Earth Kingdom sages

The Earth Kingdom sages were a collective of prominent earthbending masters who held significant authority over the Earth Kingdom during the late 4th and early 3rd centuries BG. Political infighting and struggle for control over the guardianship and training of the falsely identified Avatar, Yun, led to the deaths of a large number of sages at the hands of the de facto leader, Jianzhu.

History
The Earth Kingdom sages were heavily involved in the search for Avatar Kuruk's successor after his death in 312 BG, and attempted to use the rituals of directional geomancy to locate the next earth Avatar. However, seven years later, their efforts had proved unsuccessful, leading the sage Jianzhu to attempt to use the Air Nomad method of identification, a set of relics owned by previous Avatars. This method also failed to recognize Kyoshi as the true Avatar, and Jianzhu instead falsely identified Yun as Kuruk's successor, becoming his guardian and earthbending instructor at the agreement of the other sages.

Shortly after the defeat of Tagaka and the Fifth Nation, Lu Beifong held a celebration to commemorate Yun's victory that was attended by a number of other sages. When Lu's chamberlain, Hui, was told by Jianzhu and Hei-Ran that the whereabouts of the Avatar were unknown, he quickly proceeded to inform Lu and the rest of the gathered sages about the situation.

After Hui discovered that the Avatar had been found with outlaws in the Taihua Mountains, he gathered a conclave of Earth Kingdom sages intending to discuss the potential removal of Jianzhu as the Avatar's guardian. The group, which did not include Lu Beifong, travelled to Yokoya where Hui informed Jianzhu he was no longer fit to serve as the Avatar's master. Jianzhu angrily rebuffed the statement and asked the assembled sages what Hui had bribed them with. Before the chamberlain could call a vote, he and the other sages collapsed and died, poisoned by the tea Jianzhu had given them.

Known members

 * Jianzhu - De facto ruler of the Earth Kingdom
 * Lu Beifong - Head of the Beifong family
 * Ryong - Sage of Pohuai
 * Buro - King of Omashu
 * Neliao the Gardener
 * Pan - Herbalist of Taku
 * General Saiyuk - Lord Commander of Do Hwan Fortress

Trivia

 * Neliao is the only known woman to have become an Earth Kingdom sage.
 * The Earth Kingdom sages did not all reach their positions on the basis of merit; General Saiyuk, for example, was considered a political appointee and unqualified for his position as lord commander.