Avatar Legends: Ash and Steel IC

[jaydude]

The young woman is waiting for Duanmu in a spot out of sight of those in the street. "I don't mean you any harm," she assures him, her hands raised placatingly. "My name is Jade, and I'm a member of the West Heiatu Resistance. I saw you and your friends in front of the Steeping Phoenix earlier, and our leader thought that you might be willing to help us."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[Eonivar]

Duanmu moves his hand away from the coiled weapon on his belt as a sign of peace, and listens to Jade's plea and question. Duanmu thinks to himself. Perhaps this deed may open up possibilities for us to get away without notice, if anything it could be a good distraction or it could also be a trap.

After a moment of quiet and thought, Duanmu responds.

"It is nice to meet you Jade, this may depend on the services you wish us to provide, what we get out of performing such services, and who your leader is? There are many fronts and lies about these troubled times. I do not know who you are and whether I can trust you. So I hope you respect that I will not commit my friends and I to anything, if at all, until I have more information. Can you provide me with this information now or do we need to arrange a meeting?"

 

[EbonChevalier]

Onomu leans back a little in response to Guoneng's quiet outburst, having not quite expecting it. "Okay, okay, okay, no complaining, I get it," she replies, sounding more annoyed and weary than guilty. "But haggling's one thing, and dishonesty's another. You can't tell me you're seriously willing to fight the Fire Nation to protect people like that and not expect me to mock you for it, right?"

“I expect you to have the good sense the spirits gave the badger mole. And not mock the men risking their skin to keep you alive.” This too he whispered. “You won’t die if you keep you racist opinions to yourself.” jaydude

 

[jaydude]

"It is nice to meet you Jade, this may depend on the services you wish us to provide, what we get out of performing such services, and who your leader is? There are many fronts and lies about these troubled times. I do not know who you are and whether I can trust you. So I hope you respect that I will not commit my friends and I to anything, if at all, until I have more information. Can you provide me with this information now or do we need to arrange a meeting?"

"I can tell you right now that we're planning an operation very soon that will free this town from Fire Nation occupation," Jade replies. "We're working with another resistance group known as the Armadillo Bears; they're providing us with additional manpower. We've got things worked out, but a little bit of extra help never hurts. Especially when it's coming from the leader of the Emerald Rangers."

“I expect you to have the good sense the spirits gave the badger mole. And not mock the men risking their skin to keep you alive.” This too he whispered. “You won’t die if you keep you racist opinions to yourself.”

"Like I said, no more complaining from me," Onomu answers while raising her hands protectively. She looks like she wants to say some more, but mercifully she chooses not to.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[Eonivar]

Duanmu listened and gazed at Jade, turning the situation around in his head, thinking about what he had already told to the leader of the Armadillo Bears and their need to get out of town without notice, particularly without revealing the identity of whom they were escorting. He had told the Armadillo Bears he was returning to Ba Sing Se to receive further orders and accompanying these refugees in doing so. Yet this uprising would be the perfect cover to leave town and he really wanted to liberate this place, but he felt like there was more to the Fire Nation presence here than meets the eye, and this uprising would be dealing more than they expect to handle.

His main priority was Onomu. The longer they stayed, the greater the chance that Onomu's identity would be revealed and all hell would break loose if that were to occur. And yet, Onomu was the key that could potentially bring an end to this long, horrible war.

His identity was clearly blown. The resistance knew who he was. The Armadillo Bears had known he was coming through this place.

"Jade, I am under orders to return to Ba Sing Se as soon as possible. I also made a promise to the families of the refugees I am accompanying to get them safely to the city, I really do not want them involved in this business. The War is hard enough as it is. If there is a way we can help AND enable us to leave West Halatu without notice, I would be happy to help, but care must be taken to keep my friends out of this and get them out of the city as soon as possible. If there is no way, then I must apologize for not being able to render aid as requested, orders are orders. If I am able to get away, and I can get in touch with some other resources I would be happy to send them your way."

 

[jaydude]

"Oh, don't worry if you're not able to stick around," Jade replies. "We'll be kicking things off today. In less than an hour, as a matter of fact. If getting to Ba Sing Se is what you need to do, you can slip out of the town during the fighting."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[Eonivar]

Duanmu nods, glancing about to make sure no one had overheard them.

"Good luck in your endeavor Jade, if I can help on the way out, I will do so. Take care of yourself and be careful"

He then turns and walks over to the rest of the party, casually getting everyone's attention, and leading them to a nearby location that is relatively unnoticed. He looks around to make sure they are not being listened to and then looks at Onomu, Hayase, and Gouneng.

"We are going to be leaving soon, I have been notified of a major distraction occurring within the hour."

 

[jaydude]

"Oh? What do you mean?" Onomu asks, tilting her head warily.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[EbonChevalier]

"Big trouble, probably." Guoneng said. "Be ready to move fast."

 

[jaydude]

Onomu gives a nod of her head. "Well, as long as it allows us to sneak out of this place, I won't complain."

How do you all want to pass the time before the distraction occurs?

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[EbonChevalier]

Guoneng keep his body lose and light, he need his muscle from running not earthbending. At least not yet. Keeping one eye on Onomu and the other about his surroundings. Waiting for the incident that would set it all off.

 

[Eonivar]

Duanmu nodded, his face was saddened, he knew what was coming and it was not going to be pretty. He really wanted to stay, it broke his heart he could not assist in the liberation of this town but he knew he had an opportunity with Onamu to perhaps end the war.

"Yeah..big trouble...we will need to read the situation as it occurs and pick the best spot to leave. Let's all stay close and be ready for anything."

He lingered around the others, trying not to show his attention and nervousness, waiting for the war to come to them.

 

[jaydude]

EbonChevalier Eonivar
The four of you gather near the town gates, on the basis that once the distraction starts, a shorter distance to flee over is most advisable.

The first sign of things to come is when you hear explosives - no doubt blasting jelly - go off throughout the town. From your current position, it's impossible to see the scale of the damage caused, but you do notice the gate guards turn their attention towards the explosions. As they do, masked figures wearing green and wielding quarterstaffs emerge out of hiding behind them, before knocking the guards unconscious with blows to the backs of their heads. The guards fall, and one of the masked figures turns towards the now unattended gates and lets out a loud whistle.

A horn rings out from somewhere outside of the town. A couple of moments later, roughly a dozen or so green-clad figures riding ostrich-horses come storming through the gates, brandishing spears and broadswords and hollering war cries. Leading the group is a tough-looking Earth Kingdom woman on a komodo-rhino. She's unarmed, but she also has the bare feet of an Earthbender.

"Armadillo-Bears! Drive out the ash makers!" she roars in a passion-filled voice while raising her fist up towards the sky.

"Drive out the ash makers!" several of the riders behind her shout.

"Drive out the ash makers!" Jade shouts from a nearby alleyway.

By now most of the civilians in the vicinity - especially those in red - are screaming and running in panic. Right now there are no Fire Nation soldiers in the area - though they will likely show up soon - and the woman leading the Armadillo-Bears bends up a chunk of earth from the street and spurs her mount into a charge at the nearest cluster of Fire Nationals.

"So this is the distraction, is it?" Onomu asks.

Right now, none of the Armadillo Bears have noticed you, and the gates are unguarded. What do you do?

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

​

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[Eonivar]

Duanmu sighed at Onomu's comment, looking away, his eyes watching the activity occurring around them.

"This is the war, it effects everyone. The villagers here did not ask for it, did not want it, but here it is. More lives to be sacrificed in the name of conquest and, in consequence, of defense of the homeland. Hatred breeds hatred, violence breeds violence. Blood for blood. It's a vicious cycle that will undo us all. I do not know if it will ever end."

He hoped Onomu would maybe understand more of the conflict and its need to end rather than herself, but he was losing faith. Would she be able to end the war? Would Long Feng even want to end the war with the supposed information she had? Is this just another smoke screen from Long Feng and a ploy for further control? He just needed to keep going.

Duanmu shook his head and looked towards the gate. "Let's go before they see us, follow me"

He then turned and started towards the Gate, looking around and about for anything that may come to stand in their way.

 

[EbonChevalier]

“Mhm. Pretend to run away in fear like the other soldiers and fire civilians. There's a good chance we can slip out in all this chaos." Guoneng followed Duanmu, matching his pace and staying by his side. Chances are someone would be in there way and they would have to be knocked down. "Stay and stay easily ignored," Guoneng grunted to Onomu.

 

[jaydude]

Onomu nods, and the four of you head towards the now unwatched gates, leaving behind the sights and sounds of violence. Two of the guards there start to stir, but it's little trouble for you to knock them back out as you pass, and before long the colony of West Heiatu has been left behind. The noises from whatever fighting is going on there lasts a long time, however, and you can't help but think of innocents like Rin and Bippy getting caught up in it.

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[EbonChevalier]

'If any of the attack have any damn sense they'll leave the angry woman with the goat gorilla alone. And if they make trouble the two of them can handle themselves.' Guoneng thought as he rushed past the gate with his fellow travelers but he didn't fully believe it. Part of him knew someone was going to get hurt just hoped it was someone who didn't deserve it. 'Just keep your eyes on the horizon Guo.' He thought to himself. 'The sooner Onomu is delivered the sooner this war will be over.'

 

[jaydude]

A couple of hours travel pass before the four of you decide to have a break within a small clearing among the mountains. Onomu takes a moment to check the route you've travelled, before she comes over to join the rest of you.

"I haven't seen anyone following us," she says, sitting herself down upon a rock. "Maybe they didn't see us slip out of West Heiatu, or maybe they were just too busy with all the fighting. Either way, I'd say we're clear."

A passing shadow then catches your attention. Looking up, you see a bird of some sort flying high up in the sky, heading vaguely north and away from West Heiatu.

"Looks like a Fire Nation messenger hawk," Onomu says, and Duanmu has to agree based on what he can make out of the bird's wings from down on the ground. "My guess? The governor of West Heiatu's sending word to the troops closer to Ba Sing Se about what's happened, and requesting reinforcements. I'd say things are about to get a lot harder for the Earth Kingdom folk there."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[EbonChevalier]

With a stomp of his left foot stone is launched from the ground and lands in his open palm. “Would it be too suspicious if a messenger hawk died in flight to his destination?”

 

[jaydude]

"In this case, probably not, since that message won't be regularly scheduled correspondence," Onomu replies, her gaze moving to Guoneng and then back to the hawk. "That being said, even a Yuyan archer would have trouble hitting such a target at this distance."

[Under these circumstances, there's no roll you can make to knock the hawk out of the sky.]

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[jaydude]

With no other options, you're forced to allow the hawk to continue on its journey, while considering the consequences that might follow its end.

"We should be safe," Onomu says, sounding unconcerned. "As far as I'm aware, no-one besides your storekeep recognized us in West Heiatu."

The four of you keep walking towards Ba Sing Se, before eventually stopping and setting up camp for the night upon a relatively flat patch of land within the mountains, far off the main traveling roads. Onomu, to her credit, saves you the trouble of getting the campfire going by setting it alight with her firebending.

"No point wasting time watching you fiddle with spark rocks," she says by way of explanation, before sitting herself down on a nearby boulder and resting a traveling pack down next to her. Your instincts tell you that the war plans she wants to use to bargain for asylum in Ba Sing Se - and which Long Feng has charged you with bringing him - are somewhere within.

Is there anything any of you want to do here? Or shall we skip to the next destination on your route?

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[Eonivar]

Duanmu had paused to look up at the hawk and listen to the teams comments. I have an archer in the Emerald Rangers that could have taken down that hawk...but they are not here.

He had changed out of his disguise and back into his familiar green cloak. He suspected his former disguise would no longer work for some time, and that he would need to work up a new one. For now he was back being Captain Duanmu Taka of the Emerald Rangers. He felt a pang of loss for not being with his unit but continued to focus on the importance of this mission. He was also happy for the presence of Guoneng and Hayase. He was sure he would not have been able to do this alone.

He set up camp, happy for the routine and the uneventful day of travel. While doing so he glanced back at Onomu and wondered how this was going to play out. He knew that Long Feng would not allow her into the city. They still had a bit of a way to get there. He suspected that Long Feng was going to play both sides to get his way. They had no real way of affecting anything coming at them though, they would have to react to whatever comes.

He sat down next to the fire and started to chat with Onomu on happier times and try to get to know her better, and to understand her point of view. Ideally he would like her to understand his point of view and background as well. He is the son of a General and has a military background, so there had to be some connections that he could make. He genuinely wants to get to know her better, he is not doing it just to try and get the plans or accomplish this mission. He knows she is in quite a bind at the moment and he wants to help her and at the same time end the war.

<Duanmu will use his powerful charm and personality to get to know Onomu better and perhaps try to get on better terms with her.>

 

[jaydude]

Onomu initially appears a bit taken aback by Duanmu's display of friendliness, but she seems to warm up to it after a short while.

"Honestly, joining up with the Fire Army just felt natural to me," she explains in regards to her career choice. "Everyone in my family was expected to do at least a stint's worth of military service, and if I do say so myself, I excelled to a high degree at the Royal Fire Academy for Girls. That, and we were taught that the Fire Nation was the greatest civilization in history, and that the rest of the world would do so much better if only it would submit to our wisdom and control. I imagine that you would have heard similar sentiments about the Earth Kingdom when you were growing up."

Spoiler: Group Stats

Duanmu​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Support - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Leadership

Hayase​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]

Balance:
Unity - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Heritage

Guoneng​

Fatigue: [_][_][_][_][_]

Conditions:
Afraid [_]
Angry [_]
Guilty [_]
Insecure [_]
Troubled [_]
Balance:
Force - (_)-(_)-(_)-{B}-(_)-(_)-(_) - Care

 

[EbonChevalier]

‘ By Oma and Shu here we go again.’ Guoneng did his right best to keep his voice even and his temper under control. “I can’t speak for Duanmu but I didn’t let that in my school house. The Earth King has dominion over the Earth Kingdom and his rule goes no further. As far as I know we don’t think anyone’s up for spreading their ideology here.”

 

[Eonivar]

"My family has always been of the Earth Kingdom Military even before the war, going back ten generations. I am my father's fifth child...the only non-bender of my three brothers and sister. I was born in Ba Sing Se. My mother died in childbirth. I have never seen my father much, as I was basically raised in a military academy from six years old on. My family was the military. I found the gift of leadership early though, and was one of the youngest ever to make Captain. My sister lives in Ba Sing Se and has many children. She served in the war for a few years but married another General and had children. She is probably the only one I have seen the most. I never got to meet two of my brothers as they died in the war before I was born. My remaining brother, the eldest of us, serves on the wall in Ba Sing Se. I am the highest rank of my brothers and probably the closest in following in my father's footsteps at the moment."

Duanmu was silent and then spoke up. "We are taught to defend our homeland. We serve to protect those of our land from the invaders. The Earth Kingdom is very large and has many cultures and communities, and it is the multiplicity of those various cultures that makes the Earth Kingdom strong. We were thriving before the Fire Nation came. We are taught that no one culture is perfect or has all the answers and that our differences are our strength and we maintain that to this day."