Last summer, Avatar Legends: the Roleplaying Game appeared on Kickstarter and was well received – to the tune of 81,567 backers. Not surprisingly, I was one of them, and that was before my gamemaster announced her intention of running a game in that world. It raised over $9 million (which sounded amazing until Brandon Sanderson started his Kickstarter).
Using the Quickstart guide, we each picked a playbook and designed our characters, knowing that some adjustments might be needed once the full book was released. We discussed when to set our adventure, deciding to avoid the well explored time periods surrounding Avatar: the Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, settling instead for the era when Aang has disappeared and the Fire Nation has just unleashed war on the other nations.
My character, Yeshe, is a traveling bard and storyteller, so I decided to write her background into a letter to her mentor.
Hitomi Nakai Mistress of Word and Song Iron Brew Tea House Ba Sing Se Day of the Comet To the noble and esteemed Hitomi, I hope you continue in good health in Ba Sing Se, and I appreciate your understanding of my reluctance to return to that city which generates the mixed emotions of meeting you and my abandonment, albeit accidental, by the monks of the Air Temple on that oddly fated field trip. As you instructed, I have set out to gather stories across the Kingdoms, and have landed myself in the middle of what may be a momentous historical event. Per your recommendation, upon arriving in Piper Tower I immediately sought out a prominent Tea House. I had been chatting with the locals at the Mud Pearl, mainly about the occasional difficulties in dealing with stubborn Fire Nation merchants that frequent these docks, when an exceedingly pregnant Air Nomad waddled in. She had barely settled in on a sturdy bench when the skies began to darken as the hundred year comet approached. I was gathering my belongings, anticipating watching the comet’s crossing from the docks, remembering how special an event you said this would be for all of you firebenders, when a young firebender burst into the Mud Pearl, shouting that the Fire Nation was attacking. This was followed immediately by a plop of water hitting the dirt floor; the Air Nomad’s birthing process had begun at a most difficult time, and she yelled repeated about waiting for her young boyfriend, Tora. I followed several people, including the young firebender who had brought the news, outside, and heard others bar the door behind us to protect the woman’s childbirth. In the ensuing chaos, the others fought off Fire Nation soldiers who were actively destroying buildings and harassing people. I ran up to the less involved, the idle soldiers, asking for the missing Tora. I began to despair for the young woman’s loved one when a soldier responded “You mean General Tora?” Now, instead, I despair for the young woman. With her infant son in her arms, the young woman fled with several followers from the Mud Pearl, myself included, to her air bison, waiting just outside of town. En route, we encountered none other than the General himself, who offered to keep the woman, named Bindi, safe from the fate of her fellow Airbenders if she goes with him. Another fight might have ensued had it not been for a hapless melon merchant, rushing through the street with his cart, who crashed into the General, allowing us to escape. As we were traveling on her air bison, Rini, Bindi shared the news that she seeks her nephew, who may be the next Avatar. Good Hitomi, I hope you are able to discover what General Tora meant regarding the fate of the Airbenders, as his statement was most ominous. I shall travel with these people as far as I am able to see how this story progress, writing always with the turtleduck quills you so generously provided. Your loyal student, Yeshe
Are you playing Avatar Legends? I don’t say this often, but… tell me about your character.