Tea For my Uncle Book 1, Chapter 8
As this is the last game of Book 1, I have a very very special previously, one that takes the important stuff from each prior session. It's also helpful now, because it's been so long since I posted the last recap, and since the last session, it may help to remind the like five of you who read this what's going on.
"Air...Water...Earth...Fire
In Ancient days, the four Nations lived in harmony. Then the Fire Nation made it's war. Wiping out the Air Nomads, and subjugating the rest of the world. Everyone said the only way for peace to be restored would be by the Avatar, master of all four elements.
After a hundred years of waiting he finally did. It's been One year since the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai, and the end of the war. The old scars are healing, and peace, however fragile has begun to blossom amongst the people. But there are mysteries now, and people searching for answers. There are some who can't let go of the feelings they've had for their entire life, and there is a dark cloud on the horizon that threatens everything the Avatar and his friends worked to build.
But with so many occupied, this new danger could go unnoticed. It is time for new heroes to step up, and new stories to be told, no longer does destiny rest on the shoulders of one, instead all the nations must work together to defend the world we have created."
Chapter 1: A Gathering of Minds:
-It has been one year since Avatar Aang defeated Fire Lord Ozai, and Fire Lord Zuko ended the Century long war.
- there are many in the Fire Nation who supported the war, and the choice to end it has proved an unpopular one. The Fire Nation faces a massive economic crisis with the dismantling of their army.
- The Party introduced themselves to each other; Aangs only student to actually pull off any kind of airbending; the 12 year old Chiyoko, the first female waterbender to come from the Northern Water tribe, 16 year old Nilak; Katara’s best waterbending student, 15 year old Miyak. Former Dai Li agent and "student" of King Bum; 17 year old Yán, Bumi's granddaughter ;16 year old Oma, a recently arrived student to Master Sokka on Kyoshi island; 16 year old Song, and finally a distant relation to the Fire Nation royal family; 17 year old Princess Sozu.
- the doors burst open, and several men in Fire Nation military uniforms charged in.
- Sozu informed the others that the men are from a group called "The Fire Society." She calls them a cult, who worship Fire Lord Ozai.
- the council returned to the banquet chamber where they announced, that they would reward the heroes of the evening. Due to their cleverness, fast action and talent, the Council had decided, that these children from each of the four nations, would be the ones sent to find the truth about the Air Nomads.
Chapter 2: The Southern Air Temple;
- Arriving at the Southern Air Temple, There the group met many of Aang's students, including some familar faces. It seemed Ty Lee had been practicing, and may one day be an Airbender, they also met Tao and several other children from the Northern Air Temple.
- Aang showed them why they were invited. An average sized bird, that he identified as Tian Chi, the Air spirit. Since the group was looking for Air Nomads, it might help them. The bird showed a strange affection for Miyak, who appeared to have some sort of connection to the spirit world.
- Four women, dressed exactly like Ty Lee leapt from the nearby buildings. They launched rapid hand to hand combat attacks at the group, who were stunned by what the believed to be Ty Lee clones.
- Yan - "I haven't hit her yet, have I?" His actual tone comes across as "Look, I'm trying."
Nilak -"No, but then again, she hasn't done anything to deserve it."
Chapter 3: A Haunted Temple;
- Hue told them this was not natural, someone had ripped a hole into the spirit world.
- “The time will come when you must chose, to stay with those you love, or help them fulfill their destiny.”
- “You will find your past at the Southern Air Temple.”
Chapter 4: The Fire Society:
- Zeng explained that they were at the village because they required something from here
- He then offered Sozu a chance to lead the Fire Society, having a member of the royal family at the head of the army would give them an air of legitimacy. Sozu quickly refused, and told Zeng he was a madman.
- As soon as the ship touched down and the passengers on board where hearded out. The Fire Society entered, taking the ship.
- the Officer told them that Zeng wanted to fulfill Fire Lord Sozin’s dream. They asked him what Zeng’s plan was, and he told them that the Fire Society would gather for the first time in their history, and the army would attack,
Chapter 5: The Lessons of Omashu
- Oma asked Iroh if the Fire Nation would assist in dealing with the Fire Society. Iroh told her that he trusted his nephew
- Overall, five airships had arrived, including the two that showed up the day before, in addition, the Fire Society has had four coal powered naval ships, waiting off the beach.
- Three airships, and one of the naval ships have all vanished.
- Zeng made known his intentions to take Yan prisoner.
- Iroh: “The Fire Society has never before engaged in a full military attack, and before now they've had access to a small portion of our Navy. Now that they seem ready to strike, Zeng went after Airships before he could make his move."
- Iroh: “there are men who feel that they have been robbed of their destiny. That the war should never have ended. “
Chapter 6: The Secrets of Omash:
- The files revealed that Qin was turning the cave into a hidden yard for modifying airships and naval vessels.
- Sozu, checking off the clues they have, suddenly had a realization. Zeng wishes to fulfill Sozin’s dream. He has been focusing on air power in preparation for his attack, and has gathered all of his men in a location where the only feasible direction to go is south. …Zeng is going to attack the Southern Air Temple, and try to kill the Avatar.
- Song became curious, and asked how many airships it would take to get a battleship air-born. After some calculating, it was determined it would take two airships, along with the engines of a third to get a Fire Nation battleship to fly… the group realized that three airships, and one battleship had gone missing just outside the cave hiding a shipyard that could modify airships and navy ships.
- Nilak became insistent that Aang be warned immediately, and encouraged the party to leave to tell him.
- Oma went to speak to Bumi and inform him of what they’d determined.
- When the Party arrived, they saw a group of Skydancers, who were finishing off the last of the Omashu soldiers.
- the Skydancers leapt to attack.
Chapter 7: Before the Storm:
- Yan then suggested the suspicions he had, that Airbenders were responsible for the deaths they witnessed in Omashu. Chiyoko insisted that an airbender would need a lot of training to do that, and none of them had had enough training to do that.
- Sozu recapped the whole situation, that the Fire Society had stolen several airships, and in a cave near Omashu, they’d built a massive hybrid with a battleship, in order to attack the Southern Air Temple, and kill the Avatar.
- Defensive plans were made. It was decided that the children would carry buckets of water, as fire would no doubt be everywhere.
- The Earth Benders worked to create walls around the temple. Yan also made sure to make several paths weaker, making the climb harder. Chiyoko searched out, and found several hidden passages through out the temple, so the defenders could travel around inside, even if parts of it were sealed off.
- He introduced himself as Tsung, an agent of the Fire Society. He followed them to the Southern Air Temple to destroy any efforts they made to defend the place. He explained that it was to prevent them from sending for help, and to warn General Zeng that they knew he was coming. Tsung told them that the Skydancers don’t work for the Fire Society.
- Yan looked toward Sozu. “I have been given to the impression that members of the Fire Nation ascribed to a code of honor.”
- Tsung: “The reason I said Zeng would have been a General... everyone in the Fire Nation is aware that those of the Royal Family are the most powerful firebenders in the world.
General Zeng may not be as powerful as the Dragon of the West, or Fire Lord Ozai but he is more capable of doing things with Fire then anyone else.
That combined with his desire to study his enemies, means that if you face him in battle, he will more then likely know the moves you rely on, and already have come up with ways to counter them."
-Tsung: “There is no room for him in the new Fire Nation. We have been worked like steel for a hundred tears to be a weapon. Every citizen, to serve the Fire Lord, to be a soldier, but we no longer need an army large enough to conquer the world do we? And now our men only have the skill for war. We are not farmers, or textile producers, Nor would we have the space or resources to do the even if we had the skills. Those are the men you fight tomorrow, men who can’t go home and believe there is more honor in fighting to the death against our enemies then in starving while the current Fire Lord and the Avatar try and fix the problem. Or men who refuse to accept hand-outs from the rest of the world after being told for a hundred years that we are better then they are. Men who believe they’ll be executed as war criminals for behaving in a way we were encouraged to for a hundred years, and men who honestly don’t think we should have ever stopped fighting. We are the cast offs of the new Fire Nation.
We understand that you have no choice but to try and stop us, and we have no choice in our course of action. I am not asking for your sympathy, but a soldier who looks upon his enemy and chooses to see a monster deserving of death, rather then choosing to understand them as men... That soldier is a coward, without honor.”
-Tsung: "Lt. Chen was my commanding offcier during the war. He looked out for us, he was an honorable man, career military as many of us were. I suppose much of our Country knows of no other way to live. The Lt was smart, and he did things for his men that meant when he told us that surrender wasn't an option, and we'd fight on under Zeng, not one of us went against him."
- Sokka and Suki related what happened while they were gone. They tell the Party that they found the Fire Society, who had indeed, built a large air battle ship.
- It was agreed that Toph, and the rest of the Kyoshi Island Warriors would go and collect the Earth Kingdom soldiers near Omashu, and any other military forces gathered to fight the Fire Society. Sokka also agreed to send the few messenger hawks they had to bring Water Tribe warriors.
- Sokka suggested they take the Death Trap, and use it to punch through one of the Airships holding the Dreadnaught aloft. This will force it to go down and any surviving Fire Society will have to climb the mountain, making defense of the Temple that much easier.
- Sozu: "I -- when Fire Lord Ozai launched the attack, by air, on the Earth Kingdom, when the Comet came... My brother Aizen served aboard one of those airships. In the fleet that Sokka," she hesitates slightly in saying his name, even, though she knows quite well the famous name associated with the battle, "and his friends sabotaged and -- well, rammed into one another. Exactly what he is now asking me to do."
- The Heroes understood the situation. The other three nations would send overwhelming reinforcements to stop the Fire Society. If all goes well the Society could be stopped here, for good. The only problem would be that Team Avatar, and the Party would have to hold off the Fire Society until the reinforcements arrived.
Book 1: Air
Chapter 8: The Battle of the Southern Air Temple
With the battle on the horizon, Team Avatar, and Team Death Trap gathered to make their battle plan. A rather tense discussion, wherein Team Death Trap were ready and willing to go stop the Dreadnaught, all except Sozu. Nilak attempted to convince Sozu that she need not go, but the Fire Nation Princess was unwilling to be left behind like a child too afraid to face an enemy.
With the debate of who was going and who was not ended, the Team came up with their plan. Rather then punch a giant hole through the thing, they planned to take out one of it’s engines, removing it’s ability to stay aloft, without forcing it to plummet.
Team Avatar stayed behind, preparing the various areas of the temple for a fight. The Death Trap swooped out into the sky. It wasn’t long before they found the Fire Society fleet. With the Dreadnaught leading the charge. The Party angled in close, with Miyak piloting. The rest of the team gathered together on top of the Death Trap.
They began their attack, launching projectiles, and flames at the Dreadnaught’s engine. It wasn’t long before, predictably, guards appeared to try and stop them. With Sozu and Nilak continuing to attack the engine, Yan fired off rock projectiles at the soldiers.
Song came up with a plan, and asked Chiyoko to carry him over to the Dreadnaught. She used her glider to bring him across, and dropped him in the middle of the guards. He took a severe beating, but managed to distract the soldiers long enough for the rest of the party to finish the job.
Chiyoko grabbed Song, and carried him back to the Death Trap. The Party took off, as the massive airship began to fall. On the trip back, Nilak managed to heal Song, and they all returned to the Air Temple to get ready for the ground assault.
Back at the Temple, they found Sokka, who informed them that a few members of the Fire Society had already begun attacking in war balloons. He sent the Party up to hold the forward position until Team Avatar could deal with the rest of the attackers in the air.
The heroes moved to the large walls Yan and Oma had made before the battle. Chiyoko made a quick scouting flight, and saw that the Fire Society soldiers were taking the bombs they had on the Dreadnaught, and placing them to blast open the wall.
Song pointed out they had a short amount of time to prepare their defense. Nilak, grabbed several buckets of water, and covered the small, twisting pathways. She then began to turn the water into ice. Yan wrapped himself in rocks, and hung from the edge of one of the paths, just past the ice. Chiyoko, stayed in the air, and Sozu stood just past Nilak to deflect fire blasts and attack from range.
When the wall burst open, a small squad of elite Fire Benders rushed in. They were lead by a young woman, and supported by four Yu Yan Archers. The Fire Benders tried to rush closer to the team, but they quickly fell down the ice. The Archers were undaunted by this, and leapt over the fallen fire benders, and the ice to get a clear shot.
Chiyoko strafed the archers as they fired, knocking their arrows aside with gusts of wind. Angered they quickly launched a few arrows at her, which brought her to the ground, wounded. One of the archers landed on Yan’s rock outcropping, and he quickly stood up, knocking the guy over. He used is Pu-dao to try and sweep the archers off the paths. Most of them simply jumped out of the way, but it distracted them.
Song, unable to get close enough to attack, contented himself with staying near, and tried to draw their fire, this lead to the woman hitting him with a few rather strong attacks, leaving Song a little singed as well. Nilak opted to heal the wounded party members, instead of attacking, letting Sozu engage in a ranged duel with the rest of the Fire Benders still standing.
With the battle still going strong, one of the Fire Benders looked to the woman in command, and told her to go.
Fire Bender: “Go! If the General’s plan worked he’s already inside, and will need your help. We can handle this group.”
The Party thought to disengage, or try and finish the battle quickly. These both seemed like issues, as even more Fire Society soldiers appeared. Their worries were eased when Suki arrived. She told them to go after the woman, and that she would handle this fight. And just incase they were concerned for her safety, she gave them a quick grin.
Suki: “It’s okay, Sokka introduced me to a nice man in the Fire Nation who taught me how to play Pai Sho.”
With that, Suki drew her sword, and the Party quickly agreed to follow the woman.
The group found General Zeng, trailed by three women. The young woman from earlier quickly joined them. Zeng greeted her, and commented that the plans they had from the original attack on the air temples appeared to still be accurate. The tunnel that they sent Tsung to hide was right where they expected it to be.
Team Death Trap quickly arrived, and Zeng greeted them. He told his second, Commander Lao to go finish the mission.
General Zeng: “Commander Lao, take the rest of our people, and go complete the mission.”
Commander Lao: “But General…”
General Zeng: “Commander! I do not need an army, to face my own son.”
At that, he looked toward Yan. The rest of the Party seemed suitable shocked by the revelation, … well not that shocked, but Yan shrugged it off, not caring.
Lao turned to leave, but Team Death Trap wouldn’t allow it. Chiyoko, Sozu, and Oma quickly moved to intercept the departing Fire Society soldiers, while Yan and Nilak stayed to face Zeng.
Chiyoko quickly blasted the two bodyguards, knocking them down. She was then faced with the young woman, who attacked her, and again managed to wound a member of Team Death Trap. Song came up from behind, attacking Lao, and the two began a battle. Sozu quickly attacked from the side, her fire blast getting the woman away from Chiyoko, but then one of the Bodyguards moved to get Sozu away. The second Bodyguard also moved to attack but was quickly blasted by Chiyoko.
Zeng launched an attack on both Yan and Nilak, but Yan managed to throw up a defense on Nilak, which ended up injuring himself. Yan then attacked back, with Zeng dodging much of it.
The two groups fought back and fourth, viciously. Until finally Yan drew back, ready to fire his Rock Bullets. Zeng commented that he’d prepared for this battle. Yan replied that he did as well, then fired.
Zeng quickly spun his hands, creating several smaller fireballs that intercepted the Rock Bullets. Zeng looked at Yan and smiled.
Zeng: “Just like your father.”
Then the General collapsed, bleeding. He looked to Yan and said he hadn’t expected Yan to harden the bullets. Since Yan had made them twice as strong, and able to do twice as much damage, Zeng had only defended against half of the attacked.
Zeng looked at his son and told him that he had become much like his father, and that Yan’s mother would be proud of him. He told Yan that his mother had truly believed in the Fire Nation and it’s cause. Yan didn’t believe it and prepared to land the final blow on Zeng.
At that moment though, Zeng said he would finish the mission, and heat radiated off of the General. Lao and the rest of the Fire Society ducked, this caused Song to block Chiyoko, and Sozu to also hit the dirt. Yan opted to protect Nilak, rather then finish off Zeng, who seemed to explode outward. A wave of fire flew past, singing all in the room, and striking the walls, causing pillars to collapse, and cracks to appear.
The whole side of the temple began to crumble, thankfully, at that moment Aang arrived. Before he could do anything though, he screamed in pain and collapsed. Chiyoko felt something similar happen, and also was out of it for a moment. So with the Avatar down, and Yan not being strong enough to move something that big yet, the Party watched as it seemed the whole place would come down on them
Suddenly large stone columns shot up from the ground. The Group looked up to see a Fire Nation airship hovering nearby. The door had opened, and three Earth Kingdom soldiers leapt out. Shortly afterward followed by Toph, and the four Earth Benders where easily able to stabilize the temple.
Following the Earth Kingdom soldiers were a large group of Southern Water Tribe warriors, lead by Hakoda, and finally a large contingent of Fire Nation Soldiers lead by Fire Lord Zuko, and Mai.
Zuko quickly told the Fire Society to surrender. At first, they all looked to Lao, who stared in mute shock at the place where Zeng once stood. Finally, without moving, she agreed to the surrender.
Amongst the group that arrived with the Fire Lord, was Guru Pathik. He looked at Aang, and Chiyoko who had mostly recovered. Aang asked the Guru what had happened, and Pathik said he needed to look around.
The Party followed him, as he searched the temple, and finally, found Tian Chi, lying on the ground and barely breathing.
Guru Pathik told the Party that the Air Spirit had been pulled from the birds body, and without it, the world would be thrown out of balance. That Airbending would be forever lost without the spirit.
When asked if there was anything that could be done, Pathik told them that he could take a spiritually adept person, and use their life energy to create a line to the spirit. But such an act would require sacrifice. He explained there were a few present who could do such an act.
At that point, Miyak stepped forward, volunteering. Chiyoko would have none of it however. She said that there had to be another way. She asked Aang, and he looked sad for a moment, then commented that it wasn’t so bad to have a friend in the spirit world, that Princess Yue became the moon and he still talks to her all the time.
Chiyoko was still disgruntled, and looked to the rest of the group, She yelled challenging the rest of them, asking if they were just going to sit there and let Miyak die. Everyone stood silently.
Finally, Miyak took Chiyoko’s hand, and told her that this was how hit had to be. That she was doing this of her own free will, and she was doing this for the world. Miyak told Chiyoko to look after the Death Trap, and to not let the rest of the group change her too much. Then Miyak stepped up to the Guru, and said she was ready. Pathik placed his hand on Miyak’s head, and Tian Chi, and both glowed for a moment. Miyak’s body glowed brighter and brighter until finally she seemed to be made of pure light. And then that light faded.
When the light had gone out, Tian Chi hopped up, and fluttered over to Chiyoko. The Bird now sported a greenish blue stripe on it’s head, just as Miyak had in her hair.
With all the excitement having died down, Team Avatar, and a few others discussed what to do next. Finally, the agreed, that something bad was coming, and that they would need to be prepared.
Team Death Trap had proven itself and battle, and it was agreed they would each receive special training for the next few weeks. In the meantime Team Avatar would investigate, and call upon their allies. Everyone would have to do their part, if their world was to survive.
And so this is where we leave our heroes, mourning their losses, and preparing for what lies ahead.
END BOOK 1
Chiyoko "Aang's only student to have pulled off Airbending" - Alex
Nilak "Pakku's first female student since Katara" -Victoria
Miyak "Katara's best waterbending student" - Jill
Yan "Ex Dai Li agent, and protector of Princess Oma"- Tom
Princess Oma "Bumi's Granddaughter"- Crystal
Song "Student of the Kyoshi Island "School"- Andrew
Princess Sozu "2nd Cousin to Fire Lord Zuko" -Alice
"Air...Water...Earth...Fire
In Ancient days, the four Nations lived in harmony. Then the Fire Nation made it's war. Wiping out the Air Nomads, and subjugating the rest of the world. Everyone said the only way for peace to be restored would be by the Avatar, master of all four elements.
After a hundred years of waiting he finally did. It's been One year since the defeat of Fire Lord Ozai, and the end of the war. The old scars are healing, and peace, however fragile has begun to blossom amongst the people. But there are mysteries now, and people searching for answers. There are some who can't let go of the feelings they've had for their entire life, and there is a dark cloud on the horizon that threatens everything the Avatar and his friends worked to build.
But with so many occupied, this new danger could go unnoticed. It is time for new heroes to step up, and new stories to be told, no longer does destiny rest on the shoulders of one, instead all the nations must work together to defend the world we have created."
Chapter 1: A Gathering of Minds:
-It has been one year since Avatar Aang defeated Fire Lord Ozai, and Fire Lord Zuko ended the Century long war.
- there are many in the Fire Nation who supported the war, and the choice to end it has proved an unpopular one. The Fire Nation faces a massive economic crisis with the dismantling of their army.
- The Party introduced themselves to each other; Aangs only student to actually pull off any kind of airbending; the 12 year old Chiyoko, the first female waterbender to come from the Northern Water tribe, 16 year old Nilak; Katara’s best waterbending student, 15 year old Miyak. Former Dai Li agent and "student" of King Bum; 17 year old Yán, Bumi's granddaughter ;16 year old Oma, a recently arrived student to Master Sokka on Kyoshi island; 16 year old Song, and finally a distant relation to the Fire Nation royal family; 17 year old Princess Sozu.
- the doors burst open, and several men in Fire Nation military uniforms charged in.
- Sozu informed the others that the men are from a group called "The Fire Society." She calls them a cult, who worship Fire Lord Ozai.
- the council returned to the banquet chamber where they announced, that they would reward the heroes of the evening. Due to their cleverness, fast action and talent, the Council had decided, that these children from each of the four nations, would be the ones sent to find the truth about the Air Nomads.
Chapter 2: The Southern Air Temple;
- Arriving at the Southern Air Temple, There the group met many of Aang's students, including some familar faces. It seemed Ty Lee had been practicing, and may one day be an Airbender, they also met Tao and several other children from the Northern Air Temple.
- Aang showed them why they were invited. An average sized bird, that he identified as Tian Chi, the Air spirit. Since the group was looking for Air Nomads, it might help them. The bird showed a strange affection for Miyak, who appeared to have some sort of connection to the spirit world.
- Four women, dressed exactly like Ty Lee leapt from the nearby buildings. They launched rapid hand to hand combat attacks at the group, who were stunned by what the believed to be Ty Lee clones.
- Yan - "I haven't hit her yet, have I?" His actual tone comes across as "Look, I'm trying."
Nilak -"No, but then again, she hasn't done anything to deserve it."
Chapter 3: A Haunted Temple;
- Hue told them this was not natural, someone had ripped a hole into the spirit world.
- “The time will come when you must chose, to stay with those you love, or help them fulfill their destiny.”
- “You will find your past at the Southern Air Temple.”
Chapter 4: The Fire Society:
- Zeng explained that they were at the village because they required something from here
- He then offered Sozu a chance to lead the Fire Society, having a member of the royal family at the head of the army would give them an air of legitimacy. Sozu quickly refused, and told Zeng he was a madman.
- As soon as the ship touched down and the passengers on board where hearded out. The Fire Society entered, taking the ship.
- the Officer told them that Zeng wanted to fulfill Fire Lord Sozin’s dream. They asked him what Zeng’s plan was, and he told them that the Fire Society would gather for the first time in their history, and the army would attack,
Chapter 5: The Lessons of Omashu
- Oma asked Iroh if the Fire Nation would assist in dealing with the Fire Society. Iroh told her that he trusted his nephew
- Overall, five airships had arrived, including the two that showed up the day before, in addition, the Fire Society has had four coal powered naval ships, waiting off the beach.
- Three airships, and one of the naval ships have all vanished.
- Zeng made known his intentions to take Yan prisoner.
- Iroh: “The Fire Society has never before engaged in a full military attack, and before now they've had access to a small portion of our Navy. Now that they seem ready to strike, Zeng went after Airships before he could make his move."
- Iroh: “there are men who feel that they have been robbed of their destiny. That the war should never have ended. “
Chapter 6: The Secrets of Omash:
- The files revealed that Qin was turning the cave into a hidden yard for modifying airships and naval vessels.
- Sozu, checking off the clues they have, suddenly had a realization. Zeng wishes to fulfill Sozin’s dream. He has been focusing on air power in preparation for his attack, and has gathered all of his men in a location where the only feasible direction to go is south. …Zeng is going to attack the Southern Air Temple, and try to kill the Avatar.
- Song became curious, and asked how many airships it would take to get a battleship air-born. After some calculating, it was determined it would take two airships, along with the engines of a third to get a Fire Nation battleship to fly… the group realized that three airships, and one battleship had gone missing just outside the cave hiding a shipyard that could modify airships and navy ships.
- Nilak became insistent that Aang be warned immediately, and encouraged the party to leave to tell him.
- Oma went to speak to Bumi and inform him of what they’d determined.
- When the Party arrived, they saw a group of Skydancers, who were finishing off the last of the Omashu soldiers.
- the Skydancers leapt to attack.
Chapter 7: Before the Storm:
- Yan then suggested the suspicions he had, that Airbenders were responsible for the deaths they witnessed in Omashu. Chiyoko insisted that an airbender would need a lot of training to do that, and none of them had had enough training to do that.
- Sozu recapped the whole situation, that the Fire Society had stolen several airships, and in a cave near Omashu, they’d built a massive hybrid with a battleship, in order to attack the Southern Air Temple, and kill the Avatar.
- Defensive plans were made. It was decided that the children would carry buckets of water, as fire would no doubt be everywhere.
- The Earth Benders worked to create walls around the temple. Yan also made sure to make several paths weaker, making the climb harder. Chiyoko searched out, and found several hidden passages through out the temple, so the defenders could travel around inside, even if parts of it were sealed off.
- He introduced himself as Tsung, an agent of the Fire Society. He followed them to the Southern Air Temple to destroy any efforts they made to defend the place. He explained that it was to prevent them from sending for help, and to warn General Zeng that they knew he was coming. Tsung told them that the Skydancers don’t work for the Fire Society.
- Yan looked toward Sozu. “I have been given to the impression that members of the Fire Nation ascribed to a code of honor.”
- Tsung: “The reason I said Zeng would have been a General... everyone in the Fire Nation is aware that those of the Royal Family are the most powerful firebenders in the world.
General Zeng may not be as powerful as the Dragon of the West, or Fire Lord Ozai but he is more capable of doing things with Fire then anyone else.
That combined with his desire to study his enemies, means that if you face him in battle, he will more then likely know the moves you rely on, and already have come up with ways to counter them."
-Tsung: “There is no room for him in the new Fire Nation. We have been worked like steel for a hundred tears to be a weapon. Every citizen, to serve the Fire Lord, to be a soldier, but we no longer need an army large enough to conquer the world do we? And now our men only have the skill for war. We are not farmers, or textile producers, Nor would we have the space or resources to do the even if we had the skills. Those are the men you fight tomorrow, men who can’t go home and believe there is more honor in fighting to the death against our enemies then in starving while the current Fire Lord and the Avatar try and fix the problem. Or men who refuse to accept hand-outs from the rest of the world after being told for a hundred years that we are better then they are. Men who believe they’ll be executed as war criminals for behaving in a way we were encouraged to for a hundred years, and men who honestly don’t think we should have ever stopped fighting. We are the cast offs of the new Fire Nation.
We understand that you have no choice but to try and stop us, and we have no choice in our course of action. I am not asking for your sympathy, but a soldier who looks upon his enemy and chooses to see a monster deserving of death, rather then choosing to understand them as men... That soldier is a coward, without honor.”
-Tsung: "Lt. Chen was my commanding offcier during the war. He looked out for us, he was an honorable man, career military as many of us were. I suppose much of our Country knows of no other way to live. The Lt was smart, and he did things for his men that meant when he told us that surrender wasn't an option, and we'd fight on under Zeng, not one of us went against him."
- Sokka and Suki related what happened while they were gone. They tell the Party that they found the Fire Society, who had indeed, built a large air battle ship.
- It was agreed that Toph, and the rest of the Kyoshi Island Warriors would go and collect the Earth Kingdom soldiers near Omashu, and any other military forces gathered to fight the Fire Society. Sokka also agreed to send the few messenger hawks they had to bring Water Tribe warriors.
- Sokka suggested they take the Death Trap, and use it to punch through one of the Airships holding the Dreadnaught aloft. This will force it to go down and any surviving Fire Society will have to climb the mountain, making defense of the Temple that much easier.
- Sozu: "I -- when Fire Lord Ozai launched the attack, by air, on the Earth Kingdom, when the Comet came... My brother Aizen served aboard one of those airships. In the fleet that Sokka," she hesitates slightly in saying his name, even, though she knows quite well the famous name associated with the battle, "and his friends sabotaged and -- well, rammed into one another. Exactly what he is now asking me to do."
- The Heroes understood the situation. The other three nations would send overwhelming reinforcements to stop the Fire Society. If all goes well the Society could be stopped here, for good. The only problem would be that Team Avatar, and the Party would have to hold off the Fire Society until the reinforcements arrived.
Book 1: Air
Chapter 8: The Battle of the Southern Air Temple
With the battle on the horizon, Team Avatar, and Team Death Trap gathered to make their battle plan. A rather tense discussion, wherein Team Death Trap were ready and willing to go stop the Dreadnaught, all except Sozu. Nilak attempted to convince Sozu that she need not go, but the Fire Nation Princess was unwilling to be left behind like a child too afraid to face an enemy.
With the debate of who was going and who was not ended, the Team came up with their plan. Rather then punch a giant hole through the thing, they planned to take out one of it’s engines, removing it’s ability to stay aloft, without forcing it to plummet.
Team Avatar stayed behind, preparing the various areas of the temple for a fight. The Death Trap swooped out into the sky. It wasn’t long before they found the Fire Society fleet. With the Dreadnaught leading the charge. The Party angled in close, with Miyak piloting. The rest of the team gathered together on top of the Death Trap.
They began their attack, launching projectiles, and flames at the Dreadnaught’s engine. It wasn’t long before, predictably, guards appeared to try and stop them. With Sozu and Nilak continuing to attack the engine, Yan fired off rock projectiles at the soldiers.
Song came up with a plan, and asked Chiyoko to carry him over to the Dreadnaught. She used her glider to bring him across, and dropped him in the middle of the guards. He took a severe beating, but managed to distract the soldiers long enough for the rest of the party to finish the job.
Chiyoko grabbed Song, and carried him back to the Death Trap. The Party took off, as the massive airship began to fall. On the trip back, Nilak managed to heal Song, and they all returned to the Air Temple to get ready for the ground assault.
Back at the Temple, they found Sokka, who informed them that a few members of the Fire Society had already begun attacking in war balloons. He sent the Party up to hold the forward position until Team Avatar could deal with the rest of the attackers in the air.
The heroes moved to the large walls Yan and Oma had made before the battle. Chiyoko made a quick scouting flight, and saw that the Fire Society soldiers were taking the bombs they had on the Dreadnaught, and placing them to blast open the wall.
Song pointed out they had a short amount of time to prepare their defense. Nilak, grabbed several buckets of water, and covered the small, twisting pathways. She then began to turn the water into ice. Yan wrapped himself in rocks, and hung from the edge of one of the paths, just past the ice. Chiyoko, stayed in the air, and Sozu stood just past Nilak to deflect fire blasts and attack from range.
When the wall burst open, a small squad of elite Fire Benders rushed in. They were lead by a young woman, and supported by four Yu Yan Archers. The Fire Benders tried to rush closer to the team, but they quickly fell down the ice. The Archers were undaunted by this, and leapt over the fallen fire benders, and the ice to get a clear shot.
Chiyoko strafed the archers as they fired, knocking their arrows aside with gusts of wind. Angered they quickly launched a few arrows at her, which brought her to the ground, wounded. One of the archers landed on Yan’s rock outcropping, and he quickly stood up, knocking the guy over. He used is Pu-dao to try and sweep the archers off the paths. Most of them simply jumped out of the way, but it distracted them.
Song, unable to get close enough to attack, contented himself with staying near, and tried to draw their fire, this lead to the woman hitting him with a few rather strong attacks, leaving Song a little singed as well. Nilak opted to heal the wounded party members, instead of attacking, letting Sozu engage in a ranged duel with the rest of the Fire Benders still standing.
With the battle still going strong, one of the Fire Benders looked to the woman in command, and told her to go.
Fire Bender: “Go! If the General’s plan worked he’s already inside, and will need your help. We can handle this group.”
The Party thought to disengage, or try and finish the battle quickly. These both seemed like issues, as even more Fire Society soldiers appeared. Their worries were eased when Suki arrived. She told them to go after the woman, and that she would handle this fight. And just incase they were concerned for her safety, she gave them a quick grin.
Suki: “It’s okay, Sokka introduced me to a nice man in the Fire Nation who taught me how to play Pai Sho.”
With that, Suki drew her sword, and the Party quickly agreed to follow the woman.
The group found General Zeng, trailed by three women. The young woman from earlier quickly joined them. Zeng greeted her, and commented that the plans they had from the original attack on the air temples appeared to still be accurate. The tunnel that they sent Tsung to hide was right where they expected it to be.
Team Death Trap quickly arrived, and Zeng greeted them. He told his second, Commander Lao to go finish the mission.
General Zeng: “Commander Lao, take the rest of our people, and go complete the mission.”
Commander Lao: “But General…”
General Zeng: “Commander! I do not need an army, to face my own son.”
At that, he looked toward Yan. The rest of the Party seemed suitable shocked by the revelation, … well not that shocked, but Yan shrugged it off, not caring.
Lao turned to leave, but Team Death Trap wouldn’t allow it. Chiyoko, Sozu, and Oma quickly moved to intercept the departing Fire Society soldiers, while Yan and Nilak stayed to face Zeng.
Chiyoko quickly blasted the two bodyguards, knocking them down. She was then faced with the young woman, who attacked her, and again managed to wound a member of Team Death Trap. Song came up from behind, attacking Lao, and the two began a battle. Sozu quickly attacked from the side, her fire blast getting the woman away from Chiyoko, but then one of the Bodyguards moved to get Sozu away. The second Bodyguard also moved to attack but was quickly blasted by Chiyoko.
Zeng launched an attack on both Yan and Nilak, but Yan managed to throw up a defense on Nilak, which ended up injuring himself. Yan then attacked back, with Zeng dodging much of it.
The two groups fought back and fourth, viciously. Until finally Yan drew back, ready to fire his Rock Bullets. Zeng commented that he’d prepared for this battle. Yan replied that he did as well, then fired.
Zeng quickly spun his hands, creating several smaller fireballs that intercepted the Rock Bullets. Zeng looked at Yan and smiled.
Zeng: “Just like your father.”
Then the General collapsed, bleeding. He looked to Yan and said he hadn’t expected Yan to harden the bullets. Since Yan had made them twice as strong, and able to do twice as much damage, Zeng had only defended against half of the attacked.
Zeng looked at his son and told him that he had become much like his father, and that Yan’s mother would be proud of him. He told Yan that his mother had truly believed in the Fire Nation and it’s cause. Yan didn’t believe it and prepared to land the final blow on Zeng.
At that moment though, Zeng said he would finish the mission, and heat radiated off of the General. Lao and the rest of the Fire Society ducked, this caused Song to block Chiyoko, and Sozu to also hit the dirt. Yan opted to protect Nilak, rather then finish off Zeng, who seemed to explode outward. A wave of fire flew past, singing all in the room, and striking the walls, causing pillars to collapse, and cracks to appear.
The whole side of the temple began to crumble, thankfully, at that moment Aang arrived. Before he could do anything though, he screamed in pain and collapsed. Chiyoko felt something similar happen, and also was out of it for a moment. So with the Avatar down, and Yan not being strong enough to move something that big yet, the Party watched as it seemed the whole place would come down on them
Suddenly large stone columns shot up from the ground. The Group looked up to see a Fire Nation airship hovering nearby. The door had opened, and three Earth Kingdom soldiers leapt out. Shortly afterward followed by Toph, and the four Earth Benders where easily able to stabilize the temple.
Following the Earth Kingdom soldiers were a large group of Southern Water Tribe warriors, lead by Hakoda, and finally a large contingent of Fire Nation Soldiers lead by Fire Lord Zuko, and Mai.
Zuko quickly told the Fire Society to surrender. At first, they all looked to Lao, who stared in mute shock at the place where Zeng once stood. Finally, without moving, she agreed to the surrender.
Amongst the group that arrived with the Fire Lord, was Guru Pathik. He looked at Aang, and Chiyoko who had mostly recovered. Aang asked the Guru what had happened, and Pathik said he needed to look around.
The Party followed him, as he searched the temple, and finally, found Tian Chi, lying on the ground and barely breathing.
Guru Pathik told the Party that the Air Spirit had been pulled from the birds body, and without it, the world would be thrown out of balance. That Airbending would be forever lost without the spirit.
When asked if there was anything that could be done, Pathik told them that he could take a spiritually adept person, and use their life energy to create a line to the spirit. But such an act would require sacrifice. He explained there were a few present who could do such an act.
At that point, Miyak stepped forward, volunteering. Chiyoko would have none of it however. She said that there had to be another way. She asked Aang, and he looked sad for a moment, then commented that it wasn’t so bad to have a friend in the spirit world, that Princess Yue became the moon and he still talks to her all the time.
Chiyoko was still disgruntled, and looked to the rest of the group, She yelled challenging the rest of them, asking if they were just going to sit there and let Miyak die. Everyone stood silently.
Finally, Miyak took Chiyoko’s hand, and told her that this was how hit had to be. That she was doing this of her own free will, and she was doing this for the world. Miyak told Chiyoko to look after the Death Trap, and to not let the rest of the group change her too much. Then Miyak stepped up to the Guru, and said she was ready. Pathik placed his hand on Miyak’s head, and Tian Chi, and both glowed for a moment. Miyak’s body glowed brighter and brighter until finally she seemed to be made of pure light. And then that light faded.
When the light had gone out, Tian Chi hopped up, and fluttered over to Chiyoko. The Bird now sported a greenish blue stripe on it’s head, just as Miyak had in her hair.
With all the excitement having died down, Team Avatar, and a few others discussed what to do next. Finally, the agreed, that something bad was coming, and that they would need to be prepared.
Team Death Trap had proven itself and battle, and it was agreed they would each receive special training for the next few weeks. In the meantime Team Avatar would investigate, and call upon their allies. Everyone would have to do their part, if their world was to survive.
And so this is where we leave our heroes, mourning their losses, and preparing for what lies ahead.
END BOOK 1
Chiyoko "Aang's only student to have pulled off Airbending" - Alex
Nilak "Pakku's first female student since Katara" -Victoria
Miyak "Katara's best waterbending student" - Jill
Yan "Ex Dai Li agent, and protector of Princess Oma"- Tom
Princess Oma "Bumi's Granddaughter"- Crystal
Song "Student of the Kyoshi Island "School"- Andrew
Princess Sozu "2nd Cousin to Fire Lord Zuko" -Alice