Character Creation

[Pleh]

After all these years, I don't think listing the rules are necessary. Instead, if you are new to Roleplaying Games or just new to our forum and want to join the game, please read our standard RPG rules (one minor exception to this list is that outside game chatter about the game will be in the Teahouse this year and not 2011's Parlor).

For everyone who already knows how we roll around here, I shamelessly steal and give you the character sheet you made last summer for Count's game, because it is quite an excellent character sheet.

As for the game we're playing, consider it to be a good deal of time after Korra 1. In particular, RC is rebuilding, the Triads are trying to suck up as much power as they can from the vacuum that Amon left in his sudden deposition as leader of the Equalists, and Korra is temporarily gone from the scene to grieve for the loss of her boyfriend, Mako, who was tragically struck to death in the face by an icicle which impaled him through the left eye. Characters that are particularly in the know about popular rumors or are knowledgeable about politics, probending, or the latest news will have heard conspiracy theories about the possibility of foul play and unofficial suspicions of Asami's involvement in Mako's untimely demise. In other news, Korra is expected to return to the city to resume her regular duties as Avatar sometime at the end of next week (you'll be starting on "monday" and she's expected to return by the second saturday after that, to be clear).

Any questions, shoot me a PM or leave a post here.

And now, for the Character Sheet.

Name: Your name :B
Age: Your Age :B
Gender: Male, Female, Transgendered, Tera

Appearance: What you look like. Describe it, find a picture, use a photo, draw a picture, whatever you want to show me how to describe your character or somehow use any element of your features in the RP (EX: long hair can be grabbed and used to pull you back for a back breaking suplex >:Y). I want basic eye, hair, skin colors, approximate height, weight, and builds for characters if it is not obviously clear from the picture you show me.

Also detail the outfit of your character and their usual attire versus attire and specific situations relevant to their back story or profession. This is also a good place to state if they have any habits or characteristics seen that make them stand out among other characters.

Faction: Air (Someone that follows and believes their culture), Fire, Earth, Water (SWT,NWT), Equalist (UR,FN,EK)
Bending: Air (I will allow it if you can convince me), Water, Fire, Earth, Non-bender (include all forms of subbending here as well)
Bending Prowess: This will be used to describe the level of your bending.
The choices are Novice, Intermediate, PRO YO, Experienced/Powerful, Prodigy/Mutant


Novice: Beginner Bender with promise. If you are a beginner here, chances are you sneaked in. As a beginner bender, you will totally suck. Your bending will be weaker, and it will take longer to bend.The plus side is that the plot always routes for the underdog, and you will be the one most likely to make a comeback. You are grow in ability in mid fight and often learn what you need to learn to win when things look their most grim. EX: Season 1 Katara

Intermediate: You are somewhat experienced, but never had very individualized focus in your abilities. You are totally average in the art, but very aware of it. An intermediate bender has advantage of likely being more well rounded in other skills being old and experienced enough to be a more powerful bender, yet still only being an intermediate bender. The advantage of being an intermediate bender is that you too can make a comeback when the more powerful bender would least suspect it. Your abilities are not weak, and you would likely know a wide range of attacks. Just expect to fight with your mind more than your raw power. EX: Haru, and most the soldiers in FN in ATLA

PRO YO: A pro is someone skilled at bending. You likely will have prestige in your art and be very athletic. A pro is someone who likely knows at least one of the superior forms of bending within your element. Your skills have likely either given you status or prestige and you are on a steady path to becoming one of the best. As a pro, the advantages are you are often a young, cautious, but very well armed bender. Someone that is a pro is experienced for their age and very used to bending in all sorts of different situations. EX: Mako, Bolin, Boulder

Experienced/Powerful: When you see the old bender do something totally awesome, this will be you. This a bender who has been around the bending block several times. This bender is usually a master of the element and likely knows several if not almost all the superior forms of bending for their element. These are the benders who can often claim to be the very best at their art. These people are not defined through their athleticism or talent, but defined by their experience. They are usually slowed and more fragile, but still devastatingly powerful with a truly insightful approach to bending and its use. The advantage is that this kind of bender is usually the most badass. EX: Iroh, Bumi, Tenzin, Katara (LOK), Lin, Pakku, Hama.

Prodigy/Mutant: This is the person who is naturally in tune with bending. This person is likely the true pinnacle of their art. This person picks bending apart to a level that most people cannot simply fathom. Usually, it is this bender that finds a way to bend in ways that most people would think is utterly impossible. A prodigy is usually discovered young, but will only grow in age. A prodigy is often overconfident and used to victory. Other benders seem slow and weak in comparison, so they tend to have a constant superiority complex. The advantage of being a prodigy is that you can be creative with the power of your element. You can think of and do things with it that no one ever has. Your abilities are so seemingly unnatural that they might stem from some form of genetic mutation (X GENE!!!). EX: Toph, Azula, Aang, Noatok, Tarrlok, Yakone, Sparky Sparky Boom Man

Spirituality: How spiritual is your character?
Not Spiritual, Somewhat Spiritual, Spiritual, Very Spiritual
When you choose this, I would like to know why you are spiritual, either something short labelled around spirituality or listed under history.

History: How did you become the person you are? For this RP, your history decides your place and likely many of your connections. Done right, almost all the information below it will be answered. A well developed character fits easier in the world and brings depth to the world around that character. I would like your ideas to help shape my ideas through a well defined history and personality.

Connections: Who do you know and why? I am very lenient on the creation of NPCs and your placement in this world, but I would life your place and your footprint to be well defined. If possible, list your sphere of influence as a character and make a note of people you either know or are likely to know in the future when you act. This makes it easier to prepare and easier for you as a player to feel more interactive with the world around you.

SKILLZ WITH A Z What are you good at?

Belongings What do you carry around with you and what do you have that you don't simply carry around with you?

Also, choose a color and try not to choose the same color as anyone else. I would prefer some form of faction, triad color scheming going on, but as long as no one has the same color, it is no real consequence.

---

Equalist info for players that are interested:

The town of Taiping is a secret Equalist stronghold, yet it exists out of individual people who share more-or-less the same beliefs. Although there are several groups they are leaderless and not organized (though there will probably be a few 'wise men' they look up to). Naturally there are also many 'neutral' (former-)Equalists.

Those who are not neutral are divided in several groups with violent ideologies. Three mainstream groups and two split-offs.
1. The Amonists, or 'believers' (for a lack of a better name) - These believe in Amon's glorious return.
2. The Rationalists - They believe Amon is dead, and that he was the traitor Noatak. Obviously, they don't believe in his return.
3. Loyalists - They believe Noatak was a good bender with the best intentions at heart. They are divided on whether he will return or not.

Split-offs:
4. Spiritualists - They don't talk about whether Amon was real or not. Their main issue is with the Spirit World in whom they are deeply disappointed. But they do believe there must be some spirits who are willing to join their cause; even if it is only to punish the arrogant benders. They mostly look into the 'forbidden part' of the Spirit World.

This group is often under fire by the Amonists.

5. The Extremists (as they are called by the other groups) - A handful of people who believe Noatak was a traitor. For them, Noatak's betrayal is the perfect example of the benders' evilness. They believe annihilation of all benders, no matter their loyalties, is the only solution to bring equality.

This group often clashes with all other factions.

- All of the Taiping factions do agree on a violent (i.e terrorist) opposition of the bending regimes.

- The small Taiping policeforce is infiltrated by several Equalists, thus preventing them from being discovered and often causing the police to turn a blind eye towards certain crimes.

- Kensei isn't part of any faction or organized group. Outside from his own family he has never spoken about what Equalist-ideology (#1, #2, #3 or #4) he adheres to; always wanting to remain neutral. Kensei is on good terms with people from the first four factions.

[Pleh]

Due to Conzu's whining, I have elected that the start time for the game will be exactly 10 months after the end of the show. Republic City is nearing the first annual celebration of Korra's victory over the Equalist Coup.

[weelildragon]

So this thing is just starting?
I wanna play. Hope I'll do better this time.

This time I'll make my charater more of an observer then someone who feels like he needs to get in the Thick of it. Which will make it easier to roleplay.

He's going to be an aloof(?) and absent minded riksja rider.
Because of his absent-mindedness people pay no attention to him

Because he makes his living using an outdated mode of transportation. He's quite an annoyance to people riding Sato-mobiles and has gotten into trouble numerous times. Mostly with law-enforcement and his competion who drive people around in Sato-mobiles.
He's like that homeless guy that was fishing with Korra in the Park.

He has an especially weird symbiotic relationship with the police.
On one hand the Police constantly bully him. They arrest him (sometimes quite violently) for lots of little infractions of the law. (Parking near fire-hydrant)
So on the surface it seems like he and the police are enemies.

But in reality he will get a good meal and a safe place to stay. And if need be, treatment for serious illnesses/injuries.

What the police get in return is a venue to perform a show of force to get other would-be criminals in line.
But also information about the Triads and other operations that might be going on. He's the eyes and ears of the city.

The information he gives is cryptic. And only a select few can dicypher his messages. So he's not perceived as a snitch.

He's also valuable for the Triads. Because of his subservient role, he gets to ride arrogant fat-cats around who are a bit too loose-lipped about their wealth. My character provides information to the traids about possible victims for their operations.

[Pleh]

Sounds good. Make sure you fill out the character sheet I provided in the original post.

[weelildragon]

Name: Your name : Bin (after his father whom he didn't know) Suzumi (his mother)
Age: Your Age : 23
Gender: Male

Appearance: Well above average height, And because he's hardly ever been seen fighting back, it makes him a fun target for smaller people. Especially if they've been picked on by tall people in the past. He's sometimes covered in small bruises/scamps, but they heal up pretty fast, because he does eat healthy.

Brown greenish rags, with some bloodstains.

Faction: Earth
Bending: Earth (like Boomi: relatively great use of tiny limbs. Like his toes)

Prodigy:
He walks around barefoot all his life (can't afford good shoes) so he has a natural connection to the ground.
He also uses his earthbending to gain speed with his Riksja, but he needs to be very subtle about it. (can't go tearing up the road too much). His earthChakra is blocked, so he can't use the full potential of his power unless he feels completely safe (noone around for miles or with someone he completely trusts. Which will be pretty much never inside a city)


Spirituality:
He's mostly concerned with his own survival. This pretty much slows down all chakras.
He believes in the Trash Spirit, who takes the form of a mangy dog. The dog sometimes guides him to tiny morsels of food.


History:
(edit)In short, Bin has been a pawn used by both the police and the triads for most of his life. To make a living he
he rides people across town with his riksja as well as perform other special favors for certain people in alley-ways/hotelrooms.(/edit)


Connections:
- Kali Suzumi, Bin's mother who worked as a seksworker. (in reality she had only one real client, the rest of the clients would have to make due with lapdances and stripteases)
- One of the Triad leaders (he looks nothing like Bin, so it's well known he's not the father) who is Suzumi's sugardaddy. In a way he's the closest thing to a father he ever had as far as a visual aspect goes.
- Bin Faitong (what happened to him is a mystery. Killed during the rebellion? Still alive fighting a secret war?)
He was a wealthy well-connected man. And sent Suzumi some form of 'Alemony'. Though some envious people might also call it a bribe. (People who were jealous of Suzumi, mostly females)


SKILLZ WITH A Z What are you good at?
- Good at going unnoticed. Faking unconsiousness (one of his truly remarkable assets) to a point where it seems like his spirit has left his body because of his motionless demeanor. Even his breathing has slowed down to a level that some people might suffocate. His hearing will be at maximum capacity. While other sences are near zero: sences like pain and sight. He's like a blind, mute, cripple leper.

Belongings: He owns a riksja.

Color: light green #00FF00Or maybe brown-greenish #80BF00

[Count of Monte Fisto]

Name: Onten Hiyu
Age: 38
Gender: Male

Appearance: Hiyu is around average height, and seemingly more slender than your average man. His hair is dark brown and his eyes are yellow. It definitely appears he is of both Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation decent. His hair is very disorganized for a man who often dresses in a professional fashion. Hiyu is said to carry a cane from an injury he obtained during the battle between the Equalists and Republic City.


Faction: Equalist
Bending: Swordsmanship bending

Spirituality: Very Spiritual- His discipline and belief in the Equality and fairness to all beings makes him so spiritual to most beings. It was particularly there during Amon's time, where Hiyu spent much time devoting himself to his spirituality and associating it with all beings as a method to down play its connection to benders.


History: Hiyu lived in a richer than average family. During his youth, Hiyu's family spent much of its time and money working as part of Cabbage Corp. Marketing. His family was very well off, but suffered during the time of Yakone because of it. After Yakone's fall, the Red Monsoons's grip on the Onten family would soon slip. Though it did not disappear. Even during Hiyu's youth, he would ignorantly wonder the discouraged look on his parent's face and fear when certain visitors would approach him as a child.

It was during his late teen years into his adult years when he became fully aware of what was happening. Early movements against benders lead him to help take action against the Red Monsoons himself. It was with the guidance of Amon himself, and the help of the Lieutenant that he was able to put an end to his family's subjugation. Hiyu's family was religious and thanked the spirits for their freedom. Maybe, it was Amon, and maybe he was an agent of the spirits.

Hiyu met his future wife within the Equalists and continued to work on his schooling and raise his rank in the Equalists. He was a peaceful soul, but felt even the Avatar's desire for peace misses a great social divide among people in Republic City and across the world. Amon was a controversial leader, but this charisma and his ability helped set forth a movement.

Hiyu's wife would soon leave the Equalists to raise their daughter. It was around that time that the Red Monsoons struck back against him. It is still not known how, but there was a rumor that Hiyu was an Equalist, and he needed to be made an example of. As irony would show it, the Red Monsoons would strike against the Equalists by hitting both Hiyu's wife and daughter with a Sato Mobile. Both survived, but Hiyu's wife was rushed to intensive care and has been placed in a coma. Hiyu's daughter was pushed receiving fairly minor injuries in comparison. Hiyu would become extremely protective of his daughter and took her where ever he went.

Hiyu soon raised to a high rank working on the Earth Kingdom around the time Amon was defeated. He could not believe his eyes and ears. Everything setting up for the future seemed in place, and somehow it all stopped. After that, his communications with the rest of the Equalists nearly stopped. Upon arriving back in Republic City, there were no organization left, and in its place segmented believers stuck between the religious belief of Amon's return and raw belief of non-bender's rights.

Hiyu spends his time now with virtually no sleep. He needs to watch his daughter, be a professor, and try to unite the Equalists to have any hope of stopping history from repeating itself with no changes.

Connections:
- Zenchen Godfri- Godfri was Hiyu's Co-Sergeant acting with the Equalists. Godfri has removed himself from the Equalists, but still remains an advocate for Equality in his silent manipulative way. He wishes peace for Hiyu and still remains a mountain of a man with tremendous power over chi, and a whimsical charismatic personality. Hiyu, still looks to him for support, but his support is limited. Zenchen does maintain his status as a professor and a senior professor travelling between the Earth Kingdom and the United Republic for seminars often.
- Koryu- Koryu- was Hiyu's Co-Sergeant acting with the Equalists who remained in Republic City during Amon's fall. He is the one that informed Hiyu about all the events that took place, including the fall of both the Lieutenant and Amon. He remains a constant present in the Equalists and a militant force to unite the factions. Unlike Hiyu, Koryu has disappeared from his civilian life to be a permanent equalist. Koryu is a dangerous fighter was also a professor just like Hiyu. They shared many of the same classes and were peers for much of each other's lives. Koryu is a master of hand to hand combat so terrifying that not even the chi-blockers wish to test his might.
- Onten Shiho- Hiyu's wife and former Equalist. She is said to be in a coma, and he believes it. Shiho was an Equalist in her youth, and a good one. She was talented and effective at gaining reconnaissance. She stepped down of her own free will knowing one of them would have to for their kid. Hiyu stayed partially for her and finds himself at a loss whether or not to say knowing his daughter is in danger. Unlike his family, Shiho's family knew that she was an Equalist and actually supported it. It gave a poor impoverished non-bender a relationship with an aristocrat of her dreams that she would never have met an put passion in her life. Hiyu supports her family, and her family assists him whenever possible in defense and care of his daughter and his Equalist endeavors.
TBA

SKILLZ WITH A Z What are you good at?
- Hiyu is a great teacher and an academic genius. He grew up with a sophisticated mind and always inquisitive to his surroundings. Adapting his thoughts naturally made him an artist, before he took to analyzing his surroundings on a different level. Hiyu has been a professor for 14 years now, and obtained Tenure in his institution. Hiyu became a professor of multiple subjects and even an instructor for swordplay.

When it became clear to him there would be war, he armed himself with a sword and became its master. Hiyu's grace and talent with his blade go almost unmatched. Despite his abilities with a killing weapon, he has yet to murder anyone with it. Along with that, he is a talented archer, long awaiting a newer projectile weapon that has yet to come.

Belongings: Hiyu owns his parent's house. His family's riches have mostly been donated towards the rebuilding of Republic City, ironically since he supported the army that destroyed it. Because of that, much of his wealth has been spent. His parents died naturally of old age mostly severing his ties with Cabbage Corp.

Hiyu does still own a Sato Mobile and often caries his own sword within his cane and carries another sword when allowed.

Hiyu has built his own connection to the underworld not far from his estate and very often carries a chance into Equalist equipment. Unlike most, his attire is customized and unique to himself. He dawns the general color and uniform style that allows for great agility, but carries a test armor proto-typed for Equalist use. This was the issued style to help ramp up defenses against bending attacks when city wide conflict with the bending triads turned into invading the other bending nations of the world.

Like most Equalists, he carries a net and caltrops made of bone and ivory to deal with traffic. Like most Equalists, he has a glove if necessary. Like most Equalists, he carries a grappling hook and rope to be able to move up buildings and across the rooftops. The very last resort he has is a smoke screen if necessary to escape. Among the Equalists, he can gain more, but rarely needs more than that. Often, even carrying all of that in one trip is heavy for him, so he rarely takes everything.

[Tera253]

because pleh managed to nag at me and I overcame a lazy spell and some other random shit. HEEEERE GOES!!!!! [/lotsOfExclamationPoints]

Name: Volka Nizhe Serenes "the blue-eyed firebender"
Age: 16
Gender: Female

Appearance: Volka is a small, (usually) unimposing figure who looks like any other kid on the street. While lacking in great vertical prowess, she has a somewhat rugged, athletic build in her as if she has some Water Tribe blood somewhere down her ancestry lines. While tan skin is possible amongst some firebenders, Volka's skin color also supports the aforementioned theory. she has dark brown hair and, incidentally, blue-eyes, a strange rarity among benders of her sort. However, it is not just the eyes or even her unusual name that makes her stand out. She also has dark-colored markings on her face and the front of her neck, which she just refers to as "Tribal Symbols." It is unclear where she got them, but her two best friends also have some that are very similar.
She dresses rather ordinarily, with tans and browns being her most common choice of color. she wears sturdy pants, large boots, and a jacket that she leaves unopen, but also seldom removes. When threatened out on the street, she has been seen to brandish "two huge sodding knives". her hair is usually kept in a ponytail, and she does not have any noteworthy scars or birthmarks.
(and yes, I made this image for this game, as opposed to taking a Mencu/TOAS picture. :B )

Faction: Fire (None)
Bending: Fire
Bending Prowess: PRO YO. Volka had aspired to be a probender in her childhood, and so knows a lot of the standard sportsmanlike moves. However, life on the streets has also taught her the unsportsmanlike moves, and her roguelike behavior has her doing whatever it takes to win, even if it's a very unsportsmanlike kick to the groin. She is a fairly competent bender, although the brief reign of the Equalists had her learning how to cope witho8ut her bending in a fight, should she ever lose it. She was lucky enough not to, but learned some useful skills without it in the meantime.

Spirituality: Oddly, Volka is actually very spiritual. She has her own rituals and prayers that she performs when she can spare the time, and these also seem to be Serenes Family traditions. She does not often talk about it, as she sees no need to try and explain her faith to those who do not believe and/or understand. She's not out to convert anyone anyways.

History: Volka was the eldest child of 5 in a family of nonbenders. her bending did not matter a great deal until the Equalist revolution began, and that was when slowly volka's normal life deteriorated and things took turns for the worse. as Equalist influence grew, so did the threat against her family, and perhaps the trouble they would face for "harboring a bender". An Equalist attack on their area of town left them homeless and almost cost Volka her freedom, but the aftermath of that incident was what turned Volka's life in a different direction. She agreed to part with her family, knowing that until the revolution was over, that it was for the greater good. She was 14 at the time.
Taking to the streets, Volka quickly learned the "laws of the land". she picked up new skills, honed older ones, and eventually got used to this niche in life. Having always been a rather "go-with-the-flow" type of girl, she always took the hand life dealt her, and made the best of it. However, she was not necessarily one to take crap from others, and so her fighting skills soon were revealed. after getting her hands on a couple of large knives, this only improved, and soon Volka became a decently-known kid on the block. She was never caught using her bending, and this was mostly because she seldom used it--just enough to keep her skills in check (and always alone... or sometimes with her two best friends).
Like minds attract each other, and she ran into two other children who had had similar fates. there was an older boy named Toka, who was an earthbender, and a younger girl named Arya, who was a waterbender. Both of them had the same roguish style of fighting as Volka, and both had been aspiring probenders. these similarities, as well as a few others, kept them sticking together, and soon they were well-liked among the alley-dwelling crowds--and well-respected. Volka's skill with knives did not go unnoticed, and neither did Toka's slightly unorthodox use of two swords, of all things. Arya, who carried an unimposing slingshot, could hit a man squarely between the eyes from 100 yards, or so the story went. They were certainly not the most powerful group of people in Republic City, or even in their shady part of town... but they could certainly hold their own, even if one of them was flying solo.
Once the Equalist Revolution was over, there was no telling where the families of any of them had gone off to, so the three of them stuck together for the most part. They were not inseparable, as they had lives and business to attend to, but they'd always touch back down at home base to check in with each other and rest up for their next adventure and whatnot. each of the three have marked their faces in some way.
Such is what Volka can be found doing, and the streets of Ol' Republic are where she can be found. In a way, these three are their own little "Triad", although they try to avoid criminal activity (the most they usually do is the occasional theft, and only for necessities) and typically don't attack unless it's in self-defense. with Volka as their leader, they are aware that she does not know where their lives are heading, but the three of them acknowledge that they'll tackle it one day at a time.

Connections: Life on the streets has Volka in some good connections with the undercity and the scum and villainy of the world. Her two closest friends are Toka, a 19-year-old Earthbender boy, and Arya, a 14-year-old Waterbender girl. The three have dreams of forming a probending team one day, although they do not think that the Equalist threat is quite over just yet.

SKILLZ WITH A Z: Those huge sodding knives that Volka has with her are not just for show. She knows how to use them and has fought off many a thug in the dirty back alleys of Ol' Republic. She has decent firebending skillz, and the life on the streets has given her an edge in hand-to-hand combat. her specialty is speed, and so while she's hardly likely to plunge the knife through someone, she's very likely to slash with it instead.

Belongings: Volka (as well as Toka and Arya) "own" a hovel in the undercity, but it is little more than a place to sleep and to take shelter from the elements. Otherwise, they own very minimal possessions. other than her clothing, Volka's main possessions are those knives.

Color: Mencu Green

Soooo... recap (man I am shameless)
Images:
Volka
Toka
Arya
UPDATE: COLORED VERSIONS
Volka
Toka
Arya
~Katara~

[Conzu]

Name: Kensei
Age: 34
Gender: Male

Appearance: He has very friendly and charismatic amber/golden eyes and a typical Fire Nation look (pale-ish skin, black hair, etc). Pic of him, but with this beard and with short hair (aside from the topknot). Wearing these dark red clothes (without the hat) with black pants, white knee-breeches and shining black leather shoes.

In cold weather he wears a crimson-red and black shaded inverness overcoat [pic 2]. He ties his hair in the typical Fire Nation topknot with matching golden hairpiece. Sometimes he wears a hat.

Faction: Equalist (Fire Nation-Taiping, EK); one of the founders and former leaders of the -now defunct- small Equalist faction in the FN.
Bending: Firebender - considered to be very powerful. Also knows how to chi-block. He doesn't like to bend -for obvious reasons- but still does so once in a while in order to hide his true loyalties.
Spirituality: Very spiritual, but not pro-Spirit World. Back in the Fire Nation he used to learn with the 'sages of old' (see here under Background > Spiritual tendencies') and was very devout in his worship of the spirits. Today he blames the Spirit World for aiding the Avatar in continuing the suffering and inequality of non-benders. He is also thinking of finding ways to somehow 'find help' in the darker side of the Spirit World in order to bring a halt to the inequality. "Perhaps Amon was a lie. But some spirits must surely be able to help."

History: Read this first.
Even though he was raised among the Fire Nation nobles Kensei had always been a good hearted and people-loving person. Besides the love for his people and nation that was instilled by his Fire Nation and bending supremacist parents, he always known there was more than this. He always felt that his father's love for the poor wasn't real. A fact which he would later find out himself. It was a 'necessary evil' his father used to say.

Even though Kensei firmly believed every single word his grandparents, parents and teachers told him, he always felt that something was missing. ˜Something' which he found during one of his many business trips to Republic City. One day, he met with a charismatic man with a sad and troubled past. This man told him about the real problems in the world. About the social and political inequality. And especially about the misguided perception of morals and ethics. This man told Kensei about the harm benders had done to this world. About how even the Spirits were displeased with the current state of the world.. of mankind in general.

The two spoke for many hours. Hours that turned into days, even into weeks. After returning to the Fire Nation they still corresponded frequently. Throughout the years he began to realize how right his friend was. And so, years after first meeting his mustached friend [read: the Lieutenant], he finally met someone who 'had the answer to all our problems. The man who could make equality a reality'. So he said. That was when Kensei first met Amon.

After this meeting Kensei's life changed totally. He returned to the Fire Nation with new beliefs. But most importantly, he returned to the Fire Nation as a complete human being. He was finally at peace with himself. It wasn't hard for him to realize how benders had ruined the world. His own family, his forefathers, were all benders who used their 'special gift' to oppress, kill and conquer other people. He knew what was wrong and what was to be done. However, Amon told him that the time wasn't right yet for him to be purified. During this time he only spoke to his youngest brother, who was still a child, about these kind of things. Hoping to save him from their family's evil legacy.

***
During this period Kensei traveled a lot back and forth Republic City and the Fire Nation, setting up an underground Equalist network in the Fire Nation, and joining the Equalist leadership in Republic City; becoming one of Amon's advisers. Needless to say all of this was strictly secret. No one, except for Kensei's wife, knew about these changes. In Republic City, Kensei, who was the president of his family's Golden Dragon Company, donated big time to the Equalist movement and financed a lot of her experiments. But, he had to do it from behind the scenes. Even in Republic City no one, aside from those close to its leadership, were allowed to see Lord Kensei Huo of the Fire Nation to be together with any of the Equalist leaders - let alone Amon himself.

After the Equalists' takeover of Republic City things seemed to change. The final day of purification had finally been set by Amon. Kensei, his wife and children would be publicly purified in a mega-ceremony. But fate decided otherwise: Amon fell exactly two weeks before the life-changing event.

The Equalists' hope was crushed. Their, including Kensei's, world seemed to collapse. But they didn't give up hope. Though this led to disunity and in-fighting. Kensei returned to the Fire Nation and would lead the 'Loyalist-faction into violent terrorist attacks against several bending institutions in the Fire Nation. This continued for almost four months. Ironically, the attacks didn't stop because of the Fire Nation's security forces. It stopped because of a disagreement between the Fire Nation Equalist leadership. The infighting in the Fire Nation faction forced Kensei and his family to move out of their homeland. He couldn't stand the 'cowardice' and 'appeasing' attitude of those who called themselves Equalists, and started to accuse them of being collaborators. They, on the other hand, accused him -who was still a bender- of being an extremist; some even came up with conspiracy theories of him secretly being a collaborator seeking harsher punishments for them after being caught.

Aside from the Equalists no one knows about Kensei's secret Equalist and terrorist ties. In fact, his descent and family of supremacist firebending nobles serves as the perfect cover-up for all of his activities, and erases all eventual doubt of his 'loyalty' to both the Fire Nation and bending causes.

Kensei, his wife and his children arrived in Republic City 4.5 months ago but continued their exodus a week later. They moved to Taiping, a small town deep in the mountains of the North Eastern part of the Earth Kingdom, very close to Kensei's new-founded business. This town had a large non-bending population of whom many used to be followers of Amon. A fair amount of 'loyalists' who shared Kensei's beliefs also moved to this town. Supporters of other -more liberal- Equalist factions weren't welcomed so nicely in this town. Whether Noatak was a bending conspirator and the real Amon was in jail or not' is still a debate among Taiping's (former-)Equalists. Some hold on to the religious belief that Amon would return; while others do hope so, but are not so sure of this possibility. All of them, however, do agree that as of now it is up to them.

--
Upon moving out of the Fire Nation Kensei had given up his position as president of his family's Golden Dragon Company in the Fire Nation. The reasons he gave were health and personal reasons, he said he needed more rest and more time to spend with his family (which was all true). Instead, he had used his connections to set up his own company; in fact he had already secretly been working on this for years, since he knew that one day he would had to cut ties with his supremacist family. The new company called 'Taiping Resources', mines and exports coals, iron, platinum, gold, silver and precious stones from the Earth Kingdom mountains to anywhere in the world. They also cut wood from the gigantic forests and export those within the Earth Kingdom and the United Republic.

Connections:
Lin-ai (f), wife, 33
Shoji (m), son, 11
Azulon (m), son, 8
Ilah (f) daughter, 6
Shinu (m), son, 3

Qin (m) 38 - Older brother, president of the Golden Dragon Company. Lives in the Fire Nation.
Shu (m) 14 - Youngest brother, very much influenced by Kensei's Equalist teachings (though he never speaks about it). Lives in the Fire Nation with his parents.
Sir Hikei Huo (m) 88 - Father and head of the Huo family. Supremacist Fire Nation noble. Lives in FN.
Fire Nation Royal Court and basically anyone of Fire Nation nobility.
Lots of people in the Fire Nation military (at least the high ranking people).
TBA

The former Equalist leadership
Hiyu - knows him from Amon's days.
Koryu - knows him from Amon's days.
Zenchen Godfri - knows him from Amon's days.
Agni Kai leadership - Because of Kensei's bending supremacist and well-known background he is familiar with the firebending crimebosses.
TBA

(Taiping-)Equalist Community:

Spoiler: show

The town of Taiping is a secret Equalist stronghold, yet it exists out of individual people who share more-or-less the same beliefs. Although there are several groups they are leaderless and not organized (though there will probably be a few 'wise men' they look up to). Naturally there are also many 'neutral' (former-)Equalists.

Those who are not neutral are divided in several groups with violent ideologies. Three mainstream groups and two split-offs.

1. The Amonists, or 'believers' (for a lack of a better name) - These believe in Amon's glorious return.
2. The Rationalists - They believe Amon is dead, and that he was the traitor Noatak. Obviously, they don't believe in his return.
3. Loyalists - They believe Noatak was a good bender with the best intentions at heart. They are divided on whether he will return or not.

Split-offs:
4. Spiritualists - They don't talk about whether Amon was real or not. Their main issue is with the Spirit World in whom they are deeply disappointed. But they do believe there must be some spirits who are willing to join their cause; even if it is only to punish the arrogant benders. They mostly look into the 'forbidden part' of the Spirit World.

This group is often under fire by the Amonists.

5. The Extremists (as they are called by the other groups) - A handful of people who believe Noatak was a traitor. For them, Noatak's betrayal is the perfect example of the benders' evilness. They believe annihilation of all benders, no matter their loyalties, is the only solution to bring equality.

This group often clashes with all other factions.

- All of the Taiping factions do agree on a violent (i.e terrorist) opposition of the bending regimes.

- The small Taiping policeforce is infiltrated by several Equalists, thus preventing them from being discovered and often causing the police to turn a blind eye towards certain crimes.

- Kensei isn't part of any faction or organized group. Outside from his own family he has never spoken about what Equalist-ideology (#1, #2, #3 or #4) he adheres to; always wanting to remain neutral. Kensei is on good terms with people from the first four factions.

SkillZ: He's good with mechanics, crafting weapons, calligraphy, drawing/painting and teaching. Kensei was born with all the makings of a good and charismatic leader, which is why people always willingly followed and listened to him (see old profile for more on this). Qualities that also come in handy in the business world.

He's also considered a prodigy in the art of the sword. Even though nowadays he only uses it as a sport. He would often favor the Equalist weapons, in which he is also quite experienced, though he hasn't had the need to use them for quite a while now. Knowledgeable in the dirty politics and behavior of nobility, the art of war, and being trained by the Fire Nation's best in martial arts' Kensei has never been an easy target for his enemies. Throughout the years of secretly being an Equalist' he also learned how to block someones chi.

Belongings: He has his own large house in the mountain town of Taiping where he lives with his family, a fancy car, and most importantly... a bank account.

He also wears a wedding ring on his right hand. Traditionally they didn't have wedding rings in the Fire Nation. But being influenced by modern society in Republic City he and his wife chose to purchase one later on in their marriage.

Also carries a golden pocket watch - with a family picture inside- on the waistcoat.

[Pleh]

Wanted to draw attention to the new universal Equalist info I put in the OP.

Cheers.

[Snake of the South]

For the sake of not having to have my character talk to himself most of the time, I'm making two characters. The perspective of my posts will almost always be in Suluk's point of view. I'll only write from Tikanni's if someone else's character wishes to speak with her or etc.

Name: Suluk
Age: 26
Gender: Male

Appearance: 6 feet tall and 160 lbs with brown skin, crystal blue eyes, long brown hair with the back of it tied into a wolf's tail , athletic body build, and a somewhat thin beard that trails gracefully along his chin and jawline. In cold climates, he wears the typical Water Tribe gear consisting of his white and blue fur coat, fur boots, dark blue pants, a navy colored under-shirt, and a classic Water Tribe tunic-thingy on top of the under-shirt. In warmer climates, he ditches all the cold gear and just wears his pants, his tunic, and dark leather boots. With his sleeveless tunic on, a long, crooked scar runs down his left arm from a run-in with a polar bear when he was 14.

Faction: Northern Water Tribe
Bending: Water
Bending Prowess: Pro, yo.
Spirituality: Spiritual. He believes the ocean and the moon spirits watch over him and his people, but the spirits don't rule over his life. His parents and culture mainly implanted his spirituality into him and thus when he was younger, he tried to escape being spiritual. However, stories of Avatar Aang and Suluk's own experiences as he got older led him to embrace the ways of the Northern Water Tribe.

History: Suluk was born and raised in the Northern Water Tribe with a loving mother and father. With his ability to Waterbend discovered at an early age, he was quickly put into lessons to develop his gift. When he was around 11 years old he met a girl named Tikanni whom quickly became his best friend. Unlike all of his other friends, Tikanni was a nonbender. But as a kid, Suluk held the belief that everyone had the ability to bend and frequently tried to teach Tikanni all the stuff he learned in his classes. He quickly excelled in his lessons with a clear talent for the art of bending. When he was 14, he went on his first hunt alone, but the polar bear won and he barely made it back to the tribe alive.

It wasn't until he got older that he began to hear the winds speak of Equality and change. The notion that benders held themselves higher than nonbenders was puzzling to him given that his best friend was a nonbender. The rampant increase of technology in the world also seemed to go over his head. He wasn't interested in airships or Sato-Mobiles. All he was interested in was finding a purpose for himself. Suluk was a thinker and was beginning to realize that most of the things that made him "Suluk" had been fabricated by his family and culture. While this necessarily wasn't a bad thing, he was his own person and wanted to make his own life.Though he was more than welcomed to find a place within his home, Suluk knew his destiny was outside of the North Pole.

Now 19 years old, Suluk made his way toward the docks to seek his new destiny. His departure was cut short though by a teary-eyed and disgruntled Tikanni. She didn't know he was leaving and that only made her more upset. Instead, she had sought him out to show him her betrothal necklace. Tikanni had no clue what he looked or acted like and just knew that she was going to have to marry him. She wanted Suluk to do something about it, but he calmly told her there wasn't anything he could do. Suluk let her know that he was off to find himself and was leaving everything behind. He untied his band holding together his wolf's tail and gave it to her as a memento of their decade of friendship. With that done, he left his bawling friend on her knees in the street as he ran off to the docks to catch the next ship to the Earth Kingdom.

Many years passed as Suluk traveled the Earth Kingdom working odd jobs to meet end's meet and fund his travels. It wasn't until he was 26 that his past caught up with him in the form of his old best friend. She had found him in a coastal town having apparently escaped her marriage. Tikanni had also taken to traveling, partly wanting to find Suluk during her journey. The two had seen a great deal of the world now and eventually decided it would be for the best if they both made the journey to the metropolis of Republic City and hopefully find their destiny there.

Skills:He's skilled with water obviously. He has a good poker face and is familiar with knives and other Water Tribe hunting tools. Suluk has a knack for sweet talking himself out of bad situations. He's also very decisive and knows when to make a choice.

Connections: Tikanni, his mom and dad, his old master, and a few of his friends.

Belongings: His clothes, a sleeping bag, some meat from animals he's hunted, a knife, several Earth Kingdom silver pieces, and a knapsack he keeps all his stuff in.

Color: #40BFFF

----------------

Name: Tikanni
Age: 23
Gender: Female

Appearance: 5'6" tall and 125 lbs with light brown skin and teal eyes. Her black hair is long and wavy, crowned with a light blue sailor's bandana on top. Tikanni's face is very feminine and sometimes her good looks get her into more trouble than they should. Her body is very lithe, but not really all that muscular. Her wardrobe mirrors that of Suluk's. In the cold, she wears her blue and white fur coat with heavy pants and boots over what she would normally wear in places without snow. When in warmer places, she can be found wearing navy blue pants with leather shoes and a lighter blue long sleeve shirt. She rolls the sleeves up when it gets too hot. Her clothes appear a little baggy on her since she stole them from a man to run away from home.

Faction: Northern Water Tribe
Bending: Nonbender
Spirituality: Not Spiritual. Fate hasn't exactly been kind to her and she believes if there were spirits, the bad things that have happened in the world and to herself would never have happened.

History: Tikanni grew up in the Northern Water Tribe. Her mother had passed away during her birth and her father was an important man in the Tribe as he was on the council. It was her nanny who primarily raised her since her father was always busy. Tikanni also had trouble making friends with other girls her age. Thus, she lived a quiet childhood until she met a boy named Suluk. He was older than her and a waterbender which instantly made him the coolest boy on the planet. Suluk would even try to teach her how to bend until the one day when her father just so happened to catch them. He forbid her from ever seeing Suluk again, but since her father was always busy, she just became more careful with sneaking around.

When she became 16, her father took a new interest in her. Now she was the age to be married off. But it wouldn't be a marriage of love but rather politics that were in the interest of her father. She was presented with an engagement proposal complete with a necklace from the messenger of her soon-to-be fiance. Distraught that her whole life was about to be thrown away, she ran off in tears searching for Suluk. He had always had the answers and surely he would have them this time. But he didn't - he was actually leaving her behind for his own destiny. He gave her his hair-knot-thingy to remember him by and set off on his way. Though upset, her last conversation with Suluk resonated with her. She wanted what he wanted. So she snuck out and used what "bending" her best friend had taught her to subdue a sailor by the docks, steal his clothes, and jump on the ship to get the hell out of there. Deep down she hoped she would run into Suluk one day and give him a piece of her mind for ditching her.

She finally did come across her old friend after several years had passed. Tikanni had traveled the Earth Kingdom quite a bit by then, never bothering to find new clothes. Instead of berate him for leaving her, she was happy to see him. So much that she wanted to travel in his company now. The two then set out for Republic City. After all, if the Avatar had been there, surely there was something to be found there for themselves.

Skills: She knows tai-chi or basically waterbending without the water. Meaning she's exceptionally good in hand to hand combat. She has a certain charm about her that makes it difficult to say no to her (especially if you're a guy). She's also good at painting.

Connections: Suluk, her nanny, her father (not on speaking terms)

Belongings: Her clothes, a satchel, her diary/sketchbook, a couple of Earth Kingdom copper pieces, and her most treasured possession.

[Kataang6201]

Would there be the opportunity for my character to be a pilot, or has most (if not all) Equalist technology been removed/destroyed and/or has not yet been excepted by the world?

Also, my color [color=#FF0000]

[weelildragon]

The first plane was invented quite a bit before Korra.
Aang was only 112 (he spent 100 years in the iceberg, so really just 12) years old when he first came across a plane.

We're now rougly 100 years in the future.

[Kataang6201]

Technically, that is a glider, as to what specifies an aircraft or airplane is powered flight.

[Pleh]

Psh. Who's gonna throw away airplanes just because Amon used them first? If nothing else, that's only MORE reason for the government to appropriate a copy of their designs to build their own airforce defense.

You can totally be a pilot.

[Kataang6201]

Fair enough, I see your point. Though, considering that no one is (currently, I think?) at war, what other uses would the aircraft have, seeing as that since the telegraph as already been invented, they wouldn't be needed for air-mail service. The most I see them being used for is just training or just being stationed in RC.

This also depends on how much further advanced the aircraft have also become, due to the obvious: More Advanced = More Options, regardless of the time period being something like late 20's, early 30's.

[Pleh]

Just because we're not currently in a time of war doesn't mean RC doesn't have a military force on standby. Also, just because text messages can be transmitted via radio or telegraph doesn't mean that physical packages can. Plus, there's always a need for experts in flying to the most remote and difficult to reach locales in the world.

Not to mention there's a small market for stunt pilots.

[Tera253]

so... for the smash bros style thing, do I jump in, or do I wait for the next battle?

~Sokka~

[Kataang6201]

Fair enough. I can't argue with any of the logic there.

[weelildragon]

so... for the smash bros style thing, do I jump in, or do I wait for the next battle?

~Sokka~

I think there's only one arena. Though there could be training grounds somewhere. The only difference would be the absence of a crowd.

More options:
Your character could reminisce about the last match.
Your character could also study your opponents moves from a distance.
*Jaws leaves a lot of opportunities to strike.
* Bin is reluctant to strike.
Your character could be sizing up her opponent.

Waiting for me and Pleh to finish could be difficult. My character is really trying to drag things out. (Then again Jaws is doing the opposite and is trying to force Bin to fight harder)