The Basic Guide
This is a basic guide to the novel, there are many spoilers, recommended that you do not read if it is your first reading, it is indicated in case you did not understand or even forgot, but in case you are confused about something, just consult this guide, if you are still confused, just post a comment on the paragraph and comment on what you do not know. The guide is also always subject to change and the addition of new information as the story progresses and develops.
**Power System: Chi Accumulation and Elemental Manipulation**
In this power system, individuals are able to manipulate the elements through the accumulation and control of chi, vital energy present in all things. Practitioners of this system undergo intensive training to channel and harmonize their chi with the natural elements, enabling them to perform extraordinary feats.
1. Accumulation of Chi:
Chi is accumulated through meditation, breathing exercises and specific physical practices. The more an individual practices chi accumulation, the more powerful and controlled his chi becomes. Chi is stored in internal reservoirs called "chi centers" located in the human body.
2. Primary Elements:
There are four primary elements, each corresponding to an aspect of nature: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. An individual's natural affinity for an element is determined by their own innate chi. Some may have a stronger affinity for a specific element, while others can manipulate multiple elements, albeit with varying degrees of mastery.
3. Elemental Manipulation:
Once an individual has accumulated enough chi and developed their affinity with an element, they are able to manipulate that element in a variety of ways. This can include launching blasts of fire, creating earthen barriers, controlling the flow of water, and conjuring powerful winds.
5. Balance and Challenges:
Excessive manipulation of an element can throw an individual's chi out of balance, leading to physical and mental consequences. Therefore, the training also focuses on harmonizing the elements within the practitioner's own chi, promoting a healthy balance.
6. Crafting Unique Artifacts and Techniques:
Those who reach high levels of mastery can create magical artifacts or develop special techniques that harness the power of the elements. For example, a Fire master can forge a sword that burns with unquenchable flames, while a Water master can create powerful healing potions."
In this system of power, chi accumulation and elemental manipulation are intertwined, allowing practitioners to become masters of nature and perform incredible feats of harmonizing their own being with the primordial elements.
**Energy stages of elemental manipulation and chi accumulation**
1-Elemental Chi Beginner:
In this initial stage, practitioners learn to accumulate and channel chi within their bodies. They develop an early connection to a primary element, allowing them to gently sense and manipulate small amounts of that element. Breathing exercises and meditation are emphasized to strengthen affinity with elemental chi.
2- Disciple of the Elements:
Disciples hone their ability to accumulate and control elemental chi. They begin to manifest more tangible abilities, such as creating small elemental feats like lighting a small flame or lifting a handful of earth. Training includes understanding the properties and natural cycles of each element.
3- Adept of the Four Winds:
In this intermediate stage, practitioners master manipulation of a primary element and begin to explore the interaction between different elements. They can combine two elements to create synergistic effects, such as producing waves of hot steam when uniting Fire and Water. Physical stamina and resistance to direct exposure to the elements increase.
4- Elemental Master:
Elemental masters have profound control over their chi and can manipulate their chosen elements with ease. They can create more powerful projections, such as creating hurricanes of air, controlling large bodies of water, or generating intense flames. At this stage, the balance between the elements is crucial to avoid imbalances and negative consequences.
5- Elemental Sage:
Elemental sages transcend physical and mental limitations, merging almost seamlessly with the elements. They can conjure impressive storms, shape the landscape, and heal using chi manipulation. Sages can also develop unique techniques and even create magical artifacts that enhance their control over the elements.
6- Elemental Avatar:
"The ultimate stage of cultivation, Elemental Avatars master all four elements, merging them in perfect harmony. They can cause devastation or large-scale healing and are capable of influencing the natural balance of the world. The ascent to this stage is a rare and revered achievement, as the practitioner becomes a guardian of harmony between the elements and humanity.
...
Chi:
Under the tutelage of Iroh, Zuko learned lightning redirection, a technique that allowed a firebender to absorb the immense energy of lightning into their body and release it in a more desirable direction. A crucial move in the redirection process is guiding the energy through the stomach, described by Iroh as a person's "sea of chi." While practicing the motions to redirect lightning, Iroh asked if the prince could feel his chi flowing throughout his body, to which he responded positively.
The life energy that inhabits every living being, connecting them, their surroundings, and the universe as a whole. Different parts of the human body contain concentrated clusters of chi, better known as chakras or "energy reservoirs," as Pathik called them. When unblocked, these chakras are crucial for the Avatar to reach their full potential, channeling not only their energy but also the universe's energy.
Roots: There is a deep connection between chi and bending, as bending is simply the ability to manipulate one's own chi to the point where the energy can extend beyond the body and interact with the environment. Because of chi, the four bending arts are essentially the same. Enlightened individuals, such as Guru Pathik and Huu, explained chi as the life energy that inhabits every living being, connecting them, their surroundings, and the universe as a whole. Chi Manipulation Different types of benders, the Avatar, and even non-benders have demonstrated skill in the art of chi manipulation, proving it is a universal skill that can be learned by anyone.
Chi Detection: Aang used chi detection in the Foggy Swamp. Humans and higher animals have the potential to become deeply connected to each other, allowing individuals with strong spiritual connections to locate living beings out of sight and detect their thoughts and emotions by accessing their chi. Notable practitioners include Pathik, Huu, and Aang.
Chi Blocking See main article: Ty Lee used chi blocking to disable her opponents' bending abilities. Having unparalleled knowledge of the pathways of chi within the human body and its vulnerabilities, people can use chi blocking extensively in battle to incapacitate or paralyze opponents. This ability can even be used to disable another person's bending ability. Additionally, this art was employed by members of an organization known as the Equalists, who employed this method as a means to neutralize bending."
6. Chi Extraction: Humans who lose their physical bodies after meditating in the Spirit World can potentially regain their physical bodies or 'become whole again' by extracting chi from another person's 'dan tien'. Extracting the Avatar's chi is purportedly said to lead to immortality. Hundun is the only known practitioner, claiming to have discovered the 'mystical' technique after countless ages of searching in the Spirit World.
Chi and Modern Bending Arts: When Aang entered the Avatar State, chi flowed along the chi paths of his body. As Iroh explained, chi can be felt spinning within the body, and its path can be altered to allow energy to flow in certain directions, which is the basic concept of lightning redirection. He invented this move by studying waterbenders, who directly use their chi to mimic the push and pull of the moon on ocean tides. Combustion Man had the unique ability to gather chi from his stomach - the 'sea of chi' - and channel it to his forehead, creating localized explosions using a tattoo on his Light Chakra. Toph taught her metalbending students to feel their 'gut furnace' as a means of focusing their chi.
Healing: Korra healed Bolin by redirecting the chi in his body. Some waterbenders are born with the ability to heal themselves or others by using water to redirect chi within a person's body, revitalizing healthy chi energy and expediting their healing process. Though powerful, healing cannot cure the effects of chi blocking and other injuries where chi pathways are blocked or disrupted, such as internal wounds and congenital defects. Even Katara, renowned for becoming the world's greatest healer and being taught by Yagoda, a master of the art, was unable to counter Ty Lee's chi-blocking on fallen Earth Team soldiers.
Bloodbending: Zolt lost his bending after his chi paths were blocked. Bloodbending can be used to sever the connection between a bender and their bending abilities, achieving the same effect as a powerbending technique. This ability was only demonstrated by Amon and requires direct physical contact between the user's hand and the victim's forehead. According to Katara, the technique 'severs' an individual from their bending, blocking active chi pathways, making its effects far more enduring than chi blocking and rendering them immune to all healing methods. However, only active chi pathways can be cut: Korra was able to airbend because the pathways associated with the art were still closed when her other bending abilities were removed and therefore undetectable by Amon.
Trivia: In real life, chi is a predominant Chinese concept in traditional philosophy, medicine, and martial arts. The nomenclature of 'chi' comes from the pinyin-pronounced term. Imbalances in chi can be corrected by placing various needles at each acupuncture point.
As you can see, Chi or Qi exists in the series, but I will not be adding the concept of cultivation to this fanfic. The most I will do is create an energy accounting system, as there is no information of any kind about the phases of Chi training or bending. So, I will create some stages and energy numbering to make it easier to understand the difference between the stages, etc.
...
**Energy Counting System Based on Ch**i
In this energy counting system, chi is measured and quantified in different stages of cultivation, reflecting the practitioner's increasing mastery in elemental manipulation. The counting starts with 'Chi Drops' and progresses to ever larger proportions as the practitioner advances through cultivation stages.
Stage 1: Elemental Chi Drops
In this initial stage, chi energy is measured in 'Chi Drops.' Each drop represents the minimum amount of chi that a practitioner is capable of accumulating and channeling. This counting is fundamentally symbolic, indicating that the individual has begun to awaken their affinity with a primary element.
Stage 2: Elemental Chi Rivers
As the practitioner advances to the second stage, the measurement evolves into 'Elemental Chi Rivers.' This means that control over chi has deepened, allowing manipulation of larger and more visible amounts of elemental energy. Practitioners can create small streams of elements, like forming a water current or a gust of wind.
Stage 3: Elemental Chi Waterfalls
In the third stage, the count transforms into 'Elemental Chi Waterfalls.' This represents a more advanced ability in element manipulation, enabling practitioners to create intense flows of chi that can be shaped into complex and powerful forms. Chi waterfalls can be used to form defensive earth barriers, create controlled fire bursts, and redirect the movement of waters.
Stage 4: Elemental Chi Storms
As practitioners ascend to the fourth stage, the measurement becomes "Chi Storms." This indicates a profound level of mastery, allowing for the creation of large-scale elemental storms. Practitioners can generate gale force air, control the movement of ocean currents, create devastating fires, and summon torrential rain.
Stage 5: Seas of Elemental Chi
At the fifth stage, the count expands to "Seas of Chi." At this point, practitioners have the power to manipulate vast amounts of elemental chi. They can create seas of fire, controlled tsunamis, overwhelming tornadoes, and complex forms of elemental combinations.
Stage 6: The Infinite Ocean of Elemental Chi
The last stage, reached only by a few, is represented by the "Infinite Ocean of Chi." This symbolizes absolute mastery over the elements and the ability to influence nature on a cosmic scale. Practitioners at this level can summon titanic earthquakes, immense volcanic eruptions, create hurricanes of epic proportions, and trigger calamities or healing on a global scale.
The chi-based energy counting system reflects the practitioner's progression from awakening their elemental affinity to complete mastery over the elements, representing a journey of growth and power through the stages of cultivation.
...
1. **Stage 1: Elemental Chi Drops**
- Minimum Quantity: 1 drop of chi
2. **Stage 2: Streams of Elemental Chi**
- Minimum quantity: 1 small river (corresponding to approximately 1,000 drops)
- Maximum Quantity: 1 medium river
3. **Stage 3: Elemental Chi Rivers**
- Minimum quantity: 1 medium river
- Maximum quantity: 1 large river
4. **Stage 4: Chi Elemental Lakes**
- Minimum quantity: 1 wide river
- Maximum quantity: 1 small lake
5. **Stage 5: Seas of Elemental Chi**
- Minimum quantity: 1 small lake
- Maximum quantity: 1 medium sea
6. **Stage 6: Oceans of Elemental Chi**
- Minimum Quantity: 1 medium sea
- Maximum Quantity: Infinite (representing an absolute mastery over chi energy and the elements)
This reorganization uses bodies of water as a metaphor to represent the levels of chi energy at each stage, allowing for a more intuitive visual understanding of the growth of power and control over the elements.
..
1. **Stage 1: Elemental Chi Drops**
- Minimum Quantity: 1 drop of chi
2. **Stage 2: Streams of Elemental Chi**
- Minimum quantity: 0.01 cubic meters of chi (corresponding to approximately 1,000 drops)
- Maximum Quantity: 1 cubic meter of chi
3. **Stage 3: Elemental Chi Waterfalls**
- Minimum Quantity: 1 cubic meter of chi
- Maximum Quantity: 1,000 cubic meters of chi
4. **Stage 4: Elemental Chi Storms**
- Minimum Quantity: 1,000 cubic meters of chi
- Maximum Quantity: 1 million cubic meters of chi
Simplified in scientific notation.
- Minimum Quantity: 1.0 x 10^9 m³
- Maximum Quantity: 1.0 x 10^12 m³
5. **Stage 5: Seas of Elemental Chi**
- Minimum Quantity: 1 million cubic meters of chi
- Maximum Quantity: 1 billion cubic meters of chi
Simplified in scientific notation.
5. **Stage 5: Seas of Elemental Chi**
- Minimum Quantity: 1.0 x 10^12 m³
- Maximum Quantity: 1.0 x 10^15 m³
6. **Stage 6: The Infinite Ocean of Elemental Chi**
- Minimum Quantity: 1 billion cubic meters of chi
- Maximum Quantity: Infinite (representing an absolute domain over chi energy and the elements)
Simplified in scientific notation.
- Minimum Quantity: 1.0 x 10^15 m³
- Maximum Quantity: Infinity (There is no end, as this is the maximum stage one can reach as a mortal so the amount of chi increases but there is no change in quality as there is no more stage.)
Remember that these numbers are symbolic and should not be interpreted literally. They represent the gradual progression of power and control over chi energy and the elements as a practitioner advances through the stages of cultivation.
...
Spirits: The spirits in the avatar world are divided into 3 factions the neutral, the light, and the dark.
The neutral faction is the spirits that don't interfere in the human world, they prefer the spirit world to stay as it is but also don't mind if the spirit world shares the planar connection with the human world again. The Light faction is the counter faction to the Dark faction, they want the spirit world to remain isolated from the human world forever, which is in contrast to the ideas of the Dark faction, who are spirits that want the human world and the spirit world to inhabit a single plane again, and they hate the humans for their greed. Many of the spirits of the Dark faction are spirits that participated in the first war between the spirit world and the human world, where the first avatar appeared.
...
Monetary system.
**Fire Nation Monetary System - Zao**
The monetary system of the Fire Nation is based on the currency called "Zao," which is widely used throughout the nation's territory. The Zao is divided into three denominations: copper, silver, and gold. Each denomination has its own coins, allowing for a variety of transactions and facilitating the circulation of values at different levels of society.
**1. Copper Coins:**
Copper coins are the most common form of Zao and are primarily used in day-to-day transactions, such as purchasing food, basic services, and essential products. They feature a simple design and are smaller in size compared to the other denominations.
**2. Silver Coins:**
Silver coins have a higher value and are used in medium-sized transactions, such as acquiring clothing, utensils, and other non-essential goods. They are larger and more elaborately crafted, often containing intricate details and symbols of the Fire Nation.
**3. Gold Coins:**
Gold coins are the most valuable form of Zao and are intended for high-value transactions, such as properties, international trade, and high-level commercial transactions. These coins are rare and highly coveted, usually featuring impressive details and stamped with the official seals of the Fire Nation.
**Distribution and Social Class:**
- **Lower Class:** Copper coins are most accessible for the lower class of society, allowing people to purchase basic products and services to sustain their lives.
- **Middle Class:** The middle class uses a combination of copper and silver coins for their daily transactions and moderate purchases, enabling them to have a slightly more comfortable lifestyle.
- **Upper Class:** The upper class has access to all denominations of coins and therefore can engage in higher-value transactions. They often use silver and gold coins for luxury transactions, investments, and large-scale business dealings.
*Note: This description is an original creation based on the "Avatar: The Last Airbender" universe.
Money: The monetary system of the avatar world is not a very complex one. There is copper, silver, gold, and so on. Here is the wiki.
Currency in the world varies from nation to nation but is generally based on precious metals that denote different values; gold has the highest value, followed by silver and then copper. Before the end of the Hundred Years' War, coins were the most common form of currency and were often cast in different shapes and sizes depending on their origin. However, after the end of the War, paper money became widely used, especially in the United Nations Republic.
General Information
Type
Different types of money are used to buy, exchange, and sell goods.
Examples
- Copper Piece
- Silver piece
- Gold piece
- Ban
- Yuan
Water Tribe
The Water Tribe coin is blue.
Water Tribe money is blue and circular with a hole in the center, giving the coin a ring-like shape, and appears to be thicker than an ordinary coin.
Before the end of the Hundred Years' War, the Northern Water Tribe's involvement in international affairs, and the rebuilding of the Southern Water Tribe, the Water Tribes had a relatively primitive economy,
largely based on subsistence and small-scale trade, so their currency was not as advanced as that of more developed nations. Water Tribe money is accepted in certain parts of the Earth Kingdom, although some local areas, such as Chin Village, explicitly refuse to accept it.
By 171 GA, the yuan became an accepted form of currency in the Southern Water Tribe.
Earth Kingdom
An Earth Kingdom copper piece is of the standard design for the nation: round, with a square hole in the center.
Earth Kingdom coins are typical of the same shape as the nation's insignia: round, with a square hole in the center, which allows many coins to be strung together. Aside from their material and increasing value, the only notable difference between copper, silver, and gold pieces is that the edges of the latter are marked by a richer shade of gold.
The Earth Kingdom also uses small gold ingots on rare occasions, shaped like a boat. An even rarer form of currency is platinum ingots, which are superior to gold in purity and portability and are considered to be the most valuable currency of all.
In addition to coins and ingots, paper banknotes have existed in the Earth Kingdom for centuries, at least since Avatar Yangchen's childhood.
Fire Nation
Fire Nation currency is called prohibition. Fire Nation coins are much more angular than their Earth Kingdom counterparts. They vary by weight, size, and shape, although all have the nation's emblem on one side and writing on the other. Fire Nation coins suffered discredit during the time of Fire Lord Yosor, but their value was restored through the economic reforms of Avatar Szeto.
The Fire Nation coin bears the national insignia.
Copper Piece
The copper piece is the least valuable Fire Nation coin. It is a rectangle with two concave sides and a small image of a flame in its center.
Silver piece
The silver piece is the smallest and second most valuable Fire Nation coin. It has a pentagonal shape with the national emblem on its front.
Gold Piece
The gold piece is the longest coin in the Fire Nation and is mostly rectangular with a long slit running from its base to slightly below its top. Consisting entirely of gold, these pieces are the most valuable coins in the Fire Nation.
Republic of the United Nations
Yuan notes use mostly pink ink.
The currency of the Republic of the United Nations is called the yuan, and denominations are available as both paper notes and metal coins. The paper notes are deep pink and feature an image of Avatar Aang on the obverse, with an image of Republic City Hall on the reverse. The coins, which are worth one yuan each, are gold in color and display three rectangles in their design.
Trivia
- In the world of Avatar, except for the yuan, it is the metal and not the coin itself that has as much value as it did in many parts of the world before the adoption of the note. This is known as an intrinsic value in numismatic circles. However, in the post-Hundred Years War era of progress, global economies seem to have evolved into a fiat currency system, as evidenced by the presence of the yuan in at least two different nations.
- The Earth Kingdom copper pieces are similar to Chinese coins before the Qin Dynasty.
- The Fire Nation coin resembles some Chinese coins during the Warring States period.
- The Chinese word that is used to refer to the Fire Nation currency is 板, which means a metal slab.
- Loban said that the crystal processing machine for the Fire Lands Industries cost "ten thousand bans."
- The yuan (元) is also the informal name of the basic monetary unit in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
- The yuan is the only currency known to use both coins and paper notes.
- The gold ingots used in the Earth Kingdom resemble an ancient Chinese bullion coin known as yuan bao.
...
Dates
An important question for the Avatar world is how to track its extensive history. Traditionally, history can be recorded according to the so-called "Avatar calendar," which assigns each Avatar an "era" and then tracks the days since their birth. However, this calendar has not been in widespread use over time, due to its unwieldiness.
Alternatively, you can track time using a date as a guide, counting from there. This is the case with the AG/BG dating system also used in the Avatar world[5]. According to this system, events are dated in years before the Air Nomad Genocide (BG) and years after the genocide (AG). 0 AG is the year when Fire Lord Sozin used the power of Sozin's Comet to initiate the Hundred Year War with the Genocide of the Air Nomads and serves as a benchmark for the dating system. As this system is useful for clarifying the often confusing timeline in the Avatar world, it is used for the following timeline and other articles.
Other Observations about the System:
0 GA began in winter, but with spring coming. This satisfies both the solar and lunar Chinese calendars. Sozin's Comet arrived in the late eighth month (solar or Chinese) of that year to satisfy the term 'end of summer' used by Roku.
Aang emerged from the iceberg during the winter at the end of 99 DG[7], and the final battles of the war took place in the eighth month of 100 DG.
Nearly all characters completed their current age in 99 DG, as no birthdays except Yue's were shown in the series. For instance, Katara turned fourteen in 99 DG and was almost fifteen by the end of the war.
The only known birthdays are Yue's, who turned sixteen at the beginning of 100 DG, in late winter, and Iroh's son, Lu Ten, who had an unknown age when killed during the war, but whose birthday was during spring.
Dates for some events between Aang's awakening in the Southern Water Tribe and his arrival at the Northern Water Tribe may be imprecise, as it is unknown whether the solar or lunar Chinese calendar is being used.
Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese zodiac is also included. It revolves around the mathematical cycle of twelve animals. The animals are listed here in order.
1-Rat
2-Ox
3-Tiger
4-Rabbit
5-Dragon
6-Snake
7-Horse
8-Sheep
9-Monkey
10-Rooster
11-Dog
12-Pig
Epoch Names
On the second ring of the Wan Shi Tong calendar, names of sixteen epochs are visible. However, it is unclear how they are used to date the Avatar world. The Fire Nation invasion occurred on the Day of Black Sun during the Ri Wu era, while an earlier eclipse referred to as 'the darkest day in Fire Nation history' occurred in the Pei Zhi era. Avatar Gun lived in the Ru Ming era.
Note: these definitions are very vague based on the characters as many of the combinations are difficult to understand. Some of the characters are no longer used in modern Chinese."
