Transcender of Gender
Sliding in first cause I'm sexy like that.
- Name: Jian
- Age: 23
- Appearance: But with the standard Fire Nation uniform, of course.
◊ Also, sword not included.
- Origin: Born to the upper-middle class of the Fire Nation, Jian's life might've been one of luxury if it hadn't forced him to present as a woman. His heart knew that he was a man, but he kept that truth locked away out of fear of retaliation from his traditional family, firm believers in Fire Lord Ozai and his dictatorial reign.
Said family held some political clout, but not as much as they liked to boast about. Jian was raised to be the epitome of class and demureness, in the hopes of being wed off to a son from the higher class. Jian resisted the arrangement as best he could, but the pressure only grew more intense with each passing year.
Finally, Jian's parents gave him an ultimatum; he would choose his groom before the next summer solstice, or they would be chosen for him. Overwhelmed with the terror of living a charade for his entire life, Jian packed up what he could and made off in the dead of night. He signed on to the first regiment he could find, sarashi binding his chest and a new name to put to paper, which is how he came to be with regiment Taoyi. It is his greatest hope that the regiment will take him far away from his family, perhaps to a land where he can truly find himself (even if that means desertion; it's not like he was raised for combat anyway). - Personality: Because of the circumstances behind his enlistment, Jian is a cautious individual, some may even say paranoid; hesitant to show his face in populous areas, eager to keep on the move, and protective of his personal space. He's intelligent but nervous, with a tendency to ramble and then apologise for speaking his mind (old habits die hard). While he was fed propaganda like every Fire Nation citizen, Jian has little loyalty either to the Nation or its enemies; he prioritises himself first and foremost, and any other moral alliances can be figured out on the way.
- Abilities:
- Firebending: While Jian was primarily taught how to use his bending for domestic duties, he does still have the barebones of how to utilise it in a fight; though he wasn't raised to be a soldier, forced conscription could always be a possibility in war time, even if the Fire Nation's victory seemed all but guaranteed. He's far from an expert, however, and unable to access the more advanced techniques (currently, at least).
- Archery: Jian didn't have much say in his life, but he was able to wrangle the idea of archery with his parents; it was the happy medium between the freedom that he desired and the grace and (marketable) skill that his parents desired for him. He's more comfortable with a bow in hand than he is with a flame.
- Required Etiquette: Due to his upbringing, Jian has skill in penmanship, tea brewing, Pai Sho, and formal manner at societal gatherings.
- Possessions: Besides his quiver and bow, the arrows replenished whenever he visits Taoyi, Jian also carries with him: a handful of silver coins that he
pilferedborrowed from the family coffers; a sarashi he bought after escaping his home; material used to create arrows (stone arrowheads, feathers, rope, and a whittling knife); a gold necklace- a birthday gift with some sentimental value, but can still be pawned off if needed; and a spare blanket and water canister.
Edited by whizzerd on Jan 5th 2020 at 2:42:54 PM
they/them || "Forgive me, regent of queer amphibians" - Lt.BGob
AKA Nixer
No idea. It was an attempt.
- Name:Â Kyōko
- Age:Â 22
- Appearance: 5'11".◊note Partially healed burn scars all across her form; the one on her face being the most obvious. The padding in her clothing appears to make her look bigger and more intimidating—though training has genuinely made her more powerful, she's still relatively lacking in physical mass. Seems to have difficulty in visibly expressing her emotions.
- Origin: Born originally in a village now long since conquered by the Fire Nation, Kyōko always had difficulties in forging genuine and lasting connections with people, primarily due to the fact that she simply could not understand how they thought. In comparison to her, they seemed sporadic and difficult, taking offense at things she'd not even thought of as being offensive or picking up on tones and inflections she just could not identify. It was this inability to connect properly that perhaps made her strangely quiet and submissive even when her village was finally overtaken by the Fire Nation; their occupation not even seeming her to bother her all too much. Instead, she went along with every direction, command, and change of circumstance—even eventually leaving her family behind and volunteering herself into the military once she had become of appropriate age. She, along with specifically selected others who had been found to be naturally proficient in bending, gradually honed her skills over time (albeit with a focus on precision in her case, as opposed to brute force) and eventually found her niche in a style of combat involving a more careful and calculated application of firebending—intended for use in conjunction with weapons, although she was later dissuaded from this path and ordered to focus more on increasing her natural power instead. Though accidents under this intense regimen (or as she perceived it to be) have disfigured her with a multitude of burn scars, Kyōko began to take comfort in an elaborate oni mask she had purchased and decorated—taking to wearing it when under stress off-duty in order to both disguise herself from signs of weakness and to gain a sense of dominance over her peers, thinking that feelings of power and confidence would help carry her further than actual might by itself. Now transferred to the Taoyi Regiment for her lack of hesitation and ruthlessness, Kyōko has been put under even more pressure than she had under her original village's division, and her compulsion to lose herself entirely into her mask and all it represents has only grown stronger.
- Personality: Despite her desire to appear intimidating and powerful, Kyōko is surprisingly benevolent at heart and only acts under the orders she has been given—prioritizing a (perhaps superficial) set of morals and never involving civilians in any way unless specifically commanded to (and even then she may feel tempted to abuse loopholes or act out in secrecy). Despite this, this more honourable side to her does not truly reach her heart: in reality Kyōko struggles to maintain an appearance of functionality and has crippling difficulty in expressing herself normally, even in regards to defending herself and her ideals in dire circumstances. Even so she lacks hesitation in cutting down her foes, even if she does so "respectfully"—though she may whisper prayers and expressions of sympathy to those she defeats, her tone is regularly hollow and monotonous even in daily activity. In truth Kyōko is self-doubting and confused regarding what she even is, not understanding what force is separating her from others and why she cannot speak out for herself when under pressure. It is this underlying lack of drive and detachment that makes her regularly submissive in this regard, but she channels her innermost desires to be something greater and more powerful than she currently is into her obsession with her mask and blade—even as she finds herself unable to use them in times when she truly needs to.
- Abilities:
- Firebending: Kyōko's firebending abilities are more inclined towards precision than flashiness, and she is capable of intricately weaving her flames in an almost surgical fashion—to the point where she can target incredibly specific weak points in her opponents and maximize lethality with a minimum amount of actual flame applied. Unfortunately this means she lacks the potential for tremendous destructive power, and her precision with her flames does not translate to her being fluid and agile in regards to close-quarters combat—preferring a "style" comparable to that of an inexperienced street brawler's and instead having to rely on actual bladed weapons to be used in conjunction with her flames for mêlée purposes. Still, in her niche she is effective, even if she's not really allowed to utilize these latter skills in the Taiyo Regiment as of yet—and as such she is rendered less effective in close combat in comparison to her allies, as she is forced to rely on a more specific application of her bending that is simply not living up to her fullest potential.
- Swordsmanship: Kyōko is naturally quick on the draw and almost as precise with her blade as she is with her flames. However, since she is expected to prioritize her firebending and her given weapons as opposed to her favourite katana, she is not as skilled and refined with her blade as she'd like to be. Her natural inclination, however, is to be focused on countering her opponent's attacks and to remain as efficient and swift as she possibly can—this is also reflected in her attempts at fighting with only firebending, wherein she similarly aims to be surgical and fluid in combat. If Kyōko is given the opportunity to refine her natural abilities with her blade, she would most likely excel—as of now though, her lack of opportunity to do so is slowly eating away at both her and her effectiveness in battle.
- Possessions:
- Oni Mask: A fearsome, decorated wooden mask coated in resin and coloured a deep orangish-red. Though its visibility is limited and she is unable to wear it while onhduty, Kyōko takes great comfort in wearing it whenever she can nonetheless. Attached to the mask is also a long, messy mane of false white hair—which seems to be of a by now ratty and moth-eaten type of wool . Due to the extent of her obsession with it, it is kept remarkably pristine and free of many scuffs and marks—even though it only ever leaves her bag in private.
- Katana: Her second most prized possession, stored in parts on her person with the blade kept separately. It has been painted at the hilt so as to properly match the Fire Nation garb, even despite the fact she does not take it out while wearing it. Much like her mask, she carries the hilt of this weapon around as much as she can for the sense of comfort she feels when touching it.
Edited by Enirboreh on Jan 4th 2020 at 6:34:59 PM
bork
Name
Shou Wei
Age
30
Appearance
A dark, thin and rough man, tanned swarthy by the sun, unkempt in grooming but purposeful in speech. His hair is matted and oily. His voice, though tinged with the indelible marks of a Lower Ring accent, hints of a cultured and cosmopolitan background. His eyes are quietly intelligent, completely at odds with his ragged appearance. His sinews and thews are hard and unyielding, jutting from his thin limbs like mountain ridges, and his jaw is more sharp than square.
He wears around his waist, rent asunder and streaked with bright red, the green-black coat of the Dai Li. His white hands are soft as a baby's.
Origin
Shou Wei is, or was, a high-ranking agent of the Dai Li. As such, he is highly trained in the arts of counter-espionage, interrogation, internal security and threat suppression. Two years before the present day, he killed three of his comrades and slipped out of Ba Sing Se, surrendering to the Fire Nation in a state of near-starvation. The reasons for his betrayal are known only to himself, but one suspects that he is not entirely proud of them.
Personality
Highly reserved and extremely cultured, one who might have been a noble in the Inner City if not for his accent, rough voice and hard face. He rarely smiles, and seems to be in a constant state of struggle with something or other. Freed from his Dai Li overseers, he now reads copiously and openly, speaking at intervals of the subterfuge, brainwashing, and torture he committed, as if trying to convince himself that he made the right choice. Constantly, however, he finds himself returning to one theme, prompted by the ancient philosopher-kings:
If existence is change, and the Avatar is balance, then by nature the Avatar must undo change. But if the world is constantly returned to balance, then the state of affairs under heaven must forever remain at rest, straining at the confines of fate.
Nothing can yield, nothing can change, not in the realm of kings and courts in which mortals move, far from the rareified reaches of the immortal spirits.
Thus each Avatar passes his soul to the next, each causing calamities for the next to resolve, each forming a link in the chain around nations, eternal irons on the arms of kings.
If thus, is it not good that he is dead?
If thus, what should be done now, with the world at the brink of unison?
Abilities
- Knapped Hand: The normal Dai Li operative employs stealthy restraining techniques, subduing rioters and troublemakers without causing any property damage or disrupting citizenry in their daily affairs. Shou Wei, however, is trained to eliminate threats outright; he does so with the seventy pieces of flint sewn into the hem of his coat, enough to form a single spike of knapped flint around his closed fist. He has extremely fine control over these pieces, so much that he can, without so much as a sound, send five through one ear and out the other. However, due to the specialist training required to achieve such a fine level of control, so contrary to the principles of Earthbending, his ability to manipulate the normal quantities of earth and stone has been severely impaired. He will fatigue greatly when pushed to do so, and may even lose control of his chi altogether. To compensate, he is unusually adept at the Stone Hand suppressive maneuvers and unarmed Hung Gar combat, and can stonewalk for extended periods of time, propelling himself between and under surfaces with remarkable agility.
- Counter-Espionage, Interrogation, Internal Security, Threat Suppression: Although not primarily involved in this field, Shou Wei is still trained in all the techniques used by the modern Dai Li agent. These make him an ideal candidate for scout work and prisoner management, if any soldiers can bring themselves to trust him.
Possessions
A worn copy of The Principle of Heaven, by Wen Tse, the ancient progenitor of the Principlist School, now long-forgotten. The Principlists taught of the Avatar as the main obstacle to political unity and good government, which is the Principle of Heaven. Seventy pieces of flint, sewn into his torn Dai Li coat. An embroidered scrap of blue silk, threadbare, with picked gold holes that suggest some sort of name.
Edited by troydenite on Jan 6th 2020 at 10:34:30 PM
- Name: Gen
- Age: 18
- Appearance: Gen is a shorter skinny kid with darkish skin who keeps his hair short. His clothes are super simple and utilitarian, but he wears his uniform or armor whenever he's not 100% certain he doesn't need to get in his tank within the next 24 hours.
- Origin: Gen was born in the Fire Nation, in a small industrial town up in the mountains. A dying one: the factories were mostly foundries for things like forks, tools, and other personal items, stuff people couldn't need or afford and that was expensive to export out of the mountains! The whole town had been struggling to get by selling consumer goods in the war economy, and people were starving; Gen doesn't like to think about what it was like. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation put the factories to work. Making tanks. He was eight at the time, and one of his earliest and clearest memories is of seeing his father come home one day happier and more alive and comfortable in the knowledge they'd have real, solid work, from the Fire Nation itself no less! That, and the next day, where they paraded the factory's owners through the streets because they defied the Fire Nation's order to start making tanks instead of fancy spoons. It also turned out that the slopes of their mountain homemade for a great stress-tester and proving ground for the tanks. Gen eagerly signed up to be a test driver at sixteen, because it was a civilian job, technically. But he also wanted to do more: he only lived to be 18 because of the Fire Nation, and he needed to give back the ten years he got. Of course though, with extensive hours in tanking already he got assigned to drive a tank quick after basic training, but without "real battlefield awareness" he was instead assigned to the Taoyi Regiment's tank crew, instead of the front lines. There was one bright spot though: the tank that he was assigned to was from his hometown, a tank he tested, model #140484! He's not ashamed to say he squealed when he saw the old girl.
- Personality: Gen takes his job in an occupation force very seriously. He sees lives on the line in everything he does, and in turn sees his life as a debt to be repaid to the Fire Nation that revitalized his hometown, and probably saved his life. This ends up often coming off as hawkish bigotry to the locals, under the idea that he needs to be on guard at all times, with such an important job!
- Abilities:
- Tanker: Gen's been driving Fire Nation tanks since he was sixteen. Test driving especially has given him detailed knowledge of the exact limits of Fire Nation tanks, and where they can be pushed. He's intimately familiar with what his feels like in particular too; he's driven the same one since it was in testing, so he knows all its little quirks to make it be the best it can be. My recollection is the tanks have a driver, a "gunner" firebending out the windows, and an engineer stoking the engine.
- Factory Worker: Gen's used to working long hours on his feet. He doesn't get tired easy!
- Fire Nation Basic Training: Gen does know how to run and jump and fight, all the basic Soldier Stuff. He keeps in practice, and the tanks' ability to flip over and keep driving means you need to be able to drive tanks hanging upside down.
- Possessions:
- Cameo: Gen's parents had a cameo of his family made for him, which he keeps in a locket.
- Name: Miao Qian
- Age: 20
- Appearance: Here.◊
- Origin: The Miao can claim origins scarcely less illustrious than that of the current royal dynasty. Accordingly, the noble family's sons and daughters have long claimed prominent positions in court and in the ministries, as befits their talents. Yet in these turbulent times their position is no longer what it once was, court and administrative positions are no longer esteemed as highly as military ones. It is only of late that the Miao have responded to this change in affairs. They have moved to acquire for their promising scions military commissions. Miao Qian numbers among these, a young man, now a lieutenant in the Taoyi regiment. It is difficult to imagine a regiment whose members come from more humble beginnings, but if a Miao can excel in these circumstances, reclaiming their former glory may be only a little while away.
- Personality: Miao Qian has always known what was required of him, and from a young age he was aware that his own personal desires would forever come second to his duties to his kin. If his family needs him to be an officer, then an officer he will be. He is possessed of a fierce love of his family, and is fond of his country as well. He is more leery of the Royal Family's militarism, but he keeps those thoughts to himself. One thing a military career allows for is developing his personal skills in combat and as a firebender, something he does appreciate.
- Abilities:
- Firebending: A skilled firebender, Miao Qian is a faithful practitioner of his family's bending style, and as a result his fighting style is restrained, disciplined and cautious until his foe makes a mistake or leaves an opening, whereupon he goes all out with overwhelming firepower. He has yet to achieve lightningbending, but he is optimistic he will in time.
- Management and Accounting: While raised to be a Fire Nation officer, Miao Qian was still given an education in the family's traditional strengths, and as such is well-equipped to handle the Fire Nation bureaucracies, and could be trusted to run a business or other enterprise with competence.
- Etiquette: Miao Qian is well-acquainted with the norms of high society, and can perform all expected social functions with grace, be it tea brewing, calligraphy, dancing or what-have-you.
- Weapons: Miao Qian has received training in swords, spears and bows, and is competent with all of them.
- Possessions: Fine raiment, as pictured above. In addition, he receives a stipend from his family in addition to his salary as an officer, and so he is almost never strapped for funds.
huzzaaaaaaaah
Hey folks, sorry for not approving the sheets yet, I'm out of the house until tomorrow and don't have the time. But keep 'em coming!
huzzaaaaaaaah
You still remember the day you enlisted, or found out your fate lied in Taoyi. There was a man with a limp nearby, an official assigned to Taoyi. His expression was dark, vacant, and he would always puff up his chest and scowl at the sight of someone looking at his limp.
@whizzerd: From behind the desk, the official grumbled. "There was a time we used to reject people who were running from something," he mumbled to himself as your name was added to the list. Approved.
@Enirboreh: When word of the transfer reached the official, his expression soured. "The fools who wasted time training a women should be banished from the land. And now they're passing their mistake onto us!" After a few more seconds of rambling, he waved away the messenger. Approved.
@troydenite: A sickly smile spread over the man's face as he watched you being loaded into a cart, your hands and legs bound together. "Don't worry," He said, loud enough for both you and his fellow veteran officials to hear. "There'll be plenty of mud for you to debase yourself in, earthbender scum." Accepted.
@Taco: As you and a few other recruits were preparing for the long trip to Taoyi, the man patted the tank that would carry you. "These saved the life of a few of my men during a dangerous battle," He mused, nostalgia flashing over his eyes. Eventually, he noticed you, and listened to your story. His only response: "I'll make sure you find what you want in Taoyi." Approved.
@joergen: In the middle of a meeting amidst lieutenants and other high ranking officers of the Taoyi regiment, the man limped over to your side. "I have a bet," He whispered, his breath stinking of ale. "That you won't last more than two months." He gave you a heavy clap on your back and disappeared into the crowd, laughing. Approved.
Feel free to join the Discord!
Edited by Stratofarius on Jan 8th 2020 at 9:01:37 AM
Hi, bit of an unusual idea but I did sorta check beforehand.
Name: Amka
Age: 18
Appearance: Amka is slightly short for her age, dark skinned and brown haired with grey eyes. She usually keeps her hair done up in a single practical shoulder length braid. Her expression is most often stern and serious since her time in the camps began. She's thin and wiry from rations though better fed than the few other prisoners or press-ganged soldiers around thanks to her status within the military base. She's ditched her water tribe clothing for ragged grey clothes with blue highlights meant to mark her as a Water Tribe prisoner, although her own sewing skills and access to slightly better perks means her clothing is in a better state than it could be. She takes care to be almost unusually clean in spite of the hazards of her duties and military camp life in general, a task her waterbending makes easier.
Origin: Amka was the daughter of Amaruq a pretty prominent warrior within the Northern Water Tribe whose wife Kirima died in childbirth. Amka was skilled at waterbending from an early age and her father doted on and spoiled her, often taking her sailing on fishing trips and regaling her with stories. Though as she got older she often chafed at being forbidden to use her waterbending for combat and wanted to follow her father as a soldier, she still enjoyed learning the uses of waterbending for healing and tried to content herself to at least help her father that way. When she turned 16, twin disasters struck her life. She was betrothed to be married to the narcissistic but successful hunter Gatok at the same time as she found out that her father was planning to lead an unauthorized expeditionary raiding force out to harass the Fire Nation. Both concerned for her father's safety and despising the idea of being locked into a marriage with an egomaniac, she stowed away onboard her father's ship on the night that it sneaked out to sea.
Amaruq's small force had incredibly bad luck and ran into a double strength Fire Navy patrol shortly into its expedition. Amka revealed herself to try and help during the battle, but only served to weaken her father's resolve and force the crew's surrender when the Fire Navy officer in command captured her. She was taken prisoner along with the rest of the crew and was transferred against her will from one prison or war camp to another in an unending chain, kept alive only as a hostage towards her father's good behavior and because she had no combat abilities.
About a year ago, all of that changed dramatically. A massive earthquake hit the prison she was being held in and collapsed much of the compound. Instead of fleeing as many of the other survivors did, Amka ended up staying and helping the prison doctor, Sifu Koken, treat the many injured guards and inmates who'd fallen victim to the quake. Her healing abilities, medical knowledge and just her willingness as an extra pair of hands proved so useful to Koken that he demanded the guards allow her to stay on as his assistant, with some reservations and conditions. Amka has helped the doctor ever since in exchange for small privileges and semi-willingly went with him when he was transferred to Camp Taoyi, though she's also still under the belief that her father and her are both hostages for each other.
Personality: Initially, Amka was tomboyish, headstrong and raring for adventure. She also took pride in her skills and abilities as a healer in a competitive and compassionate way, deciding that if she wouldn't be allowed to fight, she could at least prove herself the best in the limited ways she had access to at home and help those around her with healing. Her time as a prisoner has dulled her sharp edges and spirit somewhat and she now knows how to defer and keep her head down when necessary. Her stubborn, fierce nature and compassion still shows itself with her patients though and she'll confront and boss around even the scariest seeming or most senior Fire Nation soldiers without batting an eye if it means protecting the health and well-being of the people under her care, no matter what their background.
Abilities:
Waterbending - Amka is a potential prodigy at Waterbending but was only ever taught the healing side of the art. This means she's a very gifted healer for her age, but can't use her waterbending for too much else apart from a rare smack, restraint or push, crafting the occasional scalpel or emergency cast out of ice and taking instant baths between long shifts of treating patients. Given time to practice on her own she could potentially become something more dangerous than a skilled healer, but the circumstances of her captivity and supervision generally prevent that for now.
Medical Knowledge - Even without her bending, Amka is very knowledgeable on medical and surgical matters for her age. She's studied Water Tribe medicine for around ten years and worked as an assistant for a Fire Nation military doctor for a full year already. She has knowledge of herbal medicines and other natural medicines, anatomy, chi flow and meridians, and some basic surgeries and medical procedures.
Restraints and holds - As a necessity for both a medical professional and a young woman who often lives and works with convicts, captives and rowdy soldiers, the one area of 'combat' Amka has some experience in is restraining people. She's been taught a few locks and holds to use on people who might take a swing at her and isn't above pinning someone down with water and ice or binding their arms and legs with the same if they're uncooperative. That said her experience with these things normally involves holding down a panicking, angry or escaping patient or dealing with a drunk soldier getting a little too handsy or upset, rather than any real fighting.
Some Sailing and Navigation - Thanks to early childhood lessons from her father, Amka has basic knowledge of sailing, navigating by the sun, moon, tides and stars and reading the weather from the wind and clouds. Of course, her knowledge is atrophied some and without a boat not all of this is really useful. Not only that, some of her knowledge is fairly Water Tribe region specific.
Basic Sewing Skills - Amka has enough skill with needles and threads to stitch up both patients and her own clothes.
Possessions: A doctor's kit and all the necessary equipment for her role, though technically this belongs to Doctor Koken. Other than that, only her prison uniform.
huzzaaaaaaaah
@Emi The Pain: The official with the limp could only grumble and glower at Koken's bright grin as he displayed the scroll with the royal seal that granted you entrance into Camp Taoyi. Approved.
That One Gal
- Name: Dao Ken
- Age: 21
- Appearance: Dao Ken takes from his father, having pale skin and dark hair that grows out in unruly curls, though his bright blue eyes are certainly his mother's. He's quite short for his age (a little over 5 feet) and his muscles are more lean than bulky, making him look a bit like an overgrown child. The thin beard he managed to grow doesn't offset this, since he refuses to have it any longer.
- Origin: The product of a romantic tryst between Fire Nation General Hotai and a Southern Water Tribe captive named Nikumi, Dao Ken was kept as a fiercely guarded secret. Hidden away in a mountain-based home with his mother and guarded by Hotai's most trusted (or fearful) soldiers, Dao Ken lived a peaceful, bland life, able to grow up without much threat, with his mother as company. But he eventually figured out that his home was simply a nicer prison, for both him and his mother, and strove to see the world beyond. He often sneaked out and visited a small village on the opposite side of the mountain, and while he did learn a lot from these trips, it wasn't enough for him. His wanderlust soon grew to the point where, when he became an adult, he fled his home altogether, following his father after one of his scant private visits. He became something of a vigilante, a self-appointed guardian angel for his father and his soldiers - quashing the starts of rebellion, capturing fleeing prisoners, leaping from the brush to assist and then disappearing before he could be caught. This small game of cat-and-mouse ended when he was ambushed by the very same soldiers he helped, and brought before Hotai for judgement. Unable to admit to his relation, he sent Dao Ken away to be imprisoned for his intrusion in their efforts and for being a rogue water-bender. However, using perhaps the last of his influence, Hotai was able to secure his son a placement in Camp Taoyi - just as dangerous, but at least Dao Ken would not rot away.
- Personality: Due to his secluded upbringing and desire for more, Dao Ken is an incredibly naive and curious person, unsure of how the world works and always making it his top priority to find out. It's a bit at-odds with how risky and self-assured he tends to be; the thrill of clashing, evading, being close to danger makes him very headstrong and stubborn, so it's often the case that his assumptions of everything take precedent over the things he learns. This also makes him extremely gullible, if one is able to work around his steadfast internal logic and point him in the desired direction. Though he was raised to be kind and helpful, which he is always sure to be, even if the context for it is muddled or misguided.
- Abilities: Dao Ken was raised almost entirely by two differing cultures, torn between his mother's teachings and his want to be like his father. The result is a very eclectic and bizarre expertise.
- Water-Bending: Dao Ken is a water-bender (which was largely why his existence was hidden in the first place). His mother taught him as much as she could, though the majority of his knowledge comes from personal training. His attempts to emulate fire-bending in his efforts to be like his father mixed with these teachings, as Dao Ken was able to direct the flow of his chi but unable to produce flames with it. Because of this, Dao Ken possesses a very unique water-bending style, taking the more aggressive and proactive fire-bending methods over the typically slow-paced and defensive stance of water-bending. It leaves him with a narrower, more direct and forceful control over water, unable to produce the greater effects or differing branches (healing, blood-bending, etc).
- Along with this, the mix of fire- and water-bending lets Dao Ken have a stronger grasp on the various states of water, as he's understood the flow of chi and how it effects his bending. He's able to change water to ice, steam, and back in rapid succession due to this, as well as bringing water to its boiling point.
- Martial Arts: While he can't bend fire, Dao Ken's use of its movements and techniques lends itself to a fast-paced form of hand-to-hand combat that utilizes the same sweeping motions with the follow-through of a decent blow. When he can't water-bend for whatever reason, Dao Ken is quick to fall back on this.
- Water-Bending: Dao Ken is a water-bender (which was largely why his existence was hidden in the first place). His mother taught him as much as she could, though the majority of his knowledge comes from personal training. His attempts to emulate fire-bending in his efforts to be like his father mixed with these teachings, as Dao Ken was able to direct the flow of his chi but unable to produce flames with it. Because of this, Dao Ken possesses a very unique water-bending style, taking the more aggressive and proactive fire-bending methods over the typically slow-paced and defensive stance of water-bending. It leaves him with a narrower, more direct and forceful control over water, unable to produce the greater effects or differing branches (healing, blood-bending, etc).
- Possessions: A waterskin about as long as his shoulders are wide; a pair of goggles to protect against heat and steam; and a small bracelet charm given to his from his mother, depicting the seal of the Water Tribes.
huzzaaaaaaaah
@Truth Hurts: Though your father ensured a better destination, there was little he could do about the journey. The official with a limp made sure to rub your face on the ground as you were transported with other prisoners in the back of a cramped cart. Accepted.
You knew it would all come to this.
Maybe you chose to be here. Maybe you believed in all the news coming through, all the tales you heard from your friends, all the barking about glory and honor. Maybe you just wanted a better option than to work for the rest of your life in a farm or a factory. Maybe you knew it was between this or the streets, languishing as you searched for the next morsel of food, hoping today the guards would take pity on you.
Maybe you've been avoiding this all your life. Maybe you saw the terrors of war and ran away from the front line until they caught you. Maybe you've been skipping from village to village, hoping to stay one step ahead of the war machine, until the day came when the only way out was covered in soldiers. Maybe you've been pushing back on the recruiters, until life forced you to make a choice.
Maybe you were forced to do this. Maybe they approached your village one day, razed your farms, took away all your material possessions and sent you marching towards a work camp. Maybe you've watched your family dwindle away as you hide from the wrath of the enemy. Maybe you slipped up, and they finally caught you, throwing you into the deepest, dirtiest pit possible until you begged for an escape.
None of it matters now. Welcome to Camp Taoyi. Welcome to the Fire Nation Army.
Long live Fire Lord Ozai.
Hi everyone. Welcome to Avatar: Forged in Flames.
What is it? This is a RP set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, approximately six months before the sudden reawakening of Avatar Aang... but you, of course, don't know that, because you're a brand new recruit of the Fire Nation Army. To be more specific, you're a recruit of the Taoyi Regiment, named after the nearby Earth Kingdom town that's been under Fire Nation control for almost three decades. Your job is to protect the interests of the Fire Nation and our great Fire Lord. Does your character seek to climb the ranks within the army? Or do they want to light a different spark, that of rebellion? And just why was the Taoyi Regiment created in the first place?
Who am I? The Taoyi Regiment is an oddity amongst the Fire Nation Army, because while most regiments are made up of loyal Fire Nation citizens who have volunteered to protect their great nation, Taoyi consists of conscripted citizens from conquered villages, prisoners of the Fire Nation, deserters and the occasional volunteer from both in and out of the Fire Nation. If you chose to be at Taoyi, you're an exception. Most of the people here had to decide between the regiment or death (be it immediate or slowly rotting away at a prison or work camp).
What will the game be like? Before we continue talking about the world your characters will inhabit, I'd like to bring up two important points. The first point is about tone. This game will trend more towards Korra-style topics like violence, war, sexuality, amongst others. However, please note THIS IS NOT CARTE BLANCHE! If you feel unsure about a topic or theme you're about to bring up, contact me and your fellow players first. The second point is about pacing. While there'll be many chances for your character to get in a couple of fights, the focus of the game is on character interaction and development. As such, please don't feel pressured to post several times per day or per week. As always, take your fellow players into consideration.
What are the rules of Taoyi? As you start developing your characters, consider the following rules.
Here's your character sheet!
Edited by Stratofarius on Jan 12th 2020 at 2:32:35 AM