Southern Raiders


 * This article is about the branch of the Fire Nation military. For the episode, see "The Southern Raiders".

The Southern Raiders were a Fire Nation Navy special forces unit with the purpose of raiding the Southern Water Tribe when deemed necessary by the Fire Nation military, responsible for conducting savage attacks all over the South Pole and the Earth Kingdom. Their duty was to capture or kill southern waterbenders to prevent hopes of resisting Fire Nation rule.

History


The Southern Raiders attacked the Southern Water Tribe several years before the Avatar was discovered in his iceberg; they were searching for a rumored last waterbender, who, unknown to them, was an eight-year-old girl, Katara. During said attack, their men created a diversion to attract the attention of the warriors, which allowed their commander, then Yon Rha, to interrogate Kya, the chief's wife, as to the waterbender's whereabouts. Kya lied and told him that she was the waterbender, protecting her daughter. The commander, unwilling to take her as a prisoner, killed her. This incident further deepened the Southern Water Tribe's hatred for the Fire Nation and prompted all of the warriors to leave the Tribe to help the Earth Kingdom win the War. It would also give Katara and Sokka the desire to help Avatar Aang once he awakened.



The Southern Raiders would eventually move their base to Whaletail Island and appoint a new leader. They had a different helmet design than other Fire Nation soldiers, resembling a bird. The unit also possessed special ships that were smaller and faster than the traditional Fire Nation destroyers. The Raiders' warships were perfect for attacking coastal villages. Their smaller size and improved maneuverability allows the ships to pull up close to the shore and surprise the enemy.

The Southern Raiders were tracked down by Katara and Zuko in the final year of the Hundred Year War. They spotted the Southern Raiders' flagship near Whaletail Island, after which Katara launched a vicious wave of attacks that left the Raiders defenseless. She then interrogated their leader, whom she initially believed to be Yon Rha, holding him down with her bloodbending. However, the terrified eyes of the man revealed to her that he was not the man she was after. The captain confirmed her realization by telling Zuko that Yon Rha had retired four years prior.