` The Four Nations

[SPADES☮♥]

This is some information on all four nations. If you failed to watch Avatar: The Last Airbender and didn't pay attention to the little details and what not, then you should probably read here.

- - - - - - - THE WATER TRIBES - - - - - - -

The Water Tribes are broken up into three sections. In the North Pole, there is the Northern Water Tribe, in the South Pole there is the Southern Water Tribe, and the lesser known section, in the Earth Kingdom in the Foggy Swamp there is the Foggy Swamp Tribe. These tribes have their own special style of Water Bending. The Southern Water Tribe had the Bloodbending art, as well as pulling water right out of the air, while the Foggy Swamp Tribe uses Plantbending. Waterbenders are sometimes able to heal others. Amazingly, Waterbender's power comes from chi, or internal life energy, therefore, if a young, inexperienced Waterbender lost his temper, he would lose control of his bending, intensifying its power.

Waterbending originated when people watched the Moon and saw how it pushed and pulled the tide of the ocean, then learned how to do this themselves. Water is the element of change, and Waterbenders turn their defense into an offense and is mostly flowing and graceful. Most traveling Waterbenders travel with a water skin, seeing how they can't always be around a pool of water.

- - - - - - - THE EARTH KINGDOM - - - - - - -

The Earth Kingdom is the largest nation in the world. Earth is the element of substance, making its people generally proud, persistent and enduring. Earthbenders take their problems on head on, without trying to find any different way to do things. The very first Earthbenders were Oma and Shu, who learned from Badgermoles. Earthbenders have learned to bend other things, such as mud, which is mostly earth, sand, a branch of earth, and metal, refined earth. The key to Earthbending, is the neutral jing, which is where you wait and listen before striking your opponent. The Earth Kingdom is a confederate nation led by the Earth King.

- - - - - - - THE FIRE NATION - - - - - - -

The Fire Nation is split up into two sections, the main Fire Nation, and the lesser known Sun Warrior Tribe. Fire is the element of power, consisting of overpowering force tempered by the unflinching will to accomplish tasks and desires. A long time ago, the Fire Nation taught their Firebenders to fuel their Firebending with rage and anger. Luckily, few to none do this anymore. Their techniques were learned from the powerful dragons. Firebenders draw their power from the sun, so when there is a Solar Eclipse, they are left with no bending power until it's over. However, Firebenders are known for their bending to be lacking greatly in defense, though, some great Firebenders learned how to make fire walls and other forms.

Firebenders can control the intensity of their Firebending, reflected in the color of the flames. There was once a woman long ago that could bend blue fire, showing great power and it traveled farther than orange flames without dissipating. Another form of bending that Firebenders can use, is lightning, also known as the "cold-blooded fire". One can also redirect lightning, yet, it is a risky procedure.

- - - - - - - THE AIR TEMPLES - - - - - - -

Each Air Temple is ruled by the Four Council of Elders, they make all the decisions and take care of their temples. Air is the element of freedom. Airbenders continually sought spiritual enlightenment, the result being that all Air Nomads are benders. The first Airbenders learned from the Sky Bison. The key to Airbending is flexibility, finding and following the path of least resistance. Airbending is notable for being almost entirely defensive, however it is reputed to be the most dynamic of the four bending arts. Airbenders can overwhelm many opponents at once with large and powerful attacks that could prove fatal; however due to the pacifist nature of the Air Nomads such attacks are rarely used. Airebenders use their gliders, bending the air around it, enabling them to fly.

The greatest Airbenders were able to completely detach themselves from the world, obtaining complete spiritual enlightenment. Airbenders can make things such as air shields to full blown tornadoes. It is tradition, that once an Airbender becomes a master, they get tattoos of arrows inked onto their skin, including their head.