Avatar: The Fires Shadow RP-Invitation Only

Tom opened up his eyes as the sun shone in them. "Yawn... It's gotten late. I really should stop oversleeping." Tom got up and looked through his supplies. "And I should stop overeating too." He pulled out a map. "Well, Ba Sing Se is the nearest place to restock on my supplies. Might as well head there." He looked to see if he had everything. His traveling backpack. His cool black sword he found. His earthbending. He lifted up a rock 10 feet away from him to make sure he could still earthbend. He laughed at himself for checking if he could bend or not. He knew he'd always be able to. He wasn't vunerable to a solar eclipse like firebenders were, and he wasn't vunerable to a lunar eclipse like waterbenders were. "Yeah..." He chuckled to himself. "Earthbending truly is the best form."

 

As morning rolled around Derrick was just sitting up from his bed. He turned to his left letting his feet hang off his simple little bed that he slept on. Derrick stood up he stuck his hand out feeling for his Dai Li outfit that he pretty much always wore. As he slid it over his head the light from his window shone in he glazed over eyes, he could feel the warm light shining on his face but he hasnt seen the sun in many years. He started out towards the living area of his small house that was located just near the gate of Ba Sing Se. As he walked into the living room he remebered that people still try to send him mail to important events that has to attend but he can't read so he hasn't been to one in years.

He walked towards his door and pulling it open he walked outside the bright sun hit his face he could feel the suns warmth even more now. Using his shoeless feet he headed towards the gate of Ba Sing Se to go on guard duty he worked every other day of the week. When he approached the gate one of his fellow workers said to him

"Beautiful moring right Derrick" Derrick stopped in his tracks and made a sad face and replied with

"I don't know " he told the other guarded. Derrick eventually made to his position in front of the gate of Ba Sing Se where he would watch for poeple in his own way.

 

Cho knuckled his back as he rose up from off of the cold, rocky, cave floor. At least he was able to get a good nights sleep this time without the Badgermoles waking him up. Lately they seemed upset about something and had nearly stampeded over him five different times. It had become so dangerous that Cho had decided to start sleeping in small holes he could make. Grimancing, Cho made his way out of the cave and down to a nearby stream so that he could wash up for the day. When he finally made it to the stream he knelt down and started to strip the gauntlets from his arms, then removed his light cloth made coat, and finally undid his robes upper half. He bent over forward and submerged his head into the clean streams surface, when he pulled back out he gulped for air and shook the water from his light brown hair. Slipping off his upper robe piece he began to clean himself. All the while he constantly pushed down his worries of being found and taken back to Ba Sing Se. The day he was caught and forced to marry a women he didn't know, would most likely be the end of his care free life.

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

Shuhei dove into the icy waters of the North Pole and pushed the water away from him, creating a small bubble with a stem leading to the surface of the water so he could continue to breath. This was his favorite way to fish, and he was great at it. He was always able to get a good catch that would be sold later at market. Something flashed to Shuhei's right and by instinct he whipped his right hand up and across to perform a cutting motion. The water followed his movements and cut the tail off of a large bronze scaled fish. With his left hand Shuhei pushed the fishes body up and out of the water on a spout. He knew that his father would take care of the fish later. Dropping the bubble lower, Shuhei continued to let his onyx colored eyes search for fish when he heard his fathers voice call to him, "Shuhei, come up now." His father sounded concerned. Without a pause, he water bended the bubble up to the surface, near the boat him and his father used, and then pulled his body into the boat.
"What is it?" Shuhei asked curiously in a melodic tone. People always teased him for the sound of his voice, and because of that he was known to have a short temper that got him into many fights. And in all of his fights, not once had he lost. Not even against other water benders. Though because many of those so called benders spent most of their time studying offensive arts rather than ditracting ones. Some day he would thank his father for letting him play tricks, but for now something seemed to be bothering his father.
"I was just wondering," He started with the most serious face Shuhei had ever seen on him, "what would you think if we took some of our fish to the Ba Sing Se market?" A sly grin appeared on his fathers face, and Shuhei's face lit up with excitement.
"We can go to Ba Sing Se! Alright!" Shuhei stood up in the boat and began to jump up and down all the while ignoring his fathers concerns about tipping the boat. Now all that was left was to head back home, tell his mother and then run and get supplies from the nearest water tribe.

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

Shu grunted as he brought his axe high over his head and let gravity do its work to split the mornings fire wood. As part of his morning chores he had to help his father with the fire wood and after this they would head to the market in Ba Sing Se. The wind ruffled his honey wheat colored hair, but Shu didn't stop to mess with it. There wasn't much more time for his chore to get finished, and if he didn't get it done not only would he not be able to go with his father, but half of his rations would be cut and the days workload wouldn't be easy. He needed all of his strength today. Off in the distance someone was leaning up against a tree and watched him work. Most likely his father, wanting to make sure he wasn't slacking. That was the only reason he could think of because his father wouldn't explain, and any time Shu asked him he got yelled at and went without a meal. As the morning dragged on and the wood pile thinned, Shu became exhausted. As he was about to finishe the last piece of wood, something stopped his swing. When he turned his head, his father was holding him back. With fierce eyes as gray as stone, and as hard, his father looked like a battle hardened man and probably was. Shu could never get his father to ever talk about his past unless it was about him and his own mother and the times when all three of them were together.
His father gave a curt nod that directed Shu to the cart and without so much as a word, Shu let his father take the axe while he headed for the cart. It would take a full five days travel to reach Ba Sing Se, and it wasn't likely to be a pleasnt trip. They seldomly were. After both Shu and his father were seated into the cart, his father let the reins crack in order to prode the oxen to move along. A small sigh passed both of their lips as the ox took another three cracks before moving.

 

>I think i need another character XD<
>Warning, this post is going to get graphic. I suggest you turn away if you cant handle it.<

Rain fell from the sky, smashing into a gruesome display. Trees were blown apart, while small fires were only now being put out. In the middle of the carnage, was a young woman in water bending garb. She was covered in burns, and barely clung to life. A man in a black cloak came running out of the rain, its frayed edge billowing as he ran. He drew up short as he saw the woman. "No." He whispered. She moved, making him begin to hope. He ran to her, but saw that there was just to much. One of her eyes cracked open. "Jaffar." She whispered. "Don't talk." He told her, trying to find a way to save her. If he had several healers, maybe it would be possible. "Its ok." She told him quietly, then coughed as she was racked with pain. "Jaffar. Please." She groaned. He knew what she was asking. She wanted to die quickly and with out pain. She didn't want to sit here until her body finally gave out. "I'm so sorry." He whispered to her. "Good bye, and i love you." She told him, closing her eyes. "I and I you." He closed his eyes, drew a knife, and drew it across her throat. It took a mere second, but it was an agonizing second for him. He knew who had done this, and he would pay.
-----------
"Look at this. All of it will be mine." Hausen said, gesturing at the mountains. He meant the entire fire nation. "Fire lord Ozai's true wish will soon come true. And he will bless me as I destroy the other nations, and bring them under my heel." He stroked his pointed black beard, and smirked. There was a swishing sound behind him. He whirled, going into a classic fire benders stance. Then he saw who it was, and relaxed. "Oh, its only you Jaffar. You startled me." Jaffar just stared at him coldly. "Why?" he asked. "Why did that girl have to die?" Hausen looked perturbed. "What girl? That water bender? She refused to kneel to us, and we can't have that from an upstart commoner like her." "WAS IT THAT FOOLISH!?" Jaffar roared. Hausen back away slowly. "Now now Jaffar, we have a deal." He said calmly. "Yes, we do. Now we don't. You made me kill someone i love." "She lived?" Hausen asked in disbelief. "No more. I ended her suffering. You could have had the decency to do the same. Now, you will pay me for what i lost." Hausen's mind whirled. "If its money you can have it. A province can be yours." Jaffar shook his head. "There is only one way you can pay me back. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth..." Hausen's eyes widened in fear. He started to bring his hands up. "A life, for a life." Jaffar threw a sack at the ground, jumping to the side as Hausen sent a fire blast at him. The sack exploded, and smoke filled the room, making it impossible to see. "Blast, were are you?" He froze as Jaffar appeared in front of him. Many thought he had earned his title, the angel of death, from his endless kills. Others said it was the silence in which he moved. But, it was his eyes. Those cold eyes that told anyone who looked into them that they were about to die. Those merciless eyes, that over powered any man that looked into them. There was a snick sound, and Jaffar whirled. Blood sprayed, as Hausen clutched at his throat. The smoke began to clear, as he sank to his knees. "May you rot in hell, for all that you have done." Jaffar said, then stabbed the man in the chest. He grunted, then collapsed as Jaffar ripped his knife free. He turned on the gristly scene, and walked out.
---------------
That was a year ago. Jaffar looked up into the sky of Ba Sing Se. He had moved there after that adventure. During his journey, he had met a young water bending girl. She had been home less, so Jaffar let her tag along. They had bonded, and become like brother and sister. "Nino, were we going to go to the market, or are you gonna keep grooming that furball of yours?" Nino walked out side. "I was just petting her. You're so mean." She stuck her tongue out at him, and snuggled with a small puppy. It yipped at Jaffar. "Right, just make sure she doesn't run off like last time." "I know." They walked out. Jaffar was now wearing a tan and green cloak, while Nino wore green pants and a shirt. Both wore wide brimmed hats to stave off the sun.

 

It had been a long day already, but that mongrels constant noise was beginning to wear on Jaffar. "Can't that dog keep quiet?" He asked, suddenly getting a bad feeling. Like some one walking over his grave. "Why should she? She's just talking. Aren't you?" Nino replied. Her dog yipped again, then an arrow hit the ground. A normal group like them would have hightailed it, but Nino just set her dog down, and pulled out a jug filled with water. "I know you sensed them earlier." "I was trying to figure out were they were. Your dog wouldn't shut up though." Jaffar replied, bringing his hands up. They stood back to back, as several men surrounded them. "Well, looky here. A pretty girl, and a guy who fancies himself a fire bender." One of them called with glee. "Don't make me kill you." Jaffar replied quietly. "Don't kill them Jaffar. Give em a beating, but don't kill them. I LIKE this city." Nino told him sternly, then pulled out her water. Several more guys appeared, as Jaffar sent out several fire blasts. "If we don't get help, this will be a long haul." Jaffar told her evenly, Jumping up and sending a piece of stone into the ground with another blast of fire. "Don't I know it, lets try and retreat." Nino replied, making a path through them with a spray of ice needles. They ran through it, only to find a dead end. "This is not my day." Nino groaned, as the men entered the ally.

 

After his grooming and a poor excuse for a breakfast, Cho redressed himself in clean cloths and folded his dirty ones to clean later. With a heavy sigh he donned a large straw hat and pulled it down. He was running low on his essentials and he'd have to go to the market. Hopefully today the guards wouldn't be looking for him, and he could buy his items and head back in peace.
Cho strided across the length of the cave and earth bended to reveil a small keepsafe where he stored the family money he had taken with him. He reached in and pulled out a small leather pouch which, by its weight, was running low. He'd have to sneak back home and get some money later.
Standing erect he closed the hole again and walked back to his sleeping hole where he took up his pack, staff, and sleeping mat. When all of his items were removed his closed up the hole so that it looked normal. He had twelve different holes all about the mountain, and he never stayed in the same hole twice.
With his back gathered and his confidence low, Cho set down the mountain's side and headed into the Earth Nation's major city. Ba Sing Se. When he arrived at the gates though he pulled his chin to his chest and kept his gaze to the ground. Going through these gates was always risking that someone would notice him for who he was. Yet, no one so far had stopped him. Cho began to wonder if the guards were really that lazy or if his family knew of his comings and goings. Cho hoped it was the former rather than the latter.
When he passed the gates he visibly relaxed, and the tight knot inbetween his shoulders only loosened a little. There was still the patrols he had to worry about. Another thing Cho was thankful for was the fact that his noble parents wouldn't think to look for him personally in the lower half of Ba Sing Se, let alone a market. Nobles just did not shop for themselves, or mingle with commoners. The only down side was that the guards did look in these places, but with no real way to identify him as the son of a noble other than a description -which also matched a high number of commoners- and a seal which he carried with him, the guards didn't look too hard.
After a while of shopping, Cho noticed two unlikely travelers. One, a large male with dark eyes and fierce red hair, was dressed in green Fire Nation clothing. The other was a young female with open green eyes and hair that was a lighter shade of green than the cloths she wore, but the thread was obviously from the Water Nation. In her arms she carried a small pup. An unlikely choice of clothing unless you were trying to state something. The only thing that they could be saying -at least in Cho's eyes- was that they were in a party together, and wanted people to know where they were from.
Not far behind them, three thugs stalked them. There was a familiar glint in their eyes that Cho recognized for greed. Something he was acustom to seeing among beggers and strongarms. Anger flared up inside Cho as he weaved his way through the throng of people. These thugs never worked in threes. Not with the recent news he had been hearing. A new criminal gang had started up in Ba Sing Se, and they were tactical. Always choosing their opponents and signaling to others who their target was. Normally they worked in groups of four to seven.
Cho reminded to thank Ha Tu next time they shared a drink. The family servant had been kind enough to understand the noble's position and had even offered to help with the escape. Only when Cho had refused had he said that he would help any way he could. Which was when Cho had tasked him with gathering as much information as he could collect. Surprisingly Ha Tu had a wide network all over the city.
Focusing back on the thugs, Cho followed them down an allyway that the two travelers had also ducked around. When the thugs turned the corner again, Cho slowed and pressed his back against the wall. Before he could poke his head around the corner to make sure the coast was clear, a flame erupted before his face and by instinct Cho leaped away from the flame. What in the-- another flame burst from the street, interupting Cho's thoughts. Grunting Cho decided that he'd have to run passed the next street to find out what was happening. Then he got a better idea.
Earth Bending small holes into the sides of the near-by wall, Cho climbed up to the top of wall and pressed his body low to it and crawled his way to the edge. The two travelers were surrounded by thugs, and they both looked to be avid fighters by their stances. He decided that he would wait a moment before interferring.

 

Derrick leaned up against the giant slap of rock that made the wall of the gate leading into the busy city of Ba Sing Se. Derrick leaning on the wall yelled up to the other guard

"hey what time is it" He yelled loud enough so the guard would here him. The guard leaned over the edge of the tower and looked at Derrick

"its about 5 pm Derrick" He replied to Derricks question. Derrick pushed himself off the wall and started off towards the woods that were only a few hundred feet away from the gate.

" Thanks, see you tommorrow" He yelled back to the guard as he headed on his way. After a few minutes he arrived at the woods, when he walked in his head was clouded with the noise of the forest. He kept walking untill he found a spot that seemed to be a great spot to practice bending. He stood in this spot and moved his bbody to his stance. He took a deep breath then exhaled as he did so he stomped twice when his feet made contact with the ground the earth liftedd up around him as he sunk alittle down into the ground. The Animals that surrounded him in this spot all flew and ran away from the amount of energy that was released just from him breathing and stomping.

OOC-All of the post arent going to be this flippen long are they-

 

>Not a chance. They'll get shorter later<
"Why won't they just leave us be?" Nino asked, as she deflected another rock. "Because, they know we have money." Jaffar replied, toasting another guy, and sending him running. "And how do they know we have money?" Nino asked again, guarding with a ice shield, then turning it into shards and sending back at the enemy. She had the talent to bend water out of the air, just so long as she already had some. It was just taking water molecules out of the air around them, but it wouldn't last much longer. "Would the fact that we are in a market have something to do with it?" Jaffar replied. "Can i just kill these fools?" "NO! But, i suppose you can use your knives or something. Get us out of this." Nino yelled. Her water was almost out. "Finally." He pulled his two knives from their sheathes. He vanished in a cloud of smoke, only to appear above his enemies. He slashed their hands, cutting them so their bending would be thrown off. It didn't help, because they had back up. Now Jaffar was the one in a near hopeless situation. "....!" He, somersaulted over a stone sent at him, ending up surrounded. Nino had gotten her water back though, and flooded them out of the alley. She had accumulated quite an ammount. "Jaffar, you ok?" "Yeah." He got back to his feet, and sheathed the knives. A few stalls had been knocked over in the fight, and there were still some ice crystals. "I think the shoppers are mad." He said. "I don't mean to burst your bubble, but were not out of this yet." Nino replied, raising another wall of ice. Several arrows clattered off of it. "Got any ideas?" "Well, i can't kill them so. Umm." He looked around, spotting a boy on the roof. How did i not sense him? "Boy! Don't just stand there!" When he did nothing, Jaffar told Nino to get on his back. He sent out one wave of flame, and used his knives to climb the wall. He finally gained the roof. "Move it!" He shoved the kid out of the way, and began running.
===============================
Flash Back. 1 year before arriva in Ba Sing Se
===============================
Jaffar heard the screams before he saw the reason. A little girl dressed in rags was surrounded by several fire benders. She was an untrained water bender, but she was at her end now. Not wantng to blow his cover, he pulled down his hat and kept walking. Then she locked eyes with him. Jaffar froze. He was over come by her pleading, but also by her strength. It amazed him that she could actually look him in the eyes. He read her fate in that split second, and decided to act. He drew his knives, and said, "Leave her be. Or I'll kill you were you stand." The men turned, and it was then that he saw they were dressed as soldiers. "You have some nerve ordering US around. This girl was caught stealing from us, and we will make her pay that back. No matter what we have to make her do." "No.." She whimpered. "Fat chance, novice." Enraged, the soldier sent a fire a fire blast at Jaffar. He easily sent it to his side, then vanished. "What the?" Suddenly one man fell, cutching his throat. Jaffar was moving faster than they could see, and easily took down the other. The first soldier dueled Jaffar, senting blast after blast at him. Jaffar blocked every attack, then sent a ball of flame right into the mans chest. He backed up, then Jaffar was on him, a ball of flame spinning in his hand. He slammed it into the guy* and watched him fall, dead. He turned to the girl, who was cowering away from him. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you." "Are you a good guy?" She asked. Jaffar laughed, the first time in years. "That depends on your point of view. I'm Jaffar." He held out his hand. After a second she took it. "Nino." "Would like to travel with me, Nino?" She smiled. "Sure." They walked on down the road, leaving the men were they had fallen.

* Think the Rasenghan from Naruto.

 

Tom reached Ba Sing Se. As he walked in the marketplace, he overheard a commotion. He looked over his shoulder and saw a man and a girl being chased by some people. Tom noticed the pair escape through a hole in the wall, and then saw the hole get sealed. Tom twisted one of his feet, and a hole opened up beneath the thugs. Tom twisted his foot back, and the hole sealed the thugs in the ground, leaving only their heads. He saw some guards run past him towards the thugs. "You're welcome." He muttered under his breath.

 

Leon was calmly walking through Ba Sing Se. For some strange reason, he felt like carrying his spear with him today. He felt as though he might need it. As he was walking, he glanced in an alleyway and saw a poor kid crying. Leon used his forestbending to get an apple. He walked over to the kid. "Are you hungry?" He asked, holding out the apple. The kid seemed suspicious at first, eyeing only the apple. "You can have it if you want." The kid slowly inched towards Leon. The kid finally grabbed the apple and took a big bite out of it.

"Thank you sir. This apple is delicious." The kid said happily.

"There is no need to thank me." Leon smiled before continuing on his way.

 

Cho grunted as the stranger bumped into him. Before he followed them he checked to see that the group had been subdued. He blinked absently and quickly turned around and followed after the strangers, not wanting to get noticed by the patrol. With a sigh he pulled his had down lower in hopes it shadowed his face. As he chased after the pair he brought his staff back to nestle itself between his elbow and his right side. Some day when he had the money to spare he'd make sure the staff would look presentable and maybe even make it a family heirloom. That was, if he made up his mind on who to marry. He was rooted to one thought though, and that was he would not marry the woman his parents intended to have him wed. There was no love in that, and he was not about to be a traditionalist becuase his folks said so.
The sound of his straw sandles against the tiled roofings was rhythmic and steady as he followed the man and the young girl. At least they were a smart pair. Twice they had checked their rear to make sure they weren't being followed, but everytime they did look Cho didn't bother hiding. It was obvious that he meant them no harm, at least Cho hoped that was what it looked like. Still, they didn't break into a mad run when they saw him shadowing them so perhaps they wanted him to catch up? Cho pondered the question.

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

Shu worked with deft hands as he placed the carts wheel back into place. Not even half a day past and already the wagon was falling apart. Surely when they got to Ba Sing Se his father would buy a new axel or better yet, a new cart, "There," he muttered and slid away from the cart as his father lowered it back to the ground. Shu knew his father held strength despite his seemingly slender build but in no way would he have thought that his father was strong enough to hold the cart up that long. With a grunt and sigh of relief his father stepped back as well.
"What are you waiting for?" His tone was rough but held a fatherly warmth. People who heard them talk always said his father sounded so angry or disappointed, but that was only because they didn't know father.
Nodding Shu slipped into the wagons seat and took hold of the reins. The cart rocked as his father pulled himself up next to him, "Take it easy now and keep your eyes on the road. I don't want to hit another rut like that one."
"I understand." Shu replied placidly and gave the reins a quick whip. The reins crackled against the air and the oxen started off again in their slow methodical trot. Later on Shu's father tapped his shoulder and took the reins, "Go eat." He ordered and without replying Shu climbed into the back of the cart where he saught after a small back that carried bread and dried meat.
His father had always said that the best way to ration your meals was to store them in seperate bags so that way they were already to eat and you didn't have to judge how much you had left. Instead you would already know.
When he bit into the bread a frown tugged at his face. It was stale. With luck the rest wouldn't be, but that was considering he had the spirits on his side.
The meat was stringy and spiced, which to Shu, was welcomed. His favorite food to eat on these travels was the meat. Sighing Shu finally decided to ask his father the question he had been struggling to ask for some time now.
"Do you think you could teach me some more fire bending?" As soon as the words left his mouth though he wish he had them back. He should have known the answer to be a no. His father didn't like him fire bending and to Shu's suspicion he thought his father hated teaching it. But for the second time today his father surprised him by agreeing.
With his mood a bit more cheerful he finished even the stale bread happily and returned to the drivers seat so his father could eat.

 

After a few hours of Training in the darken forest that swallowed all the sunlight Derrick mad ehis way out back towards the noisy city of Ba Sing Se. When Derrick made his way to the gate he just couldnt stop thinking of how much he missed seeing the Sun light or the Moons dull light that shown in the darkest nights. But he swallowed those thoughts and knocked on the door so the guard would let him in. The Gurard lifted the door letting Derrick through as Derrick made his way down main street he could see slight silouets of people through there vibrations that he felt.

 

"Hey Jaffar. You realize that kid is following us." Nino said as she ran next to him. "I saw. He's no threat." Jaffar replied, leaping to another roof. This town was an assassins paradise. The roofs were so close. But that life was over, and despite what he said, he would never kill again. He owed her that much. "Jaffar, snap out of it. I think we lost them." Nino said breaking into his thoughts. After a little bit, Jaffar nodded, and they jumped down into an alley. The kid was still following them. Jaffar was getting impatient. Threat or not, this kid was beginning to bug him. "What do you want boy?" He asked gruffly. Nino just stayed quiet, thinking, That kid is kinda cute. If only he didn't try to hide his face so much.

 

Leon heard the commotion as he wandered through Ba Sing Se. He couldn't tell what it was about though. He thought he heard somebody say something about some guy dying. "Well..." He muttered to himself. He reached behind him and touched the wrappings on his back. "I guess it's a good thing I brought this spear." He let go of it and continued walking. He decided to head towards the location of the commotion.