#si wong desert

[demaparbat-hp]

"Your hair looks better like this," she said, and Zuko forgot how to breathe.

[whimsicallywiddershins]

ATLA Theory: Some air benders fled the massacre to the Si Wong Desert. They intermarried Earth Kingdom people and their descendants are the Sandbenders.

There is no way a bunch of people who can travel by air were completely taken by suprise by ground troupes. C'mon. Some had to have escaped. They just had to find a place where the Fire Nation couldn't find them. What better place than a desert no-one ever visits?

Sand is the perfect mix of Earth and Air. It doesn't move like earthbending, it moves like air or water. The relationship between air and sand is strong: sandstorms, wind eroding rocks into sand, wind sculpting sand dunes, ect... All things you find in a desert.

Also, it's very likely the Sand People are nomadic. Most desert peoples are. This would fit perfectly with the Air Nomad lifestyle. Sand Ships would replace Air Bison. Also, the Si Wong Desert is a great place to hide, especially if you ally with the locals. The Earth Kingdom government doesn't interfere with the Desert, people don't usually travel through it, and those that do probably would interact heavily with the Sand People, so rumors wouldn't travel about new arrivals. The Fire Nations definitely never went there.

If any new air benders were born, it would be incredibly easy to hide them. Airbending could be disguised pretty easily as Sandbending, all you have to do is pick up sand with the wind as you bend. I bet there is a mix of airbenders and earthbenders in the Desert.

[original-sheepsandwich90]

[piichivii]

ray & gold dust // tuyaa, the rogue

[discordiansamba]

Honestly, kind of obsessed with the idea of a no memories Zuko reincarnation (I'm guessing that's what you meant) just deeply confused as hell as to why the Avatar and his friends won't leave him alone.

It's just such a funny idea to me. They're all just so excited to meet their friend again, even if he's in a different form that they don't even stop to consider how this probably seems from his perspective. Just. What's going on? Why won't the Avatar and his friends leave me alone? Why are they always around?

WHY IS THE FIRE LORD JOINING THEM?!

[kyoshi-lesbians]

i like jackalopes. atla has jackalopes. for this question don't think about the logistics - pick who you think woulda vibed best with a jackrabbit-antelope as an animal friend

[malachitezmeyka]

Naming OCs actually sucks so much sometimes, especially when the creators of the source material have no fucking idea which culture they’re drawing from

[fandomnerd9602]

Y’All Be Sinners

Country!Wanda x Male Reader

Sunday had arrived at the Maximoff Farm. For Wanda it was another great day to spend with her city boy in the comfort of her church. For you, it was a great day to be with your country girl and her family in a place you hoped to someday tie the knot in.

You stood in the mirror and readied your church clothes outfit. Wanda, your loving gal, wrapped her arms around you, hugging you from behind.

“Looking good enough to eat, city boy” she giggles

“I’m more of a desert option,” you lift up one of her hands and kiss it tenderly. Your girl was a blushing mess already.

“Glad we’re all going to church today,” Piet mutters as he walks up with his gal Crystal in his arms. “You buncha sinners need it”

“Oh don’t go all holier than thou, Piet” Wanda warns her brother.

“Yeah we heard you and Crystal last night,” you chuckle, “and you weren’t exactly speaking in tongues.”

Crystal blushes before smacking her man. Crystal was a quiet gal but she had her moments of ferocity. Wanda already loved her like a sister, she was just waiting on Piet to propose.

Church was a small intimate affair in the small rural town. Father Wong was always there at the door to greet the ten to twenty people who came every week.

“Wanda!” He smiled at you and your gal, “miss Kate fell ill this morning, can we get you to lead the hymn today?”

“Aww shucks preacher,” she giggles “you beg your wine storage I can.”

Father Wong lead the opening prayer at the very front of the small church before turning it over to Wanda. She took a deep breath and began singing.

Amazing grace

How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost

but now I’m found.

Was blind but now I see

She was a natural up there. The way she carried herself. The way she held the notes. You knew it was only a matter of time before her and her band went global.

It was like even the heavens were proud of her. A beam of light cascaded thru the stain glass window and casted upon her and the stage.

As the song ended, the entire congregation was hooting and hollering at how good your gal was. She gave a little bow and blew you a kiss.

Piet playfully punched your shoulder, “ya sinner”

You sit there in the tiny church garden after the service. Your mind races with different thoughts and emotions and yet you felt peaceful there. It was a safe space.

Your fingers played with a small piece of gold that Pietro gave ya earlier in the week.

Your country gal walked out of the church, the sun hitting her white dress just right. She looked like an angel in your eyes.

“What are ya up to, city boy?”

“Just thinking” you shrug

“About?”

“This little church would be the perfect venue for a couple sinners like us”

“Oh you,” she playfully punches you in the shoulder, “wait a minute. Perfect venue?”

You reveal the little piece of gold you had been holding: a diamond ring. It was Wanda’s grandmother’s ring.

“Make an honest woman outta my sis, alright?” Piet said after handing it to you.

“Only if Crystal makes an honest man out of you, Piet” you told him back. Piet gave you a wink in response.

You finally found the right time and place to propose to your country girl. Her favorite spot outside her favorite church.

“T-that’s my gramma’s ring” she said tears welling in her eyes.

“My country girl, you turned my whole world upside down.” You get on one knee, “I wanna spend my life with you.”

She was already a weeping mess at this point and yet she never looked more beautiful, “I-I wanna spend ma life with you too”

“You are my songbird, my scarlet witch, my everything. Will you marry—“

You couldn’t even finish because she tackled you to the garden floor and began kissing you something fierce.

You were lost in the moment together. She was your whole world, your country gal. And all you wanted to do was be by her side for the rest of her life. She giggles, kissing you and nipping at your bottom lip, her reddish brown hair drapes down in your eyes, obscuring your vision in the best possible way.

“Wanda?” Father Wong interrupted. “T-this is kind of inappropriate for church-“

Wanda flashes him the ring now nestled on her finger, “I’m engaged!!!” She giggles.

“Okay then,” Wong shrugs, “don’t let me bother you” and with that he walks back to the small church.

You and Wanda still look back on that day with a little laugh. You ended up marrying each other in that little church. And Wong was the one to officiate the wedding too.

Not bad for a bunch of sinners.

Tags @lifespectator @olsenmyolsen @supercorpdanbeau @scarletquake-n7 @tokufighter @idkwhatever580

[callimara]

The other boys for my ✨ Avatar!AU ✨

Casey aka Kaisa, the Airbending Prodigy.

Elias aka Ilayas, the rough and tumble, hair-trigger Lavabender.

And finally, Markus aka Makku, the Firebender living in disguise among the Sandbender communes in the Si Wong Desert!

[someonessleeping]

20 Years Later with New Characters, New Stories and New Stakes.

MY SLIDESHOW PITCH FOR AN AVATAR-VERSE FILM AND SERIES.

(disclaimer: this is not an avatar-centred story)

"When you base your expectations only on what you see, you blind yourself to the possibilities of a new reality" - Zaheer

NARRATIVE TIMELINE

PROTAGONISTS

SUN WARRIOR - "Surviving, that's all that matters."

WATER ATHLETE - "Losings not something I want to get used to."

SAND BENDER - "See, all those fancy moves got nothing on a little wink and smile."

NON-BENDER - "I'd close that big hole in your face before you say something I don't like. You don't know anything about me."

AIR NOMAD - "I won't give up on people because they didn't give up on me."

ANTAGONISTS

The Painted Lady - "If you know who I am then you know this won't end well for you...any of you."

Earth Kingdom Service Man - "Maybe it's time we bend fate to our will."

Air Bending Inventor - "We won't lose to this, not to them, we've been through much worse."

Water Tribe Assassin - "Finally, a challenge!"

Indigenous Fire Nation Enforcer - "No one gets to escape their past, even you!"

THE WORLD (70s Aesthetic)

Fate of the Four Nations (ANIMATED FILM) - "If we weren't all complete and utter failures we wouldn't be here would we."

Scourge of the Painted Lady (SEASON 1) - "You mustn't surrender yourself to fate."

Secrets of the Si Wong Desert (SEASON 2 PART 1) - "I'm sick of all this peace and love -I WANT WAR!"

Fury Unleashed (SEASON 2 PART 2) - "It's all been leading to this. Now show me who you are."

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION - Including soundtracks and episode structure.

ADDITIONAL LORE (Not Necessary Reading)

Thank you for making it this far, I hope you enjoyed my pitch. If you have any questions or queries I'd be happy to answer them.

Some more illustrations.

[atlaculture]

Hi, I love your work and was wondering if you've done a post breaking down Earth Kingdom clothing inspiration and what the pieces are called. I'm writing a fanfiction and having a hard time finding info. Thanks!

The thing about the Earth Kingdom is that it's the most populated and diverse of the four nations in-universe. Meaning that each area of the Earth Kingdom has its own unique flavor. Some places are based off of specific Chinese dynasties, others around the various ethnic minorities of China, and some are other Asian cultures entirely.

Ba Sing Se's aesthetic is based off of the later years of China's Qing Dynasty (1636-1912):

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Ba Sing Se Queues (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Zuko's Teashop Outfit (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Ba Sing Se Headdresses (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: The Dai Li (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Royal Earthbender Guards (tumblr.com)

Toph's family and background are meant to appear refined and wealthy so their look is based off of the later years of China's opulent Tang Dynasty (618-907):

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Toph’s Fancy Dress (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Toph’s Sleepwear (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Toph’s Hairstyle (tumblr.com)

Bumi likes to wear Chinese opera clothing and his character is broadly inspired by Lu Bu of the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280):

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Bumi (tumblr.com)

Kyoshi Island is Heian & Edo period Japan mixed with Ainu culture:

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Kyoshi Headbands (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Kyoshi Makeup (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Kyoshi’s Hair & Clothes (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Kyoshi Warriors Uniform (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Kyoshi Islanders Fashion Pt. 1 -... (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Kyoshi Islanders Fashion Pt. 2 -... (tumblr.com)

When Zuko and Iroh are on the run in the EK, they encounter a Vietnamese town and a Korean village:

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Anatomy: “The Swamp” Episode (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Architecture: Song’s Village (tumblr.com)

The tribes of the Si Wong Desert are North African crossed with Mongolian:

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Sandbenders (tumblr.com)

Chong and Lily (Secret Tunnel Hippies) wear Tibetan and Hmong clothing, respectively:

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Chong (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Lily (tumblr.com)

The refugee family with the pregnant wife is inspired by Yi people:

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Serpent’s Pass Refugees Pt. 1 (tumblr.com)

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Serpent’s Pass Refugees Pt. 2 (tumblr.com)

And, with the exception of culturally isolated areas like Ba Sing Se/Si Wong Desert/Omashu/Kyoshi/Foggy Swamp, most men in the EK wear their hair in Taoist topknots:

The Cultures of Avatar: The Last Airbender | Cultural Fashion: Earth Kingdom Top Knots (tumblr.com)

So the sort of clothing your characters will be wearing in the EK depends on where in the country they are or are from. If you plan on inventing a new setting that takes place in the Earth Kingdom, try to choose a culture and period that reflects the mood or theme you're trying to get across.

[original-sheepsandwich90]

[the-badger-mole]

Uncharted Waters: A Ballad on the Sands

The sandbenders brought the sailers to a stop some yards away, to avoid kicking up sand in the main camp. As the particles settled, the rest of the nomads hurried over to help unload supplies. Katara and Zuko followed Cabh’a and the others to the furthest sailer, and climbed onboard while waited for the men to untie the parcels. One of them, a boy who seemed to be around their age, looked up, his brow cocked curiously at the strangers.

Katara froze when his eyes landed on her. She’d never seen anyone like him. His warm brown eyes stood out like stars in the midnight sky, and sparkled with mirth, though he wasn’t laughing, or even smiling. The indigo blue of his clothing played up the depth of his complexion, complimenting the deep, dark brown of his skin. His hands, calloused from the hard work necessary to survive the Si Wong Desert, were nonetheless slender and elegant looking. He was tall, too. His blue turban gave him the illusion of more height, but he was at least an inch or, two taller than Zuko. He approached them, moving with feline grace among the crates. He was…

“Beautiful��” Katara whispered.

“Huh?” Zuko scrunched his brow and leaned closer to Katara. “What did you say?”

“I-I said they look really full,” Katara said, gesturing at the parcels. “The boxes look really full. We might need to carry them together.”  She tugged at the edges of her tesirnest to hide the sudden flush blooming over her cheeks.

[nikolaiar]

Back in my Avatar AU bag. We should probably talk about how sandbenders were portrayed.

Anyways meet Iften, he don’t wanna be the Avatar! He’s too busy being a dad and trying not to think about he past it’s always there anyways.

Also all Avatars have a spirit guide, and his is a sandstork. They are basically huge storks that live in the Si Wong Desert. They’re kinda like a mix of ostrich I guess? I imagine the sandbenders would’ve rode them instead of camels before they invented sand sailors or whatever the fuck the boat things are called.

[discordiansamba]

avatar Zuko AU wherein is he learns he's the Avatar only after being banished wholesale to the Earth Kingdom and immediately goes. well. fuck. and proceeds to go on the most unconventional journey to master the four elements known to man.

first stop? well, he might as well check out the Air Temples. They're a good place to hide, since he's pretty sure all three surviving nations would like him dead. he ends up in the Southern Air Temple, and winds up laying the bodies there to rest... after he spends several days searching the temple for anything pertaining to how airbenders are actually laid to rest.

he does not expect to be greeted by a ghost once he does. The spirit of Monk Gyatso becomes his airbending teacher, until one day he simply stops appearing. Zuko assumes he's finally moved on, and decides it's time for him to move on. He wanders the Earth Kingdom for awhile, while trying to keep a low profile, and winds up at the Foggy Bottom Swamp.

...where there are apparently waterbenders who don't want to kill him. Sure, he'll take it. Huu is... eccentric, and he's not really sure he agrees with his uh. viewpoint on pants (or lack thereof) but he is a good teacher. after awhile, Huu tells him he should travel on to the Si Wong Desert so Zuko is just like. sure why the fuck not. and goes to the desert.

he gets taken in by one of the sandbending tribes there, and learns earthbending from them. he's pretty sure he prefers living in the desert over the swamp. the sandbenders he's staying with are nice enough, even if some of their younger members seem... well, assholes. said assholes sell him out one day, so he has to leave the desert.

well. now what?

(all the while, he's leaving behind the most eccentric string of rumors about the Avatar known to man.)

[mah-o-daryaa]

ATLA Headcanons: Nations Edition

Water Tribes:

Despite the might of the Fire Navy during the war, around 1000-500 BG (Before Genocide), the Water Tribes were known for producing the best sailors and navigators around the world.

The NWT (Northern Water Tribe) traditions greatly emphasized the Moon Spirit, Tui, whereas the SWT (Southern Water Tribe) traditions preferred the Ocean Spirit, La.

Water Tribesmen were known for being innovative, the greatest example being Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, who invented modern airships and submarines. The first pair of sunglasses, for example, were invented by a Water Tribe immigrant in Republic City. It was an innovation from snow goggles, which were worn frequently in the NWT capital, Agna Qel'a, to prevent snow blindness, and later by Sokka and the Mechanist during the Black Sun invasion in 100 AG (After Genocide).

The people of the Water Tribes were known for migrating to various lands to sustain their population. The first great example was Northerners migrating to the South Pole, circa 4000 BG, followed by the Foggy Swamp, Yokoya (present-day Kyoshi Island), and even had a small Fire Nation diaspora (who were all exiled by Firelord Sozin and later Azulon during the Hundred Years War).

Similar to the stereotype of Fire Nationals being obsessed with honour, common Water Tribe stereotypes included being present-moment oriented (going with the flow), being family-oriented, laziness and never being on time, and (unfortunately) living a hedonistic lifestyle, such as alcoholism and doing the "thing". It didn't help that actual examples existed in the form of Avatar Kuruk.

Earth Kingdom:

The Earth Kingdom was often mistaken for a group of nations rather than a single nation. It didn't help that the various provinces were very dissimilar to one another in language, architecture, customs, and (in the case of Omashu) governmental affairs.

The Earth Kingdom consisted of various diasporas from the other nations, including (but not limited to) Fire Nation colonists in the FN colonies (and later the United Republic of Nations), the Northern Air Temple and surrounding locations, and the aformentioned Water Tribe immigrants in the southeastern Earth Kingdom, the most prominent being the Foggy Swamp tribe, Kyoshi Island, and even the Si Wong Desert.

Common stereotypes for the Earth Kingdom as a whole were rare due to the sheer size and diversity of the nation. For individual nations, Ba Sing Se was seen as complacent and corrupt, Gaoling was opulent but arrogant, whereas Omashu was basically that weird kid nobody wanted to associate with. The sandbenders were seen as rogue criminals, and the swampbenders were mistaken for polar waterbenders.

Related to the above, diaspora groups were given common stereotypes related to their homeland; for example, Kyoshi Islanders were mistaken for Water Tribesmen, the Fire Nation colonists were stereotyped similarly to their countrymen back home, etc.

The Earth Kingdom had a long history of stonework and masonry due to the power of earthbenders. The Northern Air Temple, for example, was built mostly by earthbenders, and stone and marble statues were often built as gifts to foreign diplomats and the crowning of royalty in other nations.

Fire Nation:

The Fire Nation was known for its traditional dances for hundreds of years before dancing was forbidden by Firelord Sozin during the Hundred Year War. During the modern era, the greatest dancers were notably from the Fire Nation, relearning their pre-war culture.

The Fire Nation were also known for glassmaking and metalwork due to their control over fire. These were often sent as gifts or means of trade.

During Firelord Zuko's rule, efforts were made to preserve pre-war Fire Nation traditions including singing, dancing, and dragons.

Pre-centralized Fire Nation had many regional dialects that varied by clan; some examples include the Keohso, the Saowon speaking the Ma'inka dialect, and the Sei'naka speaking the Southern dialect of FN language. Later on, the dialect spoken in the FN capital city was made the official language of the Fire Nation.

Similarly to the Water Tribes, the Fire Nation was known for being innovative and technologically advanced, to the point where Fn engineers were often brought to other nations to improve infrastructure. After the Hundred Years War came to an end, Sokka worked with several such engineers to invent new technology introduced in Republic City.

Air Nomads:

Each Air Temple has its own regional dialect with loanwords from their closest nation. Avatar Yangchen, for example, spoke with the Western dialect, with loanwords from the Fire Nation syntax, whereas Avatar Aang spoke the Southern dialect, with loanwards from the Southern Water Tribe. The Northern and Eastern dialects included Earth Kingdom syntax.

The Air Nomads were known for their traditional songs. Before the war, Air Nomad singers and Fire Nation dancers and musicians often travelled together to performances around the world.

The notion that all Air Nomads were airbenders was actually Fire Nation propaganda. However, Air Nomads who were born airbenders were sent to the Air Temples to train under the monks and nuns while nonbenders were left with other families, hence the misconception.

Every year, male Air Nomads from the Northern and Southern Air Temples travel to the Eastern and Western Air Temples to meet female Air Nomads there. Yes, that's how Air Nomads are born.

Similar to the Water Tribes, the Air Nomads often travelled around various nations, forming diasporas around the world, most commonly in the Earth Kingdom. People forgot about that because of (again) Fire Nation propaganda.

Miscellaneous:

Each Avatar wears an item of clothing that separates him or her from their fellow countrymen (technically canon). Kuruk has his polar bear-dog headress, Kyoshi is pretty self-explanatory, Roku has Sozin's headpiece, Aang immediately stands out too as an Air Nomad, and Korra has a pretty recognizable physicality.