App for Gargleblasted
Feb. 1st, 2030 08:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
falling_so_slowAC Link
OOC:
Name: Levi
Are you over 16?: Old enough to be your father.
Personal DW:to_be_fire
Email: pretendytimes(at)gmail(dot)com
Timezone: US Central (GMT -6)
Other contact: AIM: hirimioda
Characters already in the game: Eirin Yagokoro(research_study), Yamame Kurodani(thug_disease), Ferik Jurgen(hidethehero)
How did you find us?: With a Shirshu
IC:
Character name: Iroh
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Timeline: A few months or so after his prison breakout. Before his reunion with Zuko.
Age: 64
~*Magical*~ abilities and strengths: Iroh is a firebender, which means is he able to produce fire from his hands/fists/breath through the use of chi control and martial arts. He is quite the formidable firebender as well, possibly the strongest in the fire kingdom.
How would they use their abilities?: To heat tea, mostly. Otherwise for the greater good.
Appearance: Iroh is a rather old man. He typically wears a well-trimmed beard, whitened with age, as well as long white hair. He has a rather high hairline, considering his age, and he looks to be the typical heavyset 64 year old man. Though, after his time in prison he is rather well sculpted muscularly, and has lost all of his old man fat he built up over the years. He typically wears the red robes and chest armor common to the fire nation, complete with gold trim. He appears to be the rather average old man with an Asian appearance, with bright golden eyes common to the people of the Fire Nation, especially the royal family. His wrinkles give obvious evidence to the constant distant and almost sad smile on his face, but his appearance is obvious of a man who's gained much wisdom and simply loves life. Or, just refer to this.
Background/Personality: [Okay, this is going to be horribly long because A LOT of events through the series are rather important to understand the character. Good lord I apologize for this. I will make this as short as I think I can.]
Iroh was born the eldest son of Fire Lord Azulon, the grandson of, Sozin, who started the hundred year war in their world. Despite his lineage, Iroh turned out quite different from the rest of the royal family, especially his brother Ozai. In his younger years, Iroh was an honorable man, and a loving father to his only son Lu Ten. As was customary in his country, one of Iroh's earliest accomplishments both earned him much glory, and was the first evidence of his honor. He had met with the Sun Warriors, an ancient sect which still followed the true path of firebending, and met with the last two dragons (the original firebenders) left alive in the world. Instead of fighting them and killing them for glory, as the tradition worked, the two dragons Ran and Shaw judged him worthy and gave him a vision of the true secrets to firebending. Instead of ending his visit in conflict, however, in order to protect the last surviving dragons he lied about killing them, thus ending the tradition with the assumption that all the dragons of the world were gone. For this, Iroh was rewarded with much glory in his homeland, and given the title "Dragon of the West" for his exploits.
Iroh was always destined for great things, being the man next in line to become the Fire Lord. Iroh had a vision as a young man that he would one day conquer the Earth Nation capital of Ba Sing Se. As a General in the Fire Nation army, Iroh laid siege to Ba Sing Se for six hundred days. He had managed to breach the outer walls, a feat so far unmatched by any other, but this would be the true turning point in Iroh's life. While laying siege to the city, his son Lu Ten was killed on the front lines. Stricken with incredible grief at the loss of his only son, Iroh turned away from the siege, causing his greatest moment of failure and dishonor in the eyes of his country. Iroh had gained much wisdom in his time, and the death of his own child had given him much more to reflect upon in his years to come. Though, when Iroh returned in disgrace to his homeland he found his father dead by mysterious circumstances, and his brother Ozai accepted as the new Fire Lord as per his father's last wish. Iroh never fought for his proper place on the throne, seemingly content to live the rest of his days out in his homeland closer to what remained of his family.
Not long after, Iroh indulgently allowed his nephew Zuko to sit in Ozai's war council. Zuko, during this council, spoke out of turn concerning a battle strategy being discussed. Though Iroh silently agreed with his nephew's assessment, Zuko only managed to infuriate the other members of the council. For his outburst, the Fire Lord (Zuko's father) demanded that his honor be defended in an Agni Kai (a fire duel). Zuko, unafraid, accepted the challenge. He would soon discover that speaking out of turn in the Fire Lord's war room was an insult to him personally, and Iroh could only watch as it was revealed that Zuko would have to duel his own father. Zuko broke down, prostrating himself before his father and begging for forgiveness, though Iroh's brother would have none. Iroh could only look away as the Fire Lord burned his own son terribly, giving him the scar that would be with him the rest of his life.
Zuko had been banished from his homeland, sent on an impossible task to capture the Avatar, who had not been seen in a hundred years. Iroh joined the boy on his journey, hoping to at least give Zuko the guidance that could lead him to discover the good and honor he already had within him. Traveling with Zuko produced many hardships, but Iroh never once gave up on his nephew as they found and pursued the Avatar (Aang) and his friends all across the world. Iroh could only be patient with his nephew as he searched desperately for his path to reclaim his honor, doing his best to teach his nephew the virtues of humility that Iroh learned through such hard lessons in his own life. It had almost seemed Zuko had begun to realize what was more important in life, too, considering he gave up on the Avatar's trail to rescue Iroh when he had been captured by Earth Kingdom soldiers.
But alas, those virtues would be tested once again during Admiral Zhao's siege on the north pole Water Tribe. Zhao had invited Iroh to be an advisor for his siege, but Iroh declined. Shortly after an attempt was made on Zuko's life by Zhao's orders, and believing Zuko was dead, accepted Iroh as his advisor after an apparent sudden change of heart. Iroh only used this opportunity to smuggle Zuko aboard the ship, so that he may have his chance to capture the Avatar before Zhao could. Though, while serving as advisor Iroh discovered a terrible plan by Zhao to destroy the spirit of the Moon housed in the north pole city, thus cutting off the source of power for all waterbenders. Iroh grew furious with this plan, warning Zhao to not be mucking about in the matters of spirits. Iroh had once visited the realm of spirits himself, and his wisdom would have been best heeded...but Zhao went on with his plan anyway. Zuko had already taken the Avatar's body and disappeared by the time Zhao showed up at the spirit pool to take the small fish that embodied the spirit of the Moon, but Iroh showed up to intervene. Knowing full well that harming the spirit would result in catastrophe, Iroh warned Zhao anything he did to that spirit would be returned to him ten fold. Zhao seemed to comply...but after releasing the fish back into the water, he severely burned it in a rage, killing it. Shocked, appalled and enraged, Iroh attempted to end Zhao for what he had done, taking out Zhao's compliment of soldiers in an impressive display of firebending skill, but the man escaped (only to be likely killed by the Avatar later.) Iroh, left alone with Katara, Sokka and the princess of the norther water tribe, Yue, he lamented the loss of such an important spirit. Iroh noticed, however, that Yue showed signs of being touched by the moon spirit once before. He watched as the brave young woman sacrificed herself to return the spirit to life, thus taking it's place as the spirit of the moon. Iroh quickly found his nephew nearly frozen to death in the tundras of the north pole, and they quickly set out as traitors to the Fire Nation, now on the run.
On the three year anniversary of Zuko's banishment, his sister Azula appeared in an attempt to bring them back home. Iroh knew better than to trust Zuko's monstrous sister, but Zuko wanted to believe so badly he had been redeemed that he agreed to go home with her. Though, one slip of the tongue from a poorly disciplined naval officer revealed it to be a trap, and Iroh wasted no time in pulling his nephew on the run, keeping him as safe as he could from his treacherous family. Thus began Iroh's journey with his nephew as a disguised refugee, the both of them having removed the topknots to symbolize their new status. Iroh's humility and patience would be tested many times traveling with Zuko, however, as he continued to do his best to give Zuko the room to find his own path himself. Iroh adjusted easily to the life of humility, simplicity and poverty, though his nephew simply could not. Iroh tried to remind his nephew that those who maintain hope in the face of adversity held true strength, though Zuko saw it differently. A confused Zuko, in much turmoil at his new place in life, decided he and his uncle should not be traveling together anymore. Despite this, Iroh still tailed the boy on his adventure of self-discovery, eventually coming to his accidental meeting with the Avatar's new Earthbending teacher, Toph. He revealed to the young blind girl his tailing of his nephew, trying to give him the room to discover his own path and the good inside of him on his own. Though it obviously pained Iroh to have to see the nephew he sees as a son in such turmoil, he had the wisdom to know that his path was his own to take, and he would watch over his nephew no matter how long it took.
They would soon be reunited at a confrontation with Zuko's sister, Azula, in which the Avatar and his friends all found themselves facing off with Zuko and Iroh against Azula. They had her cornered, and seemed to have won the day, but a moment of surprise on Iroh's part at seeing the young lady he'd recently spoken to with the Avatar gave Azula the opening she needed. While Iroh was distracted by this momentarily, Azula hit Iroh with a bolt of lightening, gravely injuring the man. After recovering from his injury, Iroh decided it was time to teach Zuko the techniques he would need to defeat Azula. He first attempted to teach him how to create lightning, but the turmoil within Zuko would not allow him to balance the energies within him to do it. So, Iroh instead showed his young nephew a technique he developed from studying Waterbenders, which involved redirecting lightening. Upon learning it, Zuko wished to test it by having Iroh shoot lightening at him...but Iroh refused to perform such a dangerous test, frustrating his nephew even further.
Soon after, Iroh and Zuko found themselves in a desert town in which Iroh made contact with a man who was a part of an ancient sect known as The Order of the White Lotus. After escaping an attempt by two men to capture them for the bounty on their heads, Iroh used his pull as a Grandmaster in the order to get passports and papers made up to enter the city of Ba Sing Se as refugees in hopes of avoiding any more attempts to have them captured.
Iroh and Zuko soon fell into their new lives in Ba Sing Se as simple refugees trying to make a living. Zuko resisted making a new life for himself at every turn, but Iroh was quite persistent, even getting them jobs as tea servers in the lower ring of the city. During their stay, Iroh spent much time helping those around him in the city, displayed on his exploits on the day of his passed son's birthday. Finding a nice hill with a single tree, Iroh put up a temporary memorial to his fallen son, his only words as tears filled his eyes being "Happy Birthday, my son. If only I could have helped you." The death of his only son still claws at Iroh even to this very day.
After a bit of time in Ba Sing Se, Iroh is given a chance to open his very own tea shop, which has him overjoyed. Though, his nephew was still unable to accept their new life, and after discovering the Avatar was in the city as well, set out to steal Aang's now captured sky bison, Appa. At the critical moment, however, Iroh confronts his nephew, rather bluntly and angrily telling him to stop living his life the way he thinks others want him to, and to start asking himself the big questions. What does he want? What does he think he should do? After a strained moment, Zuko simply sets Aang's bison free. Iroh convinces Zuko to let go of his thief persona, the "Blue Spirit," and the boy shortly after falls ill. His actions were so out of touch with his view of himself that his body began to war within itself. Iroh lovingly cared for the boy up until the day of the grand opening of his teashop, in which young Zuko suddenly seemed excited. His nephew had seemed to make a grand change after his battle with his illness, becoming an entirely new man. Iroh was overjoyed that his nephew had finally found peace within himself, and could not wait to truly begin their new life. Though, as always, fate had other plans.
Azula had soon arrived within the city as well, quickly discovering the whereabouts of the Avatar, as well as Iroh and Zuko. Azula staged a coup d'état, and quickly had the city under her control. Azula captured her brother, Zuko, throwing him into an underground prison beneath the palace. Iroh had no choice but to go to the Avatar for help in rescuing his nephew, as Azula had also captured and imprisoned their friend Katara in the same place. Iroh seemed completely at ease working with the Avatar to rescue his nephew, even providing the boy with a bit of wisdom about life and the path he walks. They soon find Katar and Zuko, both relieved to be with their respective loved ones again, but the situation had returned turmoil to Zuko. Azula quickly caught up with them all, Azula using her Dai Lee agents (kind of like the secret service of Ba Sing Se), to capture Iroh and convince her brother to join her and capture both the Avatar and Ba Sing Se for their country. Her twisted words got through to Zuko, despite Iroh's best efforts...and they fought the Avatar together. After Aang is nearly killed by a well-placed bolt of lightening from Azula, Iroh swiftly jumps in to give Katara a chance to get Aang out of there, now knowing that the only true hope to restore the world to balance would be the Avatar. Pained by his nephew's loss of direction, Iroh allows himself to be captured and imprisoned.
Iroh then spent a very long time imprisoned in his homeland. Zuko would secretly visit him, but Iroh would meet him only with silence. Not because he was angry with him, but because he was ashamed to have lost yet another son. The only way Zuko could realize his mistakes was to be left to his own devices in a life he knew the boy would not be able to see as his proper path. As Iroh spent his time in prison, he devised a plan. He let the guards see him as an old man gone mad in his cell, but any time he wasn't under their eye Iroh was training his body to become the powerful man he once was in his heyday. Before he could pull his plan to fruition, though, Iroh managed to get a message out to Zuko urging him to learn the truth of his great grandfather Sozin's death. Upon learning it, a confused Zuko visited Iroh, and he revealed that Zuko's destiny and the destiny of the Avatar were intertwined. After having performed his last act to try to redeem the good within his nephew, Iroh busted himself out of prison on the day of a solar eclipse, an event which cuts firebenders off from their power completely for the duration. Iroh now knew what his destiny was. His vision was not to conquer Ba Sing Se for the Fire Nation...it was to take it back. He had much preparing to do.
Okay, THAT'S the point I'm taking him from. As can be seen from his history Iroh is a rather complicated man with a complicated past. Though, through his hardships Iroh has had the chance to gain much wisdom. Though he seems like a somewhat crazy, and very lazy old man, he is a man who prefers to live humbly and enjoy life any way he can. Family has always been important to Iroh, and after losing his only son he had once thought all was lost. Iroh attached himself to the good he could see within his nephew Zuko, though. He is a man who values life, and really really REALLY enjoys a good cup of tea and a rousing game of Pai Sho. He keeps a happy demeanor as often as possible, preferring to make friends easily rather than fight his way upstream in the river of life. He loves to deliver proverbs, and will always be willing to listen to the problems of others and give advice where he can. Balance, humility, and spirituality are important to the man, which is why he became a grandmaster in the Order of the White Lotus. It is an order which values philosophy most, and transcends the boundaries of countries and borders. Though the man is confusing in his behavior, often the anti-thesis to his nephew Zuko, he keeps an open mind and an even more open heart. His years of time in the army have also made him a dangerous and crafty man, and when the time comes to get serious Iroh does not hesitate to attack, in order to defend what is most important. He also does greatly enjoy flirting with the ladies, and always enjoys his time spent with pretty women. He's still an old man, after all. Though he is one of the most powerful firebenders alive, he is always humble, and will never use that power unless he knows it to be necessary. Ever a man with a simple vision of the future, Iroh may very well be one of the wisest old men one may come across.
Have you read up on how the game works?: Yep. The application used is Flaming Ferret. (Oddly appropriate in his case). The three ways to make money is through missions, freelance work or mooching. Or perhaps just living like a bum humbly as a true man of the world should.
1st person sample:
[The video feed cuts on to the rather large image of an old man's face, peering carefully directly into the camera. Mercifully, he soon backs away, the same mystified expression on his face. He looks to the screen, then back down to tak away at a few things, then back up at the screen.]
Such a marvel! I had no idea such things could ever exist. I was told that I could communicate with others through this contraption...but I am not sure if it is working!
[Iroh fools around with the thing a bit more, causing the video feed to cut out, then cut back in. He's obviously having a lot of trouble with the device.]
Oh well. [Iroh's face suddenly turns very serious, as if what he is about to say is the most important thing in the world.] What I have to ask is very, very important, so please listen carefully.
[After a short pause, his face moves fluidly back into an easy smile.] Does anyone know where I can get a good cup of Jasmine tea??
3rd person sample:
Having finally finished his paperwork, Iroh had found himself in complete disbelief of two very important things. First would have been the sheer size of the vessel he had suddenly found himself upon, and second would have been that paperwork could cause this much terrible fatigue. Before continuing on his exploratory mission onto the giant metal beast, Iroh found himself needing to sit down first.
After he found himself a quiet corner of the new arrivals area, Iroh simply watched the flood of creatures come and go. With the small fish-thing installed in his ear, Iroh was able to pick up snippets of conversation here and there he was pretty sure he'd never understand otherwise, but it all slowly blended into background noise as he began to think, idly watching the passers-by.
The implications that his entire world had been destroyed were quite heavy. Had his brother gone too far? Had the Avatar fallen? Surely the rest of the order would have alerted him to absolute destruction if he had been asleep or something. Unless, of course, it had all been over in an instant. Which only left even more questions. How had he been saved? Had anyone else been saved?
The most important question on his mind, though, was what had become of Zuko? As soon as the thought had hit his mind, Iroh could feel the grief of losing not one son, but two, slowly threatening to overtake him. He hadn't seen him since he discovered the truth of his great grandfather. Iroh hadn't even had the opportunity to properly tell him goodbye. How could he have seen total destruction coming? He didn't know, but the grief still sank his stomach like a rock.
No. If Iroh had somehow been saved, Zuko must have been as well. Filling himself with hope once more, and with renewed vigor, Iroh hauled himself up off the floor. He took a short moment to be grateful for all the exercise he had gotten in prison, which had made getting up and sitting down less of a chore, before setting out into the bowels of this suspended ship in search of his nephew. Iroh couldn't give up hope...not yet.
Questions?: WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY CABBAGES???
Did you put your characters name and fandom in the subject: What is the "subject" but an intangible ideal? A frail direction for conversation?
OOC:
Name: Levi
Are you over 16?: Old enough to be your father.
Personal DW:
to_be_fireEmail: pretendytimes(at)gmail(dot)com
Timezone: US Central (GMT -6)
Other contact: AIM: hirimioda
Characters already in the game: Eirin Yagokoro(
research_study), Yamame Kurodani(thug_disease), Ferik Jurgen(hidethehero)How did you find us?: With a Shirshu
IC:
Character name: Iroh
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Timeline: A few months or so after his prison breakout. Before his reunion with Zuko.
Age: 64
~*Magical*~ abilities and strengths: Iroh is a firebender, which means is he able to produce fire from his hands/fists/breath through the use of chi control and martial arts. He is quite the formidable firebender as well, possibly the strongest in the fire kingdom.
How would they use their abilities?: To heat tea, mostly. Otherwise for the greater good.
Appearance: Iroh is a rather old man. He typically wears a well-trimmed beard, whitened with age, as well as long white hair. He has a rather high hairline, considering his age, and he looks to be the typical heavyset 64 year old man. Though, after his time in prison he is rather well sculpted muscularly, and has lost all of his old man fat he built up over the years. He typically wears the red robes and chest armor common to the fire nation, complete with gold trim. He appears to be the rather average old man with an Asian appearance, with bright golden eyes common to the people of the Fire Nation, especially the royal family. His wrinkles give obvious evidence to the constant distant and almost sad smile on his face, but his appearance is obvious of a man who's gained much wisdom and simply loves life. Or, just refer to this.
Background/Personality: [Okay, this is going to be horribly long because A LOT of events through the series are rather important to understand the character. Good lord I apologize for this. I will make this as short as I think I can.]
Iroh was born the eldest son of Fire Lord Azulon, the grandson of, Sozin, who started the hundred year war in their world. Despite his lineage, Iroh turned out quite different from the rest of the royal family, especially his brother Ozai. In his younger years, Iroh was an honorable man, and a loving father to his only son Lu Ten. As was customary in his country, one of Iroh's earliest accomplishments both earned him much glory, and was the first evidence of his honor. He had met with the Sun Warriors, an ancient sect which still followed the true path of firebending, and met with the last two dragons (the original firebenders) left alive in the world. Instead of fighting them and killing them for glory, as the tradition worked, the two dragons Ran and Shaw judged him worthy and gave him a vision of the true secrets to firebending. Instead of ending his visit in conflict, however, in order to protect the last surviving dragons he lied about killing them, thus ending the tradition with the assumption that all the dragons of the world were gone. For this, Iroh was rewarded with much glory in his homeland, and given the title "Dragon of the West" for his exploits.
Iroh was always destined for great things, being the man next in line to become the Fire Lord. Iroh had a vision as a young man that he would one day conquer the Earth Nation capital of Ba Sing Se. As a General in the Fire Nation army, Iroh laid siege to Ba Sing Se for six hundred days. He had managed to breach the outer walls, a feat so far unmatched by any other, but this would be the true turning point in Iroh's life. While laying siege to the city, his son Lu Ten was killed on the front lines. Stricken with incredible grief at the loss of his only son, Iroh turned away from the siege, causing his greatest moment of failure and dishonor in the eyes of his country. Iroh had gained much wisdom in his time, and the death of his own child had given him much more to reflect upon in his years to come. Though, when Iroh returned in disgrace to his homeland he found his father dead by mysterious circumstances, and his brother Ozai accepted as the new Fire Lord as per his father's last wish. Iroh never fought for his proper place on the throne, seemingly content to live the rest of his days out in his homeland closer to what remained of his family.
Not long after, Iroh indulgently allowed his nephew Zuko to sit in Ozai's war council. Zuko, during this council, spoke out of turn concerning a battle strategy being discussed. Though Iroh silently agreed with his nephew's assessment, Zuko only managed to infuriate the other members of the council. For his outburst, the Fire Lord (Zuko's father) demanded that his honor be defended in an Agni Kai (a fire duel). Zuko, unafraid, accepted the challenge. He would soon discover that speaking out of turn in the Fire Lord's war room was an insult to him personally, and Iroh could only watch as it was revealed that Zuko would have to duel his own father. Zuko broke down, prostrating himself before his father and begging for forgiveness, though Iroh's brother would have none. Iroh could only look away as the Fire Lord burned his own son terribly, giving him the scar that would be with him the rest of his life.
Zuko had been banished from his homeland, sent on an impossible task to capture the Avatar, who had not been seen in a hundred years. Iroh joined the boy on his journey, hoping to at least give Zuko the guidance that could lead him to discover the good and honor he already had within him. Traveling with Zuko produced many hardships, but Iroh never once gave up on his nephew as they found and pursued the Avatar (Aang) and his friends all across the world. Iroh could only be patient with his nephew as he searched desperately for his path to reclaim his honor, doing his best to teach his nephew the virtues of humility that Iroh learned through such hard lessons in his own life. It had almost seemed Zuko had begun to realize what was more important in life, too, considering he gave up on the Avatar's trail to rescue Iroh when he had been captured by Earth Kingdom soldiers.
But alas, those virtues would be tested once again during Admiral Zhao's siege on the north pole Water Tribe. Zhao had invited Iroh to be an advisor for his siege, but Iroh declined. Shortly after an attempt was made on Zuko's life by Zhao's orders, and believing Zuko was dead, accepted Iroh as his advisor after an apparent sudden change of heart. Iroh only used this opportunity to smuggle Zuko aboard the ship, so that he may have his chance to capture the Avatar before Zhao could. Though, while serving as advisor Iroh discovered a terrible plan by Zhao to destroy the spirit of the Moon housed in the north pole city, thus cutting off the source of power for all waterbenders. Iroh grew furious with this plan, warning Zhao to not be mucking about in the matters of spirits. Iroh had once visited the realm of spirits himself, and his wisdom would have been best heeded...but Zhao went on with his plan anyway. Zuko had already taken the Avatar's body and disappeared by the time Zhao showed up at the spirit pool to take the small fish that embodied the spirit of the Moon, but Iroh showed up to intervene. Knowing full well that harming the spirit would result in catastrophe, Iroh warned Zhao anything he did to that spirit would be returned to him ten fold. Zhao seemed to comply...but after releasing the fish back into the water, he severely burned it in a rage, killing it. Shocked, appalled and enraged, Iroh attempted to end Zhao for what he had done, taking out Zhao's compliment of soldiers in an impressive display of firebending skill, but the man escaped (only to be likely killed by the Avatar later.) Iroh, left alone with Katara, Sokka and the princess of the norther water tribe, Yue, he lamented the loss of such an important spirit. Iroh noticed, however, that Yue showed signs of being touched by the moon spirit once before. He watched as the brave young woman sacrificed herself to return the spirit to life, thus taking it's place as the spirit of the moon. Iroh quickly found his nephew nearly frozen to death in the tundras of the north pole, and they quickly set out as traitors to the Fire Nation, now on the run.
On the three year anniversary of Zuko's banishment, his sister Azula appeared in an attempt to bring them back home. Iroh knew better than to trust Zuko's monstrous sister, but Zuko wanted to believe so badly he had been redeemed that he agreed to go home with her. Though, one slip of the tongue from a poorly disciplined naval officer revealed it to be a trap, and Iroh wasted no time in pulling his nephew on the run, keeping him as safe as he could from his treacherous family. Thus began Iroh's journey with his nephew as a disguised refugee, the both of them having removed the topknots to symbolize their new status. Iroh's humility and patience would be tested many times traveling with Zuko, however, as he continued to do his best to give Zuko the room to find his own path himself. Iroh adjusted easily to the life of humility, simplicity and poverty, though his nephew simply could not. Iroh tried to remind his nephew that those who maintain hope in the face of adversity held true strength, though Zuko saw it differently. A confused Zuko, in much turmoil at his new place in life, decided he and his uncle should not be traveling together anymore. Despite this, Iroh still tailed the boy on his adventure of self-discovery, eventually coming to his accidental meeting with the Avatar's new Earthbending teacher, Toph. He revealed to the young blind girl his tailing of his nephew, trying to give him the room to discover his own path and the good inside of him on his own. Though it obviously pained Iroh to have to see the nephew he sees as a son in such turmoil, he had the wisdom to know that his path was his own to take, and he would watch over his nephew no matter how long it took.
They would soon be reunited at a confrontation with Zuko's sister, Azula, in which the Avatar and his friends all found themselves facing off with Zuko and Iroh against Azula. They had her cornered, and seemed to have won the day, but a moment of surprise on Iroh's part at seeing the young lady he'd recently spoken to with the Avatar gave Azula the opening she needed. While Iroh was distracted by this momentarily, Azula hit Iroh with a bolt of lightening, gravely injuring the man. After recovering from his injury, Iroh decided it was time to teach Zuko the techniques he would need to defeat Azula. He first attempted to teach him how to create lightning, but the turmoil within Zuko would not allow him to balance the energies within him to do it. So, Iroh instead showed his young nephew a technique he developed from studying Waterbenders, which involved redirecting lightening. Upon learning it, Zuko wished to test it by having Iroh shoot lightening at him...but Iroh refused to perform such a dangerous test, frustrating his nephew even further.
Soon after, Iroh and Zuko found themselves in a desert town in which Iroh made contact with a man who was a part of an ancient sect known as The Order of the White Lotus. After escaping an attempt by two men to capture them for the bounty on their heads, Iroh used his pull as a Grandmaster in the order to get passports and papers made up to enter the city of Ba Sing Se as refugees in hopes of avoiding any more attempts to have them captured.
Iroh and Zuko soon fell into their new lives in Ba Sing Se as simple refugees trying to make a living. Zuko resisted making a new life for himself at every turn, but Iroh was quite persistent, even getting them jobs as tea servers in the lower ring of the city. During their stay, Iroh spent much time helping those around him in the city, displayed on his exploits on the day of his passed son's birthday. Finding a nice hill with a single tree, Iroh put up a temporary memorial to his fallen son, his only words as tears filled his eyes being "Happy Birthday, my son. If only I could have helped you." The death of his only son still claws at Iroh even to this very day.
After a bit of time in Ba Sing Se, Iroh is given a chance to open his very own tea shop, which has him overjoyed. Though, his nephew was still unable to accept their new life, and after discovering the Avatar was in the city as well, set out to steal Aang's now captured sky bison, Appa. At the critical moment, however, Iroh confronts his nephew, rather bluntly and angrily telling him to stop living his life the way he thinks others want him to, and to start asking himself the big questions. What does he want? What does he think he should do? After a strained moment, Zuko simply sets Aang's bison free. Iroh convinces Zuko to let go of his thief persona, the "Blue Spirit," and the boy shortly after falls ill. His actions were so out of touch with his view of himself that his body began to war within itself. Iroh lovingly cared for the boy up until the day of the grand opening of his teashop, in which young Zuko suddenly seemed excited. His nephew had seemed to make a grand change after his battle with his illness, becoming an entirely new man. Iroh was overjoyed that his nephew had finally found peace within himself, and could not wait to truly begin their new life. Though, as always, fate had other plans.
Azula had soon arrived within the city as well, quickly discovering the whereabouts of the Avatar, as well as Iroh and Zuko. Azula staged a coup d'état, and quickly had the city under her control. Azula captured her brother, Zuko, throwing him into an underground prison beneath the palace. Iroh had no choice but to go to the Avatar for help in rescuing his nephew, as Azula had also captured and imprisoned their friend Katara in the same place. Iroh seemed completely at ease working with the Avatar to rescue his nephew, even providing the boy with a bit of wisdom about life and the path he walks. They soon find Katar and Zuko, both relieved to be with their respective loved ones again, but the situation had returned turmoil to Zuko. Azula quickly caught up with them all, Azula using her Dai Lee agents (kind of like the secret service of Ba Sing Se), to capture Iroh and convince her brother to join her and capture both the Avatar and Ba Sing Se for their country. Her twisted words got through to Zuko, despite Iroh's best efforts...and they fought the Avatar together. After Aang is nearly killed by a well-placed bolt of lightening from Azula, Iroh swiftly jumps in to give Katara a chance to get Aang out of there, now knowing that the only true hope to restore the world to balance would be the Avatar. Pained by his nephew's loss of direction, Iroh allows himself to be captured and imprisoned.
Iroh then spent a very long time imprisoned in his homeland. Zuko would secretly visit him, but Iroh would meet him only with silence. Not because he was angry with him, but because he was ashamed to have lost yet another son. The only way Zuko could realize his mistakes was to be left to his own devices in a life he knew the boy would not be able to see as his proper path. As Iroh spent his time in prison, he devised a plan. He let the guards see him as an old man gone mad in his cell, but any time he wasn't under their eye Iroh was training his body to become the powerful man he once was in his heyday. Before he could pull his plan to fruition, though, Iroh managed to get a message out to Zuko urging him to learn the truth of his great grandfather Sozin's death. Upon learning it, a confused Zuko visited Iroh, and he revealed that Zuko's destiny and the destiny of the Avatar were intertwined. After having performed his last act to try to redeem the good within his nephew, Iroh busted himself out of prison on the day of a solar eclipse, an event which cuts firebenders off from their power completely for the duration. Iroh now knew what his destiny was. His vision was not to conquer Ba Sing Se for the Fire Nation...it was to take it back. He had much preparing to do.
Okay, THAT'S the point I'm taking him from. As can be seen from his history Iroh is a rather complicated man with a complicated past. Though, through his hardships Iroh has had the chance to gain much wisdom. Though he seems like a somewhat crazy, and very lazy old man, he is a man who prefers to live humbly and enjoy life any way he can. Family has always been important to Iroh, and after losing his only son he had once thought all was lost. Iroh attached himself to the good he could see within his nephew Zuko, though. He is a man who values life, and really really REALLY enjoys a good cup of tea and a rousing game of Pai Sho. He keeps a happy demeanor as often as possible, preferring to make friends easily rather than fight his way upstream in the river of life. He loves to deliver proverbs, and will always be willing to listen to the problems of others and give advice where he can. Balance, humility, and spirituality are important to the man, which is why he became a grandmaster in the Order of the White Lotus. It is an order which values philosophy most, and transcends the boundaries of countries and borders. Though the man is confusing in his behavior, often the anti-thesis to his nephew Zuko, he keeps an open mind and an even more open heart. His years of time in the army have also made him a dangerous and crafty man, and when the time comes to get serious Iroh does not hesitate to attack, in order to defend what is most important. He also does greatly enjoy flirting with the ladies, and always enjoys his time spent with pretty women. He's still an old man, after all. Though he is one of the most powerful firebenders alive, he is always humble, and will never use that power unless he knows it to be necessary. Ever a man with a simple vision of the future, Iroh may very well be one of the wisest old men one may come across.
Have you read up on how the game works?: Yep. The application used is Flaming Ferret. (Oddly appropriate in his case). The three ways to make money is through missions, freelance work or mooching. Or perhaps just living like a bum humbly as a true man of the world should.
1st person sample:
[The video feed cuts on to the rather large image of an old man's face, peering carefully directly into the camera. Mercifully, he soon backs away, the same mystified expression on his face. He looks to the screen, then back down to tak away at a few things, then back up at the screen.]
Such a marvel! I had no idea such things could ever exist. I was told that I could communicate with others through this contraption...but I am not sure if it is working!
[Iroh fools around with the thing a bit more, causing the video feed to cut out, then cut back in. He's obviously having a lot of trouble with the device.]
Oh well. [Iroh's face suddenly turns very serious, as if what he is about to say is the most important thing in the world.] What I have to ask is very, very important, so please listen carefully.
[After a short pause, his face moves fluidly back into an easy smile.] Does anyone know where I can get a good cup of Jasmine tea??
3rd person sample:
Having finally finished his paperwork, Iroh had found himself in complete disbelief of two very important things. First would have been the sheer size of the vessel he had suddenly found himself upon, and second would have been that paperwork could cause this much terrible fatigue. Before continuing on his exploratory mission onto the giant metal beast, Iroh found himself needing to sit down first.
After he found himself a quiet corner of the new arrivals area, Iroh simply watched the flood of creatures come and go. With the small fish-thing installed in his ear, Iroh was able to pick up snippets of conversation here and there he was pretty sure he'd never understand otherwise, but it all slowly blended into background noise as he began to think, idly watching the passers-by.
The implications that his entire world had been destroyed were quite heavy. Had his brother gone too far? Had the Avatar fallen? Surely the rest of the order would have alerted him to absolute destruction if he had been asleep or something. Unless, of course, it had all been over in an instant. Which only left even more questions. How had he been saved? Had anyone else been saved?
The most important question on his mind, though, was what had become of Zuko? As soon as the thought had hit his mind, Iroh could feel the grief of losing not one son, but two, slowly threatening to overtake him. He hadn't seen him since he discovered the truth of his great grandfather. Iroh hadn't even had the opportunity to properly tell him goodbye. How could he have seen total destruction coming? He didn't know, but the grief still sank his stomach like a rock.
No. If Iroh had somehow been saved, Zuko must have been as well. Filling himself with hope once more, and with renewed vigor, Iroh hauled himself up off the floor. He took a short moment to be grateful for all the exercise he had gotten in prison, which had made getting up and sitting down less of a chore, before setting out into the bowels of this suspended ship in search of his nephew. Iroh couldn't give up hope...not yet.
Questions?: WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY CABBAGES???
Did you put your characters name and fandom in the subject: What is the "subject" but an intangible ideal? A frail direction for conversation?
