Sep

DC Universe: Genesis - Justice For All

I'm working on a concept so I'm reading everyone's posts so be prepared for some likes over the next couple of days.

Justice League: World in Crisis

Huh.

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

Xonsu took a deep breath. “Okay.” He paced around the room, unsettled his energy twirly and chaotic. “Okay, Okay, Okay.” He sighed. “You want him to be part of your life…” She nodded. “So that rules out sending him away to one of the air temples, which means training him here which means that we’re probably going to get found out.” She nodded again. He stopped as there was a knock at the door, and he rolled his eyes groaning. “What now?” He walked over the door, indicating for Tuo Po just to stay sitting where she was. Opening the door an acolyte stood there bowing his head out of respect, too which Xonsu returned the gesture.

“Pardon the intrusion Monk Xonsu. However, reports are coming in that Warlord Toz has been sighted at the edges of the desert. We expect him to come into the city by the end of the day.”

Xonsu sighed that’s exactly the kind of day he was having. Of course, Toz was a lot closer than was expected. Why wouldn’t he be? He turned to Tuo Po. “Excuse me, this needs my attention. I’ll send a hawk for you first chance I get.” She nodded as she stood up and bowed her head.

“I understand. I’ll await your Hawk.” She bowed towards the Acolyte as she walked out and around the halls.

Xonsu turned back to the acolyte and indicated down the hall as he followed him, walking along. “We must prepare the temple for his arrival.”

“Do you truly believe he would attack us here?”

Xonsu nodded. “If Toz believes that the Avatar is here then there may be no way to stop him from attacking us. If the rumors are true he held the Avatar for several years before they managed to escape his compound. That was years ago now, but he clearly is still hoping to find the Avatar and use them as his ultimate weapon.” He paused. “Move all of the scrolls out of the temple, have them sent to the Eastern temple. I don’t want to lose anything from our history in the city or any of our training methods.” He sighed. His mind still reeling from the revelation from Tuo Po, the fact that he had a son and now the news that the most brutal warlord from the Fire Islands was on his way here, to visit the city and spend some time at the Air Temple. This was not a great day.

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

@Monochromatic Rainbow if you're alright with the fact we're at a slow and steady pace then yeah I'd like to see what you've got.

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

Pst, I'm watching.

@Xandrya

Now that's a name I haven't heard in a long time, a long time.

Kenobi.jpg

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

Years Ago // South Pole

The cold bit at him, no matter how many months Gitso spent in the tundra, he couldn’t get used to it. The cold was burrowed deep, down to the bone. What little Firebending technique he knew was all he could do to stave off death, beyond leaving the South Pole. He was safe here though, while he was still closer to the Fire Islands now than he had been before in the Earth Kingdom the cold helped the nightmares, he couldn’t stand the heat. The fireplace flickered in its own corner of the hut as Gitso sat as far away as possible from the flickering flame, steam emanating from his nostrils as he breathed out, heating himself ever so slightly.

“It doesn’t have to be this way Gitso.” He rolled his eyes as the feminine voice came out of thin air. The Former Avatar, the famous Si Wong. She who brought an end to wars within the Earth Kingdom and tamed the desert of her namesake. She had helped him in ways he could never have believed, teaching him how to master the Avatar State from beyond the grave, allowing him to bend in ways he could never imagine. He had hoped that she’d leave him alone once he escaped, instead she constantly came back. Preaching about his duty, and responsibility to the world.

“It does Si Wong. I never asked for this, I don’t want this. If I’m anywhere but here, I need to be the Avatar. It may be cold, it may be lonely, but here? Here I can just be Gitso, I go into town with fish and bump into hunters in the tundra and help them find their way. It’s a simple life, but it’s mine-”

“This is so much-”

“-bigger than me? If the world was in such a dire situation then why didn’t you do more? You’re the great Si Wong. Surprised you didn’t unite the world as one nation.” He chuckled slightly, picking up his rough wooden spoon he dove it into his bowl. His entire body shivered with disgust as the cold stew touched his tongue, he had become too lost in thought. Still, unable to waste the food he swallowed, shuddering as he did so. “The Great Si Wong, master of the desert. She couldn’t even bring peace to the Fire Islands.”

“I felt that in the nature of balance it was best in keeping the Fire Islands as separate entities rather than one all-powerful fire nation.”

“Yes, warlord nations are great in the name of balance-”

“The unification of the Earth Kingdom is as responsible for just as many issues as the Fire Isles. The difference is should the Earth Kingdom actually succeed in uniting the various states, and the Fire Isles unite into a nation. Who do you think they will fight then? They could alter the balance of the very world in fact-”

Gitso slammed his spoon down. “Enough. You’re not dragging me into this debate again. You keep forgetting, that I don’t care. I was sold by my family to a ruthless warlord, I saw things and was made to do things that I can’t even begin to describe. When I close my eyes-” Tears began to stream down his face, warm paths left behind on his near-frozen cheeks. “-All I feel is the searing heat they used to burn me again and again until I did what they wanted from me. I agree with what you want for the world, really I do. It’s just not for me, I don’t want to be the Ava-”

Before he could finish the sentence the wall behind him exploded, Si Wong disappeared as he was thrown clear across the igloo and into the opposing wall.

Road to Si Wong City // Present Day

The Caravan of Toz moved through the wastes. The winds carrying the heat of the desert, it would only get hotter as they ventured deeper towards the city. The path they followed was rough, the road was worn down by the foot of man and beast. The carriages bumped and rocked as they traversed the uneven surfaces, several times they had to stop their progress in order to recover goods that had fallen off a cart. The first time Toz had been understanding, the second he had issued a warning. The third time the one whos cart forced the caravan to come to a halt had received five lashes, since then they had increased the pace and as of yet, nobody had called for them to stop. Such was the way it should be.

He turned his head as he heard one of the Komodo Rhinos come tearing up the line towards him. Nodding at the face of one of his most trusted generals. “General Shaó. How can I help you?”

“In no way Sir, I am merely here to inform you that the hawks have returned. We will be at Si Wong City by day break on the morn. Shall I send away a hawk to have them prepare for your arrival?”

Toz shook his head. “No. I want them to catch them unaware, the last thing I want is for them to steal my Avatar again and have them fight us. By this point, the Avatar may have mastered all four elements, we can’t give them time to prepare.”

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

Xonsu signaled for Tuo Po to sit on the bed while he leaned on the window ledge. A breeze casting the warm desert air against his back. It was actually quite pleasant while stood within the cold halls of the monastery. He sighed as Tuo Po sat herself down uncomfortably, her hands rubbing her heads awkwardly. She wasn’t comfortable with something, he started trying to wrack his mind for any possible news he had heard regarding the goings and comings of the city. The only real issue he could think of was that some of the Sandbender tribes were becoming more restless and that Toz was coming to town. Though as far as he was aware Toz’ arrival wasn’t common knowledge as off yet, it soon would be. Just hopefully he would have time to sit down with the other members of the city council beforehand. Not everyone from the Fire Islands would be happy with Toz coming, some had left their homes because of his rampage.

“You know Tuo Po, whatever it is you can tell me-”

She put her hands at her side and took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m Pregnant.” Xonsu could feel the colour drain away from his face, so she had found another, and this was her way of telling him? He wasn’t entirely sure why she was telling him- “Actually that’s not entirely true. I just got nervous. I was, I’m not anymore. I have a son. He’s four-” Xonsu felt his heart rate start to rise. “-Xonsu. He’s your son.”

Xonsu started to cough uncontrollably. He wasn’t entirely sure why something had been caught in his throat? He’d been surprised? Confused. “How could, I mean I know how, we used to, I mean we did but, how? That was- khm- that was a long time ago. I mean, four years so I guess, but how, we didn’t, did we? I mean, why-” Xonsu’ mind was going a mile a minute, he was pacing. Heart racing, his hand moving over his head. Not only was this a revelation in that he was a father, but everything he had ever worked towards was at risk. While Air Nomads throughout the temples and the world were allowed to procreate and have relations, which is why Xonsu had partaken in the sins of the flesh once upon a time. Being a Monk? That was entirely different, they swore to celibacy and had to swear that they had never kept the company of another before becoming a monk (or a nun). It was expected that all Monks and Nuns were virgins, if not then they may be at the risk of temptation. To lead others on the path too enlightenment meant that they themselves had to detach themselves from all bodily and earthly concerns.

“It was a while ago Xonsu, you were starting on your path to becoming a Monk. I knew how important that was too you, I knew the conditions imposed and that if our relationship had been known you wouldn’t have made it-”

Xonsu just looked at her. “If I had known-”

“You would have given everything up. I know but I wasn’t ready. We had fun Xonsu, but I wasn’t ready to settle down into typical family life. Even now our son spends most of his time at his grandparents, to everyone but them and me he is my younger brother. I know I have no right to drop this on you now-” Tears began welling in her eyes. “-I have no desire to derail your life. I know you have worked so hard to achieve all this, and I’m so very proud of you but I just don’t know what to do anymore.” She rubbed her sleeve against her eyes, drying them. Since she had interrupted Xonsu was weighing on her words, unable to think of anything to say. The weight of everything she was saying was crushing down upon him.

Tuo Po stood up and walked towards him, placing a hand on his cheek and raising his head to face her. Tears ran slowly down his cheeks and she wiped them off. “This was not your burden to bear, and I want you to understand that you don’t need to feel bad. I chose to keep this from you, I just now need your help.” She sighed. “Our sons an Airbender.” Xonsu couldn’t contain his smile.

“An Airbender?”

She returned the smile, some joy returning to her sparkling eyes. “Just like his father. Look, I came to you first as pretty soon people are going to have questions. They know of our connection, if my younger brother starts going around Airbending they’re going to put two and two together, especially with the fact that my mother was never pregnant and I disappeared for several months. I can move if you’d like. We can go back to Ba Sing Se. I have family there, we’d be well looked after and live happy lives, if that’s what you’d want, or we can stay and try and figure this out. The most important thing is that I don’t want to disrupt your life, but Xonsu. Our son he’s-” She chuckled slightly as she shook her head “-he’s just like you. He has the same energy, way of life. You deserved the truth.”

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

Xonsu walked around the halls of Monastery, and the information Sila had given him still rattling around his head. Toz was coming to Si Wong chasing the Avatar, the Avatar hadn’t been seen for over seventy years with nought but rumours ranging from anywhere between the Fire Islands, Southern edges of the Earth Kingdom and the wastes at the south pole. Now Toz was coming here to ‘garner support for his rightful rule’ of the Fire Isles if all rumours were to be believed he actually thought that the Avatar was either hiding out or being hidden within the city. Such an idea was preposterous, if the Avatar was truly in the city he’d know about it, wouldn’t he? After all, he was considered by many as the spiritual expert within the confines of the city. He had faced several spirits and worked to restore the balance, and he was even recognised within some Sandbender Tribes for his usefulness.

Xonsu sighed, his body more or less returning him to his quarters on autopilot. Sitting on the edge of his bed, he lay back into it a sigh escaping his lips venting all his frustration in one deep breath. He heard a knock at the door, sitting up he took a second to close his eyes and breathe. In, and out. His worries were unfounded, he would continue on his mission to bring balance and enlightenment to the world, while many other monks and nuns sought to only bring enlightenment to themselves he differed in that he saw his place to bring balance and enlightenment to others. Walking to the door his heart started pounding in his chest as in the doorway stood Tuo Po. A thin layer of dirt on her skin, barely visible on her tan skin except for those that knew her. Her hair tangled together as it was caked in dirt and sand, while there was the sweetness of her perfume there was also the muskiness of the Earth she caked herself in on a regular basis. Detatched from the world. Falling for an Earthbender, again, was the opposite of his vows.

“Hey, Windwalker.” While Xonsu was in the middle of his respectful bow when her fist collided with his shoulder knocking him back slightly

“Tuo Po-” Xonsu brushed the dirt off his robes. “-I told you not to call me that anymore. I’m a monk now, there’s a certain respect that’s expected of a man of my particular station.” Her warm smile quickly went cold and faded from her face. In the end, this is what had broken their relationship, and in many ways their friendship. Whatever warmth remained always faded whenever their respective duties were addressed. Since splitting from the group Tuo Po had made her own way around the Earth Kingdom until eventually settling in Si Wong City as one of its rangers. A group of militia that didn’t just protect the city, but the many caravans and travellers that made their way through the harsh desert. Despite their proximity to one another, they had not seen each other, except in passing, for many years. Last he had heard she had married and had a child.

“Yeah, how could I forget? Excuse me.” She bowed her head, her bow crooked and hands in the incorrect positions. He didn’t rise to it though, he wouldn’t stoop down to her level.

“So, what can the Monastery do for the Rangers today?” Tuo Po looked past Xonsu to the room and made a move to enter, he raised his hand onto the frame of the door to stop her. “You can’t enter, a woman cannot enter a monks personal quarters and vice versa. It is improper.”

Tuo Po rolled her eyes and groaned, as she slammed her fist against the wall he was sure he felt a slight tremor in the ground. “You’re impossible, look I’m not trying to seduce you. It’s just what I have to say is important, but it’s for you and you alone. I don’t need everyone in Si Wong City knowing about it.” Xonsu just stood unmoving and unflinching. That’s when he noticed the sadness in her eyes, in honesty he should have noticed it sooner. They weren’t bright and piercing as they should be, but there was an emptiness within them, a deep sorrow. “It’s important Xonsu, I don’t know where else to go.”

Xonsu moved his arm, leaning out of the room to make sure nobody was watching. It wouldn’t do good for the Head Monk to be seen allowing a female, and not even an Air Nomad at that, entering his private quarters. Once he was sure it was clear he stepped aside allowing her entry. Ignoring the smell of her as she passed him, he wondered what trouble she was going to get him in this time.

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

Derp

Avatar - The Fall of Si Wong City

@Malchives we've had a couple of drops so we still have some space if you wanna go for it.