Serpent

The Serpent is a mysterious, large aquatic creature that inhabits the waters of the Earth Kingdom, specifically, the lake near what is aptly named the Serpent's Pass.

Anatomy
Teal and purple scales cover its body; it also has bright red eyes and a long, snakelike tongue (though it is not forked). Fins protrude from its side and head.

Connection
The Serpent's overall design is based on the sea serpent in mythology; most notable in Western myths. The head and body is based on the sea horse, which is a long faced fish with frills and a prehensile tail. In overall anatomy and design, the Serpent is based off of a group of fish called the syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefish).

History


The Serpent was encountered twice by Team Avatar, though it was hinted that its existence has been known of long before. The locals have in fact named the Serpent's Pass after it, although Aang thought that this was because the pass is very sinuous, like a snake. Fear of the Serpent was instilled in nearby lore, as a sign at the entrance to the pass was emblazoned with the words Abandon Hope. As they were trying to use the pass as an alternative to the ferry from Full Moon Bay, Team Avatar, who was traveling with Than, Ying and Than's sister across the Serpent's Pass to Ba Sing Se were attacked by the Serpent. When the group reached a spot along the pass where the land ends and there was short stretch of water, Katara used her Waterbending to part the sea and travel in a small, capsule-like bubble under the waves. However, they were attacked by the Serpent, nearly resulting in Toph's drowning. Suki rescued her, and Aang defeated the Serpent with Airbending.

Later, when the group was escaping Ba Sing Se on a captured Fire Nation warship commanded by Chief Hakoda and Bato, their ship ran into an actual Fire Nation destroyer right beside the Serpent's Pass. The Fire Nation captain interrogated Hakoda and lets him pass, but realized as he was leaving that the ship's operators were not Fire Nation. He ordered an attack on the ship and very nearly destroyed it. Luckily, as the serpent rose up out of the water to attack the ship, a stray fireball hit it; angering it and causing it to attack the enemy ship, cleaving the vessel in half.

Trivia



 * The Serpent was featured in the Unaired Pilot episode of Avatar. It rose from the ocean and stood before Prince Zuko's ship. Later in the episode, the Serpent's burned head is seen being brought into the fort where Zuko is staying.
 * It was also seen in the non-canonical short "School Time Shipping" in a tank in the classroom. It appears more of a small seahorse than a giant sea serpent.
 * The design of the Serpent resembles the Unagi.