Wikibending:
Seige of Ba Sing Se (now with a proper write up!)
The Five Wisdoms
Bumi
Many advanced forms of bending have murky origins. Bloodbending seems to have been developed independently at least twice. And despite increasing evidence that late 300s/early 200s BG bandit Xu Ping An invented the form, the Fire Nation still insists lightning generation was developed by the Royal Family. However no such ambiguity exists with metalbending.
Long thought to be impossible, Metalbending was developed by Toph Beifong while in captivity in 100 AG, by bounty hunters working for her family. She would continue to utilize and refine the form throughout the remainder of the Hundred Year War.
The from draws heavy influences from Beifong’s own personal style, which was a combination of forms popular in her hometown of Gaoling and moves she learned from studying the movement of Badgermoles (which closely resembled Archaic Earthbending). Technically speaking it is the impurities in the metal being bent, and different levels of refinement pose different challenges for a metalbender. In addition only roughly 30% of earthbenders can metalbend, although the reasons for this remain unclear.
Following the War Beifong embarked on her famous feud with the Great Sages of Ba Sing Se, who refused to recognize her accomplishment as she had not passed any sort of Earthbending exam, and was in fact unable to do so due to her inability to complete the written section. However Beifong was not deterred, and many prospective students, including future Chancellor Ho Tun, saw the obvious benefits. It was King Bumi of Omashu who provided funds for the first Metalbending academy, which would later become the site of the city of Zaofu.
The center of metalbending shifted to Republic City with Beifong, whose metalbending students formed the core of the new police force to the point where the two became synonymous. Her later work showed specialization of the form for policing. After Beifong’s abrupt retirement in 143, her two daughters would become the premier innovators of metalbending.
The elder daughter, Lin Beifong would continue her mother’s later work in Republic City. Republic city metalbending is a direct, forceful art, focused on practicality above else. Most developments are made on the fly, often without a formal name. Influences from other bending forms common in the city are rampant. Even taking into account police training, there is little formal record keeping of the Republic City style.
In contrast Suyin Beifong’s Zaofu School is a deliberate effort to earn metalbending the kind of respect that other forms of bending receive. An emphasis is placed on the beauty of the form, and the possibilities it creates. Each new technique is rigorously recorded, and accompanied by philosophical principles, unlike the slapdash Republic City style. It should not be mistaken as impractical however, Zaofu Metalbenders formed the core of Kuvira’s Army of Unification and proved their power.
Counter-metalbending tactics typically consist of several types. There are of course, other types of bending. Some Metalbenders have been known to neglect traditional earthbending styles, leaving them weak on that front, although others are masters of earthbending as well. Chi-blocking and electric gloves can also be used, although many Metalbenders use shielding. Finally metal refined past a certain point becomes unbendable. All such metal has been termed “Platinum” although any refined metal works and using true platinum for this purpose is actually quite rare.
Since its creation metalbending has undoubtedly changed the world. Construction has become far more rapid. Anti-earthbending tactics perfected over generations became worthless overnight. The form’s development has been rapid, and several proto-schools have been developed outside the wider Beifong Family. It remains to be seen just how far metalbending go.
Seige of Ba Sing Se (now with a proper write up!)
The Five Wisdoms
Bumi
Many advanced forms of bending have murky origins. Bloodbending seems to have been developed independently at least twice. And despite increasing evidence that late 300s/early 200s BG bandit Xu Ping An invented the form, the Fire Nation still insists lightning generation was developed by the Royal Family. However no such ambiguity exists with metalbending.
Long thought to be impossible, Metalbending was developed by Toph Beifong while in captivity in 100 AG, by bounty hunters working for her family. She would continue to utilize and refine the form throughout the remainder of the Hundred Year War.
The from draws heavy influences from Beifong’s own personal style, which was a combination of forms popular in her hometown of Gaoling and moves she learned from studying the movement of Badgermoles (which closely resembled Archaic Earthbending). Technically speaking it is the impurities in the metal being bent, and different levels of refinement pose different challenges for a metalbender. In addition only roughly 30% of earthbenders can metalbend, although the reasons for this remain unclear.
Following the War Beifong embarked on her famous feud with the Great Sages of Ba Sing Se, who refused to recognize her accomplishment as she had not passed any sort of Earthbending exam, and was in fact unable to do so due to her inability to complete the written section. However Beifong was not deterred, and many prospective students, including future Chancellor Ho Tun, saw the obvious benefits. It was King Bumi of Omashu who provided funds for the first Metalbending academy, which would later become the site of the city of Zaofu.
The center of metalbending shifted to Republic City with Beifong, whose metalbending students formed the core of the new police force to the point where the two became synonymous. Her later work showed specialization of the form for policing. After Beifong’s abrupt retirement in 143, her two daughters would become the premier innovators of metalbending.
The elder daughter, Lin Beifong would continue her mother’s later work in Republic City. Republic city metalbending is a direct, forceful art, focused on practicality above else. Most developments are made on the fly, often without a formal name. Influences from other bending forms common in the city are rampant. Even taking into account police training, there is little formal record keeping of the Republic City style.
In contrast Suyin Beifong’s Zaofu School is a deliberate effort to earn metalbending the kind of respect that other forms of bending receive. An emphasis is placed on the beauty of the form, and the possibilities it creates. Each new technique is rigorously recorded, and accompanied by philosophical principles, unlike the slapdash Republic City style. It should not be mistaken as impractical however, Zaofu Metalbenders formed the core of Kuvira’s Army of Unification and proved their power.
Counter-metalbending tactics typically consist of several types. There are of course, other types of bending. Some Metalbenders have been known to neglect traditional earthbending styles, leaving them weak on that front, although others are masters of earthbending as well. Chi-blocking and electric gloves can also be used, although many Metalbenders use shielding. Finally metal refined past a certain point becomes unbendable. All such metal has been termed “Platinum” although any refined metal works and using true platinum for this purpose is actually quite rare.
Since its creation metalbending has undoubtedly changed the world. Construction has become far more rapid. Anti-earthbending tactics perfected over generations became worthless overnight. The form’s development has been rapid, and several proto-schools have been developed outside the wider Beifong Family. It remains to be seen just how far metalbending go.
