Bloodbending



Bloodbending is a specialized technique within the art of Waterbending that allows a waterbender to hydrokinetically take hold of the various fluids contained within a living organism's body, then manipulate it as to control the movement of the subjects in question.

The technique was discovered by a young Hama while imprisoned in a containment facility designed specifically to hold waterbenders. She concluded that all life contains water, and proceeded to develop knowledge and skill on the art by practicing on Elephant Rats.

Due to the extremity of its nature, bloodbending is deemed by most to be a dark art and as such, is rarely used in combat. The infrequent application of bloodbending in day-to-day activities is also due to the fact that the complexity and sophistication required to perform the art only allows for its use during a full moon, when a waterbender's power is at its absolute peak. It is said that people who utilize this technique open themselves up to homicidal madness.

Background


Around 40 ASC, the Fire Nation began habitual raids aimed at weakening the Southern Water Tribe. During these attacks, members of the assaulting force abducted and captured as many waterbenders as possible, prior to departing.

Despite their best efforts, the waterbenders of the Southern Water Tribe eventually fell to the hands of their attackers, and soon, only one remained. Hama, the last liberated waterbender of the South Pole, finally surrendered after the realization that it was impossible to gain the upper hand.

Discovery
After being captured, Hama, along with her fellow waterbenders, was sent to a maximum security prison in the Fire Nation designed specifically to hold benders of her kind. Here, the guards were careful of providing prisoners with any form of bendable substance that they could utilize in making a reprisal, even going so far as to chaining the limbs of waterbenders before they were allowed to drink. Any sign of trouble was met with cruel retribution.

Despite the helplessness she faced while imprisoned, Hama was able to effectively feel the enrichment provided to her by the full moon, and she set off to devise a plan that would lead to her escape. It is not long after that she observed the constant scurrying of rats about her cage, and realized that where there is life, there is water.



After the arrival of the next full moon, Hama attempted to take hold of the blood within an Elephant Rat, and succeeded in doing so. She had successfully performed bloodbending. In the next few months, she continued to develop the technique, mastering it to the point wherein she effectively controlled the movement of an entire horde of rats. It is then that she realized that it was time to test the art on the men.

During the next full moon, Hama used bloodbending to control a passing guard, forcing him to open her cage and allowing her escape. Hama walked free for the first time in many years, and eventually settled in a village near the outskirts of the Fire Nation archipelago.