Post by Grandi on Oct 29, 2006 13:51:37 GMT -5
Well, I was sitting down, pondering the Avatar universe, probably less high than I would have you believe, when I wondered: Doublebenders, a very Mary Sue idea, but if done right... could it work?
I eventually came to to the conclusion that, yes, they could work. But I couldn't just have a character and just have him be a dualbender. If I was going to write a story about it, part of it would have to explain how he became a dual bender.
So I give you this. This story is going to be pretty ambitious. It is going to take place in alternating sections. One following the exploits and adventures of Tora, said dualbender. His storyline will take place in the modern Avatar world. At the time that Aang and his gang are running around.
The second part of the story will follow a younger Iroh and his adventures. If I can actually keep myself writing this it will become a massive story, with many different sections.
So I give you the first part of the story (still untitled) it follows Tora
WARNING: VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE
____________________________________________________________
As long as Tora could remember, the voice had been with him. It was more of a dark rumble than an enunciation, echoing up from the darkest parts of his mind. It also had a penchant for chastising him.
You're behind schedule again. You need to work on you're punctuality. You might not be able to catch up one day.
Yeah, yeah. Tora thought back, You're not helping.
The full moon flashed like a strobe between the tall, stout pines of the forest. Tora was moving so fast he had to let himself breath heavily, risking detection. But he was late, if he did not move fast enough the caravan would be into the town. Once it was there, in Firenation territory, his job would become impossible and he could kiss his perfect record goodbye.
Dressed in an arcane collection of rough black leather, he kept to the shadows. His broad six foot tall frame was accompanied by a black sheathed katana. His medium long black hair almost hid the piece of black cloth that he used to cover his left eye. Tora moved with the swiftness that only years of martial arts training could bring. He was edging through a thick forest bordering a barely there path, that was much less a route of transit than a long stretch where the vegetation decided to grow less abundantly. Tora hoped that this would slow them down a bit.
"Goddamnit, can't you get your ostrichhorses to pull any faster?!" A rough voiced echoed from ahead from around a bend in the path.
Tora rounded the bend, three ostrich horse pulled wagons lumbered ahead. Lit lamps hung off the sides, illuminating the the thick bush alongside. Well, that could make things tougher. The voice noted.
"I can try." A firenation civilian sat next to a over muscled Firenation soldier at the drivers seat of the lead wagon.
A whip cracked, ostrichhorses neighed in disagreement. The road was too rough for them to pull any faster and they knew it. The wagon driver looked like he knew it too, and was just trying to appease the man with the rough voice next to him. Tora felt a tinge of pity for the wagon driver. He knew what it was like to be commanded to do the impossible for people who were ten shades of dumb.
On top of the wagon sat two masked Firenation soldiers, four on the middle wagon and two more on top of the last. The middle one had a few ornate decorations and what looked like a few plates of iron armor haphazardly hid behind a wood facade. Tora wanted the middle one. They're really quite obvious about this. Pompous assholes. The voice was more amused than anything. Tora grinned and increased his pace, hoping that the soldiers on top were not expecting anything. Why should they? No one was supposed to know about this. Matching speed with the wagon he tried to stay in the shadows created by the lamps.
Tora was a blur, he jumped, on the road, rolled under the wagon, anchored himself between the axles, and pulled himself up. He held his breath for a few seconds and waited to see if the alarm was going to be sounded. Satisfied, he groped around, searching for the trapdoor that all official wagons had. The theory was that if in a jam, whatever Firenation hotshot that the wagon was carrying, could sneak out through the trapdoor. However, in Tora's case, it provided a handy entrance. The trapdoor was placed under an enclosed bench in the wagon, so hopefully, he would be shielded from view when entering. Finding the hinges, Tora waited for a bump in the road then gave the hinge pins a quick wrench with his bare hand, the rusty latches popped off and the door opened outward. Tora grunted in surprise and extend his arm to keep the door from hitting the ground. You're losing your touch. Tora chastised himself. Resting his feet on the back axle, Tora used the door as leverage and pulled himself below it. He quickly grabbed the lip of trapdoor. Tora then let his back drag the ground, hopefully making less noise than the wooden door would and one handedly pulled himself up into a dark, cramped, rectangular space. Tora unlatched the door and pulled it up into the inside of the bench.
"Almost there." Tora allowed himself an almost inaudible whisper of relief.
Reaching down into his belt, Tora produced a small metal rod that flattened into a square at the tip. Using this as a mini crowbar, he popped the latch to the secret entrance of the bench as quietly as he could. Tora's employer had told him that his target, some important Firenation diplomat figure, had been working nonstop before boarding. So he should be asleep, regardless of the bumpy ride. If not, well, Tora would have to resort to different, less ideal, tactics.
Luckily, the man was asleep. He sat slumped to the side on the padded bench opposite of Tora. Nasal snores emitted from his open mouth. Somewhat intricate wood crowning decorated the inside of the wagon. Illuminated by a singe lantern the raised patterns outlined the room with eerie shadows. Tora looked to his left, a bunk hidden by a half open red drape took up the side of the cabin. Tora could not see anyone in the bunk and breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed it was going to be easier from this point. Easing himself out from under the bench, Tora stood to his full height and walked over to the Firenation official. His ornamental hat had fallen off next to him in his slumber and his thinning black hair showed a few strips of white scalp. He was dressed in elaborate red and gold trimmed robes of varying shades. A small goatee decorated his chin almost as an afterthought. A bit of drool lined the edges of his open mouth.
Tora put his hand over the diplomat's mouth. Moving his fingers in an intricate fashion, a blast of air streamed from the Firenation man's mouth. The man's eyes flew open, but without air in his mouth he could not make a sound. Tora looked the man in the eye. He figured that if a man was to die, he might as well know the identity of his murderer. Perhaps to come back in the afterlife and extract revenge. This had not happened yet, but Tora was hopeful. He wanted proof of an afterlife before he died.
With a flick of his wrist and another couple movements of his fingers, a small pop emanated from the man's mouth. His lungs had collapsed. A crimson spurt of liquid flew from his mouth. Tora, stepped to the side and let it fall to the floor. Tora hated to use the forbidden techniques, but they were the most practical tools for the job. The diplomat fell to the ground and writhed for about thirty seconds before coming to a stop. Tora kneeled and checked the man's pulse with two fingers against the now blood spattered neck.
"Well, glad to be done with that." Tora muttered.
Getting up, Tora saw a hint of movement from behind the drape of the half open bunk. With a flash Tora expertly drew his katana and cut the red drape down in one swift movement.
She could not have been more than six years old. Sitting in the bunk, pressed up behind the back wall of the cabin was little black haired girl in a red nightie. She could not have been more than six years old. She sat silently trembling staring at him with wide, scared, tear rimmed eyes.
"Oh fucking hell." Tora whispered under his breath.
The girl pressed herself harder against the wall.
"No, you weren't supposed to see this. You're not even supposed to be here!" Tora knew as he spoke that it didn't matter, she had seen him, and nothing he could do would ever change that. Tora searched for something to say but could not find anything. What do you tell to a girl whose father you just murdered? Tora was desperate.
Why are you asking me? Responded the voice.
The girl started to open her mouth.
"No wait, don't--"
A scream echoed throughout the woods.
Tora whipped around to the wall behind him. With a push of his arms a blast of air smashed through wood and iron. The wall and roof exploded, sending the four Firenation soldiers on top of the wagon high into the air. Tora jumped following the still flying chunks of debris. Landing and rolling he barely missed a fiery blast that a soldier had just threw at him from the back wagon. Another blast followed quickly. Tora rolled again and then quickly stood up and grounded himself firmly, legs shoulder-with apart. Using his right hand he deflected the blast off to the side and shot one of his own at the wagon. The wooden wagon burst into flame. The osthrichorses whipped their heads around and neighed in a panic before falling to the ground and catching on fire. Tora thought the animal's death screams sounded unsettling like the ones the burning Firnation soldiers were currently emitting.
Tora tuned around just in time to miss a stab from a Firenation spear. The guard wielding the spear pulled back for another thrust, but Tora swung his sword through the spear, cutting off the head. The Firenation soldier backed off in surprise, but Tora followed through with a blast of air sending guard into a tree with bone-crushing force. Another guard with another spear had come round behind Tora, but Tora simply lept into the air, did a couple twisting somersaults and landed behind the guard. With a silver flash, Tora swung his sword and the soldiers head flew off from his body. A geyser of arterial spay lept from the man's neck.
"Well, an assassin."
Tora was tired of people sneaking up behind him, after all, he was supposed to be the sneaky one. "Are you informing me, or are you just stating the obvious for fun?" Tora quipped. He was definitely not in the mood for this.
The muscly rough voiced Fire nation soldier stood with one hand on his hip and the other holding a particularly mean looking spiked whip. The full moon illuminated his face with a light glow. He was bald and had a gold nose ring making him look like some sort of demonic bull. Smiling he responded, "You've got a mouth on you little boy. How old are you? Four? Shouldn't you be home with your mommy? And what? Are you blind in one eye? Are your employers so desperate as to send a cripple to kill for them."
"I'm seventeen and I'm too busy killing you to hang out with my mother." Tora grinned, "And I'm less blind than you think."
The soldier laughed, "Maybe so, I saw you bending air as well as fire. I thought only the Avatar could do that." He paused, "This will be fun."
Tora lunged at the muscled man. One hand prepared to give out a fireball and the other wielding his katana. With an agility surprising for his size the man sidestepped Tora's attack and cracked his whip. Tora, bent over at the waist and sprung backwards, dodging the whips initial hit. Before he could regain his balance a strand of fire shot from the end of the whip. Tora raised his weaponless arm up and blocked the fire with his forearm. Grimacing he took another couple steps back.
"Well, you're quick." The Firenation soldier laughed, "But not quick enough to survive another round with me."
Tora's forearm smoked, the leather gauntlet he was wearing had burned though and the fire had scorched his skin. He lowered his sword to his side and stood straight.
"Well, one of us has to die." Tora remarked. "You've seen me and I can't let you get out with that information."
The man's rough voice suddenly got stern. "Kimiko saw you. What are you going to do about that? Are you a murderer of children as well?"
He's right, the girl got a good look at me. I don't kill kids, my cover is blown. Looks like I loved this one up real bad. Tora winced.
You still have to kill him, he saw your bending. We can't let that information get out
"Good point." Tora said audibly. "You feel like helping me out on this one Kokusho?"
Too lazy to do it yourself, child? I guess it's time you got a refresher on how to be a real assassin.
"Have you gone crazy boy? Who are you talking to?" The soldier looked a bit discomforted.
Tora mustered the most self-assure grin that he could. "Well, this eye you see." He brung his katana up and pointed at his eye with the tip of the sword. "It's not blind, in fact, it can see more than the other." Tora used the tip of his katana to push up the cloth covering his eye. The eye was completely black, like an empty void, but in the center was a glowing red slit, like a cat's eye.
The muscled man's mouth gaped, and he backed up a couple steps, but his resolve soon reformed. "I don't care if you have a tail, freak. You're still going to die tonight."
Well, Kokusho Tora thought Body's all yours
Tora's voice lowered to a deep rumble, "Thanks," he said out loud, "It was getting a bit cramped in there."
Tora took a step backwards, then seemed to disappear. The soldier grunted in surprise. Then, with a realization, he turned around. Tora was behind him, halfway through a swing of his katana. The Firenation soldier, with lightning fast reflexes, managed to block the sword with the metal handle of his whip. Before he could make any sort of counterattack, Tora disappeared again. The Firenation soldier did not have time to move before he was engulfed in a white hot fireball from above.
"That was boring." Tora rumbled, landing lightly a few feet away from the now pyre that had been a man a mere second ago.
Now that you've had your fun, can I have my body back?
I guess, seems a bit soon. What's the point of sharing your body with the soul of a dragon if you don't let him out more often?
Tora gasped as he took control of his body again. Don't worry, I'll let you have some fun real soon, I have a feeling our next job won't be so simple.
Do you now? Kokusho's tone had a tinge of sarcasm, I hope you fill me in on your plans sometime.
Tora didn't respond. In the middle of the road stood the Firenation official's daughter. Tears streamed from her eyes, her feet were bloody from walking over the splintering wreckage of her wagon.
Tora lept to the treetops with the assistance of a gust of wind from his burnt arm. Landing on a branch, another blast propelled him to a tree thirty feet away. He ran away as fast as he could.
To be continued...
____________________________________________________________
Well that's the first part. As you might have noticed I didn't really explain how or why Tora could dualbend. The reasoning behind this move is that Tora's bending is a really major part of the storyline, and hence one of the main focuses, and while I introduced a couple major elements related to his bending (Kokusho anyone?) The full explanation will come later one.
Now onto writing Iroh's part.
PS. Please criticize harshly.
I eventually came to to the conclusion that, yes, they could work. But I couldn't just have a character and just have him be a dualbender. If I was going to write a story about it, part of it would have to explain how he became a dual bender.
So I give you this. This story is going to be pretty ambitious. It is going to take place in alternating sections. One following the exploits and adventures of Tora, said dualbender. His storyline will take place in the modern Avatar world. At the time that Aang and his gang are running around.
The second part of the story will follow a younger Iroh and his adventures. If I can actually keep myself writing this it will become a massive story, with many different sections.
So I give you the first part of the story (still untitled) it follows Tora
WARNING: VIOLENCE AND LANGUAGE
____________________________________________________________
As long as Tora could remember, the voice had been with him. It was more of a dark rumble than an enunciation, echoing up from the darkest parts of his mind. It also had a penchant for chastising him.
You're behind schedule again. You need to work on you're punctuality. You might not be able to catch up one day.
Yeah, yeah. Tora thought back, You're not helping.
The full moon flashed like a strobe between the tall, stout pines of the forest. Tora was moving so fast he had to let himself breath heavily, risking detection. But he was late, if he did not move fast enough the caravan would be into the town. Once it was there, in Firenation territory, his job would become impossible and he could kiss his perfect record goodbye.
Dressed in an arcane collection of rough black leather, he kept to the shadows. His broad six foot tall frame was accompanied by a black sheathed katana. His medium long black hair almost hid the piece of black cloth that he used to cover his left eye. Tora moved with the swiftness that only years of martial arts training could bring. He was edging through a thick forest bordering a barely there path, that was much less a route of transit than a long stretch where the vegetation decided to grow less abundantly. Tora hoped that this would slow them down a bit.
"Goddamnit, can't you get your ostrichhorses to pull any faster?!" A rough voiced echoed from ahead from around a bend in the path.
Tora rounded the bend, three ostrich horse pulled wagons lumbered ahead. Lit lamps hung off the sides, illuminating the the thick bush alongside. Well, that could make things tougher. The voice noted.
"I can try." A firenation civilian sat next to a over muscled Firenation soldier at the drivers seat of the lead wagon.
A whip cracked, ostrichhorses neighed in disagreement. The road was too rough for them to pull any faster and they knew it. The wagon driver looked like he knew it too, and was just trying to appease the man with the rough voice next to him. Tora felt a tinge of pity for the wagon driver. He knew what it was like to be commanded to do the impossible for people who were ten shades of dumb.
On top of the wagon sat two masked Firenation soldiers, four on the middle wagon and two more on top of the last. The middle one had a few ornate decorations and what looked like a few plates of iron armor haphazardly hid behind a wood facade. Tora wanted the middle one. They're really quite obvious about this. Pompous assholes. The voice was more amused than anything. Tora grinned and increased his pace, hoping that the soldiers on top were not expecting anything. Why should they? No one was supposed to know about this. Matching speed with the wagon he tried to stay in the shadows created by the lamps.
Tora was a blur, he jumped, on the road, rolled under the wagon, anchored himself between the axles, and pulled himself up. He held his breath for a few seconds and waited to see if the alarm was going to be sounded. Satisfied, he groped around, searching for the trapdoor that all official wagons had. The theory was that if in a jam, whatever Firenation hotshot that the wagon was carrying, could sneak out through the trapdoor. However, in Tora's case, it provided a handy entrance. The trapdoor was placed under an enclosed bench in the wagon, so hopefully, he would be shielded from view when entering. Finding the hinges, Tora waited for a bump in the road then gave the hinge pins a quick wrench with his bare hand, the rusty latches popped off and the door opened outward. Tora grunted in surprise and extend his arm to keep the door from hitting the ground. You're losing your touch. Tora chastised himself. Resting his feet on the back axle, Tora used the door as leverage and pulled himself below it. He quickly grabbed the lip of trapdoor. Tora then let his back drag the ground, hopefully making less noise than the wooden door would and one handedly pulled himself up into a dark, cramped, rectangular space. Tora unlatched the door and pulled it up into the inside of the bench.
"Almost there." Tora allowed himself an almost inaudible whisper of relief.
Reaching down into his belt, Tora produced a small metal rod that flattened into a square at the tip. Using this as a mini crowbar, he popped the latch to the secret entrance of the bench as quietly as he could. Tora's employer had told him that his target, some important Firenation diplomat figure, had been working nonstop before boarding. So he should be asleep, regardless of the bumpy ride. If not, well, Tora would have to resort to different, less ideal, tactics.
Luckily, the man was asleep. He sat slumped to the side on the padded bench opposite of Tora. Nasal snores emitted from his open mouth. Somewhat intricate wood crowning decorated the inside of the wagon. Illuminated by a singe lantern the raised patterns outlined the room with eerie shadows. Tora looked to his left, a bunk hidden by a half open red drape took up the side of the cabin. Tora could not see anyone in the bunk and breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed it was going to be easier from this point. Easing himself out from under the bench, Tora stood to his full height and walked over to the Firenation official. His ornamental hat had fallen off next to him in his slumber and his thinning black hair showed a few strips of white scalp. He was dressed in elaborate red and gold trimmed robes of varying shades. A small goatee decorated his chin almost as an afterthought. A bit of drool lined the edges of his open mouth.
Tora put his hand over the diplomat's mouth. Moving his fingers in an intricate fashion, a blast of air streamed from the Firenation man's mouth. The man's eyes flew open, but without air in his mouth he could not make a sound. Tora looked the man in the eye. He figured that if a man was to die, he might as well know the identity of his murderer. Perhaps to come back in the afterlife and extract revenge. This had not happened yet, but Tora was hopeful. He wanted proof of an afterlife before he died.
With a flick of his wrist and another couple movements of his fingers, a small pop emanated from the man's mouth. His lungs had collapsed. A crimson spurt of liquid flew from his mouth. Tora, stepped to the side and let it fall to the floor. Tora hated to use the forbidden techniques, but they were the most practical tools for the job. The diplomat fell to the ground and writhed for about thirty seconds before coming to a stop. Tora kneeled and checked the man's pulse with two fingers against the now blood spattered neck.
"Well, glad to be done with that." Tora muttered.
Getting up, Tora saw a hint of movement from behind the drape of the half open bunk. With a flash Tora expertly drew his katana and cut the red drape down in one swift movement.
She could not have been more than six years old. Sitting in the bunk, pressed up behind the back wall of the cabin was little black haired girl in a red nightie. She could not have been more than six years old. She sat silently trembling staring at him with wide, scared, tear rimmed eyes.
"Oh fucking hell." Tora whispered under his breath.
The girl pressed herself harder against the wall.
"No, you weren't supposed to see this. You're not even supposed to be here!" Tora knew as he spoke that it didn't matter, she had seen him, and nothing he could do would ever change that. Tora searched for something to say but could not find anything. What do you tell to a girl whose father you just murdered? Tora was desperate.
Why are you asking me? Responded the voice.
The girl started to open her mouth.
"No wait, don't--"
A scream echoed throughout the woods.
Tora whipped around to the wall behind him. With a push of his arms a blast of air smashed through wood and iron. The wall and roof exploded, sending the four Firenation soldiers on top of the wagon high into the air. Tora jumped following the still flying chunks of debris. Landing and rolling he barely missed a fiery blast that a soldier had just threw at him from the back wagon. Another blast followed quickly. Tora rolled again and then quickly stood up and grounded himself firmly, legs shoulder-with apart. Using his right hand he deflected the blast off to the side and shot one of his own at the wagon. The wooden wagon burst into flame. The osthrichorses whipped their heads around and neighed in a panic before falling to the ground and catching on fire. Tora thought the animal's death screams sounded unsettling like the ones the burning Firnation soldiers were currently emitting.
Tora tuned around just in time to miss a stab from a Firenation spear. The guard wielding the spear pulled back for another thrust, but Tora swung his sword through the spear, cutting off the head. The Firenation soldier backed off in surprise, but Tora followed through with a blast of air sending guard into a tree with bone-crushing force. Another guard with another spear had come round behind Tora, but Tora simply lept into the air, did a couple twisting somersaults and landed behind the guard. With a silver flash, Tora swung his sword and the soldiers head flew off from his body. A geyser of arterial spay lept from the man's neck.
"Well, an assassin."
Tora was tired of people sneaking up behind him, after all, he was supposed to be the sneaky one. "Are you informing me, or are you just stating the obvious for fun?" Tora quipped. He was definitely not in the mood for this.
The muscly rough voiced Fire nation soldier stood with one hand on his hip and the other holding a particularly mean looking spiked whip. The full moon illuminated his face with a light glow. He was bald and had a gold nose ring making him look like some sort of demonic bull. Smiling he responded, "You've got a mouth on you little boy. How old are you? Four? Shouldn't you be home with your mommy? And what? Are you blind in one eye? Are your employers so desperate as to send a cripple to kill for them."
"I'm seventeen and I'm too busy killing you to hang out with my mother." Tora grinned, "And I'm less blind than you think."
The soldier laughed, "Maybe so, I saw you bending air as well as fire. I thought only the Avatar could do that." He paused, "This will be fun."
Tora lunged at the muscled man. One hand prepared to give out a fireball and the other wielding his katana. With an agility surprising for his size the man sidestepped Tora's attack and cracked his whip. Tora, bent over at the waist and sprung backwards, dodging the whips initial hit. Before he could regain his balance a strand of fire shot from the end of the whip. Tora raised his weaponless arm up and blocked the fire with his forearm. Grimacing he took another couple steps back.
"Well, you're quick." The Firenation soldier laughed, "But not quick enough to survive another round with me."
Tora's forearm smoked, the leather gauntlet he was wearing had burned though and the fire had scorched his skin. He lowered his sword to his side and stood straight.
"Well, one of us has to die." Tora remarked. "You've seen me and I can't let you get out with that information."
The man's rough voice suddenly got stern. "Kimiko saw you. What are you going to do about that? Are you a murderer of children as well?"
He's right, the girl got a good look at me. I don't kill kids, my cover is blown. Looks like I loved this one up real bad. Tora winced.
You still have to kill him, he saw your bending. We can't let that information get out
"Good point." Tora said audibly. "You feel like helping me out on this one Kokusho?"
Too lazy to do it yourself, child? I guess it's time you got a refresher on how to be a real assassin.
"Have you gone crazy boy? Who are you talking to?" The soldier looked a bit discomforted.
Tora mustered the most self-assure grin that he could. "Well, this eye you see." He brung his katana up and pointed at his eye with the tip of the sword. "It's not blind, in fact, it can see more than the other." Tora used the tip of his katana to push up the cloth covering his eye. The eye was completely black, like an empty void, but in the center was a glowing red slit, like a cat's eye.
The muscled man's mouth gaped, and he backed up a couple steps, but his resolve soon reformed. "I don't care if you have a tail, freak. You're still going to die tonight."
Well, Kokusho Tora thought Body's all yours
Tora's voice lowered to a deep rumble, "Thanks," he said out loud, "It was getting a bit cramped in there."
Tora took a step backwards, then seemed to disappear. The soldier grunted in surprise. Then, with a realization, he turned around. Tora was behind him, halfway through a swing of his katana. The Firenation soldier, with lightning fast reflexes, managed to block the sword with the metal handle of his whip. Before he could make any sort of counterattack, Tora disappeared again. The Firenation soldier did not have time to move before he was engulfed in a white hot fireball from above.
"That was boring." Tora rumbled, landing lightly a few feet away from the now pyre that had been a man a mere second ago.
Now that you've had your fun, can I have my body back?
I guess, seems a bit soon. What's the point of sharing your body with the soul of a dragon if you don't let him out more often?
Tora gasped as he took control of his body again. Don't worry, I'll let you have some fun real soon, I have a feeling our next job won't be so simple.
Do you now? Kokusho's tone had a tinge of sarcasm, I hope you fill me in on your plans sometime.
Tora didn't respond. In the middle of the road stood the Firenation official's daughter. Tears streamed from her eyes, her feet were bloody from walking over the splintering wreckage of her wagon.
Tora lept to the treetops with the assistance of a gust of wind from his burnt arm. Landing on a branch, another blast propelled him to a tree thirty feet away. He ran away as fast as he could.
To be continued...
____________________________________________________________
Well that's the first part. As you might have noticed I didn't really explain how or why Tora could dualbend. The reasoning behind this move is that Tora's bending is a really major part of the storyline, and hence one of the main focuses, and while I introduced a couple major elements related to his bending (Kokusho anyone?) The full explanation will come later one.
Now onto writing Iroh's part.
PS. Please criticize harshly.