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This is a nice little bonus chapter, to give you some insight into the world I have created and the justification for the events occurring in this story. Please leave some feedback ;)
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[18 April 15 - Edited due to Coding Glitch. Special Thanks to Lawliness]
Over a hundred years ago, the Fire Nation committed the most heinous act ever witnessed by man. Their sights set on the Air Nomads, the entire Fire Nation military set forth from within their walls, to launch the greatest military conquest of all time. Their goal; to unite the globe under a single banner, that of the Fire Nation. Officially, to "spread their renowned wealth and peace to the other nations" was the goal of the operation. The Air Nomads, having no formal army of their own, could not withstand such a massive offensive, and were massacred within their respective Air Temples. Despite this, they did not go down peacefully; the Fire Nation suffered heavy casualties, which weakened their forces by almost a quarter. Surviving airbenders fled to all corners of the globe, to escape the mass genocide committed by the Fire Nation and seek refuge within a number of remote areas. In a campaign to secure his victory, Fire Lord Sozin killed these survivors through the use of assassins and spies, until he was certain none were left.
At the time of the mass genocide committed by the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom royals held a private conference. Upon disbanding, numerous Earth Kingdom delegates made their way to the Fire Nation capital, offering a peace treaty and proposed alliance. Among trade priorities and other support, the Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation would share a Mutual Defence Treaty, ensuring that neither nation would be harmed by their counterparts, and that in the event of a third party attack on either nation, military support would be provided from their allies. The Northern Water Tribe viewed this as an act of treason by the Earth Kingdom, and began to plan for the destruction of the Fire Nation, and by extent the Earth Kingdom. Receiving assistance from anti-government Earth Kingdom factions, established a Southern Tribe, allowing for greater expansion and creating a strategic stronghold, doubling the Tribes military strength. This Southern Tribe was frequently targeted by Fire Nation raids, and was rebuilt multiple times by survivors, the Northern Tribe providing resources and a waterbending population.
In essence, the world was divided. The Fire Nation fought for the future, for wealth and expansion, while the Water Tribes fought for their deceased comrades within the Air Nomads, upholding their beliefs of what is right and acting on their morals. The Earth Kingdom was split down the middle, with half of the population blindly following their leaders in assisting the Fire Nation, and the remainder joining the Water Tribes or acting out against the government in their own ways.
The previous avatar slain, a boy named Aang was born within the Air Nomads with the ability to master all four elements. Fire Nation reports vary on the status of the airbender, regarding whether or not he survived the attack on the Air Temples. Regardless, he is presumed dead by many, a hundred years having passed since the genocide, and the Water Tribes are scouring their own ranks for anybody who could potentially be Aang's successor in the avatar cycle.
Aang's body was located secretly five years ago by the exiled Fire Nation General, Lord Iroh, in a frozen state within an iceberg at the South Pole. Crucial to the maintenance of balance and order, knowledge of the airbender is a closely guarded secret, only revealed to those at the head of the Order of the White Lotus.