Path towards Harmony [AU Legend of Korra Quest]

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
The Harvest Festival (Month 9 Sidestory)

Before the Festival

“Alright, look, forget what happened back then! We need to keep going with the plan!”

“We did that last time, and look where it got us! That was a total loss! Most of our guys are locked up or deported!”

“That was a fluke. They had information on us!”

“And do you know if we plugged the leak? Because I sure don’t!”

“Look, there’s no way they can know about this part. We just found out about it ourselves!”

“I’m telling you, there’s-!”

The argument is cut off by the sound of harsh whistling. Tirin steps out from the kitchen and addresses the five men sitting around a large wooden table with a map of Republic City and Phoenix City in the center, telling them that the tea is ready. Everyone gets up, grabs a cup and sits back down. With tea in hand, and a pleasant aroma of herbs sweeping the room, the men all calm down.

“You know, it’s not too late to drop this whole thing,” one of them says. “I get that we’re all mad that they took our property away, but... we should at least do something that would help us get it back. What is kidnapping Korra again supposed to do? Especially during the Harvest Festival? Won’t the cops all be on guard?”

Tirin, standing around, notes that the community police are significantly more visible lately.

“It doesn’t matter if they’re on guard if they don’t know where we’re striking. They’d never expect another attack against Korra.”

“Okay... but why? What does this accomplish?”

“It’ll show them that we’re not to be messed with!”

“More seriously, the Avatar is a force multiplier that we don’t want to have running around freely. Especially since things down south aren’t going as planned...”

Tirin wonders out loud what the plan to deal with Korra’s friends is.

“Eh, we’ll grab them too. They’re all non-benders right? Easy.”

“You say that, but Asami and Vanra know how to fight.”

“Once Korra is subdued, we can turn the Anti-Spirit radios off and use our own bending. Easy.”

“That’s what the others thought...”

There have been multiple attempts to capture or assassinate prominent Councilmembers and ex-Equalists, as well as Lin Beifong and assorted others. All of them failed due to pre-emptive actions by the community police. Hence, there must be a leak.

“Well, everyone here is committed to re-establishing our rule, so we shouldn’t worry. Besides, we have three chances to pull this off, since the Harvest Festival is three days long. Everyone knows their part of the plan, right?”

The group nods, and discusses it in detail.

The tea grows cold.

It’s time to go.

Tirin departs for home, where he’s greeted by his wife, his family, and several members of the Republic City and Phoenix City community police.

He tells them everything he knows.

Festival – Day 1

The full moon is bright in the night sky.

It and the multitude of colored lanterns provide all the light needed to wander around Republic City and Phoenix City on this first night of the Harvest Festival. Korra, Asami, and Vanra are running down the crowded streets of the Dragon Flats borough, having lost track of time playing stall games.

“Come on! We can’t be late for Biyong’s performance!”

Each borough – as well as Phoenix City and Spirit Portal Island – has its own stage for performances, and Biyong’s is naturally in her home borough. As the three of them approach, they can hear the sounds of a guzheng ring out over the radio. That must be her! They manage to arrive on the scene just as Biyong has started, all dressed up and playing “Autumn Moon over Yue Bay”. Her concert continues for roughly a half-hour with a series of solo pieces, ending with a virtuosic solo on a new 21-string guzheng developed by the Keum Group.

Afterwards, Korra, Asami, and Vanra swarm her and congratulate her on a job well done.

“Oh, it was nothing...”

“Nothing!? That was incredible!”

“Korra’s right. That was quite impressive.”

“You were awesome!”

Biyong’s face is bright red as she stammers out a heartfelt thanks.

“Sorry, I couldn’t spend the day with you all. I’d love to hear about what a day you had! Come on, the food is this way...”

It’s agreed, and the four of them head over to one of the many public feast areas. It’s here where the would-be kidnappers are waiting for them and prepare to make a move... only to be intercepted by the community police before they can strike, and are carted off.

The girls are blissfully unaware of any of this as they enjoy a hearty meal.

While Biyong had spent the day preparing for her performance, Korra, Asami, and Vanra had been wandering the city, taking part in the many festivities like the morning boat race and the various local games. And after their meal, the four of them spent the night dancing beneath the autumn moon and the colored lanterns.

Festival – Day 2

If the mood on the first day was celebratory, the mood on the second day is somber. While there are still performances and games, that’s not the focus. Instead, the focus on those who came before and are gone now.

That was why Korra and Vanra were accompanying Biyong and Asami as they visited the graves of Wonyong Kuem and Hiroshi Sato. The two grave sites couldn’t have been more different. Hiroshi had been buried with honors and received a large tombstone, where he had already received many offerings, while Wonyong’s tombstone could hardly be distinguished from all the anonymous ones surrounding it.

Not that this mattered to Asami. She stood by Biyong’s side regardless.

Not that this mattered to Biyong. She stood by Asami’s side regardless.

On this day, at this moment, what happened between them in the past didn’t matter.

Perhaps it never did.

Another group of would-be kidnappers had attempted to blend into the crowd at the graveyard, but were found out by the community police and dragged off after they started a scene.

The girls walked around it, letting the adults do their thing.

Later on, they, along with Senna, Yasuko Sato, and Vanra’s parents, had a feast with the Keum family, successful only because Biyong’s three brothers managed to convince her mom to let it happen, though she didn’t help in the preparations at all. The house was stalked on the outside by another group of would-be kidnappers, who immediately suffered the wrath of Biyong’s guardian spirit and got nowhere close to the house. They would be picked up shortly later by the community police.

The family feast continued unknowing.

Festival – Day 3

The third day is a return to a more festive mood, with more people out and about celebrating. Korra, Asami, and Vanra and taking Biyong around all the sights of the lantern-covered cities, making sure she gets to take it all in as well.

Here, the kidnappers get the closest they’ll ever get to actually grabbing Korra again.

A few of them – all Fire-benders – made a move for it, and ran into an Air-bender who happened to be nearby and took them all out. Korra heard the commotion, and brought the others around to check it out, joining the crowd.

As the community police arrived and dragged the would-be kidnappers away, Korra approached the Air-bender.

“Hey, you’re Yango, right?”

She – not clad in the typical robes but marked with the blue tattoos – turned to face Korra. “Korra! It’s good to see you! And these are your friends?”

“Korra, who is...?”

“I’m Yango, from Spirit Portal Island. I used to babysit Korra sometimes before I joined the Air Nomads. By the way, Korra, can you move a little to the left?”

“Sure, but why-?”

Her question would be answered as soon as she felt the burst of flames approach. Another kidnapper had been hiding in the crowd! Her friends all got out of the way while she redirected the attack into the air, where it harmlessly dispersed. Yango, meanwhile, swept the assailant into the air and held him there in an air vortex.

The community police members from before promptly returned, apologized for missing one, and dragged him off.

With that matter settled, Yango joined the rest of the girls as they wandered through the two cities, before she split off to go join other Air Nomads. And when the night came, the four girls had a picnic on the roof of the Sato house, and watched as the Children’s Night Parade, accompanied by the many friendly spirits of the city, marched across the boroughs.
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
News and Rumors (Month 9 Sidestory)

A Phoenix in Flight, A Phoenix in Flames! – In a perhaps unsurprising turn of events, the Order of the Golden Phoenix – a secret group of former Agni Kai triad members – turned out to not only be a real organization, but one willing and able to wreak deadly havoc within Republic City and Phoenix City! Their successes were the following: assassination of several members of the community police who were trying to investigate them; murder of several security guards at the Phoenix Arena; and, most importantly, a successful kidnapping of Avatar Korra. Granted, Korra was able to be rescued in the end, but the capabilities of this group are stunning. That said, they were not able to replicate their success in a subsequent kidnapping attempt during the Harvest Festival, nor were they able to destroy the Province’s Council or the People’s Council, thanks to the hard work of the citizens of Republic City and Phoenix City. Trials for captured members have already begun, and exile seems a likely punishment, leading some who are suspected of also being members to pre-emptively try to flee to the Southern Earth Republic. Rewards for information regarding those who have already fled and those who are still in town exist. Similarly, supporters of the Order were purged from the Fire Nation government by Fire Lord Izumi.

Southern Chaos! (Part 1) – Speaking of the Southern Earth Republic, they were issued an ultimatum regarding their support for the Order of the Golden Phoenix by the Harmonic Republic. While they never issued a formal response to the statement, the feelings of the corporatist government based in Tu Zin is clear given what they did not long after receiving it: banish Harmonic Republic diplomats and launch an invasion of both the Harmonic Republic and Honghai! That said, the diplomats have either returned safely or are in hiding, and the invasion was short-lived, the soldiers having to return to deal with domestic matters, such as...

Southern Chaos! (Part 2) – ...the twin ongoing revolts in Omashu and Gaoling against the war and against the rulers from Tu Zin! There was also a revolt in Tu Zin itself, which was crushed by the local police and reserve soldiers, forcing the surviving protesters to scatter across that country. As for the two successful (so far) revolts, they differ in their character. The revolt in Omashu is a monarchist revolt, led by the Green Shield Society and supported by the son of the former king. Said king was killed in an earlier rebellion in an attempt to restore his rule. The revolt in Gaoling is a worker’s revolt, led by the Radiant Society in coalition with many other worker’s organizations. Both revolts have the support of enough cops and soldiers to prevent them from falling apart immediately, though it remains to be seen how they will fare once the hammers come. That said, many international volunteer militias seem to be coming in to support both projects, and the Harmonic Republic is likely to send official military support to Gaoling. Zaheer and what appears to be a faction of the Red Lotus were spotted heading towards Omashu.

Southern Chaos! (Part 3) – Military aid from the Harmonic Republic has already been sent elsewhere on the Earth Continent. The Si Wong separatists and the Assembly of Communities of the Earth Republic (the governing body of the Northern Earth Republic) have come to an agreement, and plan to work together to defeat the southern incursion into both the desert region and the north itself. Furthermore, the government of the Triple Island Alliance has been overthrown in a coup, and a pro-SER ruler is now in command and suppressing internal resistance. Said resistance is now being backed by the Harmonic Republic, the Southern Water Tribe, the Northern Water Tribe, and various volunteer groups. However, the presence of the NWT is controversial, due to...

Southern Chaos! (Part 4) – ...the formal annexation of the Southern Water Tribe by the Northern Water Tribe, and the end of southern autonomy! Given the state of war in the southern waters for the first time in decades, Unalaq sent down the north’s navy to both defend the south and act as military support for direct rule. Ships associated with the SER were in fact spotted by the South Pole and were chased away by the Northern Water Tribe Navy, with is now on patrol and limits access to the south. According to what little information was able to be leaked out, Kya and the Council of Elders are all unharmed, but under house arrest, and Rivris is the new ruler of the Southern Water Tribe, head of a committee of other appointed northerners. There is almost certainly internal resistance to this move, but no information regarding them can be obtained. Hence, a delegation from Republic City is being sent to investigate things, and plans to issue a factual account of things in the south within the next month.

QM Note: Vote will close Friday night.
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[x] Go North
-[x] Focus on confronting Unalaq
--[x] UNCLE! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL HERE? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MANY IRONS I ALREADY HAD IN THE FIRE? AND THEN YOU GO AND PULL THIS NONSENSE!

Korra arrives in the North! (Month 10, part 1)

The air is frigid and still, cut only by the motion of a fleet of boats.

A wall of ice approaches upon the horizon.

The sentinels greet the arrivals. The captains present papers.

The barrier is split apart and the boats are let through.

An icy metropolis, the megacity of Agna Qel’a, comes into view.

You, among many others, disembark after a long journey. Your boots crunch the icy floor as you sink in, trying to root yourself in the earth and finding it too far away. You frown. Well, you’ll just have to live without Earth-bending for now. You’re joined by your mom, Vanra, her father Vanrir, and a group of Water Unionists. Your goal: confront your uncle and get your father and others with him out of prison.

The sentinels warned you all that this was likely for naught. Unalaq was incredibly popular among the Northern Water Tribe, despite – or perhaps because of – his actions. That said, your group going to give it a shot anyway. Worst case, you all would at least learn something about hos things are up here, same as the larger group that went south.

Besides, you really, really wanted to tell your uncle off, and you could do that whether or not your father was freed.

Speaking of your uncle, he had yet to show up, despite him knowing in advance that you all would be arriving today. So, you all decide to split up – Senna, Vanrir, and a few others would find the prison and check up on Tonraq and company, while the rest of you would go wander the city to find Unalaq. The city is multi-level with a wide variety of walkways, stairs, moving chairs of ice, and frozen slides to get around... and then there’s the canals, with their attendant boats. The rest of you fan out, making sure to stay within earshot of each other, and so you and Vanra stick together as you walk around. While the Water Unionists stick out thanks to their blue armbands, you and Vanra just look like normal Water Tribe members, so the people out and about mostly ignore the two of you.

Well, up until a certain point anyway.

After a good while of wandering about, you and Vanra walk in front of an otherwise normal-looking clothing store. One of the ladies working inside recognizes you and calls you in, despite you having never met her before. She then tells you that this store is the one run by Desna and Eska, your cousins.

“No way! Are they in right now?” you ask.

The lady shakes her head. “No, they’re never in on the weekends. They’re probably at Royal Palace right now.”

“Got it. Thanks!”

“Hey,wait-!”

But you and Vanra dash away before she can get another word out. You call out to some nearby Water Unionists, tell them what you know now, and let them handle telling everyone else. Shaping the ice beneath you, you make a sled for you and Vanra and send the two of you on a one-way trip to the royal palace, barely evading the people around you.

The palace is a massive and ornate building carved out of ice. It rises high above every other building, making it easy to see no matter where you are in Agna Qel’a. Behind it is a massive ice wall and in front of it is a deep moat. Only a handful of bridges allow access to the royal estate. Accordingly, the bridges are guarded, but when you and Vanra arrive at one, the guards are busy playing cards. One of them casually glances over at you, goes back to his game, then stares at you in shock and gets to attention, forcing the others to do so as well.

“Halt! Lady Korra, halt at once!” he yells.

“Out of the way! I got words to say to my uncle!” you yell back.

“...Right then.”

He nods to the other guards, and they reshape the ice bridge, bending it so that your sled gets sent flying into the moat!

“AHHHHH!!!”

Thinking fast, you spin in the air and the water swirls beneath you and rises up in a vortex to meet you. Now stable, you grab Vanra out of the air and deposit the two of you back on the ice bridge. You set her down as the guards approach.

“What’s your deal!?”

“I should be asking you that, Lady Korra... why are you here?” one of them asks.

“I’m here to talk to my uncle! Now take me to him!”

“...No.”

“What!? Come on!”

Vanra also protests, but they ignore her signs.

“Look, Lady Korra, you and your attendant will need to wait here. Your uncle is meeting with representatives from the Garment Workers Union right now.”

“...Doesn’t he have people for that kind of stuff?”

“Well, it involves your cousins... but never mind that. Do wait here.”

They’re not moving and you’re not able to sneak around them... so you’re stuck here. You sulk as you sit and wait. One of the guards goes off towards the majestic icy palace to announce your arrival. Meanwhile, Vanra introduces herself – she brought pen and paper in her purse just for this occasion – and gets roped into the guard’s card game. As you’re all waiting, the Water Unionists finally turn up, followed by a curious crowd of locals.

Not too much later, a crowd of people exits the palace, your uncle and cousins among them, led by that guard you went off earlier. Your cousins are as disinterested as ever, and your uncle’s expression is neutral. He turns to you first.

“I take it this isn’t about that expedition to the Everstorm?” he asks.

“No!” you shout, getting back up. “It’s about what you’re doing down south and what you did to my dad!”

He raises an eyebrow. “Your father? But he’s perfectly fine.”

“Perfectly fine in jail!”

“Well, yes, that’s what happens when you threaten me in public. Your father should know that. As for the south, would you like to explain exactly what issue you have with me expressing my rule as the sovereign leader of both north and south and defending my people from foreign aggression? As the Avatar, I would think you’d be in favor of me doing such a thing so you can focus on other matters.”

“I... You... That’s!”

A Water Unionist steps in front of you.

“Korra, may we handle things from here?” she asks.

“...Fine.”

Still frustrated, you back off and let the Water Unionists take over the discussion. They are concerned over the lack of information regarding the situation in the south, and as such would like to know what Unalaq knew that led him to make the decisions he did. They would also like for Tonraq and those locked up with him to be released from imprisonment.

“Hmm... yes, I suppose I could afford to be more open with my fellow Water Tribe members. Very well, I shall discuss the matter with you. Come along now, Water Unionists. Desna, Eska, go play with your cousin.”

Desna and Eska groan in annoyance, while you shout out your displeasure.

You’re all ignored, just the same.

At least Vanra stays with you... and Desna and Eska are looking at her with curiosity.

“So... where’d you find this girl?” asks Desna.

“She doesn’t dress like a southerner or a coaster,” says Eska. “So, must be from Republic City.”

Vanra nods.

“Catdog got your tongue?” asks Eska.

Vanra points to her mouth and shakes her head no.

“...wait, you actually can’t speak?”

Vanra nods again.

“I would like to repeat my question,” says Desna. “Hey, Korra-!”

You interrupt him by throwing a snowball at his face.

“...”

“...”

Desna slowly wipes the snow off with one of his long sleeves.

“...alright then, cousin, you want fight?” he asks, his twitching left eye being the only sign of his annoyance, since his voice is still a monotone.

“Two against one is hardly fair, brother.”

“Her friend can join too if she wants. Well, Korra?”

Vanra is looking at you with concern. You, on the other hand...

(What does Korra do here? Choose one.)
[] Take Desna up on the offer. You need to blow off some steam...
-[] Fight by yourself
-[] Ask Vanra for help (note that Vanra may turn you down or try to talk you out of it)
-[] Don’t actually fight them, but argue with them instead. (may write-in details)
[] ...No, you shouldn’t do this, even though you want to. Apologize.
-[] Meditate. (this may reveal something important if it succeeds)
-[] Talk to Desna and Eska. (may write-in details)
-[] Leave and go wander the city some more.


QM Note: And we’re back!
 

MagnificentLilyWitch

Active member
Pronouns
She/Her
@r2walker Can we make it explicitly a play fight? Looking more childish might be bad but its less bad then getting into a knock out brawl with our royal cousins after beign told off like a child by our uncle.
 

MagnificentLilyWitch

Active member
Pronouns
She/Her
[X] Take Desna up on the offer. You need to blow off some steam...
-[X] "How about a spar Cus? Down by the traning grounds? I could do with blowing off some steam ya know?"
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X] Take Desna up on the offer. You need to blow off some steam...
-[X] Fight by yourself
-[X] "How about a spar Cus? Down by the training grounds? I could do with blowing off some steam ya know?"

Korra vs Desna and Eska (Month 10, part 2)

“...nah, I’ll fight by myself.”

You get up and dust the ice flakes of your coat.

“How about a spar, cuz? Down by the training grounds?”

You start cracking your knuckles.

“I could go with blowing off some steam, you know?”

“...I noticed,” is Desna’s reply, his eye still twitching.

“Brother, I believe she’s channeling her father here,” adds Eska. “He also challenged our father to a fight.”

...Huh. Yeah, that makes sense.

Desna sighs, putting on fake airs of weariness. “Very well.”

He turns and starts walking away. “Follow me...”

Eska walks side-by-side with her brother, the two of them perfectly in lockstep. You trail behind them, practically bouncing on your feet. You could use some excitement! Hopefully, you’ll be able to drag some enthusiasm out of your two cousins once you all get going.

Vanra quickly catches up to you, and you notice that a few guards are also following along, probably to keep an eye on you. She signs to you asking if this a good idea, and you of course say yes. She doesn’t look convinced, but doesn’t try to talk you out of it either, and hangs back once you all get into the main part of the royal palace’s courtyard. Another massive ice wall keeps the people out, granting access only by another guard-protected bridge. Nearby, there’s two pools where you could all draw water from in addition to the icy ground.

“None of that weird Avatar stuff,” says Desna.

“This is water-bending only, okay?” adds Eska.

“My abilities aren’t weird!” you protest.

“Whatever,” say both of your cousins at the same time.

They then stomp on the ground and launch several icy spears at you, which you dance around, spinning on your feet... but no Air-bending, right... so you draw water around you and expel it in a circle once you stop spinning, knocking all the spears out of the air.

Desna and Eska immediately follow up with trying to drop a massive blob of water on you!

“Ah!”

You roll out of the way, and then jump up and ride the wave as it goes on. Eska’s behind you, riding the waves too, arms covered with ice spikes. She’s pulled up before you can do the same, so you end up fighting arm to spike.

“Not bad... but not enough!”

You slam your elbow into Eska’s left arm, shattering the spike. While she’s distracted, you spin around, grabbing her arm, and then throw her in the direction of Deska, who had the same plan but was approaching from a different direction. He stops in place and summons a water wave to catch his sister, leaving them both open to the water wave that you shove towards them, knocking them both away, sending them flying and crashing into the icy floor.

Some guards come by to watch, standing near Vanra (who you note is clapping).

You ignore them and start bouncing on your feet, getting into a loose fighting stance.

“Come on~! Is that all the heirs to the throne can do~?”

Both of them erupt from the ground in a pillar of ice. You see an unusual expression on their faces – rage. You lick your lips. Good, maybe they’ll take this more seriously!

The two of them kick the pillars out at you. Hmmmm... you could jump over them, or slide between them... but how about this!? You root yourself in the ground, hold your arms out is if to grab and hold those sliding pillars, and spin around as if swinging around a heavy weight.

“HAAAAAAAA!”

“W-what is she-ah!?”

You swing the pillars around you and speed them up before sending them flying back at your cousins. They’re stuck sliding around them, giving you time to ripple the whole icy floor, sending out a wave of ice in all directions. Desna and Eska do the sensible thing and ride the wave, which ends with them briefly flying in the air and towards you.

You smirk and stop the ice in place. Exactly what you wanted. Now they’re stuck up close with you!

They both fire icy spears at you to cover their landing, but you swat them away as you approach, weaving streams of swirling water around your arms. The two of them cover their arms with water tendrils and lash out at you wildly but your arm guards repel them. They back away... and into the icy wall you left behind.

“When did she-.”

“Sister, look out.”

You blast your arm guards at Desna and Eska, but the two of them slide away... and split up.

Mentally, you flip a coin and decide to focus on Deska. You spin and a part of the ice wall spins with you, enclosing him in, leaving only a hole up at the top for him to escape. He does so and you blast him away with a jet of water.

“Brother! Why you-!?”

But before Eska can follow up on her threat, she stops in place.

Or rather, has been made to stop – by you, after freezing her feet in place.

“Hehehe~! Gotcha.”

You take a step forward... and immediately slip on a slick patch of ice and fall over. You glare at Eska but she just gives you a look like she can’t seriously believe that you’re accusing her of being so petty.

You roll your eyes at her as you get up. “Very funny...”

You stretch in place and breathe out deeply before freeing Eska’s feet. “Well, I feel better~!”

Eska rolls her eyes this time. “Good for you. Are we done here?”

“Huh? Oh sure. I did want to ask you a few things, but that can wait for later. Now, where’s Desna?”

Your question is answered by the sudden appearance of several icy spears that you and Eska barely dodge. Desna slides in on the ice, eyes full of wrath, hands covered in icy clubs.

“KORRA!”

“Yep, that’s me!”

He swings his hands at you, but you grab them and shatter the ice in your bare hands, ignoring the pain.

“...what?”

You then kick him away, and Eska catches him. He roughly pulls himself together. Still glaring at you, he declares that he won’t forget this before stomping off. You give Eska a confused look, but she just shrugs and follows her brother back towards the palace.

You sigh, and hope that he gets over it soon. You’re not sure why he expected to beat you, to be honest. He and his sister spend all their time up here while you’re constantly training and getting into fights. And you thought he didn’t even like fighting... Eska still clearly doesn’t. Did something happen to him?

Questions for later.

Vanra points out your injured hands, and one of the male guards heals you up.

Nothing else to do, you ask if you can go wander around in the palace, and one of the guards accompanies you and Vanra inside...

“Ah, there you are. Done re-arranging my courtyard?”

...just in time to run into Unalaq and the Water Unionists coming out of their meeting.

Your face flushes. “Ehehe... I can fix it...”

“See to it. Now then, since you’re here, I may as well tell you that Tonraq and the other will be released from prison. But before you get too excited, they will be accompanying you on the next boat out of here and will not be permitted to return.”

“Hmph. Fine, I guess.”

“Splendid. I would also like to make one thing clear to you. If you wish to discuss spiritual matters with me, I am more than welcome to meet with you. But I will not accept commentary from you on how to lead my people. Am I understood?”

You sigh. “Yes, uncle,” you reply in a monotone.

“Very well. Have a good day.”

He then gestures to the guards, and they escort you out of the royal palace, cutting your tour short. You all return to the courtyard, where you fix things up, assisted by a few of the Water Unionists. While doing so, you think about what you want to do with the limited amount of time you still have here.

(Korra has time to do two things in Agna Qel’a before leaving. What comes first?)
[] Go visit Desna and Eska. You’re pretty sure this is a bad idea.
[] Go talk to Unalaq about spiritual matters and the expedition.
[] Go immediately to your father and mother and be with them.
[] Wander around the city with Vanra and some Water Unionists.
[] Attempt to sneak back into the royal palace and look around.
[] (write-in)


QM Note: Two more updates in the North, then back to Republic City.
 

MagnificentLilyWitch

Active member
Pronouns
She/Her
[X] Go immediately to your father and mother and be with them.
[X] Go talk to Unalaq about spiritual matters and the expedition.


I think getting more information from both sides is important here. And as much as I might think that Unalaq is being a Sozin style dumb dumb in the way he's taking this influence over the Avatar for granted he does know his shit when it comes to spirits.
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X] Go talk to Unalaq about spiritual matters and the expedition.

Korra and an Expedition II (Month 10, part 3)

“I need to go back and talk to my uncle,” you say as you and several Water Unionists finish cleaning up the courtyard.

“Are you sure?” one of them asks. “He doesn’t seem to be in much of a talking mood.”

“Even when we were supposedly ‘discussing’ the matter of the Southern Water Tribe’s autonomy, it was mostly him lecturing us,” added another one. “He is truly the great leader we need in this moment.”

That gets a chuckle out of you and several others.

“Yeah, you’re right... but while we’re here I’d like to talk to him about that expedition.”

“Expedition?”

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve told you all about that. You see...”

You then explain the whole matter with Raava and Vaatu, the leaders of the light and dark spirits, and how they will be freed at the Harmonic Convergence to do as they will... which is apparently to fight each other to the death for the right to rule the world. They already knew that part, having been in contact with the ex-Equalists. What they did not know is that you were thinking of braving the Everstorm to locate Raava, given that your uncle has already located Vaatu. Granted, you’re not sure yet what you’ll do when you find her. Should you keep them bottled up or let them out?

“Keep in mind that unless you confine them to the Spirit World, their rampage will affect us Water Tribe members first. Even those of us who live in Republic City or the North Coast still have ties to the polar regions.

“...you’re right,” you admit.

You sigh.

“Well, I suppose I have to keep them sealed up somehow...”

“That, or re-seal them once they break out. That might actually be something Unalaq can help you with, given his knowledge of the spirits.”

You nod.

“Okay then! I’ll be off!”

You head back to the Royal Palace, tailed by Vanra who insists on staying by your side. When you say you don’t need a bodyguard, she just says that she’ll stick around as your friend and gives you a big smile.

Utterly disarmed, you let her stay with you as you both re-enter the palace.

The guards are on duty, and one of them walks up to you, asking what your business is. When you say you want to talk to your uncle about the spirits, he nods and leads you down the icy hallways. You can’t help but feel like you’re being watched, and when you glance into the dark corners you occasionally notice glowing purple eyes staring back at you. You shudder, and Vanra draws close.

“There’s a dark spirit hiding nearby,” you say. “It’s watching us.”

“Oh good, you noticed it too,” says the guard. “Felt like I was going crazy...”

“What kind of spirit is it?” you ask.

“Don’t know and don’t care as long as it stays away from me. Anyway, the Chief is usually in the Royal Library, so we’ll check here first...”

You’d think a building made of ice would be a bad place to store books and scrolls, but that has apparently not stopped Unalaq from amassing a large collection. Shelves filled with texts and tomes line the walls of the large chamber, with a single table and chair in the center where the texts can be read. Unsurprisingly, Unalaq is sitting in that chair, leafing through one of the many books lying on the table. Going by the book’s title, it seems to be a history of the southern half of the Earth Continent. At first, he doesn’t acknowledge you, so the guard motions to speak, only to be told to leave you and Vanra here and go back to his station. He gives the two of you a look, but then leaves as ordered.

You and Vanra walk over to Unalaq, and he finally glances up from his book and looks at you... at which point you notice that he has bags under his eyes. You can also feel an otherworldly presence coming from him, which you assume is the result of his dealings with the spirits.

“So, have you come to a decision?” he asks.

“How did you know that’s what I was here for? Maybe I wanted to rant at you about politics?” you ask, trying to lighten the mood.

He gives you an annoyed look.

“Please don’t...”

“...waste your time, yeah, I know. Yes, I’ve come to a decision. We need to keep them sealed up.”

Unalaq closes the book in front of him.

“Very well then.”

“...that’s it? You’re not going to try to argue that I should let them out?”

“No. You are the Avatar, and as the bridge between the humans and spirits, I will defer to your judgement.”

Vanra gives him a skeptical look, which he notices.

“You can tell your friend there that I mean it. Though if you would like to see for yourself why I might agree with you, we can always visit Vaatu.”

“Oh, right! He’s at the North Pole, yeah?”

“Indeed. There’s an ancient forest there, and the portal is located inside it. Follow me.”

He gets up and swiftly walks out the room, leaving you and Vanra to trail behind him. In only a few minutes, the three of you – along with several guards – are on snowmobiles and driving out of the city. In the course of a few hours, your group traverses plains and mountain ranges under the bright sun. No storms and light snow make for an easy trip. Once you all enter the forest, you notice that it’s now significantly warmer, more like a cool autumn day in Republic City than an icy environment. At the edge of the forest is a massive lake and at the center of it is a massive glowing red orb, half-buried in the ground.

You notice that your hands are glowing, and stop your snowmobile.

“W-what the-!?”

“The Avatar Spirit is reacting to the Spirit Portal. Touch it and it will open. Vaatu will be on the other side,” says your uncle calmly.

You take a deep breath and let the power of Avatar Spirit flow through you!

“W-whoa!” shouts one of the guards as a heavy wind kicks up around you and you levitate.

Not just power, but knowledge is flowing through you... knowledge... knowledge from an ancient Avatar, knowledge of a time of chaos, a time of war, where humans and spirits massacred each other at the directives of their lords and the two Great Spirits of Balance, respectively.

Knowledge that if Raava and Vaatu are freed, that time will return.

Knowledge that the two of them must be destroyed before that can happen
and you suddenly stop yourself from placing a hand on the orb, grabbing your outstretched left hand with your right arm, backing away from it.

“...is something the matter, my niece?”

That’s the first time you’ve heard actual concern from your uncle since you got here.

You shake your head.

“No. Opening this portal is a bad idea... but I need to see him for myself.”

With both hands out and yourself firmly in control, you touch the orb and the world erupts into a sea of red light.

.

.

.

When your vision returns, you see that the world around you has changed. You’re now in a sparse and rocky landscape, rather than a lush forest. Half of the land around you is covered in ice, including a massive stone pillar. In front of you is a massive hollow tree, containing within it a black orb. Behind you is a pillar of red light, and you instinctively know that you must go back there to return to the others, who have decided not to join you. The air around you is thick with a menacing presence, and you know immediately where it’s coming from when a red eye opens on the black orb trapped within the Tree of Time.

SO, YOU HAVE RETURNED, HUMAN.

“We’ve never met before,” you say, even though that’s technically not true.

HMM. THEN YOU HAVE PERHAPS STOLEN OR INHERITED THAT HUMAN’S POWER. REGARDLESS... DO YOU SEEK WISDOM AND HAVE COME TO RELEASE ME?

You are suddenly filled with an impulse to burn him and his tree down for even suggesting such a thing, and it takes all of your will to suppress it. Now’s not the time for violence. Not yet, anyway.

“No. I came to visit you, that’s all.”

CURIOUS. I WILL BE FREE SOON ANYWAY, BUT NOT RAAVA AT THIS RATE. SHE’S FROZEN STIFF, HAHAHA~! YOU MAY AS WELL ASSIST ME IF YOU WILL NOT BE FREEING HER, AS I WILL WIN OUR CONTEST BY DEFAULT.

“You won’t be winning anything! I’m gonna put you away for good!” you shout at the spirit.

He simply laughs back at you, a harsh sound that echoes across the desolate terrain.

(Does Korra say anything else to Vaatu?)
[][Vaatu] Ask him questions. (must write-in details)
[][Vaatu] Yell at him. (must write-in details)
[][Vaatu] Taunt him. (must write-in details)
[][Vaatu] No, just leave.


(What else does Korra do before leaving Agna Qel’a? Choose one.)
[][AQ] Go immediately to your father and mother and be with them.
[][AQ] Wander around the city with Vanra and some Water Unionists.
[][AQ] Attempt to sneak back into the royal palace and look around.
[][AQ] Ask people in the city what they think about the local spirits.
[][AQ] (write-in)
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X][Vaatu] Ask him questions. (must write-in details)
-[x] What do you want? Because if you're wasting my time just because of sibling rivalry I'm not just going to seal both of you idiots up again, I'm going to shove you both in the same vessel.

[X][AQ] Ask people in the city what they think about the local spirits.

Korra’s Return to Republic City (Month 10, part 4)

“What do you want!?” you shout at him as he continues to laugh.

I WANT WHAT I AM AND I AM WHAT I WANT,” is his answer.

So then, he wants to spread Chaos and Darkness? Makes sense... many of his spirits are probably active in Agna Qel’a, so you decide to ask around there and see what impact they’re having. You doubt it’s any good, despite what your uncle might claim to the contrary.

“Is Raava the same?”

INDEED, THOUGH SHE IS MY OPPOSITE. AND I SHALL MAKE HER MY INFERIOR! I SHALL TRIUMPH THIS TIME, AS WAS DENIED TO ME AT THE LAST HARMONIC CONVERGENCE. YOU CANNOT STOP ME.

“Not only am I going to stop you, but if your sibling rivalry ends up messing things up for everyone, I’m not just going to seal you away. No, I’ll shove you both in the same vessel!”

Vaatu laughs again, his mockery thick in the air. “WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL PRESENCE? WITHOUT THOSE SPIRIT SAGES, YOU ARE NOTHING TO ME.

“We’ll see about that!” you exclaim, making a note of what he just said before you depart. Spirit Sages... are they still around? You hope so, just in case he’s not bluffing. Without saying goodbye, you walk into the red light and return to the others. Re-activating the Avatar State, you close the portal behind you... and for good measure, you kick it.

“I take it you see what I mean,” says your uncle.

“I do. Hopefully Raava is more cooperative...”

You sigh.

“Alright, let’s go back.”

It takes another few hours to return to the royal palace. When you all arrive...

“Dad!”

“Korra!”

...your father and mother are there waiting for you, accompanied by a group of Water Unionists. Your mood brightens up immediately and you run up to him and give him a great big hug. Your uncle lets you bask in it for a few moments before directing the guards to escort your large group back into the city.

From there, you all split up. You and Vanra stick with your parents and Vanra’s father, and Tonraq and Vanrir take you all on a tour of the city. By the time you all crash at a solid-ice hotel for the night, it’s super late and your attempts to get information regarding the local dark spirits have all failed. You’ll just have to try again in Republic City, you suppose... but the time you spent with your parents was nice, at least.

.

.

.

After another long boat ride, the Downtown Harbor of Republic city comes into view. You return to Spirit Portal Island with your parents, having come to a decision regarding the expedition.

[][Expedition] It needs to happen soon.
[][Expedition] It can wait to the end of the month, after I’ve fought with the Dragon Lady.
[][Expedition] It can wait until next month, after the School Festival.
[][Expedition] It isn’t necessary anymore.


In the meantime, you need to train for your match with the Tigerdillo... and figure out what else you can get done in the meantime.

(Korra does three of the following, unless you chose It needs to happen soon in which case she only does one. )
[][Event] Call someone at the Northern Water Tribe: Unalaq / Deska and Esna (write-in details)
[][Event] Call someone at the Southern Water Tribe: (who?) (write-in details)
[][Event] Go talk to Amon
[][Event] Go look for Tarrlok
[][Event] Hang out with your friends!
-[][Event] Work on Spirit Radios with Asami (must be taken by end of Month 10)
-[][Event] Go see how Biyong’s training is going
-[][Event] Garden OR Spar with Vanra
-[][Event] Go see if Yango is still around (Free Action)
[][Event] Investigate the Order of the Golden Phoenix with Azula
[][Event] Investigate the Spirit Sages with Senna
[][Event] Continue working on Spirit Projection
[][Event] Attempt to talk to past Avatars: (who?) (write-in details)
[][Event] (write-in; subject to QM approval)



QM Note: Shorter update this time.
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X][Expedition] It needs to happen soon.
[X][Event] Investigate the Spirit Sages with Senna

Korra, Senna, and the Spirit Sages (Month 10, part 5)

In addition to training for your match with the Tigerdillo, you decide to investigate the Spirit Sages with your mom. Your dad, meanwhile, is spending a lot of time with the local Water Unionists. After telling your parents that you wanted to do that southern expedition sooner rather than later, it seems like the Water Unionists are preparing things behind the scenes. Two days after you get back, you’re told that the voyage is scheduled, and that you’ll be leaving the day after your match. It sounds like they expect you all to be down there for at least a week, if not longer, so they’re talking with your teachers about how to handle that.

In the meantime, you do your thing.

The Tigerdillo is virtually the opposite of the Speed Hawk. He fights defensively and patiently, waiting for opportunities and landing devastating counterattacks, moving almost like an Earth-bender (that is, only when needed). You think about how to best fight against that...

(How should Korra approach this next fight?)
[][Duel] Go all in on offense. (1.25x)
[][Duel] Be heavily defensive.
[][Duel] Be flexible and evasive.
[][Duel] Be adaptive to the situation. (1.25x)
[][Duel] (write-in for a more detailed approach)


...and direct your training, shaping your fighting style in the appropriate direction.

After one of your training sessions, you decide to hop on a ferry over to Phoenix City. They have an extensive library system, so you figure they’re your best bet for getting any information on the Spirit Sages. You and your mom walk into the largest one, which is built like a massive temple and even has its own garden. As you enter, you frown and turn back around.

“...Is something the matter, dear?” your mom asks.

“No,” you say, turning back around. You thought you sensed something – a spirit, for sure – but it looks like it had left already.

As the two of you walk in, you’re greeted by a small seating area, a café, and a staff desk. While no one’s at the desk, one of a group of chatting librarians gets up and walks over to you, asking if you’re looking for anything in particular.

“Yes, I’m looking for books on the Spirit Sages. Do you have any?”

The librarian looks confused. “Spirit Sages?” he asks. “Never heard of them...”

He turns to the rest of his group, but they’re all as clueless as he is. You then ask for any general books on the Spirit World and spirit society, and they’re then able to guide the two of you to a whole section of books and scrolls on the matter. Unfortunately, most of the books pre-date the Artificial Spirit Portal and are thus of dubious quality. Fortunately, the few books that were published in the last decade seem decent at least. Your mom, for example, is able to find a partial map of the Spirit World, and while most of it is just labelled as wilderness and it lacks many important details like what direction is north or how big the Spirit World is, there are sections that cleanly correspond to each of the four classical elements.

If you ever need to enter the portal, you’ll at least have a general idea of where to go.

That said, you get a hunch that you should keep looking, and proceed to keep poring through books while your mom heads off to order food at the café. The books are pretty boring to you, but it’s worth it to hopefully get something else out of your visit...

...though when your mom finds you, you apparently had fallen asleep.

You grumble under your breath. You’re not going to let a bunch of books defeat you!

The two of you come back the next day, and the day after that, and during those trips you’re able to figure out more about the Spirit Sages. There’s four of them – the Phoenix-Dragon, the Mountain Spirit, the Tree-Tortoise, and the Golden Bird. They reside within their respective sections of the spirit world and are apparently still alive, though maybe that’s not the right word to apply to a spirit. Regardless, going to the Spirit World to try and talk to them won’t be a waste of time.

And on both of those days, you also sensed a spirit nearby.

This time, when you and your mom exited the library, you decided to talk to that spirit. So, sensing out where it was, you spun off a little whirlwind and blew it over to you.

“Korra! What are you-!?”

Your mom’s question is answered when an albatross suddenly appears in front of the two of you, despite its habitat being in the south closer to the pole. You dispel your whirlwind and the albatross glares at you while fixing its feathers.

“Some manners you have!” it complains. “So, this is what’s become of old Wan’s soul...”

“Wan...” you say. “Was he the first Avatar? How did he know the Spirit Sages? How are you connected with them?”

“And demanding answers without a proper tribute too!”

You roll your eyes. “Look, if you don’t want to answer, that’s fine. But don’t go around stalking me, got it!”

Your mom then speaks up. “Korra, what’s going on? Who is this?”

“That’s what I’d like to know!” you reply.

“Hmph!”

The albatross then leaps up from the ground and perches on your head.

“I am an albatross, sent here by the Spirit Sage of Water! I have come here to invite you to my Master’s domain for a personal audience.”

“Oh! Well, thank you... but I can’t go right now.”

“Of course! We shall depa... wait, what?”

The bird launches itself back into the air.

“What do you mean you can’t go right now!?”

“I have my match coming up, and then we’re going to the south pole, and I really should catch up with my friends again, and then there’s school... I have a lot going on right now.”

“Hmph! Impertinent!”

The albatross flies up and starts flying away.

“I shall return soon enough!”

Your mom gives you a confused look and you return it. You’re not sure what’s up with that either.

(After the match, it’s time for the expedition! Korra, Senna, Tonraq, and a group of Water Unionists are going down to the South Pole. Who goes with them? Choose as many as you like, assembled in a plan vote.)
[][Expedition] Unalaq
[][Expedition] Vanra
[][Expedition] Biyong
[][Expedition] Asami
[][Expedition] Azula
[][Expedition] Rika
[][Expedition] ex-Equalists
[][Expedition] someone else: (write-in)
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X][Expedition] Asami
[X][Duel] Be adaptive to the situation. (1.25x)

Korra vs The Tigerdillo! (Month 10, part 6)

The day of your match against the Tigerdillo you wake up bright and early as usual.

Unlike usual, most of your things are packed away, as you’ll be leaving for the villages of the Southern Water Tribe as the night falls. The northern ice can be reached in only two days or so via steamboat, but the trip to the southern ice is much longer. Unfortunately, you can’t simply take the spirit portal there since the one at the south pole is closed... and besides, it’s not even clear that it would be shorter. Distances in the Spirit World are weird according to the few who have visited.

In any case, you, your family, Asami, and a bunch of Water Unionists will be gone for a long while.

Unfortunately, your school teachers insist you keep up with your education and have also dumped a bunch of books and homework on you. Bleh.

You can think (or not) about that later. Right now, you need to focus!

Your parents don’t seem to be up yet – they were also panic packing last night – so you make yourself breakfast with what little is left in the fridge. The smell wakes frying fish wakes them up, and you all eat a quiet breakfast together.

Not long later, you head out for Phoenix City, your parents hanging back on the island.

When you arrive at the arena, you see that yet again it’s swarming with militia and detectives. When you walk up and talk to one of them, they confirm that Tarrlok has struck again in the area and that they’re searching for him. This time, however, they’ve got a nasty little surprise for him, the woman declares as she pulls out an Anti-Spirit Radio. The Experimental Station has been busy studying them, and so have a few to lend out in a special case like this. With it on, it should hopefully neutralize his weird powers and let them capture him for interrogation and sentencing.

You simply wish them good luck, and wait for them to depart so you can be left in.

While waiting...

“Hey, Korra! Good to see you!”

“Good morning, Lady Korra!”

“...” A friendly wave and a bright smile.

...Asami, Biyong, and Vanra arrive. You spend a while chatting with them, a crowd slowly emerging around your group. During the conversation, Asami notes that they’ve made an interesting development at the Experimental Station – they can reverse the Anti-Spirit Radios such that bending is strengthened instead of weakened. Maybe around an hour later, the detectives and militia depart and the larger group starts trickling in. You depart from your friends, hoping to join them in the end with a victory under your belt.

Your opponent today is the Tigerdillo, and he’s basically right between The Speed Hawk and The Komodo Rhino in terms of height and build. He has goggles built into his mask that you think are supposed to substitute for his glasses. He’s otherwise completely unremarkable, except for one thing – his stance. He sinks into the ground, resting his full weight on his feet, just like an Earth-bender. You have to remind yourself that this is an Agni Kai so that you stay in the right mindset.

“I’ve noticed that each of you match different elements,” you say as you opt for an opposing stance and start lightly hopping on your feet, waiting for the match to start as the announcer keeps talking. “That on purpose?”

He nods. “Such sub-styles used to be more common, before... well, you know.”

You nod. You’d rather not talk about Sozin and his consequences right now either.

The crowd goes wild once the match is called, though it dissipates once neither of you start with heavy attacks.

Staying light on your feet, you start circling around your opponent, but don’t commit to any attacks just yet. He easily turns to keep you in sight, remaining rooted to the arena floor. Well, looks like you’ll have to make the first move!

You breathe out a stream of fire, using it as cover for your approach. He easily redirects it up and makes a shower of small flames that crash around you. You dance around them, blasting more flames at him. By the time you get close, swimming embers are circling the battle-field. You blast out flaming fists up close, but he alternatives between blocking and deflecting them. You back off when he moves to counter-attack, breathing out flames that you spin around yourself to disperse.

You smirk as you return to your light-footed stance. Nice... you’ll have to strike harder to break through his guard!

You start spinning around and bring forth a wave of flames. When the Tigerdillo brings up a fire wall to repel it, you stop and burst flames out from your bare feet to move around it and get in close. However, he notices you before you can strike him and brings up the fire wall behind him. He then blasts out fireballs and pushes his fire wall and your flame wave at you.

So, that’s how he does it... well, two can play that game!

You seize hold of the fire wall and flame wave, letting them absorb the fire balls, and push them back at him. He pushes back and it’s a contest of wills... you sink yourself in the ground to match him, but as an Earth-bender you have one advantage that he doesn’t. As rooted as he can get, you can match and surpass him, and you do so, forcefully shoving the flames at him and forcing him off his feet so that he doesn’t get knocked out of the ring.

The crowd, which was quiet up to this point, audibly gasps.

You seize the momentum and go in for a series of heavy attacks, switching stances at will to keep the Tigerdillo off-guard and off-stance. While he does recover somewhat, and forces the match to go to time, it’s clear that you had seized command of the match and the audience goes overwhelmingly in your favor. You’ve won, finally!

With a loud cheer, you breathe out a large stream of fire... and end up setting off the sprinklers.

Oops...

Well, your Water-bending can solve that! Being the Avatar has its benefits.

.

.

.

The Tigerdillo congratulates you on a match well fought, and the Dragon Lady tells you that she’s looking forward to your match with her at the end of the month... assuming you get back by then. If not, she’s willing to get it pushed back so that the two of you can have a proper match. The air is electric around the two of you as you accept her offer. That said, when you mention that you didn’t beat all of them, she tells you not to worry about it. You’ve made a lot of progress and she thinks you have what it takes to learn lightning-bending... as long as you impress her in the arena, that is.

As such, your mood was through the roof when you reconnected with your friends and left the arena, telling them the good news.

But not too long later...

“Well, well... look what we have here!”

...you would get a surprise visit by the Phoenix City shore from the Light Oni.

“Avatar Korra... isn’t there something you should be doing right now?” asks the mighty being. “If you have time to spare at this arena, you have time to free Raava!”

“I already made my stance clear! I’m not freeing one without the other, and I might not even do that!” you declare. “I’m not just the Avatar for the spirits, I’m the Avatar for humanity too. I won’t let your power struggle ruin any innocent lives!”

The light oni brings her club to bear. ‘Then, I’ll just have to force your hand!”

You’re a little tired, but you can still fight. And thankfully you’re not alone either!

(VERSUS THE LIGHT ONI II)
[][Korra] Fight using a preferred element: (Water/Air/Fire/Earth)
[][Korra] You’re the Avatar! Use every element at your disposal
[][Korra] (write-in something more detailed)

[][Asami] Activate the Anti-Spirit Radio to strengthen Korra (will also strengthen the Light Oni)
[][Asami] Go get backup for Korra
[][Asami] Stay near to keep bystanders away
[][Asami] (write-in something more detailed)

[][Biyong] Summon the guardian spirit to help Korra
[][Biyong] Let the guardian spirit possess you so that you can help Korra directly
[][Biyong] Stay near to keep bystanders away
[][Biyong] (write-in something more detailed)

[][Vanra] Help Korra fight directly
[][Vanra] Go get backup for Korra
[][Vanra] (write-in something more detailed)


QM Note: Note that this month is likely to have 15 parts, due to how much is going on at the moment.
 

MagnificentLilyWitch

Active member
Pronouns
She/Her
[X][Korra] You’re the Avatar! Use every element at your disposal

[X][Asami] Activate the Anti-Spirit Radio to strengthen Korra (will also strengthen the Light Oni)

[X][Biyong] Let the guardian spirit possess you so that you can help Korra directly

[X][Vanra] Help Korra fight directly


No Backup we die like teenagers!
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X][Korra] You're the Avatar! Use every element at your disposal
[X][Asami] Stay near to keep bystanders away
[X][Biyong] Stay near to keep bystanders away
[X][Vanra] Go get backup for Korra

Korra vs the Light Oni! II (Month 10, part 7)

In an instant, you’ve blasted the Light Oni with a burst of fire and explode it with a burst of air, sending her flying towards the sandy shoreline, away from the crowds. You notice that your three friends look like they’re ready to join you in battle... but you’d rather keep them out of the line of fire. The Light Oni is strong!

So, you ask Asami and Biyong to keep any bystanders from getting hurt while Vanra goes to get the local militia. Vanra signs her assent and dashes off eagerly. Asami and Biyong look a little annoyed at having to work together, but do it anyway for your sake. They walk off just in time for you to notice a boulder heading your way, which you seize control of and send back at the Light Oni.

“Hmph!” she grunts, as she takes her club and smashes the boulder to pieces while running towards you. “Not enough!”

She then jumps up, while raising her club high... but you’re already prepared and spin out a stream of air to knock her back. Still spinning, you then weave out strands of water from the nearby ocean to swarm the Light Oni. As she uses her club to swat them away, you decide to be more aggressive and agglomerate them into a mighty wave that crashes down on her.

“Urgh! Why you!”

You smirk. “Is that all you can do? You made a promise to be peaceful, but since you’re breaking it... I won’t hold back!”

You end your declaration by unfolding your arms, letting the water expand into an icy cage around the Light Oni, with her club getting sent flying away into the ocean.

“Now stand down!” you demand.

“Absolutely not! The world is at war! Only Raava can end these wasteful struggles forever!”

The Light Oni flexes her muscular body and shatters the ice surrounding her.

“I demand that you release her!” she roars as she charges at you.

Uh oh...

You release a massive gust of wind at her and sustain it, slowing her down.

“Ugh!” she grunts as she slowly advances despite your efforts.

“Come on!” you shout as you ramp up the intensity. What’s it going to take to get through to her? War... why is she so fixated on war? Doesn’t she like fighting, like you? You’d think she’d be in favor of more opportunities for battle!

Your breath starts to get heavy... you’ll need to make a decisive blow soon.

...hm...

An idea strikes you. You change up where you’re standing...

“Whoa!”

...and then quickly reverse the flow of air, dragging the Light Oni towards you. Focused on her attack, she swings at you. You slip around her, sliding on wet sand, and root yourself. Then, with a simple push, you shove her hard in the direction of the ocean, using the same combination of fire and air as before. You watch as she falls and falls and crash lands and submerges into the sea.

Approaching footsteps can be felt through the ground. Must be the militia... took them long enough!

You take your boots off and approach the ocean. Feeling out where the Light Oni fell, you drag her out of the waters, surrounding her in a liquid shell this time. She’s dazed but still conscious.

“I won’t... forget this... ugh...”

“Good, I won’t either.”

The militia turns on an Anti-Spirit Radio when they get near, forcing you to dispel the water sphere. Ugh... but you can endure for the short amount of time it takes for them to take the Light Oni away.

Vanra, meanwhile, dashes up to you and gives you a big hug. Asami and Biyong do much the same when you catch up with them, and the four of you go to celebrate your twin victories!

.

.

.

Much later, it’s time for you to depart Republic City again. You and your parents take a ferry to the main port in Downtown Republic City, where you meet Asami. She’s in the company of a few other members of the Experimental Station, as well as a much larger group of Water Unionists. There’s also a crowd of other assorted people, mostly Water Tribe members, who also plan on visiting the southern reaches now that service has been re-opened.

Not long later, you’re all on the boat and the multi-day journey begins...

(While Korra does have a lot of time on the boat, she also has a lot she can do. Choose one to neglect.)
[] Schoolwork is lame, so you ignore it. Besides, you can just do it all on the way back, right?

[] You feel confident in your strength and abilities, so you decide not to train the boat ride.
[] Both you and Asami are busy with your own things, so you end up not spending much time with her.
[] You know you should keep meditating and working on spirit things, but you just can’t get into it...
[] (Something else? Propose a write-in)


QM Note: On towards the South!
 

MagnificentLilyWitch

Active member
Pronouns
She/Her
[X] You feel confident in your strength and abilities, so you decide not to train the boat ride.

Lets shore up our weaknesses rather the doubling up on our strengths.
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X] Schoolwork is lame, so you ignore it. Besides, you can just do it all on the way back, right?

Korra and the Southern Ocean (Month 10, part 8)


Despite having brought all your schoolwork with you, you have no desire to actually do any of it, so all those papers and books sit in their own trunk untouched. You have several other things you would rather do instead. Mostly, you exercise and practice with your bending, but it’s not all that you do.

Particularly, one of the obvious things to do is spending time with Asami, your good friend that you haven’t spent as much time with ever since things started escalating in Republic City and Phoenix City. Unsurprisingly, she’s doing well in all her classes at RCU Dragon Flats, and has made a few friends there that have now joined the Experimental Station. Speaking of the Experimental Station, she pulls out one of Anti-Spirit Radios one day and demonstrates the ability they’ve given it to now improve bending ability.

“It should be this frequency... yep, that’s it!”

The instant that sound starts to play, you feel a burst of energy start to flow through you!

“Whoa!” you shout, and suddenly jump into the air, beckoning the sea breezes to carry you aloft. Only soft and subtle motions are needed now... at least, until you get too far away and the light feeling dissipates. You fall back down, cutting your way through the air, and once you’re back in range of the sound, you glide – or rather, swim through the sky, perhaps – alongside the boat for a good while.

“Tenzin and the Air Nomads might like some of those!” you shout over the ambient din to Asami. “If he had one of those, I would have had a much easier time learning Air-bending!”

“Sure... but wouldn’t you just get used to this and still find normal Air-bending hard?” she asks.

“...huh. Good point!”

You burst flames out from your bare feet and return to the boat’s deck, flipping twice in the air before you land. A few curious on-lookers give you a round of applause, and you bow graciously at them. Asami holds in her laughter as she turns the radio off, and the two of head down to grab a bite to eat.

You also spend some time meditating and working on your spirit projection. You’re not any closer to being able to get into the Avatar State at will, but you are able to extend how much longer your spirit can exit your body. A few minutes already, and you’re able to extend it by at least a minute or two more. You notice that you’re able to extend it even more by going in the ocean, but that won’t help you in most cases so you don’t think too much about it.

However, you do notice something odd one day while out and letting your spirit fly free...

“...are those pirates?”

...a small fleet of ships all flying the same blue and black flag, and in the direction of your vessel. Using your Air-bending enhanced hearing to listen in, you hear them talking about a... mermaid? Mermaids aren’t real, so what are they... oh.

They mean you. They saw you.

Well, it’s nothing you can’t handle!

When you get back, you alert the captain about what you saw. At this point you’re sailing past the southern half of the Earth continent, and the general state of calamity has led to a surge in piracy. You all, however, have no time for this.

So, as the Avatar, you decide to send them on their way.

You ask Asami to turn on the radio and have it boost your abilities. Strengthened, you float in the air, and send out a massive gust of wind in the direction of the pirates, which blows their ships away. They make a couple more attempts to approach, but your repeat performances convince them to retreat.

Once you all get to Whitetail Island, there’s no longer any threats of pirates. Instead, the seas are being patrolled by the Water Tribe Navy, and you all regularly run into their boats as you approach the southern ice sheet. Unlike with the North, there is no wall to keep people out – after all, who would invade now that the world was at peace? At least, that was the idea and the Southern Water Tribe has stuck to it ever since, despite political violence breaking out again.

The rebuilt and sprawling capital city eventually comes into view as your ocean-bound journey nears its end. The massive harbor sits nearly full, ocean-bound traffic continuing despite the nearby war thanks to the now unified navy’s efforts. The city itself seems peaceful... but that could just be an appearance.

As you all arrive and disembark, you decide to...

[] Go straight to the South Pole.
[] Spend some time in the Southern Capital first. (may choose two)
-[] Aimlessly wander around the city.
-[] Attempt to sneak into the royal palace.
-[] Visit the Water-bending school.
-[] See about the local light spirits.
-[] (write-in)
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X] Spend some time in the Southern Capital first. (may choose two)
-[x] Aimlessly wander around the city.
-[x] See about the local light spirits.

Korra arrives in the South! (Month 10, part 9)


...spend the rest of the day in the capital before leaving for the icy wilderness.

Your group departs from the boat with the sun resting high in the sky and check-in at one of the many hotels lining the coast, and then you all split up from there. The Water Unionists split up into a bunch of smaller groups, spreading around the city and the surrounding smaller villages. The members of the Experimental Station headed for either Varrick’s Lab or the local university (or maybe both).

That left you, your parents, and Asami to do as you pleased.

The longer distances in the Southern Ice Sheet, the presence of the Everstorm, and the hostile light spirits would make the trip to the South Pole from here take much longer than the trip to the North Pole from the northern capital. Many days as compared to many hours. You all take a moment to stand atop the hills at the outskirts of the city and you can see it in the distance, lurking menacingly. You all decide to start the day by buying gear, and once that’s secured, you all go around and explore the city.

The South’s busy port and well-developed industrial sector mean that you see more people from other nations here than you did at the north pole. It’s reminiscent of the Water Tribe majority areas of Republic City. Your father comments that things were like that even when he and your mother used to live here, and he occasionally comments on shops and sights that he recognizes in the town.

What he doesn’t recognize are the many soldiers stationed in the city. Seems like your uncle has decided to have the city pull double duty as a commercial and military hotspot for the Water Tribes. The ones on duty as stationed in pairs of Northerner and Southerner, and the Southerners who recognize your dad greet you all warmly and chat with him. The Northerners look at your group with suspicion, but make no hostile moves.

But in any case, Tonraq’s tour of the city takes up most of the day, which passes by like a light breeze... save for one incident.

As the northern capital was home to dark spirits, the southern capital was home to light spirits. They take many different forms, though thankfully there don’t seem to be any light oni wandering around are looking for fights. Not long after you all eat lunch and find yourselves near the Industrial Sector (not that you planned on staying there long due to the bad smell and smoky skies), you hear the chiming of bells, and look up to see several small light spirits descending upon you. They’re glowing humanoids with butterfly-moth wings that are adorned in shining ice and metal.

When Asami and your parents make a move to back away and give you some privacy, one of the spirits speaks. “You may stay, friends and family of Avatar Korra.”

And so they do.

“Let me guess, you’re going to ask me to release Raava?” you ask.

“That is correct,” they say in unison, producing an odd echoing effect.

“Well, I’m going to give you the same answer that I’ve given to every other spirit – I haven’t made a firm decision yet.” That’s a lie at this point, of course, but you’re hoping that they can’t tell from your expression.

“We see,” they say, unfazed. “Perhaps we can convince you to change your mind?”

Personally, you doubt it, but you’re willing to listen to them and let them speak. And as they do, the information they give you regarding Raava is quite revealing. This conflict between Raava and Vaatu occurs roughly every ten thousand years, and Raava had been the winner of the last conflict, giving her full reign of the living world. And in her reign, she was quite busy in arranging things for both humans and spirits alike according to her designs.

As the Great Spirit of Order and Light, that’s precisely what she created in the world. The spirits that normally ran wild and did as they pleased were instead constrained by her control and subject to her demands. The humans remaining in the Spirit Wilds were forced into settlements and ruled from above by light spirits under her command.

As they describe it, the arrangement of things makes you think of honeybees. Each bee has its own role in the hive that it must play, but for bees it’s something that they simply do – it’s not imposed on them by, say, a wasp or a bear. If this is supposed to be convincing, it’s not working.

It gets worse when you ask them what they would do about the human governments. While it’s good that they agree that Unalaq’s control over the South is bad, they would just replace it with Raava’s control... and also do that with everyone else on the planet.

“No."

“Hm?”

“Nope. Not letting Raava out. Not letting Vaatu out either. And that’s final!” you declare to them.

You’re not sure how they make disappointed sounding bell chimes, but they do it as a group.

“But, Avatar Korra...”

“No buts!”

“...very well.”

They then float off, making sad chiming noises.

You sigh.

“Dear, are you still going to talk to Raava when we reach the South Pole?” asks your mom. “You sound like you’ve settled things already, but you might learn something more by talking to her directly.”

You think it over. She has a point... but do you want to deal with that headache?

[] Sure, you can try to talk to Raava. (may write-in questions)
[] No, you’ve made up your mind. Just clear up the storm, open the portals, and leave.
-[] In fact, thinking it over, maybe you shouldn’t actually leave the portals open.



QM Note: Next update is the actual expedition. To the South Pole!
 

Solarstream

Alchemic Anarchist
Pronouns
he/him
Winning vote:
[X] Sure, you can try to talk to Raava. (may write-in questions)
-[x] how flexible can you be? You are the spirit of order but does that order have to take the same form every time?
-[x] Vaatu's being a dick about this, would you be willing to attempt alternate means of resolution/organization if only to oppose his intransigence?
-[x] how do spirits like you two have fights or establish ascendency anyway? Aren't you both immortal and roughly equally powerful and versatile?
-[x] would you be willing to restrict your direct influence to the spirit world?

Korra and an Expedition III (Month 10, part 10)


“...I think I will,” you say to your mom. “I have some questions for her still...”

You go over them with the rest of the group over dinner, ending up with four major ones. One about her flexibility, one about coming up with an alternate plan, one about the nature of their conflict, and one about willingness to limit themselves. When you return to the hotel, you learn that some of the Water Unionists and members of the Experimental Station will be staying behind, leaving a much smaller group to travel with you. But that’s not a big deal, since not much should happen during the trip, right? Besides, you’re able to keep in touch using a mobile radio system in case anything happens.

Your group departs in the morning without much fanfare, heading for the South Pole and the Everstorm.

Unlike the journey to the North Pole, the rough conditions make the trip to the South Pole rough-going, despite not being that much further away from its respective capital city. The Everstorm, that rampaging blizzard, lowers visibility to the point where you can barely see past your own nose at times, forcing you to travel at a relative crawl. While no light spirits come to accost you, you can feel their presence nearby at all times... well at least for the first two days. On the third day, the storm intensifies as you all get closer and closer to the South Pole, and at that point you can’t sense them around anymore.

You briefly wonder if they all got blown away before deciding not to worry about it. You can feel a much stronger spiritual presence, which you assume is Raava, and lead the others to where she must be kept.

You all travel further and further...

“Look!”

...and after a certain point, the Everstorm completely dissipates... no, you must be in the center of the storm. The winds are calm and there’s no falling snow anymore. The terrain is still icy and rocky though, so you can only go so much faster. But you can at least see what you’ve been looking for now. Much like at the North Pole, there’s a Spirit Forest and the sealed portal must be inside it. Unlike at the North Pole, the whole forest is frozen over. You can’t see the Spirit Portal, but your hands are glowing, so it must be nearby.

You hop off your vehicle and the rest of the group joins you in travelling on foot.

“Is that supposed to happen?” asks Asami.

You nod. “The portal is nearby... but where?”

You glance around. The forest is more like an icy maze now, but you tell the group to stick together since you can sense other spirits here. Last time, the portal was at the center of the forest, so you lead the group there...

“To think, this was all here the whole time...”

“It’s incredible!”

“...I don’t think those other expeditions ever made it here.”

“We didn’t run into their bodies either.”

“So they got blown off course?”

“Or they were attacked by hostile spirits.”

...and the others converse like that while you focus. You eventually end up leading them into an underground passage, with dead roots sticking out of the ceiling and ice-covered walls surrounding you all. You’re getting closer and closer... you can feel it! The passage leads to a big cavern with a partially open ceiling and a frozen over pool in the center. At the center of that pool, buried in ice, is a glowing blue orb.

You breathe out a massive burst of fire... but it does nothing.

“Ahhhh! Come on!”

You go into the Avatar State and leap over towards the pool...

“Korra! Look out!”

...and barely air-bend your way out of a bunch of living roots, who decided to try and ensnare you. You see your parents and some of the Water Unionists pull on the surrounding ice to combat the roots, and so return your attention to the frozen over portal. If fire won’t work, you’ll try bending the ice itself... or perhaps through it! You place both of your hands on the ice, directly overtop the blue orb, and push.

The world around you erupts into a sea of blue light.

.

.

.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, HUMAN!?

SHE HAS DONE WHAT IS NECESSARY.

When your vision returns, you can see that you’re back in the same sparse landscape as when you last encountered Vaatu. This time, however, the iced over parts are free of said ice, so you can now see that the stone pillar contains within itself a white orb, and that behind you is a pillar of blue light. The rest of the group has emerged from that pillar to join you, though they’re keeping their distance from Raava and Vaatu.

“So, you’re Raava then?” you ask. “I have some questions for you...”

THERE IS NO TIME FOR QUESTIONS. HURRY AND RELEASE ME SO THAT WE MAY CRUSH VAATU AND BRING ORDER TO THE WORLD.

“No.”

WHAT!?

HA! SO MUCH FOR CRUSHING ME!

SILENCE!

MAKE ME. OH WAIT. YOU’RE SEALED TOO! HAHAHAHA!

Raava’s menacing presence increases further while Vaatu continues to laugh and the others retreat closer to the exit. She continues to yell at him and he alternates between laughing at her and taunting her back. These two... are they Great Spirits or overgrown children? Regardless, they’ve been ignoring you for a while...

Both of you, shut up!!!” you yell aloud while also entering the Avatar State.

OOOH, NICE! I ALMOST FELT THAT~!

HOW DARE YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO!?

“If you don’t listen to me, not only will I leave you both here, I’ll bury both of you under ice forever!”

HMM. A CUTE THREAT, BUT YOU LACK THE MIGHT TO BACK IT UP.

HE IS CORRECT... BUT IF YOU ALLIED WITH ME, PERHAPS WE COULD...

“No! No promises! Just answer my questions, and maybe I’ll think it over.”

The two of them assent, and you get to your questions. Since Vaatu is here and this is no longer a private conversation, you decide to stick to the last two.

First, there’s the matter of their battles. How do the two of them fight anyway? Conceptually, aren’t they equally powerful? How does one of them win? As it turns out, they fight much the same way anyone else does – physically, with combat tenacles and spirit light beams. When they had armies, those armies would also fight, causing about as much destruction in their wake as the two of them by themselves. Yeah, you can understand why people would be opposed to that happening every so often...

Second, there’s the matter of their reach. You explain to them that humans have re-opened the portals between the human and spirit worlds, but that the two realms are mostly independent still. You ask then, if they’re willing to keep themselves within just the Spirit World and leave humanity alone. Both of them, however, deny this, declaring that they alone have the right to rule over both worlds. Out of the corner of your eye, you notice several Water Unionists returning to the human world, probably to report that to the rest of the group. Asami and your mom look concerned, while your dad looks ready to start fighting.

You’re in the mood too, but... now’s not the time.

On the other hand, maybe you can go on the offensive?

(How does Korra approach Raava and Vaatu’s refusal to cooperate?)
[][RV] Try to threaten them into working with you. Bluff that you know the Spirit Sages and can throw them right back into their cages if they don’t comply. (requires 75+ to pass)
[][RV] Try to negotiate with them. Surely, there has to be something you offer them to get them to not fight or to at least take the fighting elsewhere? (must write-in details)
[][RV] Ask them more questions and then leave: (write-in)
[][RV] Just leave.


(Is there anything else you’d like to do back at the capital?)
[][SC] Yes
-[][SC] Attempt to sneak into the royal palace.
-[][SC] Visit the Water-bending school.
-[][SC] (write-in)
[][SC] No



QM Note: This month will have five more parts, followed by News and Rumors.
 
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