Among the best known duels of this period was the final confrontation between Avatar Kyoshi and Chin the Conqueror.
Duels are battles fought by at least two individuals, and they can be considered a form of recreation, a way of settling disputes, or a training tool for students who are developing skills in a particular art.
Duels may be fought to the death in the most extreme cases, or may simply be friendly spars fought to pass time. Duels are practiced by a variety of cultures, but they are most notably seen in the Fire Nation in the form of an Agni Kai.
The following is a list of known duels that occurred between 294 BG and 82 BG.
Known duels[]
Duels during the Fifth Nation raid on Jasmine Island[]
- See also: Fifth Nation raid on Jasmine Island
Combatants: Jasmine Island protectors, Hei-Ran, Tagaka, Erchtei, and Mirlon
Victor: Jasmine Island protectors and Hei-Ran
In the late 290s BG, remnants of the Fifth Nation under Tagaka attacked the small, independent state of Jasmine Island. The natives rallied against the pirates, organized a defense led by the Jasmine Island protectors and assisted by a small Fire Nation contingent under Hei-Ran. After some initial clashes, the pirate commanders Tagaka and Erchtei personally led a major attack.[1] Furthermore, the corsairs were accompanied a defected protector named Mirlon. One group of protectors, namely Ara, Joh, Fu Karaq, Revik, and Yarru,[2][3] particularly distinguished themselves during the fighting, confronting Mirlon and other pirate officers.[1] Major duels were fought by the protectors and Fire Nationals against Tagaka and Erchtei, both being powerful benders and warriors.[1][4][5] Ultimately, the Fifth Nation corsairs were defeated and driven off the island.[6]
Duel during the creation of Kyoshi Island[]
Victor: Kyoshi
Casualties: Chin dies
Avatar Kyoshi created Kyoshi Island by separating the peninsula from the mainland during her fight with Chin.
Around 270 BG, Chin the Conqueror attempted to control the Earth Kingdom, taking advantage of the Earth King's unpopularity with the citizens. He launched a massive invasion against settlements all over the nation, eventually conquering all the land in the kingdom apart from the impenetrable capital and the small peninsula of Yokoya, home to Avatar Kyoshi. Deciding that it would be nearly impossible to break through Ba Sing Se's massive walls, Chin instead launched an attack against Yokoya. Following a relatively quick duel in which Kyoshi used an air blast to remove Chin of all his armor and clothing (save for his undergarments), Kyoshi separated the peninsula from the mainland, causing the earth beneath Chin to crumble, subsequently leading to his demise.[7]
Duel between Kyoshi and the Royal Earthbender Guards[]
Combatants: Kyoshi and the Royal Earthbender Guards
Victor: Kyoshi
Kyoshi easily defeated the 46th Earth King's guards in a short duel during the Peasant Uprising in Ba Sing Se.
In response to the Peasant Uprising in Ba Sing Se, the 46th Earth King summoned Kyoshi to the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace, where he ordered her to quell the revolution. The Avatar refused, but the Earth King was furious that she, an Earth Kingdom citizen, dared to defy her monarch. He demanded her arrest, and a team of Royal Earthbender Guards promptly attacked Kyoshi. However, Kyoshi easily brushed them aside with her earthbending.[8] Enraged by the monarch's actions, Kyoshi then threatened the 46th Earth King into accepting a new constitution which responded to the demands of Ba Sing Se's poor citizens.[8][9]
Duel between Kyoshi and a daofei chief[]
Combatants: Kyoshi and daofei chief
Victor: Kyoshi
Casualties: Daofei chief dies
In 84 BG, Kyoshi and one of her companions, airbending master Disha, hunted down a vicious gang of daofei whose leader had committed many outrageous crimes. As they cornered and confronted the bandit leader, he revealed that he was the son of a man whom Kyoshi had once executed. He claimed that all of his cruel actions had just served to provoke Kyoshi so that he could fight her to take revenge for his father. Unmoved by his motives, the Avatar fought and killed the gang leader. However, Disha subsequently left Kyoshi's team, believing that the Avatar no longer valued human lives enough and increasingly created more future problems by ruthlessly enforcing justice and killing opponents.[10]
References[]
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