Path towards Harmony [AU Legend of Korra Quest]

Solarstream · Feb 18, 2022

closing the vote a bit early, gonna roll to break the tie

1 = league
2 = detectives
3 = omashu
4 = re-roll

Solarstream · Feb 19, 2022

Winning vote:
[X][Festival] Asami was able to make time to come by and say hello.
[X][Event] There seemed to be detectives out and about...

Korra, a School Festival, and an Incident (Month 11, part 6)

The morning of the school festival, you wake up bright and early, and dip out of the house before your parents wake up. The sun is just starting to peak up from behind the horizon on a clear day with a light, refreshing breeze. You take a deep breath in and out, and head for the island's northern docks. Turns out there's no ferries running this early, but they let you use one of the spare smaller boats as long as you promise to bring it back. With a thanks, you sail off, directing the wind to take you to Dragon Flats.

The school festival is an event that everyone in the school participates in. Last year, you took part as a member of the Urban Gardening Club... but this year, you've been busy with Avatar stuff and couldn't be too involved. Shero, as the head of the Gardening Club, noted this and had someone from the Student Council ask you to help set things up on the day itself, rather than participate with a club. It's pretty typical for people who aren't in clubs to do this. For example, that's what Asami did last year, as she was busy at the Experimental Station.

And so, here you are.

Predictably, the port at Dragon Flats is much more active than the one on your home island, and you end up deciding to carry the boat with you. You must look quite strange... but you're not getting that much attention. People seem pre-occupied with something... and you notice the odd detective out and about, open accompanied by militia-types. Did something happen while you were away? You haven't checked the news lately...

Stopping by a newsstand, you greet the guy there (who raises an eyebrow at your boat but doesn't question it) and grab a paper. The front-page story tells you all you need to know.

Tarrlok has escaped!

He was held under house arrest in the most rural stretches of the Mo Ce Coast area, as it was deemed far enough away from Phoenix City that there was little risk of him going on a killing spree if he did manage to escape. This did not stop him, however, as the people who were supposed to be guarding him were found dead and drained of blood. It was only by a stroke of luck that he happened to break out right before someone was scheduled to come and check in on them, so the news could be spread almost immediately. By the time he made it across the bay and entered Phoenix City, a militia was there to face him.

He then chose to slip back under the waters, and hasn't been seen since.

When you ask the news guys when this happened, he says it was yesterday probably, so you would have been in the Spirit World. Growling, you take a copy of the paper and stomp off, the man noting that down and wishing you a good day.

Your mood is still sour by the time you get to school. The school takes up about a block's worth of space, split between the actual school building and outdoor spaces. The greeters wave you in and one of them tells you to leave your boat by one of the sheds in the back. People are too busy setting things up to question what you're doing with it, so you're able to drop it off and then head for the main auditorium without issue.

"Ah, Korra!" says the Student Council President, Ba Fah, upon seeing you. "Good morning~! ...is something the matter?"

"Just... more Avatar stuff."

You shake your head, and stiffen up.

"But that's not important right now. What still needs to be done?"

She glances down at her notes. "Hmmm... there's still some booths that need to be put up, and some classrooms need to be prepared. What's your preference?"

[][Assistance] Korra helps put up booths
[][Assistance] Korra helps prepare classrooms

She nods at you. "Excellent! Thanks again for your help Korra!"

She then calls someone over and has her direct you on where to go...

.

.

.

A while later, you're finally done, and now go around and enjoy the festival yourself.

Each School Festival reflects the unique characteristics of each school. It's entirely student-directed, managed by the Student Council. The specific events on display are selected by the students, whether as a club or as individuals. For this school, the big draws are food stalls, plays and dances, poetry readings, art exhibits, and concerts. Biyong is on later in the day, so you have plenty of time to wander around beforehand.

And while doing so...

"Hey Korra~!"

"Asami!"

...Asami comes to visit. Unlike high schools, the school festivals at the university level are completely optional. There's supposedly a big one in Midtown, but you guess that's not the case with Dragon Flats. The two of you grab lunch, catching a brief glance of Vanra with some other Water Tribe members, and stop to chat for a bit. You show off the blessing you got from the Spirit Sage of Earth and brag about how well you did in the fight, and she tells you about the continuing work of the Experimental Station on the Anti-Spirit Radios. They've decided that it's necessary to make one that specifically counters Tarrlok, and so want to tune it such that it specifically blocks Blood-bending but not Water-bending.

If you'd like to help out, you'd be welcome. Amon has already been contacted, and was quite willing to volunteer.

[][Radio] Korra volunteers (at least one Action slot must be spent on this by the end of the month)
[][Radio] Korra does not volunteer

"Oh, but I didn't come here just for that," adds Asami. "I wanted to spend the day with you."

"With me~?" you ask, smirking. "Aww, Asami, you're gonna make me blush~!"

She then sticks her tongue out at you, face a light red, and you chuckle at her expense.

"A-anyway... anything new and interesting this year?" she asks.

You shrug. "I've been too busy to pay much attention to festival planning. Oh, how about we walk around and check things out until Biyong's performance?"

"Sounds fun to me. Lead the way."

.

.

.

Hours later, after Biyong's excellent solo performance and you've helped to tear down after the festival, you get stopped on the way home by a local detective. They ask if you've heard about Tarrlok's escape, to which you answer yes, and then let you know that any help you can give towards subduing him will be much appreciated. As far as they know, he's still underwater, even now.

Quite a nuisance, that man is...

...and he's one where you're not sure if you want to spare the time to help track him down. You'll be in the Spirit World again this weekend, and you might want to use your time during the week for other things.

In fact, you decide to take time to plan out your week while on the boat ride back to Spirit Portal Island.

(Korra does three of the following.)
[][Event] Research...
-[][Event] Raava and Vaatu (two rolls; highest goes through) [Asami will handle this if not chosen]
-[][Event] Mountain Spirit
-[][Event] Phoenix-Dragon
[][Event] Go talk to... (may write-in details; counts as ½ an Action)
-[][Event] ...Amon
-[][Event] ...Tarrlok
-[][Event] ...Lin Beifong
-[][Event] ...past Avatars
-[][Event] ...Air Monks
-[][Event] ...Totola
-[][Event] (write-in)
[][Event] Training Lightning-bending! (Progress: 2.5/5 – bare success = ½; good or great = 1; crit = 2)
[][Event] Reconnecting with the Avatar State! (Progress: 1.5/3 – bare success = ½; good or great = 1; crit = 2)
[][Event] Investigate the "Anti-Spirit Leagues" with the ex-Equalists [Vanra will handle this if not chosen]
[][Event] Assist the Water Unionists
[][Event] Call someone at the Northern Water Tribe: Unalaq / Deska and Esna (must write-in details; counts as ½ an Action)
[][Event] Call someone at the Southern Water Tribe: Rivris / Sira (must write-in details; counts as ½ an Action)
[][Event] Hang out with your friends! (specify who)
[][Event] Actually attend the Urban Gardening Club for once (counts as ½ an Action)
[][Event] Visit the bending schools in Tiger Ward (counts as ½ an Action)
[][Event] Continue working on Spirit Projection
[][Event] Meet with the delegations from Omashu and Gaoling (expires at end of month)
[][Event] Find a Metal-bending teacher (counts as ½ an Action)
[][Event] New: Volunteer at the Experimental Station (expires at end of month)
[][Event] New: Go search for Tarrlok! (specify if you will use Spirit Projection or go in person)
[][Event] New: It's been a while since you last worked out... [Biyong will be doing this, and you'd be joining her]
[][Event] (write-in; subject to QM approval)

QM Note: I may return to the School Festival in a sidestory, but I felt the update was a good enough length for now.

w34v3r · Feb 19, 2022

Fucking Hell Tarrlok! Stay in your spirits damned hole!

Eternal_0bserver · Feb 22, 2022

[X][Assistance] Korra helps put up booths
[X][Radio] Korra volunteers (at least one Action slot must be spent on this by the end of the month)

[X][Event] Reconnecting with the Avatar State! (Progress: 1.5/3 – bare success = ½; good or great = 1; crit = 2)
[X][Event] Meet with the delegations from Omashu and Gaoling (expires at end of month)
[X][Event] New: Volunteer at the Experimental Station (expires at end of month)

w34v3r · Feb 22, 2022

[X][Assistance] Korra helps put up booths
[X][Radio] Korra volunteers (at least one Action slot must be spent on this by the end of the month)

[X][Event] Reconnecting with the Avatar State! (Progress: 1.5/3 – bare success = ½; good or great = 1; crit = 2)
[X][Event] Meet with the delegations from Omashu and Gaoling (expires at end of month)
[X][Event] New: Volunteer at the Experimental Station (expires at end of month)

Solarstream · Feb 25, 2022

vote closed

Solarstream · Feb 25, 2022

oh, and rolls for your friends will be public and go here

asami = 175 (!!)
vanra = 32
biyong = 94 (though this was mostly for flavor)

Solarstream · Feb 26, 2022

Winning vote:
[X][Assistance] Korra helps put up booths
[X][Radio] Korra volunteers (at least one Action slot must be spent on this by the end of the month)

[X][Event] Reconnecting with the Avatar State! (Progress: 1.5/3 – bare success = ½; good or great = 1; crit = 2)
[X][Event] Meet with the delegations from Omashu and Gaoling (expires at end of month)
[X][Event] New: Volunteer at the Experimental Station (expires at end of month)

Korra, Volunteering, and Delegations (Month 11, part 7)

Starting off this week, you decide that you'll follow up with Asami on your volunteering with the Experimental Station, rather than putting it off until later. When you get back home from after the School Festival, you give her a call and set up the session.

The next day, after an unproductive meditating session, you get on a boat and head over to Republic City. Unlike the last time you helped out the scientists at the Experimental Station, you do not head over to their main lab in the Dragon Flats. Instead, you head over to the Industrial Sector. You're surprised by the amount of greenery you can see as you walk around. You were aware that there's been a long effort to clean up the area, and it seems that the spirit-issued directive is still being taken seriously. You can clearly see where old factories used to be, now replaced with gardens and small forests. You wonder where all that industry went... must be to other wards or cities, you suppose.

After walking for a while, you find the place. It's a large warehouse on the outskirts of the ward, in the transition area between the Industrial Sector and the Greater Republic City area.

Asami, waiting outside, waves to you as you approach.

When you enter, you find that Amon is already there, clad in his typical mask and robes. He's accompanied by several scientists in suits, and a healer from the Blue Moon Group. There's an Anti-Spirit Radio on a stool nearby, and several others are sitting on the floor nearby. One of the scientists, an older man with green eyes, turns to you and smiles, drawing in the attention from the rest of the crowd.

"Ah, good, you're here," he says. "If you'll stand over here..."

He has you and one of the other scientists stand near Amon, while Asami stands by the radio and the rest of the group keeps their distance.

The scientist standing near the two of you, another man with green eyes, then explains what's about to happen. "As a reminder, these Anti-Spirit Radio are attempts by us to counter Blood-bending. The idea is that Amon will Blood-bend me while Korra Water-bends next to him. Success means that Amon will be unable to use Blood-bending while Korra remains unaffected. Are there any questions?"

The two of you shake your heads.

"Then, let's begin."

.

.

.

Unsurprisingly, the initial attempts to use the radios to block Blood-bending only are not effective. Either they do literally nothing, or they stop both of you from using your abilities. It's not until several hours later that one even gets close... and there it just slightly weakens Amon rather than stopping him entirely.

Still, it's a start, and the scientists end the day quite pleased with even this success.

The next day, you come by there after school, and it's more of the same, except the newer radio models are more effective. About half-way through the week, you all get something that can totally shut-off Blood-bending... for only a few minutes. This is deemed good enough that the scientists will now start producing more of them, so you're not needed at the moment.

"So, I know why I volunteered for this... but why are you helping out?" you ask Amon as you both leave for the day.

"This ability of ours... they're curses. Suppressing them is for the best," is his reply.

"What do you mean? Didn't you say it had medical applications or whatever?"

Amon nods. "This is true. However... our father taught it to us for us to use as weapons. That's what Blood-bending is in truth: malice itself weaponized. I will shed no tears when it's gone for good."

"But..."

He shakes his head. "That's the truth. Now then, if you'll excuse me..."

(Is there something you'd like to say to Amon?)
[][Amon] Yes. (write-in)
[][Amon] No.
-[][Amon] And drop it entirely.
-[][Amon] You'll talk to him later.

.

.

.

Your attempts to re-connect with the Avatar State bear no fruit the next day either, so you decide to go on a walk in Republic City. Maybe that'll clear your head... In fact, you decide to go to Equalist Park. It's getting colder, but not so cold that being out and about in the park is unpleasant. You're not the only one who thinks so either – the park is still fairly crowded, filled with couples, families, groups, and individuals all enjoying a sunny afternoon.

One of those groups catches your eye – a group of men of varying ages, all with green eyes and wearing green robes. The reactions of the people around tell you that this isn't a common sight, though most of the glances are neutral. Hmmm...

You walk up to them. "Excuse me! My name's Korra. Who might you all be?"

Their attention turns to you in an instant from their game of Pai Sho. "Oh! Avatar Korra!" shouts one.

They all stand up and bow to you.

You scoff. "Come on! There's no need for that..."

"We insist," says one of them as they get back up. "It's only appropriate to give you this level of respect. Your prior incarnation was instrumental to Omashu's salvation, after all."

You nod. "So then, you're all from Omashu. Here to setup diplomatic relations?"

One of them nods. "Indeed. And we have been received quite warmly, despite all the reasons your fine countrymen would have to reject us."

"It helps that we're abandoning any claims to Honghai or Gaipan," adds another.

"Indeed. They have their independence, and we in turn want ours," adds a third.

Hmmm... actually, this is a great opportunity. Unlike your other classes, International Relations does not have a final exam. Instead, you have to write a paper. Something on Omashu and Gaoling would be excellent! You'd pass with flying colors after getting inside information like this!

"I'd actually like to hear more about your point of view..." you start, and then get into a long conversation with the men. Thankfully this was right after school, so you still have your backpack on you. You take copious amounts of notes.

The next day, you decide to actively search for the Gaoling delegation. You doubt they'll be wearing distinctive robes, so you ask around in the Downtown area and get directed to one of the hotels by the seashore. Since the embassy hasn't been built yet, it looks like they're staying there. This delegation is instead a mix of men and women, and they're not just satisfied with their own independence.

No, they want to crush Tu Zin and end its reign of terror for good!

And they're quite happy to tell all about what Tu Zin has done to them and to the rest of the southern half of the Earth Continent, a discussion that lasts well into the evening and ends with you getting plenty of material to work with.

(Additionally, both the Omashu and Gaoling delegations invite Korra to visit. Take them up on the offer? This would be during Month 12, after classes end and before Harmonic Convergence.)
[][Visit] Visit Omashu only
[][Visit] Visit Gaoling only
[][Visit] Visit both
[][Visit] Visit neither

QM Note: The next two or three updates will likely revolve around the Spirit Sage of Fire.

w34v3r · Feb 27, 2022

[x][Amon] Yes. (Katara told me about the time she met the original bloodbender. So you're probably right, malice was woven into the discipline from the start, hard not to have that given the conditions she was kept under. On the other hand people said the same thing about fire nation technology during and after the war, about bending in general during the worst days before the Equalists sorted things out, the spirits are a favored target of such sentiments these days.

Even if you're right, bloodbending is known to the world, it's never just going to go away, at this point the question isn't whether or not bloodbending will harm people in the future. The answer to that question is yes. The question is can we prepare people for it or derive some good in order to counter the damage that will be done. At the very least people like Asami and the researchers need to know all they can to devise more counters.)

[X][Visit] Visit both

Eternal_0bserver · Feb 28, 2022

[X][Amon] Yes. (Katara told me about the time she met the original bloodbender. So you're probably right, malice was woven into the discipline from the start, hard not to have that given the conditions she was kept under. On the other hand people said the same thing about fire nation technology during and after the war, about bending in general during the worst days before the Equalists sorted things out, the spirits are a favored target of such sentiments these days.

Even if you're right, bloodbending is known to the world, it's never just going to go away, at this point the question isn't whether or not bloodbending will harm people in the future. The answer to that question is yes. The question is can we prepare people for it or derive some good in order to counter the damage that will be done. At the very least people like Asami and the researchers need to know all they can to devise more counters.)

[X][Visit] Visit both

TheGleeman · Feb 28, 2022

Currently still catching up with this quest (technically I am still on the previous quest even) and admittedly less versed in ATLA/Korra lore than I´d like on account of having misplaced my DVD box soon after purchasing it, but I´ll just drop by because the matter right now is something close to hard:

I disagree vehemently with the wide-spread villification of Blood-bending for how short-sighted and ignorant it seems to me.

Yes, I get it: Blood-bending *how Hama developed it and how others after her built up on it* is a pretty gruesome and dangerous thing, but here is the thing:

*So are all the other bending styles*

Just imagine the horrid things other Benders could do if they put their minds to it: Air-Benders suffocating someone, Water-Benders waterboarding someone, Lightning-Benders torturing someone with shocks, Earth-Benders executing people by crushing them under giant boulders...the list goes on and on, yet they are not nearly as hated for the potential harm they could cause as Blood-Bending has been from the start.

But let´s turn things around and ask ourselves, what *good* Blood-Bending could cause in the hands of a *responsible and centred* Bender:

- Non-lethal restriction abilities at a distance, which every cop would *love* to have to break up fights almost instantly
- Healing properties including *reparing* energy pathways (if it can *block* them, it should logically be able to do the inverse as well)
- Medical applications like transfusions and faster medicine distributions within bodies.

Here as well I could go on, but the point stands that just because some dicks used Blood-Bending to inflict sufffering doesn´t mean it can´t still find its place amongst the other, more respected styles.

Just something I want you to consider before I return to catching up

w34v3r · Feb 28, 2022

You're absolutely correct, but we need to get a thousand other things done, and ultimately blood bending is not a priority because unlike a primary element people can simply choose not to learn it.

Also I don't want to aggravate the self hating bloodbender until we get our last foot of height.

TheGleeman · Feb 28, 2022

Sry, but I just get a bit *testy* about one "school of Magic" being near-universally shunned just because "oh no, how gruesome and spooky"

ATLA/Korra isn´t nearly the only piece of media habitually and reflexively "shitting" on Blood "Magic", but it´s still a rather prominent example.

But yeah, if I had been a voter in this quest from the start, I´d have pushed *hard* for "our" Korra learning Blood-bending and rehabilitating it in the public eye in the process.

w34v3r · Feb 28, 2022

Good luck, Katara's .... Katara, and we haven't even managed to make time for Metal or lightning.

Solarstream · Feb 28, 2022

To be fair, you are making progress on lightning! It's slow, but still. You'll probably have by quest end unless something really goes wrong.

Solarstream · Mar 2, 2022

The School Festival (Month 11 Sidestory)

"It is true that School Festivals in the Harmonic Republic have their ultimate origin in the Fire Nation. They were brought over by Fire Nation colonists to the western shores, and as such are commonplace in cities like Yu Dao or Hinode and unknown in cities like Hu Xin or Senlin. This represents one of the many cultural divides within our vast country... School Festivals were introduced to Republic City and the surrounding villages with the foundation of the United Republic of Nations by the ruling council. Despite their association with that hated council, they have been maintained after the Revolution due to their popularity among the people, particularly the students. They are, after all, filled with events and festivities run by and for them... We have no desire to impose what may be viewed as a cultural artefact of the Fire Nation on other people. However, we can only recommend keeping them around in this ward. All students – not just the descendants of the Fire Islanders – benefit from the School Festival."
- Excerpt from a speech defending the School Festivals presented to the Tiger Ward Council by Hako, a local schoolteacher in the Year 160 AG

There is no specific date that a School Festival must be held on. However, the vast majority of them are held around the same weekend later in the autumn season. In this way, they mark the near end of the autumn semester, and thus a warning that exams and final papers are coming up. But most students aren't thinking of such things during the festival.

No – they're either focused on their role in it, or just on enjoying themselves.

Take Avatar Korra, for example.

This year, much like the last year, she helped out in the setup and tear down of the festival by helping students with their booths. Typically, classes and student clubs would construct the booths and set them up themselves, but there's always cases where they could use some extra muscle – and Korra had that to spare. This was particularly true for the booths that were more involved than just being simple stands. The food stalls were the prime example of this, the most elaborate of which essentially being miniature restaurants.

And of course, each of those treated Korra to some of their food, which she accepted gratefully.

But the food stalls – while excellent and still a big draw – were not the main event for the School Festival of the Dragon Flats School for Young Ladies. The school was a part of the arts hub of the Dragon Flats, residing by the Dragon Flats College for the Arts and several art galleries and theatres. An extended series of booths was acting as a makeshift art gallery for the many would-be artists attending the school, whether seasoned near-professionals or newcomers to the craft. All throughout the day were poetry readings (mostly outside), dances (both inside and outside), and plays (mostly inside).

And the big event, which would come as day turned to night – a concert from the school's band, composed of some of the finest musicians in the school.

To be sure, musicians of all skill levels were welcome to perform during the day, and many did.

But there was an intensity and weight to the band's performances that wasn't present earlier in the day. The concert was held in the main auditorium, which was always packed full. As usual, it was a mix of solo and group performances, and the highlight this year was one Biyong Kuem, who specialized in the guzheng. She would end the night with another demonstration of the 21-strong model. Her performances of traditional music from the Earth Continent played in a slow and somber mood would draw the crowd to tears.

She would cry just the same afterwards, in the loving embrace of her friends.

QM Note: There was a minor error in a prior post – Korra was not a member of the Urban Gardening Club last year.

Solarstream · Mar 4, 2022

vote closed, rolls for encounters will go here

??? #1 - #4 require 75+ to go through
??? #5 - #8 follow the same roll results as Korra and friends
??? #9 is secret

Solarstream · Mar 5, 2022

Winning vote:
[x][Amon] Yes. (Katara told me about the time she met the original bloodbender. So you're probably right, malice was woven into the discipline from the start, hard not to have that given the conditions she was kept under. On the other hand people said the same thing about fire nation technology during and after the war, about bending in general during the worst days before the Equalists sorted things out, the spirits are a favored target of such sentiments these days.

Even if you're right, bloodbending is known to the world, it's never just going to go away, at this point the question isn't whether or not bloodbending will harm people in the future. The answer to that question is yes. The question is can we prepare people for it or derive some good in order to counter the damage that will be done. At the very least people like Asami and the researchers need to know all they can to devise more counters.)

[X][Visit] Visit both

Korra and Rampaging Spirits of Darkness! (Month 11, part 8)

Before you let Amon go the other day, you had something you wanted to say to him. You knew about the origins of Bloodbending – Katara had told you them long ago. On the other hand... there was no way you could have accepted Amon's line about blood-bending being just a curse. After all, couldn't the same thig be said about bending itself? It's not as if there's a shortage of terrible things bending could be used for.

Much to your annoyance, he agreed with you.

"Wrong!" you shouted, poking him in the chest angrily. "Bending isn't evil! No form of bending is evil, not even yours!"

He sighed, and shook his head. "Your optimism is laudable, but not warranted. There's no undoing what's already been done."

"Well, so what!? It's... urgh!!!"

That whole interaction was making you tense, so you stopped to take a deep breath before you continued on.

"Look. Maybe you're right. But again... so what? Bending isn't special. It's just another tool. Would you say that medicine is evil just because sometimes people die instead of getting cured?"

"What? No, of course not. But the difference is..."

"...the intention, right?" you interjected. "Look, if your father can figure out Blood-bending on his own, then so can other people... probably. And people might get hurt and even die from it! So shouldn't we try to get at least some good out of it, just like we do with all the other bending abilities?"

"..."

He didn't answer... but he didn't refute you either.

You declared it good enough as you both went your separate ways.

You hadn't seen him since... you were thinking about pestering him about teaching you Blood-bending, to be honest... but it's not like there was any hurry to get that done. You had other matters to focus on. Such as, for example, your latest visit to the Spirit World.

Today, you goal is to track down the Spirit Sage of Fire – the Phoenix-Dragon. You're not sure where exactly it resides in the Spirit World... but you have some ideas. The other sages have resided in places that match their element. The Water Sage – a swamp. The Air Sage – the sky. The Earth Sage – the mountains.

So, naturally, the Fire Sage should be in a volcano!

Your travelling group today is your mom, Asami, Biyong, Vanra, and Rika. Biyong is free to help out again, and Vanra managed to snag some free time to come by as well. As usual, they're going to be in the hot air balloon while you're in your wingsuit. When you suggest the idea to them, they're all in agreement. Biyong is even able to suggest a starting point – Mt. Hai-Ryo. It's part of a chain of volcanos not far from the mountains where you encountered the Spirit Sage of Earth.

As usual, you all hop in the portal, you sheltering the group from the storm, and swiftly make your way to the main continent. It doesn't take long to find the place you're looking for. There are two reasons for that. One – the spacing of the volcanos matches that of the Fire Islands. Two – the whole chain is layered in wispy darkness, with the cover thicker at the top of each volcano and billowing down into the surrounding lands

...that can't be good.

You all descend and land outside of the affected area, in a forest. You can hear sounds of fighting, and can see neutral spirits fleeing the area. The dark and light spirits must be at it again... but looks like the dark spirits have the advantage. With your excellent senses, you're able to keep everyone away from the fighting as you lead them towards the mountain. It was decided that in a dangerous situation like this, it was better to stick together for safety.

"Don't breathe in too deeply," you warn everyone as the dark mist gets thicker around the group. "Who knows what it might do..."

"I wish I'd brought gas masks..." complains Asami.

"Would they even work here?" asks Biyong.

"It'd be worth a shot... ugh..." Asami then coughs.

Your mom moves closer to you, leaving Rika to cover the rear. She whispers to you, "Should we go back and get more help?"

You shake your head. "We're just here to see the Sage and leave. As long as we can avoid any fights, we should be good."

She nods. Concern is still evident on her face, and she keeps a wary eye out for any threats.

After a while of walking, you all finally encounter a few fire spirits at the base of one of the volcanos. They're coiled and winged turquoise snakes, seemingly unaffected by the dark miasma surrounding them. One of them lazily turns an eye towards you, but does nothing to stop your advance.

You frown, and consider interrogating them... but you decide you'd rather not draw any attention to yourself, and so your group goes on.

It's not until you've made some progress climbing the mountain that any spirits come out and confront you. They take the form of gigantic spider-wasps, and swoop down from the sky on the attack! You promptly breathe out a massive stream of fire to clear them away...

"Ahhhh!?"

"W-what's going on!?"

...and the darkness instantly thickens, blocking your view!

"I don't think so!" you shout as you spin around, swirling the Air around you. The dark mist gets sucked in... but there's so much of it that you don't really make a dent. But that's fine since this was only stage one. For the next part, you stop suddenly and swing your arms outwards, making a wall of Air that blows it all away!

"Hmhm... not bad, Avatar Korra."

Your attention is drawn towards the Black Cat, who suddenly appears, accompanied by more humanoid dark spirits.

"You again!?"

You then glance around... and notice that you're alone.

"Yes, me. This time, we're not playing around. You will help us, whether you like it or not."

In the grasp of one of the spirits, you see that...

(Who is it? Choose one.)
[][Companion] Asami (non-combatant)
[][Companion] Biyong (guardian-spirit)
[][Companion] Vanra (militia-woman)
[][Companion] no one (???)

...is in their grasp.

You'll have to worry about everyone else later. For now, you need to take this cat and its allies down!

(How does Korra approach the fight?)
[][Battle] Focus on freeing the captive if there is one.
-[][Battle] And then retreat
-[][Battle] And then keep going
[][Battle] Just take out the cat and the rest will flee.
[][Battle] Without its allies, the cat will likely retreat.
[][Battle] (write-in)

(You may attempt to interrogate the cat. These are subject to individual dice rolls.)
[][Questions] (write-in; limit 5)

Parzival95 · Mar 5, 2022

[X][Companion] no one (???)

Mystery box!

Solarstream · Mar 9, 2022

vote will close at Mar 11, 2022 at 6:00 PM

w34v3r · Mar 9, 2022

[x][Companion] Biyong (guardian-spirit)
[X][Battle] Focus on freeing the captive if there is one.
-[x][Battle] And then keep going

They done fucked up.

Solarstream · Mar 11, 2022

if there's not a tie-breaker vote by the time of closing, i'll roll for it

Parzival95 said:
[X][Companion] no one (???)

btw you need to vote for a [][Battle] option

edit: rolling it is, i guess...

Solarstream · Mar 12, 2022

Winning vote:
[X][Companion] no one (???)
[X][Battle] Just take out the cat and the rest will flee.

Korra, the Black Cat, and a Visitor (Month 11, part 9)

That cat is the biggest problem – it's the reason you can't go into the Avatar State right now, after all. You decide that you better focus on defeating it first.

You stomp hard on the Earth. Pillars of rock just out where the dark spirits stand. The cat and a few of the dark spirits dodge but the rest get knocked away. Since you're alone here, there's no reason to hold back!

You spin and whip your arms out – and two spears of Water come forth, aiming squarely at the Black Cat.

"Hm!?"

It dodges, jumping up, and you swing back, your spears turning into whips and knocking the Black Cat into a tree.

"Gah!? Why you!"

You feel the dark spirit approach, claws at the ready, before you see it. You slip out of the way, sliding in the Air, avoiding a gash to your head. You then turn and shove your hand at it, blasting it away with a burst of Air. It goes flying into the distance.

Rustling draws in your attention. The Black Cat has recovered, and it's expanded into its two-tailed beast form. Four humanoid dark spirits are hanging by it, and you can see two more in the distance approaching. But those aren't your concern.

You glare directly at the Black Cat, and it returns with a hostile gaze of its own.

"Vaatu will be freed no matter what. You cannot stop us," it says.

"Maybe," you reply. "But I can shove him back in that tree where he belongs!"

The cat hisses at you. "Avatar Korra, you fool! Chaos is the natural way of things. This world is fluid – ever-shifting – constantly changing. Vaatu cannot be denied."

"I don't deny that! What I deny... is letting him and spirits like you rampage as you please trampling on everyone else's lives!"

"Oh? Yet you've done nothing about these human wars. Aren't you the Avatar?"

You groan. "The Avatar is a spiritual guide, not a warlord!" you roar. Not that you've done much spiritual guiding, but you don't need to mention that right now. "My role as the Avatar is defined not just by what Aang did, but by what's going on in the world around me. These wars are not the same as the Fire Nation's conquests – so why should they be treated the same? Especially when you consider that I need to deal with spirits like you and the Light Oni instead."

You don't mention that you're probably going to end up involved in the Wate Tribe's Civil War anyway if it's true that your uncle has his own plans for Raava and Vaatu.

"Besides, don't you like war?" you add. "It's chaotic, after all."

The cat nods.

"Then what do you care?" you ask.

You cut the cat off before it can answer back. You're not really interested in what it has to say.

You are, however, interested in distracting it.

You step on the ground and lightly sink into it...

"Huh!? When did you...!?"

...and the Black Cat sinks like a rock in suddenly muddy ground that then hardens before it can escape. It struggles to break free, and finds that it cannot. Its companions try to dig it out... and with a burst of Fire breath, you get them to retreat instead. But as they run away...

"Wha-!? Get away from me!"

...they get blasted by a sudden burst of electricity and flew back into the clearing, crashing down on the Black Cat and burying him in their dark mass. Startled, you back away. That wasn't Rika's voice!

"Show yourself!" you shout into the trees.

"...Avatar Korra!? Of all the people... yeah, yeah, give me a minute..."

A familiar figure then appears.

"You! You're that girl from before, with the robed weirdoes!"

"We are not weird!" she exclaims while wearing a bright red robe and carrying an Electro-stick battery pack on her back. Yeah, sure. Your laughter at her remark incenses her and her face goes bright red. However, she has enough sense not to try and attack you again, so she forces herself to take a deep breath and calm down.

"A-anyway... what are you doing here?" she asks.

"I should be asking you that. I'm here to see the Phoenix-Dragon."

"Oh! Me too! I want his blessing."

Her golden eyes sparkle pleasantly, but you're skeptical. What could this girl possibly want as a blessing from a Spirit Sage? ...and why does she have a battery pack on her?

You shake your head. Questions for later.

"You didn't happen to see anyone else, did you?" you ask. "I came here with other people, but we got separated..."

She shakes her head. "I've been on my own so far."

"...really?"

"Well, I had help getting here, but I wanted to see the Sage on my own. My companions are at the base of the mountain."

She turns away from you.

"If that'll be all, Avatar Korra, I'll be going now."

Hmmm... this is suspicious. You want to follow her... but on the other hand, you should probably go find your friends. They should be fine if they've managed to stick together, but you can't sure be sure if they have. On the other hand, perhaps they've gone ahead of you? They weren't stuck dealing with these hostile spirits after all... and you were planning on heading to the peak of Mt. Hai-Ryo anyway.

What to do...?

[] Follow the girl to the peak of Mt. Hai-Ryo
[] Go search for your friends...
-[] ...and go up the mountain
-[] ...and go down the mountain

QM Note: Next update ends the month.

Taijutsu_ · Mar 13, 2022

When Korra said that her role as Avatar was not defined by what Aang did and that the circumstances around her are different than those of ~50 years ago and obviously should be approached differently, I felt that

w34v3r · Mar 13, 2022

I am concerned about that other stuff though, and the whole water tribe thing, and our distinct lack of a sweet ride.

Path towards Harmony [AU Legend of Korra Quest]

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

(Unverified Bookworm)

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

(Unverified Bookworm)

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards

It's all in the cards