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What is the Avatar?
The Avatar is the incarnation of the Spirit of the Planet in human form.
There is only one Avatar, who reincarnates himself through the centuries. Each time the Avatar dies it is reborn into the
next nation. This successive cycle mirrors the order of the seasons:
Water Tribes - winter
Earth Kingdom - spring
Fire Nation - summer
Air Nomads - autumn
The cycle provides a natural balance between the elements. This way, no single nation can grow stronger than another.
Upon the death of an Avatar, Bending masters from the successive nation conduct a search to find the child reincarnate. (The
successor is expected to show signs of continuity with the one who died, such as being born within a week of the death.) These
Benders carefully train the new Avatar to prepare him for his high position. First, he becomes proficient with his native
element. Then, when the Avatar reaches maturity, he travels the world and studies with Masters from the other three Bending
disciplines. Upon completion of his training, the Avatar possesses sole control of all four elements.
And so, the nations work to nurture the Avatar, whose responsibility it is to keep Water, Earth, Fire, and Air in harmony
with each other and the world.
The Avatar State
(As told by Avatar Roku in episode 1 of Book 2: Earth)
"The Avatar State is a defense mechanism, designed to empower (the Avatar) with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars.
The glow is the combination of all the past lives, focusing their energy through (the current Avatar's) body. In the Avatar
State (the Avatar) is at (his/her) most powerful, but also at (his/her) most vulnerable. If (the Avatar) is killed in the
Avatar State, the reincarnation cycle will be broken and the Avatar will cease to exist."
Bending Arts - Firebending
Firebending's aggressive, vicious, and direct moves mirror fire's all-consuming nature. Like a predatory animal, a Firebender
tracks his prey until it exposes a weakness, then charges in for the kill. In a fight, a Firebender makes up for his lack
of defensive moves by overwhelming his opponent with a barrage of blows in a variety of shapes. A quick kick or jab produces
a short range burst of flame, whirlwind kicks generate blazing arcs, punches throw compact fireballs, and a series of spinning
kicks results in rings of fire exploding outwards in all directions. When several Firebenders combine their energy and attack
as one, they are able to shoot missiles of flame at long range. As a fighting style, Firebending focuses on annihilating the
opposition, much like the Fire Nation's political aim.
Firebending Lightning
(As told by Uncle Iroh in episode 9 of Book 2: Earth)
"Lightning is a pure expression of Firebending - without aggression. It is not fueled by rage or emotion the way other firebending
is. Some call lightning the 'cold blooded fire'. It is precise and deadly. To perform the technique requires peace of mind.
"There is energy all around us. The energy is both Yin and Yang. Positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few Firebenders
can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance - and in the moment the positive
and negative energy come crashing back together - (the Firebender) provides release and guidance, creating lightning. Remember,
once (the Firebender) separates the energy, (they) do not command it. (They) are simply its humble guide."
Bending Arts - Earthbending
The proud, strong spirit of the Earth Kingdom embodies Earthbending, which uses the ground as a weapon against an opponent.
Exceptionally muscular, Earthbenders use their strength to overpower opponents. To throw an enemy off balance, an Earthbender
physically strikes the ground with his hands or feet, causing localized earthquakes. To dodge an attack, an Earthbender uses
the earth as a catapult to buck his body high into the air, and then upon returning to the ground, he softens the earth, easing
his landing. Additional moves include creating fissures as traps for enemies to fall in, and raising slabs of stone for defense
and offense. An Earthbender attacks by levitating stones and then propelling them at his enemy. Earthbenders also possess
the ability to 'magnetize' their limbs to stone, allowing them to scale shear walls and cliffs. A high level maneuver reduces
solid ground to quicksand, providing a pitfall for approaching enemies. Earthbending's most significant weakness is its inability
to manipulate man-altered metals. Firebenders exploit this weakness by smelting metal to remove its natural impurities, and
then using it to construct their armor, ships, and forts.
Bending Arts - Waterbending
Like the moon controlling the tides, Waterbenders use their chi to control the gravitational effect on water. In contrast
to Fire and Earthbending, Waterbending's strength is its defensive capabilities. Waterbenders redirect the energy from an
opponent's attack and use it against him. But Waterbending's intent is to control opponents, not to harm them. The style is
evolved from ancient healing practices where the healer redirects energy paths in the body to cure an ailment.
A Waterbender's control of water in liquid, solid, and gas form offers him many defensive maneuvers. He may stop an attacker
by encasing his feet in ice, or escape by creating a screen of steam for cover. In a fight, a Waterbender suspends a body
of water around his fighting stance, and then lashes out with water whips and powerful waves. If there's no water at the scene
of a fight, a Waterbender collects all the available moisture from the air and ground around him and concentrates it into
an amount of suitable to attack and defend. As a backup, a Waterbender always carries a skin of water. While reliance on a
water source is a significant weakness of the style, Waterbending at its highest skill level contains the most powerful technique
among all the Bending Arts. At close ranges, an expert Waterbender uses an opponent's body against them. They harness the
ample amount of water within the human body to control an opponent like a puppet master. The tendencies to control rather
than destroy, and to heal rather than harm, embody the humane and noble characteristics of the Water Tribes.
Bending Arts - Airbending
Airbending shares Waterbending's defensive nature and peaceful philosophies. However, it's versatility in practice and application
makes Airbending the most dynamic of the Bending Arts. Airbending allows one person to defend against multiple attackers from
different disciplines - ideal for Air Nomads traveling in foreign lands. An Airbender defends with blasts of wind, and then
using a variety of wind-based counterattacks, knocks his opponent off his feet.
Airebenders are faster and more mobile than any other Bender. To confuse his enemy, an Airbender constantly circles him, rapidly
changing direction to cleverly evade attacks. If an Airbender is struck, he absorbs the force by blowing his body back like
a feather. While Airbenders cannot fly like Peter Pan, they use wind to enhance all of their normal movements. They can run
faster by decreasing air resistance; jump higher and farther by creating wind gusts that lift them and allow them to float
for a few seconds; slow a long decent by forming a wind cushion; and run up walls and trees by generating a current of wind.
A high level attack involves creating a fierce air vortex that sucks in an opponent, rapidly spins him around, and then spits
him back out onto the ground.
An Airbender's signature tool is his staff. Like all objects in Avatar, the staff does not possess any magical properties.
However, it mechanically transforms into a small glider. To propel the glider, an Airbender controls air currents to sustain
its flight over limited distances. In addition, small propeller blades extend from the top of the staff. Depending on the
glider's orientation, it rockets forward or hovers vertically like a helicopter when an Airbender thrusts wind at its blades.
In its untransformed state, an Airbender uses his staff as a weapon to enhance the amount and power of his attacks and defenses.
While Airbending is the most dynamic of the Bending Arts, it lacks a deadly finishing move. This fact reflects principles
of the Air Nomads, which teach that all life is precious and conflict should be avoided whenever possible.
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