Kuvira

"earth"

- Something you should know about me. I always get what I want.

Kuvira is a master metalbender who was part of the Metal Clan in Zaofu. Prior to her departure in 171 AG, Kuvira served as both the captain of the city's guard and part of Suyin Beifong's dance troupe. Following the outbreak of anarchy in the Earth Kingdom, Kuvira was appointed as the nation's provisional leader and attempted to re-establish unity with her army, which earned her the title of "Great Uniter". In her pursuit of order, Kuvira offered to protect the nation's states from bandits in exchange for their loyalty. She is engaged to Baatar Jr., who left with her to support her ideals. During Prince Wu's coronation, Kuvira denounced the authority of the Earth King and dissolved the Earth Kingdom in favor of the "Earth Empire" under her leadership.

Early life
Kuvira grew up in Zaofu, where she became heavily influenced by Suyin's progressive ideology concerning modernization and self-fulfillment. At age eight, she was taken into Suyin's home, eventually becoming like a daughter to the matriarch and her protégé. She became part of Suyin's dance troupe and quickly rose through the ranks to eventually become captain of the city's guard.

Defending Zaofu
In 171 AG, Kuvira and the other members of Suyin Beifong's dance troupe rehearsed a routine for an upcoming recital. The rehearsal ended following the arrival of Avatar Korra and her friends.



Several days later, Kuvira accompanied Suyin's family and Team Avatar to a rooftop where they bade farewell to Opal, who left Zaofu to train at the Northern Air Temple. After the airbender's airship left the city, Kuvira used her radio to command the other guards to begin securing Zaofu for the evening. Later that night, Kuvira attacked Zaheer and his group after the four managed to infiltrate the city in an attempt to kidnap Korra. She helped the other members of the Metal Clan trap the criminals in a makeshift metal prison, before ordering them to surrender and return the Avatar. Following the group's escape, Kuvira and the other guards searched the city, albeit to no avail, as they were unable to find any traces of the four benders.

Kuvira was questioned by Aiwei, along with the rest of the city's guards, in an attempt to determine the identity of Zaheer's accomplice. When Aiwei's involvement in the attempted kidnapping of Avatar Korra came to light, Kuvira was ordered by Lin Beifong to search the city for the truth seer and determine where the tunnel underneath his home led, which she eventually traced to a dead end with no signs of Aiwei.

Stopping the Red Lotus
Kuvira traveled with Team Avatar, their allies, and several other members of the Metal Clan to the Northern Air Temple in an attempt to free the airbenders held captive by the Red Lotus. Adhering to Zaheer's demand to meet Korra alone at Laghima's Peak, Kuvira went with Suyin, Lin, Tonraq, and the other metalbenders to the base of the peak and started climbing the mountain with their metal cables in order to be ready to aid Korra if it became necessary. After Mako alerted Lin that they had been double-crossed, the group hurried to the top, though as soon as Kuvira emerged, she was blown off the peak by one of P'Li's combustion beams. Using her cables, she managed to save herself and rejoined the other metalbenders atop the cliff, where they attempted to subdue P'Li. In the midst of the battle that ensued, Kuvira used her cables to save Tonraq after Zaheer used airbending to throw the waterbender off the mountain.



Following the fight, the group reassembled at the base of the peak, where Kuvira tended to Tonraq's wounds. While bandaging the tribal chief's arm, Kuvira introduced herself by name after the waterbender thanked her for her help and addressed her by her rank. She requested to accompany Suyin and the members of Team Avatar to a series of caves near the temple in order to rescue the missing airbenders, but was ordered by Suyin to remain with the injured, much to her disappointment.

Reuniting the Earth Kingdom


After the insurrection of the Red Lotus, President Raiko and Tenzin went to Suyin, hoping to use her leadership and resources to help reunite the Earth Kingdom. Suyin however refused, feeling that for her to take on such a role would only be forcing her own ideology on others. Kuvira, feeling so strongly about taking an active role to save her country, urged Su to reconsider which she would not. Kuvira then chose to go behind Suyin's back and secretly persuaded some of the richest citizens and most of the security force in Zaofu to join her. Once Suyin caught wind of this, she warned them they would be banished from Zaofu permanently if they left, to which Kuvira felt indifferent towards her threat, saying she would return on her own terms. Kuvira left Zaofu and assembled a massive army which included Bolin, Varrick, Zhu Li, and Baatar Jr., the last of whom she fell in love with and eventually got engaged. After they had managed to stabilize the situation in Ba Sing Se Raiko and the others offered Kuvira the position of interim leader of the Earth Kingdom, which she accepted. With modernized airships, mecha tanks, and a high-speed train, Kuvira traveled to states overrun by bandits and bargained with their leaders, offering protection and supplies in return for their allegiance to her.

Annexation of the state of Yi


By 174 AG, Kuvira had united ninety percent of the states of the Earth Kingdom. When Varrick ordered Zhu Li to provide everyone with some celebratory tea, Kuvira declined the beverage, vowing to celebrate only when her mission was completed in entirety, causing Varrick, Zhu Li, Bolin, and Baatar Jr. to hold off on their own drinks. When the train suddenly halted, she demanded to know the reason and was informed that the tracks were blocked by a pile of rocks left by bandits. Although troops had been deployed to handle the situation, Kuvira ordered their retreat as she wanted to handle the situation herself. She exited the train atop its roof from where she watched the bandits descend the cliffs on either side of her vehicle. Kuvira easily evaded or deflected the rocks aimed at her and, as soon as her opponents came within striking distance, she retaliated by launching a series of metal strips which she used to cover her opponents' eyes and restrict their limbs. After subduing all of her attackers and binding them to the train tracks, Kuvira removed the metal strips covering their eyes and addressed the earthbenders, whom she berated for causing chaos where she was attempting to restore order. When a female bandit started to apologize, Kuvira silenced her by covering her mouth momentarily with a metal strip to prevent the woman from interrupting her. When a male bandit begged for mercy, she ordered them to stop groveling over their predicament and offered them the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves and serve as productive members of the Earth Kingdom, vowing to give them a new purpose in life in return for their loyalty to her. If they refused her offer, she threatened to leave them stuck to the tracks, prompting the prisoners to pledge their loyalty and join her army, much to her satisfaction.



After arriving at the capital of the state of Yi, Kuvira was pleased to see Opal and Bolin reunite, remarking that they were her favorite couple. After Opal snapped at Baatar Jr. that he had betrayed their mother, Kuvira urged the airbender to let go of what happened three years ago, remarking that she and her army were there solely to help the state recover. She acknowledged that rumors of her conquering towns may paint her in a negative light, but assured Opal that she was only concerned in providing a better future for the Earth Kingdom people by laying the groundwork for citizens to achieve their own greatness. After revealing that she and Baatar Jr. were engaged, she asked Opal to forgive and forget the troubles that occurred between her and the Beifong family three years prior. Their conversation was cut short, however, when Kuvira was asked by the governor of Yi what she was doing there, upon which she requested a private audience with the man on her train.



Alone inside her train, Kuvira asked the governor if he had time to rethink her offer, which she deemed to be generous. When the governor opposed the generosity of it all, she pointed out that the bandits outnumbered his people and out-supplied his state, making it only a matter of time until Yi would succumb. By signing her deal, she would save the lives of the people of Yi as well as keep the governor in position under her supervision, which was something that she deemed to be generous. She was refused once more, however, and accused of only wanting access to Yi's ore reserves, which prompted Kuvira to reprimand the governor for his pride, which would be ineffective to protect Yi against bandits and to feed the people. Despite her efforts, the governor refused to yield and Kuvira ordered her troops to head out. Upon asked what had happened, Kuvira explained that she was unable to make a deal with the governor. As she moved to retreat into the train, Kai asked if they were no going to stay and help, which prompted Kuvira to hand him the contract, saying that she and her army would remain stationed at the state border for a day and if he could get the governor to sign the document, she would provide all the help Yi needed.



Kuvira returned to the state capital after the governor acquiesced and signed the contract, immediately deploying soldiers and modernized mecha tanks as well as distributing parcels of food. She declared that Yi was under her army's full protection before turning to the governor and forcing him to pledge his allegiance to her if he wished to keep his position.

Establishing the Earth Empire
A day before Prince Wu's coronation as the fifty-fourth earth monarch, Kuvira and her army arrived at Republic City. With a select group of officers, she made her way to the Republic City Four Elements, where she was greeted by some of her fans, asking her for an autograph. As the children retreated with their signed paper, Kuvira was approached by Wu, who complimented her appearance. She remained unfazed by his flirtatious manners and declined his offer to talk to the hotel clerks on her behalf to receive a nicer room, informing the prince that she had already reserved the Presidential Suite. It was only when the prince laughed her comment away, stating that he was staying in that room, that she turned to look at him and amusedly told the royal that she had him moved. As Wu grew disheartened over the prospect of staying in a junior suite, Kuvira commented that she always got what she wanted.



The next day, Kuvira was seated next to the world leaders to attend Wu's coronation as king. She was called forth by the new king and received the Kyoshi Medal of Freedom for her efforts to restabilize the nation. Being allowed to give a speech, she stated that she had learned by growing up in Zaofu with Suyin Beifong that the idea of a hereditary monarchy was archaic and technology and innovation should be the thriving factors of a nation. Blaming the continuous rule of unsuitable monarch for the state of disarray in the Earth Kingdom, she declared that it had taken her three years to get the nation stabilized and would refuse to let it descend into chaos once again. She denounced Wu's authority and dissolved the Earth Kingdom, appointing herself as the leader of what she now called the "Earth Empire", intending to bring about a new era of prosperity for her people. Warning the world leaders not to cross her, she emphasized her words by ripping off and crushing the medal she had been given. She received a standing ovation from a cheering crowd for her words.

Upon returning to the Presidential Suite, Kuvira noticed that Bolin looked worried and approached him. Hearing about him having misgivings about how she ambushed the world leaders, she implored him to stand by her since he believed in the work they had done thus far, adding that she would need him more than ever as the world leaders would try to force them to accept Wu's reign, who would not serve the people. She assured him that her threat to crush her opponents was merely tough rhetoric to make everyone understand that they were not to be fooled with, as conflict was the last thing she wanted. She requested his help to make history, which led him to reaffirm his loyalty to her cause.



When Suyin entered to room, stating she and Kuvira needed to talk, the military leader asked Bolin to leave the room. She criticized the matriarch of Zaofu for her passive attitude toward the consequences of Queen Hou-Ting's death. As Suyin defended herself by saying that she merely did not want to seize power for herself like Kuvira had done and that it was beneficial for the good if she would step down, Kuvira rebuffed her statement, pointing out that she was the one who provided stability and equality and that they would not accepted Wu's reign, whom she referred to as the "world leaders' hand-picked dictator". Upon being told that she was a dictator herself due to what she had done to cities which refused to capitulate to her, Kuvira warned Suyin that the same would be coming for Zaofu.

As Kuvira and her army left Republic City on her train, she watched as Varrick began to experiment on a hunk of spirit vine, telling him the development of this new technology was his number one priority. She mobilized her army and headed toward Zaofu with the intent of conquering the last territory not under her control.

The invasion of Zaofu
Kuvira brought her entire army to Zaofu in an attempt to coerce the Metal City to join the new Earth Empire without force. Since the world would be closely scrutinizing their activities from now on, Kuvira planned to use Bolin to negotiate with Suyin without any conflict breaking out. After learning of an explosion in Varrick's lab, Kuvira found to her shock a huge hole in her train. Varrick explained that it happened from trying to manipulate the spirit vine's energy. As Varrick began showing an uncharacteristic humility and restraint, saying he could not continue the experiment in fear of what would happen, Kuvira lost her composure. She metalbent the shoulder pads on Varrick's uniform, threatening to drop the man off her speeding train if he did not agree to continue the project. The terrified man agreed, but Kuvira placed him under house arrest with guards supervising his progress.



Upon arriving at Zaofu, Kuvira met with the Metal Clan's matriarch alongside Baatar Jr. and Bolin. While Bolin tried to convince Suyin that Kuvira was making a better world for everyone, Opal revealed that Kuvira was turning many of the villages she captured into forced labor camps and sending away people who did not cooperate. After Suyin made it clear she would not hand over Zaofu, Kuvira gave Suyin twenty-four hours to reconsider before the former took it by force. Back on the train, upon learning of Kuvira's much harsher nature as a leader, Bolin began to question the woman, making Kuvira in turn questioning Bolin's loyalty. This lack of trust led to Bolin attempting to desert the army along with Varrick and Zhu Li. The attempt was thwarted by Baatar Jr. and punished by Kuvira. She chose to send Varrick and Bolin to one of her reeducation camps, but spared Zhu Li when she openly severed her loyalty to Varrick and pledged it to Kuvira.

Later, Korra arrived after her three years of recovery. After talking to Suyin about the situation, Korra attempted to reason with Kuvira, telling her that her methods were wrong. Kuvira responded that by noting that she had to making hard decisions for the greater good. Korra admitted that she knew how that felt, prompting Kuvira to let Korra talk to Suyin again before an attack was waged.

Personality


Kuvira is driven by a fierce desire to protect the citizens of the Earth Kingdom and persistent on achieving national unity through the use of military force. Her willingness to usher in an age of solidarity and collective well-being stems from Suyin Beifong's progressive ideology, to which she was exposed from a very early age. She has also shown herself to be loyal and obedient to authority, following orders from her former superiors with no protest. However, she later grew impatient and disillusioned with her former mentor's perceived complacency during the fall of the Earth Kingdom, refusing to pass up the opportunity to bring the change Suyin always wanted. Once she began her campaign to restore the Earth Kingdom, Kuvira demonstrates a capacity to be cold and aggressive to those who defy her or criticize her motives, having threatened to leave a group of bandits to die on a train rail were they to decline her offer to serve her and ruthlessly threatened Varrick's life when he refused to continue his dangerous spirit vine experiments. In addition, she did not hesitate to leave the capital of Yi without providing aid to its impoverished citizens when she was disrespected by the state's governor, whom she berated for failing to put his citizens' needs ahead of his own pride. Kuvira is persuasive and capable of convincing state leaders into pledging their allegiance to her, but is also proficient in the use of intimidation if individuals refuse to comply with her requests.

Ultimately, Kuvira came to believe that giving control of the Earth Kingdom to someone based on lineage was foolish, believing that she was more suited to govern the nation. Her relentlessness in "reuniting" the Earth Kingdom has become so all-important to her, Kuvira has shown to become a very big-picture type of person. This included turning various towns with high natural resources into slave camps, prisons for people with less that absolute loyalty to be reeducated, developing super weapons to maintain her power, and ultimately even going after her home in Zaofu despite it never having been part of the chaos that the Red Lotus caused.

Kuvira has also shown a softer side to her personality during her private time, urging Opal to reconcile with her family and gently easing Bolin's fears as to her intentions. She is welcoming to her allies and fans. She is also shown some capacity for forgiveness to those who still pledge themselves to her.

Metalbending
Kuvira is proficient in the use of metalbending, capable of traversing several terrains and climbing large mountainsides with relative ease using metal cables. She also demonstrates physical strength, having been able to grip Tonraq with a cable and support his weight. Coupled with great aim and agility, Kuvira can subdue several opponents simultaneously by covering their eyes and binding their limbs with metal strips.

Other skills
Kuvira is an effective leader, as evident by her service as captain of the guard in Zaofu and further by her accomplishments as the "Great Uniter". She is capable of engaging in persuasive negotiation, but can also employ intimidation in order to convince state leaders into pledging their allegiance to her and her cause. Using these abilities, Kuvira has managed to bring ninety percent of Earth Kingdom states into her control, earning her a fierce reputation in the Earth Kingdom. Kuvira is also shown to be very tactical and well-prepared, having designed her army's uniforms to have metal shoulder pads as target to bend, letting her subdue any of her soldiers should they prove not loyal.

Trivia

 * Kuvira is a Hindi name meaning "courageous woman", befitting her personality.
 * Kuvira's image was on the back of the newspaper Lin Beifong was reading in Zaofu. The text below her picture read, meaning "security team".
 * Kuvira is the first female primary antagonist in The Legend of Korra.
 * Kuvira is also the first primary antagonist of one book in The Legend of Korra to debut in an earlier book.
 * Kuvira is additionally also ostensibly the sole major female antagonist in the entire franchise. Azula and her posse, while the antagonists with the most screentime in Avatar: The Last Airbender, ultimately were secondary to Ozai and not as much the focus of the narrative as him, Ming-Hua and P'Li were secondary to Zaheer and effectively acted as his mooks, and villainesses like Hama and Hou-Ting had largely minor, if extremely relevant, roles.
 * Kuvira's character resembles her voice actress, Zelda Williams. Interestingly, Zelda's mother also has a beauty mark on her cheek similar to Kuvira.
 * Kuvira is Bryan Konietzko's favorite villain.
 * Kuvira was purposely designed to be similar to Korra in height, build, and personality traits, as to make it so that "Korra has to deal with overcoming a version of her past self".