#AZULA WAS WEARING ARMOR

[nicolulo]

maizulee!!!!!

and zuko ig.

[artist-ellen]

Princess Azula

Like I've said the Fire Nation was giving me the most trouble. So it's going to have lots of variety in the inspiration.

I ended up using Goryeo fashion for inspiration - with pointed shoulders for some extra flair. Because Atla really lets different countries and dynasties live in the same nations together, I decided to not let it worry me so much if the Fire Nation has lots of different inspiration. Sort of leaning into the idea that different islands and ranks wear different fashions. While thinking about what the court would wear I started looking into Goryeo (Fire Nation hanbok at a wedding, I'm never letting it go) clothing and thought Azula would wear it well. She would of course were something more like Zuko's armor when chasing after the Gaang, but I wanted to have some fun with her Princess fashion. I'm a suck for elaborate dresses, we know this.

(Reoccurring disclaimer for this art series: This is for fun, they are inspired by the show's costume designs and then extrapolated out with historical fashion or things I think will be fun to draw. These are not meant to be accurate, only inspired. I hope you like them!)

I am the artist! Do not post without permission & credit! Thank you! Come visit me over on: instagram, tiktok or check out my coloring book available now \ („• ֊ •„) /

https://linktr.ee/ellen.artistic

[meg-noel-art]

🎶 I'ma fight a maaaan 🎶

-Reads the Kyoshi Novels 4 years late-

Anyway, Rangi but wearing Azula's armor from book 3? Thank you 🙏

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Embrace The Dark Shades Of Life

Summary: The Addams Family Adopts Azula

For @subterraneanwatcher who has good taste in characters and put this idea in my inbox

She doesn’t know where she is or how she got here, doesn’t remember. But the people welcome her so readily. They are a terribly strange bunch and they call themselves the Addams.

She meets Wednesday first. She’s cute enough to a person who finds flutterbats and the like cute and Aula supposes that she does…not that she has ever put much thought into that sort of thing. She certainly has more of a connection to those sinister beasts that make people scream. Wednesday is a smart girl—Azula can see the intelligence in her eyes. Her eyes had been the first thing that Azula had seen when she opened her own to take in this strange new world that she finds herself in. 

The girl had loomed over her. Poked at her, called to her brother to say that she had found a dead body.

Wednesday's brother, Pugsley, a plump boy with a bizarrely pleasant face. The boy has a cheerful nature to him that seems to contradict his macabre interests. The ones that his parents are more than happy to indulge. 

His parents are pleasantly strange themselves. There is the darkly charming Gomez with his well groomed mustache and his flowery speech. And there is the woman who introduces herself as Morticial. She is tall and sleek with an angular face and long dark hair. Her makeup is striking and dramatic. With a pang in her heart, Azula acknowledges that Morticia reminds her of a more morbid Mai.

The manor that the woman welcomes her into smells of expensive perfume–likely an iris and rose blend, velvet, old leather, dust, and oak wood. It is gloomy and richly furnished with things that Azula has never seen before. There is a chandelier with candles of glass that flicker like the real thing. There are lamps whose shades are made of lace and full of dust and webs. Upon the bookshelves, between ancient tomes, are jars of specimens such as detached tentacles and toad eyes as well as polished stones and bat and wolf bones. The wall is decorated with grim photos–black and white family portraits hang alongside paintings of burning bodies and skeletons wearing dark cloaks and holding scythes. The creaky halls are lined with full suits of armor in a style unlike anything in the four nations. They also keep instruments of torture and display them as plainly as a kitchen table or a sofa. Most of the sofas in this house have white sheets thrown over them despite being used often. 

The Addams are kind enough to her but the manor is terribly unsettling with all of its surprises—a detached and fully sentient hand and plants that may or may  not have an appetite for human flesh.

“Settle yourself in, darling.” Morticia says after the tour is through. But for as lovely as the woman is, Azula doesn’t think that she will be able to do so. Not with the floorboards groaning the way that they do and the tree branches that scrape like screeches against the windows. She nods regardless, “I’ll try…”

The woman offers a warm smile. “If there’s anything that I can do to make you more comfortable, don’t be shy about requests. Perhaps you would like a cup of tea or some warm milk. Pugsley does like his warm milk, especially when there's a fly or two floating in it!”

Azula crinkles her nose. 

“You don’t like flies in your drinks, dear?” 

Azula shakes her head. 

“Well that’s alright, we all have our own taste. More for Pugsley then.”  She pauses in the doorway. “Gradmama makes the richest teas. I will have Lurch bring you a cup.”

“Who is Lurch?”

“Our butler. He is the most polite gentleman that anyone could meet—so long as they don’t meet Gomez.”

The woman practically swoons over his name and Azula finds herself wishing that she could meet someone who would speak of her like that. 

“Have a gloomy night and dreams most dreary.”

Azula might have found herself offended had she not already taken a tour of the house. It is plenty clear that Morticia is bidding her the finest night of sleep that she could ever get. For all of the manor’s curious creaks and groans, the bed that she has been given is wonderfully plush. It smells a bit like stale perfume but the blankets are made out of fabrics just as fine as the ones that she had slept under in the palace. She swallows hard at the thought of home and the life that she used to know. The life that had slowly been slipping away from her anyhow. 

She does have dreams most dreary, but not the kind and elegant sort that Morticia had wished her.

.oOo.

Azula can’t say that she has quite settled into this new place just yet. Although Morticia and Gomez are going very far out of their way to make her feel welcomed. So far out of their way that they have asked her to draw her old room so that they can construct an exact likeness to it, assuring her that they are perfectly alright with her ‘eccentric’ tastes in furnishing. “I do love a cuddly dragon!” Gomez had remarked with such enthusiasm that she fully believed that they don’t mind her clashing taste at all. 

And while Morticia couldn’t find a single firelily seed to plant she had given a call to a cousin who had reached out to his fiance’s friend who is, from what Azula understands, “a biologist and a phenomenal bio engineer.” And this friend of a cousin will be working to alter the genes of a tiger lily to produce flames. 

She doesn’t have the heart to tell any of them that they have misunderstood what a fire lily is. She is also quite curious about what type of flower they will plant for her. 

Presently she stands in a garden that is mostly withered and wilting with overgrown grass and fountains that spray more moss than they do water. Smoke still trails off of her fingers from lightning discharged. 

“Wednesday, come look at this!” Pugsley calls. And to Azula he shouts. “Do it again!” 

“I am…” She reminds him, “...a princess.” She holds her head high. “Do not order me around or I will show you my lighting up close and personal. 

The boy seems to perk up. “Really!?”

Azula gives a stiff nod. “Yes, indeed. Which would be a shame because I like your parents.” So maybe she won’t fry the boy but she will surely shock him a good one. 

“Wednesday, she’s going to zap me!” He cries out.

And Azula cringes. She glances over her shoulder at Morticia and Gomez who watch them from across the garden. Although watch is a bit of a stretch. Morticia is rather invested in the rose that Gomez tucks behind her ear—thorns and all—with a loving pur. She breathes a sigh of relief. 

Wednesday wanders her way over. “I’ll get the chains.” She says. 

“Chains?”

“So he can’t get away.” Wednesday nods. “He likes the silver ones the best. The big iron ones are too heavy.” She pauses. “He’ll grow into them.” And just like that Pugsley is bound good and tight. “Now then. Let’s begin.” She clasps her hands behind her back. 

Pugsley shoots her a goofy grin. “Make it a good one!”

Azula clears her throat. “I will have you know that my lighting is always superior.” She lets it dance upon her fingertips. She brings it precariously close to his nose and waits for him to twitch. Instead he giggles. 

Azula sighs. He isn’t even slightly intimidated. 

In fact he groans in disappointment when she withdraws her fingers. 

“Just so you know, I am not being nice or merciful. Your disrespect of me will be punished. However I will not waste my lightning on you. Lightningbending is a very complex and highly regarded art. It isn’t to be used for silly games and party tricks.” She declares with a tilt of her chin. She clasps her arms behind her back. “I used it to strike the Avatar down and…”

Pugsley giggles again. “You’re really weird.”

Azula’s eye twitches. “And you smell like a moldy carpet!” She pinches her nose for good measure. Her heart lurches when a shadow falls over her. Two of them, in fact. She grits her teeth. “Listen I was just—”

“Isn’t she just precious?” Morticia gushes to Gomez.

Azula furrows her brow. “Wh—”

Gomez clasps an arm around her shoulder. “Don’t hold back on him now. Everyone loves a good verbal sparring! A battle of wits is an underrated form of combat.” He concludes.

For once Azula’s heart swells with delight. Ursa certainly would have scolded her for a remark like that. Would have demanded that she treated her brother with respect. Nevermind that Zuzu takes jabs of his own now and then. “You aren’t…I’m not in trouble.” She sounds like a child and she hates it.

“Well of course not! It’s perfectly healthy for children to play outside.” Morticia answers. “And such a creative game too!”

Gomez nods. “Indeed. Innovating lightning into playing hostage. Pugsley makes a remarkable upcoming criminal doesn’t he?”

“He’s an absolute menace.” Azula grumbles, thinking of the tin full of spiders he had left on her bedside in place of mixed nuts and dried fruits. She can still feel them crawling up her arm. 

“Oh he sure is!” Morticia agrees.

.oOo.

The poor darling is so quiet and weary. Morticia pats the spot on the sofa next to her. She will get the girl to feel at home yet.”

“Pugsley and Wednesday had a fantastic time today. They simply adore you.” Morticia compliments.

And Azula’s brows furrow. “They did? They do?”

Morticia nods. “Well of course. Pugsley is absolutely delighted to have met someone else who enjoys electricity as much as he does. He and Wednesday are constantly playing execution; she straps him to an electric chair and he pretends to be a criminal giving his final words! But Wednesday gets tired of playing the same game over and over again. She would rather read her books.” She pauses, hoping that she isn’t boring the girl. “I’ll have to ask her to read you some Edgar Allan Poe one day. Have you heard of him? Do they read his works where you are from?”

Azula shakes her head. “No. But there is a poet named Ryo-Hi. He has some thoughtful poems about dragons but I don’t really care for that sort of thing.”

Morticia hums. “Well you’ve never heard an Addams family poem!” She says. “We have poetry slams every 14th day of the month. Gomez has a way with words. You’ll have to join us one day.”

Azula swallows and Morticia can tell that something is on her mind. Home, perhaps. “My dear, if you don’t want to stay with us just say the word and we’ll reach out to Uncle Fester to see if he can come by a device that can transport you…”

“No!” Azula says abruptly. “I…I don’t want to leave. I don’t think that I want to leave.” She bites her lower lip. “I don’t really have many friends where I came from. The think that I’m…” She trails off. “Morbid, cruel, a monster.”

“Oh, darling, they are right; it sounds like they love you very much!”

Azula shakes her head. “They aren’t like you. Monster and morbid aren’t terms of endearment.” 

Pursing her lips, Morticia replies, “well that sounds absolutely drab.”

She shrugs and is silent for a moment before adding, “I guess.” 

Morticia feels rather inclined to embrace the girl, but she remembers her mentioning something about not being the hugging sort. 

“Well our family, finds you to be wonderful company and we’ll be glad to have you here.” Gomez promises as he enters the room. “The children wanted to play catch with a hornets’ nest before supper. Lurch will fetch them when it’s ready.”

Morticia nods. “Thank you, mi cariño. I would hate to cut their fun short.” She turns back to Azula. “Would you like to be an Addams?”

.oOo.

“Azula Addams does have a satisfying ring to it, I suppose.” And it would be awfully nice to be a part of a family that delights in her cynicism, witticisms, and sarcasm. To have a mother who still calls her a monster but with a very loving coo.

“Well that is splendid news!” Morticia takes her hand. “I will let the children know that you will be staying with us. They were hoping that you would be an older sister to them.”

Azula’s stomach flutters. “I never got along with my own brother.” She confesses. “Pugsley is much less whiny.” And much less preachy. And while her mind is on the topic of preachy… “what’s uncle Fester like?”

Gomez puffs his chest. “Ah yes! Good ol’ uncle Fester. An extraordinary man, he is. He’s a lot like you in that he’s got a way with electricity! I think that he would love to see that…what is it called?”

“Lightningbending.” Azula fills in.

“Lightningbending! He would love that a lot. He’s a practitioner of martial arts as well—kung fu to be precise. Your lightningbending looks a lot like that, you know.” 

Azula tries not to grin too widely at the thought of having someone to firebend with. “Just wait until you see my firebending.”

“Firebending, well that sounds extraordinary.” Morticia replies. “Perhaps you can show us your firebending at the dinner table.”

“At the dinner table?” She almost comments that it is poor manners to do any type of bending at a dinner table unless the setting is a dinner theater. She bites her tongue, reminding herself for at least the sixth time today that things are very unusual here. “At the dinner table, of course.” She folds her hands in her lap. 

She is going to have a lot to get used to now that she has been more or less, officially welcomed into the family. 

She can’t imagine that they will be impatient with her. And she thinks that, that is just what she needs; patience and a group of people who don’t demand perfection from her. People who, in fact, delight in imperfections and notable flaws.

And maybe, here with these curious, darkly inclined individuals, she can find a comfortable and kinder place is a world that wasn’t her own but suits her much more.

[waterfire1848]

Agni!Azula, looking at Katara: Why do you chose that form? It’s so weak and cutesy. Blah!

La!Katara: It’s called: blending in. Why do you walk around with your hair on fire and wearing armor that looks like you’re about to fight in a war?

Agni!Azula:…It’s cool.

[spacetimeaccordionfolder]

character development/ connections/ reveals as shown through character design my beloved

I just love when you can see a character changing through their design. Hair getting longer, shorter, it's design changing. A character who has had their hair up in a tight bun has their hair slowly get messier and till they break. Colors in outfits change. Maybe as someone comes into their own their colors get stronger. You see a different character's color appear in another's outfit, showing a connection. Another character's color disappears from another's outfit, showing a break. A character starts wearing a different style of clothing. Outfits become more militaristic, more functional. Vise versa is also great, adding in bits of jewelry, more patterns in clothing, letting yourself exist. Maybe it's still a uniform, but there's embroidery on it.

Examples below the cut because it got long. I like this trope a lot.

Zuko and Azula's hair (getting longer/ getting less contained)

Bit of this in She-Ra showing connection- characters outfits start having others colors or symbols in them.

RWBY: Weiss getting more colors in her outfits, Jaune's armor, Ruby's outfits looking like Summer's or Penny or Pyrrha's, Blake's hair cut, Cinder's outfits- the color red is the same as the carpet in the Glass Unicorn, her all black outfit in volume 7, Oscar's new outfit in volume 6. There are more subtle ones, like how you can see how similar Winter's volume 3 outfit is with Willow's volume 7, establishing a connection. Qrow getting a vest in volume 7 I think is a bit of this trope.

Aurora- Erin going from wearing white to dark grey post Zuurith, showing a closer connection with the Void Dragon. Alinua's eyes - connection to Life- and Falst's scarf - a light dragon color- also qualify as this. Not quite this, but the intentional foiling of Erin and Tam's outfits.

Cosmere- Vin's outfits get more complex, Elend starts wearing a uniform instead of purposefully looking disheveled. Elend wearing white and Vin wearing black throughout the Hero of Ages. Tress of the Emerald Sea starts wearing a red coat as she sets off, knowing she'll have to cross the Crimson sea. Vivenna goes from long dresses to men's clothing, whereas Siri goes from dresses that she would get dirty to elaborately constructed royal gowns. Adolin embroiders his uniforms. Navani's outfits and make up during RoW as she researches. Jasnah has a little bit of this- WoR having impeccable make up while on a boat vs exhaustionspren everywhere in WaT,- but I think we'll see more of that in Arc 2. Lift has this with her outfits- especially in regard to the comfort of the materials. (excited to see how this progresses in arc 2) Nomad's outfits in Sunlit hint at this- he at one point refuses to wear a coat because it looks "too militaristic" (only really qualifies as this trope when you know who Nomad is). There's also a bit of this character development/ progression/ reveal with the Shards. The way the vessel looks, presents themselves changes depending on their grasp of the power. Leras starts dissolving into mist as he looses grasp of Preservation. In RoW we see this with Odium (I love this detail) after he's basically crossed a line on a deal with Honor and influenced someone he couldn't have under that deal. When Dalinar and Taravangian see him, his eyes are entirely gold and his skin is flaking away- Rayse is dying, much like Leras after going back on a deal with Ati. Sazed as Harmony as this as well- he still wears his traditional Terrismen robes, but they stretch into infinity, and he has an odd shadow. Not development or progression but reveal- Hoid and Ulaam in Tress with both Hoid's outfits without his sense of self and style and Ulaam wearing Hoid's uniform from Roshar that he apparently took from Hoid at some point.

Something I can't think of an example for is when a character's color or style ties them to a villain as foreshadowing to a development or reveal or side change. (or vise versa, bad guy wears a good guy's colors) Not a color added post reveal but like, the villain wears yellow and this one guy has a yellow bracelet. A character could adopt the color or style as they develop and interact with the other character or even both have a similar style at the beginning of the thing. It's not the same as two teammates' styles interacting because it's people on different sides of a conflict. People you wouldn't think would have that connection. But along the way something changes, and you realize how the two character designs fit together as the reveal or betrayal or side change happens.

[zuko-always-lies]

What did Zuko think was going on at Azula's Coronation Ceremony?

Cut to the plaza, the location of the Fire Lord's coronation, where only Azula and the Fire Sages are present. The scene cuts to the front of Azula, who is kneeling down on the plaza steps. She is seen wearing Fire Lord robes with her armor underneath. Standing behind her are Fire Sages, one begins to hold the headpiece over her head. Fire Sage: By decree of Phoenix King Ozai, I now crown you Fire Lord ...The sage suddenly pauses and looks ahead. Azula turns her head to face him. Azula: [Somewhat annoyed.] What are you waiting for? Do it! Appa is heard in the distance off-camera, and Azula turns back around to see Appa landing in the plaza courtyard. The scene cuts to a frontal shot of Appa; Katara is seated on Appa's saddle, and Zuko is standing on his back. [this is where my pictures are from, about] Zuko: Sorry, but you're not gonna become Fire Lord today. [Jumps off Appa.] I am. Azula: [Laughs.] You're hilarious. Katara: [Jumps off of Appa to stand beside Zuko.] And you're going down. The Fire Sage is just about to crown Azula the new Fire Lord, regardless of what Katara and Zuko have just said, until Azula signals with her hand for him to stop. Azula: Wait. You want to be Fire Lord? Fine. Let's settle this. Just you and me, brother. The showdown that was always meant to be. Agni Kai! Zuko: [Seriously.] You're on

It seems like Zuko couldn't physically hear the whole "By decree of Phoenix King Ozai, I now crown you Fire Lord" part. He was too far away. And he doesn't know that Ozai has declared himself "Phoenix King," either. Not even Azula knew that until Ozai went and did it, and there's no way for the Gaang to find out. They never mention it at all. So Azula being coronated as Firelord but it not representing her ascending to being supreme leader of the Fire Nation wouldn't even enter Zuko's head.

So Zuko shows up, and he sees a Firelord coronation ceremony being conducted without the usual audience in apparent haste, and being conducted even though the current Firelord (Ozai) is still alive and well, at least as far as he knows. It must look to him like Azula is trying to take advantage of Ozai's absence to usurp the throne for herself. Katara is probably not sufficiently familiar with the Fire Nation royal family and its traditions to catch onto the nuances of the situation, but "Ozai appointed Azula Firelord" is not something that would make sense to Zuko. He probably only found out the truth after the Agni Kai.

All of this potentially puts Zuko's actions before and during the Agni Kai in a very interesting light.

[discordiansamba]

when Zuko is young, and his mother is still at the palace, she takes great pains with his appearance. she knows how tenuous his position at the palace is, so she armors him in the only way she can- by making sure he looks like a fine young prince. she has him grow out his hair like other noble boys, and ties it up in a top knot for him every morning. she continues even after zuko realizes the truth-

-that he doesn't have a drop of sozin's blood in him.

it's important, she tells him, to at least look the part. it will protect you.

when fire lord azulon dies, and his mother vanishes, zuko goes to live with master piandao for three years in order to study under him. he wears the robes of one of pupils- but only while he's training. when he's not, he's free for the first time in his life to truly dress as he likes. to wear his hair as he likes. it's liberating. sometimes he doesn't even know what to do with it.

when he returns to the palace, he stubbornly refuses to change. he still ties his hair up into a top knot- his only concession. but around the palace, he dresses as he likes. he doesn't care what people say about him because of it. he doesn't care if azula smirks at him and says the commoner look is really more fitting. she's not wrong.

he still can't get out of dressing formally for important palace events, but the ones he's forced to attend are few and far between. his stepfather would rather pretend he doesn't exist. the only reason he's ever invited to important functions is to make his half-sister look that much better by comparison.

after the agni kai, they shave his head.

part of it's necessary- they have to treat the burn. the other part of it is tradition. zuko glares at his reflection in the mirror- and decides to hell with tradition. he grows out his hair again, but this time he keeps it short- not long enough to put into a top knot. it's a clear cut act of defiance, but iroh never calls him out on it.

he still wears the armor he's expected to wear.

when he joins the avatar, he still dresses in red. he doesn't even think about hiding his identity. he could if he wanted- the rest of the world doesn't know what prince zuko looks like. but he doesn't want to hide. he wants everyone to know that prince zuko has turned traitor- it's an act born out of defiance as much as it is out of spite.

it might cause problems for him- but it'll cause even more for ozai.

(and there's no need for armor around the Avatar.)

[marvelousazula]

I was washing the dishes and this came to fester in my brain:

When Azula has stopped screaming blue, and stopped sobbing, and was just kneeling and not moving other than shoulders rising with her breath, Zuko finally moved. Katara understood that, wanting to help or not – because enemy or not, that was someone that clearly needed help –, Azula was a dangerous person. (The chains were barely holding her, Katara would see later, a little more struggled and they would break.)

Katara expected her friend to crouch in front of the defeated princess, talk low and gentle to her. Perhaps because she'd like to do that, even if she had no idea of what to say to a princess that has lost everything she worked for. Wrong side of history or not, Katara has come to understand that maybe not every bad person has been born bad, maybe there was a chance that this one could be at least decent.

Zuko grabbed the back of the armor and pulled until Azula was properly kneeling instead of in a leap of misery. She grunted a little, but otherwise only stayed where she was pulled up to. She has seen her being thrown around, was pretty sure she landed on her head once or twice, they probably should check her for injuries. He stepped between them, and Katara didn't like it at all.

Katara moved when fire came to Zuko's hand.

"What are you doing?"

"Finishing the Agni Kai."

"It's already finished, she's chained up!"

"But she's not branded."

"What?"

He looked at her above his shoulder, wearing that little confused expression that was there when anyone acted like a normal person: "Agni Kais of this importance end in either death or a visible brand."

"Whoa whoa, stop right there, you're not branding your sister. What? You'll burn her face like Ozai burned yours?"

"Yes?"

"No."

"No?"

"No! Put the fire away!" He blinked a few times but did as he was told. "Now, both of you will be seen by healers and then I'll give you a list of things good guys don't do to their little siblings, especially when they're fucking chained up to the ground!"

[sahashbelvanie]

Every Textual Reference to the Sun in Elden Ring

(This is more of a simple list of instances where 陽 or 太陽 are used. This isn’t a theory post.)

The Sun Capital was a city crowned by the Sun. The city itself no longer exists, devoid of any traceable remains. The honored knights of the city, all of whom have since perished and are buried throughout the continent, were cloaked in red, adorned with a golden sun, and wielded shields that depicted this vanished place. Even the dead beastmen of Farum Azula appear to have been honored by the Sun Capital, as they, too, bore such shields.

The cold and colorless Sun of the northern fortress of Sol—the eclipsing of Sol’s Sun has drained it of its color. The castle’s occupants cannot help but gaze at it with despairing awe, unable to avert their eyes despite their fear. This eclipsed Sun serves as the symbol of the wandering mausoleums and the headless knights that guard them, acting as the guardian star that wards off the fate of death from the soulless demigods slumbering within. A nobleman of Sol once apologized to Lord Miquella for their weak prayers, as the Sun could not be eclipsed to grant rebirth to the soulless demigod outside the castle walls—referred to as Miquella’s friend. That nobleman, it seems, will never glimpse Miquella’s Haligtree. A shotel wreathed in the flame of the Death Prince, along with various shields, bears the image of this Sun.

A spectacle of sorcery known as Crystal Release, performed by the enigmatic Crystallians, is also referred to as the Crystal Sun. In this sorcery, a mass of crystals rises into the air before releasing a tremendous rain of shards. Such magic is reserved only for the highest-ranking Crystallian sorcerers.

On the armor of the Dung Eater, molded after an accursed Omen child whose horns were severed, he wears a Sun Medal—a symbol of the guidance of Grace he once beheld. Beyond it, he believed, he would one day glimpse a Ring.

A Warmth Stone is a ruined piece of stone imbued with a prayer by the Two Fingers. When used, it reduces one’s focus but gradually heals oneself and others through its warmth. The method for crafting such a stone is detailed in the cookbook of a nomadic warrior found among the ruins of the Woodsfolk of the Altus Plateau. Warmth Stones are made from Erdleaf flowers, smoldering butterflies used for kindling, and stones found near ruins that fell from the sky—stones that still retain light. The gradual healing effects of the stone’s warmth are said to resemble how the Erdtree once was to the people of the Lands Between, not unlike the Sun itself.

Certain species of insects, such as silver fireflies, dwell in cold pools of water where the Sun does not shine.

The Abyss lies east of the Gravesite Plains, where a deep forest stretches into its sunless depths. The sage Midra and his Lady Nanyaya are secluded within their manor here, for the Hornsent have declared the region forbidden due to the presence of the Frenzied Flame—a yellow fire said to consume even spirits.

A Sun Stone is a gravestone that has begun to transform into a spirit, imbued with an Erdtree prayer. It functions much like a Warmth Stone, though with greater healing effects. In the darkness of the Land of Shadow, it is said that sunlight feels warmest. These stones are crafted by military priests, as described in a cookbook found within the Ivory Tower of Belurat. These devotees continue to protect and preach the faith of the Erdtree, even while sealed away in the Land of Shadow. Such stones are made from Spirit Grave Stones, blackened butterflies scorched by Messmer’s flame, and human bone shards blessed with the gold of the Scadutree.

[atla-genderbender]

ATLA Gender Bender: "Princess Zuka"

Zuko -> Zuka

Alternatively, it is possible that female Zuko would still be called "Zuko". The ending -ko is feminine in Japanese. But within Fire Nation royalty, there exist masculine and feminine counterparts to names: Iroh/Ilah, Azulon/Azula. The ending -a is also used for Zuko's mother's name, "Ursa". This suggests that the feminine equivalent of "Zuko" would be "Zuka".

Like her male counterpart, the banished princess would have the most extensive wardrobe. I tried to draw several, but not all of these outfits.

If Zuko had been born a girl, a large theme of her story would be the traumatic loss and restoration of her femininity. I don't think that she would be a tomboy, but would be just as driven as her male counterpart to regain her honor.

I've been picturing Cricket Leigh as the voice of "Princess Zuka". Specifically, her voice as "angry Mai" in the Beach episode.

OUTFIT DESCRIPTIONS:

1: Young Zuka, from "Zuka Alone" flashback

She is supposed to resemble a young Ursa. Rather than being dressed like Azula, her clothes are inspired by ruqun.

2: Zuka at age 13, prior to being burned

Her ponytail is supposed to show off her long, beautiful hair, which is cut off during her banishment.

3: Zuka at age 13, after being burned

"Zuka" is shown with a fully shaved head, to illustrate an alternative scenario where Ozai does not challenge her to an Agni Kai, but immediately deems her actions treasonous and orders her to shave her head. In this alternative scenario, her refusal to cut her topknot is what prompts Ozai to scar her face and banish her anyways. This is supposed to be more in line with the treatment of "dishonorable" women in real life, as there are many world cultures throughout history who punish women by shaving their heads.

Still, I am not sure whether it was appropriate to include this in her wardrobe lineup. The Fire Nation is higher in the gender equality index than the cultures it is based on, as a consequence of firebending being an "equalizer" between the sexes. It is therefore plausible that "Zuka" would have still been challenged to an Agni Kai by Ozai, and that things would have occurred in the same fashion to her male counterpart. In this scenario, she would not have cut off her topknot. I picture her wearing the same hairstyle as regular, male Zuko, where she shaves the sides of her head to symbolize her shame.

4: Book 1 Zuka

Unlike her male counterpart, I think "Zuka" would grow out her hair. Zuko's shaved ponytail is based on a real hairstyle worn by Thai boys. But in-universe, Zuko appears to have fashioned himself after the hairstyle worn by Sun Warriors. A few other men in the Fire Nation also wear this hairstyle, but women are not seen wearing this. If "Zuka" had this hairstyle, I think it would come off as rebellious, instead of loyal to the Fire Nation. It makes more for "Zuka" to fashion herself after female Sun Warriors, who wear their hair in ponytails without shaving the rest of their heads. Her asymmetrical bangs are meant to contrast with Azula's perfectly symmetrical bangs. Underneath her armor, I picture her being very athletic, with lean, defined muscles.

5: Book 1 Zuka, as the "Blue Spirit"

The comics explain the origin of Zuko's Blue Spirit mask, which is based on "The Dark Water Spirit", a male character from the play "Love Amongst the Dragons". While "Princess Zuka" could don the mask of the "Dragon Empress", I think it fits her better to wear the mask of the "Dark Water Spirit" instead. This is because Zuko and Azula would reenact the play as children, with Zuko playing the Dark Water Spirit and Azula playing the Dragon Emperor. If the Azula was a boy and Zuko was a girl, I think "Azulon" would still play the role of the Dragon Emperor, while "Zuka" would still play the role of the Dark Water Spirit. This would foreshadow their eventual rivalry and Agni Kai, and I don't like the implications that come with "Zuka" playing the Dragon Empress. For these reasons, I chose to have "Zuka" don the mask of the "Dark Water Spirit" instead of the "Dragon Empress". This also does a better job of symbolizing the "Blue Spirit"'s role as enemy of the Fire Nation.

Additionally, I think it makes sense for "Zuka" to disguise herself as a male while donning the Blue Spirit mask. Failure to do so would make her disguise a lot less effective, due to the male dominated nature of the Fire Nation army. It would make her and Admiral Zhao both look smarter, as Zhao would still figure out that she is the Blue Spirit. Due to her physical build, she would not be able to pass for a fully grown adult man, but could pass for an adolescent boy. The cross-dressing element of her disguise could also connect the Blue Spirit to her "animus", symbolizing her complicated relationship with her femininity.

6: Book 1 Zuka, after assassination attempt

She would be shown without any color on her lips, due to her beat up state.

7: Book 2 Zuka, after cutting topknot

8: Book 2 Zuka, messy hair

This hairstyle would only be seen briefly during her sick episode

9: Book 2 Zuka, post haircut

After her bout of sickness, "Aunt Ilah" buys "Princess Zuka" new clothes and gets her a hair cut.

10: Book 3 Zuka, emo hair

11: Book 3 Zuka, formal dress

12: Book 3 Zuka, after joining the "good guys"

13: Fire Lord Zuka, coronation outfit

Her hairstyle is inspired by the Kdrama "Queen Seondeok" (2009).

14: Fire Lord Zuka, comics outfit (formal)

Her costume combines elements of Queen Seondeok, Queen Panhtwar, and Empress Wu Zetian.

15: Fire Lord Zuka, comics outfit (casual)

In these drawings, "Zuka" is shown having one of two lip colors: red and pink. The red shade is supposed to be the same color as Azula's lips, while the pink shade is supposed to be the same color as Izumi's lips.

The reason I did this was originally based on a mistake. I thought that Ursa had a lighter shade on her lips than Azula, and was trying to make "Zuka" look like a younger Ursa. However, this was a mistake. Ursa and Azula actually have the same lip color. Ursa's lips only look lighter because of the lighting in the "Zuko Alone" flashbacks.

I decided to keep this decision to have "Zuka" switch between Azula's lip color and a lighter shade of pink. This is supposed to make "Zuka" look a bit like Izumi, Zuko's daughter. It is also supposed to indicate when "Zuka" is wearing makeup and when she is not. I think her lip color should change upon becoming a fugitive, as she wouldn't wear makeup while living in poverty.

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[balanceoflightanddark]

Azula + Lin AU "Republic City"

Azula: This city is a cesspool. Lin: ...what. You're not getting any arguments from me. Why do you think I wear my armor everywhere? Azula: I mean, yeah. But I was thinking more about the architecture. It's so...odd. Like somebody decided to make everything drab and gray. And when it's not, it's garish and out of place. Lin: It was part of that new architectural movement once Republic City started to get a lot of prominence on the world stage. Saves more money and whatever. Needless to say, none of the other nations like it. Azula: Well that's good to hear. And the noise from these automobiles. I can't hear myself think. I swear it wasn't this loud back in the day- [An automobile nearly runs Azula over] Azula: EH! I'M WALKING HERE! [slams the hood of the car] I'M WALKING 'ERE!!! [Lin just stares as the automobile drives off] Lin: Yeah, you'll fit in just fine.

[yuwuta]

Boring question, but how do you picture knight yuuta? Like do you picture him with his hair out of his face like in season 2 or in his face like JJK0? What about his knight outfit? Do you think he craves the warmth of readers hands through the metal or does he only wear it outside the palace 🤔

not a boring question at all 🙂‍↔️ i think i picture yuuta with his s2 hair by default for most things, this au included. i don’t actually usually picture traditional armor or knight attire for him, when i do reference armor i think it’s outside of the palace or for a formal occasion or formal fight yk? like if people were going to war he’d be in armor, but to me he’s not just your knight he also assumes a lot of responsibilities of a butler or personal maid—he follows you around the castle when he can, he walks you to and from lunch and meetings and sits with you when you ask for him, he stands watch while you have lessons, he helps change you when you request it—that kind of stuff. when i envision that i think of a more atla approach to his attire, like what you see azula or aang wear in book 3 minus the color scheme and then i guess more traditional armor outside of that? there’d be something on his clothing to distinguish his rank/position as your personal guard that differs from the rest of the knights but i’m not sure what yet hmm

[sillyfudgemonkeys]

Avatar vs Antagonist switch up pt 5

Follow up from this

Kyoshi: Ok while Kuruk's gone going mad dog, who's next? Aang: Long Feng. Kyoshi: Who the hell is he? Aang: He's the leader of the Dai Li, you know the corrupt jerks you made that I had to fight? Kyoshi: ......... Kyoshi: I should take this one, huh? Aang: It's only right. Korra: Someone needs to take Kuvira. Kyoshi: Who's that? Korra: An Earth Kindgom tyrant who slowly took over the Earth Kingdom with her own army. All while I was away. u_u Kyoshi: Golly gee, deja vu. Roku: Does that mean you're taking her? Kyoshi: I dunno, can I drown her? Korra: Um, maybe? That being said, she is a metal bender so watch out. Kyoshi: Metal ben-what? *looks at her own attire* Roku she's yours. Roku: Wait what? Kyoshi: Just drop her in the ocean, you'll win buddy. Roku: But why can't you- Korra: She does wear metal armor. Kyoshi: Great she'll sink faster. Speaking from experience. Roku: Now hold on- Kyoshi: Roku, I've taken so many big bads already, it's not fair if I keep taking more. You're up to bat on this one buddy! Roku: Kyoshi I really don't wan- Kyoshi: I won't kill Zuko or Azula. Roku: Deal. Wait, how should I beat her? Kyoshi: Oh, I dunno, Roku. She's wearing giant slabs of metal armor and you're a lava bender. Boil her alive from the inside out! Korra: You know I beat her without killing her, right? Kyoshi: That's great sweetie, now go stand over there while I teach Roku how to grow some balls for once.

[waterfire1848]

Avatar Headcanon - Azula will have days when she wears her armor all day. There’s no battle or no need to fight, but she just needs to wear it because it’s the only way she feels prepared and safe.

[ettawritesnstudies]

Sora Outfits Along her Character Arc

I'm hyperfixating on my dnd character tonight so here's some Sora costume outfit breakdown rambles: for context, this character comes from an Avatar The Last Airbender themed campaign that takes after the end of the 100 year war. However the war doesn't end cleanly after the fire lord's defeat. The Gaang spends five years putting out fires, recalling troops from all over the world, and squashing loyalists that keep fighting after Ozai and Azula's capture. Eventually, a 17 year old Aang establishes Republic City to welcome benders from all the nations, to teach them bending, and to establish a new method of diplomacy.

Our game began with four young students arriving to the city for the opening festival, who then uncover a deeper conspiracy that threatens to undermine the balance of the world. Sora, Suliyos, Seraphine, Han, and eventually Cab have to work together with the Gaang to discover the true enemy before their world is plunged into another bloody conflict.

Beginning of campaign: Republic City Air Nomad Uniform

When Sora first arrives in RC, she's been hiding her airbending for her whole life, growing up in Omashu with an overprotective earthbending mother and sister, never knowing her father. She's hopeful for a fresh start, and eager to meet other air nomads, but she comes to the city just claiming air nomad heritage, hiding her powers, and pretending to be a non-bender for her own safety.

Traveling Clothes: Earth Kingdom Civilian

During the opening festival at RC, the city was attacked by terrorists from a shadowy group called the "eye" which included members from all the nations. They sabotaged the city with fireworks and bombs, tried to blame the attacks on the fire nation, and restart the war. Sora and her friends helped discover and thwart these attacks, and she started establishing a connection to a spirit, though she didn't understand what was happening, and her paranoia grew. Their relationship with the Gaang strained under the stress, especially once they found out that the Eye was kidnapping Airbenders. Aang couldn't leave republic city in such dire circumstances, and our group had crossed one too many lines (including Suliyos learning to bloodbend) so we left RC to get some space and follow the lead. This brought us through the Earth Kingdom, and to a boat called the Juggernaut which would take us across the North Sea to reach Ba Sing Se.

NWT Arc: Water Tribe Furs gifted by Suliyos

En Route to Ba Sing Se we discovered one of the members of the Eye on our ship. He was a powerful bloodbender and had a sinister connection to the spirit world, but he was also a member the NWT royalty. By killing him in self defense, we also had to take a detour to the NWT to return his body, deal with the politics, discover the evil spirits corrupting the leaders of the NWT, banish the spirits, and restore the true leaders to the throne. That leader being Suliyos, one of our party members, who discovered he was the nephew of the chief, and next in line after Yue's sacrifice. Sora established her own connection with her spirit Shishi, and with a supportive crew and team, explored her airbending. These clothes were a gift as thanks for her aid. Her hair and eyes also started turning blue due to her spirit connection.

Onward to Ba Sing Se: back to the traveling clothes

One of the members of the ship's crew was Boma, an airbender, and a distant relative of Sora's. When he discovered she was family, he gave her armor and skydancer's anklets which gave her proficiency in airbending skills like acrobatics. It's been several months of travel now, so her hair's gotten longer. We also passed the ice trials, so she's wearing the mark of the wise (I think?) here. It's not a permanent tattoo though.

Ba Sing Se: Undercover Mode

So many things happened once we reached Ba Sing Se. We discovered the evil spirit - Father Glowworm - had kidnapped Hei-Bei, caused a famine, the Dai Li was creating living terra cotta warriors to impersonate members of the white lotus, they managed to kill a dragon, we managed to bring it back, Sora's spirit got kind-of-killed, it's been a wild ride. In any case, we're wanted all over the earth kingdom and the iconic outfit from before wasn't doing her any favors so she got a change of clothes.

Freeing the Airbenders!!!! Family Drama!!! AAA

The Dai Li had captured the airbenders to use as their own specialized army against the fire nation, and subdued/hypnotized them with the evil spirits. When we broke open everything in BSS, we also 1) rescued Sora's family from an assasination attempt in Omashu, and 2) freed the airbenders! Her dad wasn't with them, but she discovered, he had been sending home airbender regalia all this time, and her mother had hidden it away from her, to keep her from pursuing airbending to keep her safe. Now she's wearing it proudly to lead the newly freed nation, and to go rescue her father from the fire nation.

But her mother still hates her life decisions, Aang is worried the airbenders are losing their culture, and the airbenders resent Aang for the differences that led to them getting captured in the first place. Sora needs to forge her own path, and show the world what it means to be an airbender, both in practice, and in spirit, fearlessly, and so that others might do the same.

We still have a lot of loose ends to tie up, and there will be at least one more costume iteration for her, when we go to the fire nation to handle Ozai and Azula escaping and the other spiritual problems with the dragons there. But I'm so excited about Sora and her arc so far, seeing the transition from the first airbender outfit to the final one is so satisfying and I'm so attached to her story, even if only 4 people will ever understand how much it means to me...