The empty plates and mugs rattled as everyone jumped back. Lei Sheng had slammed his fist into the table, a sign of pure frustration.

[color=yellow]”Damnit. We can’t keep losing men like this. This is the third time this month we’ve had an entire squad disappear. Do any of you know how hard it is to find people who are brave enough to stand up against [i]His Majesty[/i]? And then to find people who actually have the talent to do so? Let me tell you this, it’s not done overnight. That last group, we had spent three years training that group. Ridiculous.” [/color]

Lei Sheng shook his head, desperate for answers. Recently, entire squads, 7 men and a commander of higher rank, had been disappearing without a trace. He knew the Dark Avatar had been taking them. If only he could figure out what to do about it. Training wasn’t really an option anymore. The Jasmine Dragon had been taking talented children from dissenting families for years, and look where it all ended up. The Jasmine Dragon would spend resources and time raising kids to be war machines, only to have them kidnapped and more than likely brainwashed to fight against the cause mere weeks after graduating. 

The system was flawed and everyone in attendance, few as they were, knew it. Something had to give. Lei Sheng’s face grew dark, his gaze shifted down.

[color=yellow]”Do [i]it[/i].”[/color]

Everyone in the room was stunned. They prepared to do it.

---

The next day, specially trained hawks carried out messages to all corners of the world. Lei Sheng had ordered what many people thought was incredibly stupid, not to mention dangerous. Lei Sheng was exposing the entire operation to the public. He was also opening the possibility that one of the letters would end up in the hands of a secret Dark Avatar soldier. Even though the Jasmine Dragon followed most prospects closely, they simply didn’t have the resources to watch every great bender all the time. All they could do was hope.

[hider=The Letter]
[i]You have been selected by the Jasmine Dragon to help fight the tyranny of the Dark Avatar. Please consider this offer, as it is most gracious. If you accept the position, meet us under Huo Dao (Roku’s Island)[/i]
Also included in the letter was a small token with a symbol on one side and a dragon’s head on the other.
[img=il_570xN.254522493.jpg]
[/hider]