The Guiding Wind was a renegade group of Air Nomads who lived during the life of Avatar Roku. They believed that the Air Nomads had grown complacent in their search for enlightenment, and that they were seeking too much cooperation with the corrupt and exploitative wealthy citizens of other nations. Many Elders denounced the Guiding Wind for their disruptive actions.[1]
History[]
During the era of Roku, the teachings of the Air Nomads had become influential in the other nations, with their teachings spreading far and wide. Much of this was due to the direct support and involvement of political families within the Fire Nation. This relationship was celebrated with the construction of the Fire & Air Center of Learning, made possible through the funding and management of Fire Nation nobility.
The construction of the center was a contentious issue. The popular philosopher Khandro spoke out against its construction and demanded an end to Air Nomad affiliation with any nation's ruling classes. They were also opposed to Avatar Roku calling on the Air Nomads to aid the other nations. Although the temples often gladly offered diplomatic support and charitable aid, the Guiding Wind claimed that the Avatar was overstepping by asking that they involve themselves in politics.
Master Youdron, an Elder of the Air Nomads, continued to support the Air Nomads' relationship with the Avatar and the elites of the other nations as a way to help the world and reach more people. The conflict between Youdron's perspective and the upstart Guiding Wind sparked an internal discourse within the Air Nomads on whether they should turn more inward or continue to help the rest of the world. Part of the tension came from whether the Air Nomads should embrace those with lots of wealthy prosperity (like the nobility) or reject them and any trappings of wealth altogether, because working with other nations also meant working with those unwilling to cede power or wealth.[2]
Princess Zeisan of the Fire Nation grew close to the Guiding Wind.
The greatest tension between the Guiding Wind, the Air Nomads, and the Fire Nation began when Princess Zeisan of the Fire Nation proposed to Khandro – for political marriage, as she truly loved Sister Rioshon – wishing to renounce her titles and wealth in favor of a spiritual life.[3] Fire Lord Sozin was blindsided with his sister's relationship with Khandro, and nearly could not control his rage when Zeisan proposed to him. He saw the Guiding Wind's anti-nobility beliefs as a direct threat to him, and was determined to stop his sister by any means necessary.[4] This announcement led a coalition of nobles in the Fire Nation Capital who bought into the propaganda machine to contract Tiger-Monkey, an independent investigator. The spy was tasked with finding any evidence that proved that Air Nomads in the city were plotting against the throne.[5]
Later, another Fire Nation citizen, Michi, the son of a famous general and forsworn the wealth of his family, expressed his desire to live with the Air Nomads and join the Guiding Wind. Michi's father was strongly against it and did not let him go without a fight, for which he hired mercenaries to catch up with him.[6]
Like all other Air Nomads, the Guiding Wind was opposed to violent acts on principle. However, there began to be reports of members of the Guiding Wind committing violent acts across the Fire Nation, and Khandro began to suspect possible involvement from the Fire Lord or his supporters.[7]
Eventually, Zeisan and Khandro's royal wedding was being planned in the Fire Nation Capital, just as Sozin was spreading propaganda about the Guiding Wind and their radical beliefs.[8][9] With Zeisan being able to schedule events, she planned a pre-wedding symposium in Hari Bulkan Square, inviting high-ranking nobles, military officials, the royal court, and also left it open to members of the public. The event would allow Zeisan to deliver a lesson on the Guiding Wind's teachings, as well as a refutation of Sozin's xenophobic propaganda. Well aware of his sister's plans, Sozin tacitly gave his approval for Minister Zianda to orchestrate a plot to discredit the Air Nomads in the Fire Nation. Zianda worked with Mio to assemble a team of firebenders who would attack the event disguised as Air Nomads, while spreading anti-nobility and xenophobic anti-Fire Nation propaganda. They also planned to use firebending-powered gliders and canisters that could release hot air to simulate a real airbending attack on the nobles.[10][11][5] Suspecting that there was a plot after learning that Air Nomads had had their clothes stolen in the city, Sister Rioshon wished to warn Zeisan, but could not do so herself, as she was being watched by another group of soldiers. Instead, the Air Nun tried to stop the plot through her allies: Nyanchi, Boin, Ezra, and Zeebee.[9][12]
Organization[]
The Guiding Wind was a small order, not officially recognized by the four temples of the Air Nomads. The Eastern Air Temple viewed them as too disruptive, the North as too extreme, and the West as too opposed to tradition, though the South did not at first take an official stance.[7]
They wanted autonomy over both their physical and spiritual life, and aimed to undermine the controlling power of the elites. Their leader was the philosopher Khandro.[2] New members were primarily recruited as young Air Nomads, usually those who felt that the Air Nomads had spread too thin, or those who worried about their culture and way of life being influenced by the other nations.[7]
Despite their opposition to nobility and wealth, they gladly accepted Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom, and Water Tribe nobles who wished to give up their wealth and join their order. To the Guiding Wind, these pupils were the ultimate fist to the ideal of nobility, as these youths gave up their wealth and power for enlightenment, whereas the nobles supporting the Fire & Air Center of Learning did not.[7]
Notable members[]
References[]
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 44.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 50.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 48.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 49.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 10.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 265
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 51.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 4.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 6.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 3.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 5.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 8.