Avatar Rp: Book One: Earth (Closed/Started)

[Muffin Button]

"I haven't seen someone heal a wound quite like that before."

"Well, people get sick just about everywhere, even when there aren't any pure waterbending healers around." Chi replied as she held up the bottle for Kara to see. "This stuff, for instance, is quite popular with the Earth Kingdom military. Herbalists don't usually tend to sell it to them neat like this, though. Particularly after a dozen or so cases of rashes emerged from people splashing whole bottles of the stuff on cuts without watering it down first."

 

[VuvuZelaMan]

Kara looked at the herb bottle, noticing that the mix looked somewhat familiar. "Yeah, I see where people can mess it up. I think that's why most of the healers I saw stick to the waterbending healing or the herbs, instead of mixing the two."

 

[JokerboyJordan]

Geb was perturbed by the Earth Woman's icy-cold glare, complete with a hint of disgust. He was also aware that he drew a few sideways glances from the other members the group, most acutely of the ladies. He raised up his arm and took a serious of small sniffs, his face not changing expression, he couldn't find anything wrong with the way he smelt, although of course he was not impartial to this matter.

"What do you think girl? Do you think I need a wash?"

Coco leaned over and sniffed Geb, before giving a disapproving squawk followed by a light peck, beginning to start to preen her feathers rigorously, almost with an air of superiority.

Geb gave a dissatisfied frown at his animal companion's reaction to his odouvr, nevertheless, he sought to turn the conversation around.

"So... I think I am going to have a was after all. Any female waterbenders care to give me a hand?" he said with a coy smile on his face, anxiously studying his companions.

 

[Muffin Button]

"Yeah, I see where people can mess it up. I think that's why most of the healers I saw stick to the waterbending healing or the herbs, instead of mixing the two."

"Well, I don't really do the whole 'energy' thing, waterbending just helps me with the actual administration bit. Can't see any reason why you couldn't mix the two, apart from splitting your training and getting half-decent at both styles rather than just concentrating on getting really good at one. I've also seen a few other hebalists use bending in different ways, like firebenders cauterising wounds or heating poultices."

She heard Geb outside.

"So... I think I am going to have a wash after all. Any female waterbenders care to give me a hand?"

"I think I'll pass on that..." she said to the others, keeping her voice low enough to confine it to the women's dormatory. "Much as I'd like the free pass to randomly chuck cold water at him when he gets like this."

 

[CrazyGirl17]

"So... I think I am going to have a wash after all. Any female waterbenders care to give me a hand?"

Daiyu smirked. "He doesn't learn, does he?" She tossed a towel over her shoulder, and turns towards the bathroom, saying, "Anyway, I'm off for a bath. Anyone else coming?"

 

[Pappytech]

"Communal males, left, communal women, right. You got lovers, get over it, you're not sleeping with them tonight."

Jin seriously debated leaving right then and there.

He liked to consider himself a civil man, a man who thought and planned before he acted. He liked to believe that it took quite a bit to irk him, and even more before he lashed out in anger or wrath. But damn if this wasn't annoying!

The bounty hunter grumbled to himself as he unwillingly trudged after the upright earth bender. He may not have liked his situation, but a free bed was something too good to be turned down. Once he made his way to the communal dormitory, however, he took only a few seconds to dump his few extraneous accessories on an empty bed. Then he was back out in the numerous hallways and corridors that made up the temple, his weapon hanging from his back and a rested Zulf perched on his shoulder.

Kalah had mentioned two names, two people who might actually be able to give him some damn answers. There was no way he was going for the Air Nomad, Atar; he was in no mood for whatever spiritual story the Nomads always seemed to spin. Which left Jin with one option: Ping, the fire bender.

"Excuse me, sir," Jin began, willfully allowing his tone to reflect his frayed restraint. "I've got some questions I wouldn't mind having answered."

 

[Redryhno]

"I've got some questions I wouldn't mind having answered."

"Then ask them, kid,"Ping, the Firebending representative said as he lit his longstemmed pipe,"What'd you want to know?" He lay in a relaxed pose, thick calluses marking his crossed feet and one arm holding his head up as the other one periodically pulled out the pipe.

"Do you want the story of the Avatar? What you're being....paid, I assume, judging by your appearance, to do? Why the guys outside needed to fight you? I can give you the answers to most of your questions. Call me Ping."

He ran a hand across his head, all shaved but for a single grayed top-knot held together by a blue metal with three prongs that brightened to a blinding yellow almost white at the tips.

 

[Pappytech]

"Then ask them, kid. What'd you want to know?"

"Oh. Well, that was easier than expected."

The promise of pure, simple answers helped to calm Jin significantly. As he slid to the ground, crossing his legs as he descended, the vagabond took a few seconds to gather his thoughts. Zulf, meanwhile, scampered down from his owner's shoulder, sniffing and wandering about the area.

"Well... I guess I already know the story behind the Avatar, at least all the important bits. And as I understand it, the job is basically to just find the new Avatar. Probably not a simple task, but the basics aren't that hard to grasp.

"I guess the big question is, why us? And me, specifically. I mean, why trust a random group of nobodies to find the single most powerful bender in the world? Seems to me that this'd be better handled by someone like you guys, you masters and your acolytes and stuff. Never really heard of the White Lotus before, but I'm guessing that you guys have a lot of resources. Enough that you could get better help then a few mercs, travelers, and performers.

"And yeah, it would be kind of nice to know why I had to 'prove myself' by fighting someone, when I'm apparently 'destined' to go on this quest."

 

[VuvuZelaMan]

Kara listened to Chi's explnanation, and would have replied were it not for Geb.

"So... I think I am going to have a wash after all. Any female waterbenders care to give me a hand?"

"Why? Do you not know how to wash yourself?" Kara asked Geb, a slight smile on her face that could be taken for sarcasm or naivete.

"Anyway, I'm off for a bath. Anyone else coming?"

"Yeah, we should probably get going now," Kara replied more quietly, grabbing her own towel.

 

[Redryhno]

"And yeah, it would be kind of nice to know why I had to 'prove myself' by fighting someone, when I'm apparently 'destined' to go on this quest."

"Well,"Ping said, pulling his legs in and sitting up,"Let's answer these in sequence. Why you? Because you were at the right place at the right time. The Avatar may do a few things, but gathering random bunches of people isn't one of them I think. As for you being nobodies, I'm not that sure about that, you got up here didn't you? Now, what was the next part? Oh, right, right. Why a random group?"

He inhaled deeply on his pipe, burped, and began coughing, little gouts of smoke escaping as he coughed before regaining his breath.

"To tell you the truth, you guys are pretty much as qualified to find him as anyone else, there's only a handful of people that even knew Roku when he was alive, and most of them are dead, Sud's here, Kuruk up North died a few years ago, Gyatso's with the Nomads as always, Kaalim's still alive we believe, but he went off and became a hermit about the time he finished training him, so the Nomads would be the only ones to even know if he was there, Sozin's busy ruling the Fire Nation, and even I was just one of the Fire Lord's bodyguards before I was inducted into the White Lotus fifteen years ago on my retirement.

"Basically, everyone knows what to look for in the Avatar, but you guys are going to be more than just his finders right now, we need someone our enemy's not going to be looking for.

"And I guess finally is why you had to fight to get up here in the first place. Well, it's simple, they're the decoy team we're sending out with you. Roku told us to keep the vigil during the search and training of the next Avatar, and that's what we're doing. They just had to know the basics of how you all fight."

 

[CJ1145]

"The only news I've heard lately is that the search for the Avatar is afoot, but of course, you already know that."

"Indeed, Master." confirmed Monsin, taking another thoughtful puff as he reclined a bit. He began to ponder something, and the silence made such clear enough to his fellow airbender.

"Quite an interesting assembly you've gathered here, isn't it?" he asked, referring to the other benders and individuals that had been brought with him. "They all seem very capable..."

He suddenly released his pipe, cupping it in his hands and shaking it to gesture as he said "Tell me, if you are inclined to do so Master, what inspired you to call in strangers? I must admit, my knowledge of these temples is a tad shaky, but I don't think I can recall a time where this was done."

He could not get his point across with an expression, so he poured his emotion into his voice instead. "What is so important about this Avatar, that you would hasten the process in his search?"

 

[Redryhno]

"Tell me, if you are inclined to do so Master, what inspired you to call in strangers? I must admit, my knowledge of these temples is a tad shaky, but I don't think I can recall a time where this was done."

"That would be because the Spirit of the Avatar brought you to Buniq's teahouse. And Rika and Rokka brought you here. There's very little that you don't already know. As for how long this has been going on, we've been looking for the Avatar since long before Yangchen's time, we're not even sure which Avatar founded our duty, all we do know is that we're their trainers and protectors, in this cycle at least."

"What is so important about this Avatar, that you would hasten the process in his search?"

"You know as well as anyone that the Avatar is the single most important Bender in the world. Without them, one of the Nations would try to gain power over the other three, at some point, and they're there to preserve the balance and peace we live in. Avatar Roku told us that a storm was coming, and that the next Avatar would need to be protected at all costs. Unfortunately he didn't tell us what was coming. We don't intend to hasten the search, only attempt to keep messengers from being apprehended.

"Another faction is attempting to keep the cycle from renewing, and we have had problems with them. All we know for sure is that their symbol is the symbols for positive," He raised his left fist,"And negative Jin,"He raised his right fist and pressed them together,"Fused together. We've taken to calling them the Equalists because of this. Simplistic I know, but it keeps it unknown from the general populace when we're talking about them. Rika and Rokka are working on a way to subtly recognize each other in public, with some kind of mixed results.

"They're Sud's apprentices, and he regrets every second he has to spend with them. I swear that the man does love them, but they've shown their genius time and again, our Cool Room in the kitchens was developed by them, quite useful in its own way."

 

[TheIronRuler]

Malik nodded in approval as he heard the old woman speak to the group harshly about fooling around in the compound. Malik didn't even dream of such a thing - he knew that the best and most secure way of relieving himself was with a good fire-nation girl, and a dozen coins. He knew most of the brothels in the east end of the nation, and only a few were 'clean'. Oh how dangerous ones lust can be. He learned so during his stay with his old gang as more than a few settled for a cheap lay and ended up sick or worse. Malik didn't worry himself with such things - at the time he was way too young for such a thing, and as he grew older he realized he wasn't as obsessed with it as his gang-mates. He shrugged and moved on to his room, hoping that he could catch a good night's sleep and shake off the stiffness he suffered in the tea shop.

'Tea...', the man felt a shiver coming down his spine. He entered the second room on his right and dropped his bag on the floor next to his bed. A candle stood tall in the corner of the room on top of a small square table, one that he lite from afar and watched for a moment as the green fire turned back to a calm, orange sizzle. He was still perplexed by the abilities he got, but as time went on he got used to his unusual flames.

Malik pulled off his shoes and laid on his bed. It was obviously uncomfortable, but he endured through much worse in the wilderness. He just hoped he could have a quiet night alone, or a silent partner sleeping next to him.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

"Why? Do you not know how to wash yourself?" Kara asked Geb, a slight smile on her face in a mocking tone

"I do actually, rather well in fact, it was just for thoroughness' sake" replied the flirtatiousness Geb, quick to dismiss any notions of ill hygiene the conversation might have brought up.

"Anyway, I'm off for a bath. Anyone else coming?"

Came an invitation from another female voice, turning out to be Daiyu.

"Yeah, we should probably get going now"

As the ladies took their towels and began to make their way in the general vicinity of the baths, a thought began to take form in the young Earthbender's mind.

"Well I'll going to take a short nap now, I'll see you all for dinner".

Feigning taking his minimal possessions to his bunk, Geb waited until the women were completely out of sight before chucking his duffel-bag into the room with reckless abandon.
Turning towards his feathered friend, he instructed Coco to wait inside the the dorm room, with which she replied with a soft chirp, obliging with her master's request. Once she was inside the room, Geb took off in the direction of the bathhouse, following the faint footsteps echoing down the labyrinthine hallways.

He came across a certain set of wooden doors, with small wisps of steam seeping from the gap underneath. Outside was a single figure, garbed in a hooded robe like the other acolytes in the Temple.

"Halt! This area is off limits. The male bathroom is around the corner"

Geb raised a hand to rub the back of his head in faux embarrassment.

"Sorry, I guess I got a little lost, hehehe..."

In a flash, his hand lashed out in the man's direction, his rocky hand turning into a chop to the man's temple. In a second, the man turned limp, and Geb was quick to catch him before he hit the ground, before hiding his unconscious body in a nearby supply room.

"What am I going to do now?..."

 

[Pappytech]

"And I guess finally is why you had to fight to get up here in the first place. Well, it's simple, they're the decoy team we're sending out with you. Roku told us to keep the vigil during the search and training of the next Avatar, and that's what we're doing. They just had to know the basics of how you all fight."

Sighing, Jin scratched the back of his head as he ruminated. If he was being honest, he still didn't quite buy all of this stuff about destiny and whatnot. This whole situation struck him as pretty damn fishy, and it was unlikely that anything would clear up the cloud of doubt that enveloped his thoughts.

Then again, Ping was being nothing if not sincere. He was answering all of Jin's questions, and there didn't seem to be any deceit in the fire bender's words. It may have been an odd course of action, amassing a group of strangers to take on such a task, but there was some kind of logic behind it. Logic enough to ease the vagabond's worries, even if only a little.

"Well... Alright then. I guess that makes sense."

Rising to his feet, the bounty hunter offered Ping a grateful grin. "Heh. This job might not be as weird as I thought. Well, here's hoping, anyways."

His curiosity sated for now, Jin and his pet made his way back to the dormitories, ready to enjoy a complimentary bath, another free meal, and a great night of sleep. When employers offered you all the free stuff, you had to make sure to take full advantage of it. Especially when...

Okay, why was that idiotic earth bender guy holding an unconscious acolyte? And why was there a guilty look on his face?

"What am I going to do now?..."

Jin shook his head as he groaned, Zulf mimicking the gesture with an exaggerated squeak of his own. "Do I even want to know what you're doing here? Do I?"

 

[Ruedyn]

"What am I going to do now?"

"Oh hey... Oh god, are we fighting more monks?" Senji prepared his fire dagger again, looking over his shoulder.

"Do I even want to know what you're doing here? Do I?"

"Oh, not supposed to fight more monks." He dispelled the dagger, and noticed his sleeve was singed slightly. 'I really hope no one else notices.'

 

[Muffin Button]

Chi decided to catch up the the rest of the girls after patching-up her arm. The labyrinthine corridors were a challenge for her to navigate, and she could've sworn that she'd passed that same vase at least three times now.

"Are you lost dear? Or are you just looking for trouble?" a stern female voice called out behind her.

Chi turned around quickly. It was Kalah, the woman from earlier.

"Just looking for the baths... erm, Ma'am." Chi stuttered, hastily adding the honorific at the end to try to smooth things over a little, as well as holding up her towel almost like a flag of surrender.

Kalah rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Take a right at the end of that corridor there, and it should be the first room to your left. You can't miss it." Kalah begrudgingly explained.

"Oh, thank you. Sorry to trouble you." Chi replied apologeticly, hastily following her instructions. Her footsteps were quite heavy as she rounded the corner in a rush.

Spoiler: OOC

Guys outside the bathroom get to hear someone approaching. In case they want to try and hide, or call out, or something.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Meanwhile...
Daiyu sighed happily and settled down into the bath. It had been a while since she had been in one of these, and while she had never been above getting rough and dirty... sometimes it was nice to just relax.

Her thoughts wandered to the mission they had been given.

So we have to find the next Avatar, huh? She thought to herself. I wonder if the last guy died a while ago, but we're only hearing of it now... Either way, this should at least be interesting...

There was a noise outside the baths and she sat up. That better not be a voyeur...

 

[VuvuZelaMan]

Kara followed Daiyu to the bathrooms, taking a moment to reflect on the past few days. This whole assignment (should I call it that?) is strange... Maybe it's just the fact that the White Lotus organization as a whole seems to love being mysterious. And I guess they had spies or something? But whatever they've kept secret, it'll come to light in time, and I can act then. In the meantime, I can at least have a good bath -- it's been far too long.

Kara's musings made her slower than Daiyu, so that she was only just entering the bath area when Daiyu sat up. "Something wrong?" she asked, quiet enough so that her voice wouldn't carry beyond the room.

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Daiyu slunk back down. "Nah, it's probably just my imagination. Though if that pervy Geb tries getting in, could you dunk him for me?"