Post by Blind Bandit on Mar 24, 2008 17:53:11 GMT -5
As many of you may have noticed the Avatar Fan Site Olympics have concluded. And I think we all learned a few things such as flash chat is horrible and it crashes peoples computers.ROFL But in all seriousness. The AFO was a great way for some of the many talented people of DH to show there skills and talent to the fandom at large. And I'm glad to have seen so much hard work, creativity, and support from the team members and all of DH. I know that I can say for sure that myself and Jade are extremely thankful and we couldn't have done it with out everyone's support.
So in support of the hard work and talent of the entire DH AFO team, here is the work that the team produced for the competition.
Please feel free to comment and give some feed back to your fellow DHers. These folks represented DH very well. Despite many technical challanges, time zone headaches, and real life getting in the way.
Because of the large amount of pictures and other items I'm only linking them to keep the page loads reasonable.
The AFO main site
avatarolympics.net/index/
DH section
avatarolympics.net/index/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=33
Team Standings and awards
From AFO web site
Sigs / Team graphics / DH banner
By Shay
i4.tinypic.com/7y84fmx.png
By kataangist
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO6copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO2copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO3copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO4copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO5copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO1copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFOEvent1Logocopy-2.jpg
By RandomPokes (banner/flag)
i140.photobucket.com/albums/r9/randompokes/DHcopy.jpg
By Night (banner/flag)
i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/nightshadow1315/lolollogo001.png
i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/nightshadow1315/lolollogo002.png
By Catalyst
img181.imageshack.us/img181/165/teamdh12zh4.png
img174.imageshack.us/img174/7613/teamdh22ec1.png
img508.imageshack.us/img508/6930/teamdh32ks9.png
img249.imageshack.us/img249/661/teamdh42ak6.png
img412.imageshack.us/img412/4310/kataangistbannervp4.png
img412.imageshack.us/img412/7281/teamcaptainbbxr0.png
img149.imageshack.us/img149/6658/teamcaptainmusogatofj1.png
img412.imageshack.us/img412/8397/teamdh13yo3.png
img519.imageshack.us/img519/2203/synbannerrc4.png
By Azula
i117.photobucket.com/albums/o62/GlisteningStarFire/Logo.png
By Utsukushii Kohana
i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee268/honeyfur/DH/DHLogo.png
By Shock Wave
i30.tinypic.com/14j9bid.png
By Zink
img211.imageshack.us/img211/2000/thathorizonhe0.jpg
Contests final entries, these are for the most part team efforts so I may list several people and or just team because it was hard to decide to give credit to. If there is an issue with people who were credited, send me a pm.
Contest : Slogan and Team Banner
Night did most of the image with an Appa image by Shock Wave, slogan by the entire team.
i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/nightshadow1315/lolollogo002.png
Contest : Create Two OC's
These where a team effort. Sense there was a large number of OCs I just posted the ones entered into the contest. The OC's project was group effort with Utsukushii Kohana , Randompokes, Zink, and Bard Child all working on this project.
Yuzuki
Age: 9 years old
Bender: Yes, a waterbender.
History: She lives in the Northern Water Tribe and it's her dream to become a master waterbender. But it's not appropriate for women to do so in their culture, so she starts with healing lessons. She lives with her mother and father and they are proud of her, but also want her to fit in with the tribe and not cause trouble.
When Katara arrives in the north with the Avatar, she admires the willpower of the girl and is glad that she managed to bend the rules. Because of her, the limitations on women being allowed to learn waterbending begin to slacken. That's the reason why Yuzuki secretly idolizes Katara.
avatarolympics.net/index/images/stories/ocs/OC4-v1.jpg
=> Yuzuki is drawn by Utsukushii Kohana and colored by RandomPokes. Background story also made by Utsukushii Kohana.
Soba (real name Henge Ken)
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Nation: Earth
Bending: Earth (high level)
Abilities: Earthbender with extensive knowledge of the underground caves that he dwells in as well as. Heighten hearing touch and smell, also a contortionist with a very flexible spine and ribcage.
Appearance: Soba complexion and appearance are of a pale milky color, with strong supple build to help him through the cave areas. He also has long black hair in a long braid. His hair must never be cut according to Cave Walker tradition. His eyes are almond shaped, with almost permanently dilated pupils. They are pale green color in the sunlight. But nobody could really tell in the dim cavern light. He has a small round nose and large thin mouth, and small ears that are pierced and often have gold studs in them.
His body type is very strange. Built for underground life He also has long thin limbs for bending. wide hands and feet. His feet and hands are ultra-sensitive as well
His Cave Walking attire is is somewhat complicated. First layer is a loin cloth and a small cup to protect the groin. The Second is a linen shirt and shorts of a cream color. Then is the outer tunic of heavy linen or flax and in some cases glow worm silk, of colors of dark brown green or bronzy yellow. Then Soba puts on belt of leather, from the burradillos which the cave dwellers breed as pack animals. The next is the armor, which are leather bracers, gloves (with out the fingers), knee guards and boots with metal souls and toes. Soba also wears a wide brim hat like a helmet, and carries many things with him, like a lantern with special crystals that very bright and serve to light the caverns, bags of crystal powder to blind foes and jookas which are crosses of snakes and scorpions, and are considered very dangerous he also has a mask built for the poison gas springs in some area of the caverns. Around his neck are collar of silver or quartz bells that resonate in the cave walls. And finally a grappling hook when bending doesn't work.
Personality: Soba is many things, eccentric, bizarre, arrogant, dangerous and not to be taken lightly, he something to be amazed at and an afraid of. He is strange one with his smooth voice and gentle tone, that is pleasing to the ears. Most people are off their guard when they first met him for he is taught to be polite, but once off gaurd Things change with is vulgar words and chauvinistic mindset. He is very distrustful of surface folk especially women. In his underground home women respect and honor the Cave Walkers. So he often yells and hit women when they talk back to him or act like his equal. However he does treat the women the caves with decency, it's mainly the surface women that he doesn't like.
He's also very proud of his heritage as a cave dweller, and sees himself as the "guardian of the caves" He does brag a little and is arrogant and cocky in some causes. He also a good leader and reliable, he thinks not always for himself but for others of his city. He is courageous and bold ready to do anything and everything for his city; he's also a powerful bender and will not hesitate to crush anyone that threats him and his way of life.
Background: Before I go on about Soba's life, let's get to know his people.
First Soba lives in a sub culture of underground Earthbenders in city called Tu Long of the Tu Long caverns in the northern half of the Earth Kingdom. This city has been unknown and well kept secret for centuries. The People are well adapted to the underground living and adapted to the low light and cool temperatures, They have used special crystals called "brillianium," to light the city and lanterns of Cave Walkers, who are tour guides and help the surface. They are highly respected and considered the knowledge keepers of the Tu Long and the brave warriors since all of the Cave Walkers could Earthbend. And because of their subterranean home, Tu-Longian's Earthbending is heavily potent, and most are masters by age fifteen.
Many surface people are very afraid of the Tu-Longians, calling them "spirits" and "savages" They only trust them to get them through cave to the other side, which normally near Ba Sing Sae. They pay them and then they leave them alone. In rare cases would the surface folk ever want to go to Tu Long City, it's because they are sick and need the care of the healers who use the underground fungi for treatment.
Trade in Tu Long is frequent. Because Tu Longians need the linen for clothes and certain foods like vegetables and fruits, they give the surface folk good leather, brillianium crystals and armor from the forgeries. So a balance is created between the cave dwellers and those on the surface.
Tu-Longians have a heavy respect for the earth and the things that it bears. They try to use whatever they find for caves and people dwelling in them. So they eat whatever and trade for what they don't have. So in all, the Tu-Longians are truly to be respected and feared.
Soba story begins one evening or morning; the cave folk don't have a good sense of time so when unknown. When Harumi gave birth to her first child a healthy baby boy, however Toramaru the chieftain and her husband couldn't think of a name, Harumi was a little hungry one night, after feeding the nameless baby, and first thing she said "Oh I like Soba!" Well Toramaru thought it was name and decided to call the baby that, Soba or "noodles". However when Soba was brought the naming ceremony, Toramaru gave him a second name, Henge Ken "Eternal Mountain", though Soba just goes by "Soba".
Soba started training in earthbending at age four. He learned no just to bend but how to move and live in the caves and not just bend the earth but live from it. In time Soba learned to move and grow in his underground home. As the son of the chieftain he must never cut his hair, which bother him because it makes him look more female. He loves his job as a Cave Walker, for him the biggest joy is wandering in the belly of the earth in complete freedom. He hates the surface folk that give him a hard time and bother the heck out of him with questions.
He loves his family too, Toramaru is the leader of the city and had high authority over the Cave Walkers and citizens, and his wife is a cartographer for the caves and helps out by charting many of the unexplored areas of the caves. Soba has a little sister name Bao Ling, she just started her training as a Cave Walker, and she's four years old. Also he has a trained ki'bat named Tama, how goes with him when working. She is useful for her keen nose and will tell her master when she smells danger.
Soba never liked the surface folk, yet. Deep down he has an insatiable wanderlust. He loves his home and people but part of him wants to see what beyond the cave walls. Soba has hobbies too, such as bathing in the underground springs, taming and riding the jookas, and flirting with young ladies.
Soba hopes one day that the stigma of the Cave Walkers and Tu-Longians would be eliminated and there will be a mutual understanding between them.
avatarolympics.net/index/images/stories/ocs/Soba_Of_Tu_Long_by_NightStorm.jpg
=> Soba is created by Bard Child
Contest: Nightmare Fan Fic
By ¢¾ Bella Cullen ¢¾
b]This takes place after The Western Air Temple. Katara has a nightmare caused by her death threat to Zuko.[/b]
Well, these past few days have been eventful. We failed the invasion and fled to the Western Air Temple for safety. That same day, Zuko showed up, trying to convince us he's on our side now. Ha. Yeah, right. I don't care if Aang and everyone else trusts him. Zuko's caused way too much misery for me to forgive him just like that.
I was still full of rage after Zuko admitted he sent that assassin after us and burnt Toph's feet--even though he apologized for it. I had to warn him that if he does anything to make me think he will hurt Aang, I'll kill him.
And I will.
Okay, it's harsh, but can you blame me? I fell for Zuko's sob story once. I will not fall for it again.
It is now nighttime. I spent half the day training with Aang. He's gotten really good at waterbending. Zuko heeded my warning and stayed out of trouble. I gave him credit for that.
After I gave Toph another healing session, I went ahead to bed. The mattress was pretty comfortable, considering tey haven't been slept in in over a century. I let myself drift off to sleep.
I was standing in a room lit by a wall of flame. There were pillars all around. To my left, the Fire Lord lay dead. Blood was drying around his mouth. Smiling, I looked around more. Zuko also lay dead with blood coming out of his mouth. I looked around further and saw Azula and her friends all dead with blood oozing out of their mouths.
Someone killed all these people, but who? I passed Iroh's corpse, a bit saddened because I never got the chance to thank him for saving me and Aang.
Speaking of Aang, he was standing in front of the curtain, but he wasn't smiling. Instead he was looking at me, shocked and scared.
"Aang?" I asked. I jumped in surprise. That was the same voice I used when I threatened Zuko. What was going on?
"W...why, Katara?" Aang asked, his voice shaking. "Why would you do this?"
Suddenly, I realized who killed all of these people. Me.
"It was to protect you." I answered in that same voice. I reached out for Aang, but he stepped back.
"Protecting me from our friends?" He gestured towards Sokka and Toph, who were laying motionless on the ground.
"No..." I whispered. I ran to Sokka's side and knelt down. I touched Sokka's cold cheek. "I didn't mean to kill them."
"But you did." Aang replied. I stood up and gasped. Blood was oozing from Aang's nose and the corners of his mouth. "You betrayed me, Katara. You should've been honest in your decision on whether or not Zuko should teach me firebending."
I heard a whisper coming from Sokka. I bent down to hear him. "You are way too overprotective. You'd kill anyone who you think would hurt Aang." Then he closed his eyes.
I started shaking my head and stood back up. "No...I wouldn't..." I started sweating. I put my hands on Aang's shoulders. "Please, Aang, you know I'd never-" I was cut off by something wet under my fingers. I gasped as I saw blood coming out nof both of Aang's shoulders. "No!"
"Good-bye, Katara." Aang's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell to the ground.
"NO!" I screamed. Everything went dark. I swallowed and tried to compose myself. "Aang? Sokka?"
I walked a few paces and found myself back at the South Pole. I panted slowly and made my way to the water. I looked down and saw not my reflection, but Hama's evil grin and heard her laugh.
I woke up and realized I was screaming. I heard footsteps and a door slamming open.
"Katara!" Aang exclaimed. He ran over to me. "Are you okay? What happened?"
I looked at Aang through blurred eyes. I was crying. "Aang..." I was relived to hear my own voice and not Hama's. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" I realized I had blood on my hands. That came from digging my fingernails an inch into my skin. Aang noticed and ripped three long strips from his robe. He wiped the blood off of my shaking hands and tied the two around them.
"What happened, Katara?" Sokka asked. He was standing by my bedside. I did not want to tell them my nightmare. It was too scary. I just shook my head slowly.
"Nothing., It was just a nightmare.." I answered.
"Geez, Sugar Queen," Toph said from the doorway. "What was so bad that got you all worked up?"
"It's not that big a deal." I replied.
"Then why were you crying and telling Aang you were sorry?" Sokka raised his eyebrow.
"I would really rather not talk about it, Sokka." I said firmly.
Sokka just shrugged. "Okay." He left the room with Toph.
Aang still looked worried. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it, Katara? You sounded pretty intense and your hands were bleeding..."
I sighed. "I'm sure, Aang. I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay. Good-night." He left the room.
I lay back against my pillow, but I couldn't fall asleep. What did that dream mean? Was I too overprotective of Aang? Was I too hard on Zuko? Was I becoming more like Hama?
No. I told myself. I was justified. Same situation with Jet. I am being smart.
XXX
The next morning, I prepared breakfast for the group. I heard footsteps and saw Zukjo approaching me.
"Hey." He greeted.
"Hey." I replied back.
"So...with your permission, I'd like to start training Aang today." Zuko said simply, hiding a smirk.
I chuckled. "Sure, go for it."
He smiled and sat down. Something tugged at my navel. I sighed.
"Listen. I'm sorry if I sounded a bit...harsh yesterday." I blurted out. "It's just that...I've seen Aang come so close to getting badly hurt so many times. I'm proective. It's in my nature."
Zuko looked slightly surprised. "This wouldn't happen to do with your nightmare last night, would it? I heard you scream..."
I scoffed. "Please. I'm just being polite." I rolled my eyes. I was not going to let Zuko know he was right.
He shrugged. "Okay. Then apology accepted."
"Good. I'm glad we understand each other." I replied. "But that doesn't mean I'm taking my eyes off you."
"Fair enough, waterbender. Fair enough." Zuko said.
"Seven months later and you still don't know my name?" I asked. "I'm Katara."
"Sorry...Katara." Zuko smiled. "Happy?"
"Very. Thank you."
The rest of the group started trudging in. Apologizing to Zuko made me feel a little better. I don't think I'll be having nightmares any more.
But that still doesn't mean I can't give him a hard time after everything we've been through.
(The end)
Contest: Shipping contest music video
By RandomPokes
www.livevideo.com/video/BA3FA01ED8A248089159E00DD506463E/shipping-music-video-distant.aspx
Contest: Season 3 trailer
By RandomPokes
www.livevideo.com/video/7BE65220525843DC958AA61E3E83FD5A/book-3-trailer-distant-horiz.aspx
Contest: Necklace
By Musogato
s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj98/avatarolympics/?action=view¤t=DHnecklace.jpg
Contest: original avatar creature
By Musogato and team
Panda-Llama
i31.photobucket.com/albums/c385/musogato/random/dh_panda-llama.png
Found in the mountainous areas of the north-western Earth Kingdom, the Panda-Llamas are gentle pack creatures that are sometimes kept by neighboring villages to help transport goods in the high mountains. They eat many kinds of plants but bamboo is a favorite snack. Their fur is thick to help protect them from the cold, but there are special long-haired breeds that are more suited to living in the snowy mountain range to the east.
Flying Squirtunk
i31.photobucket.com/albums/c385/musogato/random/dh_flying-squirtunk.png
Commonly found across the Earth Kingdom woodlands, Flying Squirtunks have a thin flap of skin from their forearms to their legs that help them glide through the air. Their claws help them climb trees quickly but they are also well comfortable living on the ground. They usually eat anything they can find, from nuts and berries to insects and other small creatures. Flying Squirtunks are shy and tend to avoid trouble and other predators, and use their gliding and stink gland near the tail to help them escape. They are especially feared and usually left alone by others because they often combine those tactics when trying to escape.
Contest: Orginal episode
Written By ¢¾ Bella Cullen ¢¾
Story ideas by the team.
Don't have the story at this time. If anyone has a copy please pm so I can post it here.
Contest: DVD Box Art
By RandomPokes with help from Musogato
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-cover-distant-hor_E3F2E409BE3F45BF8B7AA29BF65CAAC5.aspx
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-backside-distant-_BC9EB21F73F0465E9E97623B17EBC045.aspx
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-insert-distant-ho_1F6F53CF5904415D9DE3659776BA34AC.aspx
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-insert-distant-ho_FA7555F6304B4341A54366CEA432505B.aspx
Also thanks very much to everyone who participated in the Scavenger hunt and in Trivia.
The following worked on Triva and/or the scavenger hunt: Historyman, Shock Wave, Musogato, Tidus (Synayran) and kataangist.
If you've not been given credit for work you did, please pm me so I can add your name to the appropriate contest, or otherwise give you credit. With some of the activities it wasn't clear exactly who did what and so on. So if I could get any help that would be great.
Also I would again like to thank everyone for there support and great contributions to the Avatar Fan Site Olympics.
DH Co- Captain,
BB
edit: changed the punctuation of the fanfic in order to make it easier to read. ¡¯ was supposed to be ' and ¡°...¡± was "..."
So in support of the hard work and talent of the entire DH AFO team, here is the work that the team produced for the competition.
Please feel free to comment and give some feed back to your fellow DHers. These folks represented DH very well. Despite many technical challanges, time zone headaches, and real life getting in the way.
Because of the large amount of pictures and other items I'm only linking them to keep the page loads reasonable.
The AFO main site
avatarolympics.net/index/
DH section
avatarolympics.net/index/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=33
Team Standings and awards
From AFO web site
Distant Horizon finished a very solid fourth. They racked up gold medals in the Necklace and Series DVD competitions. DH also earned two silver medals, and one bronze throughout the course of the competition.
Sigs / Team graphics / DH banner
By Shay
i4.tinypic.com/7y84fmx.png
By kataangist
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO6copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO2copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO3copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO4copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO5copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFO1copy.jpg
i188.photobucket.com/albums/z63/avatarrocker/AFOEvent1Logocopy-2.jpg
By RandomPokes (banner/flag)
i140.photobucket.com/albums/r9/randompokes/DHcopy.jpg
By Night (banner/flag)
i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/nightshadow1315/lolollogo001.png
i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/nightshadow1315/lolollogo002.png
By Catalyst
img181.imageshack.us/img181/165/teamdh12zh4.png
img174.imageshack.us/img174/7613/teamdh22ec1.png
img508.imageshack.us/img508/6930/teamdh32ks9.png
img249.imageshack.us/img249/661/teamdh42ak6.png
img412.imageshack.us/img412/4310/kataangistbannervp4.png
img412.imageshack.us/img412/7281/teamcaptainbbxr0.png
img149.imageshack.us/img149/6658/teamcaptainmusogatofj1.png
img412.imageshack.us/img412/8397/teamdh13yo3.png
img519.imageshack.us/img519/2203/synbannerrc4.png
By Azula
i117.photobucket.com/albums/o62/GlisteningStarFire/Logo.png
By Utsukushii Kohana
i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee268/honeyfur/DH/DHLogo.png
By Shock Wave
i30.tinypic.com/14j9bid.png
By Zink
img211.imageshack.us/img211/2000/thathorizonhe0.jpg
Contests final entries, these are for the most part team efforts so I may list several people and or just team because it was hard to decide to give credit to. If there is an issue with people who were credited, send me a pm.
Contest : Slogan and Team Banner
Night did most of the image with an Appa image by Shock Wave, slogan by the entire team.
i3.photobucket.com/albums/y86/nightshadow1315/lolollogo002.png
Contest : Create Two OC's
These where a team effort. Sense there was a large number of OCs I just posted the ones entered into the contest. The OC's project was group effort with Utsukushii Kohana , Randompokes, Zink, and Bard Child all working on this project.
Yuzuki
Age: 9 years old
Bender: Yes, a waterbender.
History: She lives in the Northern Water Tribe and it's her dream to become a master waterbender. But it's not appropriate for women to do so in their culture, so she starts with healing lessons. She lives with her mother and father and they are proud of her, but also want her to fit in with the tribe and not cause trouble.
When Katara arrives in the north with the Avatar, she admires the willpower of the girl and is glad that she managed to bend the rules. Because of her, the limitations on women being allowed to learn waterbending begin to slacken. That's the reason why Yuzuki secretly idolizes Katara.
avatarolympics.net/index/images/stories/ocs/OC4-v1.jpg
=> Yuzuki is drawn by Utsukushii Kohana and colored by RandomPokes. Background story also made by Utsukushii Kohana.
Soba (real name Henge Ken)
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Nation: Earth
Bending: Earth (high level)
Abilities: Earthbender with extensive knowledge of the underground caves that he dwells in as well as. Heighten hearing touch and smell, also a contortionist with a very flexible spine and ribcage.
Appearance: Soba complexion and appearance are of a pale milky color, with strong supple build to help him through the cave areas. He also has long black hair in a long braid. His hair must never be cut according to Cave Walker tradition. His eyes are almond shaped, with almost permanently dilated pupils. They are pale green color in the sunlight. But nobody could really tell in the dim cavern light. He has a small round nose and large thin mouth, and small ears that are pierced and often have gold studs in them.
His body type is very strange. Built for underground life He also has long thin limbs for bending. wide hands and feet. His feet and hands are ultra-sensitive as well
His Cave Walking attire is is somewhat complicated. First layer is a loin cloth and a small cup to protect the groin. The Second is a linen shirt and shorts of a cream color. Then is the outer tunic of heavy linen or flax and in some cases glow worm silk, of colors of dark brown green or bronzy yellow. Then Soba puts on belt of leather, from the burradillos which the cave dwellers breed as pack animals. The next is the armor, which are leather bracers, gloves (with out the fingers), knee guards and boots with metal souls and toes. Soba also wears a wide brim hat like a helmet, and carries many things with him, like a lantern with special crystals that very bright and serve to light the caverns, bags of crystal powder to blind foes and jookas which are crosses of snakes and scorpions, and are considered very dangerous he also has a mask built for the poison gas springs in some area of the caverns. Around his neck are collar of silver or quartz bells that resonate in the cave walls. And finally a grappling hook when bending doesn't work.
Personality: Soba is many things, eccentric, bizarre, arrogant, dangerous and not to be taken lightly, he something to be amazed at and an afraid of. He is strange one with his smooth voice and gentle tone, that is pleasing to the ears. Most people are off their guard when they first met him for he is taught to be polite, but once off gaurd Things change with is vulgar words and chauvinistic mindset. He is very distrustful of surface folk especially women. In his underground home women respect and honor the Cave Walkers. So he often yells and hit women when they talk back to him or act like his equal. However he does treat the women the caves with decency, it's mainly the surface women that he doesn't like.
He's also very proud of his heritage as a cave dweller, and sees himself as the "guardian of the caves" He does brag a little and is arrogant and cocky in some causes. He also a good leader and reliable, he thinks not always for himself but for others of his city. He is courageous and bold ready to do anything and everything for his city; he's also a powerful bender and will not hesitate to crush anyone that threats him and his way of life.
Background: Before I go on about Soba's life, let's get to know his people.
First Soba lives in a sub culture of underground Earthbenders in city called Tu Long of the Tu Long caverns in the northern half of the Earth Kingdom. This city has been unknown and well kept secret for centuries. The People are well adapted to the underground living and adapted to the low light and cool temperatures, They have used special crystals called "brillianium," to light the city and lanterns of Cave Walkers, who are tour guides and help the surface. They are highly respected and considered the knowledge keepers of the Tu Long and the brave warriors since all of the Cave Walkers could Earthbend. And because of their subterranean home, Tu-Longian's Earthbending is heavily potent, and most are masters by age fifteen.
Many surface people are very afraid of the Tu-Longians, calling them "spirits" and "savages" They only trust them to get them through cave to the other side, which normally near Ba Sing Sae. They pay them and then they leave them alone. In rare cases would the surface folk ever want to go to Tu Long City, it's because they are sick and need the care of the healers who use the underground fungi for treatment.
Trade in Tu Long is frequent. Because Tu Longians need the linen for clothes and certain foods like vegetables and fruits, they give the surface folk good leather, brillianium crystals and armor from the forgeries. So a balance is created between the cave dwellers and those on the surface.
Tu-Longians have a heavy respect for the earth and the things that it bears. They try to use whatever they find for caves and people dwelling in them. So they eat whatever and trade for what they don't have. So in all, the Tu-Longians are truly to be respected and feared.
Soba story begins one evening or morning; the cave folk don't have a good sense of time so when unknown. When Harumi gave birth to her first child a healthy baby boy, however Toramaru the chieftain and her husband couldn't think of a name, Harumi was a little hungry one night, after feeding the nameless baby, and first thing she said "Oh I like Soba!" Well Toramaru thought it was name and decided to call the baby that, Soba or "noodles". However when Soba was brought the naming ceremony, Toramaru gave him a second name, Henge Ken "Eternal Mountain", though Soba just goes by "Soba".
Soba started training in earthbending at age four. He learned no just to bend but how to move and live in the caves and not just bend the earth but live from it. In time Soba learned to move and grow in his underground home. As the son of the chieftain he must never cut his hair, which bother him because it makes him look more female. He loves his job as a Cave Walker, for him the biggest joy is wandering in the belly of the earth in complete freedom. He hates the surface folk that give him a hard time and bother the heck out of him with questions.
He loves his family too, Toramaru is the leader of the city and had high authority over the Cave Walkers and citizens, and his wife is a cartographer for the caves and helps out by charting many of the unexplored areas of the caves. Soba has a little sister name Bao Ling, she just started her training as a Cave Walker, and she's four years old. Also he has a trained ki'bat named Tama, how goes with him when working. She is useful for her keen nose and will tell her master when she smells danger.
Soba never liked the surface folk, yet. Deep down he has an insatiable wanderlust. He loves his home and people but part of him wants to see what beyond the cave walls. Soba has hobbies too, such as bathing in the underground springs, taming and riding the jookas, and flirting with young ladies.
Soba hopes one day that the stigma of the Cave Walkers and Tu-Longians would be eliminated and there will be a mutual understanding between them.
avatarolympics.net/index/images/stories/ocs/Soba_Of_Tu_Long_by_NightStorm.jpg
=> Soba is created by Bard Child
Contest: Nightmare Fan Fic
By ¢¾ Bella Cullen ¢¾
b]This takes place after The Western Air Temple. Katara has a nightmare caused by her death threat to Zuko.[/b]
Well, these past few days have been eventful. We failed the invasion and fled to the Western Air Temple for safety. That same day, Zuko showed up, trying to convince us he's on our side now. Ha. Yeah, right. I don't care if Aang and everyone else trusts him. Zuko's caused way too much misery for me to forgive him just like that.
I was still full of rage after Zuko admitted he sent that assassin after us and burnt Toph's feet--even though he apologized for it. I had to warn him that if he does anything to make me think he will hurt Aang, I'll kill him.
And I will.
Okay, it's harsh, but can you blame me? I fell for Zuko's sob story once. I will not fall for it again.
It is now nighttime. I spent half the day training with Aang. He's gotten really good at waterbending. Zuko heeded my warning and stayed out of trouble. I gave him credit for that.
After I gave Toph another healing session, I went ahead to bed. The mattress was pretty comfortable, considering tey haven't been slept in in over a century. I let myself drift off to sleep.
I was standing in a room lit by a wall of flame. There were pillars all around. To my left, the Fire Lord lay dead. Blood was drying around his mouth. Smiling, I looked around more. Zuko also lay dead with blood coming out of his mouth. I looked around further and saw Azula and her friends all dead with blood oozing out of their mouths.
Someone killed all these people, but who? I passed Iroh's corpse, a bit saddened because I never got the chance to thank him for saving me and Aang.
Speaking of Aang, he was standing in front of the curtain, but he wasn't smiling. Instead he was looking at me, shocked and scared.
"Aang?" I asked. I jumped in surprise. That was the same voice I used when I threatened Zuko. What was going on?
"W...why, Katara?" Aang asked, his voice shaking. "Why would you do this?"
Suddenly, I realized who killed all of these people. Me.
"It was to protect you." I answered in that same voice. I reached out for Aang, but he stepped back.
"Protecting me from our friends?" He gestured towards Sokka and Toph, who were laying motionless on the ground.
"No..." I whispered. I ran to Sokka's side and knelt down. I touched Sokka's cold cheek. "I didn't mean to kill them."
"But you did." Aang replied. I stood up and gasped. Blood was oozing from Aang's nose and the corners of his mouth. "You betrayed me, Katara. You should've been honest in your decision on whether or not Zuko should teach me firebending."
I heard a whisper coming from Sokka. I bent down to hear him. "You are way too overprotective. You'd kill anyone who you think would hurt Aang." Then he closed his eyes.
I started shaking my head and stood back up. "No...I wouldn't..." I started sweating. I put my hands on Aang's shoulders. "Please, Aang, you know I'd never-" I was cut off by something wet under my fingers. I gasped as I saw blood coming out nof both of Aang's shoulders. "No!"
"Good-bye, Katara." Aang's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell to the ground.
"NO!" I screamed. Everything went dark. I swallowed and tried to compose myself. "Aang? Sokka?"
I walked a few paces and found myself back at the South Pole. I panted slowly and made my way to the water. I looked down and saw not my reflection, but Hama's evil grin and heard her laugh.
I woke up and realized I was screaming. I heard footsteps and a door slamming open.
"Katara!" Aang exclaimed. He ran over to me. "Are you okay? What happened?"
I looked at Aang through blurred eyes. I was crying. "Aang..." I was relived to hear my own voice and not Hama's. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry!" I realized I had blood on my hands. That came from digging my fingernails an inch into my skin. Aang noticed and ripped three long strips from his robe. He wiped the blood off of my shaking hands and tied the two around them.
"What happened, Katara?" Sokka asked. He was standing by my bedside. I did not want to tell them my nightmare. It was too scary. I just shook my head slowly.
"Nothing., It was just a nightmare.." I answered.
"Geez, Sugar Queen," Toph said from the doorway. "What was so bad that got you all worked up?"
"It's not that big a deal." I replied.
"Then why were you crying and telling Aang you were sorry?" Sokka raised his eyebrow.
"I would really rather not talk about it, Sokka." I said firmly.
Sokka just shrugged. "Okay." He left the room with Toph.
Aang still looked worried. "Are you sure you don't want to talk about it, Katara? You sounded pretty intense and your hands were bleeding..."
I sighed. "I'm sure, Aang. I'll see you in the morning."
"Okay. Good-night." He left the room.
I lay back against my pillow, but I couldn't fall asleep. What did that dream mean? Was I too overprotective of Aang? Was I too hard on Zuko? Was I becoming more like Hama?
No. I told myself. I was justified. Same situation with Jet. I am being smart.
XXX
The next morning, I prepared breakfast for the group. I heard footsteps and saw Zukjo approaching me.
"Hey." He greeted.
"Hey." I replied back.
"So...with your permission, I'd like to start training Aang today." Zuko said simply, hiding a smirk.
I chuckled. "Sure, go for it."
He smiled and sat down. Something tugged at my navel. I sighed.
"Listen. I'm sorry if I sounded a bit...harsh yesterday." I blurted out. "It's just that...I've seen Aang come so close to getting badly hurt so many times. I'm proective. It's in my nature."
Zuko looked slightly surprised. "This wouldn't happen to do with your nightmare last night, would it? I heard you scream..."
I scoffed. "Please. I'm just being polite." I rolled my eyes. I was not going to let Zuko know he was right.
He shrugged. "Okay. Then apology accepted."
"Good. I'm glad we understand each other." I replied. "But that doesn't mean I'm taking my eyes off you."
"Fair enough, waterbender. Fair enough." Zuko said.
"Seven months later and you still don't know my name?" I asked. "I'm Katara."
"Sorry...Katara." Zuko smiled. "Happy?"
"Very. Thank you."
The rest of the group started trudging in. Apologizing to Zuko made me feel a little better. I don't think I'll be having nightmares any more.
But that still doesn't mean I can't give him a hard time after everything we've been through.
(The end)
Contest: Shipping contest music video
By RandomPokes
www.livevideo.com/video/BA3FA01ED8A248089159E00DD506463E/shipping-music-video-distant.aspx
Contest: Season 3 trailer
By RandomPokes
www.livevideo.com/video/7BE65220525843DC958AA61E3E83FD5A/book-3-trailer-distant-horiz.aspx
Contest: Necklace
By Musogato
s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj98/avatarolympics/?action=view¤t=DHnecklace.jpg
Contest: original avatar creature
By Musogato and team
Panda-Llama
i31.photobucket.com/albums/c385/musogato/random/dh_panda-llama.png
Found in the mountainous areas of the north-western Earth Kingdom, the Panda-Llamas are gentle pack creatures that are sometimes kept by neighboring villages to help transport goods in the high mountains. They eat many kinds of plants but bamboo is a favorite snack. Their fur is thick to help protect them from the cold, but there are special long-haired breeds that are more suited to living in the snowy mountain range to the east.
Flying Squirtunk
i31.photobucket.com/albums/c385/musogato/random/dh_flying-squirtunk.png
Commonly found across the Earth Kingdom woodlands, Flying Squirtunks have a thin flap of skin from their forearms to their legs that help them glide through the air. Their claws help them climb trees quickly but they are also well comfortable living on the ground. They usually eat anything they can find, from nuts and berries to insects and other small creatures. Flying Squirtunks are shy and tend to avoid trouble and other predators, and use their gliding and stink gland near the tail to help them escape. They are especially feared and usually left alone by others because they often combine those tactics when trying to escape.
Contest: Orginal episode
Written By ¢¾ Bella Cullen ¢¾
Story ideas by the team.
Don't have the story at this time. If anyone has a copy please pm so I can post it here.
Contest: DVD Box Art
By RandomPokes with help from Musogato
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-cover-distant-hor_E3F2E409BE3F45BF8B7AA29BF65CAAC5.aspx
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-backside-distant-_BC9EB21F73F0465E9E97623B17EBC045.aspx
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-insert-distant-ho_1F6F53CF5904415D9DE3659776BA34AC.aspx
photo.livevideo.com/photo/series-dvd-insert-distant-ho_FA7555F6304B4341A54366CEA432505B.aspx
Also thanks very much to everyone who participated in the Scavenger hunt and in Trivia.
The following worked on Triva and/or the scavenger hunt: Historyman, Shock Wave, Musogato, Tidus (Synayran) and kataangist.
If you've not been given credit for work you did, please pm me so I can add your name to the appropriate contest, or otherwise give you credit. With some of the activities it wasn't clear exactly who did what and so on. So if I could get any help that would be great.
Also I would again like to thank everyone for there support and great contributions to the Avatar Fan Site Olympics.
DH Co- Captain,
BB
edit: changed the punctuation of the fanfic in order to make it easier to read. ¡¯ was supposed to be ' and ¡°...¡± was "..."