The Kingdom of Gyatso-kai (Earth AV)

The Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is a state that exists within the realms of East and Southeast Asia. With a population of 1.656 billion, Gyatso-kai is one of the most populated nations in the world.

Before recorded History, the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai was a region controlled by four distinct nations, each one specializing in an archaic practice refered to today as "elemental bending." After a series of wars, the Fire Nation launched a massive invasion of all other nations, and for one hundred years the war raged on. However, with the coming of the Avatar, the war was brought to an end, and the Four Nations were united, and a new government was formed.

Important Note

Many of the character names, attributes, and place or event names are taken from Avatar: The Last Airbender (known as Avatar: The Legend of Aang in the UK,) an American animated television series airing on Nickelodeon since February 21, 2005. Produced at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California, and animated in South Korea, it was co-created and executive produced by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko (the latter of whom also serves as art director and character designer). As such, it is copyrighted by these people, and I am by no means claiming it as my own.

History

The history of the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is as diverse and as long as Time itself. Each time period of history, often notated by the letters of "Avatar Name", is determined by the life span of each of the Avatars, and is restarted once a new Avatar is reborn. Avatars are known for living long lifes, and are born into a set cycle of nations: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.

Avatar Yo-da (250 years) Earth

The time period in which Avatar Yo-da lived is incomplete, based mostly on tales and legends from his Kingdom of Omaki, a small Earth city located 100 miles south of Omashu. It is known that no large wars happened within his lifetime, and the union of the Earth Kingdoms came while he was in power.

Avatar Kariso (250 years) Fire

No information is known about Avatar Kariso.

Avatar Sensai (155 years) Air

A time of great peace in the Four Nations. Each of the nations were separate entities, politically separate and independent. Following the Sulin War (AS 25-45), the Fire Nation claimed the Island of Hainan from Water Tribes. In the year AS 52, the Great Avatar Sensai began to grow suspicious as the Fire Nation began to start another war. The War of Ba-sailu lasted but 3 months, for Avatar Sensai emerged from Shoulinsai and restored balance. After her death in AS 135, the Fire Nation's current Fire Lord Zhaolu began to prepare for the Great Comet, which would bring much power to his people, and enable them to take over the world.

Avatar Dolin (300 years) Water

Avatar Dolin was born into a time of panic. With the approaching Comet, time was of the essence for this Waterbender to become an Avatar. Only 25 at the time of the Walyn War, Avatar Dolin was still too young to do battle, let alone master four elements. However, the Avatar Spirit was inside of him, and in the year AD 26, Dolin marched into the Great Fire Nation capital and defeated Fire Lord Zhaolu, restoring Balance and Peace to the world. For the Next 200 years, Avatar Dolin did many things to restore the Natural order of things. In the year AD 205, Avatar Dolin passed on, and the search for the new Avatar began. The Fire Nation remained weak for the next 100 years, unable to recuperate from Dolin's Rage.

Avatar Kyoshi (240 years) Earth

With the birth of Kyoshi, the Four Nations saw the change in time. The new Fire Lord, Lisunsai, was as ruthless as any Fire Lord before him was, and began to plan the largest war in history. The War of Kansin took place over the entirety of the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, as well as the Water Tribes. Because of the enormous amount of battles that were to be taking place, the Air Nomads decided to remove all Air Nomads, except the monks, from the Eastern and Southern Air Temples, and relocate them to the Southern Territory of Lashu, notable for its dense forest and high mountains. One disturbing fact is that on their way to Lashu, a battalion of Firebenders ambushed a group of unarmed Air Nomads, and they were completely obliterated, save on child, Rolang. She and her mother were able to escape the attack because her mother was an Airbender. Flying to Lashu, however, a group of legendary archers, the YuuYan, shot her down. Before crashing, Rolang was able to bend the air around her and land safely. Walking the rest of the 35 miles to Lashu, Rolang arrived in terrible disarray, and was nursed back to health. In AK 42, the War of Kansin lasted approximately 68 years, and Avatar Kyoshi saw many battles. However, the most amazing of which was the Siege of La-sing-di, the capital of the Fire Nation. Over 1 million soldiers lost their lives. When Avatar Kyoshi descended upon the battlefield, the great Fire Lord Lisunsai himself bowed down before her, begging her to spare him. Being the Avatar, Kyoshi was bound to spare him. Amidst great fire, Kyoshi restored all balance, and lived the rest of her life out on the small Island that has since been renamed after her.

Avatar Roku (200 years) Fire

Often referred to as the Great Avatar, Roku is best known for his amazing ability to negotiate and avoid all war. Born within the Fire Nation, Fire Lord Lisunsai wanted to use him to start another war. He is quoted to have said, "With the Avatar on our side, we can rule the entire land. However, in his old age, Lisunsai had become very senile and was shortly relieved of his position. The new Fire Lord, Ozhailo, however, saw a Fire Nation Avatar as a threat to his kingdom. On Roku's 21st Birthday, Ozhailo summoned him to his chambers, and challenged him to an Agni Kai, or a Fire Duel. Much of Fire Nation culture is centered on Fire, for they regard their fire as formed from their own breathe and chi, or life force. Unbeknownst to Roku, Ozhailo had a secret plan in case he lost to the Avatar. Roku, his family, and the entire Fire Nation did not know that Roku was the Avatar; for when the Fire Sages found out, they only told Lisunsai, who on his deathbed, told Ozhailo. At sundown, all gathered at the Royal Agni Kai Field to witness the Fire Lord do battle. After several intense minutes of dueling, Roku received the upper hand, for he was able to "break" Ozhailo's "roots" and knocked down the Fire Lord. However, Ozhailo gave the signal to his YuuYan Archers, who fired a volley of arrow straight to Roku. Suddenly, Roku began to glow a bright blue, he turned to the arrows, and formed a massive wall of Earth before him, and he sent a blast of Air and Water straight at the YuuYan, whom all feel, and then turned towards Ozhailo. Because of his attempted murder of Roku, the Avatar Spirit was permission to kill Ozhailo. However, Roku sparred his life, and forever banished Ozhailo to live within the Kingdom of Ba-sing-sai, the Earth Kingdom capital. Roku was crowned Fire Lord, and he led the Fire Nation into a time of great peace and glory. After his death in AR 195, Fire Lord Ozai was crowned. Little did the world know of what was to come with the crowning of the Fire Lord of the West.

Avatar Aang (120 years) Air

The story of Avatar Aang is perhaps the most vivid as well as the most disturbing. When Aang was born, it was not known of the Fire Nations activities since Fire Lord Ozai had severed all connections with the outside world. When Aang turned 12, he was told of the severity of his situation. Normally, Sages, Monks, Tribal Elders, and Kings wait until the child turns 18 to tell them of the Chosen Task before them. Aang was told due to the Monks belief that Ozai was planning to use the Coming of the Great Comet to start another war. There was but one problem; Aang was very close to the greatest Airbender in history, Monk Gyatso, and the Monks saw their relationship as a hindrance to Aang's training. Therefore, they decided to separate the two, and send Aang to the Eastern Air Temple. Aang was scared, and decided to leave before he was sent off. However, while he was traveling, a terrible storm occurred, sending both him and his flying bison Appa into the Ocean. Sure to die, Aang's Avatar Spirit took over and froze the two inside of an Iceberg. 100 years had pasted since the Avatar was last seen, and the country had changed drastically: The Fire Nation had started the war shortly after Aang's disappearance, believing that the Avatar was not reborn yet. To insure that this would be the case, Ozai launched a massive assault on all of the Air Temples, specifically the Southern Air Temple. The Fire Nation soldiers easily destroyed the Air Temples, leaving everything in waste. All of the Air Nomads were gone, save one...Aang. As the Fire Nation's campaign was nearing its end, two young Waterbenders found the iceberg in which Aang was contained within, and freed him. Aang was not aware that it had been 100 years, but later found out all hat had happened. With the comet coming at summer’s end, the Avatar had to work quickly to ensure Balance to the world. In AA 113, shortly before the Arrival of the Comet, Aang achieved the impossible; he marched straight on towards La-sing-di, much as Avatar Kyoshi had done before, and along with thousands of various nation soldiers, he demolished the entire city, leaving the Great Fire Lord at his mercy. Enraged by the fact that this man before him had murdered everyone he knew, Aang was bent on killing this man, however, the Avatar Spirit was not one to allow death to such a man. Rather, much as Roku had done before, Fire Lord Ozai was banished from all lands on the Earth, doomed to be at sea for all eternity.

After the ending of the Great War in AA 113, much of the Four Nations were in total disarray. Avatar Aang, along with four of his closest friends, devised a plan so that they could get the Four Nations into a civilised state. With Sokka sent to the Southern Water Tribe to help them rebuild, Katara sent out to the Northern Water Tribes, Toph in the Earth Kingdom as well as Zuko being newly crowned Fire Lord, the Time of Healing began, with each region of the world repairing the damages done from 100 years of war. The Fire Nation ended their Imperialistic dreams, while the Earth Kingdom developed culturally. The Water Tribes rebuilt, transforming into Ice Palaces and Ice Kingdoms, while the Air Temples remained isolated and barren, a result of the Aerial Genocide. However, as time passed, reports came in off very small populations of nomads travelling throughout the Great Desert, and soon it was discovered they were in fact Air Nomads. Totalling 100, these people soon took refuge in the Air Temples, and began to repopulate them.

In January AA 121, Aang called together a summit of all of the National Leaders and decided to make the Four Nations one, unified nation. Named after his friend and Mentor, Monk Gyatso, the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai was formed. However, Aang could not get the leaders to agree on one aspect of his plan: Each nation had spent thousands upon thousands of years as separate entities, and had no liking to the "single nation" idea. Therefore, Aang decided that the Four Nations would remain separate, but each below one single, all-powerful ruling body. The National Conference on the Island of Hainan is the center of the "Elemental Power," that said ruling body. Each nation sends a selected group of members and one Head Representative to the N.C., and they decide on the rules of the land.

In AA 121, the Elemental Power gave Fire Lord Zuko the power to set forth upon a mission of Imperialism, to claim all lands that were deemed necessary to the protection of the Kingdom. For two months, war raged on, and once the dust settled, the lands of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan were added to the Kingdom. After a period of brief civil war between the Avatarians and the Maoist in Nepal, Avatar Aang and the Elemental Power decide to make Nepal an autonomous region, so as to allow for peace and prosperity. In the year AA 121, the Maoist of Nepal, however, sent in a vote to accept the Avatarian Government as the dominant power, as long as they were given equal representation in the Elemental Power. They were given what they desired, and on 17 July AA 121, during a massive celebration, the Four Masters and Avatar Aang welcome Nepal into Gyatso-kai, performing one Master Move each. This led to a sense of general security in all of Gyatso-kai.

In November AA 121, a program was established to reunite the former lands of Gyatso-kai under one banner and to restore the glory and splendor that the Avatarian people had once so proudly possessed. First, the lands of Southeast Asia were presented with an option to join the Kingdom peacefully. After six months of voting, the people of Thailand and Mainland Malaysia joined peaceful, while the people of Myanmar chose a different path, which lead to a small scale war, the first since the ending of the Great War. It was a quick war, for within a months time, the lands of Myanmar were secured and on 1 January AA 122, Myanmar was admitted into the kingdom. The Northern Expansion began on 6 January AA 122, with another voting ultimatium being sent to the people of Manchuria, Beijing, North and South Korea. After another six months of voting and escalating tensions, the people of Manchuria and Beijing chose to rejoin with Gyatso-kai, while the Korean Peninsula remained independent.

This general since of security soon ended, for on 21 January AA 122, the Northern Air Temple was attacked by several men of North Korean descent. Eight North Koreans, belong to the same political faction as the Dictator Kim Jong-il, were sent into Avatarian lands and prepared to attack the peaceful Air Monks of the Northern Air Temple. However, only one man made it inside, and he managed to detonate a personal explosive, destroying himself as well as 37 innocent Avatarians who had stormed into the Temple to stop him. This was at a crucial time, for the Elemental Powers had just passed their decision to join the Independent States Allied Forces (ISAF) to the Four Masters, who were weary of signing into any foreign relation. However, this acted convinced the Four Masters that the world was no longer safe, and the signing of the ISAF Charter was within hours of the attack. The Dog of Jilin, has the man became known, was to be the sole agitator which mounted up into the largest Avatarian War since the Great War. The War of North Korea would last for two months, and would take the lives of 704,000 Avatarians. However, the War saw the downfall of the North Korean Regime, as well as the ability of the Avatarian Forces to fight against a technologically advanced foe, and win.

The Occupation (AA 122- AA 129)

However, this ability was short lived for the Avatarians neighbor to the north, a totalitarian regime known as The Imperial Dominion, issued an ultimatium to the peaceful people of Gyatso-kai on 2 April AA 122: “Surrender your land, your resources, and your entire culture, and we shall spare you.” The Four Masters and the Elemental Power turned down the Ultimatium, and within a week, the Avatarians were plunged into a full fledged war. Though the Avatarian people put up a fight, the advancing enemies massacred the Avatarians. While Gyatso-kai attempted to find allies, the Imperial Dominion gained allies in several nations, all surrounding The Kingdom: The New World Order to the south, the Imperial Dominion to the North, and the Arabian Republic to the West. After 3 years of full-out war, Avatar Aang and the Four Masters were forced into hiding by the Avatarian people, and the Northern Monster marched into Hainan, and captured all of Gyatso-kai. Over 210 million Avatarians died, at the hands of a totalitarian regime with nothing but greed and power holding it together.

Avatarians would then endure the hardest and most difficult times in all of their History. The Dominion began forcing Industry and Technology upon the Avatarians, who resisted with everything they had: Technology was seen as an unnecessary evil, and rebellions were commonplace. Stores selling these goods were frequently targeted by "terrorist," who used their bending to destroy anything . On 26 April AA 125 bending was deemed “Archaic” and became illegal, punishable by death, or worst, Labour Camps.

These Camps, located in the inhospitable regions of Amur and Heilongjiang, were the most brutal places to ever exist upon the face of the earth. Avatarians who were taken there were never seen again, and often it was reported that as soon as the trains left the stations on the way to the Camps, everyone on board was simple shot and their bodies cast into massive graves at the bottom of a rock quary. Avatarians were sent to these camps for everything, ranging from Insabordenation to Treason to Bending to even speaking and writing in Avatarian script: Out of the 400 million Avatarians who were taken to these labour camps, only 1,232 people survived. They have told their children, and grand-children their stories, and the Avatarians have learned of the dangers of technology.

Life in Gyatso-kai also changed drastically: Gone were the robes of the Avatarian Monks. Gone were the regal Armour of the Fire Lord, the simple blue hues of a Water Tribe dress, the rich greens of an Earth Kingdom King, all replaced by Grey Uniforms. Avatarians were looked down upon by the Dominion people, seen as third class citizens below the second-class South Koreans who were attacked the year before the Avatarians. Avatarians were barcoded: A 12 digit number and a scan-bar was tattooed upon every man, woman, and child’s neck. Curfews were implemented, with Dominions being around 10 and Avatarians being after 4. Teachers in “Reform Schools,” places where Avatarian children were sent to be "reeducated," would often hold young children late past 4, and when the children would leave, Imperial Guards would enjoy a favorite past-time: Massacre. People had lost all hope of the rise of Gyatso-kai, and any rebellion was quickly put down.

However, on 17 March AA 128, that all changed. At 02:00, 1,000 men, all members of the Avatarian Guard, attacked a small military outpost in the former city of Sokka-kai. The 12,000 Imperial Guards were killed quickly, for when the saw the Avatarians, they did not suspect full body-armour and armour piercing rounds in the guns they gave to the Avatarians. The AvatArmour is a tribute to these brave men known as the Hand of the Avatar. Avatar Aang, now 128 years old (but the body and mind of a 28 year old) was the leader of this rebellion, whose meetings took place underground away from Dominion eyes. On 2 April AA 129, exactly seven years to the day of the Ultimatium, the rebellion which once was 1,000, now had the strength of 12,000,000 men, and the number grew each day. The rebellion would last five years, and would result in the liberation of the Avatarian people: As a celebration, the head of the Governor of Gyatso-kai, a Dominion-placed dictator, was placed onto an Avatarian Pike, once used by Avatar Kyoshi in the War of Kansin, and was paraded through the lands by Avatar Aang himself. Every Dominion occupant was killed, and their bodies were sent back to the Dominion. The Dominion did not care anymore, for the economy had collapsed, and their way of Life was over.

The Return of the Avatar (AA 128-present)

The next ten years (AA 128-AA 138) would come to be known as the Cultural Revival, and would see the return of the Four Arts to the land of Gyatso-kai. However, the Poison of Technology had already been injected: Images of the Dominion Occupation were everywhere, from the street corner speaker systems used to send out the “Morale Uplifting” messages, to the massive auditoriums that the “Morale Uplifting Rallies” were held, to the paintings and pictures of the “Emperor.” Within weeks of the Revolution, all traces of the Dominion were erased from Gyatso-kai.....Except for one: The barcodes on the necks of those who were alive then (approx. 22% of the population.)

Technology was seen as both a blessing and a curse, however, Avatar Aang and the Four Masters wanted to put it to the people: Go back to the Old Way, or Live with Technology. Voting lasted an entire year, each person voting once, and the results were astounding: 89.34% of the Avatarian people wanted to go back to the old ways. However, the Four Masters knew without technology, it would only be a matter of time before a new Dominion would rise and attack again, and the solution was simple: The military would become vastly technologically advanced, while the civilian population would have no technology. Hard to maintain, for nearly 30 years it has remained such: Only those technologies necessary (Projectile Weapons, communication devices, automatic vechiles) were taught to those willing to learn, so as to allow the civilian populace the ability to protect themselves.

Ever since the Occupation, Avatarian Foreign Policy has drastically changed: Avatarians have been known to support any organization attempting to preserve a natural way of Life, i.e. Native indeginous races or cultures, as well as becoming more and more involved in World Affairs.

Politics

Avatarian Democracy

The Government of the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is very unique in the world today, in that it is a combination of Direct Democracy, a Federal Republic, a Theocracy, as well as numerous other Forms of Government within the Four Kingdoms. This collective assembly of governments is coined as an Avatarian Theocracy, since currently the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is the only nation to utilize this system.

The Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is seperated into four ethnically unique divisions, collectively known as the Four Kingdoms. Each Kingdom has a seperate name and a different system of Government.

The Four Nations

The Water tribes, due to the vast distance between them, possess a Tribal System of Government. The Southern (The Water Tribes of Dhaka and Rangoon, as well as The Southern Water Tribe) and the Northern Water Tribes (The Water Tribes of Katara-kai, Sokka-dao and Tashio, and the Northern Water Tribe) are all lead by a Male Tribal Chief, who is seen as the Head of the Families, as well as the representative sent to the Elemental Powers. The social structure follows a patriarchal system, with men being the sole provider, while the women tend to domestic affairs.

Comprised of numerous city-states, the Earth Kingdom is actually a collection of various kingdoms, all hereditary monarchies whose Monarchs serve as representatives to the Elemental Powers. Also, the citizens of each Kingdom elect a number of other representatives to go as well. The Earth Kingdom Capital is located in the City of Ba-sing-sai, and once a year a summit is held where the various monarchs come to discuss various matters and set laws that will ultimately effect the entire Kingdom

All of the Fire Nation falls under one hereditary monarchy. The Fire Lord, whose family establishes a dynasty, is responsible for the governing of the various territorial claims of the Fire Nation. He is the head representative to the Elemental Powers, as well as the one who appoints all other representatives.

Due to their nomadic and arhat lifestyles, the Air Nomads rely upon a Tribal system, often Patriarchal, to perform the day to day governing. The Air Monks who live in the Four Temples are under the rule of a Council of Head Monks, usually four or five Masters whom decided the daily actions within the Temple

THE ELEMENTAL POWERS

Established in AA 113, the Elemental Power is the Representative Democracy aspect of the Avatarian Theocracy. The Elemental Powers is located on the Island of Hainan, and is known officially as the National Conference of The Elemental Powers. Inside of a massive hall, the delegates are seated into their Four Nations in the Avatar Cycle (Water, Earth, Fire, and Air) with the Four Masters situated at the Northern Apex of the Circle. The delegates are often chosen by the people of the Four Kingdoms through various elections, and approved by the respective Master.

Responsible for approving various laws for Final Debate by the Four Masters, the Elemental Powers is similar to Parliament, without the actual division of seperate houses. The actual power of the Elemental Power is debatable, since every law they overview is just approved for viewing by the Four Masters, who are already present during the Preliminary Debates. Some Avatarians feel that the Elemental Power is just a waste of time, as the Avatar has the Final Say: However, many cite that the Avatar makes his/her decision based on the arguements presented before them, as well as any Spiritual Cues he receives.

THE FOUR MASTERS

The Four Masters are seen as the heads of government for the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai. Comprised of one Master from each of the Four Kingdoms, this serves as a level field, as in the Elemental Powers one nation may have more than another. Each Master is given equal respect from his/her contempories, and no Master is higher than the other. When the Four Masters are called, they sit within a seperate hall, secretly located, and will often times debate for hours on one law if necessary.

During times of War, the Four Masters will often times be unable to attend meetings, as is the case with the Fire Lord. In the event a Master is unable to attend, an Apprentice of the Master or another ruler (Fire Nation, it is often a sibling of the Fire Lord) will serve as their temporary.

THE AVATAR

The Avatar is the "leader" and Head of State for the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai. He/She has the Final say so in any matter of government, such as Laws, Military Actions, Political Delegations, as well as several Local Decisions.

Subdivisions

The Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is divided into numerous regions controlled by one of the Four Nations. There are no official provinces or states, similar to those of 20th Century United States of America or the People's Republic of China, but rather seperate enties varieing in size from small tribes to city-states to massive regions. Read the above sections on each of the Four Nations for more clarity

Geography

Encompassing much of the areas of what has been traditonally known as East and Southeast Asia, the geography of the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is as diverse as is it is vast: From the highest mountains of the Himalaya to the deepest darkest forest of what was once Cambodia, the Kingdom of Gyatso-kai contains every land biome known to main.

Highest Point-- Mount Everest, at 8,848 metres (29,028 feet) Lowest Point--Turpan Pendi, at -154 m (-505 feet)

Economy

Coming Soon

Science and Technology

Coming Soon

Transportation

Coming Soon

Demographics

Each nation is officially a separate race. Mix marriages are rare and highly looked down upon as insults to one's ancestors

Nation Percentage Number of Individuals

• Water (Similar to the Inuit)---- (~21%) 146,790,000
• Earth (Similar to Hispanic)--- (~34%) 237,660,000
• Fire (Similar to Caucasian)--- (~43%) 300,570,000
• Air (Similar to Asian)--- (~2%) 13,980,000

Language

All of Gyatso-kai speaks Standard English, with several local variances located throughout the region. The writing system in Gyatso-kai is Classical Chinese, and children from birth are taught how to read the characters in English.

Many of the Names of people and places are of Asiatic decent, casting light onto Gyatso-kai's history.

Religion

Though Gyatso-kai has no official religion, all religions are tolerated.

• • Buddhism/Taoism/Hinduism Mix, known as 'Avatarian--98'%
  • Christianity--2%

Education

Coming Soon

Public Health

Coming Soon

Culture

The Kingdom of Gyatso-kai is actually made up of four separate "nations" each of whose people express a specific "Bending" gene. Bending is a "magical" ability to control one of the Four Elements; Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Bending is actually genetic, passed on from parent to child. It is believed that all of the bending genes came from the original Avatar, who begot four children who could each bend one element. After several generations, there were enough "benders" that they began to form their own nations. As time passed, each element formed their own distinct life styles...

However, due to massive technological advances and ever increasing politrical pressure and threats from outside nations, who view Bending as "Barbaric and Evil" many Avatarians keep their abilities hidden, and only in secrecy are their gifts shown

The Water Tribes

Located on the Northern and Southern boundaries of the Avatarian Coastlines, the Water Tribes are similar to the Inuit of Canada. Their society is ruled by the eldest male and female of each tribe. Each Tribe sends a representative to the Tribal Council held annually in the Neutral Region of Saisi.

Like the moon controlling the tides, Waterbenders use their chi to control the gravitational effect on water. In contrast to Fire and Earthbending, Waterbending's strength is its defensive capabilities. Waterbenders redirect the energy from an opponent's attack and use it against him. But Waterbending's intent is to control opponents, not to harm them. The style is evolved from ancient healing practices where the healer redirects energy paths in the body to cure an ailment.

A Waterbender's control of water in liquid, solid, and gas form offers him many defensive maneuvers. He may stop an attacker by encasing his feet in ice, or escape by creating a screen of steam for cover. In a fight, a Waterbender suspends a body of water around his fighting stance, and then lashes out with water whips and powerful waves. If there is no water at the scene of a fight, a Waterbender collects all the available moisture from the air and ground around him and concentrates it into an amount of suitable to attack and defend. As a backup, a Waterbender always carries a skin of water. While reliance on a water source is a significant weakness of the style, Waterbending at its highest skill level contains the most powerful technique among all the Bending Arts. At close ranges, an expert Waterbender uses an opponent's body against them. They harness the ample amount of water within the human body to control an opponent like a puppet master. The tendencies to control rather than destroy, and to heal rather than harm, embody the humane and noble characteristics of the Water Tribes.

The Fire Nation

Located throughout Gyatso-kai, most notably in the South and West, the Fire Nation is the most industrialized of the Four Nations, and they are also the most "imperialist." The Fire Nation is ruled by a ruthless Fire Lord, who controls all aspects of the Fire Nation, from its military to it citizens.

Firebending's aggressive, vicious, and direct moves mirror fire's all-consuming nature. Like a predatory animal, a Firebender tracks his prey until it exposes a weakness, then charges in for the kill. In a fight, a Firebender makes up for his lack of defensive moves by overwhelming his opponent with a barrage of blows in a variety of shapes. A quick kick or jab produces a short-range burst of flame, whirlwind kicks generate blazing arcs, punches throw compact fireballs, and a series of spinning kicks results in rings of fire exploding outwards in all directions. When several Firebenders combine their energy and attack as one, they are able to shoot missiles of flame at long range. As a fighting style, Firebending focuses on annihilating the opposition and easily overpowering them.

The Earth Kingdom

The largest of the Four Nations, the Earth Kingdom is actually a grouping of several smaller "kingdoms" all working together for a common goal.

The proud, strong spirit of the Earth Kingdom embodies Earthbending, which uses the ground as a weapon against an opponent. Exceptionally muscular, Earthbenders use their strength to overpower opponents. To throw an enemy off balance, an Earthbender physically strikes the ground with his hands or feet, causing localized earthquakes. To dodge an attack, an Earthbender uses the earth as a catapult to buck his body high into the air, and then upon returning to the ground, he softens the earth, easing his landing. Additional moves include creating fissures as traps for enemies to fall in, and raising slabs of stone for defense and offense. An Earthbender attacks by levitating stones and then propelling them at his enemy. Earthbenders also possess the ability to 'magnetize' their limbs to stone, allowing them to scale shear walls and cliffs. A high-level maneuver reduces solid ground to quicksand, providing a pitfall for approaching enemies. Earthbending's most significant weakness is its inability to manipulate man-altered metals.

The Air Nomads

Mostly found in the numerous Air Temples, the Air Nomads are the most peaceful of the Four Nations. Many of their kind are monks, dedicating their lives to peace and harmony.

Airbending shares Waterbending's defensive nature and peaceful philosophies. However, it is versatility in practice and application makes Airbending the most dynamic of the Bending Arts. Airbending allows one person to defend against multiple attackers from different disciplines - ideal for Air Nomads traveling in foreign lands. An Airbender defends with blasts of wind, and then using a variety of wind-based counterattacks, knocks his opponent off his feet.

Airebenders are faster and more mobile than any other Bender. To confuse his enemy, an Airbender constantly circles him, rapidly changing direction to cleverly evade attacks. If an Airbender is struck, he absorbs the force by blowing his body back like a feather. While Airbenders cannot fly like Peter Pan, they use wind to enhance all of their normal movements. They can run faster by decreasing air resistance; jump higher and farther by creating wind gusts that lift them and allow them to float for a few seconds; slow a long decent by forming a wind cushion; and run up walls and trees by generating a current of wind. A high level attack involves creating a fierce air vortex that sucks in an opponent, rapidly spins him around, and then spits him back out onto the ground.

An Airbender's signature tool is his staff. Like all objects in the world, the staff does not possess any magical properties. However, it mechanically transforms into a small glider. To propel the glider, an Airbender controls air currents to sustain its flight over limited distances. In addition, small propeller blades extend from the top of the staff. Depending on the glider's orientation, it rockets forward or hovers vertically like a helicopter when an Airbender thrusts wind at its blades. In its untransformed state, an Airbender uses his staff as a weapon to enhance the amount and power of his attacks and defenses.

While Airbending is the most dynamic of the Bending Arts, it lacks a deadly finishing move. This fact reflects principles of the Air Nomads, which teach that all life is precious and conflict should be avoided whenever possible.

The Avatar

In each generation, one Bender is capable of controlling all four elements. That Bender is the Avatar, the spirit of the planet manifested in human form. When an individual Avatar dies, the Avatar Spirit reincarnates into an unborn child of the next nation in the Avatar Cycle. Starting with the mastery of his or her native element, each Avatar learns to bend all four elements in the order of the cycle, which parallels the seasons. (Winter for Water, Spring for Earth, Summer for Fire and Autumn for Air) Throughout the ages, the countless incarnations of the Avatar have served to keep the four nations in harmony. The Avatar is also the bridge between the mortal world and the Spirit World, home of the universe's disembodied spirits

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