Fire Nation Capital

The Fire Nation Capital is the seat of the government for the Fire Nation. It is home to the Fire Lord, the Royal Family and nobles of the Fire Nation. The capital is located on the Capital Island, a larger island in the western region of the Fire Nation.

The city is one of the larger cities in the Four Nations. It has a distinct layout, consisting of a harbor surrounded by a dock and the Royal Plaza, an industrial Harbor City behind the Plaza, buildings and homes scattered around the surrounding hills, and finally, another neighborhood in the crater of a dormant volcano known as Caldera, where Fire Nation elite live around the Royal Palace. The city has extensive defense works and is heavily fortified.

The Fire Nation Capital has largely stayed out of The War, due to the prowess of the Fire Nation Navy. However, it has come under attack on at least one occasion, during the failed Invasion of the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun.

History
The powerful Fire Nation Navy has prevented the Earth Kingdom or Water Tribe from assaulting the Fire Nation Capital.



However, it came under attack in the Invasion of the Fire Nation. Chief Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe and his son Sokka led a small force drawn from the Southern Water Tribe, the Foggy Swamp Tribe and the Earth Kingdom in an invasion of the Fire Nation, while the Avatar, Aang, attempted to seek Fire Lord Ozai and defeat him. The invasion ultimately failed, with almost all invading troops captured.

A few weeks later, the capital was the site of the Comet Enhanced Agni Kai between Zuko and Azula, who both wanted the position of Fire Lord. Azula was eventually defeated by an intervening Katara. Victorious, Zuko was crowned Fire Lord at the Coronation Plaza.

Government
As the capital of the Fire Nation, the city is home to the administration of the Fire Nation and of the Fire Nation colonies. This relatively small administration is under the direct control of the Fire Lord, and includes members such as the War Minister. The Fire Nation Capital is also home to the religious authority of the Fire Nation, the Fire Sages.

Layout and Description
Not much is known about the capital as a whole, for it hasn't been seen very often. The capital can be divided into several districts, the Royal Plaza, the Harbor City and the Crater.

Royal Plaza


Located in the harbor, just below the Capital, this plaza is an impressive structure where Fire Nation Royalty hold inspiring rallies for the people of the Fire Nation. This plaza is a powerful setting that represents the dominance of the Fire Nation, and it is the main line of defense for the Capital. Lined with numerous battlements and varied weapons, the Royal Plaza is one of the most heavily guarded places in the Fire Nation. The plaza is lined with facilities that hold possibly hundreds of tanks for defense against invaders. It is also home to a battle tower where speeches are held before the armies. Because of its importance, it is here that Ozai crowned himself Phoenix King.

Harbor City
Located between the crater and the harbor, this area supplies metal to build tanks, warships and weapons. The industrial area is also home to many criminals and lowlifes. Zuko was seen hiring an assassin here.

Royal Caldera City
This elite area is home to many Fire Nation nobles; Mai's Father had a home here until he was promoted to Governor of New Ozai. This area also houses the Fire Lord's Palace. Fire Nation commoners are not allowed to enter Caldera, except by invitation of the Fire Lord, which rarely happens.

During the finale, a ferocious Agni Kai was fought between Azula and Zuko to determine who would claim the title of Fire Lord. The battle left much of the city in ruins due to the firestorms caused during the duel. Following Zuko's victory, he was coronated as Fire Lord in front of friends and people from all over the world, ushering in a new era of peace.

The Royal Palace
Rested in the heart of the Fire Nation, at the very center of Royal Caldera City lies the Fire Lord's Royal Palace. It is here where the Fire Lord and the Royal Family reside and stands as the most recognizable structure in the Fire Nation. The palace is situated on a vast, beautiful estate filled with lush gardens and ponds, walled off from the remainder of the city.

Inside, the palace is comprised of enormous halls and retains an intricate array of wings and chambers. Large tapestries line the walls and elaborate fire-themed images and moldings are laid out all throughout the numerous sections of the structure.

Throne Room
The throne room is where the Fire Lord rules, with his ornate throne seated on an elevated platform high above ground level. The chamber also serves as the war planning room, where the Fire Lord sits with his generals to privately discuss confidential battle operations and tactics.

Arena
Another chamber holds an indoor Agni Kai arena complete with seating for large audience, used to settle disputes of the palace. It's here that Zuko refuses to fight his father, Fire Lord Ozai, which resulted in him being scarred and banished.

Royal Gallery
The Royal Gallery of the palace is a hallway which contains tall, ornate family portraits of past Fire Lords, including those of Ozai, Azulon and Sozin, as well as two unnamed previous Fire Lords. There are bedrooms, guest rooms and even servants' quarters inside the enormous palace.

Royal Spa
The Royal Spa is the Royal Family's own private spa. It was a favorite of Azula's; she could often be found here getting her hair washed and nails manicured.

Palace Garden
Located southwest from the actual palace, this was a beautiful place of relaxation and recreation for the Royal Family and their friends. The scenic gardens have many bushes and trees, and is dominated by a large pond in the center, fed by a huge stone dragon fountain. The pond is frequented by Turtle Ducks. When they were young, Prince Sozin and Avatar Roku used to practice Firebending in the gardens. Princess Ursa frequently brought her children to play here, although her daughter Azula would often throw rocks at Turtle Ducklings.

Coronation Temple and Plaza
The Coronation Temple and Plaza dates back hundreds of years. Located southeast of the palace near a lake, it is the ceremonial spot where new Fire Lords are crowned, and where the funerals of previous Fire Lords are held. Therefore, it is symbolically significant that Zuko and Azula's Agni Kai took place here. This was the location of Zuko's coronation following the War, where Zuko proclaimed before a large crowd of the world's citizens that he would dedicate his rule towards rebuilding the war-torn world.

Prison Tower Crater
A large, fortified stone tower located inside a hollow volcanic crater northwest of the capital. It is here where the Fire Nation keeps its most highly prioritized criminals. As shown in "The Headband", Iroh is one of the few prisoners being held within the penitentiary, until he managed to break himself out in "The Day of Black Sun, Part 2: The Eclipse".

After the failed invasion of the Fire Nation on the Day of Black Sun, the prison was used to house most of the captured invaders. Warden Poon was the man in charge of the Prison Tower.

Ozai was incarcerated here following his defeat. Azula, on the other hand, was sent to a mental health facility overseas due to the poor state of her mental health.

Fire Sages Temple
A temple ran by the Fire Sages, much like the one in Crescent Island. It is here that the Avatar is taken to before traveling around the world when he or she is born in the Fire Nation.

Dragonbone Catacombs
Located underneath the Fire Sage's Temple in the Capital City, these ominous catacombs hold many rooms and harbor secrets about Fire Nation history. The walls are adorned by the skulls of previously hunted dragons. It is here where Zuko went to find information about Fire Lord Sozin.

Underground
Deep within the Royal Crater, a series of naturally-formed tunnels wind beneath the Royal Palace. These tunnels lead to several secret, man-made bunkers, constructed during Fire Lord Sozin's reign. Lava fields and rivers provide natural obstacles to anyone brave enough to enter the labyrinthine lair.

Fire Lord's Bunker
Built by Fire Lord Sozin early in the war, this and the other underground bunkers were designed to protect the Fire Lord during any attack on the Capital. The rooms are extremely isolated and hidden, and most are made of metal to prevent Earthbenders from being able to penetrate them. In a hundred years of war, no enemy has ever discovered these secret bunkers. But through the use of Metalbending, Toph was able to find the location of the bunker with relative ease.

Notable Figures

 * Fire Lord Sozin
 * Fire Lord Azulon
 * Fire Lord Ozai
 * Fire Lord Zuko
 * General Iroh
 * Prince Lu Ten
 * Princess Ursa
 * Princess Azula
 * Mai
 * Ty Lee
 * Lo
 * Li
 * Warden Poon
 * Ming
 * New Ozai Governor

Connections

 * It is possible that the middle crater is designed after a location in the Anime series Cowboy Bebop, a show liked by the creators.