Post by ituha on Sept 26, 2008 22:08:51 GMT -5
(Notes/Warning: Wellp, I've finally finished her, yes. The profile is massively huge, I'm sorry about that, potential reviewer, but I was encouraged by folks to go all out.. so I did. If it really is too long, I may be able to shorten it some if need be. Also here is a link to a Map that shows the towns I created for Yin's background)
Name: Yin He Zhong – Yin, for short
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Group: Fire Nation Military (Domestic Forces / “Home Guard”), Rank of Corporal
Nation: Fire Nation
Bender?: Yes? Firebender
Physical Appearance: Trimmed, toned and conditioned, Yin He blends in easily amongst most of the “Home Guard’s” other female soldiers, though; she does stand a bit taller than average, her eye level at her comrades’ foreheads. This doesn’t necessarily mean she possesses a commanding presence, however. At a little over five feet, six inches in height and weighing about one hundred and fifty eight pounds, Yin may seem a bit intimidating, but this does not reflect her true nature in most cases.
Her skin color is typical of Fire Nation citizenry, being quite fair. Despite spending a great deal of time outdoors, from early in her childhood to the current day, she has never been able to develop a real tan. Instead, it seems she always sports a pinkish glow upon her forehead, nose, ears and the upper parts of her cheeks as well as on the portions of her arms not covered by her uniform. This near constant state of minor sunburn has simply become one more thing Yin He must deal with daily and, though she has sought reassignment to evening and even night patrols, she doesn’t complain when sent out during the hottest parts of the day. Like any active person, she does possess various scars and nicks and the like, a few burns that never completely healed as well, leaving the skin glossy. Though here is nothing out of the ordinary or particularly interesting about these marks.
Being rather tall and in good physical shape, Yin seems to have a long, yet strong figure. Her arms and legs are well toned, not particularly thin though. One could tell that she is, perhaps, a little over average weight as well. She appears to have a sturdy frame, her shoulders broader than most women, with little curve to her hips and middle or much of a rump, for that matter. Giving her a rather masculine appearance over all – something she isn’t particularly pleased with.
It could be assumed that most of Yin’s strength would be in her long legs, though she posses fair upper-body and arm strength as well, the result of her training and a regular daily exercise routine that she sticks to. Despite having a “less than ideal” figure, Yin possesses a respectable bust, a feature she’s proud of. She also seems quite pleased with her nails, keeping them cut short, but well manicured, often using her whittling knife to clean them of dirt and the like. This level of care is repeated when it comes to her toenails as well, though it’s not likely that she would take off her boots and begin filing down her toenails in public.
If one were to observe Yin carefully, however, they might notice two relatively unique things about her. First off, unlike the majority of the population, Yin is left-handed, a fact that caused her some difficulty with her calligraphy writing lessons in school. As conformity is typically held highly in the Fire Nation school system, an altered teaching method wasn’t always available. Additionally, Yin is Splayfooted or “Turtle Duck Footed”, meaning her feet turn outward when she stands and walks, as opposed to one who might be “Pigeonrat Toed”. With her splayfeet, Yin had some minor difficulty following standard stance practices in training, but managed to adapt her techniques to accommodate this personal quirk.
Yin’s face could be described as similar in shape to an inverted triangle, though flat fronted, with rather undefined cheek bones and slightly rounded cheeks. Her nose is a bit large, rounded at the tip and upon close examination; one may notice a slight crook in the bridge of her nose, indicating that it may have been broken at some point in the past. Her lips are somewhat plump, though lack color, they are often chapped as well, sometimes to the point where they bleed slightly, likely from long hours spent on patrol in the hot sun. It is fairly rare to actually see her smile, though not unheard of, her face, in general, maintains a flat, rather bored look.
Yin’s eyes seem to be a bit spaced out, a golden-brown in color, lacking the striking quality eyes of pure gold posses, purity often associated with the nobility and royalty. Her eyes seem to stay in a constant half-lidded gaze, whether she’s honestly bored or tired one couldn’t easily determine. Though, when she’s interested in something or focused on a task, she tends to act livelier. Above her eyes arc rather thick, jet black eyebrows and, though it’s clear she plucks strays to keep them even, she hasn’t thinned them down to the typical look often sought after by most women.
The crowning feature of Yin’s person would be her thick, wavy, deep brunette hair. To most, it would likely appear black, but in the correct light it is revealed to be a very dark brown, though the color and luster often change a bit depending on how long ago it was washed. Yin does take her personal hygiene seriously, washing her hair at least once a day when possible and bathing at least once every three days. When freshly washed, her hair appears shiny, healthy and the color seems rich and vibrant, after a day’s worth of patrolling, however, it becomes matted, shiny – with grease, and the color becomes dull looking.
Yin’s hair is quite long, coming down to about the middle of her back when brushed back. Due to its length, she has two main styles that she is often seen sporting with it. The first is simply the standard style that most all female soldiers wear, hair pulled back, over the shoulders and held out of the face by the headband and the Happuri style armored forehead guard. Though, in Yin’s case, her bangs partially hang over the forehead guard or stick out from beneath it a bit in the front and at the sides. At the back of her head, a good portion of her hair is put up in a low ponytail, held in place by a thin red hair band. The ponytail hangs down, over the rear of the headband, ending just below her collar, while the rest of her hair is held down by the back of the headband and hangs down to about mid-back.
The second hairstyle Yin tends to wear is similar, but without the Happuri, her bangs are allowed to hang down. She also puts some of her hair up in a small, thick, upside down triangular shaped top-knot, held in place by the same red band that she uses for her ponytail when in uniform. She tends to wear her hair in this style only when out of uniform, which is rather rare.
Clothing/Armor: Yin He really possesses only two complete outfits, the first being her armor and uniform and the second, a civilian outfit worn when off duty or when a uniform would not be quite formal enough for some occasion that may arise. Her financial situation leaves her with little money to throw around when it comes to fashion and the like, but she tries to, at the very least, appear presentable.
Beside the two complete outfits, she has a few other articles of clothing that can be switched out with portions of her civie attire to either vary the look or just to be used as replacements for certain pieces if she must wear the outfit for more than one day. The same goes for her uniform, most of it is standard issue, but she posses a few extras of the non-armored pieces that can be switched out for equivalent pieces, allowing her to always have on a relative clean uniform day by day.
Of course, one would most likely see Yin He in uniform patrolling the streets of whatever city she might find herself deployed in. The uniform and its armored components are typical of the Domestic Force’s Firebending troops, designed for mobility and adapted for the hotter weather of the Fire Nation. Though, to provide a cooler more comfortable outfit, the uniform sacrifices a few levels of protection that are present in the gear worn by frontline forces deployed overseas.
Light by most standards, the first layer of Yin’s uniform really begins with regularly washed white linen cloth chest wrappings, bound tightly enough to keep things in place, but not too tightly as to become uncomfortable. She also wears a simple pair of linen underwear and a pair of light, cream colored socks. The socks strike a balance; they’re light enough to allow her feet to “breathe” while also retaining softness enough to keep her boots from wearing on her legs and feet.
The second and main layer of Yin’s uniform consists of a dark charcoal gray short sleeveless top. The top is standard issue for the uniform; it is collarless and also leaves the midriff bare. It is made from a rather thick looking cloth but the way the material is woven it allows the top decent breathability. Despite this, it is not uncommon to spot darkened patches upon the fabric beneath Yin’s underarms after she has spent the day out in the sun.
Along with the top, Yin wears a pair of black shorts, hemmed with bands of elastic burgundy material that cinch them to her legs just above each knee. A similar band of burgundy fabric makes up the waistband for the shorts as well. Over the shorts, she wears something akin to a short, baggy half-skirt, a dark charcoal gray in color, matching the top. The half-skirt wraps around fully behind her, but in the front it’s split up the middle and wraps in around her legs, it is just slightly shorter than her shorts, allowing the burgundy bands to be visible from the front.
Worn over the shorts and over the half-skirt, to keep it in place, she wears a cloth garment that wraps around her waist. Held in place by a built in black leather belt, the garment is V shaped at the front and back, the front “flap” portion hangs down over Yin’s pelvic region, while the rear flap hangs down over her bottom. The V shaped “flaps” are black overall with burgundy hemming along the Vs’ leading edges. Additionally, hanging down from beneath the V “flaps”, two longer, but thinner, cloth flaps hang down in the front and back, the tip of each reaching just below her knees. The longer flaps are a burgundy overall with cardinal trim.
Worn low on her hips, around the cloth garment, Yin wears a thin, black leather belt around her waist. This belt is designed to hold her Tonfa baton, attached by a strap, while sitting low enough as to not rub against her bare midriff. The baton isn’t the only thing she hangs from the belt, occasionally she’ll be seen with a pair of light handcuffs dangling from it and nearly always, a small coin pouch as well. She also tends to attach a small canteen onto the leather belt from time to time, especially on particularly hot or humid days.
The canteen is built light, made of tin with a small screw-on cap at the top and a metal loop sticking up along one side to which she ties a bit of leather strip in order to secure it to the belt around her waist. Though the canteen is quite small and can become a nuisance when Yin must run or jog, as it tends to bounce against her thigh, it proves to be worth its weight in gold when there aren’t any sort of public fountains or water sources around.
Moving down, Yin wears a pair of standard issue semi-armored boots. The boots are made of leather and cloth, primarily bistre in color, with dull golden colored soles and the up-turned toes typical of Fire Nation style. The thick cloth comes up to about mid-shin, but worn over the fronts of the boots from just below the ankles, slightly over the tops of her feet, to mid-shin, Yin also wears armored shin-guard plates. The plates cover only the front of the shins and ankles, but are thick enough to take a strike from a blade or other weapon. They are held in place by a strap that circles the foot from the base of the plate as well as by another similar strap that runs around the calf and is tied in the back to hold the plates against the shins tightly.
Upon her arms, Yin wears a few more armored pieces, strategically placed upon her forearms to facilitate blocking attacks from all manner of weapons. She wears cloth sleeves beneath these iron vambraces, however, to prevent the metal itself from rubbing against her skin. The sleeves are a cardinal in color and reach from just below the elbow joints to the wrists, with a small triangular flap of fabric extending out over the top of the hand, the flap edges are hemmed with golden colored fabric.
Yin then wears the vambraces, which are a dark charcoal gray, over the sleeves to hold them in place. The vambraces reach from just below the edge of the sleeves to the wrists; the bands at the wrists are trimmed with gold, or a metal with a similar appearance, Yin isn’t quite certain if the metal is actually gold or not, though she doubts it.
The next portion of Yin’s uniform is clearly the most heavily armored. Worn over her shoulders, she sports the trademark shoulder guard cover of the Domestic Force’s Firebenders. The armor covers her shoulders completely, angling down in the front and back, in a V shape. The front bit partially covers her chest, while the V in the back covers to the same degree, the edges of the plate angle downward slightly over the tops of her arms as well. The metal portion of the plate guard is a solid black, but affixed beneath it and hanging down from the edges, it seems a golden colored leather strip has been attached. The leather strip prevents the metal portion from digging into the sides of Yin’s arms which could potentially limit their movement.
Along the leading edge of the shoulder guard, in the front and back at either side of the V shaped portion, two circular notches are cut out of both the leather piece and the iron portion; they are likely just for decorative purposes. The shoulder guard has a wide iron collar, cardinal in color with golden trim and a strip of soft golden colored leather around the inside to protect the neck from abrasion.
Worn around her neck, Yin keeps a small metal whistle. The “Pea” whistle is used to alert other soldiers and just generally call attention in an emergency situation, occasionally used in the dark or when visibility is low, as a sound source to guide people, be they citizens running from danger or Yin’s own troops. With a very shrill sound, the whistle can be heard over a long distance or over other sound sources providing a clear alert to those in the area. Typically worn on a very thin iron chain, Yin has found the whistle to be a useful addition to her patrol gear.
The final piece of Yin’s uniform and armor would be her Happuri style headband and face guard. The guard doubles as both a form of protection for the head as well as a way to keep the sweat and hair out of her eyes. Though, it seems her hair finds ways to get over or under the forehead guard at times. It is primarily a burgundy cloth band that is wrapped around her head and tied at the back to keep it tight. Along the front of the band, curving around the front of her head, a metal plate has been affixed. The plate is iron with black, red and golden decorative engraving upon it, a small triangular bit angles up at the very center as well. The decorative pattern is different than most, denoting her rank as a Corporal.
Also attached to the front plate, but hanging down at the very edges, are two more iron pieces designed to protect the sides of Yin’s face. Each side plate has similar gold and black engraving with a notch cut out of the back to accommodate her ears. The plates reach down to the sides of her face, ending at the sides of the jaw. Just how much protection the Happuri would actually provide, Yin isn’t quite sure, but she does understand the secondary benefits of wearing it.
Yin’s civilian/formal outfit begins in much the same way as her uniform, the same undergarments and socks, though she would not use the exact same underclothing after a day at work if she were to change into her other outfit. Instead she would likely find some clean things to wear beneath her civie attire.
The outfit is layered as one would expect in Fire Nation fashion, the first layer consisting of a sleeveless white linen top. The top is collarless and works as an undershirt worn over her chest wrappings and beneath the second layer. Though it’s not really underclothing, Yin’s pants could be considered part of the first real layer as well. The pants are somewhat baggy about the ankles, made from a Beige colored fabric, they are held up by a simple white sash at the waist, though very little of the pants are actually visible when worn with the rest of the outfit.
The next layer consists of a long sleeved shirt with a rigid collar; it is puce in color, overall, with rich carmine hemming around the collar portion and the lapel seams. Though a lighter shirt might be cooler, Yin wears this longer sleeved one to protect her skin from the sun, since her uniform provides little protection for the arms. The long sleeves of the shirt reach to Yin’s wrists and are then bound beneath burgundy arm wraps, extending from about mid-forearm to the wrist, with a triangular flap of fabric extending out over the top of the hand. The end of the shirt tucks beneath the same white sash she wears around her waist.
Over the shirt and covering most of the pants, she wears a robe-like garment that she pulls over her head and down into place. The garment is sleeveless and has a low, wide collar that allows the rigid collar of her long sleeved puce shirt to stick up through it. Cardinal in color overall, the dress/skirt like portion extends down to about mid-shin with slits up the sides of each leg to about mid-thigh, a rounded hem at the bottom in front and back. The hem that runs along the bottom of the dress part and upon along the silts is burgundy in color with small flame shapes embroidered at the corners, also burgundy.
Wrapped around her middle, Yin wears a falu pink waist sash over the pull-on robe-like garment. It is bound relatively tightly, the two ends, once tied together, tend to hang down over the back of the robe garment. Because the sash is quite long, and must be wrapped several times before being tied off, Yin likes to keep her personal possessions in the folds of the sash. Typically her whittling knife and tools in their little case and a small pouch containing coins, identification papers, as well as her room key for the apartment she stays in, all tucked into the sash where she feels they are safe.
Worn over her shoulders in a similar manner to the armored shoulder guard plate she wears with her uniform, Yin sports a burgundy shoulder cover shawl-like garment. The cover fits easily around the collar of her long-sleeved shirt, the neck hole wide enough to fit her head through when donning it. It angles over her chest slightly and does similarly over her back, rounded at the ends. At the tips, the cover comes to a sharper point just over the ends of her shoulders and, unlike the armored piece; it does not curve down slightly over her arms.
Upon her feet, Yin wears a pair of slipper-like shoes, a seal brown in color, though noticeably scuffed in places, showing their age. The shoes are made of light leather and have the classic up-turned toes, exposing the dark tan of the soles. Though they do not come up high on her ankles, Yin still manages to tuck the bottom hem of her pant legs into the shoes to keep them from dragging on the ground.
With a close look, it becomes apparent that Yin He wears no jewelry whatsoever. No necklace around her neck, no bracelets or bangles upon her wrists, her ears are not pierced and no rings grace her fingers. Simply put, Yin never had any interest in sporting jewelry, nor could she ever really afford it.
There is one last piece of clothing Yin wears in her daily life, a simple bath/sleeping robe she tends to slip into after a bath or just after she returns home to her apartment. The robe is made of a very light material, primarily tea rose in color with cerise hemming and a waist sash of the same color. Because Yin only wears this robe when in the privacy of her home, and often with nothing else worn under it, it would be rather unlikely that anyone would really see her wearing it.
Weapons: Being a soldier, Yin He has reached a relatively high level of skill when it comes to combat, thanks to Secondary School, basic training and continued practice over her last four and a half years of service. As denoted by her armor, she’s clearly a Firebender and as such, bending would be her primary weapon.
Having discovered this ability at a young age, she would likely have become exceptionally skilled quickly, if not for her remote location – the interior of the Fire Nation’s main island. Due to living out on such a remote farm, Yin was not able to attend formal training until she reached her teen years. Even later on, she would not get the opportunity to join one of the nation’s formal Firebending academies, as her family was unable to afford even a fraction of the tuition.
From the time of her discovery to the first days of Secondary School, Yin often practiced the basics alone. As her interest in bending grew, she borrowed scrolls and books on different techniques to add to her routine. From this practice, Yin developed a strong sense of the basic and intermediary moves and stances, giving her a solid framework to build upon once she started to take formal lessons at school and then, later, into basic training. It did, however, have some negative effects though, as she was not supervised or instructed by a master or, at least, a skilled bender, she developed some bad habits as well.
When she reached Secondary School, she got the chance to take courses in Firebending with real teachers, allowing her to rapidly pick up more advanced concepts. Following Secondary school and her enlistment in the military, Yin received further training and instruction in the more powerful and offensive moves associated with her element.
Preferring a more balanced technique then what is traditionally taught to soldiers, Yin enjoys more versatility in her bending, possessing the classic rapid fire punches and kicks, producing searing and concussive blasts of flame as well as arcs and rings and a few other forms. Along with the usual abilities, she’s found her specific style to be more accommodating to defensive measures as well, making full use of her vambraces and other armor to block attacks and the like. She is also capable of blocking or dissipating various Firebending attacks and water-based ones as well, though to what degree, she is uncertain.
At present, she takes considerable pride in her abilities, and has attained recognition as a skilled bender, practicing and sparring with the other Firebenders in her unit to further improve her skills. If she continues on her current path or were to seek out a master trainer, either on her own or through the military, she might, herself, attain the tile of “Master Firebender” in time.
Besides her bending, Yin also possesses a secondary, less lethal, weapon as well. Called a Tonfa of Tong Fa baton, the wooden weapon is usually carried attached to a leather strap hung from her belt, when in uniform, or occasionally just held in her hand, idly spun by its handle. Constructed from one-hundred percent Ebony Hardwood imported from the Igni Islands, the main or horizontal portion of the baton is about twenty inches in length, the wood is smooth and highly polished.
The horizontal portion is slightly thinner at the tips and thickens at a point about three fifths of the way up its length when held properly. A handle, about six inches long, made of the same hardwood, extends up from the thickened part vertically, providing a handle to grasp or a sort of hook when the baton is held differently.
Yin was given the Tonfa baton as a gift from her squad mates some time after her basic training was complete. She had been in search of a less than lethal secondary weapon and once she had it, she sought out one of her comrades who had some experience with the weapon and requested training. With the help of the other soldier, she quickly learned the various techniques associated with her new weapon. Finding it to be exceptionally versatile, Yin began to carry it on patrols and the like where it soon proved its usefulness in taking down and controlling those who might resist the law.
Recently, Yin has tired wielding the Tonfa while Firebending, slowly working it into her moves and such, though she tends to use it in her off-, or right hand, while using it in conjunction with her bending. Whether using her Firebending, her Tonfa, or both, Yin is a formidable fighter with confidence in her abilities.
Personality: In her youth, Yin He was a quite and rather shy girl. Today, she still retains a quiet, reserved nature, but, as she is a soldier and officer of the law, she’s developed a more assertive side as well. In truth, there is far more to Yin than one might assume from a brief meeting, she is not simply another soldier, another cog in the Fire Nation military machine.
With a rather slow and ponderous way of moving about, one might get the impression that Yin is not particularly gifted in an intellectual sense. This is actually somewhat true; she is a bit slow when it comes to understanding complex concepts, though this doesn’t mean she’s stupid, just not book smart or extremely sharp-minded. She is also fairly thoughtful about her actions, almost always looking before leaping, Yin very rarely finds herself acting on impulses.
To most, Yin might seem to be in a constant state of immense boredom with her situation or surroundings, tired or otherwise displeased. She simply needs direction at times, something to commit herself to. Before joining the military, and to a greater extent, before she discovered her bending, Yin was often very indecisive, perhaps even somewhat listless. But, with definite goals laid out for her, she thrives.
Even at present, she tends to languish when she lacks something to occupy herself with. This has led her to adopt several hobbies to help fight boredom, discouragement or a state laziness. As long as Yin has something to do or something to work on, she will remain quite content, even willing to endure hardships without complaint.
Without a doubt, enlisting in the military has helped Yin to become a better-rounded person, able to deal with tough situations efficiently with a degree of authority. Though she used to prefer following, more so than leading when it came to activities in the field, Yin has developed a taste for control and responsibility that has strengthened her as a person. She is capable of quick thought in a pinch and a commanding presence when need be, but Yin still finds herself doubting her own ability to lead at times, something she makes certain never to let show. It seems that, with more responsibility, so to can come anxiety
Having been placed in command of a small group, consisting of four other soldiers, Yin often worries about them. The thought of having the lives of four people in her hands is somewhat overwhelming, but she endures and tends to demand their respect through a combination of tough love and flat honesty when dealing with a situation. When Yin was younger, she was exceptionally protective of her little brother and this sense of defending those under her watch has remained.
She is generally very patient, enduring the hot weather, the people she must deal with daily, as well as the occasional unwanted advances made by men, some even from her own unit, simply letting things go without dwelling on them. She tends to remain in control of herself, showing anger only in cases where she has been pushed for a long period of time. It does take a great deal to get Yin to snap or strike back at someone verbally, as she is capable of taking quite a bit without letting on that she is upset with something.
The only thing that really gets Yin truly flustered is unexpected or drastic change; she despises changes to her daily routine, structure and predictability are imperative to her day to day life, though this may actually be a double-edged sword. When out of her element, Yin is often uneasy, but it may actually be her insistence on a highly structured and predetermined lifestyle that causes her to slip into the listless state she struggles to avoid.
She does come off as rather socially distant, keeping her private life very quiet; she is not at ease with discussing certain subjects with just anyone. Generally courteous and pleasant with the citizens and the like, she does somewhat enjoy using the authority her rank bestows upon her on nobles when she must deal with them. Being from a small farming community, it amuses her to hold power over people who have more wealth than her family could attain in decades.
To her few close friends, she is loyal, trusting and compassionate, though there are still matters she is not willing to discuss with them, specifically matters of the heart and her own economic and social status. Of her friends, she has revealed her familiar history to only two, as she feels somewhat ashamed of her rural upbringing when it seems many of her comrades were far better off and from the cities.
Because of her rather private nature, Yin is more of a listener than a talker, always happy to hear a friend’s stories or problems, usually compelled to find something to say when confronted with the latter. Most of her friends have come to respect her ways and tend not to pry, though some still forget and ask her things on occasion, as always, they are met with patience from Yin.
Though quiet more often then not, Yin finds it difficult to resist a chance to poke a bit of fun, at times, to lighten the mood. When a situation presents itself, she tends to come up with playful quips and jokes, a familiar grin crossing her lips when something comes to mind. For the most part, however, she tends to be a bit more talkative when around those she trusts.
As far as romantic relationships go, Yin has accumulated some experience over the years. She tends to be loving and more open with lovers and partners than she might be with her regular friends. As it is, she is forced to be more open initially to find those who interest her – other women. When it comes to such things, she can, at times, be emotional and, of course, a bit protective, though most of her encounters with lovers and the like last only briefly. Only once had she a real relationship that, unfortunately, ended due to reassignment.
Recently, she’s curtailed her efforts in seeking romance, following the incident that nearly cost her her promising military career and left her feeling rather disheartened and suspicious. Though, keeping emotions and whatnot from showing is not particularly difficult for Yin, and her friends and comrades were none the wiser. Despite this, some small part of her wishes she could find someone to be close to again.
Background: Nestled in a small, fertile valley northwest of Lun Yang, west of Chong Dao, southeast of Sun Sei and lying in the shadow of the great dormant volcano Mount Shankara, one would find a quaint farming community with the town of Chu Lin at its heart. Fed by the Kali River, the valley is a green bastion surrounded by barren lava fields and the occasional small tropical forest. The soil is surprisingly rich, perfect for growing Sugar Cane, the valley’s main cash crop. Ideal in nearly every aspect for the growth of the much needed plant, the region receives large amounts of rainfall from the east all year-round and the tropical climate is quite accommodating.
With a population of only about one hundred and fifty in Chu Lin proper and less than one hundred more living on the outlying farms, the town is only really on the map due to the Sugar Cane itself. Many of the families living in the region sell directly to the government, as the sugar is an essential war time commodity. With these contracts, and the growing need for resources, the government eventually went ahead and ran a rail line out to the small town to better facilitate the transportation of the Cane.
Some time before the government contracts, however, and longer still, before plans to construct the Chu Lin Railroad Branch were even considered by officials in Luan Yang, things in Chu Lin were as quiet and normal as in any other small farm town.
For the most part, Zhou Shu Hui found the farm boy from the other side of the small town to be thoroughly annoying, he seemed to show up at the most inopportune times and never seemed to take the hint, but nothing she did could discourage Chao Zhong. He’d made friends with her family, her brothers, even her friends; it seemed the infuriatingly determined boy simply would not give up until he’d won her heart.
Zhou Shu, born to a general store owner and his wife in the heart of the small town, had grown up as any other small town girl would in the Fire Nation – simply. Far from the mainstream culture and the hustle and bustle of the nation’s industrialized cities, Zhou’s life was pleasant and quiet, in her teen years she helped her father with his business and eventually started a cloth mending service out of shop that was her all her own.
Chao, on the other hand, was born to the long standing Zhong family of Sugar Cane planters. The Zhong family had grown Cane in the Chu Lin Valley for the last three generations and Chin Da Zhong and his wife Yami both hoped their son, Chao, would take over the family farm when the time came. Until then, he worked hard around the farm, beginning his work when he was first able to help carry small bundles of the Cane, around the age six.
Though most of Chao’s time was taken up by his chores, his parents both saw the benefits of sending him off to the newly constructed “Chu Lin Academy” – a one-room schoolhouse in town. While attending the “Academy”, Miss Zhou Shu Hui caught Chao’s eye immediately and he quickly developed a bit of crush on the shopkeeper’s daughter.
As the two grew older and continued their education, Chao’s infatuation with Zhou grew too. When the two were in their mid-teens, Chao approached her only to be politely turned down. He tried several more times to win Zhou over, but nothing seemed to work. By now, Zhou was well known around the town as an exceptionally beautiful young woman and many of the men from both the in town and the farms sought to catch her eye.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Chao never gave up on Zhou, going so far as to “run into” her family and friends to introduce himself and hopefully get on their good sides. Years went by and Chao still pursued Zhou’s heart, his moment finally came when the girl’s longtime boyfriend left her to seek his fortune in ‘The Big City’. Chao sought out the heartbroken young woman, in honest concern more so than for his own reasons, and consoled her.
Some time after, feeling she had little to loose, Zhou gave Chao a chance and he proved himself caring, hardworking and honest. The two grew close over the next year and a half and Chao’s dream came true, the couple was married with full support of both families at Agni’s Shrine at the end of Chu Lin’s main street in early spring.
The two families decided that it would be best if Zhou moved in on the Zhong family’s farm. So, in preparation, Chao and his father, with the help of the town’s master carpenter, made several additions to the Zhong family farmhouse. They worked hard for several weeks, adding a new bedroom, increasing the size of the living spaces and updating the kitchen.
Fortunately, the arrangement seemed to work well and life for the young couple was good. Chao continued to work around the farm, beside his father and two hired hands that lived in town and came out to the farm to work. Zhou helped around the farm and kept up her clothing and cloth mending service at her father’s shop as well, to earn a bit of extra cash for the family.
The family enjoyed a prosperous Cane harvest at the end of the year and quickly began replanting for the next one. With the good harvest past, the family would soon receive another blessing. Shortly after the harvest, Zhou announced to the family that she was with child and the Zhongs rejoiced. Soon the family began to make preparations for the baby, using the extra funds from the harvest; they added another small room onto the house and bought a little crib and other supplies.
In late summer, Chao’s mother, with the help of a midwife from town, delivered Zhou’s baby. Chao rushed immediately into the room to meet his new daughter, quickly followed by his father, now a grandfather. The pudgy little girl was contently lying upon her mother’s chest when the two entered the room, both Zhou and baby were doing well and they soon had a name in mind for the little one, Yin He or ‘Silver Lotus’.
The very next day, Zhou’s family arrived at the Zhong farm to meet their new granddaughter. The day after that, her brothers traveled back to Chu Lin Valley to meet little Yin, bringing their children and wives with them, and soon it was a veritable family reunion. Throughout the visits, Yin He was, at times, frightened by the many unfamiliar people appearing and inspecting her only a day or two after her birth and cried often.
After the families left the Zhong farm, however, the pace of daily life around the home slowed back to normal and Yin began to get used to her family. After a few more days, a soft tuft of dark brown, almost black hair began to appear upon the baby’s head and after a week and a half more, she seemed to be growing some too.
For the most part, Yin was a quiet baby, rarely crying unless something truly startled or upset her. Being quite busy, her parents often left her with her Grandmother, Yami, during the day and returned late in the afternoons to spend time with their child. Watching over Yin was relatively easy for Yami, the little girl seemed to sleep quite a lot and, when awake, she was easy to amuse and keep happy.
Little Yin grew quickly over the next few months and when she was a bit older, Zhou and Chao began to take her into town to show off to their friends. Instead of a wide-eyed interest in her new surroundings, Yin seemed to cling to her parents somewhat and often fell asleep in their arms, seemingly uninterested in the world around her.
Along with the trips into town, the younger Zhong couple showed their daughter around the farm, introducing her to the various animals they kept to supplement their income derived from the Sugar Cane. Yin saw the Chicken Pig coop and her mother helped her spread some feed for the snouted animals to peck up, they also visited the Cow Hippo pen and met the family’s two dairy animals. The final non-human Zhong “family member” Yin got to meet was the family’s Dragon Moose. Used for pulling the plow during replanting, the Dragon Moose was quite terrifying to little Yin and she burst into tears at the sight of him.
As time went by, Yin became more inquisitive and eventually began crawling around the farmhouse exploring, though Yami always kept a close eye on the little girl, making certain she didn’t find anything dangerous or eat anything she shouldn’t. On Yin’s first birthday, the family held a modest celebration; Zhou and Yami made a little cake and Chin Da carved a little wooden Turtle Duck toy for his granddaughter as a present.
Yin loved the little duck toy and, within a few more months, she was toddling around the home repeating her first word, “Duck, Duck, Duck, Duck…” The little Turtle Duck also became a teething toy for the young girl as her baby teeth continued to grow in. She would keep the small toy with her to the present day, cherishing it.
With time, Yin’s vocabulary grew with her and her personality, too, began to emerge – rather quiet and a bit shy. She would often watch her father and grandfather work around the farm, wandering about, following them as they went about their daily tasks to keep things running. Zhou began to worry that young Yin might wander off and get lost or hurt out in the fields and the like, but the quiet little girl seemed to always mind her parents and grandparents, staying within their supervision and out of the way of their work.
When Yin reached the age of four, her mother decided to give the little girl some responsibility and tasked her with the retrieval of the Chicken Pig eggs. Yin was more than happy to help out her family and took to the work quickly, soon her mother added feeding the Chicken Pigs to the girl’s chore list as well, and Yin accepted the new task with enthusiasm.
A strange pattern began to emerge with the Zhong’s daughter, however. It seemed that, when she had work to do, she did it right away and with enthusiasm, though, once finished, it seemed Yin would slump into a bored and rather mopey state. At times, she would wander off into her bedroom and nap the day away after finishing her chores, as if she had nothing else to occupy her time with.
Somewhat worried, Chao and Zhou encouraged Yin to meet with other children her own age from the town and other farms, but Yin seemed to shy away from other people when confronted. She simply felt nervous and a bit uncertain when meeting someone new and felt that remaining quiet was the best thing to do. Needless to say, the other children who met her didn’t really know what to do with her; she didn’t seem interested in playing, and the like, as they were used to.
Zhou soon discovered that she was expecting another child, a sibling for Yin, and the younger Zhong couple felt confident that the new child would help their daughter to come out of her shell a bit more. With the news, Yin did seem to perk up somewhat and became rather excited over the prospect of having a younger brother or sister.
As it would turn out, that fall, the family welcomed their second child, a baby boy they named Lee, into the world. Though Lee was born healthy, Zhou did not fair so well and lost a considerable amount of blood during the birth, then came down with a fever as well, leaving her bedridden for many days. Yin immediately stepped up to help her grandmother tend to little Lee and Zhou, bringing her food and drink and keeping her company as she recovered.
Yin also found time to play with her baby brother, lying down on the floor before him and making funny sounds and faces to which Lee would respond with squeaky infant laughter. Watching her daughter happily interacting with her new son seemed to help Zhou remain in good spirits and eventually she did regain her strength, though she made the decision to close her clothing repair service at her father’s shop in town, in order to have more time to raise her kids.
Things went well for family over the next year or so, Yin took on more responsibilities around the farm, looked after her little brother and stove off listlessness. As Lee got older, it seemed that he was far more adventurous than Yin had been, occasionally toddling out of the house and down the front steps, disappearing in an instant when Yami and Zhou weren’t watching.
On one occasion, Lee disappeared during the Sugar Cane harvest, at the very time when the fields had been set ablaze in preparation for the hand cutting of the plants. Zhou and Yami panicked and searched the house and surrounding areas in a frenzy, praying that little Lee hadn’t wandered into the fields. They quickly sent Yin out to inform Chao, Chin Da and the hired hands that the boy was missing.
Yin bolted from the house and made her way toward the fields, the fires were spreading across the Cane toward the west, blown by the winds. The girl considered making a dash across the unburned portion to save time, foolishly, though in retrospect, luckily, she did so and only a few yards into the dense Cane plants she found her little brother. Sitting in the dirt, playing with a pill bug, he was oblivious to the flames moving toward him.
Quickly she scooped him up and returned to the farmhouse, much to the relief of her mother and grandmother. Though the fire would have taken some time to spread to the place where Yin had found Lee, the chances that he would have been found before that, in the vast fields, were unlikely and Yin was praised by her family for saving the boy. Following the incident, Yin began to think of herself as her brother’s protector and took great pride in the thought.
Shortly after Yin turned six and Lee celebrated his second birthday, Chao and Zhou sat their daughter down for a talk. The family discussed the girl’s future and the younger Zhong couple expressed their desire to see Yin start school in the next few months. Yin was repulsed by the idea and refused immediately. At her young age, the girl saw no reason to go off to school when she could be helping around the farm; it just didn’t make any sense.
Though Yin resisted, an important event would soon take place in Chu Lin that would cause the people of the valley to put a greater emphasis upon education. Early one morning a precession arrived in Chu Lin, consisting of Fire Nation Cavalrymen leading a large carriage carrying a senior aid sent by War Minister Qin himself.
Word spread quickly through the town and outlying farms, the only real interaction the people of the Chu Lin Valley had with the central government was during the biannual population tallies and when the tax collectors came around, this was clearly something important. The War Minister’s aid soon called for a meeting, requesting that the heads of each farming family show up at the town hall. Both Chao and his father, Chin Da, attended the meeting and returned in good spirits with a great scroll of paper in hand.
Father and son soon announced the news to the family, apparently, the Fire Nation was consolidating its strategic resources to make the war effort more efficient and one of the industries affected was that of the Sugar Cane planters. The scroll they had been given detailed a government contract offered to the family. In the past, the Zhong family had worked with a middle man, a private transportation service that used wagons to carry the freshly cut Cane away. The transporters would arrive at the farm and load the Cane, then pay the family and move off to the west toward the refineries in Chong Dao.
The War Minister’s adviser had explained that a government agency had purchased the transportation service and would be willing to buy directly from the farmers for nearly fifteen percent more than the old service had been willing to pay. Fairly patriotic and seeing the clear benefits from a fifteen percent profit increase at harvest time, the Zhong family unanimously agreed to accept the contract and the very next day Chao returned to town to present the signed document to the advisor.
Yin had been curious about the news and had hovered about as the family discussed the contract, she’d peered over her parents’ shoulders but, as she knew not how to read, the characters on the scroll meant little to her until her father explained what it meant for the family and Yin herself. With Lun Yang taking a greater interest in the Chu Lin Valley, Chin Da anticipated that the family and community as a whole would be interacting with the central government far more than they had in the past.
With this in mind, Chao and Zhou were convinced that sending Yin to school would be imperative. No longer could the people of the Chu Lin Valley live so simply, an education would be an important asset. Following another talk with her parents, Yin reluctantly agreed to attend the “Chu Lin Academy”, at which school was beginning in the next few weeks.
On the very first day of school, Zhou walked Yin down to the school house. The young girl carried a small pail in her hand, containing her lunch, while the other gripped her mother’s hand. Yin was thoroughly nervous, the tickle of “Butterfly Dog Ears” in her stomach increasing as sighted the “Academy”. Zhou accompanied her daughter in and the two met with the teacher, a kindly woman named Min Ho who greeted young Yin with a pleasant smile, reassuring her that she would have a fine time with the class.
Zhou wished her daughter well and returned to the farm, leaving Yin to face her fist day. She quickly found a seat amongst the desks as the other children arrived and began to mingle; she did not join in, however, choosing to remain quiet at her seat. It seemed to her that most of the other children already knew each other and this only seemed to alienate her further.
As the class began, Min Ho taught the students the national oath and the lot rose from their seats and turned to face a portrait of the Fire Lord on the left wall. Yin began to feel a bit overwhelmed but tried to maintain a calm appearance as the day went on. Following a bit of history on the school house, Min Ho introduced herself and had each student stand up and do the same. When it was Yin’s turn, she leapt from here chair, introduced herself in one lightning fast run-on sentence and sat back down as quickly as she could.
By the time her first day was finished, Yin had actually learned quite a lot, both about what the class would cover as time went on and just general knowledge about her town and country that had not been readily available back at home. Tired out from the day, Yin was happy to find her mother waiting for her, outside the school house, when class ended and the two walked home together.
Over the next two years, Yin experienced the ups and downs of going to school, she struggled some with her reading and writing, but the small class size allowed Min Ho to work more closely with the girl and this helped her keep up with the class. Because Yin was left-handed, she had some difficulty with her calligraphy and Min encouraged her to try writing with her right, but this only proved more difficult.
When it came to socializing, Yin remained quite shy, mostly moping around back of the schoolhouse, minding her own business while the other children played games and the like. Toward the end of the second year, however, she managed to make friends with a rather aloof girl by the name of Ju. The girl was from another Sugar Cane farm and could relate to Yin somewhat, though the two never really met outside of school.
At the beginning of Yin’s second year, however, a new group of children would be joining Min’s class and Yin was a bit apprehensive at the thought. She had established herself with the current group, more or less, and a new bunch worried her some. The first few days went well and the new students seemed to treat the, now eight year old, Yin with respect. She’d grown some over the summer and stood taller than all but a few of the boys around her age, uncertain if it was her height or simply the fact that she’d been there before them that intimidated them.
During the second week of school, a new student joined late. At first, Yin and Ju paid the new girl, who went by the name Liu Yi, little attention, staying at their far corner of the field around back of the schoolhouse. One day during play time, however, Yin went around front for a drink from the school’s water pump only to find the new girl surrounded by some of the younger boys.
“City Slicker”, the boys chanted as they encircled Liu Yi, who stood with her back to the water pump, a fearful look upon her face. Generally, Yin wouldn’t have involved herself in the business of the other children, but as she approached it became clear to her that the girl was truly frightened and that some of the boys were acting exceptionally malicious. Realizing, too, that they were blocking her path to the water pump, Yin strode up to the bunch and pushed two of the boys aside.
Using a sharp tone she’d heard her father use with the family’s Dragon Moose when he was being stubborn, Yin ordered the group of boys, the lot all shorter and younger than she, to disperse. Some protested but were met with a cold glare from Yin golden-brown eyes and slowly backed off. “Leave her alone,” Yin had said flatly, “and don’t block the pump anymore.”
Liu Yi was ready to thank Yin and Yin was ready to take a small cup off of the pump for a drink when one of the BAD!ier boys ran up behind the older girl, hooked one foot around Yin’s ankle as she bent over for the cup and placed his arm against her back. Pushing with his arm and pulling back with his foot, he managed to make her loose her balance, sending the farm girl stumbling forward into the “City Slicker.”
Yin’s right arm and side caught Liu Yi as she fell and both fell into the ever-present mud that surrounded the water pump, landing somewhat entangled with a splat. Yin immediately rolled off the smaller girl and screamed at the boys before storming off to go clean up, leaving Liu Yi to skitter away and do the same.
The next day, Liu Yi approached Yin and thanked the older girl for defending her from the rowdy farm boys. Yin didn’t feel like she’d done a whole lot to help, but tolerated Liu Yi’s gratitude and praise. The girl stuck around and Yin and Ju made no protest, it turned out that Liu Yi’s father had originally grown up in the Chu Lin Valley, but had moved to Hokage as a young man. He’d married and Liu had been born, spending the first seven years of her life in the city before her family moved to Chu Lin to help take care of her ailing grandfather.
It seemed Liu Yi had found a place with the two older girls and always sough them out during the day’s play time. Over time, Yin began to see the girl as more of a friend and less of a tagalong, eventually warming up to her. The rowdy farm boys still tried to pick on Liu but Yin seemed to intimidate them with her presence and began to take on the same ‘protector’ roll when it came to Liu as she had for her younger brother. Even Ju began to warm up to the city girl with time.
Liu was a very polite and smart girl, having attended school in Hokage for two years before her family moved; she was naturally bright and very sweet, though easily intimidated. The trio of friends soon began to meet outside of school, though it took some prodding by Liu Yi to get the two older girls to come along, but once they were together, they enjoyed each other’s company.
The three sat together in class, had slumber parties at each other’s homes, swam in the Kali River and played various games. Liu Yi even offered to help Yin with her studies and, albeit reluctantly, she accepted. The city girl really did know her stuff and helped Yin refine her calligraphy, read more fluently and also aided in several other subjects that had given the Zhong’s daughter trouble.
Later that year, the trio attended the Summer Solstice festival in town and browsed the various vendors, sickening themselves on sweets and the like. Ju won a large stuffed messenger hawk from one of the game booths that had been set up, Yin and Liu had made attempts at winning something, but it seemed the games were somewhat rigged.
As the festival wound down, two events took place that would cause a bit of a ‘gold rush’ in the Chu Lin valley. Hundreds of miles to the Northwest in Sun Sei, an archeological team discovered a large buried temple. The region had always been rumored to hold the tomb of the first Firebender, but the chamber had remained elusive. With the new discovery, hope of finding the tomb increased and scholars, professional archeologists and treasure hunters alike flocked to the location.
About the same time, a tablet was unearthed on a farm to the west of the town of Chu Lin, not far from the Zhong farm. The ancient tablet told of a Warlord who had ruled the valley during the Fire Nation’s feudal period, many thousands of years ago. Chu Lin Valley had been suspected for years as the site of the ancient Warlord’s fortress, but extensive searches had revealed little and the area was archeologically abandoned.
With these twin discoveries, treasure hunters as well as the justified authorities converged on the two locations. The town saw an influx of travelers passing through to Sun Sei and many seeking fortune in the valley itself. It wasn’t long before Chao found treasure hunters poking through the family’s fields with shovels and pick axes, searching for relics.
The mass of new people traveling through the valley and those who sought ancient treasures that may or may not have existed, had many different effects on the community in the region. On one hand, the surge brought economic growth to the town and also encouraged the central government in Lun Yang to level a neat gravel roadway stretching from Chong Dao in the east through Chu Lin and then northwest to Sun Sei.
On the other, the town experienced a rash of crime, shops and homes were broken into, crops were damaged by treasure hunters and a man was even killed and found lying in an alley way behind a tavern. The greed that came with the treasure seekers was slowly costing Chu Lin its innocence and peaceful small town feel.
Yin’s life changed considerably, her father now escorted her and Liu Yi to school each morning then walked them back home in the afternoons. No longer were they allowed to roam the town freely, nor could they visit the river for a swim, the dangers to Yin that the outsiders had brought with them were far too real to Chao and Zhou. Fortunately, though, Yin was still able to meet with her friends, though they had to stay around the Zhong family farm and not wander off.
Eventually the farmers banded together and petitioned Lun Yang, citing the treasure hunters as a threat to their crops, a strategic resource, thus a threat to the security of the nation. Within a matter of weeks, an edict was issued and the treasure hunters were forbidden from entering the valley with intent to search and soon the waves of people traveling to the town slowed to a trickle.
In time, thankfully, the valley returned to normal and the gracious citizens sent their thanks to Fire Lord Ozai himself, seeing him as the one who saved their community. Yin was somewhat caught up in this bout of nationalism and began to think of herself as more than just a farm girl, but a citizen of a great nation.
The next few years were peaceful and pleasant for the girl; she celebrated her tenth birthday with her friends present and enjoyed the freedoms once more that had been restricted during the ‘gold rush’. Liu Yi continued to her help Yin with her school work and the two spent a great deal of time together, Yin soon came to think of the girl as her best friend.
As Lee grew and prepared for his first year at the “Chu Lin Academy”, Yin discovered something new about herself. She’d watched the hired hands who worked with her family Firebend in the past, generally a great show during the harvest of the Cane, when they would set the fields ablaze. Both men were benders and Yin had always wondered if she could learn to do like them, not realizing that bending was something one was born with.
Name: Yin He Zhong – Yin, for short
Age: 24
Gender: Female
Group: Fire Nation Military (Domestic Forces / “Home Guard”), Rank of Corporal
Nation: Fire Nation
Bender?: Yes? Firebender
Physical Appearance: Trimmed, toned and conditioned, Yin He blends in easily amongst most of the “Home Guard’s” other female soldiers, though; she does stand a bit taller than average, her eye level at her comrades’ foreheads. This doesn’t necessarily mean she possesses a commanding presence, however. At a little over five feet, six inches in height and weighing about one hundred and fifty eight pounds, Yin may seem a bit intimidating, but this does not reflect her true nature in most cases.
Her skin color is typical of Fire Nation citizenry, being quite fair. Despite spending a great deal of time outdoors, from early in her childhood to the current day, she has never been able to develop a real tan. Instead, it seems she always sports a pinkish glow upon her forehead, nose, ears and the upper parts of her cheeks as well as on the portions of her arms not covered by her uniform. This near constant state of minor sunburn has simply become one more thing Yin He must deal with daily and, though she has sought reassignment to evening and even night patrols, she doesn’t complain when sent out during the hottest parts of the day. Like any active person, she does possess various scars and nicks and the like, a few burns that never completely healed as well, leaving the skin glossy. Though here is nothing out of the ordinary or particularly interesting about these marks.
Being rather tall and in good physical shape, Yin seems to have a long, yet strong figure. Her arms and legs are well toned, not particularly thin though. One could tell that she is, perhaps, a little over average weight as well. She appears to have a sturdy frame, her shoulders broader than most women, with little curve to her hips and middle or much of a rump, for that matter. Giving her a rather masculine appearance over all – something she isn’t particularly pleased with.
It could be assumed that most of Yin’s strength would be in her long legs, though she posses fair upper-body and arm strength as well, the result of her training and a regular daily exercise routine that she sticks to. Despite having a “less than ideal” figure, Yin possesses a respectable bust, a feature she’s proud of. She also seems quite pleased with her nails, keeping them cut short, but well manicured, often using her whittling knife to clean them of dirt and the like. This level of care is repeated when it comes to her toenails as well, though it’s not likely that she would take off her boots and begin filing down her toenails in public.
If one were to observe Yin carefully, however, they might notice two relatively unique things about her. First off, unlike the majority of the population, Yin is left-handed, a fact that caused her some difficulty with her calligraphy writing lessons in school. As conformity is typically held highly in the Fire Nation school system, an altered teaching method wasn’t always available. Additionally, Yin is Splayfooted or “Turtle Duck Footed”, meaning her feet turn outward when she stands and walks, as opposed to one who might be “Pigeonrat Toed”. With her splayfeet, Yin had some minor difficulty following standard stance practices in training, but managed to adapt her techniques to accommodate this personal quirk.
Yin’s face could be described as similar in shape to an inverted triangle, though flat fronted, with rather undefined cheek bones and slightly rounded cheeks. Her nose is a bit large, rounded at the tip and upon close examination; one may notice a slight crook in the bridge of her nose, indicating that it may have been broken at some point in the past. Her lips are somewhat plump, though lack color, they are often chapped as well, sometimes to the point where they bleed slightly, likely from long hours spent on patrol in the hot sun. It is fairly rare to actually see her smile, though not unheard of, her face, in general, maintains a flat, rather bored look.
Yin’s eyes seem to be a bit spaced out, a golden-brown in color, lacking the striking quality eyes of pure gold posses, purity often associated with the nobility and royalty. Her eyes seem to stay in a constant half-lidded gaze, whether she’s honestly bored or tired one couldn’t easily determine. Though, when she’s interested in something or focused on a task, she tends to act livelier. Above her eyes arc rather thick, jet black eyebrows and, though it’s clear she plucks strays to keep them even, she hasn’t thinned them down to the typical look often sought after by most women.
The crowning feature of Yin’s person would be her thick, wavy, deep brunette hair. To most, it would likely appear black, but in the correct light it is revealed to be a very dark brown, though the color and luster often change a bit depending on how long ago it was washed. Yin does take her personal hygiene seriously, washing her hair at least once a day when possible and bathing at least once every three days. When freshly washed, her hair appears shiny, healthy and the color seems rich and vibrant, after a day’s worth of patrolling, however, it becomes matted, shiny – with grease, and the color becomes dull looking.
Yin’s hair is quite long, coming down to about the middle of her back when brushed back. Due to its length, she has two main styles that she is often seen sporting with it. The first is simply the standard style that most all female soldiers wear, hair pulled back, over the shoulders and held out of the face by the headband and the Happuri style armored forehead guard. Though, in Yin’s case, her bangs partially hang over the forehead guard or stick out from beneath it a bit in the front and at the sides. At the back of her head, a good portion of her hair is put up in a low ponytail, held in place by a thin red hair band. The ponytail hangs down, over the rear of the headband, ending just below her collar, while the rest of her hair is held down by the back of the headband and hangs down to about mid-back.
The second hairstyle Yin tends to wear is similar, but without the Happuri, her bangs are allowed to hang down. She also puts some of her hair up in a small, thick, upside down triangular shaped top-knot, held in place by the same red band that she uses for her ponytail when in uniform. She tends to wear her hair in this style only when out of uniform, which is rather rare.
Clothing/Armor: Yin He really possesses only two complete outfits, the first being her armor and uniform and the second, a civilian outfit worn when off duty or when a uniform would not be quite formal enough for some occasion that may arise. Her financial situation leaves her with little money to throw around when it comes to fashion and the like, but she tries to, at the very least, appear presentable.
Beside the two complete outfits, she has a few other articles of clothing that can be switched out with portions of her civie attire to either vary the look or just to be used as replacements for certain pieces if she must wear the outfit for more than one day. The same goes for her uniform, most of it is standard issue, but she posses a few extras of the non-armored pieces that can be switched out for equivalent pieces, allowing her to always have on a relative clean uniform day by day.
Of course, one would most likely see Yin He in uniform patrolling the streets of whatever city she might find herself deployed in. The uniform and its armored components are typical of the Domestic Force’s Firebending troops, designed for mobility and adapted for the hotter weather of the Fire Nation. Though, to provide a cooler more comfortable outfit, the uniform sacrifices a few levels of protection that are present in the gear worn by frontline forces deployed overseas.
Light by most standards, the first layer of Yin’s uniform really begins with regularly washed white linen cloth chest wrappings, bound tightly enough to keep things in place, but not too tightly as to become uncomfortable. She also wears a simple pair of linen underwear and a pair of light, cream colored socks. The socks strike a balance; they’re light enough to allow her feet to “breathe” while also retaining softness enough to keep her boots from wearing on her legs and feet.
The second and main layer of Yin’s uniform consists of a dark charcoal gray short sleeveless top. The top is standard issue for the uniform; it is collarless and also leaves the midriff bare. It is made from a rather thick looking cloth but the way the material is woven it allows the top decent breathability. Despite this, it is not uncommon to spot darkened patches upon the fabric beneath Yin’s underarms after she has spent the day out in the sun.
Along with the top, Yin wears a pair of black shorts, hemmed with bands of elastic burgundy material that cinch them to her legs just above each knee. A similar band of burgundy fabric makes up the waistband for the shorts as well. Over the shorts, she wears something akin to a short, baggy half-skirt, a dark charcoal gray in color, matching the top. The half-skirt wraps around fully behind her, but in the front it’s split up the middle and wraps in around her legs, it is just slightly shorter than her shorts, allowing the burgundy bands to be visible from the front.
Worn over the shorts and over the half-skirt, to keep it in place, she wears a cloth garment that wraps around her waist. Held in place by a built in black leather belt, the garment is V shaped at the front and back, the front “flap” portion hangs down over Yin’s pelvic region, while the rear flap hangs down over her bottom. The V shaped “flaps” are black overall with burgundy hemming along the Vs’ leading edges. Additionally, hanging down from beneath the V “flaps”, two longer, but thinner, cloth flaps hang down in the front and back, the tip of each reaching just below her knees. The longer flaps are a burgundy overall with cardinal trim.
Worn low on her hips, around the cloth garment, Yin wears a thin, black leather belt around her waist. This belt is designed to hold her Tonfa baton, attached by a strap, while sitting low enough as to not rub against her bare midriff. The baton isn’t the only thing she hangs from the belt, occasionally she’ll be seen with a pair of light handcuffs dangling from it and nearly always, a small coin pouch as well. She also tends to attach a small canteen onto the leather belt from time to time, especially on particularly hot or humid days.
The canteen is built light, made of tin with a small screw-on cap at the top and a metal loop sticking up along one side to which she ties a bit of leather strip in order to secure it to the belt around her waist. Though the canteen is quite small and can become a nuisance when Yin must run or jog, as it tends to bounce against her thigh, it proves to be worth its weight in gold when there aren’t any sort of public fountains or water sources around.
Moving down, Yin wears a pair of standard issue semi-armored boots. The boots are made of leather and cloth, primarily bistre in color, with dull golden colored soles and the up-turned toes typical of Fire Nation style. The thick cloth comes up to about mid-shin, but worn over the fronts of the boots from just below the ankles, slightly over the tops of her feet, to mid-shin, Yin also wears armored shin-guard plates. The plates cover only the front of the shins and ankles, but are thick enough to take a strike from a blade or other weapon. They are held in place by a strap that circles the foot from the base of the plate as well as by another similar strap that runs around the calf and is tied in the back to hold the plates against the shins tightly.
Upon her arms, Yin wears a few more armored pieces, strategically placed upon her forearms to facilitate blocking attacks from all manner of weapons. She wears cloth sleeves beneath these iron vambraces, however, to prevent the metal itself from rubbing against her skin. The sleeves are a cardinal in color and reach from just below the elbow joints to the wrists, with a small triangular flap of fabric extending out over the top of the hand, the flap edges are hemmed with golden colored fabric.
Yin then wears the vambraces, which are a dark charcoal gray, over the sleeves to hold them in place. The vambraces reach from just below the edge of the sleeves to the wrists; the bands at the wrists are trimmed with gold, or a metal with a similar appearance, Yin isn’t quite certain if the metal is actually gold or not, though she doubts it.
The next portion of Yin’s uniform is clearly the most heavily armored. Worn over her shoulders, she sports the trademark shoulder guard cover of the Domestic Force’s Firebenders. The armor covers her shoulders completely, angling down in the front and back, in a V shape. The front bit partially covers her chest, while the V in the back covers to the same degree, the edges of the plate angle downward slightly over the tops of her arms as well. The metal portion of the plate guard is a solid black, but affixed beneath it and hanging down from the edges, it seems a golden colored leather strip has been attached. The leather strip prevents the metal portion from digging into the sides of Yin’s arms which could potentially limit their movement.
Along the leading edge of the shoulder guard, in the front and back at either side of the V shaped portion, two circular notches are cut out of both the leather piece and the iron portion; they are likely just for decorative purposes. The shoulder guard has a wide iron collar, cardinal in color with golden trim and a strip of soft golden colored leather around the inside to protect the neck from abrasion.
Worn around her neck, Yin keeps a small metal whistle. The “Pea” whistle is used to alert other soldiers and just generally call attention in an emergency situation, occasionally used in the dark or when visibility is low, as a sound source to guide people, be they citizens running from danger or Yin’s own troops. With a very shrill sound, the whistle can be heard over a long distance or over other sound sources providing a clear alert to those in the area. Typically worn on a very thin iron chain, Yin has found the whistle to be a useful addition to her patrol gear.
The final piece of Yin’s uniform and armor would be her Happuri style headband and face guard. The guard doubles as both a form of protection for the head as well as a way to keep the sweat and hair out of her eyes. Though, it seems her hair finds ways to get over or under the forehead guard at times. It is primarily a burgundy cloth band that is wrapped around her head and tied at the back to keep it tight. Along the front of the band, curving around the front of her head, a metal plate has been affixed. The plate is iron with black, red and golden decorative engraving upon it, a small triangular bit angles up at the very center as well. The decorative pattern is different than most, denoting her rank as a Corporal.
Also attached to the front plate, but hanging down at the very edges, are two more iron pieces designed to protect the sides of Yin’s face. Each side plate has similar gold and black engraving with a notch cut out of the back to accommodate her ears. The plates reach down to the sides of her face, ending at the sides of the jaw. Just how much protection the Happuri would actually provide, Yin isn’t quite sure, but she does understand the secondary benefits of wearing it.
Yin’s civilian/formal outfit begins in much the same way as her uniform, the same undergarments and socks, though she would not use the exact same underclothing after a day at work if she were to change into her other outfit. Instead she would likely find some clean things to wear beneath her civie attire.
The outfit is layered as one would expect in Fire Nation fashion, the first layer consisting of a sleeveless white linen top. The top is collarless and works as an undershirt worn over her chest wrappings and beneath the second layer. Though it’s not really underclothing, Yin’s pants could be considered part of the first real layer as well. The pants are somewhat baggy about the ankles, made from a Beige colored fabric, they are held up by a simple white sash at the waist, though very little of the pants are actually visible when worn with the rest of the outfit.
The next layer consists of a long sleeved shirt with a rigid collar; it is puce in color, overall, with rich carmine hemming around the collar portion and the lapel seams. Though a lighter shirt might be cooler, Yin wears this longer sleeved one to protect her skin from the sun, since her uniform provides little protection for the arms. The long sleeves of the shirt reach to Yin’s wrists and are then bound beneath burgundy arm wraps, extending from about mid-forearm to the wrist, with a triangular flap of fabric extending out over the top of the hand. The end of the shirt tucks beneath the same white sash she wears around her waist.
Over the shirt and covering most of the pants, she wears a robe-like garment that she pulls over her head and down into place. The garment is sleeveless and has a low, wide collar that allows the rigid collar of her long sleeved puce shirt to stick up through it. Cardinal in color overall, the dress/skirt like portion extends down to about mid-shin with slits up the sides of each leg to about mid-thigh, a rounded hem at the bottom in front and back. The hem that runs along the bottom of the dress part and upon along the silts is burgundy in color with small flame shapes embroidered at the corners, also burgundy.
Wrapped around her middle, Yin wears a falu pink waist sash over the pull-on robe-like garment. It is bound relatively tightly, the two ends, once tied together, tend to hang down over the back of the robe garment. Because the sash is quite long, and must be wrapped several times before being tied off, Yin likes to keep her personal possessions in the folds of the sash. Typically her whittling knife and tools in their little case and a small pouch containing coins, identification papers, as well as her room key for the apartment she stays in, all tucked into the sash where she feels they are safe.
Worn over her shoulders in a similar manner to the armored shoulder guard plate she wears with her uniform, Yin sports a burgundy shoulder cover shawl-like garment. The cover fits easily around the collar of her long-sleeved shirt, the neck hole wide enough to fit her head through when donning it. It angles over her chest slightly and does similarly over her back, rounded at the ends. At the tips, the cover comes to a sharper point just over the ends of her shoulders and, unlike the armored piece; it does not curve down slightly over her arms.
Upon her feet, Yin wears a pair of slipper-like shoes, a seal brown in color, though noticeably scuffed in places, showing their age. The shoes are made of light leather and have the classic up-turned toes, exposing the dark tan of the soles. Though they do not come up high on her ankles, Yin still manages to tuck the bottom hem of her pant legs into the shoes to keep them from dragging on the ground.
With a close look, it becomes apparent that Yin He wears no jewelry whatsoever. No necklace around her neck, no bracelets or bangles upon her wrists, her ears are not pierced and no rings grace her fingers. Simply put, Yin never had any interest in sporting jewelry, nor could she ever really afford it.
There is one last piece of clothing Yin wears in her daily life, a simple bath/sleeping robe she tends to slip into after a bath or just after she returns home to her apartment. The robe is made of a very light material, primarily tea rose in color with cerise hemming and a waist sash of the same color. Because Yin only wears this robe when in the privacy of her home, and often with nothing else worn under it, it would be rather unlikely that anyone would really see her wearing it.
Weapons: Being a soldier, Yin He has reached a relatively high level of skill when it comes to combat, thanks to Secondary School, basic training and continued practice over her last four and a half years of service. As denoted by her armor, she’s clearly a Firebender and as such, bending would be her primary weapon.
Having discovered this ability at a young age, she would likely have become exceptionally skilled quickly, if not for her remote location – the interior of the Fire Nation’s main island. Due to living out on such a remote farm, Yin was not able to attend formal training until she reached her teen years. Even later on, she would not get the opportunity to join one of the nation’s formal Firebending academies, as her family was unable to afford even a fraction of the tuition.
From the time of her discovery to the first days of Secondary School, Yin often practiced the basics alone. As her interest in bending grew, she borrowed scrolls and books on different techniques to add to her routine. From this practice, Yin developed a strong sense of the basic and intermediary moves and stances, giving her a solid framework to build upon once she started to take formal lessons at school and then, later, into basic training. It did, however, have some negative effects though, as she was not supervised or instructed by a master or, at least, a skilled bender, she developed some bad habits as well.
When she reached Secondary School, she got the chance to take courses in Firebending with real teachers, allowing her to rapidly pick up more advanced concepts. Following Secondary school and her enlistment in the military, Yin received further training and instruction in the more powerful and offensive moves associated with her element.
Preferring a more balanced technique then what is traditionally taught to soldiers, Yin enjoys more versatility in her bending, possessing the classic rapid fire punches and kicks, producing searing and concussive blasts of flame as well as arcs and rings and a few other forms. Along with the usual abilities, she’s found her specific style to be more accommodating to defensive measures as well, making full use of her vambraces and other armor to block attacks and the like. She is also capable of blocking or dissipating various Firebending attacks and water-based ones as well, though to what degree, she is uncertain.
At present, she takes considerable pride in her abilities, and has attained recognition as a skilled bender, practicing and sparring with the other Firebenders in her unit to further improve her skills. If she continues on her current path or were to seek out a master trainer, either on her own or through the military, she might, herself, attain the tile of “Master Firebender” in time.
Besides her bending, Yin also possesses a secondary, less lethal, weapon as well. Called a Tonfa of Tong Fa baton, the wooden weapon is usually carried attached to a leather strap hung from her belt, when in uniform, or occasionally just held in her hand, idly spun by its handle. Constructed from one-hundred percent Ebony Hardwood imported from the Igni Islands, the main or horizontal portion of the baton is about twenty inches in length, the wood is smooth and highly polished.
The horizontal portion is slightly thinner at the tips and thickens at a point about three fifths of the way up its length when held properly. A handle, about six inches long, made of the same hardwood, extends up from the thickened part vertically, providing a handle to grasp or a sort of hook when the baton is held differently.
Yin was given the Tonfa baton as a gift from her squad mates some time after her basic training was complete. She had been in search of a less than lethal secondary weapon and once she had it, she sought out one of her comrades who had some experience with the weapon and requested training. With the help of the other soldier, she quickly learned the various techniques associated with her new weapon. Finding it to be exceptionally versatile, Yin began to carry it on patrols and the like where it soon proved its usefulness in taking down and controlling those who might resist the law.
Recently, Yin has tired wielding the Tonfa while Firebending, slowly working it into her moves and such, though she tends to use it in her off-, or right hand, while using it in conjunction with her bending. Whether using her Firebending, her Tonfa, or both, Yin is a formidable fighter with confidence in her abilities.
Personality: In her youth, Yin He was a quite and rather shy girl. Today, she still retains a quiet, reserved nature, but, as she is a soldier and officer of the law, she’s developed a more assertive side as well. In truth, there is far more to Yin than one might assume from a brief meeting, she is not simply another soldier, another cog in the Fire Nation military machine.
With a rather slow and ponderous way of moving about, one might get the impression that Yin is not particularly gifted in an intellectual sense. This is actually somewhat true; she is a bit slow when it comes to understanding complex concepts, though this doesn’t mean she’s stupid, just not book smart or extremely sharp-minded. She is also fairly thoughtful about her actions, almost always looking before leaping, Yin very rarely finds herself acting on impulses.
To most, Yin might seem to be in a constant state of immense boredom with her situation or surroundings, tired or otherwise displeased. She simply needs direction at times, something to commit herself to. Before joining the military, and to a greater extent, before she discovered her bending, Yin was often very indecisive, perhaps even somewhat listless. But, with definite goals laid out for her, she thrives.
Even at present, she tends to languish when she lacks something to occupy herself with. This has led her to adopt several hobbies to help fight boredom, discouragement or a state laziness. As long as Yin has something to do or something to work on, she will remain quite content, even willing to endure hardships without complaint.
Without a doubt, enlisting in the military has helped Yin to become a better-rounded person, able to deal with tough situations efficiently with a degree of authority. Though she used to prefer following, more so than leading when it came to activities in the field, Yin has developed a taste for control and responsibility that has strengthened her as a person. She is capable of quick thought in a pinch and a commanding presence when need be, but Yin still finds herself doubting her own ability to lead at times, something she makes certain never to let show. It seems that, with more responsibility, so to can come anxiety
Having been placed in command of a small group, consisting of four other soldiers, Yin often worries about them. The thought of having the lives of four people in her hands is somewhat overwhelming, but she endures and tends to demand their respect through a combination of tough love and flat honesty when dealing with a situation. When Yin was younger, she was exceptionally protective of her little brother and this sense of defending those under her watch has remained.
She is generally very patient, enduring the hot weather, the people she must deal with daily, as well as the occasional unwanted advances made by men, some even from her own unit, simply letting things go without dwelling on them. She tends to remain in control of herself, showing anger only in cases where she has been pushed for a long period of time. It does take a great deal to get Yin to snap or strike back at someone verbally, as she is capable of taking quite a bit without letting on that she is upset with something.
The only thing that really gets Yin truly flustered is unexpected or drastic change; she despises changes to her daily routine, structure and predictability are imperative to her day to day life, though this may actually be a double-edged sword. When out of her element, Yin is often uneasy, but it may actually be her insistence on a highly structured and predetermined lifestyle that causes her to slip into the listless state she struggles to avoid.
She does come off as rather socially distant, keeping her private life very quiet; she is not at ease with discussing certain subjects with just anyone. Generally courteous and pleasant with the citizens and the like, she does somewhat enjoy using the authority her rank bestows upon her on nobles when she must deal with them. Being from a small farming community, it amuses her to hold power over people who have more wealth than her family could attain in decades.
To her few close friends, she is loyal, trusting and compassionate, though there are still matters she is not willing to discuss with them, specifically matters of the heart and her own economic and social status. Of her friends, she has revealed her familiar history to only two, as she feels somewhat ashamed of her rural upbringing when it seems many of her comrades were far better off and from the cities.
Because of her rather private nature, Yin is more of a listener than a talker, always happy to hear a friend’s stories or problems, usually compelled to find something to say when confronted with the latter. Most of her friends have come to respect her ways and tend not to pry, though some still forget and ask her things on occasion, as always, they are met with patience from Yin.
Though quiet more often then not, Yin finds it difficult to resist a chance to poke a bit of fun, at times, to lighten the mood. When a situation presents itself, she tends to come up with playful quips and jokes, a familiar grin crossing her lips when something comes to mind. For the most part, however, she tends to be a bit more talkative when around those she trusts.
As far as romantic relationships go, Yin has accumulated some experience over the years. She tends to be loving and more open with lovers and partners than she might be with her regular friends. As it is, she is forced to be more open initially to find those who interest her – other women. When it comes to such things, she can, at times, be emotional and, of course, a bit protective, though most of her encounters with lovers and the like last only briefly. Only once had she a real relationship that, unfortunately, ended due to reassignment.
Recently, she’s curtailed her efforts in seeking romance, following the incident that nearly cost her her promising military career and left her feeling rather disheartened and suspicious. Though, keeping emotions and whatnot from showing is not particularly difficult for Yin, and her friends and comrades were none the wiser. Despite this, some small part of her wishes she could find someone to be close to again.
Background: Nestled in a small, fertile valley northwest of Lun Yang, west of Chong Dao, southeast of Sun Sei and lying in the shadow of the great dormant volcano Mount Shankara, one would find a quaint farming community with the town of Chu Lin at its heart. Fed by the Kali River, the valley is a green bastion surrounded by barren lava fields and the occasional small tropical forest. The soil is surprisingly rich, perfect for growing Sugar Cane, the valley’s main cash crop. Ideal in nearly every aspect for the growth of the much needed plant, the region receives large amounts of rainfall from the east all year-round and the tropical climate is quite accommodating.
With a population of only about one hundred and fifty in Chu Lin proper and less than one hundred more living on the outlying farms, the town is only really on the map due to the Sugar Cane itself. Many of the families living in the region sell directly to the government, as the sugar is an essential war time commodity. With these contracts, and the growing need for resources, the government eventually went ahead and ran a rail line out to the small town to better facilitate the transportation of the Cane.
Some time before the government contracts, however, and longer still, before plans to construct the Chu Lin Railroad Branch were even considered by officials in Luan Yang, things in Chu Lin were as quiet and normal as in any other small farm town.
For the most part, Zhou Shu Hui found the farm boy from the other side of the small town to be thoroughly annoying, he seemed to show up at the most inopportune times and never seemed to take the hint, but nothing she did could discourage Chao Zhong. He’d made friends with her family, her brothers, even her friends; it seemed the infuriatingly determined boy simply would not give up until he’d won her heart.
Zhou Shu, born to a general store owner and his wife in the heart of the small town, had grown up as any other small town girl would in the Fire Nation – simply. Far from the mainstream culture and the hustle and bustle of the nation’s industrialized cities, Zhou’s life was pleasant and quiet, in her teen years she helped her father with his business and eventually started a cloth mending service out of shop that was her all her own.
Chao, on the other hand, was born to the long standing Zhong family of Sugar Cane planters. The Zhong family had grown Cane in the Chu Lin Valley for the last three generations and Chin Da Zhong and his wife Yami both hoped their son, Chao, would take over the family farm when the time came. Until then, he worked hard around the farm, beginning his work when he was first able to help carry small bundles of the Cane, around the age six.
Though most of Chao’s time was taken up by his chores, his parents both saw the benefits of sending him off to the newly constructed “Chu Lin Academy” – a one-room schoolhouse in town. While attending the “Academy”, Miss Zhou Shu Hui caught Chao’s eye immediately and he quickly developed a bit of crush on the shopkeeper’s daughter.
As the two grew older and continued their education, Chao’s infatuation with Zhou grew too. When the two were in their mid-teens, Chao approached her only to be politely turned down. He tried several more times to win Zhou over, but nothing seemed to work. By now, Zhou was well known around the town as an exceptionally beautiful young woman and many of the men from both the in town and the farms sought to catch her eye.
Despite the odds stacked against him, Chao never gave up on Zhou, going so far as to “run into” her family and friends to introduce himself and hopefully get on their good sides. Years went by and Chao still pursued Zhou’s heart, his moment finally came when the girl’s longtime boyfriend left her to seek his fortune in ‘The Big City’. Chao sought out the heartbroken young woman, in honest concern more so than for his own reasons, and consoled her.
Some time after, feeling she had little to loose, Zhou gave Chao a chance and he proved himself caring, hardworking and honest. The two grew close over the next year and a half and Chao’s dream came true, the couple was married with full support of both families at Agni’s Shrine at the end of Chu Lin’s main street in early spring.
The two families decided that it would be best if Zhou moved in on the Zhong family’s farm. So, in preparation, Chao and his father, with the help of the town’s master carpenter, made several additions to the Zhong family farmhouse. They worked hard for several weeks, adding a new bedroom, increasing the size of the living spaces and updating the kitchen.
Fortunately, the arrangement seemed to work well and life for the young couple was good. Chao continued to work around the farm, beside his father and two hired hands that lived in town and came out to the farm to work. Zhou helped around the farm and kept up her clothing and cloth mending service at her father’s shop as well, to earn a bit of extra cash for the family.
The family enjoyed a prosperous Cane harvest at the end of the year and quickly began replanting for the next one. With the good harvest past, the family would soon receive another blessing. Shortly after the harvest, Zhou announced to the family that she was with child and the Zhongs rejoiced. Soon the family began to make preparations for the baby, using the extra funds from the harvest; they added another small room onto the house and bought a little crib and other supplies.
In late summer, Chao’s mother, with the help of a midwife from town, delivered Zhou’s baby. Chao rushed immediately into the room to meet his new daughter, quickly followed by his father, now a grandfather. The pudgy little girl was contently lying upon her mother’s chest when the two entered the room, both Zhou and baby were doing well and they soon had a name in mind for the little one, Yin He or ‘Silver Lotus’.
The very next day, Zhou’s family arrived at the Zhong farm to meet their new granddaughter. The day after that, her brothers traveled back to Chu Lin Valley to meet little Yin, bringing their children and wives with them, and soon it was a veritable family reunion. Throughout the visits, Yin He was, at times, frightened by the many unfamiliar people appearing and inspecting her only a day or two after her birth and cried often.
After the families left the Zhong farm, however, the pace of daily life around the home slowed back to normal and Yin began to get used to her family. After a few more days, a soft tuft of dark brown, almost black hair began to appear upon the baby’s head and after a week and a half more, she seemed to be growing some too.
For the most part, Yin was a quiet baby, rarely crying unless something truly startled or upset her. Being quite busy, her parents often left her with her Grandmother, Yami, during the day and returned late in the afternoons to spend time with their child. Watching over Yin was relatively easy for Yami, the little girl seemed to sleep quite a lot and, when awake, she was easy to amuse and keep happy.
Little Yin grew quickly over the next few months and when she was a bit older, Zhou and Chao began to take her into town to show off to their friends. Instead of a wide-eyed interest in her new surroundings, Yin seemed to cling to her parents somewhat and often fell asleep in their arms, seemingly uninterested in the world around her.
Along with the trips into town, the younger Zhong couple showed their daughter around the farm, introducing her to the various animals they kept to supplement their income derived from the Sugar Cane. Yin saw the Chicken Pig coop and her mother helped her spread some feed for the snouted animals to peck up, they also visited the Cow Hippo pen and met the family’s two dairy animals. The final non-human Zhong “family member” Yin got to meet was the family’s Dragon Moose. Used for pulling the plow during replanting, the Dragon Moose was quite terrifying to little Yin and she burst into tears at the sight of him.
As time went by, Yin became more inquisitive and eventually began crawling around the farmhouse exploring, though Yami always kept a close eye on the little girl, making certain she didn’t find anything dangerous or eat anything she shouldn’t. On Yin’s first birthday, the family held a modest celebration; Zhou and Yami made a little cake and Chin Da carved a little wooden Turtle Duck toy for his granddaughter as a present.
Yin loved the little duck toy and, within a few more months, she was toddling around the home repeating her first word, “Duck, Duck, Duck, Duck…” The little Turtle Duck also became a teething toy for the young girl as her baby teeth continued to grow in. She would keep the small toy with her to the present day, cherishing it.
With time, Yin’s vocabulary grew with her and her personality, too, began to emerge – rather quiet and a bit shy. She would often watch her father and grandfather work around the farm, wandering about, following them as they went about their daily tasks to keep things running. Zhou began to worry that young Yin might wander off and get lost or hurt out in the fields and the like, but the quiet little girl seemed to always mind her parents and grandparents, staying within their supervision and out of the way of their work.
When Yin reached the age of four, her mother decided to give the little girl some responsibility and tasked her with the retrieval of the Chicken Pig eggs. Yin was more than happy to help out her family and took to the work quickly, soon her mother added feeding the Chicken Pigs to the girl’s chore list as well, and Yin accepted the new task with enthusiasm.
A strange pattern began to emerge with the Zhong’s daughter, however. It seemed that, when she had work to do, she did it right away and with enthusiasm, though, once finished, it seemed Yin would slump into a bored and rather mopey state. At times, she would wander off into her bedroom and nap the day away after finishing her chores, as if she had nothing else to occupy her time with.
Somewhat worried, Chao and Zhou encouraged Yin to meet with other children her own age from the town and other farms, but Yin seemed to shy away from other people when confronted. She simply felt nervous and a bit uncertain when meeting someone new and felt that remaining quiet was the best thing to do. Needless to say, the other children who met her didn’t really know what to do with her; she didn’t seem interested in playing, and the like, as they were used to.
Zhou soon discovered that she was expecting another child, a sibling for Yin, and the younger Zhong couple felt confident that the new child would help their daughter to come out of her shell a bit more. With the news, Yin did seem to perk up somewhat and became rather excited over the prospect of having a younger brother or sister.
As it would turn out, that fall, the family welcomed their second child, a baby boy they named Lee, into the world. Though Lee was born healthy, Zhou did not fair so well and lost a considerable amount of blood during the birth, then came down with a fever as well, leaving her bedridden for many days. Yin immediately stepped up to help her grandmother tend to little Lee and Zhou, bringing her food and drink and keeping her company as she recovered.
Yin also found time to play with her baby brother, lying down on the floor before him and making funny sounds and faces to which Lee would respond with squeaky infant laughter. Watching her daughter happily interacting with her new son seemed to help Zhou remain in good spirits and eventually she did regain her strength, though she made the decision to close her clothing repair service at her father’s shop in town, in order to have more time to raise her kids.
Things went well for family over the next year or so, Yin took on more responsibilities around the farm, looked after her little brother and stove off listlessness. As Lee got older, it seemed that he was far more adventurous than Yin had been, occasionally toddling out of the house and down the front steps, disappearing in an instant when Yami and Zhou weren’t watching.
On one occasion, Lee disappeared during the Sugar Cane harvest, at the very time when the fields had been set ablaze in preparation for the hand cutting of the plants. Zhou and Yami panicked and searched the house and surrounding areas in a frenzy, praying that little Lee hadn’t wandered into the fields. They quickly sent Yin out to inform Chao, Chin Da and the hired hands that the boy was missing.
Yin bolted from the house and made her way toward the fields, the fires were spreading across the Cane toward the west, blown by the winds. The girl considered making a dash across the unburned portion to save time, foolishly, though in retrospect, luckily, she did so and only a few yards into the dense Cane plants she found her little brother. Sitting in the dirt, playing with a pill bug, he was oblivious to the flames moving toward him.
Quickly she scooped him up and returned to the farmhouse, much to the relief of her mother and grandmother. Though the fire would have taken some time to spread to the place where Yin had found Lee, the chances that he would have been found before that, in the vast fields, were unlikely and Yin was praised by her family for saving the boy. Following the incident, Yin began to think of herself as her brother’s protector and took great pride in the thought.
Shortly after Yin turned six and Lee celebrated his second birthday, Chao and Zhou sat their daughter down for a talk. The family discussed the girl’s future and the younger Zhong couple expressed their desire to see Yin start school in the next few months. Yin was repulsed by the idea and refused immediately. At her young age, the girl saw no reason to go off to school when she could be helping around the farm; it just didn’t make any sense.
Though Yin resisted, an important event would soon take place in Chu Lin that would cause the people of the valley to put a greater emphasis upon education. Early one morning a precession arrived in Chu Lin, consisting of Fire Nation Cavalrymen leading a large carriage carrying a senior aid sent by War Minister Qin himself.
Word spread quickly through the town and outlying farms, the only real interaction the people of the Chu Lin Valley had with the central government was during the biannual population tallies and when the tax collectors came around, this was clearly something important. The War Minister’s aid soon called for a meeting, requesting that the heads of each farming family show up at the town hall. Both Chao and his father, Chin Da, attended the meeting and returned in good spirits with a great scroll of paper in hand.
Father and son soon announced the news to the family, apparently, the Fire Nation was consolidating its strategic resources to make the war effort more efficient and one of the industries affected was that of the Sugar Cane planters. The scroll they had been given detailed a government contract offered to the family. In the past, the Zhong family had worked with a middle man, a private transportation service that used wagons to carry the freshly cut Cane away. The transporters would arrive at the farm and load the Cane, then pay the family and move off to the west toward the refineries in Chong Dao.
The War Minister’s adviser had explained that a government agency had purchased the transportation service and would be willing to buy directly from the farmers for nearly fifteen percent more than the old service had been willing to pay. Fairly patriotic and seeing the clear benefits from a fifteen percent profit increase at harvest time, the Zhong family unanimously agreed to accept the contract and the very next day Chao returned to town to present the signed document to the advisor.
Yin had been curious about the news and had hovered about as the family discussed the contract, she’d peered over her parents’ shoulders but, as she knew not how to read, the characters on the scroll meant little to her until her father explained what it meant for the family and Yin herself. With Lun Yang taking a greater interest in the Chu Lin Valley, Chin Da anticipated that the family and community as a whole would be interacting with the central government far more than they had in the past.
With this in mind, Chao and Zhou were convinced that sending Yin to school would be imperative. No longer could the people of the Chu Lin Valley live so simply, an education would be an important asset. Following another talk with her parents, Yin reluctantly agreed to attend the “Chu Lin Academy”, at which school was beginning in the next few weeks.
On the very first day of school, Zhou walked Yin down to the school house. The young girl carried a small pail in her hand, containing her lunch, while the other gripped her mother’s hand. Yin was thoroughly nervous, the tickle of “Butterfly Dog Ears” in her stomach increasing as sighted the “Academy”. Zhou accompanied her daughter in and the two met with the teacher, a kindly woman named Min Ho who greeted young Yin with a pleasant smile, reassuring her that she would have a fine time with the class.
Zhou wished her daughter well and returned to the farm, leaving Yin to face her fist day. She quickly found a seat amongst the desks as the other children arrived and began to mingle; she did not join in, however, choosing to remain quiet at her seat. It seemed to her that most of the other children already knew each other and this only seemed to alienate her further.
As the class began, Min Ho taught the students the national oath and the lot rose from their seats and turned to face a portrait of the Fire Lord on the left wall. Yin began to feel a bit overwhelmed but tried to maintain a calm appearance as the day went on. Following a bit of history on the school house, Min Ho introduced herself and had each student stand up and do the same. When it was Yin’s turn, she leapt from here chair, introduced herself in one lightning fast run-on sentence and sat back down as quickly as she could.
By the time her first day was finished, Yin had actually learned quite a lot, both about what the class would cover as time went on and just general knowledge about her town and country that had not been readily available back at home. Tired out from the day, Yin was happy to find her mother waiting for her, outside the school house, when class ended and the two walked home together.
Over the next two years, Yin experienced the ups and downs of going to school, she struggled some with her reading and writing, but the small class size allowed Min Ho to work more closely with the girl and this helped her keep up with the class. Because Yin was left-handed, she had some difficulty with her calligraphy and Min encouraged her to try writing with her right, but this only proved more difficult.
When it came to socializing, Yin remained quite shy, mostly moping around back of the schoolhouse, minding her own business while the other children played games and the like. Toward the end of the second year, however, she managed to make friends with a rather aloof girl by the name of Ju. The girl was from another Sugar Cane farm and could relate to Yin somewhat, though the two never really met outside of school.
At the beginning of Yin’s second year, however, a new group of children would be joining Min’s class and Yin was a bit apprehensive at the thought. She had established herself with the current group, more or less, and a new bunch worried her some. The first few days went well and the new students seemed to treat the, now eight year old, Yin with respect. She’d grown some over the summer and stood taller than all but a few of the boys around her age, uncertain if it was her height or simply the fact that she’d been there before them that intimidated them.
During the second week of school, a new student joined late. At first, Yin and Ju paid the new girl, who went by the name Liu Yi, little attention, staying at their far corner of the field around back of the schoolhouse. One day during play time, however, Yin went around front for a drink from the school’s water pump only to find the new girl surrounded by some of the younger boys.
“City Slicker”, the boys chanted as they encircled Liu Yi, who stood with her back to the water pump, a fearful look upon her face. Generally, Yin wouldn’t have involved herself in the business of the other children, but as she approached it became clear to her that the girl was truly frightened and that some of the boys were acting exceptionally malicious. Realizing, too, that they were blocking her path to the water pump, Yin strode up to the bunch and pushed two of the boys aside.
Using a sharp tone she’d heard her father use with the family’s Dragon Moose when he was being stubborn, Yin ordered the group of boys, the lot all shorter and younger than she, to disperse. Some protested but were met with a cold glare from Yin golden-brown eyes and slowly backed off. “Leave her alone,” Yin had said flatly, “and don’t block the pump anymore.”
Liu Yi was ready to thank Yin and Yin was ready to take a small cup off of the pump for a drink when one of the BAD!ier boys ran up behind the older girl, hooked one foot around Yin’s ankle as she bent over for the cup and placed his arm against her back. Pushing with his arm and pulling back with his foot, he managed to make her loose her balance, sending the farm girl stumbling forward into the “City Slicker.”
Yin’s right arm and side caught Liu Yi as she fell and both fell into the ever-present mud that surrounded the water pump, landing somewhat entangled with a splat. Yin immediately rolled off the smaller girl and screamed at the boys before storming off to go clean up, leaving Liu Yi to skitter away and do the same.
The next day, Liu Yi approached Yin and thanked the older girl for defending her from the rowdy farm boys. Yin didn’t feel like she’d done a whole lot to help, but tolerated Liu Yi’s gratitude and praise. The girl stuck around and Yin and Ju made no protest, it turned out that Liu Yi’s father had originally grown up in the Chu Lin Valley, but had moved to Hokage as a young man. He’d married and Liu had been born, spending the first seven years of her life in the city before her family moved to Chu Lin to help take care of her ailing grandfather.
It seemed Liu Yi had found a place with the two older girls and always sough them out during the day’s play time. Over time, Yin began to see the girl as more of a friend and less of a tagalong, eventually warming up to her. The rowdy farm boys still tried to pick on Liu but Yin seemed to intimidate them with her presence and began to take on the same ‘protector’ roll when it came to Liu as she had for her younger brother. Even Ju began to warm up to the city girl with time.
Liu was a very polite and smart girl, having attended school in Hokage for two years before her family moved; she was naturally bright and very sweet, though easily intimidated. The trio of friends soon began to meet outside of school, though it took some prodding by Liu Yi to get the two older girls to come along, but once they were together, they enjoyed each other’s company.
The three sat together in class, had slumber parties at each other’s homes, swam in the Kali River and played various games. Liu Yi even offered to help Yin with her studies and, albeit reluctantly, she accepted. The city girl really did know her stuff and helped Yin refine her calligraphy, read more fluently and also aided in several other subjects that had given the Zhong’s daughter trouble.
Later that year, the trio attended the Summer Solstice festival in town and browsed the various vendors, sickening themselves on sweets and the like. Ju won a large stuffed messenger hawk from one of the game booths that had been set up, Yin and Liu had made attempts at winning something, but it seemed the games were somewhat rigged.
As the festival wound down, two events took place that would cause a bit of a ‘gold rush’ in the Chu Lin valley. Hundreds of miles to the Northwest in Sun Sei, an archeological team discovered a large buried temple. The region had always been rumored to hold the tomb of the first Firebender, but the chamber had remained elusive. With the new discovery, hope of finding the tomb increased and scholars, professional archeologists and treasure hunters alike flocked to the location.
About the same time, a tablet was unearthed on a farm to the west of the town of Chu Lin, not far from the Zhong farm. The ancient tablet told of a Warlord who had ruled the valley during the Fire Nation’s feudal period, many thousands of years ago. Chu Lin Valley had been suspected for years as the site of the ancient Warlord’s fortress, but extensive searches had revealed little and the area was archeologically abandoned.
With these twin discoveries, treasure hunters as well as the justified authorities converged on the two locations. The town saw an influx of travelers passing through to Sun Sei and many seeking fortune in the valley itself. It wasn’t long before Chao found treasure hunters poking through the family’s fields with shovels and pick axes, searching for relics.
The mass of new people traveling through the valley and those who sought ancient treasures that may or may not have existed, had many different effects on the community in the region. On one hand, the surge brought economic growth to the town and also encouraged the central government in Lun Yang to level a neat gravel roadway stretching from Chong Dao in the east through Chu Lin and then northwest to Sun Sei.
On the other, the town experienced a rash of crime, shops and homes were broken into, crops were damaged by treasure hunters and a man was even killed and found lying in an alley way behind a tavern. The greed that came with the treasure seekers was slowly costing Chu Lin its innocence and peaceful small town feel.
Yin’s life changed considerably, her father now escorted her and Liu Yi to school each morning then walked them back home in the afternoons. No longer were they allowed to roam the town freely, nor could they visit the river for a swim, the dangers to Yin that the outsiders had brought with them were far too real to Chao and Zhou. Fortunately, though, Yin was still able to meet with her friends, though they had to stay around the Zhong family farm and not wander off.
Eventually the farmers banded together and petitioned Lun Yang, citing the treasure hunters as a threat to their crops, a strategic resource, thus a threat to the security of the nation. Within a matter of weeks, an edict was issued and the treasure hunters were forbidden from entering the valley with intent to search and soon the waves of people traveling to the town slowed to a trickle.
In time, thankfully, the valley returned to normal and the gracious citizens sent their thanks to Fire Lord Ozai himself, seeing him as the one who saved their community. Yin was somewhat caught up in this bout of nationalism and began to think of herself as more than just a farm girl, but a citizen of a great nation.
The next few years were peaceful and pleasant for the girl; she celebrated her tenth birthday with her friends present and enjoyed the freedoms once more that had been restricted during the ‘gold rush’. Liu Yi continued to her help Yin with her school work and the two spent a great deal of time together, Yin soon came to think of the girl as her best friend.
As Lee grew and prepared for his first year at the “Chu Lin Academy”, Yin discovered something new about herself. She’d watched the hired hands who worked with her family Firebend in the past, generally a great show during the harvest of the Cane, when they would set the fields ablaze. Both men were benders and Yin had always wondered if she could learn to do like them, not realizing that bending was something one was born with.