Nations Information (Metal)

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Being some 450-500 years in the future from the time of the show, there have been a great number of changes. Changes such as advances in technology, or new clothing styles, and even... new Elemental Bending and Nation Classes.

Behold the Rise of the Metal Empire, which to many isn't more than a break from the Earth nation but instead it's own Nation. This is similar to how the Water Tribes have their own Sub-Nations. Northern, Southern, and Ocean.

Metal bending, in the past was only able to be done by those benders whom were beyond the level of Master, and practiced precision and focus. Such as Toph. Toph was, during the time of the 100 year War a young, blind girl. Her blindness, though seen by many as a limitation was her guide to unlimited potential.

Toph from here grew during the years after the Great War, and though the times were difficult her teaching methods were just as well. It's been said that she spent many years traveling around trying to teach others to Metal Bend but to no avail. It took awhile from here on for Toph to realize that it not only took great will to metal bend, but also a certain mindset. One of calculation, and analytic capabilities.

Though Toph lived herself to see near 6 Generations of Metal Benders, (The Students she had, the majority of them had married and bore children of their own teaching them to Metal Bend. It was in the blood) all was not well. Their focus on being so precise with their lives and bending, they were losing touch of their origins. Her final words were as wise as she was and, It wasn't long before the Metal Benders lost touch of their ability to bend Earth, and separated from the Earth Kingdom.

The Metal Sub-faction as it came to be called grew too focused with their own pride and riches. (Metal is a valuable ore) and ignored the fact that their Children were losing the ability to Earth bend, so much in fact that it was sometimes seen as a weakness to bend Earth.

Sadly though Metal's own greed, and Earth's jealousy from the decreased economic stability of the time led to conflict, and the two groups led to fighting. The Earth kingdom sent in a number of small armed troops to reclaim the city... but it was in futile as the Metals not only defeated them, but took control of nearby outposts. The Metal Sub-faction soon came as their own Empire over the course of a week, so far detached that it no longer considered Toph as the original Bender, but instead the First Emperor that stood his ground against the Earth King.

Luckily the Earth Avatar, was able to settle some of the tensions between the two "nations" and this led to a peaceful, but highly tensed time.
After the Earth Avatar had died, the Empire quickly took the time of the pass to buy out smaller villages and cities, even some small Kingdoms. Though the Fire Avatar, in all his glory did attempt to stop this but to little avail.

===The Metal War===


The Metal War occurred during the Last Air Avatar's life. The Metal Empire grew and grew until it was the point of exercising it's power and extending over further and further nations. This was similar to what the Fire nation did at the start of the great War. So the Air Avatar gave his life to cease this and disband the entire Metal Military. Now the Metal Empire is but a single Nation still on the Earth Kingdom continent. It has small colonies spread out across the land, and one of those being in Wu Xing. The Metal War occurred 15 years ago.

Fun Fact: Why are metal houses made out of wood/rice paper and not metal? - With power came corruption, early metal homes where made out of metal, but soon became unsafe and caused many families to be easy and open targets for assassinations to opposing marketers. The change was made to a cheap and easy to cut wood type houses, because of this risk, but also as they where cheaper then metal to replace when damaged.

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------Culture------

Their culture grew to resemble a feudal empirialism in their years of hiding. They are set up with an Emperor and prize pale skin for beauty. Think of them as pretty much Feudal Japan in order for dress and customs.

Usual Appearance:-
Head-Hair: dark brown and black: long hair in women and most men. Elaborate up-dos common in both, loose in children and women at times, but many men have neatly trimmed hair or just tied back. All styles are very rank-age dependant for styles (see traditional Japanese styles).
Male Facial Hair: beards can happen in much older men, but are usually well shaped. Sideburns with younger dandies, but clean-shaven is the norm.
Eyes: grey, silver, dark brown/ black and violet-purple (increasing).
Skin: mainly pale, but some tanned still happens. The ideal is the palest possible.
Clothes: blacks, silvers, greys and purples with pinks and whites: some gold and copper as highlights, other colours on some patterned items. Kimono, yukata and hakama dominate.

Usual Naming System:-
Metal is Japanese, with some Chinese/ other East-Asian for the older individuals. The days of hiding in plain sight are over, though... so not as common.

Some Major Places:-
Ko-Tōshi Island-City (Capital - roughly South of Ba Sing Se) with some nearby coastal towns, small cities and villages, Goa-Li and surrounds. It may not be that extensive, but it’s well run.

Personality:-

Positive Characteristics
Protective------Visionary------Prosperous------Resolute------Inspirational------Controlled------Determined------Romantic------Conventional------Strong

Negative Characteristics
Inflexible------Harsh------Longing------Homesick------Self-Righteous------Single-Minded------Competitive------Solitary------Cantankerous------Melancholic------Opinionated

Objectives & Goals

Metal organises.
Metal is good at getting the details right and working out how things (and people) tick, and in using them to get its goals. Metal prefers things both refined and well controlled: in environment, thought, as well as deed: but, will happily take risks (after it’s hedged its bets and done its homework) and doesn’t like things to be boring. In short, “a place for everything and everything in its place” sums up this attitude. Even weaknesses and ‘human feelings’ can be tolerated, if kept well contained and restricted to the correct environment. After all, the best steel is strong in one direction, but weak in another… the very weakness provides the strength to hone the edge. As long as that weakness is known, and kept in only one direction, and does not effect the whole in other ways. Metal does like the security of a home-base, but will often feel the need to roam to find new ideas and challenges: but, it will always return. Metal’s idealised motives: duty to Empire, duty to Clan/ Guild, duty to Family, duty to Friends AND ONLY THEN, duty to Self: honour lies in self-denial. As a result of this, Metal’s motives may seem strange to others and each and every Metal is capable of ‘sinful’ acts they consider anything but, even being seen as honourable, if the debt of duty is clearly paid. And, the cost can be great in both their own lives and loves: Metal despises whatever it sees as unbound weakness, cutting it out if necessary (but, only if necessary: waste is a weakness, too). But, don’t be fooled: Metals have a great capacity to enjoy life, as their differing (even though regulated) morals give them greater scope to indulge than most.

Few elements are as worldly as Metals: even Earths aren’t nearly as much so.

Relations with Others of Its Own Element

Metals generally prefer other Metals and even ignore rank to some small degree to do so when away from home (earned honours always count, almost as much as breeding). Metal may be the most self-contained of the Yang elements, yet, they also feel the need to perfect themselves by being tested against their own kind. Testing against other elements also occurs, but less honour is gained in these contests, unless done on behalf of the Empire’s safety and reputation. They can do all this in surprisingly brutal, artistic and, even, peaceful ways. Be it by social-competitions, physical, mercantile or intellectual ones, any test goes. The greatest marks go towards the greatest skill, and not always to the damage given; defeating somebody too much weaker than you loses you respect. A weaker underdog who wins against somebody held to be greatly superior gains more honour AND respect than any other… something that’s highly shaming to the loser. That is why a Metal picks their fight carefully. Competition should always be between close-to-equals, as it’s the quality of the test, not just the win that is held to be important. Social points can be won or lost (without damaging your rank too much most of the time) and all involved in the game enjoy it. The result of a contest is always accepted, if not enjoyed, by the loser: losing well is also an art-form and can gain you respect, even if you lose honour. Smiling despite acute agony of body or mind is a victory of its own and is seen as such. Showing any true emotion on your face in the wrong place loses you face, but simulating the opposite one? Kudos. Rematches (when the outcomes are not mortal) are common, as are betting on them. Face is a large part of Metal’s life: to the point that even dishonourable conduct is allowable… as long as nobody finds out for sure: the more obscure you make it, even if it’s strongly suspected, and you can even GAIN in reputation, even if you lose some honour. Everything is a moving, interlocking system of debt, honour and reputation that never stops until you die… and then pass your honour-debts on to your children.