls at you all forcing you into the trapped hallways where melissa rubs the wall and licking her finger happily announces that the soldiers ahead of you tasted like melons as you all pull disgusted faces at her. Even the 'officer' hiding his face in his hands at her display.
Finally you continue on down a secret passage the officer 'finds' only for a massive boulder to begin rolling towards you slowly, Melissa and Zoe dragging you and Kya along and then escaping back to the beginning panting and excited, the Lady who read out your introduction showing you pictures of yourselves as you panicked, Kya quickly buying them all up for blackmail purposes before you return the toy weapons and leave the trap fort. Each of you regaling the others about your favourite parts.
"Alright, enough of these distractions for children." Kya announces snootily, conveniently forgetting that minutes ago she was as terrified as any of you. "Time for the real wargames! We shall crush our enemies! Drive them before us! And listen to their wails as they beg fruitlessly for the avatar to save them!"
"Yeah!" Melissa agrees.
"Scared." You mutter to yourself shivering.
"Taking it maybe a tad too seriously princess." Zoe warns her hands on her hips as she glares. "Besides, if you wanna be in charge there's boardgames we can play, but the actual wargames will have actual military officers telling us where to go."
"Really?" You ask curious as Zoe explains.
"Oh yes. It's kinda like a big game of capture the flag. We took part in one a few months ago. The Kyoshi navy simulated an invasion with actual warships, the defenders had paintmines that 'sunk' a ship and then when the invaders reached the shore there were referees everywhere and stuff and if you get caught breaking the rules you'll be kicked off."
"What, why? That doesn't sound very fun." Kya sulks. "Besides I am a princess."
"I don't think you being a princess will matter. The wargames aren't supposed to be fun, they're supposed to be serious training and a chance to try out new tactics for real. Or, as close to real as we can get. They're not going to want to ruin it by having someone without experience in charge." Seeing Kya getting angry Zoe quickly changes tack. "Look, think of it this way, the officers taking part will need this experience in case there's ever a real war. The reason they let civilians take part is because in a real war those same civilians might actually need to be conscripted, but if you do take part there's like a whole bunch of stuff you need to agree to."
"It's similar to pro-bending." Melissa adds by now much calmer. "Like no aiming for the head and you're supposed to keep your flames or rocks small."
"If you don't bend what did you do?" You ask the pair.
"It was pretty fun really. We were part of a formation of Kyoshi warriors, we stood at the front of a formation with our shields to protect them, then helped ram down a door and stormed the town hall and captured a radio." Zoe tells you. "You still want to take part?"
"Yeah." You answer nervously, Kya taking a moment before she too nods in agreement.
From there you're led to a sign up area where a large crowd of people are all writing their names and applying to take part. The four of you stick together with Kya paying your fee and an Omashu soldier asks your age, name and bending status. Thankful for your recent reading lessons you manage to write 'Hanshi aged four' and tell the soldier that you're a beginner earthbender, where upon he sets a small but heavy rock on the table and has you lift it, when you're unable to he pats you on the shoulder sympathetically. "Sorry kid, non-benders for you, and your age puts you firmly in the kids league."
"Aww." You say sadly, the soldier lightly flicking your chin at that. "Hey, sometimes the kids ones are the most fun, but do well, listen to orders and you might get promoted." He says seriously, directing you to where Zoe and Melissa are already waiting amongst a bunch of about two dozen other children. You're the youngest there, but the oldest can only be twelve at most.
Watching Kya, she breezes through her tests, lighting a candle with ease and steadily ramping up the power of her shots at the firebenders instruction until he has her stop. "Yeah. Firebender easily." He nods before reciting stern warnings, his words backed up by the senior officer behind him who Kya clearly recognises. With her being led away to 'join' the fire nation the rest of you are informed that you're bandits trying to steal food from a united republic train and are each handed a small shield and wooden baton along with helmets and chest guards.
For a few minutes the guards give you some instructions, showing you how to lock your shields together, front row facing forwards while the rest hold your shields above your heads and having you stand in formation while an earthbender readies himself with several clay disks in front of you.
"The trick is that with overlapping shields the force is spread out amongst you, they're strong and fire resistant and you also have your helmets. It's very important that you don't take them off for any reason. If you think it becomes damaged then lie face down on the ground and call for a marshall. They will rescue you. This is important because while we will be simulating fire and earthbending against you it is very real. Anyone who can't follow orders leave now. If you follow orders we'll keep you safe. If not you will end up hurt." Meeting all your eyes he nods satisfied before beginning to strike, scattering disks against your shieldwall as they shatter and break, shuddering blows shaking your limbs but you remain standing until the earthbender runs out. "Well done. You all pass basic training. Get out there and have fun boys and girls."
Being led out to a field you spy a facsimile of a train. A long vehicle without any moving parts made of earth and with a large boulder in front of it blocking its 'tracks'. Atop of it is stood Kya doing her best to look menacing and waiting nearby is another soldier, a young cadet of about fifteen with him and numerous referees stood around observing. "All yours cadet." The officer salutes the youth and swallowing thickly the boy addresses you all.
"Okay troops. This is what we've been trained for. There's the target. Stick together and follow your training and we'll win." He says looking confident. "Move out." He says, slotting into position at the front of the formation and leading you onwards. It quickly turns out that actually marching while keeping in proper form is actually harder than you'd thought, the wet mud beneath you not helping as gaps begin to show with people drifting apart.
At that point Kya receives a nod and sends scattered bursts of fire at you all, people tensing up and freezing before the cadet snaps out orders for you to reform, one boy at the front who'd gotten too far ahead turning round to rejoin the group only to receive a flamestrike in his back, knocking him to the ground where he tries to sit up. "You're dead." The cadet snaps out quickly taking the boys former position and taking a strike of his own that he leans into before you snap your shield up next to his making sure to overlap. The Kyoshi sisters forming up on either side of the pair of you as the cadet orders everyone back to where it's safe, some scattering with half of those managing to get behind trees and the rest taking minor strikes.
"Press forwards!" The cadet orders and you nervously begin to do so, slowly and carefully. Those behind you that have been taken out either getting up and being led away by the referees or carried away for a check up. All the while a firebender stood over kya's shoulder relays instructions into her ears. Despite that however you take no further losses and manage to reach the crest of a muddy hill. Climbing it while being hit by Kya results only in you all sliding backwards, almost losing more soldiers as people slip and stumble until eyeing Zoe, the Cadet splits the formation in two, each group numbering a half dozen each with you wedged between Melissa and the cadet in the front row protecting the front and those behind you protecting you from strikes from above.
With the groups split Kya focuses on those circling round and despite wanting to run while she's distracted the cadet instead urges you steadily onwards where you manage to reach the top of the hill and at last with Kya raining flames from above and pounding on your shields you make it inside the train and to a flag, a series of whistle blows sounding and signalling the end of the exercise.
"Hold fast!" The officer overseeing the exercise calls out. "Troops, assemble!" At the cadets nod the lot of you head outside and rejoin Zoe's group, put together you have a dozen survivors in total while Kya is stood before you. "First up. I'm Captain Han and congratulations on winning this challenge." Han says handing out cards to all of you 'non-benders', bits of plastic with your pictures, names, ages on and some minor details written along with a small metallic chip. "Second, against a master bender you'd all be dead." He chuckles before holding up a finger at your faces. "That said, Kya's little display represents roughly what an average firebender can put out. If she'd been going full power those of you 'dead' would indeed be dead or badly burned, but all of you here in front of me would all be alive and mostly unharmed. Further, because she was using weaker strikes than normal, she was able to continue for longer without getting tired. I want to remind you all that your common soldier has always had a place on the battlefield, something I hope you all see and appreciate over the coming days. Lastly, you all followed orders, and so long as you continue to do so we would be happy to have you continue taking part in this weeks events. We'll want to talk to some of you individually, but for now a checkup in the medical pavillions is in order. At ease."
With his speech concluded you follow him away and a low buzz of excited conversation breaks out, several kids congratulating Kya in amazement as she blushes happily though she's sweating slightly from her ordeal. You all share a round of high fives and excitedly talk about how cool it was to feel the earth disks smashing into pieces. Passing through the tents you see some of the kids formerly from your group sporting bruises or mild grazes but they're all happy enough and most are willing to try again, further down adults are being seen to by a small number of healers, them sporting more serious injuries such as broken bones or the occasional burn.
Here officer Han addresses you once again. "As you can see, despite our extensive safety precautions accidents do happen. We investigate and if found to be deliberate offenders can and will be severely punished, that, and even in circumstances where everyone is following the rules you might still end up hurt. Something to bear in mind going forwards." He finishes seriously.
From there you're further sorted, for some this was already enough of an experience, for you, your friends and a small number of others you're hungry for more and you find yourself in a room with a pair of officers, one in green, and one in fire nation red. "Hiya Hanshi, we've got some good news and some bad news for you today."
"Did I do something wrong?" You ask quietly.
"Quite the opposite, actually but let me explain, bad news first. You're not the first young child we've had involved, however, most volunteers your age are benders that we can use in one role or another, for non-benders we normally maintain a cut off age of seven at the very least for frontline duties, now, while we have you down as an earthbender your scores aren't high enough to continue in that role and due to your stature we can't use you as a soldier amongst older children. This is for your own safety."
"Kay." You say.
"That's the bad news. The good news is that we have a technical role I think you'll like." She says, her and the fire nation officer both smiling, the fire nation officer introducing himself. "You can call me Jian, I'm one of the technical engineers and it just so turns out you're about the right size to fit into a mecha suit."
---------------------------------------
"Right!" Jian is saying after having lifted you into a mecha suit. "It's turned off anyway but still don't touch anything just yet. This is a state of the art piece of tech. Most of the weapons, flamethrower, grenade launcher, all stripped out. Unfortunately the lightning glove is built in so we can't remove that but we have limited it's power. You can shoot stunning bolts, shock anyone you come into contact with and you have a net launcher and bola gun for crowd control that you can also electrocute if commanded to do so. With me so far?"
"Most weapons took away. Limited stun weapons only for use on command."
"The nets are fire at will but we want you to try and focus on benders, they're under orders that if they get hit by the net they're to assume it's electrocuted and cease all activity."
"Nets good. Lightning bad, use on orders only. Try to get benders." You recite.
"Good. This stick here to move forwards, other one is to turn. Don't try and run, you won't be able to anyway. We'll be feeding you orders by radio. If it cuts off look for an officer in fire nation uniform and listen to them. If you really get stuck find another Mecha suit and support them. Scenario is we're being sent to retake an earth kingdom fort from Earth Empire rebels. You'll mostly be up against civilians benders. That means no pro-benders, no trained soldiers and no-one who uses bending in their day to day jobs. They shouldn't be able to hurt the suit but we'll be monitoring just in case. Got all that?"
"This to move, this to turn, don't run, walk. Listen to the radio. If that turns off look for a fire nation officer. If I can't find one just follow another mecha. Fighting earth empire rebels."
"Good, good. Get up and walk around, we drop in five." Jian tells you, clapping you on the shoulder before shutting the suits pilot compartment with a hiss of pressurised air. Standing is as easy as pressing the stick forwards, heavy lumbering steps that rattle against the blimps cargo hold. Jian getting into a mecha of his own and performing his own checks. as you quiver excitedly. All too soon however Jians voice sounds over the radio giving you a minutes warning.
"Hey Hanshi you nervous?"
"Yes! You scream to his laughter.
"No need to shout, comm check is just fine." He says soothingly. "Hey, I was in your shoes twenty years ago! Do well and you might be doing this for real some day! For now just relax and have fun!"
"Thanks!" You respond stomach in knots.
"By the way!"
"What!?"
"I forgot the countdown!" Jian laughs, next thing you know you're hurtling downwards, clamps around your shoulder released as heavy boots impact the street and you land amidst a half dozen earthbenders of various shapes and sizes gawping at you. "Suit two, engage." A female voice chimes in your ear, the earthbenders being highlighted. Dragging a targeting reticule over them you press a button and a mesh cable net bursts from your wrist to wrap around them as they shriek and are dragged towards you before going limp. Instantly a score of earthbenders begin pelting the suit with bending disks, each of them plinking harmlessly off the hull as you grin.
"Next target. Male." The female voice says again, another bender highlighted on your screen as you shoot at them, bolas snapping out and tying their arms flat at their sides as they fall to the ground and quickly stop struggling.
"Suit two, advance, fire at will." You are ordered, beginning your slow march forwards as behind you firebenders shoot light bursts of fire at the benders, troops with spears and shields scurrying forwards in groups and taking cover in houses, one or two adding their own bolas to the mix, the earth empire rebels falling back as the soldiers behind you cheer and you move up through winding streets.
"Halt, halt." Jians voice says urgently. "They've got me stuck in a hole, command please advise."
There's silence for a long while as you halt and then the womans voice sounds again. "Mecha one we will engage rescue when objective is pacified. Mecha two, allow infantry to go first and remove any benders, support where possible. How copy?"
"Uhh. Yes." You say unsure as you halt and let the fire nation soldiers proceed ahead of you, several of them splitting off to search the newly constructed houses to either side as you move onwards. And apart from needing to push a satomobile that's blocking the street out of the way the earthbenders seem content to back up and slowly give ground, apparently having no answer to the massive power of your mecha suit as you grin, occasionally taking potshots at them.
That suddenly stopped when a new voice sounded over the radio. "Requesting heavy support We are engaged with megafauna! Please assist!"
"Say again Delta?" The female officer asks over the radio.
"A ten tonne skybison just took out my firebenders! Requestin-" The line abruptly goes dead at that and you cast about for an officer only to see a grim faced line of soldiers behind you. Meanwhile the screen in front of your face is displaying a map with a dot indicating where Delta squad is, not far judging from the map and the sounds of roars and crashes that reach your ears.
Pick one.
[X]Advance, you're the closest thing they've got to being able to fight that thing on equal footing. It's technically a bender, so it's a priority target for you to take out.
[X]Hold position and wait for further orders. At least here the narrow streets should offer some protection.
[X]Back up, retreat, head back to the nearest command post and try to see if you can help get the radio working again.
A.N Phew. Another doozy. Anyways, yeah, Sky bison are effectively superheavy tanks and airbending masters. The wargames are testing not only weapons and tactics but also trying to answer important questions like. "If the fire nation starts a war would the air nomads be able to effectively counter them? And how exactly does one defeat a massive ten tonne wild animal? Or would airbenders with their wingsuits act as effective soldiers rather than simple police?"
So yeah. The wargames are massive training exercises and also an attempt to recruit new soldiers while drumming up support for the state and showcasing military might to act as an effective deterrent. It's fun, promotes physical fitness and provides good practice for each nation.
Those involved in this one include, The fire nation, Omashu, some advisors and observers from the United republic, along with a small force of airbenders, largely from republic Cities Air Temple Island and some Kyoshi warriors from Kyoshi Island, mostly there to act as tacticians and instructors.
Let me know what you think so far and feel free to ask any questions.
Last edited:
- Location
- At the end of the world
I hate to say this, but It was boring. And how old we again? 4 years? I don't think kids that age can keep attention for long and not very funny war games. It's too soon for this stuff, 6-10 years later maaaybe, but not now.
[X]Advance, you're the closest thing they've got to being able to fight that thing on equal footing. It's technically a bender, so it's a priority target for you to take out.
[X]Advance, you're the closest thing they've got to being able to fight that thing on equal footing. It's technically a bender, so it's a priority target for you to take out.
- Location
- Earth
[X]Advance, you're the closest thing they've got to being able to fight that thing on equal footing. It's technically a bender, so it's a priority target for you to take out.