The Archivist
A tale set in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender
This account of events took me completely by surprise.
Many weeks ago I awoke to the screech of an owl. Once I had lit my lantern and looked about, I found, on my writing desk, a number of scrolls collected together in a worn bag of seal leather with an owl standing over them. Upon meeting my gaze it once again screeched and flew out into the night.
As I began to read through the scrolls, the tale they wove was strange and fantastic if not wholly unbelievable. However, once I had finished them I found the events listed within them to have great meanings and even greater insights. The original author, however, did not wish to read into the events that he himself had reordered, and I, being a historian not an essayist, will not presume to speak where the original author was silent. Therefore, while I have found meanings and insights with in these words, it is not my place to discus them here. It is instead my duty as Grand Royal Archivist of Ba Sing Se to faithfully preserve this journal in its original form for future generations, to ensure that lessons of the past are not forgotten and the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
I must note that the texts, as of date, have not themselves been accurately dated. It is also of note that the set of scrolls seems to be incomplete. Whether the scrolls are missing due to time, or by design is of yet unknown and, in my opinion, irrelevant.
That said, the following is the record of events put forth by this journal, in their original form and in their entirely with minimal editing on my part.
8th Lunar Cycle: 3rd Quarter Day Moon
(Editor's Note: text before this unreadable) the evening a royal envoy from the Earth Kingdom arrived with an urgent message. They had a light meal and were put up for the night. I will hear what they have to say on the morrow.
8th Lunar Cycle: 22-Day-Old Moon
The Earth Envoy's news was both troubling and bizarre. They were sent from the Earth King himself to ask for our help in an urgent matter. It seems their great city of Ba Sing Se is suffering from a severe drought. The great twin lakes south of the city are far below their usual level, and the crops within the Outer Wall are failing. Earlier this Cycle an envoy was sent to the Northern Water Tribe to appeal to the Avatar herself. However, their request for aid was immediately dismissed by the Avatar and forbade any Waterbender to aid the Earth Kingdom in their quest for relief. The Envoy demanded another audience with the Avatar to better understand her reasons for refusal, but one was not granted. The Envoy was then promptly "escorted" back to Ba Sing Se, and the Northern Tribesmen quickly began securing their boarders so there would be no breach of the Avatar's command. They say that at his very moment members of the Northern Water Tribe are patrolling the northern coat of the Earth Kingdom. The Earth King, upon hearing of this turn of events sent yet another envoy to us in the South.
They say the city is in dire need and they require the aid of Waterbenders to successfully transport the vast amounts of water needed to restore irrigation to the farms around Ba Sing Se. And though I do not wish to defy the Avatar's command, something must be done. I have arranged a meeting with the Tribal Council tomorrow and will make my decision then.