"They say the best revenge is loving your enemy. I say its a fire blast to the face - who will love them now?"
Age: Sixteen
Gender: Female
Power: Fire bending, Huo is a powerful bender but lacks finesse and consistency. Her skill level is Competent.
Other: Beyond her bending Huo is unarmed. She carries with her very little besides a haversack for food and gear and a string of coins to purchase anything she might need. When she first started out Huo was ill prepared for the toils of her journey, and many times she was force to learn from her mistakes the hard way. Over the past year she's learned to forage for supplies, ride an ostrich horse, fish, and build a makeshift shelter.
Could've sworn one rule said to add some line or another here, but it ain't there no more.
Raw passion and determination are hallmarks of Huo’s personality. She possess a fiery spirit that cannot be doused and a fierce resolve to see things through to the end. Huo isn’t one to back down from anything and was by providence blessed with incendiary talent. That being said Huo is not much of a strategist, preferring to blitz her in and out of any situation and overwhelm the opposition through speed and willpower alone. Her lack of formal training leaves her without direction or control and often she finds herself stuck with nowhere left to go. Her fire is fueled by the desire for vengeance, and the emotional turmoil that such deep set hatred brings with it. Despite this vehement rage Huo is a likeable figure, charming in her own way. She can be very cheerful and optimistic in her opinion of others, but occasionally she has few moral qualms, and she finds deep personal attachment painful. Huo thinks she needs to continually prove herself worthy, and is terrified others might see her as worthless or weak or vulnerable. She hates thinking about her past and family much less talking about them. To her there is no greater shame then the generations of failed attempts to restore the family name, or her own mother’s cowardice and refusal to see what needs to be done. In that same sense Huo’s personal motivations for finding and protecting the Avatar are kept well disguised from everyone else. She plays it off as a desire to defeat the Warlord An, which isn't necessarily a lie as she openly admits the Warlord An murdered her father.
Four generations ago well before Huo Ling was born, the rich and powerful Couzu Ling ruled over the Fu Valley within the fire islands with an iron grip. Subjugating his people to his cruel whim without mercy for his own selfish benefit and power. His reign was that of fire and terror and all those who lived in his lands were forced to pay high tribute or face Couzu’s terrible wrath. Now Couzu was a scheming man, and he saw that the small island of Angu Cavi upon which he ruled shared two other fiefdoms. To the east was the lands of Kun, and to the west was the territory of Li. Neither of three could ever conquer the other two and so the three minor kingdoms sat in a perpetual cold war eyeing each other with suspicion and vitriol.
In the middle years of his rule Couzu devised a strategy to bring the entire island of Angu Cavi under his thumb. There, in the dead of night Couzu sent forth warriors of great stealth into the lands of Kun and Li on a mission of devious intent. The following day after the successful completion of the mission both the Kun and Li clans discovered a terrible truth upon awakening. Children from both kingdoms had been treacherously kidnapped in the night, and a sandal from opposing warriors was found at the scene of the crime as evidence. A Li sandal in the Kun village, and a Kun sandal in the Li village. Furious at such an unprovoked atrocity, and not caring for the risk both kingdoms rallied their full armies and marched upon each other, meeting in the center of the island within Fu territory. They clashed in a terrible battle that lasted two days and two nights. The flames from their fire benders scorched the earth until the rock itself burnt black. The swords and spears of their warriors clashed and shattered with the ferocity of their blows. Shields splintered, armor melted, and arrows littered the ground. On and on it went until on the morning of the third day a horn sounded from the south. The Fu army surged down from the southern mountain falling upon the exhausted and battle worn forces of Li and Kun taking them in the fire of the rising sun.
Victorious and with his rivals kings in chains, Couzu Ling marched first to the west, conquering the village of Li, and then to the east sealing the control of the Ling dynasty permanently on Angu Cavi. The proud people of Li and Kun resented the tyrannical rule of the Ling family but could do little to overthrow their new monarchs. Some brave folk attempted to stage rebellions but they were rooted out, and their entire families imprisoned. Men, women, and children too, Couzu was a man without mercy. At last, fearing for their freedom and lives the people of Li and Kun pacified, and bowed to Couzu offering him tribute and their loyal service.
Deeming there would be no further threats Couzu rested and grew old in his seat of power, wearing the triple crown of Angu Cavi as his trophy. However, not all was well in his lands. Angry spirits of unknown origin terrorized the kingdom of Fu. Driving livestock mad, possessing lone travelers, and rampaging through fields. It was thought that these were the spirits of the families broken that night by Couzu’s orders, come back to find vengeance. Fear ran rampant as the attacks continued and the people of Fu pleaded with their ruler, begging him to double his efforts in finding a way to drive the angry spirits away. Couzu scoffed at their pleas, turning them away and mocking the idea that his enemies would return to cause trouble for him. Refusing to see evidence placed directly before his eyes. Until that fateful night.
The spirits came for Couzu in his bedchambers, snatching up the king with their vengeful hands, burnt black like the rocks of Couzu’s greatest victory. In desperation Couzu fought off the spirits, barely leaving the encounter alive. Finally, Couzu decided that enough was enough. In all his arrogance Couzu summoned the Avatar herself to the island of Angu Cavi, demanding she rid his kingdom of these dangerous spirits once and for all. The Avatar agreed and left from Couzu’s capital journeying down to the burned battle grounds to find answers. For the better part of a week the Avatar journeyed the island, but despite her efforts the spirits only doubled their relentless assault bringing despair and destruction with them. On the seventh day the Avatar returned to Couzu, and the king banished her from Angu Cavi, deeming her useless and accusing her of treachery.
That proved to be Couzu’s final act as king. Rising into the air the Avatar cursed Couzu, reprobating him for his cruel treatment of his people and the underhanded tactics he used to achieve victory. Enraged by such words Couzu ordered his army to slay the Avatar outright, but then from the woodlands came a terrible cry. Spirits and men alike from the Kun and Li clans descended upon the Fu nation putting them to the sword. Couzu battled the Avatar but proved no match for her power. To his last breath Couzu battled on until he was inevitably defeated by the Avatar. The Ling family was rooted out by the angry citizens of Li and Kun and thought to be extinct. But not all the Ling’s fell that day.
Forced from their island home the surviving Ling’s vowed vengeance upon the Avatar and the people of Li and Kun. From that point on the Ling family lived amongst the swine and mud, preparing for the day when they could rid the world of the Avatar. One by one the prospecting members of the Ling family line attacked, and again and again they were defeated. For three generations and two avatars this vicious cycle continued until the last of the Ling family were thought to have been wiped out. But three remained. The grandson of Couzu, his wife Shu, and their young daughter Huo Ling. They were the last hope to restore the Ling family to their former honor and glory.
Cai was a mighty fire bender, young and powerful. All his life he had trained to defeat the Avatar and he instilled this burning passion into his daughter Huo Ling. His kind hearted wife, Hou’s mother, pleaded with him to forget the oath of vengeance and restart the Ling family in hiding. After all the Avatar had been gone for years, and no new one had been discovered. Cai however refused to forget the words of his grandfather and swore he would not rest until the Avatar lay dead at his feet. Fate however, is a fickle thing. In her stories to young Huo, Shu explained how her husband was treacherously slain by the Earth Warlord An while he quested to locate the new avatar. Ending the lifetime feud and extinguishing the Ling family permanently. Shu’s cautionary tale however did little to staunch the fiery blood that flowed in little Huo’s veins. In fact, it did quite the opposite. At a young age Huo showed the signs of a burgeoning fire bender like her father. Her skills and power grew swift and strong, and raw talent fueled her flames to a burning orange. But something else grew as well. A sense of loss for her beloved father, and a desire to seek out the Avatar and restore her family name. Perhaps she truly was the last of the Ling dynasty, but Huo grew more determined by the day that she would bring about the final duel as it was meant to be. An Agni Kai between Ling and the Avatar at full power. Her destiny was set, and despite the tears and upset from her mother at age fifteen Huo Ling set out to do just that. To find the Avatar, ensure they are prepared to fight in an Agni Kai, and then slay them by fire. The vow of vengeance would be settled and the spirit of Couzu, her great grandfather and all the Ling’s who came after him could at last rest in peace. Of course Cai needed to be avenged as well, and Huo Ling made her own personal oath of vengeance, to bring low her father’s murderer the Earth Warlord An!
It was a true melting pot of the four nations; the crowd ebbed and flowed like the tide allowing slight pathways to form and close periodically through the colorful jumble. Traders, merchants, shoppers, tourists, vagabonds, and official looking men all squished together in a boiling soup of humanity. It took a fleet footed and sharp-eyed individual to notice the patterns and navigate the crowded train station without jostling the passerby. Hou Ling however was not one of these people. The fire islands teenager bumped and shoved her way across the arrivals platform trying to find a break in the sea of chattering folk, gagging helplessly on the clogging stench of Ba Sing Se. The name meant impenetrable city, and Huo Ling was starting to think that it wasn’t just because of the oversized walls. Battling towards the exit Huo finally broke free of the claustrophobic press of the crowd, allowing herself to relax at this small victory. The smell didn’t improve, but at least she wasn’t getting touched by the sweaty bodies of so many people. Placing her hands on her hips Huo took in her surroundings, cringing at the bleak colors and shabby architecture. For a city so revered Ba Sing Se was a true let down. It was large yes, but that was really all it had going for it. Perhaps further on into the sprawling metropolis the atmosphere would improve.
Setting off down the nearest road Huo went about three feet when a young boy no older than ten or eleven sprinted towards her, colliding full force into her. Grunting Huo set her hand against the boy’s forehead and shoved him away, a moment later snatching ahold of his wrist with her other hand.
“Ha, caught you!” Huo boasted, wrenching him around and giving him a sharp kick to his buttocks to send him on his way.
“That’s what you get trying to pick pocket me brat.” The boy sprinted off, turning around only long enough to stick his tongue out at Huo before vanishing. Huo grinned rolling her eyes at his antics. He’d tried and failed to cut her purse with his mock crash, not that he would’ve been rewarded for his efforts. Huo had used her last coin purchasing a ticket for the train. Grinning Huo prepared to set off again when a guard ran up and pointed at her, raising the hue and cry.
“There, that girl! She’s got it, she must have been the one to steal it from Master Lifong!”
“What are you on about?“ Huo glanced down at her waist where the man was pointing, eyes widening in surprise at the sight of an elegantly embroidered pouch, a full one at that hanging like a ripe apple for all the world to see. The little boy must have tied it there without her knowing, a feat worthy of great admiration. But also one that was about to get her in serious trouble. Raising her hands Huo backed away from the angry guard, protesting all the while.
“No I didn't, there was an urchin he must have attached it to my belt, really fast, somehow...” Not heeding her babbled excuses the guard lunged forward grabbing at Huo with his clumsy hands. Reacting without thinking Huo lashed out, catching the man across his jaw and then slamming her knee into his gut. The guard dropped like a stone and the crowd gasped in unison.
“Guard down, guard down!” Someone shouted but Huo wasn’t sticking around to find out who. This time the crowd parted for her and Huo ran like the wind, dodging around guardsmen and leaping over loaded carts scattering fruits and vegetables in her wild flight. She was young, fast, and in good condition and before long the cries of her pursuers were lost to the general chatter of the bustling streets. Slowing to a walk Huo panted raggedly, bouncing her new, bulging purse in her palm, grinning like child who'd just gotten away with swiping candy. It was kind of the little cutpurse to abandon his ill-gotten wares on her. A rare stroke of luck, for her anyway. Huo was fairly certain anyone else thrust into that situation would have been caught and tried as a petty thief. She wondered how many other innocents had found themselves victimized by the street urchin’s tricks. Still, she couldn’t deny it was a clever strategy to throw off pursuers, and resolved to remember it. One never knew when such ploys could come in handy.
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