Pohuai Stronghold


 * This article is about the location. For the rescue mission, see Rescue in Pohuai Stronghold.

The Pohuai Stronghold is a Fire Nation fortress located in the western Earth Kingdom, near the ruins of Taku. It was formerly commanded by Colonel Shinu and housed the legendary Yuyan Archers.

History
During his search for the Avatar, then-Commander Zhao traveled to the Pohuai Stronghold to request use of the Yuyan Archers in capturing Aang. At first, Colonel Shinu denied his request, calling Zhao's goal nothing a but a vanity project, but a promotion to admiral by Fire Lord Ozai allowed Zhao to command Shinu to release the archers to his cause. The archers quickly tracked down Aang while he was searching for a cure to a fever his friends had contracted. Easily capturing him, they detained Aang in the Pohuai Stronghold's prison, where Zhao taunted him and proclaimed victory before the fortress defenders. However, this victory was short-lived as a mysterious masked bandit known as the Blue Spirit infiltrated the fortress and rescued Aang from Zhao's capture. However, the masked man was knocked unconscious by an archer in the process. Aang managed to escape with the Blue Spirit, later revealed to be Prince Zuko, leaving Zhao infuriated.

Layout
The fortress is an imposing structure made up of multiple stone walls surrounding a massive pagoda tower at the center of the base. It housed its own prisons and was a major supply depot for the Fire Nation armies. This massive, metal structure was built by the Fire Nation military as a troop and supply hub where soldiers and firebenders trained before they were deployed into battle. Supplies were moved from the stronghold over thousands of miles of rail lines to the Fire Nation army assembling at the outskirts of Ba Sing Se.