Avatar feats, power & lore discussion thread

[Stocking Anarchy]

From The Reckoning of Roku novel.

The context is that benders in the cave were 1000x stronger than normal since there was a spirit living inside a cave amplifying their power.

Alrighty. Thank you for the context and source!

 

[Paxton]

Star level divided by a thousandth (give or take) Avatar characters

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

The Physical World and Spirit World exist as different planes of existence.

For most of the world’s history, the Avatar—a human capable of bending all four elements—has been responsible for maintaining balance in the world and serving as a bridge between the spiritual and physical planes of existence.

(Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, page 6)

 

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Certain Earthbenders can create a 'lava star,' which is a piece of lava in the shape of a star. This attack can be used to destroy the scenery.

Lava Star
Defend and Maneuver
Lava

Create a floating, spinning star of lava that can cut through nearly anything. Mark fatigue and become favored as long as the star is active. Every time you use the star as part of an attack, you can also cut through or destroy part of the scenery as if you had used the Smash basic technique, at no additional cost. You may mark fatigue at the end of each exchange to keep the star active

(Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, page 283)

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

Long ago, the Physical World and the Spirit World remained seperate, but two primordial spirits, Raava & Vaatu, pierced the barrier seperating the two realms, allowing spirits to enter the physical world. Humans lived in cities on the backs of Lion Turtles for protection from the spirits (if this would've saved them from a direct attack from Vaatu I'm not sure). Two spirit portals opened on the planet; one in the North Pole, the other in the South Pole.

Before the Avatar
Long ago, humans and spirits inhabited separate realms. But then two primordial spirits—Raava and Vaatu—pierced the bar- rier separating them, allowing spirits to enter the physical world. Fearing the spirits of the wilds, humans built cities on the backs of giant lion-turtles to keep themselves safe. When the humans ventured forth into the spirit wilds to hunt and gather food, the lion-turtles, each with an affinity for an element, granted them the gift of bending that element on the condition that the humans return their gift upon coming home.
Two spirit portals, one in the South Pole and the other in the North Pole, remained open at all times so spirits could pass between the realms. Though most humans feared the spirits, those living atop the air lion-turtle befriended them, establishing a relationship that would lay the spiritual foundations for the Air Nomads. Otherwise, the experience of most humans during this period was confined to their lion-turtle, with begrudging respect paid to the alien world outside.

(Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, page 16)

 

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Tui and La are the Moon Spirit and the Ocean Spirits respectively. They chose to remain in the Physical world in the form of Koi fish.

The lush and verdant Spirit Oasis hidden within the city is the single most important spiritual location to the Northern Water Tribe. Its verdant, tropical environment is completely unlike the rest of the North Pole, and is said to be nurtured by the energy of Tui, the Moon Spirit, and La, the Ocean Spirit. The two spirits live in a small pond within it as two koi fish constantly circling each other. After the era of Wan, the first Avatar, the first Waterbenders learned bending from observing the power of the moon over the ocean, and so these two spirits hold great significance to the tribe. During the full moon, people make offerings of food to Tui and La.

(Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, page 20)

Tui and La taught the first Waterbenders after humanity left the Lion Turtles.

Bending
Certain people can manipulate one of four elements. This ability is called bending, and its origins go back to when humans built cities on the backs of the lion-turtles thousands of years ago (page 16). After humans left the lion-turtle cities for good, legend says that they learned bending from animals like the earthbending badger-moles, firebending dragons, airbending sky bison, and in the case of Waterbenders, the spirits of the moon and ocean.

(Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game, page 28)

 

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Guru Pathik is over 150 years old, is spiritually enlightened and has helped numerous individuals (including animals) towards their full potential (as well as to clear them of pain and suffering) throughout his life time. He is connected with all of the energy in the universe, which is how he knew the Avatar had returned after sealing himself away with cosmic energy (it should be noted that Guru Pathik being connected to all the energy in the universe almost certainly refers to cosmic awareness rather than raw power).

Character: Guru Pathik​

At 150 years old, Guru Pathik is probably the oldest person in the Avatar world- he’s even older than King Bumi! Though not a bender, he is spiritually enlightened and has helped numerous benders (and animals!) throughout the years attain their full potential and clear their pain and suffering. He does this by helping them clear their chakras, or pools of energy. He practices yoga and meditation every day, which is why he is so flexible and has lived for so long. He also has an excellent sense of humor, but if you try to joke around during meditation, he will quickly get you back on task.

When he was younger, Guru Pathik was a personal friend of the Airbenders and Monk Gyatso. Because Guru Pathik is connected to all the energy in the universe, he knew the Avatar had returned when Aang emerged from the iceberg in an explosion of cosmic energy.

(Originally from the Avatar Encyclopedia from the old Nickelodean website)

Pure cosmic energy flows in from the universe through the Thought Chakra.

The Guru

Chameleon Bay Earth Kingdom Royal Palace Eastern Air Temple Iroh and Zuko's apartment Jasmine Dragon "The Guru"

avatar.fandom.com

Pathik: The Thought Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment. Meditate on what attaches you to this world. Now, let all of those attachments go. Let them flow down the river, forgotten.
Aang: What? Why would I let go of Katara? I...I love her!
Pathik: Learn to let her go, or you cannot let the pure cosmic energy flow in from the universe.

When meditating on his chakras, Aang has a vision where he travels into space and meets a giant cosmic figure who resembles himself. This entity/force/spirit fills him with cosmic energy. However, Aang is unable to complete this trial, as he doesn't wish to let go of Katara.

(From episode 19 of Book Two)

 

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Appa smashes into Nyla with enough force to send him and June into a stone wall and break it.

Appa headbutting Nyla sends June flying through the air (in which time she's able to whip him), and then Appa smashes his foot down onto the stone tiles with enough force to shatter them.

Aang and Zuko clash in an explosion with enough force to send them both flying (and shatter the tiles when they land).

It takes multiple hits from Nyla's tongue to bring Appa down.

Nyla's tongue is strong enough to paralyze multiple humans in a single hit.

Nyla's paralysis lasts for about an hour.

Bato of the Water Tribe

The following scene takes place immediately following the scene where Zuko and Iroh meet June for the first time as she catches the stowaway on Zuko's ship.[1] Abbey Makapu Village Taku Tavern Zuko's ship "Bato of the Water Tribe"

avatar.fandom.com

Zuko: He's paralyzed.
June: Only temporarily. The toxins will wear off in about an hour. But by then, he'll be in jail and I'll have my money.

(From episode 15 of Book One)

 

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Appa carries away a huge boulder almost as big as himself.

Spoiler

Two nameless earthbenders move a pair of large boulders bigger than themselves.

Poi uses his earthbending to push several large boulders/the ground into a river (and jumps several meters into the air).

Aang uses his airbending to cool the molten lava and freeze it to stone (without entering the Avatar State).

(From episode 14 of Book One)

 

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It's implied that every star in the night sky has it's own spirit that's associated with it.

It was the hopelessness in her voice that set Kyoshi over the edge, the complete surrender of a girl who would have been invincible if not for her love. Kyoshi had put that weakness in Rangi, and Xu had torn it open. He was torturing the person Kyoshi cared about most in the world.
And by every spirit of every star in the night sky, he would pay for that.

(From The Rise of Kyoshi)

 

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The people of the Avatar world are aware of outer space (with Sokka commenting on how insignificant they are compared with the grand cosmos).

Sokka's Master

Capital City Prison Piandao's castle Shu Jing "Sokka's Master"

avatar.fandom.com

Sokka: Kind of makes you realize how insignificant we are.

Sokka: Oh, these are my friends. Just other good Fire Nation folks. Do you think we can make a sword out of a meteorite‌?
Piandao lays a hand on the meteorite and examines it.
Piandao: We'll make a sword unlike any other in the world.

Sokka: I have no idea. Ooh, that reminds me! Toph, I thought you might like this since you've probably never had a chance to bend space earth before.
Toph: Sweet! Check this out.
Katara: You know, I don't think there's such a thing as "space earth". If it's from space, then it's not really "earth".

Toph (and assumably other earthbenders given the chance & skill) is able to bend metals & rocks from outer space (even though they aren't technically from 'Earth').

(From episode 4 of Book Three)

Sokka's space sword is unlike any other in the world, and is powerful enough to slice through even metal.

Gear: Sokka’s sword​

A swordsman must have a special bond with his weapon, for it literally becomes an extension of the warrior. Therefore, part of Sokka’s training included making his own sword. Because it was forged from a meteorite, Sokka’s sword has a very unique appearance- it’s blade is black. The blade is very powerful and can slice through the toughest of materials, including metal. It is a sword unlike any other in the world

(Originally from the Avatar Encyclopedia from the old Nickelodean website)

Toph's bracelet is made of the same material from the same meteorite.

Gear: Toph’s space earth bracelet​

Made from the same meteorite as Sokka’s sword, Toph keeps this special earth/metal hybrid handy by disguising it as a bracelet she wears around her arm. She can bend it into any shape she wants.

(Originally from the Avatar Encyclopedia from the old Nickelodean website)

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

Similarly, the people of the Avatar world know of the concept of gravity.

The Northern Air Temple

Northern Air Temple "The Northern Air Temple"

avatar.fandom.com

Storyteller: So, travelers. The next time you think you hear a strange, large bird talking, take a closer look. It might not be a giant parrot, but a flying man. A member of a secret group of air walkers, who laugh at gravity, and laugh at those bound to the earth by it!
Aang: Aren't airbender stories the greatest?
Katara: Was it realistic? Is that how it was back then?
Aang: I laugh at gravity all the time. Gravity.

(From episode 17 of Book One)

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

Wan Shi Tong is the spirit of knowledge, and He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things. Visitors are always welcome to his library, so long as they brought something of value to add to the library in return. To prevent the knowledge of his library being misused and perverted, Wan Shi Tong has moved his library, buried it and shifted it between worlds (note that this segment is from Wan Shi Tong's perspective).

I am Wan Shi Tong, He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things. You may address me as Great Wan Shi Tong. Mine is the greatest library in all of existence, and any mind with the slightest education knows it. In my grand beneficence, I allowed visitors to peruse my archive, as long as they brought something of value to add to the library.
Of course, visitors abused my generosity time after time. They came with greed or a hunger for power in their hearts. They had no respect for the thing I love—true knowledge, knowledge for its own sake. It wounded me each time they plucked truths and wonders from my library, just for their own material gain. I’ve had to close it, move it around, bury it deep in the desert—anything to protect it. But you’re not here to merely gain some advantage over an enemy, are you? You’re here to learn from my library because you love to learn, of course. Because I’d hate to have to show you what I think of those with less pure motivations...
Ah, you are true sojourners on a quest for learning? I see. Well, then, peruse this tome at your leisure. Inside, you will first find more about my library itself—knowledge about the greatest repository of knowledge in existence. Then, you can read for yourself tales and stories of great heroism and adventure across the lifespans of the past four Avatars. Each one is a story you have never heard before, but a story worth telling.
I do hope you enjoy my library.

(From Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, page 4)

The Spirit Library has said to have existed for eons (one eon is a billion years, though this could also generally mean 'a very long time'), and is the greatest repository of knowledge in either the Physical World or the Spirit World. He has attendent spirits called the Knowledge Seekers (who take the forms of foxes) who spread out across the world to collect knowledge. Wan Shi Tong is noted to be a famed and powerful spirit, who's greatest achievement is the creation and sustaination and growth of his great library.

Wan Shi Tong, the Knowledge Spirit, He Who Knows Ten Thousand Things, is a famed and powerful spirit of great accomplishments...none greater than the creation, maintenance, and growth of his Spirit Library. This grand edifice has been a true wonder of the world since the time of its creation. Over the eons that the library has stood, Wan Shi Tong’s fox-like Knowledge Seekers have spread out across the world to collect tomes, codices, scrolls, manuscripts, and any other sources of information, establishing the library as the greatest repository of knowledge in either the Spirit World or the physical world. Sojourners have long picked their way across the dangers of the Si Wong Desert to find the library, committing some of their own knowledge to Wan Shi Tong’s vast trove in exchange for the right to read and peruse at their leisure...as long as they aren’t seeking knowledge to use against others.

(From Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, page 6)

Because the Gaang used the knowledge of the library with the intent of violence (even if it was to overthrow a cruel tyrant), Wan Shi Tong sees this as a betrayal of trust, and moves his library back into the Spirit World.

After Avatar Aang and his friends betrayed Wan Shi Tong’s trust by seeking knowledge to defeat the Fire Nation, Wan Shi Tong took the Spirit Library back with him into the Spirit World. But the Spirit Library has always been and will always be a valuable beacon of learning to any who wish to expand their minds and come to a greater understanding of the world around them.

(From Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, page 6)

Thousands of years before the Korra Era, Wan Shi Tong kept his Spirit Library in the Spirit World, and his servants the Knowledge Seekers regularly passed between the Spirit World and the Physical World to gather more books, tomes & scrolls.

The Spirit Library is the domain of Wan Shi Tong, a powerful and ancient owl spirit. The exact founding of the Spirit Library isn’t known to the world, but it is as astonishingly ancient as Wan Shi Tong himself. Until a few thousand years before the Korra Era, Wan Shi Tong kept the library in the Spirit World, where he collected knowledge. His servants, the Knowledge Seekers, are capable and cunning. These fox spirits have sky blue eyes and a keen sense of where to pursue new knowledge. They regularly pass from the Spirit World to the physical world, to collect books and tomes and bring them back to the library.

(From Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, page 6)

Eventually, Wan Shi Tong brought his grand library to the Physical World, in the place that would one day be known as the Si Wong Desert, as this made it easier for his Knowledge Seekers to seek knowledge. At first he welcomed all mortals (so long as they brought knowledge of their own to contribute to the library), and so long as they didn't threaten the library or use the knowledge therein for destruction or violence.

Some time later, Wan Shi Tong decided to bring the magnificent palace-like structure into the area that would one day be known as the Si Wong Desert within the Earth Kingdom. Tales of the vast and beautiful building began to spread among humans, originating with those desert travelers who beheld its glory.
Part of the reason to bring the Spirit Library to the physical world was to make it easier for the Knowledge Seekers to find and bring back learnings. But for a time, Wan Shi Tong also welcomed all mortals to the library. Anyone could access the library and its vast stores of information, as long as they brought some knowledge to contribute in turn. Of course, Wan Shi Tong didn’t tolerate the use of the library’s knowledge for destructive or violent behavor, and certainly forbade anything that threatened the knowledge stored there...but otherwise, the exchange of knowledge was the single most important rule for any visitor of the library.

(From Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, page 6)

Even when the Spirit Library fully returned to the Spirit World, the Knowledge Seekers were still able to cross between worlds.

In the Aang Era, the library is now gone entirely from the physical world. It exists only in the Spirit World, although Wan Shi Tong’s Knowledge Seekers do still find their way back into the physical world to continue to add to the collection.

(From Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, page 7)

Wan Shi Tong knows more than any human walking the Earth, and when angered turns into an owl-dragon.

Character: Wan Shi Tong​

Wan Shi Tong is the knowledge spirit of the Avatar world – an ancient and powerful being who knows more than any human walking the earth. In fact, his name is a Mandarin Chinese phrase that literally means “He Who Knows 10,000 Things.” In his physical form, Wan Shi Tong resembles a giant owl- the animal symbol of knowledge. And when angry, he transforms into a ferocious owl-dragon. He never misses a chance to learn a new fact, or to brag about his vast intelligence.

(Originally from the Avatar Encyclopedia from the old Nickelodean website)

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

Appa is repeatedly stated to weigh 10 tons.

The Warriors of Kyoshi

Kyoshi Island Suki's village Zuko's ship "The Warriors of Kyoshi"

avatar.fandom.com

Sokka: Yeah, that was real convincing. Still, hard to argue with a ten-ton magical monster.

The King of Omashu

Omashu Omashu Royal Palace "The King of Omashu"

avatar.fandom.com

Sokka: Eh, how was Appa supposed to save us anyway?
Aang: Appa's a ten-ton flying bison; I think he could figure something out.

 

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The Lion Turtle is the most ancient creature in the Avatar world, and have existed since the world began (pre-dating both the Avatar and Bending). The last Lion Turtle possesses timeless wisdom and powerful spiritual energy, and is so massive that it often gets mistaken for an island (and has a forest growing on its back). Aang is the first Avatar to meet the Lion Turtle in many ages.

Gear: Lion Turtle​

This is the oldest, most ancient creature in the Avatar world. Lion Turtles existed since the world began, and pre-date the era of the Avatar. This Lion Turtle is the last of his kind. The rest were hunted and killed thousands of years ago. The Lion Turtle possesses timeless wisdom and powerful, spiritual energy. Not all Avatars have met the Lion Turtle. In fact, Aang is the first in many ages.

Because he is so old, a large, overgrown forest has sprouted on the Lion Turtle’s back. The Lion Turtle stays hidden from the world because, when submerged, he looks like an ordinary island.

(Originally from the Avatar Encyclopedia from the old Nickelodean website)

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

There was subtle foreshadowing for the Lion Turtle all throughout the series, even going as far back as the original Avatar pilot episode.

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

Unagi is a colossal sea monster who lives in the waters near Kyoshi Island. It's capable of overpowering and devouring the already colossal elephant koi that live around the island (these elephant koi can jump out of the water and are about the size of whales). Aang runs over the water away from it (using his Airbending) and the Unagi almost catches him, even gains on him.

Aang withstands the Unagi's water attacks (and seemingly also reacts to it; we see him in the middle point between the two spines then he's partially behind one)..

Aang dodges the Unagi's chomp attack.

Aang jumps from hundreds of meters into the air down into the sea, where he rides Unagi and makes it put out all the fires the Fire Nation started on Kyoshi Island.

(From Book One: Episode 4)
The Unagi is a colossal eel which can shoot beams of very high velocity from its mouth.

Creature: The Unagi​

This is a giant eel that lives in the waters around Kyoshi Island, feeding off the Elephant Koi. This is a very dangerous creature that has the ability to spit water at a very high velocity. Because of the Unagi’s vicious nature, the people of Kyoshi don’t swim in bay where it lives.

(Originally from the Avatar Encyclopedia from the old Nickelodean website)

 

[Doronbo_Shirake]

Unagi is a colossal sea monster who lives in the waters near Kyoshi Island. It's capable of overpowering and devouring the already colossal elephant koi that live around the island (these elephant koi can jump out of the water and are about the size of whales). Aang runs over the water away from it (using his Airbending) and the Unagi almost catches him, even gains on him.

Aang withstands the Unagi's water attacks (and seemingly also reacts to it; we see him in the middle point between the two spines then he's partially behind one)..

Aang dodges the Unagi's chomp attack.

Aang jumps from hundreds of meters into the air down into the sea, where he rides Unagi and makes it put out all the fires the Fire Nation started on Kyoshi Island.

(From Book One: Episode 4)
The Unagi is a colossal eel which can shoot beams of very high velocity from its mouth.


(Originally from the Avatar Encyclopedia from the old Nickelodean website)

Always reminded me of Lord of the Coast from One Piece.

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

The Avatar State is a defence mechanism of the Avatar which allows them to channel the skills and knowledge of all their past incarnations, and allows for the summoning of vast cosmic energies (that is to say, drawing on the powers of the cosmos rather than throwing around cosmic-scale power, though given Tui & La as well as Raava & Vaatu, it is theoretically possible); the first time Kuruk went into the Avatar State, he sank a small island, and Jianzhu is afraid that an Earthbender Avatar in the Avatar State for the first time would 'start hurling landmasses left and right with abandon' (Kyoshi actually does end up splitting Kyoshi Island from the mainland later).

“What’s the Avatar State?” Kyoshi whispered to Yun.
Jianzhu’s sharp ears intercepted her question. “It’s a tool,” he said.
“And a defense mechanism. A higher state of being designed to empower the current Avatar with the skills and knowledge of all the past ones. It allows for the summoning of vast cosmic energies and nearly impossible feats of bending.”
That sounded definitive enough. Why wouldn’t they try it, after the failures they’d suffered?
“But if the Avatar can’t maintain conscious control over so much power, then their bending can go berserk, causing elemental destruction
on a grand scale,” Jianzhu continued. “They’d turn into a human natural disaster. The first time Kuruk practiced entering the Avatar State, we went to a small, uninhabited atoll so we wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
“What happened?” Yun said.
“Well, after his eyes stopped glowing and he came down from floating twenty feet in the air inside a sphere of water, the island wasn’t there anymore,” Jianzhu said. “The rest of us survived by the skin of our teeth. So, no, we’re not triggering the Avatar State. I shudder to think what would happen if an Earth Avatar started hurling landmasses left and right with abandon.”

(From The Rise of Kyoshi)

 

[Stocking Anarchy]

Iroh reacts to and redirects one of Azula's lightning blasts, which smashes a cliff face. He then throws her overboard.

(From Book Two: Episode 1)