Post by AsianThunder on Jun 26, 2014 13:31:00 GMT -5
• The Air Nomads •
“The Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom.”
-General Iroh of the Fire Nation
The term, ‘Air Nomads’, is a collective term for the ones who practice the ways of Airbending. As one of the four nations, they are travelers by definition, but have four Air Temples, one at each corner of the world. One is hidden from view by the rocky, mountainous ranges of the Northern Earth Kingdom, while the other three reside on their own remote islands. It is a theocratic, monastic order which houses men and women alike, with no segregation between the two genders. Unlike other nations, all people who reside within the temples seem to be benders, with no perceptible exceptions, due to the high spirituality found in their people.
Like the three other nations, the ancestors of the Air Nomads gained their respectable element from the lion turtles’ energybending during the era of Raava. They would request the ability whenever they would embark into the Spirit Wilds, to aid in the gathering of food, as well as resources, like the other residents of the lion turtle cities. Unlike people from other lion turtle cities, the first airbenders coexisted in harmony with the spirits, and demonstrated great insight into spiritual affairs. The first Air Nomads were formed when the lion turtles stepped down from their roles as protectors of Man. At this point, like all others, the Air Nomads left the lion turtle cities in favor of establishing temples in all four corners of the globe. Even today, they still retain some of the old practices passed down from the lion turtles, such as the art of evasion commonly practiced in airbending nowadays.
The Air Nomads make up the smallest population of the Four Nations in the world, and their economy is based entirely on limited agriculture. Their population is small in comparison to the Water Tribe, and even tinier when compared to the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, two of the world’s leading powers. However, they are the most spiritual of the cultures, and live in harmony with nature, while possessing a fun-loving demeanor and a good sense of humor.
• Government •
Government System: EcclesiocracyHead of State/Government, and Religious Authority: Two Councils of Monks (one Northern and one Southern) and two Councils of Sisters (one Eastern and one Western)
• National Emblem •
The Air Nomad insignia is a stylized, swirling orb. Within the circle, coiling lines illustrate the wind. The symbol can be seen on the design of doors and surfaces in the air temples, as well as on pendants of monks' prayer beads. The Air Nomad flag is a banner held between two wooden poles. The center of the banner is emblazoned with the Air Nomad insignia.• Culture •
In contrast to the other three nations, the Air Nomads are led by the senior monks and nuns of the air temples. Due to their peaceful teachings, the nature of the Air Nomads are calm and tranquil.The Air Nomads are the only nation comprised entirely of benders, as stated before, as a result of the highly spiritual natures of their lifestyles. To focus their energies and fully comprehend the potency of their element, meditation was a common practice in the temples. As a result of their high spirituality, the monks and nuns maintain a belief that hope is merely a distraction.
Their good sense of humor is one of the things the Air Nomads are known for. Some monks demonstrate this, often having unique and creative methods of tutoring their pupils. The Air Nomads also revere particular events and holidays, such as Yangchen’s Festival, which celebratess the Avatar’s victory over a spirit of dark intent. It is marked as one of the highest holidays on the Air Nomad calendar.
When visiting one of the four Air Temples, the monks or nuns there will be adorned with tattoos of arrows on their bodies. This is to emulate the natural arrow upon the Sky Bison that inhabit the area. They were the first Airbenders, and the original teachers of the style(like the badgermole is to the Earthbenders), and also play a role in the Air Nomads’ method of travel(the Sky Bison will be described more thoroughly in the Pets section). Aspiring airbenders have no tattoos; in order to receive the tattoos, as well as the title of a master, an airbender must pass the thirty-six levels of airbending, or engineer a new technique within the style. As such, it is possible for monks and nuns of all ages to receive the title of master.
The Air Nomads are a tranquil people endeavoring to preserve the environment around them. Any industry that they invested in, such as farming and gardening, was powered naturally. As could be determined, air is the main power source and natural resource of the Air Nomads. Luckily, air is everywhere, so it is nearly impossible to deprive them of their power source. With the power of air channeled under their control, the airbenders could defend and protect their homes and way of life. Not only could they protect their livelihoods, but these nomads could also ride on their sky bison and glide in the open air, for both leisure and travel.
Because the Air Nomads believed all life was precious, they were peaceful vegetarians. However, eggs and dairy products serve as a portion of their everyday diet. They were also known to make sweet dishes such as fruit pies and cakes, for one silver piece each, and made money off of this endeavor. The profits which are gained are then given to charity.
• Making an Air Nomad Character •
To make an Air Nomad character, your character must be:- Tranquil and calm in nature
- A person with a great sense of humor
- An uninhibited mind, free from selfish desires (This can mean anything, ranging from hunger, thirst, or wealth. You are not its slave.)
- A free spirit (You must be as free as the wind, detaching yourself from worldly affairs.)
- Wise, and patient (The lifestyles at the temples are very much like monasteries.)
- A pacifist (Unlike the other three nations, the Air Nomads will refuse to fight until they have no choice to. This is where their ‘evade and avoid’ style of combat comes into play.)
Air Nomads are particularly pacifistic in their nature, but will put that aside to defend their homes, and can be quite the formidable force. Unlike the other nations, the names of the Air Nomads are not bound by any principle.
• Appearance •
Before the era of the Avatar, the predecessors of the Air Nomads symbolized their belief, by doing the same traditions such as the tattoos yet in a different manner. The tattoos were more polygonal shape with a dot. The clothing that the men wore were orange cloth as a top and yellow as a bottom. Women wore different clothing, yet with the same traditional colors.The Air Nomads wear yellow, orange and brown clothing. Young airbenders wore orange shawls over long-sleeved yellow shirts, an orange sash, double-layered pants with brown underneath and a loose yellow layer on top, and high boots that reach just below the knees. Older monks wore long robes in shades of yellow and orange, as well as wooden necklaces with the Air Nomad insignia carved into it. Most Air Nomads have gray or brown eyes and a light complexion.
Young boys to be trained as monks have shaven heads, while monk elders grow beards and mustaches; they had the longest and most prominent facial hair of any nation. Female airbenders do not fully shave their heads, just their foreheads so their arrow is visible. It has been shown that when not shaven, Air Nomads have black or brown hair.
Airbenders who have attained a level of mastery in the art are marked with arrow tattoos, based on the arrows of the sky bison, the first airbenders. A primary arrow tattoo is placed on their shaven head that extends down their back, along with four others, one on each limb that terminates in an arrowhead at the hands and feet. The arrows mark the paths through which chi travels through the body.
(All of this information is received from the Avatar Wiki. Thanks for reading!)
