Nations and Geography

Geography of the World

The World of Avatar is divided into four independent nations: the Air Nomads, the Water Tribe, the Earth Kingdom, and the Fire Nation. Each location has unique physical geography, landmarks, climates, and demography which conform to the quality or attributes of the nation's corresponding element. The Air Nomads have four temples located in the north, south, east, and west of the Earth. There are two main Water Tribes, situated north and south of the Earth Kingdom, the most expansive and populated state in the world. The Fire Nation is located in the west of the world and is an archipelago of volcanic islands. Each nation has a predominant season, and geography has a great influence on the customs and culture of each country. In the central location of the world lies Imperial City, a city created by Avatars past to promote harmony, with benders and non-benders of all types living together among the city.

Air Nomads

Air Nomads is a collective term for a nation of people who practice the discipline of airbending. One of the four major nations, the Air Nomads were wanderers by definition, but later built four air temples, one at each corner of the globe, hidden away atop mountain ranges in the northern Earth Kingdom and on three remote islands. The theocratic Air Nomads are home to a monastic order of men and women who practiced airbending. Unlike the other nations, the people of the Air Nomads are, without any seen exception, all benders due to the high level of spirituality of their people.

The Air Nomads are a peaceful race who live in large temples and travel the world on flying bison. They are the most spiritual of all the cultures and live in harmony with nature. They also are fun-loving and have a strong sense of humor.

The Air Nomads make up the smallest of the four nations in the world. They have a small economy, based entirely on limited agriculture. The population of the Air Nomads is small compared to even the Water Tribe and is far smaller than either of the world's two major powers, the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom.

Origin

In the era of Raava, ancestors of the Air Nomads received the element of air from lion turtles that granted the bending art through energybending. They could request the ability whenever they ventured into the Spirit Wilds, to aid in the gathering of food and resources. Unlike people from other lion turtle cities, the first airbenders coexisted harmoniously with the spirits and demonstrated great respect and understanding of spiritual matters. These people eventually formed the first Air Nomads after the lion turtles renounced their roles as protectors of mankind. At this point, the ancestors of the first Air Nomads left the lion turtle cities in favor of establishing temples in all four corners of the globe.

Several observances of the first Air Nomads remain integral in the nation's culture, notably in shaving the head to allow for the display of symbolic tattoos. Even prior to mastering and developing skill over airbending, the concept of evasion is also commonly practiced, as a group of gatherers demonstrated when they fled from Wan. However, unlike future generations of Air Nomads, the members of the population were not segregated by gender.

Appearance

Before the era of the Avatar, the predecessors of the Air Nomads symbolized their belief, by doing the same traditions such as the tattoos yet in a different manner. The tattoos were more polygonal shape with a dot. The clothing that the men wore were orange cloth as a top and yellow as a bottom. Women wore different clothing, yet with the same traditional colors.

The Air Nomads today wear yellow, orange and brown clothing. Young airbenders wear orange shawls over long-sleeved yellow shirts, an orange sash, double-layered pants with brown underneath and a loose yellow layer on top, and high boots that reach just below the knees. Older monks wear long robes in shades of yellow and orange, as well as wooden necklaces with the Air Nomad insignia carved into it. Most Air Nomads have gray or brown eyes and a light complexion.

Young boys to be trained as monks have shaven heads, while monk elders grow beards and mustaches; they had the longest and most prominent facial hair of any nation. Female airbenders do not fully shave their heads, just their foreheads so their arrow is visible. It has been shown that when not shaven, Air Nomads have black or brown hair.

Airbenders who have attained a level of mastery in the art are marked with arrow tattoos, based on the arrows of the sky bison, the first airbenders. A primary arrow tattoo is placed on their shaven head that extends down their back, along with four others, one on each limb that terminates in an arrowhead at the hands and feet.

The arrows mark the paths through which chi travels through the body. Because of this, when an Air Nomad Avatar tattooed in this fashion enters the Avatar State, these tattoos are known to glow, along with the Avatar's eyes and mouth. If the body has received an injury deeper than the tattoo, that spot will no longer glow while in the Avatar State.

National Emblem

The Air Nomad insignia is a stylized, swirling orb. Within the circle, coiling lines illustrate the wind. The symbol can be seen on the design of doors and surfaces in the air temples, as well as on pendants of monks' prayer beads.

The Air Nomad flag is a banner held between two wooden poles. The center of the banner is emblazoned with the Air Nomad insignia.

Geography

In the era before the Avatar, the precursors of the Air Nomads lived on top of lion turtles. After leaving the lion turtle city, they were situated on remote mountains in large temples. There are four temples in all, one for each direction on the compass. Two are for and run by males and two are for and run by females. The young boys of the Southern Air Temple are known to travel to the Eastern Air Temple in order to choose their own personal sky bison. This was considered an important choice as the intelligent animals would be with the choosing airbenders for the rest of their lives.

Culture

While other nations possess royalty and are run by monarchies, the Air Nomads are led by the senior monks and nuns of the air temples. Due to the peaceful teachings of their leaders, the nature of the people is calm and tranquil.

The Air Nomads are the only nation comprised entirely of benders, due to the highly spiritual nature of their lives. Meditation is an important part of the airbenders' daily routines, as it helps them to focus their energies and understand the potency of their element. Due to their high spirituality, the monks believe that hope was only a distraction.

It has been mentioned that they have a good sense of humor, something demonstrated when the monks employ a teaching method for airbending skills, accurately blowing fruit pies onto other monks' heads as a prank. This activity is useful training and a fun game combined.

The arrow tattoos adorning an Air Nomad's body signifies that he or she has mastered airbending. This is an emulation of the natural arrows on the heads of flying bison, who can naturally airbend and are the original teachers of the art, much like the badgermole is to the earthbenders. Aspiring airbenders have no tattoos and in order to receive the tattoos as well as the title of a master, an airbender must pass the thirty-six levels of airbending or engineer a new technique.

Season

Each nation of the four nations is influenced by their own distinct, dominant season, in which their bending is at its peak. Autumn is the dominant season of the Air Nomad race. Airbenders are thus at their strongest in this season. More Air Nomad children are born during autumn than any other season, all retaining bending abilities.

Natural Resources and Food

As could be determined, air is the main power source and natural resource of the Air Nomads. Luckily, air is everywhere, so it is nearly impossible to deprive them of their power source. With the power of air channeled under their control, the airbenders can defend and protect their homes and way of life. Not only can they protect their livelihoods, but these nomads can also ride on their sky bison and glide in the open air, for both leisure and travel. Because the Air Nomads believe all life was precious, they are peaceful vegetarians. They do not seem to mind, however, eating eggs and dairy products. They are also known to make sweet dishes such as pies. The Air Nomads sell their pies for money―at one silver piece each―and all the profits are given to charity.

The Air Nomads are a tranquil people endeavoring to preserve the environment around them. Any industry that they invest in, such as farming and gardening, is powered naturally. 

Politics

Government system: Ecclesiocracy.

Head of State and Government: Two Councils of Monks (one Northern and one Southern) and two Councils of Sisters (one Eastern and one Western).

Religious Authority: Two Councils of Monks (one Northern and one Southern) and two Councils of Sisters (one Eastern and one Western).

Military

Contrary to the popular belief in other nations, the Air Nomads do not have any form of military. In fact, they believe in peace and non-violence. Although the Air Nomads do not have any organized fighting force, they still prove to be formidable opponents. Because they are pacifists, Air Nomads lead peaceful lives and avoid conflict when possible, though are willing to fight when there is no other option left to take.

Notable Locations

• Eastern Air Temple
• Northern Air Temple
• Southern Air Temple
• Western Air Temple

Water Tribe

The Water Tribe is a collective term for the nation of people who practice the art of waterbending. It is one of the four nations and its citizens primarily inhabit the most northerly regions of the Northern hemisphere and the most southerly regions of the Southern hemisphere, though many people of Water Tribe ethnicity also live in the Imperial City. There is also a small community of waterbenders that populate the Foggy Swamp in the Earth Kingdom, although they have been isolated from their sister tribes for generations and others are largely unaware of their existence.

The people of the Water Tribe are peaceful. They strive to live in harmony with nature and the other nations of the world. There are two primary divisions of the Water Tribe, the Northern Tribe and the Southern Tribe, although both tribes are ultimately governed by the Northern chieftan.

Waterbenders use their abilities for defense, never for aggression. Despite their peaceful nature, if they are threatened then they will act accordingly, and can be a powerful enemy.

The Water Tribe is less powerful than both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, due to its population size, geographic location, and economy. Its economy is very small and dependent on ocean resources, which can be attributed to the relatively small population of the Water Tribe.

Origin

In the era of Raava, predecessors of the Water Tribe received the element of water from lion turtles that granted the bending art through energybending. They could request the ability whenever they ventured into the Spirit Wilds, to aid in the gathering of food and resources. These people eventually congregated to form the Water Tribe after the lion turtles renounced their roles as protectors of mankind. At this point, the ancestors of the first tribesmen left the lion turtle cities in favor of establishing settlements centered in the North Pole, despite the fact that some of the cities from which the people of the Water Tribe originated were located in tropical regions.

Nevertheless, several aspects of life and observances practiced by the predecessors of the first members of the Water Tribe became part of the nation's culture, such as their dependence on water for sustenance. Furthermore, the implementation of blue, dome-like structures still remains as an integral part of Water Tribe architecture. However, there were also several differences; as the predecessors of the Water Tribe lived in regions of more temperate climate than the modern Water Tribes, their clothing and weaponry were completely unlike that of the later polar Water Tribes. Instead, these aspects of their culture bore certain resemblance to the early Fire Nation's culture. The ancestors of the Water Tribes also participated in the wars of Avatar Wan's time, fighting firebenders in the process. Eventually, they relocated to the North Pole and formed several independent tribes. These tribes were later united by a group of waterbenders, who built a city as center and capital for the Water Tribe. This unity declined after a time of civil unrest, however, and a group of secessionists journeyed to the South Pole to engender a new tribe. Thus, the Water Tribe split into the Northern and Southern Water Tribe, leading to a cultural and political division that continues to this day.

Appearance

Ethnically homogeneous, members of both tribes typically have blue or gray eyes, light or deep brown hair, sometimes black, and a light brown skin tone. Water Tribe clothing is usually a set of blue anorak and trousers lined and trimmed with white fur, accompanied by mittens and mukluks. Men may wear their hair long and half-up or in short ponytails, also known as "warrior's wolf tails". Women plait and braid their hair in various styles, sometimes with accent beads, and many sport "hair loopies" in various styles. In the Southern Water Tribe, women have been shown wearing their hair back in a bun with a decorative band. In the Northern Water Tribe, males appear to wear a darker blue than those of the Southern Water Tribe, and royalty often wear purple. Their influences and sometimes appearances are drawn greatly from Inuit and Native American fashion. In the Foggy Swamp Tribe, inhabitants wear simple leaf-hats, loincloths, and wristbands, all in green, reflecting the color of the water and their surroundings, and sometimes they also use wooden armor.

National Emblem

The national emblem of the Water Tribe is a circle comprised of a waning crescent moon and three wavy horizontal lines representing ocean water. The emblem represents the relationship between Tui and La, the Moon and Ocean Spirits, who exist in perfect harmony with one another, like Yin and Yang. The Water Tribes' belief in peaceful cooperation between nations stems from the relationship between these two spirits, and this ideal is further exemplified on the insignia. It is displayed on the pennant of the watchtower in a small Southern Water Tribe village, and is common in the architecture of the Northern Water Tribe. However, in the Foggy Swamp Tribe, this symbol is not found due to the lack of communication with the other tribes.

Customs

In the Northern Water Tribe, women are of marrying age at the age of sixteen. Males who wish to marry females gift them with a traditional betrothal necklace. This signifies that the woman is to be married. The ceremony is completely organized by the parents, and marriage of free choice is not practiced. However, in the Southern Water Tribe, it seems that people are allowed to choose their own spouses.

When they turn fourteen, Southern Water Tribe boys are taken on a rite of passage known as ice dodging, a sport where they must control a ship in turbulent water riddled with large, haphazard chunks of ice. After completing the ritual, they are given marks of honor: the Mark of the Brave, the Mark of the Wise, and the Mark of the Trusted.

The names of the Southern and Northern Tribes' citizens often include one or two "K"s and have an "AH" sound (Katara, Hakoda, Sokka, Pakku, Kya, Kuruk, Kanna, Arnook, Korra, Tarrlok, Yakone, Noatak, Eska, Varrick etc.), such as happens in Fire Nation with the letter "Z". However, this does not happen in the Foggy Swamp Tribe.

Season

Each of the four nations is influenced by their own distinct, dominant season. The Water Tribe's dominant season is winter. To an effect, more waterbenders are born during winter than any other season and their waterbending is at its peak during the winter due to the longer nights and freezing conditions. In actuality, both polar tribes experience winter-like weather consistently, with snow falling year-round.

Natural Resources

Inhabiting frozen poles near the seas, the Water Tribes are dependent on the oceans for a majority of their natural resources as well as the bounty of the frozen tundra. Sea prunes are a favorite, while giant sea crabs are considered a delicious delicacy to those in the Northern Sea. Sea squid is a popular food that can be made into a variety of things, including sea squid soup. Seaweed can be used to make seaweed bread, seaweed soup, or seaweed sprinkles to top seaweed cookies. When traveling, blubbered seal jerky is a common snack to take along.

Skins from seals are used to create tents in the Southern Water Tribe. Pelts from polar bears and other furry animals are used as clothing and to cover barren surfaces. Naturally, hunters and fishermen of the Water Tribes are some of the best in the world in their field.

The Foggy Swamp Tribe uses the plants and fauna in their swamp to meet their needs; they eat small game, such as possum chicken, fish, and giant insects.

Government

System: Tribal Chiefdom.

Head of state/Head of government: Northern Tribal chief.

Military

As a result of the strong customary theme expressed by the two major sects, the Water Tribes' military is nowhere near the level of the military formations of the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation. Nevertheless, the tribes exhibit deep pride and willpower typical of a warrior race.

All adult male tribe members are fully-trained warriors. Their weaponry includes clubs, bladed boomerangs, spears made of bone (also used in spearfishing), scimitars, and machetes laced with whale teeth on the dull side of the blade. Water Tribe warriors typically wear black and white war paint on their entire face before going into battle. Waterbending warriors of the Northern Tribe are all masters of their element and wear face masks to cover their mouths and hoods. Warriors of the Northern Tribe paint their faces with three lines of red on their forehead.

The more organized Northern Water Tribe makes use of armories located on the warrior training grounds which serve as weapons storage and war planning rooms where orders are distributed. Their waterbenders engineer and utilize a countless amount of iceberg spikes scattered across the ocean just outside the city as a first line of defense. The spikes are capable of ripping through solid metal and sinking even the largest ships. The currents in the iceberg fields are known to be extremely dangerous, but are easily traversed by Water Tribe vessels. The iceberg spikes themselves are also used as cover for warriors to hide behind, enabling to easily ambush any unwanted visitors.

Ships

The ships of the Southern Water Tribe are cutter sailing ships, containing wooden hulls and utilizing the wind for propulsion. The boats are operated by at least two people, one to maintain the main sail and one to control the jib, a smaller sail at the rear. The ships appear to be designed more for use as transport vessels than for combat.

The Northern Water Tribe's most common ship is a double-hulled vessel powered by waterbending. Its small, compact size enables it to be used for a variety of applications, including transporting civilians across the canals within the city, although it is primarily used for short, open ocean trips. Even though it is not necessarily designed for long voyages, it is capable of being used to travel over a thousand miles and withstanding the harshest ocean conditions. Warriors use this ship to patrol and protect the waters just outside the Northern Water Tribe.

The Foggy Swamp Tribe uses skiffs as a means of transportation; they are utilized for hunting as opposed to combat and are powered via waterbending.

Notable Locations

• Foggy Swamp
• Northern Water Tribe City
• Southern Water Tribe City

Earth Kingdom

The Earth Kingdom is one of the world's four nations. Spanning an entire continent as well as several subsidiary islands, it is the largest and most populated sovereignty in the World of Avatar, and encompasses much of the eastern hemisphere. The kingdom is ruled by a federal constitutional monarchy which operates under the rule of a king or queen.

The people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong and adhere to a philosophy of peaceful coexistence and cooperation with the other nations of the world. Earthbenders use their abilities for defense and industry and are renowned for their ferocious defence against invaders. It also has a large economy based on agriculture and limited industry, though it is not as economically powerful as the Fire Nation, which benefits from advanced technology.

The Earth Kingdom is characterized by significant ethnic and cultural diversity, a consequence of the country's vast territorial expanse. As a result, it suffers from high levels of local autonomy and ethnic conflict, both of which began accelerating as the central government grew weak. Despite this division, the people's recognition of the Earth Kingdom as a single political entity is largely strengthened through the communal belief in a shared history and identity.

Origin

In the era of Raava, predecessors of the Earth Kingdom received the element of earth from lion turtles that granted the bending art through energybending. They could request the ability whenever they ventured into the Spirit Wilds, to aid in the gathering of food and resources. These people eventually congregated to form the Earth Kingdom after the lion turtles renounced their roles as protectors of mankind. At this point, the ancestors of the first Earth Kingdom citizens left the lion turtle cities in favor of establishing settlements throughout the mainland.

Several aspects of life and observances practiced by the predecessors of the first citizens of the Earth Kingdom became part of the nation's culture, notably in the creation of fortified strongholds constructed out of earth, akin to the structures seen in lion turtle cities populated by early Earth Kingdom citizens.

Appearance

Citizens of the Earth Kingdom tend to have black or brown hair; green, brown, or gray eyes; and often have dark skin tones, though many nobles have lighter complexions.

Traditional colors worn throughout the kingdom range from vibrant greens and yellows to more muted beiges and browns. The people usually style their hair comfortably for work or elaborately for striking impressions. Members of the army wear green and beige uniforms that may have yellow touches to them, and they hide their hair in a conical helmet. However, fashions in the Earth Kingdom vary greatly from one region to another. In the West and South, men typically wear their hair in a top-knot, ornamented with various holders and pins, and they often have beards and/or mustaches. Women living in western and southern parts of the Earth Kingdom wear their hair down or piled on top of their head. In Ba Sing Se, however, women usually wear their long hair wrapped around a support, embellished with tassels or flowers; men usually don a plain queue. Omashu citizens typically wear tunics over a long robe or pants, with their hair hidden by a small turban or hat. Farmers and other laborers wear conical straw hats secured to their heads by a string to protect them from the sun.

National Emblem

The national emblem of the Earth Kingdom is a square inscribed with a circle, at the center of which is a much smaller square (like a Chinese coin or the 'Rock' Pai Sho tile). Its many layers symbolize the "depth" of the Earth Kingdom, both literally and figuratively; the insignia represents the "immeasurable layers of deep rock and minerals which earthbenders manipulate to maintain their great cities", as well as the depth of the inhabitants' commitment toward a peaceful and productive way of life. This emblem can be seen on the helmets of Earth Kingdom troops.

Large "coins" of this design made of rock or earth are sometimes used as weapons by earthbenders.

Earth Kingdom currency consists of gold, silver, and copper pieces of varying sizes, which are used by Earth Kingdom citizens to purchase goods and services; they are fashioned in the shape of the national emblem, though gold pieces have four notches on the edge, giving them a flower-like shape.

Geography

The geography of the Earth Kingdom varies tremendously due to its immense size. The northwestern areas are mountainous and covered in dense coniferous forests with the only known settlement in the area being a merchant town, while the western coast harbors a warmer climate and many deciduous forests. The inland west is also home to several swamps and the arid Great Divide, while the center of the Kingdom is comprised of the enormous Si Wong Desert. The southwestern coast is covered with lush forests – however, a rain shadow leaves the Kolau Mountains and areas to the southwest as arid mountain ranges with sparse grasslands – the only major settlement in the area being Omashu. The southern coast is a lush area filled with rivers and forested areas, populated by wealthy towns like Gaoling; north, over the mountains, the land turns to sparsely populated plains which once again meld into the Si Wong Desert. The northeast is mostly uninhabited beyond Ba Sing Se.

Culture

From the enforced culture of Ba Sing Se, to the unruly societ of those inhabting the Si Wong Desert, the culture of the Earth Kingdom is far less defined than those of the other nations, a result of its immense size and diversity. Due to their manipulation of earth, earthbenders are virtually immovable, as reflected in the personality of the Earth Kingdom's citizens. The Earth Kingdom is highly influnced by Chinese and Korean culture, with reference to the hairstyles, architecture, geography, and relations to other countries.

Earth Kingdom architecture varies by province. Like the other nations, it is based on its elemental color, in this case, green. The majority of the buildings are made of stone, wood, and plaster; these may be used in conjunction with one another or separately, depending on the available resources. Most buildings have sloping roofs covered with dark gray or green tiles; yellow tiles denote wealth, and are used by aristocrats in Ba Sing Se. The Earth Kingdom insignia is often put on important buildings and fortresses as a symbol of the government. Roads vary considerably – in the country, they are usually made of well-worn dirt, while cities have well-made flagstone streets.

The population of the Earth Kingdom is among small villages, larger towns, and the capital city of Ba Sing Se, which contains a significant portion of its citizens. Tiny villages of ten or so inhabitants dot the landscape; larger towns, such as Gaoling, are found more infrequently.

Season

Each of the four nations is influenced by their own distinct, dominant season. The Earth Kingdom's dominant season is spring, the time when several living things on Earth are reborn. To an effect, more earthbenders are born during the spring than any other season and their powers are at their strongest during the springtime.

Natural Resources and Food

Though at first glance they would appear to be the simplest of substances, rock and stone turn out to be the Earth Kingdom's greatest natural resources. As such, they are widely used and manipulated to many ends, from tools to entire metropolises. While the Earth Kingdom as a whole does not make use of fossil fuels nearly as much as the industrialized Fire Nation, coal is mined in certain villages for fuel. The timber of their forests also serve as fuel along with being lumbered for building.

Architecture, farming, carpentry, hunting, and mining are among many significant Earth Kingdom industries. Its citizens have managed to develop an advanced trade and commerce system so that almost all may benefit. From the complex sewage and postal system of Omashu, to the Ba Sing Se metro transit stations, and various inventions and their inventors, all serve as demonstration of the Earth Kingdom's surprisingly sophisticated society.

As a result of the various minerals the country's soil contains, Earth Kingdom farmers are able to grow a wide variety of foods to support their diets, including vegetables, fruit and nut orchards, and rice, the Earth Kingdom's staple crop. The wild game which thrives within its many dense forests and domesticated animals found on many farms add meat and poultry to the Earth Kingdom citizens' diet. Tea is the most common drink and is made from many plants, including ginseng, leechi, jasmine, and the rare white dragon bush.

Politics

Government system: Confederate Constitutional Monarchy

Head of state: Earth King, or Queen

Head of government: Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se

Military

Army

Since the Earth Kingdom is geographically the largest of the four nations, it possesses a large variety of combat organizations and personnel.

Like the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom armies consist of benders and normal foot soldiers. Soldiers, both benders and nonbenders, carry a wide variety of weapons, from spears, swords, and other various polearms, to more unusual weapons such as hammers, axes, and sickles.

The cavalry consists of ostrich horses, which can vertically climb short distances and run at high speeds. These, along with eel hounds, are also used as transports.

Earthbenders use stones shaped like the Earth Kingdom emblem as artillery and catapult projectiles. These person-sized round coins are invaluable weapons to the earthbenders. The coins can be lined up side by side to make a defensive (and mobile) wall, or stacked to make an impromptu lookout tower. Skilled earthbenders can use these coins as a vehicle and "ride" in the hole in the middle of the coins.

Council of Five

The Council of Five is a group of five high-ranking Earth Kingdom generals, who decide the best use of their armies fighting outside the walls of Ba Sing Se. It is the Council of Five who designs and implement any war plans, which includes the best means of protecting the capital city as well as any invasion. In addition to this, the Council also controls the King's Guards, an elite force of guards who protect the king. The Council of Five has been together for as long as there has been a king of Ba Sing Se, and  it has always worked hand in hand with the Earth King to ensure the city's well-being.

Navy

Not much is known about the Earth Kingdom Navy, except that it is likely inferior to that of the Fire Nation.  Additionally, given that earthbenders require a physical connection to the earth to bend, being on a wooden or metal boat would render the earthbenders almost totally powerless, unless the ships carried earthen projectiles. Without benders, the Earth Kingdom Navy would be at a severe disadvantage in terms of naval combat compared with the Fire Nation or the Water Tribes.

Air Force

The Earth Kingdom also acquired the specifications for the zeppelins, which were once Fire Nation exclusives, and incorporated them into their own line of warfare, albeit modified to bear the Earth Kingdom emblem and colors.

The King's Guards

The Royal Earthbender Guards of Ba Sing Se, also known as the King's Guards, are affiliated with neither the Dai Li nor the military, and instead serve as personal protectors of the Earth King. There seem to be hundreds of them guarding the Royal Palace. They have also been seen as the gate keepers of the Outer and Inner Walls of Ba Sing Se. The guards use specialized surface-to-surface rocks against invaders approaching on foot, but the projectiles are displayed to be able to also serve as surface-to-air rocks against airborne intruders. They sport dark green armor with a green feather at the top of the helmet.

The Dai Li

The Dai Li are the cultural enforcers of Ba Sing Se. They are under the direct command of the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se, and function as a sort of secret police, arresting and re-educating anyone who breaks regulations concerning mention of particularly infamous events. In addition to distinct uniforms, they are notable for sporting stone gloves and shoes, which can be used to great effect as weapons through earthbending. Though they serve the Grand Secretariat, they are answerable as well to the Royal Family.

Notable Locations

• Abbey
• Ba Sing Se
• Cave of Two Lovers
• Chameleon Bay
• Farming Village
• Foggy Swamp
• Full Moon Bay
• Gaoling
• Great Divide
• Harbor Town
• Lake Laogai
• Makapu Village
• Merchant Town
• Mining Village
• Omashu
• River Village
• Seaport Village
• Seedy Merchants Pier
• Senlin Village
• Serpent's Pass
• Si Wong Desert
• Wan Shi Tong's Library
• Wulong Forest
• Yu Dao
  

Fire Nation

The Fire Nation is one of the world's four nations and five sovereign states. It is an absolute monarchy led by the Fire Lord. Geographically, the nation is located on the planet's equator in the western hemisphere, and is composed of several islands. Its capital is simply known as the Fire Nation Capital. The Fire Nation is home to most firebenders.

The Fire Nation is the second-largest nation in terms of population and area, following the Earth Kingdom. The Fire Nation's economy is one of the most powerful in the world; its strong industrial sector and extensive technological developments not only enabled the Fire Nation to create an extremely powerful military, but also initiated the worldwide modernization and globalization. It is also the strongest and most advanced country of the world.

Origin

In the era of Raava, predecessors of the Fire Nation received the element of fire from lion turtles that granted the bending art through energybending. They could request the ability whenever they ventured into the Spirit Wilds, to aid in the gathering of food and resources while defending themselves from hostile spirits. These people eventually congregated to form the Fire Nation after the lion turtles renounced their roles as protectors of mankind. At this point, the ancestors of the first Fire Nation citizens left the lion turtle cities in favor of establishing settlements in the western hemisphere along the equator.

Nevertheless, several aspects of life and observances practiced by the predecessors of the first citizens of the Fire Nation became part of the nation's culture, such as in the use of hybrid pigs as a primary means of sustenance. More importantly, the longstanding desire to conquer and expand into the unknown, such as a failed attempt by several villagers to set up a settlement in the Spirit Wilds, and the development of a warrior culture which depended on central leadership emerged among the predecessors of the Fire Nation.

Appearance

Members of the Fire Nation tend to have black or brown hair, amber, gold, brown, or gray eyes, and pale skin, though exceptions do exist. Additionally, in terms of facial features, their eyes are often smaller and longer in shape along with higher nose bridges than members of other nations. There is a prevalence of distinct cheekbones among the population as well. However there are also certain individuals with exceptions.

Older men tend to sport large beards, mustaches, and sideburns, while younger men are usually clean-shaven, or wear small mustaches and goatees. Women usually wear their hair back, though for special occasions it may be piled on top of the head, or wrapped around a support. Female members of the aristocracy also tend to have long, pointed, well-manicured finger nails, which resemble the long gold "nails" ancient Chinese empresses wore. Almost all citizens wear top-knots, often held by a decorative top-knot piece indicating their socioeconomic rank. High-class citizens and politicians tend to ornament their hair with a two pronged, flame-styled piece; Princes and Princesses wear three pronged flames, and the Fire Lord wears a gold, five-pronged piece. A normal citizen might wear a one pronged piece.

Members of the military wear red and black uniforms and different types of armor. Traditional colors worn throughout the nation range from deep reds to darker browns, grays, and blacks, with occasional white, or pink. Many citizens wear shoulder spikes, the amount designating social standing, ordinary civilians wear one, high-class citizens wear two, and the Fire Lord wears three, though there are exceptions to these rules.

National Emblem

The national emblem of the Fire Nation is a stylized, teardrop-shaped flame forked into a trident of three tongues that taper upward to a point. The insignia is primarily displayed on its flag, uniforms, on the pennants of Fire Navy warships, the sides of their various vehicles of war, and as marking of Fire Nation territory. It seems that the Fire Nation Royal Family or certain higher members wear the emblem in their top-knots.

The Fire Nation flag is a triangle-shaped banner with the stylized flame insignia at its center. Six thin stripes extend from the slanted edge.

Fire Nation currency consists of gold, silver, and bronze pieces of varying shapes and sizes used by Fire Nation citizens to purchase goods and services, and are fashioned with the national emblem situated in the center.

Geography

The Fire Nation is located on an archipelago of tropical volcanic islands, many still active, that give the nation an unlimited source of power. Because of a warm and humid climate, the Fire Nation is home to a variety of native flora and fauna, though the main islands largely consist of rough, grassy plains bearing little wildlife. Few travel to the Fire Nation, and no invasion had ever been mounted against it.

The population of the Fire Nation is mostly concentrated in urban centers, though smaller settlements, villages, and towns dot the landscape as well. The capital city is on the largest island, situated inside the crater of a large volcano. There are also many industrial establishments where weapons, tanks and warships are built to support the war effort.

Culture

The dress code and symbols of the Fire Nation are modeled after fire, naturally. Like the other nations, it is based on its elemental color, in this case, red. The majority of the structures are made of stone. They also have red pagoda-style roofs favored by the country. Fire Nation symbols are often put on important or nice buildings for decoration and inside it was common for a picture of the Fire Lord to be kept in a prominent, visible place.

The Fire Nation oath is a characteristic and important cultural element, demonstrated by its teaching to children in schools with demureness, and recited thoughtfully. The oath was written at the beginning of the War, and commissioned bythe earliest Fire Lords . It is titled "The March to Civilization".

Many names of Fire Nation citizens utilize harsh consonants like the letter "Z", including Zuko, Ozai, Azula, Sozin, Zhao, Azulon, Kuzon, etc. Though interestingly enough, it has been mentioned that there are "a million Lees".

Women in the Fire Nation are given more freedom than in the other Nations, and are even able and sometimes encouraged to join the police and the Domestic Forces.

Fire Nation society places a great emphasis on respect and honor, especially toward the nobility and elders; the concept of the famed Agni Kai stems from these beliefs. Should one be honored enough to be in the presence of a member of the Royal Family, that person needs to prostrate themselves in respect or risk being challenged to an Agni Kai to avenge the disrespected Royal's honor. Upon coming into contact with an elder or superior, it is polite to bow down. Unlike in other parts of the world, this bow consists in placing a hand in a straight fashion with the other being fisted placed underneath it vertically. This represents the superior standing with one below him, bowing. Also when receiving an order in the Fire Nation by a superior it is common to not bow, but make the hand symbol. Bowing is required upon greeting to one, when something nice has happened, after business, and leaving.

Another important aspect of Fire Nation culture is marriage. Thus, among both the nobility and the common people a wedding is traditionally an extensive celebrated event. This includes formal garments. Women favor wearing red-white gowns, though those worn by nobles are far more elaborated and expansive than those of commoners. There is an even greater difference between noble and common grooms, as the former favor expansive red-black clothing, while the latter wear red-white attire similar to their brides. Large-scale decoration, including lanterns of flowers, and a banquet are typical for weddings. The wedding itself is presided over by either a Fire Sage or a village elder. At the same time, marriage out of love seems to be more common than arranged marriages, as even among the nobility, only the royal family is known to conduct political marriage of convenience.

Season

Each nation of the four nations is influenced by their own distinct, dominant season. The Fire Nation's season is summer. Firebenders' powers are slightly enhanced due to the increase in temperature. Most firebending children are born during the summer.

Natural Resources and Food

The Fire Nation employs highly skilled metalworkers and blacksmiths who make use of iron and other metals to engender their fortresses and warships. Utilizing coal dug out by prisoners slaving in mines, they are able to power massive industrial furnaces and war machinery. The initial drive for the nation's attempts for expansion was industrialization and having a greater need for resources, in itself a staple of imperialism.

The diet of its citizens consists of noodles, meat, fish, rice, cabbage, tea and lychee nuts. The people are also known for having a taste for foods of a spicier fare, as they enjoy flaming fire flakes, fire gummies, sizzle-crisps, and fire cakes. As the Fire Nation is a hilly island country, pasture is more common than farmland, thus most Fire Nation dishes are rich in meat, while there are very little vegetarian meals. Tea is generally popular, as there is even a National Tea Appreciation Day. The tea most commonly drunk in the Fire Nation is spiced tea.

Politics

Government system: Benevolent autocracy

Head of state: Fire Lord

Religious authority: High Sage, Great Sage, and Council of Fire Sages .

Military

The Fire Nation military is the strongest and largest of the four nations.Each and every one of their soldiers, from the highest to lowest rank is impeccably trained to perfection by a strict military regime and experienced field tutors.

Army

The Fire Nation Army is comprised of both normal foot soldiers, who normally wield spears, swords, and shields, and firebenders. Their cavalry ride komodo rhinos. The Fire Nation also has units of metal tanks. These tanks are heavily armored and equipped with fire ports to allow the crew to fire projectiles, ranging from fireballs produced by firebending to giant grappling hooks.

Yuyan Archers

The Yuyan Archers are a highly skilled unit of archers, and are, according to most, capable of "pinning a fly to a tree from one hundred yards away without killing it". They are so skilled that they have never been known to miss a target.

Navy

The Fire Nation Navy, also called Fire Navy, consists of several fleets with coal-powered ironclad cruisers as basic units. Commanded by admirals, these fleets act rather autonomous, and even though the position of an overall commander does exist, he just controls the largest fleet and does not order other admirals. In addition to its sturdy properties, the Fire Nation's use of metallurgy to remove impurities from the metal ensures that enemy earthbenders cannot damage their ships with their powers. Besides the cruisers, the navy employs many classes which different purposes, from ferrying and disembarking troops to providing bombardment with their trebuchets to creating blockades. The navy is also highly organized and stratified, with a clear hierarchy and efficient bureaucracy. Despite the enormous troop strength of the navy that employs thousands of soldiers, sailors and engineers it is also the only known part of the military which hires mercenaries, if a sudden demand for ships will leave vessels a little short-handed on experienced crew members. The Fire Nation's navy is the largest and most powerful in the world, capable of dispatching over a hundred warships in larger operations.

Air Force

The Fire Nation is the first country of the world that has established a military air force, before the Earth Kingdom and the United Republic. This air force consists of zeppelins and airships. These airships employ multiple propeller sets on the sides of their hulls for propulsion. Armed with bombs that they drop from the hatches on their underbellies, rudimentary cannons, and hundreds of firebending crewmembers who can fire at enemies from dozens of small platforms, these airships are massive aerial warships.

Notable Locations

• Beach Cave
• Bhanti Village Temple
• Black Cliffs
• Boiling Rock
• Crescent Island
• Ember Island
• Fire Fountain City
• Fire Nation Bazaar
• Fire Nation Capital
• Great Gates
• Jang Hui
• Shu Jing

Imperial City

Imperial City is a haven and communal landmass for people of all nations, regardless of whether they are benders or not. The place is the most diverse in the world and based on neutrality, being in favour of neither of the four nations.

Origin

Imperial City was founded after the first few hundred years of the separation, as people wished to have a form of unity, amongst other things. The diverse culture would give all options to superior multiculturalism, with easy access to studying things in particular like opposite methods of bending and so on. It was also a ploy as to create political unity, in the hopes of stemming future wars like the world had experienced in the past between nations.

Appearance

As Imperial City plays host to people of all cultures, the general appearance is wide and diverse, with many different colours being worn and so on, although the wearing of one's national colours is not required, and many people wear more plain garbs.

National Emblem

Imperial City does not possesses its own emblem, but rather the emblems of all four nations are displayed outside the city hall, demonstrating the unity of the city.

Geography

Imperial City is located inbetween the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom, and is a large island, although not as large as cities such as Ba Sing Se.

Culture

As with attire, many different cultures are celebrated and carried out here, with respect being shown for each and every one. Imperial City has its own national holiday, Unity Day, where the inhabitants of the city flood the streets for the festivities lasting for 24 hours in celebration of the coming together of all four nations.

Season

Located more towards the center of the world, Imperial City's weather is more evenly spread than the other four nations, experiencing all types of weather and a more all year round stable base, e.g hot in summer, cold in winter etc.

Natural Resources and Food

Resources and food are shipped in from all over the world, making Imperial City one of the best places on Earth to dine, with many resturants providing dishes from all four nations and so on. It also has many factories, workshops and plants, having becoming one of the leading figures in technology.

Politics

Government system: Mayorship.

Head of state: Mayor of Imperial City.

Religious authority: Religious leaders from all cultures spread across the city.

Military

While Imperial City is neutral and as such does not possess an army, it has a well trained and devoted police force, made up of benders and non-benders alike.

Notable Locations

• City Hall
• Imperial Market
• Imperial Harbor
• Mayor's Villa
• Merchant Town
• Imperial Arena
• Imperial Plaza

Landforms

In the World of Avatar, there is a considerable number of distinct landforms in different parts of the world.

Bays

• Chameleon Bay -  A small body of water located in the northeastern Earth Kingdom. It is on the mouth of a river that leads to the outskirts of Ba Sing Se.
• Full Moon Bay - A secluded cove in the East Lake, located just south of Ba Sing Se.
• Yue Bay - A broad inlet located in the northwestern Earth Kingdom. It connects Imperial City to the Mo Ce Sea.

Forests

• Earth Kingdom Forest - Located in the northwestern Earth Kingdom.
• Wulong Forest - A stone pillar forest that lies on the coast of the western Earth Kingdom. It is notable for the hundreds of rock columns that tower over the coastline.

Islands

• Crescent Island - An island in the outer Fire Nation that houses a temple for the Fire Sages.
• Ember Island - A small resort destination located in the outer islands of the Fire Nation archipelago. It is home to many luxurious facilities and vacation homes for the country's nobility.
• Hing Wa Island - Grows ash bananas which are imported to villages across the Fire Nation.
• Kirachu Island - A location hailed for its delectable collection of food, especially its spicy soufflés.
• Whaletail Island - Found among the isles of the Southern Air Temple archipelago.

Mountain Ranges

• Kolau Mountain Range - Range in southwestern Earth Kingdom, where Omashu is located.
• Patola Mountain Range - High ridge where the Southern Air Temple is located.

Other Landforms

• Archipelagos - The Air Nomad and Fire Nation archipelagos are both sets of islands grouped close to each other.
• Black Cliffs - Situated on an within an island of the Fire Nation.
• Geysers - Found near the dam of a river that flows past the settlement of Gaipan.
• Great Divide - The largest canyon in the world. It is located by a region of bare terrain in the central Earth Kingdom.
• Hiroku Canyon - A canyon located in the Earth Kingdom.
• Si Wong Desert - The largest, hottest, and driest desert in the Earth Kingdom.

Oceans, rivers, lakes and lagoons

• Mo Ce Sea - The Mo Ce Sea is a small, open body of water between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation. It extends from the Hu Xin provinces of the Earth Kingdom to the Crescent Island, and from the Fire Nation islands to the western coast of the Earth Kingdom.
• Eastern Sea - The Eastern Sea is a large body of water located in the eastern Earth Kingdom near Chameleon Bay. Situated directly in between Ba Sing Se and the Eastern Air Temple, a small waterway connects this sea to East Lake.
• South Sea - The South Sea is a large, open body of water located between the southern Earth Kingdom and the South Pole.
• East and West Lakes - Two large bodies of water located in the central Earth Kingdom to the southwest of Ba Sing Se.
• Jang Hui River - Situated on an island of the outer Fire Nation.
• Lake Laogai - A small body of water located within the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se.
• Nan Shan River - Large river in the southern Earth Kingdom.
• River village - Situated at the fork of two rivers in the western Earth Kingdom.
• Waterfall lagoon - Collection of springs and waterfalls in the northwestern Earth Kingdom^.
• Waterfall pond - Located on the northern outskirts of the Si Wong Desert. It is a pond that has a large cliff to one side where a waterfall empties into the water below.

Volcanoes

• Boiling Rock - This Fire Nation prison is on an island in the center of a boiling lake on a volcanic island.
• Crescent Island - Volcanic island located in the Fire Nation.
• Fire Nation Capital - Some parts of the city are in a caldera of a dormant volcano.
• Mt. Makapu - Located in the vicinity of an Earth Kingdom settlement known as Makapu Village.