Metal Clan


 * This article is about the family in Zaofu. For the episode, see "The Metal Clan".

The Metal Clan is an influential family seated in the city of Zaofu, a branch of the Beifong Family, and renowned for its numerous metalbending members, including the city's founder and matriarch, Suyin Beifong.

History
Sometime after 142 AG, Suyin Beifong purchased a large plot of land in the Earth Kingdom which she eventually developed into her home. In order to enact her vision, Suyin enlisted the help of Baatar, an architect whom she later married. With their combined efforts, the couple created Zaofu, which made history as the first city in the Avatar World constructed out of metal.

The two had five children, whom they raised in their estate. The eldest son would eventually become an engineer and assist Baatar in his numerous construction projects. The second child, Huan, grew up to become a skilled metalbender and a gifted artist capable of fashioning crude metal into different sculptures. Suyin and Baatar also had a daughter, Opal, who acquired airbending abilities following the Harmonic Convergence in 171 AG. The couple's youngest two children, Wei and Wing, invented the metalbending game of power disc during their youth.

Suyin went on to establish Zaofu's credibility as one of the safest settlements in the world by training an elite guard and hiring Aiwei, a "truth seer" capable of using seismic sense to detect whenever an individual is lying. She also enlisted the help of a personal chef who became responsible for the Metal Clan's culinary needs. The family often hosted Toph Beifong for brief periods of time, as she visited the city frequently until her decision to travel the world in search of enlightenment.



In 171 AG, the Metal Clan provided refuge for Varrick after he escaped from prison in Republic City. The mogul eventually agreed to lead Zaofu's new technology division under Suyin's request. Shortly after, the family welcomed the arrival of Avatar Korra and her company, whom they hosted in guesthouses located near the estate. Suyin insisted that the group stay in the city while Korra trained Opal in the art of airbending. The Avatar's visit also marked the first time that Suyin's family met her half-sister Lin Beifong, who accompanied Korra in her search for airbenders.

Influence


The Metal Clan is known around the world as the family responsible for creating the city of Zaofu, a settlement made entirely out of metal. The title given to the clan refers to a majority of its members having the ability to metalbend, a gift which the family used to advance numerous aspects of life, including fine arts, architecture, and recreation. The clan's matriarch used metalbending to develop a form of theater involving dance and bending, while Huan influenced the use of metal as a medium for sculpting. Conversely, Baatar and his eldest son's skills contributed to the development of public works projects constructed entirely out of metal, contributing new design that keep Zaofu the most innovative city in the world. In terms of athletics, Wei and Wing used metalbending to develop a new sport which involves the use of the art during gameplay, similar in nature to the ancient game of airball.

Trivia

 * The Metal Clan has ties to the Beifong family due to Suyin's lineage.
 * In addition to being a branch of the Beifong Family, The Metal Clan is very influential in the city they reside in, similar to their elders in Gaoling.