Climbing Vines

Climbing Vines
General information
Leader(s)	Diu
Notable members	Hideo Kim Jin Kosui
Affiliation	Jasmine Island
Purpose	Communitarian and anti-imperialist politics Negotiate new treaties for Jasmine Island with other states
Chronological information
First appearance	Uncle Iroh's Adventure Guide - Return & Regrowth (only appearance)

The Climbing Vines were a political faction on Jasmine Island during the 100s AG. Formed by farmers and laborers, they advocated for adjusted, fairer treaties with the rest of the world, seeking to improve the fortunes of the entire island population in a communitarian way. As contestants for the election of Jasmine Island's ruling council, they took a moderate position and were willing to form a compromise government with other factions.

History

Jasmine Island, a small, independent state, was heavily affected by the Hundred Year War, particularly by a Fire Nation invasion known as "The Devastation". The islanders were still rebuilding by the end of the war, but once the physical and economic reconstruction was largely complete, new political divisions emerged. After "The Devastation", no elections had been held and the existing council had ruled for years with the general acquiescence of the entire community. When the council members such as Yuming finally stepped down and and announced new elections, various factions across the island saw this as a chance to kickstart substantial, genuine changes in reforms. Conversely, these factions – several influenced by past events and developments across the world – could not agree with each other.

The Climbing Vines were one faction which emerged during this period. It came into existence among Jasmine Island's rural population, mainly farmers and field laborers, who had benefited comparatively little from their homeland's economic recovery after the war, instead seeing their fortunes being eclipsed by the urban population at the island's docks. Regarding this as the result of unfair treaties by foreigners as well as individualistic dealings by some islanders, many rural people became angry and demanded changes. They eventually organized under Diu as the Climbing Vines, seeking a voice in the Jasmine Island council to implement communitarian and anti-imperialist policies.

Whereas the other factions – including the Autumn Leaves, Antiquarians, and Risen Wave – bitterly feuded, the Climbing Vines signaled their willingness to compromise and organize a coalition government after the elections. The faction's leader Diu even made it fairly clear that she was not particularly interested in holding power, willing to step aside both within her movement or in the council if someone better suited presented themselves. Regardless, no other faction signaled any interest in the Climbing Vines' offer. The infighting resulted in a political crisis in the period before the elections, especially as someone stole a bag of golden jasmine seeds from the yearly harvest, a symbolically potent and disruptive action. The Jasmine Island protectors quickly started to investigate the crime, seeing the Climbing Vines as potential suspects.

Some of the Climbing Vines' political aims, such as the expansion of the council, were eventually achieved.

Beliefs

Having emerged from a movement of workers and farmers, the Climbing Vines' name reflected their ideology: The faction believed that Jasmine Island's famous golden jasmine tea could only be made through a compromise and symbiotic relationship between plants and soil; this view of an ideal harmony was also their template for their homeland's politics.

Accordingly, the Climbing Vines were communitarianists, firmly viewing the cooperation of all islanders as necessary to achieve a better future for their state. They were opposed to the dealings of urban islanders who had grown their wealth by making individualistic deals with foreigners, growing rich as the rest of the locals suffered under hardships. Regardless, the Climbing Vines were ready for compromises, including with other factions, as long as the islanders could be politically united. Once this balanced unity was achieved, the islanders would together bargain with outside states, dismantling what the Climbing Vines regarded as imperialist, unfair trade relations and diplomatic treaties. The faction also sought to expand the council to allow for a better political representation of the entire island population.

Aside of their dislike for older treaties, the Climbing Vines were generally open-minded toward foreigners. They also intended to restrict the size and power of Jasmine Island protectors, believing that the security forces had amassed too much power after "The Devastation".

Appearances

Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game

• Uncle Iroh's Adventure Guide — Return & Regrowth

Trivia

• The Uncle Iroh's Adventure Guide notes that the faction's leader Diu "would have been a fine monk in some isolated monastery" if she had not grown upon during the chaotic post-war period on Jasmine Island.