[hider=Ulc Merkopa and Odila Hall]
[b]Image[/b]: [url=https://cdnb.artstation.com/p/assets/images/images/026/296/209/large/lixin-yin-hp.jpg?1588400444]Link to Image[/url]
[b]Name[/b]: Ulc Merkopa 
[b]Age[/b]: 45
[b]Gender[/b]: Male
[b]Element[/b]: Non-Bender

[b]Residence[/b]: Lower-Ring 
[b]Occupation[/b]: Agitator, Factory-Worker, and Chairperson of the Workers' Union Party of Ba Sing Se

[b]Who are you?[/b]: An ideologue, a hardline revolutionary, and an unfaltering communist, Ulc Merkopa is what the Republic would label as a “highly-dangerous person” to the status quo of things. As the founder of the Workers' Union Party of Ba Sing Se (WUPB), Merkopa is best known for his work to popularize Mrovian Socioeconomics amongst the working class in the Lower Ring. Trouble has always stalked both Merkopa and his party, with the Republic brutally cracking down any form of dissent that questions the state or the status quo - especially if it shows an alternate socio-political-economic system. 

Surviving on a combination of donations and hard work as a self-taught mechanical & chemical engineer, Merkopa is forced to push his mental and physical limits to the test as he juggles his duties between radicalizing the working-class, doing regular production work in the Lower Ring, and caring for his daughter. Given the expenses, Merkopa has little currency to himself by the end of it all. Thus, Merkopa spends little on himself - merely the bare essentials to keep his needs met. 

[hider=Recorded Speech from Merkopa at the Textile Workers Union’s Riot in Clif Row Square, Lower Ring]
Your boss fears you! Not only him but the boss of that boss - his director. The factory managers, the executive, and every single corporate man and woman fear you! They’re scared of your ability to think beyond their corpo-propaganda. They’re afraid of your power to fight for your rights. They don’t want you to think! Why is the factory so dirty and dangerous? Why do we have no healthcare? Why do we have to work so long for little pay? Why do we have to struggle so much for so little? 

I ask. Who is the backbone of society? You - the workers! Who creates the steel? Who creates the clothing? Who creates the food? Who creates the shoes? It’s all the workers. We make everything, but who gets to decide how and what our product goes? Your boss! Not you. You don’t have a say in your labor. You don’t get to choose anything. If the “Republic” is what it says it is then why can’t we pick our affairs in our own factories? We run the damn thing! 

Why can’t we use our own steel to make good housing for the people? Why can’t we use the clothing to cloth the unclothed? Why can’t we send the food to the hungry? Because of the greed of the corporates. They don’t care about your livelihoods. They only care about the profits they make! We work hours, from dawn to dusk, while they steal from our labor. Those corpo-pigs are exploiting us!

We, the working class, should be able to not only decide what we do with our production but also what to do in government! A government for the working-class - not for the greedy corpos and corrupt politicians. 

Revolution now! Down with the False Republic! Kill Your Foremen! 
[/hider]
[hider=Short Interview with Merkopa - featured in the Radical, Page Two.]
[b]What is your Opinion on Benders?[/b]
What do I think of the Benders? Well - that’s quite a complex question. Like anyone else on this planet, they’re people. And like people, it would be wrong to merely segregate or do great harm to people based on their differences. It is no different from profiling far-Southers, far-Northers, Easterners, etc, and then committing action based upon their racial stereotypes. I don’t think Easterners would enjoy being gunned down because of a racial theory or belief that states they’re extremely aggressive violent people who can’t contain their hot-heads or internal viciousness. 

[b]Don’t you think the Republic will Come after You?[/b]
Haha. I have never been on their good list - always on their naughty list. I do not think the Republic values my work. More so after I organize worker riots, sit-ins, and violent clashes with the RSF. The Republic already has their opinion on me - notwithstanding my current views on Benders. You should see all the publications on me. The Middle Ring is likely abuzz with the news of the so-called “terrorist” of the Lower Ring. The “demon” that will kill you. Its a lovely read, if you have that kind of sense of humor. 
[/hider]
[b]Extra[/b]: N/A (for now)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[b]NPC[/b]
[b]Image[/b]: [url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FSE4CVCUYAAnkNU?format=jpg&name=large]Link to Image[/url]
[b]Name[/b]: Odila Hall
[b]Age[/b]: 12
[b]Gender[/b]: Female
[b]Element[/b]: Earth

[hider=Inner Thoughts of a Child]
“Hi, my name is Odila! I live in the uhm, Lower Ring. Everything here is very ugly and nasty. And I don’t like the smell here. If I don’t wear my gas mask outside then it hurts my throat and eyes a lot. Dad always tries to make the best out of everything! He lets me sleep in a comfortable bed every time. But I feel bad because dad seems to always sleep on the floor. He’s always in pain because of it. I don’t like to see him in pain….

I get a lot of stuff from dad. A lot of food, clothing, and other things. Snacks and food are always good! Noodles, fire-flakes, and other goodies. My clothes are also comfortable - very soft and it fits. But I don’t see dad buying anything for himself. He always wears that same-old shirt and pants and never eats anything new. Hhm - I miss mom. I don’t know what happened to my mommy. Dad tells me that mom is fine but it has been a while since I last saw her. 

And oh, I know a lot of math! I know my multiplications, division, expressions, order of operations, and a buttload of stuff - dad taught me. My reading and writing are ok. Dad says that I should practice more with my books. But I don’t really want to.” 
[/hider][/hider]