Chapter 5: Overcast Skies (Part 3)
Thank you all for your well wishes, I really appreciate it! <3 I'm recovering smoothly and doing well now. And I've finally managed to catch up on the writing I missed the past two weeks! Here's the next part of Deep Red. I hope it's okay, my writing might be a little rusty lol. Let me know what you think!
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97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao
From the music that greets you as your carriage rolls into the city, you can tell you're receiving quite the welcome. Not that you can see it with the curtains drawn. You won't catch a glimpse of everyone gathered in your honor until you step out of the carriage, and by then the fanfare is practically over.
That's how these things go, of course. The ceremony isn't really for you; you already know that you're important and deserve their deference. The ceremony is intended to remind those who carry it out of their place, not to remind you of yours.
Father told you that, years and years ago.
Lo and Li announce you and your sister as the carriage comes to a stop. Azula exits first, and you follow a moment after. You're greeted with the sight of dozens of men and women arrayed in front of you, all bowing deeply, and behind them a large stone building that can only be the capitol building.
You recognize the five people closest to you and your sister, even as they bow. Regional Governor Chen and his son Katsu you recognize from when they visited the capital a year ago. The three next to them, then, are Mayor Morishita, his wife, and their daughter. The daughter looks like she's Azula's age; she's a black-haired, athletic-looking girl, but you can't see much of her face at present.
"Your highnesses," Governor Chen says reverently, not straightening up, "Welcome to our humble colony."
You look them all over for a moment, not returning their bows. That's one nice thing about being away from Father, you suppose. There's no one for you to bow to here. That does leave you as the highest-ranking person here, though. You need to speak. Should you go with a demure 'thank you for your welcome', or something more involved? You're not certain you have much grounds or material to give much of a speech at the moment.
You suppose you can say a few brief words. You don't want to acquire a reputation for passivity.
"Thank you for your welcome, Governor, Mayor," you say, projecting your voice. "Please, rise."
The two of them straighten, and their families do the same a moment after. Before any of them can speak, you continue.
"I've been interested in visiting this city for some time," you say. "The jewel of the colonies. We're very familiar with your achievements in the capital - the finest metalwork in the world, not to mention the finest earthbenders. Your importance to the war effort can hardly be overstated."
The Governor and the Mayor both smile and bow deeply again - even that simple sort of praise means a great deal, coming from someone of your position.
"Thank you, Princess Akane," the Governor says. "You honor us."
Still. You can do better than something that bland.
You nod to the Governor, and then to the Mayor. "Of course," you continue, "It's not your contributions to the war effort that most intrigue me. No," They both look at you in surprise, and perhaps a bit of concern - but fortunately for them, you still only have good things to say. "In a few short years," you say, "The war will come to an end, as my father and I crush the last of our enemies' remaining resistance. I look to the future, now, to the world as it will be when the war is ended. And do you know what I see?"
The Mayor and Governor look hopeful again, proud. "What do you see, Princess?" Governor Chen asks.
"I see the world united under the Fire Nation, under civilization," you answer. You gesture with one hand towards the crowd and the city. "I see the people of the Earth Kingdom at peace, living rather than fighting with us. I see Yu Dao. When I imagine the future of the world, I think of what I have read of Yu Dao's grand successes. Your stability, your unity, your loyalty - you have not only survived the infusion of earth with fire, you have thrived with it. I'm quite familiar with what Yu Dao has given us in war, but I've always been more intrigued by what Yu Dao can give us in victory."
The Governor and his son look proud, but the Mayor's family looks absolutely honored. The Mayor and his wife look like they've grown a few inches, they're standing so straight, and their daughter is staring at you raptly. She almost reminds you of Ty Lee when she looks like that.
You suppose praise doesn't need to be especially eloquent for it to make an impression, when it comes from royalty.
"I have only ever had the pleasure of reading about your city until now," you finish, surveying the plaza in front of the capitol. "But my first impression certainly does not disappoint. To see you all here, united in the spirit of our great nation..." You allow a small smile. "I am proud to see it."
The five of them bow deeply again. The Mayor's daughter tilts her head up a bit as she does, still staring at you, but hastily lowers her gaze again when you meet her eyes.
You don't even have to look at Azula to just feel her holding back a snort.
"You truly honor us, Princess Akane," the Governor repeats. "It is our humble pleasure to welcome you to Yu Dao."
* * * * *
97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao: Capitol Building
You're treated to a feast that lasts into the evening. You and Azula sit side by side at the head of a grand table. Governor Chen sits at your other side, and Mayor Morishita at Azula's. Governor Chen talks your ear off, monopolizing your time completely - as he tells you repeatedly, he regrettably will not be able to be present for your full visit, as his duties call him away.
Apparently his son will be staying here, though. The Governor introduces you to him. Very eagerly.
Mitsuko is halfway down the table, sitting with her father and some local nobility you don't know. She gives you a sympathetic look, and looks the boy up and down to assess if he's a threat.
You're quite certain he isn't, but it's good to know she's looking out for you.
You try to glean what you can that's actually useful from the Governor's rambling, and try not to give away that your opinion of him is slowly dropping. Mayor Morishita, sitting with Azula, seems to have decided to be a little less talkative than the Governor; he really only speaks to chime in on Governor Chen's conversation with you. Everyone seems to be trying their best to get in on the conversation with you, honestly, and that's probably only making the Governor try harder to speak constantly without ever breathing.
Still, you should try to get what useful information you can. Tomorrow you'll tour the city, and after that you'll be focusing on helping the Mayor handle the stirrings of dissent in the city brought on by Father's policies. And of course there are other subjects of interest - maybe you could ask the Mayor's wife or daughter if it's true they can earthbend, or if they'd give you a demonstration sometime.
What information should you try to get tonight, to prepare for your stay?
In between the Governor's breathless rambling, you manage to ask a few questions of your own.
"I've read a great deal about Yu Dao's history under the Fire Nation," you say to Mayor Morishita, "And the progress it's made under our rule. But what can you tell me of its history prior to our nation's arrival?"
The Mayor's wife, Jaya, shakes her head as she sets down her goblet.
"Oh, Princess," she says. "Yu Dao had no history before Sozin. The valley was almost empty - just a tiny village, nothing more."
Well, that village must have done something, right? "May I ask if your ancestors were from that village, Jaya?"
She inclines her head. "They were, Princess. Both my daughter and I are earthbenders, and we couldn't be more grateful to Sozin for bringing the Fire Nation here. It gave us an opportunity for us to do more than simply subsist. We became metalworkers rather than farmers, and worked our way up to become merchants."
"By the time I met her, her family was practically richer than mine!" Mayor Morishita says jovially. His wife and the Governor both laugh, and so does Kori.
"The descendants of the Earth Kingdom natives are well-integrated, then?" you ask.
"We are!" Kori says eagerly, leaning forward across the table. "We're proud to be part of the Fire Nation, Princess!"
You grace her with a smile, and she beams in return. You apparently are making quite the impression on her.
"That's the truth, Princess," Mayor Morishita agrees, beaming at his daughter. "They are proud to be part of our Nation, and we are proud to have them." He shrugs a bit. "Of course, there are always issues of crime, and the Earth Kingdom natives do have issues with that - criminality is still passed down in some families -"
"But only some," Jaya says. "We're working very hard to wipe out the toxic elements of their culture, give them better education. No one in the city lacks loyalty to you or the Fire Lord, Princess - my husband just means to say that some still lack the discipline they need to be fully productive members of society."
"I see," you murmur.
That sounds doubtful. Disloyalty is everywhere, even in the capital. Treason is more common than you'd think.
"I understand that there have been some stirrings of dissent, though..." you prompt.
"Outside provocateurs," Governor Chen says immediately. Mayor Morishita nods firmly. "Yu Dao is a major target for Earth Kingdom sabotage due to the metalworking done here. Because so much trade passes through here on the way to the coast, deep-cover agents can still sometimes slip through our defenses. They stir up trouble among the poorest natives, convince them that the source of their problems is the Fire Nation rather than their own lack of work ethic."
"These are young men who haven't been raised right, and end up struggling as a result," Mayor Morishita says. "And the Earth Kingdom knows exactly how to prey on them. They fill these boys' heads with ideas about 'glorious struggle' for some 'motherland' that doesn't exist. It's horrible."
"Then why do you allow it to continue?" Azula asks dryly. "Yu Dao's been here for a hundred years, and it still hasn't figured out a way to keep 'outside provocateurs' out?"
"W-well, we do keep most of them out," Mayor Morishita says quickly. "And our city guard is far too effective for them to actually be able to accomplish anything while they're here. They haven't managed anything but minor acts of sabotage."
"Mm." You keep your expression neutral, reserving judgment. Azula's already making it clear she's not impressed with them; they might be more motivated to work harder if they think they can still win your approval. Instead, you turn to Kori. "Regardless," you say.
"Kori. I would be quite interested to learn more about your earthbending, if you'd be willing to share."
"Absolutely!" she half-yells.
You manage to get her talking enough to keep the Governor and his son from rambling you to death again. The rest of dinner passes tolerably.
* * * * *
97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao: Capitol Building
The room you're given is smaller than your suite at home. A great deal smaller. And it feels less clean. It's almost spotless, but you can tell; it was prepared for your use, but there's little bits of dust on the vanity. Mitsuko cleans it up for you without even being asked. After she brushes your hair and you confirm your plans to begin forging her sword tomorrow, you retire to bed.
It's difficult to sleep, here. You lay there for what feels like hours, drifting in and out of consciousness. When you're awake enough to think about it, it's frustrating.
When you hear the door creak slightly, you suddenly become thankful that you couldn't sleep after all.
The footsteps are barely audible, but they're not Azula's or Mitsuko's.
You hold still, shutting your eyes and holding your breath. You can just barely hear the sound of stone scraping, and maybe another pair of footsteps.
Assassins. This is a little earlier than you expected. What happened to the guards? Doesn't matter. Looks like you've got an early morning today.
They don't know you're awake, you hope, and you don't know what their first move is going to be or how long they'll wait before making it. Or how many of them there are. Could try to fill the entire room with fire, put them all on the defensive, or just focus on whichever one you can see first, try to take one out fast. Or try to get past them, flee to Azula and Mitsuko and Piandao.
Need to choose.
You open your eyes slowly. The room is pitch black, but you can make out a silhouette coming closer. You can't identify it.
You take a deep breath, and tense up to get ready to lunge out of bed.
"Good morning," you say.
The intruder stomps, and you lunge out of bed. You have a split-second glimpse of a man in a cowl before you're on top of him; you hear the splinter of wood and the smash of stone behind you in the same moment your palm drives into his nose. Something whizzes through the air behind your head as you twist around behind him.
You cup one hand over his eyes and thrust one hand out past his shoulder and bend with both.
"AAAAAH-"
"NIDHI!"
"BITCH!"
"Kill her!"
Two in front of you, one to the right.
You kick to the side and sweep to the front, blasting fire through the room - you think they all block, no one screams. You spin with the kick and throw the one in your arms out behind you, just in case -
You're rewarded with a handful of thumps and cracks. One behind you, too, out in the hall. Need to break the circle -
You make a break to the left to get out of the circle, blasting through the wall in the process. You throw another wide, careless wave of fire behind you as you move as a distraction, then turn to face your foes - three figures, silhouetted in the flames filling the bedroom, just now lowering the earthen walls they used to block your last sweep. Good. You need to kill these ones and get to Azula immediately.
You put a pair of firebolts in the one on the left's chest before he can react. He goes flying back into the flames around them.
"No!" the one in the middle yells, turning their head -
The one on the right just barely puts up a wall in time to save the talkative one from a few firebolts of their own.
"Focus!" he barks. He sends his stone barrier barreling towards you, and you shatter it with a concentrated fireblast before it can reach you. The explosive din of shattering rocks makes your ears ring, but you shake it off and focus on sending another barrage of rapid firebolts in the direction of the middle one. These assassins seem to have very disparate levels of professionalism. The ones who keep yelling certainly seem less skilled than the quiet ones -
The one that was in the hallway is missing.
You turn, sweeping back with your leg at the two you've got pinned, and blast through the wall behind you. Through the new hole, you see a figure in black stumbling back away from your flames.
Almost perfect timing.
You've got him in front of you and two behind you, now -
The one in front of you throws his arm out; you jump to the side to dodge the tiny projectiles he sends your way - daggers? - and kick out a gout of flame in retaliation as you do. He pulls stone slabs out of the walls to protect himself.
There's that blend of Earth and Fire architecture you've heard so much about. The building's made of stone. Fools.
You hit his barrier with a concentrated blast and manage to shatter it, sending the man sprawling down the hallway. You charge after him to finish him off - and just barely see the boulder in your peripheral vision in time to duck and slide underneath it.
Looks like the other assassins caught up to you.
You don't let them distract you; you jump to your feet again, and you still manage to get on top of your original target before he can pull himself to his feet.
You don't waste your momentum. As you reach him, you pitch yourself forward, reaching out with one hand as you flip over him. There's an instant where your two extended fingers line up exactly with his left eye. He looks at your fingers instead of meeting your gaze.
You bend. His body jerks.
You land on your feet and keep moving, jumping off the wall ahead to turn towards the remaining two. With the fire everywhere, it's easier to see them now - there's a large one and a skinny one, and the large one is holding a hammer. He swings it at the wall next to him as you charge the two of them -
Horizontal swing, horizontal attack. You pitch forward into a corkscrew flip as you keep moving, body spinning parallel to the ground, and get a brief glimpse of a pillar of stone above you at the height your head used to be.
You let loose with a massive fire kick as you come out of your spinning flip. The big one with the hammer manages to put up a stone wall to block, but he's not the one you're aiming at. The skinny one goes flying backwards, his clothes igniting, and doesn't get up. You land and keep moving, and the remaining earthbender lifts his hammer up to counterattack -
A sword flies through the haft of the hammer, snapping the head off, and buries itself in the wall of the corridor. Your lips twitch.
You jump off the opposite wall, then off the sword, and come down on the earthbender with a falling fire kick from over his barrier. The impact either knocks him out or kills him, you can't tell.
"Akane!" Mitsuko calls. She's down the hall, past the fire everywhere - the floors are hardwood, and apparently quite flammable. "Are you okay?"
You pull her sword out of the wall and hurry towards her, snuffing the flames around you as you go.
"I'm fine, where's Azula?" you bark, tossing her her sword.
"I don't -"
There's a BOOM farther down the hall as a man gets blasted through a wall out into the hallway. You take off in that direction.
"There she is," Mitsuko mutters as she follows.
When you burst into Azula's room, Piandao is already there, tying up an unconscious man on the floor. Azula's standing next to him, looking around warily.
"Dad!"
"Azula!"
You and Mitsuko both rush over to them. Mitsuko and her father exchange a quick, tight hug, and Azula tolerates a quick embrace from you as well.
"Have you dealt with yours, Princess?" Piandao asks tersely.
"Yes. Five of them. Any more here?" you ask.
There's three men on the floor in this room - one's clothes are smoldering, but the other two, the ones next to Piandao, don't seem burned. Plus the one in the hall, that makes four assassins for Azula, too.
"No more here," Piandao says, tying up the second man. "That makes a total of five for your room, four for Azula's, and two for mine. An impressive number of infiltrators."
"Where are the guards?" Mitsuko asks. "And the Mayor? Is his family alright?"
"I didn't hear any fighting from their wing," Piandao answers. They either weren't targeted or are all dead, then. Maybe the assassins just couldn't sneak in enough people to target the Mayor's family, too. "The assassins were trying to dispose of my guards when I woke. They might have succeeded with the others. They were very quiet about it. I think we should -"
"Akane!" Azula shouts, shoving past you.
You turn just in time to see a jagged rock get blasted away from your head by a gout of bright yellow flame. The earthbender in the hall is standing, his fist outstretched - apparently, he's tough enough to get back up after being blasted through the wall.
When you charge him, he takes off running.
Mitsuko keeps pace with you as you give chase, and Azula trails slightly after. Piandao splits off in a different direction entirely. You follow the earthbender through two walls, sending firebolts after him as you go, but he's obviously one of the more-skilled assailants - he keeps throwing up enough debris behind him as he runs to prevent you from nailing him in the back. He manages to make it out to a balcony -
And smashes his forehead directly into the flat of Piandao's blade. He goes sprawling onto his back.
You have no idea how Piandao knew where he was going or how he got there first, but you suppose that living legends can just do these things.
"Nice one -" Mitsuko begins -
The earthbender pounds his fist down on the balcony - the stone balcony. It crumbles beneath them both.
"Dad!" Mitsuko shouts.
You cross the room in time to see Piandao catch himself by sinking his sword into the wall. The earthbender keeps falling - and when he lands on the stone street below, the ground sinks with the impact to catch him. He takes off again at a ridiculous speed, sliding more than running.
You get a running start and jump out, over Piandao, and just barely manage to bridge the gap to the next rooftop. You sprint along the rooftop, above the earthbender, but he's moving faster than you are - you're falling behind.
You're not going to let him get away.
Normally, lightning generation is done while stationary. It's disastrous if you lose control or concentration, and unrelated movement - let alone sprinting - makes that much more likely. Twisting your arms and body in the necessary motions while sprinting is exceptionally difficult.
But you know lightning like the back of your hand.
You don't manage to hit him directly, but the lightning strikes close enough that the explosion sends him sprawling head-over-heels onto the street.
You slide down the roof to join him, breaking your fall with a bit of flame from your feet. The earthbender isn't back on his feet by the time you land; he's on all fours, entire body covered in dust and debris. He lifts his fist, but by the time he slams it down into the ground you're already dancing away to the side; a line of jagged rock bursts forward from the point of his fist's impact, and misses you completely. You turn the motion of your dodge into a fire kick, and the wave of flame that results sends the earthbender flying again.
He tries to push himself up again, but can't seem to manage it.
You evaluate him for a moment, then send another firebolt at his leg. He jerks and lets out a muffled cry of pain. It still takes a few punches before you're satisfied he's unconscious, but he doesn't really offer any resistance. You hastily bind his hands and blindfold him with strips of cloth from his own clothes, as well.
You hear someone slide down the roof and drop to the ground behind you, and hastily stand and turn - but it's just Mitsuko. Azula follows after her. Past them, you see Piandao jogging your way.
"Are you alright, Akane?" Mitsuko asks.
"I am," you answer automatically. You aren't injured. But - hm, damn, you just chased down that assassin barefoot. Outside. You'll have to adjust your schedule. You'll need a pedicure first thing in the morning.
Mitsuko walks past you, looking over the assailant. "He's unconscious?" she checks.
"Mhm. We needed at least one of the professionals alive, I think."
"Um, right."
A gust of wind blows your hair into your face. You reach up to fix it, then hesitate. Your hands are filthy, caked in soot and dust. You'll need another bath, too.
"You killed the others, then?" Mitsuko asks quietly.
"I did," you say. "Mitsuko, are your hands clean?"
"W-what?"
"Could you fix my hair for me?" you clarify.
"O-oh. Yeah, um, yeah."
Mitsuko sheathes her sword and starts pulling your hair back from your face.
"Thank you."
Nevermind having the pedicure in the morning; you can't go back to bed this filthy. You'll get a bath, have the pedicure, and then interrogate the Mayor about how his security was so flimsy. Assuming he's alive.
"Are you all unhurt?" you ask as Azula and Piandao join you. "Do we know if the Mayor and his family are alright?"
"I'm okay," Azula says.
"I am as well," Piandao says. He points back at the mansion, where lights can be seen in an increasing number of windows. "The garrison is finally mobilizing. We should get back inside and find out if the Mayor is alright."
"Alright," you say. You hope at least Kori is alive. She seemed like she could be a nice friend. "Let's."
"Are you sure you're okay, Akane?" Mitsuko asks quietly.
Your heart is pounding, actually. And your stomach feels a little unsettled. Adrenaline wearing off, you suppose. You barely noticed.
"Unless I have an injury I don't know about, yes," you answer. "Come on, let's get inside. I need to make some adjustments to our schedule."
* * * * *
97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao: Capitol Building
After confirming that the situation is under control - and that the Mayor and his family are, in fact, alive and unhurt, having not been targeted at all - you requisition some of the servants and one of the undamaged rooms to get that bath. Unfortunately, a considerable amount of your clothing and makeup was destroyed in the fighting. Nothing irreplaceable was lost, but now you'll have to either have new clothes tailored while you're here or have things shipped from the capital.
Hopefully Yu Dao has better tailors than it does guards.
Mitsuko stands guard over you as you get your pedicure, and Piandao and Azula go out to take stock of the situation. Updates trickle in to your room as you handle your grooming. You learn that the food in the barracks - which your Imperial Firebenders ate - was apparently poisoned last night with some exotic slow-acting Earth Kingdom toxin; when the assassins arrived, the guards discovered they were so sluggish they could barely bend or fight. Now, most of the garrison is sick - vomiting and feverish and so on. The Mayor's physician believes they'll all survive, it's not a lethal toxin, but it was clearly the perfect tool to help assassins get in and out. Not the kind of poison your average herbalist could have concocted. Several of the servants who would have had access to the guards' food last night are now missing, but not all of them. It's not clear whether the missing servants are conspirators who fled or if they're servants who were disposed of to let the conspirators get access to the food.
The Mayor and his family weren't targeted at all. You don't know whether that's because they're culpable, because the assassins want you to think they're culpable, or just because the assassins didn't have the ability to target them at the same time.
The assassins themselves were a mix of local muscle known to the guards and men who were likely elite Earth Kingdom agents. Most of them were actually taken alive. The professional you chased down and the four men Piandao knocked out - two professionals, two locals - are all in custody and relatively unscathed. The man Azula knocked out - the one who didn't get back up - is in custody and in critical condition, as are two of the men you took down. The local you hit with firebolts and the one you blinded both died in the fire in your room, and the professional you blasted in the head died on the spot.
"Are you okay, Akane?" Mitsuko asks out of nowhere after Piandao delivers that news.
"What do you mean?" you ask. The servants are taking adequate care of you, and you feel much cleaner now.
"I... it's just that you, um... you killed someone," Mitsuko says quietly. "They were trying to kill you, it was self-defense, but... a-are you sure you're okay?"
You killed someone for the first time years ago.
"They would have killed you and Azula if they'd gotten the chance," you reason. "I fought as hard as I needed to."
"You did act in self-defense," Piandao says. "Still, I must admit I'm curious - who taught you to fight with such... brutal efficiency?"
Grandfather.
"I've had many skilled teachers," you say. "And they always made sure I understood that it is my duty to protect myself and my nation. My conscience is clear. I only hope that this will discourage others from attempting such attacks in the future."
You don't feel anything in particular about what you did, honestly. You don't have any reason to, do you? If you were going to crack under the guilt of killing someone, you would have done it when you were thirteen.
"Okay," Mitsuko says quietly. "I was just worried."
"The easier it becomes to fight, the easier it becomes to lose sight of what one fights for," Piandao says, as though quoting a proverb. "All who live the life of the warrior face two great dangers - that dying will become easier with time, and that killing will become easier with time. Practice staves off one danger but worsens the other."
Well, you don't think you're at risk of killing becoming any easier.
Piandao's gaze is fixed on you; the scrutiny is vaguely grating. You're not falling apart and you're not a bloodthirsty monster; there was a fight, you apparently killed someone, and now you're moving on. That's all.
You incline your head politely to him, keeping your expression polite and neutral. "Thank you for your words of wisdom," you say. "Is there any other news?"
"Not at the moment," he says, still watching you. "The Mayor seems rather anxious for you to speak to him. I'm not sure Azula is getting along very well with him."
That's fine. Azula can scare him a bit to get him ready to fall over himself to comply with your reasonable requests, whatever they might be.
"Very well," you say. "I'll speak to him once we're finished here. It'll only be a few more minutes."
The servant applying polish to your nails seems to speed up ever so slightly.
"As you wish," Piandao says. "Then I'll get back to work investigating our assassins."
"Thank you for your aid, Piandao," you say.
"Be careful, Dad," Mitsuko says. She still sounds subdued. Is she that worried about you?
"You too, Mitsuko," Piandao tells her.
He glances at you again, then bows and leaves.
You'll meet with the Mayor soon, and should start planning your approach to this assassination conspiracy now. What ideas can you come up with now, and what questions do you need answered?
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Write-ins are open on the quest page, and if anyone wants to post any suggestions or ideas for Akane's actions here please feel free to! Also, just as a note - I have a poll on my patreon once per month to choose something I'll write as a bonus session, in addition to my weekly live sessions. Right now, a Zuko interlude covering his time alone in the capital is tied for first place for this month's bonus, so that may be coming soon! Thank you all so much for reading and supporting me!
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97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao
From the music that greets you as your carriage rolls into the city, you can tell you're receiving quite the welcome. Not that you can see it with the curtains drawn. You won't catch a glimpse of everyone gathered in your honor until you step out of the carriage, and by then the fanfare is practically over.
That's how these things go, of course. The ceremony isn't really for you; you already know that you're important and deserve their deference. The ceremony is intended to remind those who carry it out of their place, not to remind you of yours.
Father told you that, years and years ago.
Lo and Li announce you and your sister as the carriage comes to a stop. Azula exits first, and you follow a moment after. You're greeted with the sight of dozens of men and women arrayed in front of you, all bowing deeply, and behind them a large stone building that can only be the capitol building.
You recognize the five people closest to you and your sister, even as they bow. Regional Governor Chen and his son Katsu you recognize from when they visited the capital a year ago. The three next to them, then, are Mayor Morishita, his wife, and their daughter. The daughter looks like she's Azula's age; she's a black-haired, athletic-looking girl, but you can't see much of her face at present.
"Your highnesses," Governor Chen says reverently, not straightening up, "Welcome to our humble colony."
You look them all over for a moment, not returning their bows. That's one nice thing about being away from Father, you suppose. There's no one for you to bow to here. That does leave you as the highest-ranking person here, though. You need to speak. Should you go with a demure 'thank you for your welcome', or something more involved? You're not certain you have much grounds or material to give much of a speech at the moment.
Thank them for their welcome, and give a brief speech about the importance of the colonies and how you are inspired to see the strength of their national spirit even overseas. (17)
+ Don't be demure. Be assertive. You need to build a reputation. (11)
+Take a glance at the environment, the mixture of fire nation and native architecture, the spread of technology, and how well they seem to mesh. (8)
Thank them for their welcome, and add that you're delighted to finally have the chance to see the jewel of the colonies. (5)
Politely thank them all for their welcome, but don't add anything unnecessary on top of that. (0)
+ Don't be demure. Be assertive. You need to build a reputation. (11)
+Take a glance at the environment, the mixture of fire nation and native architecture, the spread of technology, and how well they seem to mesh. (8)
Thank them for their welcome, and add that you're delighted to finally have the chance to see the jewel of the colonies. (5)
Politely thank them all for their welcome, but don't add anything unnecessary on top of that. (0)
"Thank you for your welcome, Governor, Mayor," you say, projecting your voice. "Please, rise."
The two of them straighten, and their families do the same a moment after. Before any of them can speak, you continue.
"I've been interested in visiting this city for some time," you say. "The jewel of the colonies. We're very familiar with your achievements in the capital - the finest metalwork in the world, not to mention the finest earthbenders. Your importance to the war effort can hardly be overstated."
The Governor and the Mayor both smile and bow deeply again - even that simple sort of praise means a great deal, coming from someone of your position.
"Thank you, Princess Akane," the Governor says. "You honor us."
Still. You can do better than something that bland.
You nod to the Governor, and then to the Mayor. "Of course," you continue, "It's not your contributions to the war effort that most intrigue me. No," They both look at you in surprise, and perhaps a bit of concern - but fortunately for them, you still only have good things to say. "In a few short years," you say, "The war will come to an end, as my father and I crush the last of our enemies' remaining resistance. I look to the future, now, to the world as it will be when the war is ended. And do you know what I see?"
The Mayor and Governor look hopeful again, proud. "What do you see, Princess?" Governor Chen asks.
"I see the world united under the Fire Nation, under civilization," you answer. You gesture with one hand towards the crowd and the city. "I see the people of the Earth Kingdom at peace, living rather than fighting with us. I see Yu Dao. When I imagine the future of the world, I think of what I have read of Yu Dao's grand successes. Your stability, your unity, your loyalty - you have not only survived the infusion of earth with fire, you have thrived with it. I'm quite familiar with what Yu Dao has given us in war, but I've always been more intrigued by what Yu Dao can give us in victory."
The Governor and his son look proud, but the Mayor's family looks absolutely honored. The Mayor and his wife look like they've grown a few inches, they're standing so straight, and their daughter is staring at you raptly. She almost reminds you of Ty Lee when she looks like that.
You suppose praise doesn't need to be especially eloquent for it to make an impression, when it comes from royalty.
"I have only ever had the pleasure of reading about your city until now," you finish, surveying the plaza in front of the capitol. "But my first impression certainly does not disappoint. To see you all here, united in the spirit of our great nation..." You allow a small smile. "I am proud to see it."
The five of them bow deeply again. The Mayor's daughter tilts her head up a bit as she does, still staring at you, but hastily lowers her gaze again when you meet her eyes.
You don't even have to look at Azula to just feel her holding back a snort.
"You truly honor us, Princess Akane," the Governor repeats. "It is our humble pleasure to welcome you to Yu Dao."
* * * * *
97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao: Capitol Building
You're treated to a feast that lasts into the evening. You and Azula sit side by side at the head of a grand table. Governor Chen sits at your other side, and Mayor Morishita at Azula's. Governor Chen talks your ear off, monopolizing your time completely - as he tells you repeatedly, he regrettably will not be able to be present for your full visit, as his duties call him away.
Apparently his son will be staying here, though. The Governor introduces you to him. Very eagerly.
Mitsuko is halfway down the table, sitting with her father and some local nobility you don't know. She gives you a sympathetic look, and looks the boy up and down to assess if he's a threat.
You're quite certain he isn't, but it's good to know she's looking out for you.
You try to glean what you can that's actually useful from the Governor's rambling, and try not to give away that your opinion of him is slowly dropping. Mayor Morishita, sitting with Azula, seems to have decided to be a little less talkative than the Governor; he really only speaks to chime in on Governor Chen's conversation with you. Everyone seems to be trying their best to get in on the conversation with you, honestly, and that's probably only making the Governor try harder to speak constantly without ever breathing.
Still, you should try to get what useful information you can. Tomorrow you'll tour the city, and after that you'll be focusing on helping the Mayor handle the stirrings of dissent in the city brought on by Father's policies. And of course there are other subjects of interest - maybe you could ask the Mayor's wife or daughter if it's true they can earthbend, or if they'd give you a demonstration sometime.
What information should you try to get tonight, to prepare for your stay?
- Chat about bending with the mayor's wife/daughter
- Ask about local food.
- Inquire about the overall state of the town and any matters you could assist with.
- Figure out what's going on with the rebellion and figure out how to quell it.
- Ask about local historical and cultural sites?
- ask at length about harvest and trade statistics. We've been on a boat forever and we need those sweet, sweet spreadsheets.
- Sparing with an Earthbender could always be interesting. Not tonight, but sometime during this trip.
-The state of Yo Dao's mines, any issues they've had with colonists acclimating to the colony's culture, and the state of the Colony's borders with the Earth Kingdom. Maybe even whether we can inspect the colony's armed forces, and whether and how earthbenders have been assimilated into those. (as they should. We're trying to uplift the savages)
- Ask about local food.
- Inquire about the overall state of the town and any matters you could assist with.
- Figure out what's going on with the rebellion and figure out how to quell it.
- Ask about local historical and cultural sites?
- ask at length about harvest and trade statistics. We've been on a boat forever and we need those sweet, sweet spreadsheets.
- Sparing with an Earthbender could always be interesting. Not tonight, but sometime during this trip.
-The state of Yo Dao's mines, any issues they've had with colonists acclimating to the colony's culture, and the state of the Colony's borders with the Earth Kingdom. Maybe even whether we can inspect the colony's armed forces, and whether and how earthbenders have been assimilated into those. (as they should. We're trying to uplift the savages)
"I've read a great deal about Yu Dao's history under the Fire Nation," you say to Mayor Morishita, "And the progress it's made under our rule. But what can you tell me of its history prior to our nation's arrival?"
The Mayor's wife, Jaya, shakes her head as she sets down her goblet.
"Oh, Princess," she says. "Yu Dao had no history before Sozin. The valley was almost empty - just a tiny village, nothing more."
Well, that village must have done something, right? "May I ask if your ancestors were from that village, Jaya?"
She inclines her head. "They were, Princess. Both my daughter and I are earthbenders, and we couldn't be more grateful to Sozin for bringing the Fire Nation here. It gave us an opportunity for us to do more than simply subsist. We became metalworkers rather than farmers, and worked our way up to become merchants."
"By the time I met her, her family was practically richer than mine!" Mayor Morishita says jovially. His wife and the Governor both laugh, and so does Kori.
"The descendants of the Earth Kingdom natives are well-integrated, then?" you ask.
"We are!" Kori says eagerly, leaning forward across the table. "We're proud to be part of the Fire Nation, Princess!"
You grace her with a smile, and she beams in return. You apparently are making quite the impression on her.
"That's the truth, Princess," Mayor Morishita agrees, beaming at his daughter. "They are proud to be part of our Nation, and we are proud to have them." He shrugs a bit. "Of course, there are always issues of crime, and the Earth Kingdom natives do have issues with that - criminality is still passed down in some families -"
"But only some," Jaya says. "We're working very hard to wipe out the toxic elements of their culture, give them better education. No one in the city lacks loyalty to you or the Fire Lord, Princess - my husband just means to say that some still lack the discipline they need to be fully productive members of society."
"I see," you murmur.
That sounds doubtful. Disloyalty is everywhere, even in the capital. Treason is more common than you'd think.
"I understand that there have been some stirrings of dissent, though..." you prompt.
"Outside provocateurs," Governor Chen says immediately. Mayor Morishita nods firmly. "Yu Dao is a major target for Earth Kingdom sabotage due to the metalworking done here. Because so much trade passes through here on the way to the coast, deep-cover agents can still sometimes slip through our defenses. They stir up trouble among the poorest natives, convince them that the source of their problems is the Fire Nation rather than their own lack of work ethic."
"These are young men who haven't been raised right, and end up struggling as a result," Mayor Morishita says. "And the Earth Kingdom knows exactly how to prey on them. They fill these boys' heads with ideas about 'glorious struggle' for some 'motherland' that doesn't exist. It's horrible."
"Then why do you allow it to continue?" Azula asks dryly. "Yu Dao's been here for a hundred years, and it still hasn't figured out a way to keep 'outside provocateurs' out?"
"W-well, we do keep most of them out," Mayor Morishita says quickly. "And our city guard is far too effective for them to actually be able to accomplish anything while they're here. They haven't managed anything but minor acts of sabotage."
"Mm." You keep your expression neutral, reserving judgment. Azula's already making it clear she's not impressed with them; they might be more motivated to work harder if they think they can still win your approval. Instead, you turn to Kori. "Regardless," you say.
"Kori. I would be quite interested to learn more about your earthbending, if you'd be willing to share."
"Absolutely!" she half-yells.
You manage to get her talking enough to keep the Governor and his son from rambling you to death again. The rest of dinner passes tolerably.
* * * * *
97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao: Capitol Building
The room you're given is smaller than your suite at home. A great deal smaller. And it feels less clean. It's almost spotless, but you can tell; it was prepared for your use, but there's little bits of dust on the vanity. Mitsuko cleans it up for you without even being asked. After she brushes your hair and you confirm your plans to begin forging her sword tomorrow, you retire to bed.
It's difficult to sleep, here. You lay there for what feels like hours, drifting in and out of consciousness. When you're awake enough to think about it, it's frustrating.
When you hear the door creak slightly, you suddenly become thankful that you couldn't sleep after all.
The footsteps are barely audible, but they're not Azula's or Mitsuko's.
You hold still, shutting your eyes and holding your breath. You can just barely hear the sound of stone scraping, and maybe another pair of footsteps.
Assassins. This is a little earlier than you expected. What happened to the guards? Doesn't matter. Looks like you've got an early morning today.
They don't know you're awake, you hope, and you don't know what their first move is going to be or how long they'll wait before making it. Or how many of them there are. Could try to fill the entire room with fire, put them all on the defensive, or just focus on whichever one you can see first, try to take one out fast. Or try to get past them, flee to Azula and Mitsuko and Piandao.
Need to choose.
Greet whoever's there. (18)
+Roll to the side to dodge any sudden attacks, be on your toes. (22)
+prepare fire just in case. (12)
+be casual and utterly in control. (12)
Better to react than not react at all and get stabbed by a amateur assassin. Open your eyes and threaten with fire. (5)
Try to make a precise first strike, to take out one of them before the fight starts. (4)
Fill the room with fire. (3)
+Roll to the side to dodge any sudden attacks, be on your toes. (22)
+prepare fire just in case. (12)
+be casual and utterly in control. (12)
Better to react than not react at all and get stabbed by a amateur assassin. Open your eyes and threaten with fire. (5)
Try to make a precise first strike, to take out one of them before the fight starts. (4)
Fill the room with fire. (3)
You take a deep breath, and tense up to get ready to lunge out of bed.
"Good morning," you say.
The intruder stomps, and you lunge out of bed. You have a split-second glimpse of a man in a cowl before you're on top of him; you hear the splinter of wood and the smash of stone behind you in the same moment your palm drives into his nose. Something whizzes through the air behind your head as you twist around behind him.
You cup one hand over his eyes and thrust one hand out past his shoulder and bend with both.
"AAAAAH-"
"NIDHI!"
"BITCH!"
"Kill her!"
Two in front of you, one to the right.
You kick to the side and sweep to the front, blasting fire through the room - you think they all block, no one screams. You spin with the kick and throw the one in your arms out behind you, just in case -
You're rewarded with a handful of thumps and cracks. One behind you, too, out in the hall. Need to break the circle -
Go through the wall to your left, get distance. (15)
+Realize that if assassins came for you, they might have come for Azula or Mitsuko as well, and that you need to KILL THEM ALL so you can check and make sure the people who are important to you are safe. (18)
Charge the one on the right. (7)
send an explosion of fire outward from your body in all directions, anyone we hit is an enemy and the sound will warn our allies (3)
+Realize that if assassins came for you, they might have come for Azula or Mitsuko as well, and that you need to KILL THEM ALL so you can check and make sure the people who are important to you are safe. (18)
Charge the one on the right. (7)
send an explosion of fire outward from your body in all directions, anyone we hit is an enemy and the sound will warn our allies (3)
You put a pair of firebolts in the one on the left's chest before he can react. He goes flying back into the flames around them.
"No!" the one in the middle yells, turning their head -
The one on the right just barely puts up a wall in time to save the talkative one from a few firebolts of their own.
"Focus!" he barks. He sends his stone barrier barreling towards you, and you shatter it with a concentrated fireblast before it can reach you. The explosive din of shattering rocks makes your ears ring, but you shake it off and focus on sending another barrage of rapid firebolts in the direction of the middle one. These assassins seem to have very disparate levels of professionalism. The ones who keep yelling certainly seem less skilled than the quiet ones -
The one that was in the hallway is missing.
You turn, sweeping back with your leg at the two you've got pinned, and blast through the wall behind you. Through the new hole, you see a figure in black stumbling back away from your flames.
Almost perfect timing.
You've got him in front of you and two behind you, now -
You're smaller, thinner, more skilled and faster than them. Get up in their faces to keep them from using their blocks and barriers against your fire, stay on the move, weave around them and use them as human shields against their allies and our flames to obscure their vision. Take them down one after the other with close-range intense flame- and lightning strikes. (20)
Focus on staying mobile and acrobatic, building up momentum to get in close and finish them each off. (5)
Focus on getting better control of the battle, pinning them down and separating them so you can finish them decisively at the right moment. (2)
Focus on pure aggression to finish them off as quickly as possible, even if you have to endure an occasional hit in the process. (1)
Focus on staying mobile and acrobatic, building up momentum to get in close and finish them each off. (5)
Focus on getting better control of the battle, pinning them down and separating them so you can finish them decisively at the right moment. (2)
Focus on pure aggression to finish them off as quickly as possible, even if you have to endure an occasional hit in the process. (1)
There's that blend of Earth and Fire architecture you've heard so much about. The building's made of stone. Fools.
You hit his barrier with a concentrated blast and manage to shatter it, sending the man sprawling down the hallway. You charge after him to finish him off - and just barely see the boulder in your peripheral vision in time to duck and slide underneath it.
Looks like the other assassins caught up to you.
You don't let them distract you; you jump to your feet again, and you still manage to get on top of your original target before he can pull himself to his feet.
Kill him. (17)
Knock him out. (6)
Knock him out. (6)
You bend. His body jerks.
You land on your feet and keep moving, jumping off the wall ahead to turn towards the remaining two. With the fire everywhere, it's easier to see them now - there's a large one and a skinny one, and the large one is holding a hammer. He swings it at the wall next to him as you charge the two of them -
Horizontal swing, horizontal attack. You pitch forward into a corkscrew flip as you keep moving, body spinning parallel to the ground, and get a brief glimpse of a pillar of stone above you at the height your head used to be.
You let loose with a massive fire kick as you come out of your spinning flip. The big one with the hammer manages to put up a stone wall to block, but he's not the one you're aiming at. The skinny one goes flying backwards, his clothes igniting, and doesn't get up. You land and keep moving, and the remaining earthbender lifts his hammer up to counterattack -
A sword flies through the haft of the hammer, snapping the head off, and buries itself in the wall of the corridor. Your lips twitch.
You jump off the opposite wall, then off the sword, and come down on the earthbender with a falling fire kick from over his barrier. The impact either knocks him out or kills him, you can't tell.
"Akane!" Mitsuko calls. She's down the hall, past the fire everywhere - the floors are hardwood, and apparently quite flammable. "Are you okay?"
You pull her sword out of the wall and hurry towards her, snuffing the flames around you as you go.
"I'm fine, where's Azula?" you bark, tossing her her sword.
"I don't -"
There's a BOOM farther down the hall as a man gets blasted through a wall out into the hallway. You take off in that direction.
"There she is," Mitsuko mutters as she follows.
When you burst into Azula's room, Piandao is already there, tying up an unconscious man on the floor. Azula's standing next to him, looking around warily.
"Dad!"
"Azula!"
You and Mitsuko both rush over to them. Mitsuko and her father exchange a quick, tight hug, and Azula tolerates a quick embrace from you as well.
"Have you dealt with yours, Princess?" Piandao asks tersely.
"Yes. Five of them. Any more here?" you ask.
There's three men on the floor in this room - one's clothes are smoldering, but the other two, the ones next to Piandao, don't seem burned. Plus the one in the hall, that makes four assassins for Azula, too.
"No more here," Piandao says, tying up the second man. "That makes a total of five for your room, four for Azula's, and two for mine. An impressive number of infiltrators."
"Where are the guards?" Mitsuko asks. "And the Mayor? Is his family alright?"
"I didn't hear any fighting from their wing," Piandao answers. They either weren't targeted or are all dead, then. Maybe the assassins just couldn't sneak in enough people to target the Mayor's family, too. "The assassins were trying to dispose of my guards when I woke. They might have succeeded with the others. They were very quiet about it. I think we should -"
"Akane!" Azula shouts, shoving past you.
You turn just in time to see a jagged rock get blasted away from your head by a gout of bright yellow flame. The earthbender in the hall is standing, his fist outstretched - apparently, he's tough enough to get back up after being blasted through the wall.
When you charge him, he takes off running.
Mitsuko keeps pace with you as you give chase, and Azula trails slightly after. Piandao splits off in a different direction entirely. You follow the earthbender through two walls, sending firebolts after him as you go, but he's obviously one of the more-skilled assailants - he keeps throwing up enough debris behind him as he runs to prevent you from nailing him in the back. He manages to make it out to a balcony -
And smashes his forehead directly into the flat of Piandao's blade. He goes sprawling onto his back.
You have no idea how Piandao knew where he was going or how he got there first, but you suppose that living legends can just do these things.
"Nice one -" Mitsuko begins -
The earthbender pounds his fist down on the balcony - the stone balcony. It crumbles beneath them both.
"Dad!" Mitsuko shouts.
You cross the room in time to see Piandao catch himself by sinking his sword into the wall. The earthbender keeps falling - and when he lands on the stone street below, the ground sinks with the impact to catch him. He takes off again at a ridiculous speed, sliding more than running.
You get a running start and jump out, over Piandao, and just barely manage to bridge the gap to the next rooftop. You sprint along the rooftop, above the earthbender, but he's moving faster than you are - you're falling behind.
You're not going to let him get away.
Normally, lightning generation is done while stationary. It's disastrous if you lose control or concentration, and unrelated movement - let alone sprinting - makes that much more likely. Twisting your arms and body in the necessary motions while sprinting is exceptionally difficult.
But you know lightning like the back of your hand.
You don't manage to hit him directly, but the lightning strikes close enough that the explosion sends him sprawling head-over-heels onto the street.
You slide down the roof to join him, breaking your fall with a bit of flame from your feet. The earthbender isn't back on his feet by the time you land; he's on all fours, entire body covered in dust and debris. He lifts his fist, but by the time he slams it down into the ground you're already dancing away to the side; a line of jagged rock bursts forward from the point of his fist's impact, and misses you completely. You turn the motion of your dodge into a fire kick, and the wave of flame that results sends the earthbender flying again.
He tries to push himself up again, but can't seem to manage it.
Give him another firebolt to the legs before closing him to make sure he is knocked out (17)
Break his arms and his legs. Enflame your hand to burn so he loses concentration and cant bend (10)
It might be a trick; this one's proved himself much more resilient than most. Finish him off from a distance. (6)
Torch his arms and legs from a distance, and then interrogate him, letting mitsuko hold her sword to his throat. (3)
Start interrogating him here and now; tell him to answer your questions if he wants to live. (3)
Close in and knock him out. (2)
Break his arms and his legs. Enflame your hand to burn so he loses concentration and cant bend (10)
It might be a trick; this one's proved himself much more resilient than most. Finish him off from a distance. (6)
Torch his arms and legs from a distance, and then interrogate him, letting mitsuko hold her sword to his throat. (3)
Start interrogating him here and now; tell him to answer your questions if he wants to live. (3)
Close in and knock him out. (2)
You hear someone slide down the roof and drop to the ground behind you, and hastily stand and turn - but it's just Mitsuko. Azula follows after her. Past them, you see Piandao jogging your way.
"Are you alright, Akane?" Mitsuko asks.
"I am," you answer automatically. You aren't injured. But - hm, damn, you just chased down that assassin barefoot. Outside. You'll have to adjust your schedule. You'll need a pedicure first thing in the morning.
Mitsuko walks past you, looking over the assailant. "He's unconscious?" she checks.
"Mhm. We needed at least one of the professionals alive, I think."
"Um, right."
A gust of wind blows your hair into your face. You reach up to fix it, then hesitate. Your hands are filthy, caked in soot and dust. You'll need another bath, too.
"You killed the others, then?" Mitsuko asks quietly.
"I did," you say. "Mitsuko, are your hands clean?"
"W-what?"
"Could you fix my hair for me?" you clarify.
"O-oh. Yeah, um, yeah."
Mitsuko sheathes her sword and starts pulling your hair back from your face.
"Thank you."
Nevermind having the pedicure in the morning; you can't go back to bed this filthy. You'll get a bath, have the pedicure, and then interrogate the Mayor about how his security was so flimsy. Assuming he's alive.
"Are you all unhurt?" you ask as Azula and Piandao join you. "Do we know if the Mayor and his family are alright?"
"I'm okay," Azula says.
"I am as well," Piandao says. He points back at the mansion, where lights can be seen in an increasing number of windows. "The garrison is finally mobilizing. We should get back inside and find out if the Mayor is alright."
"Alright," you say. You hope at least Kori is alive. She seemed like she could be a nice friend. "Let's."
"Are you sure you're okay, Akane?" Mitsuko asks quietly.
Your heart is pounding, actually. And your stomach feels a little unsettled. Adrenaline wearing off, you suppose. You barely noticed.
"Unless I have an injury I don't know about, yes," you answer. "Come on, let's get inside. I need to make some adjustments to our schedule."
* * * * *
97 AC (15 years old)
Yu Dao: Capitol Building
After confirming that the situation is under control - and that the Mayor and his family are, in fact, alive and unhurt, having not been targeted at all - you requisition some of the servants and one of the undamaged rooms to get that bath. Unfortunately, a considerable amount of your clothing and makeup was destroyed in the fighting. Nothing irreplaceable was lost, but now you'll have to either have new clothes tailored while you're here or have things shipped from the capital.
Hopefully Yu Dao has better tailors than it does guards.
Mitsuko stands guard over you as you get your pedicure, and Piandao and Azula go out to take stock of the situation. Updates trickle in to your room as you handle your grooming. You learn that the food in the barracks - which your Imperial Firebenders ate - was apparently poisoned last night with some exotic slow-acting Earth Kingdom toxin; when the assassins arrived, the guards discovered they were so sluggish they could barely bend or fight. Now, most of the garrison is sick - vomiting and feverish and so on. The Mayor's physician believes they'll all survive, it's not a lethal toxin, but it was clearly the perfect tool to help assassins get in and out. Not the kind of poison your average herbalist could have concocted. Several of the servants who would have had access to the guards' food last night are now missing, but not all of them. It's not clear whether the missing servants are conspirators who fled or if they're servants who were disposed of to let the conspirators get access to the food.
The Mayor and his family weren't targeted at all. You don't know whether that's because they're culpable, because the assassins want you to think they're culpable, or just because the assassins didn't have the ability to target them at the same time.
The assassins themselves were a mix of local muscle known to the guards and men who were likely elite Earth Kingdom agents. Most of them were actually taken alive. The professional you chased down and the four men Piandao knocked out - two professionals, two locals - are all in custody and relatively unscathed. The man Azula knocked out - the one who didn't get back up - is in custody and in critical condition, as are two of the men you took down. The local you hit with firebolts and the one you blinded both died in the fire in your room, and the professional you blasted in the head died on the spot.
"Are you okay, Akane?" Mitsuko asks out of nowhere after Piandao delivers that news.
"What do you mean?" you ask. The servants are taking adequate care of you, and you feel much cleaner now.
"I... it's just that you, um... you killed someone," Mitsuko says quietly. "They were trying to kill you, it was self-defense, but... a-are you sure you're okay?"
You killed someone for the first time years ago.
Tell her you wish it hadn't been necessary, but your conscience is clean. (22)
+They threatened to kill your loved ones. You only hoped this discourages others from attempting the same. (11)
Tell her you honestly don't feel anything about it. (7)
+"I didn't enjoy it. If that's what you're asking, but I have a feeling i'm going to have to get used to it." (6)
Tell her you feel some remorse, of course, but know you had no choice. (5)
Tell her you aren't sure what to feel. (1)
+They threatened to kill your loved ones. You only hoped this discourages others from attempting the same. (11)
Tell her you honestly don't feel anything about it. (7)
+"I didn't enjoy it. If that's what you're asking, but I have a feeling i'm going to have to get used to it." (6)
Tell her you feel some remorse, of course, but know you had no choice. (5)
Tell her you aren't sure what to feel. (1)
"You did act in self-defense," Piandao says. "Still, I must admit I'm curious - who taught you to fight with such... brutal efficiency?"
Grandfather.
"I've had many skilled teachers," you say. "And they always made sure I understood that it is my duty to protect myself and my nation. My conscience is clear. I only hope that this will discourage others from attempting such attacks in the future."
You don't feel anything in particular about what you did, honestly. You don't have any reason to, do you? If you were going to crack under the guilt of killing someone, you would have done it when you were thirteen.
"Okay," Mitsuko says quietly. "I was just worried."
"The easier it becomes to fight, the easier it becomes to lose sight of what one fights for," Piandao says, as though quoting a proverb. "All who live the life of the warrior face two great dangers - that dying will become easier with time, and that killing will become easier with time. Practice staves off one danger but worsens the other."
Well, you don't think you're at risk of killing becoming any easier.
Piandao's gaze is fixed on you; the scrutiny is vaguely grating. You're not falling apart and you're not a bloodthirsty monster; there was a fight, you apparently killed someone, and now you're moving on. That's all.
You incline your head politely to him, keeping your expression polite and neutral. "Thank you for your words of wisdom," you say. "Is there any other news?"
"Not at the moment," he says, still watching you. "The Mayor seems rather anxious for you to speak to him. I'm not sure Azula is getting along very well with him."
That's fine. Azula can scare him a bit to get him ready to fall over himself to comply with your reasonable requests, whatever they might be.
"Very well," you say. "I'll speak to him once we're finished here. It'll only be a few more minutes."
The servant applying polish to your nails seems to speed up ever so slightly.
"As you wish," Piandao says. "Then I'll get back to work investigating our assassins."
"Thank you for your aid, Piandao," you say.
"Be careful, Dad," Mitsuko says. She still sounds subdued. Is she that worried about you?
"You too, Mitsuko," Piandao tells her.
He glances at you again, then bows and leaves.
You'll meet with the Mayor soon, and should start planning your approach to this assassination conspiracy now. What ideas can you come up with now, and what questions do you need answered?
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Write-ins are open on the quest page, and if anyone wants to post any suggestions or ideas for Akane's actions here please feel free to! Also, just as a note - I have a poll on my patreon once per month to choose something I'll write as a bonus session, in addition to my weekly live sessions. Right now, a Zuko interlude covering his time alone in the capital is tied for first place for this month's bonus, so that may be coming soon! Thank you all so much for reading and supporting me!
