- This article is about a rebellion in Omashu. For other similar uses, see Omashu (disambiguation).
| "The harder you crack down on this city, the harder we'll fight for our freedom!" |
| — The bandit leader to Azula.[1] |
The Battle in New Ozai[1] was an armed uprising in Omashu, named "New Ozai" at the time, against Fire Nation occupation in spring 100 AG. Provoked by Princess Azula's harsh treatment of the local population, the rebellion was suppressed by her team and the Royal Procession.
The battle took place in the context of the late Hundred Year War, not long after Omashu had surrendered to the Fire Army. From the first day of the occupation, a resistance movement developed in the city. However, this underground group evacuated Omashu after Team Avatar's intervention. Afterward, Azula increased the draconian treatment of the remaining native population even further, sparking violent protests. These escalated into a full battle when a bandit leader mobilized the locals to attempt a coup to topple the Fire Nation occupation.[1] This attempt was defeated, and Omashu remained under Fire Nation control until it was liberated by King Bumi in the summer of 100 AG.[2]
Background[]
Omashu was occupied by the Fire Nation.
By the late Hundred Year War, Omashu was ruled by King Bumi and was one of the main bastions of anti-Fire Nation resistance in the western Earth Kingdom.[3] As a result, Fire Lord Ozai ordered a Fire Army offensive to finally conquer the city.[4][5] This operation culminated in early 100 AG, when Fire Nation troops under Ukano began a direct assault on Omashu. Instead of resisting, Bumi ordered his troops to surrender and allowed himself to be taken prisoner. He had realized that he could not hold the city without great losses, and instead opted to wait for the right opportunity to strike back.[6]
Horrified by their monarch's decision as well as the new Fire Nation occupation, Captain Yung mobilized remnants of the old garrison and many citizens into a resistance group which hid in the sewers of the city. However, Yung's group failed to weaken the Fire Nation occupiers and instead began to struggle to even provide basic necessities to its members.[6][7]
Eventually, Princess Azula arrived at Omashu in order to enlist her friend Mai for her newly formed elite team, which already included Ty Lee. The princess also decided to use the opportunity to rename Omashu to "New Ozai" to honor her father. Around the same time, Team Avatar secretly entered the city, hoping to free Bumi and assist the local resistance. This led to a series of events which resulted in the resistance members evacuating Omashu with Team Avatar's aid, Mai agreeing to join Azula's group, and Bumi remaining behind as a prisoner.[6]
Unrest and eventual battle[]
Even though the Avatar had escaped and many rebellious citizens had gotten out of the city, Azula felt that Omashu remained insecure and intended to suppress the local "chaos". She used some of the Royal Procession members who had previously served as her personal guards to bolster the local garrison, and then trained them personally to "weed out the weakness in New Ozai's ranks". Still dissatisfied, the princess combed through the reports of the garrison and noticed that arrests were rather low. Instead of interpreting this as a sign of growing compliance, Azula suspected treason.[1]
A guard attempted to justify his mercy as Azula reprimanded him for postponing Jade's taxes.
She thus enlisted Ty Lee and Mai to conduct her own patrol, shadowing the local guards. In the process, she discovered that one guardsman was postponing the taxes for citizens who could not pay them immediately such as Jade. Furious, Azula intervened and demanded that taxes were to be collected, even by brutal force if necessary. She ordered the guards to break into the homes of the locals to take what was "rightfully owed to New Ozai". Unsurprisingly, the civilians were angry upon witnessing this abuse of power, and resisted. Under Azula's leadership, her team and the guards beat up the angry civilians, much to Ty Lee's frustration.[1]
Ty Lee unsuccessfully asked Azula to act less extreme as the riots escalated at the market.
Fed up with the Fire Nation's tyranny, a local bandit leader subsequently began to coordinate angry and rebellious citizens. Under his overview, the spontaneous protests quickly developed into a serious opposition to the occupation. Eventually, the Royal Procession discovered that the insurgents were planning a coup. Upon being informed, Azula set out for the market, where she demanded the names of the conspirators from the citizens. If they refused to comply, she threatened to burn down the businesses such as Double Dumpling, a popular restaurant managed by Lee. Instead of convincing them, the citizens attacked to save the buildings, resulting in a furious battle on the market. As the two sides clashed, it became clear that some of the protestors were members of the rebel movement. Ultimately, the armed civilians were no match for Azula's professional forces, and many were captured.[1]
After questioning the arrested insurgents, Azula was able to locate the bandit who led the uprising. Alongside the Royal Procession, Mai, and Ty Lee, the princess attacked him and his loyal followers, defeating them after heavy fighting. Even as he faced the collapse of his insurgency, however, the bandit proudly told Azula "You've failed", as he knew that her brutal suppression would only inspire further resistance. This defiance angered Azula so much that she actually fainted, causing Ty Lee and Mai to bring her to safety.[1]
Aftermath[]
Not long after defeating the rebellion in Omashu, Azula's team left the city and set out to hunt the Avatar.[8] Omashu would eventually be liberated on the Day of Black Sun in the following summer. On that day, King Bumi broke out of prison and single-handedly retook all of Omashu, taking advantage of the Fire Nation garrison's loss of firebending.[2]
Appearances[]
Video games[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Battle in New Ozai", Avatar: Generations. Navigator Games & Square Enix Mobile London (2023). Square Enix.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ehasz, Aaron (writer) & Volpe, Giancarlo (director). (July 19, 2008). "Sozin's Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 3. Episode 19. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 62.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 124.
- ↑ "Shen Guan", Avatar: Generations. Navigator Games & Square Enix Mobile London (November 7, 2022). Square Enix.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ehasz, Elizabeth Welch (writer) & Spaulding, Ethan (director). (April 7, 2006). "Return to Omashu". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 2. Episode 3. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ From older Avatar: The Last Airbender official site, originally on Nick.com. Encyclopedia now broken, archived at The Lost Lore of Avatar Aang - Character: Yung, the Resistance Leader.
- ↑ Hamilton, Joshua (writer) & Volpe, Giancarlo (director). (May 26, 2006). "The Chase". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 2. Episode 8. Nickelodeon.