| "Those are our colors. White symbolizes treachery, a sinister nature, suspicion of others, and the willingness to visit evil deeds upon them. But red symbolizes honor. Loyalty. Heroism. This is the face that we show our sworn brothers and sisters. The red is the trust we have for each other, buried in the field of white but always showing through in our gaze." |
| — Wong explains the face paint of the Flying Opera Company.[1] |
The Flying Opera Company was a daofei outlaw gang that became the sworn companions of Avatar Kyoshi in 296 BG and served as her "Team Avatar" from then on.[3][4]
Founded by Jesa and Hark in the late 4th century BG, the Flying Opera Company originally operated as a crime network around the Earth Kingdom, disguising themselves as a theater troupe to mask their travels. It grew into a powerful company that had sway over local governors but gradually declined in the early 3rd century BG. By 296 BG, their influence was reduced to only minimal control over Chameleon Bay, and just four members remained: Lao Ge, Kirima, Wong, and Lek. In that year, the Flying Opera Company came into contact with Kyoshi, the daughter of their former bosses. Though initially oblivious to her true identity as the Avatar, the outlaws took Kyoshi and her friend Rangi in, taught them the ways of the daofei, and involved them in their schemes.
Over time, a close bond formed between Kyoshi and the rest of the group, resulting in her revealing her status as Avatar. The group stayed true to their vows of brotherhood and friendship and consequently served as her teachers and protectors. Together, the Flying Opera Company put an end to Kyoshi's nemesis, Jianzhu, though they lost Lek in the process.
History
The Flying Opera Company was founded by Jesa, a renegade Air Nomad nun, and her lover Hark, an earthbending thief and actor. Lao Ge was an original member of the daofei group. At its peak, the group had secret bases in Ba Sing Se, Omashu, and Gaoling, and was capable of blackmailing high-ranking officials.[2]
After Jesa and Hark died of a fever, their group fell on hard times after her flying bison, Longyan, abandoned the company. They ended up in debt to more unscrupulous figures in Chameleon Bay and, to protect themselves, they chose to be affiliated with the Autumn Bloom Society of Hujiang as their elders.[5]
In 296 BG, Kyoshi and Rangi became affiliated with the company shortly before Governor Deng's men ransacked Madam Qiji's teahouse. The group left on Pengpeng for the safety of the secluded daofei hub of Hujiang in the Taihua Mountains.[5][6]
Even though the Flying Opera Company's members parted ways after the death of Jianzhu, they pledged to reunite in the future. In addition, Kyoshi continued to abide by the group's laws and regarded herself sworn to the Flying Opera Company.[7][8] Most notably, she maintained her oath to not accept a legitimate job and not to work for the law, although she would occasionally use corrupt lawmen to achieve her goals.[8]
One year later, the surviving members of the Flying Opera Company, save for Lao Ge, were contacted by Jinpa and paid a considerable amount of gold so that they could face Yun in Yokoya during Kyoshi's final confrontation with the false Avatar. Though Kirima, Wong, and Rangi were badly injured, Kyoshi treated her sworn brothers and sisters in the Avatar mansion's infirmary after she managed to kill Yun. The group also began to bond with Jinpa, Kyoshi's secretary.[9]
Trivia
- In order to identify oneself as daofei, the password to be said in Madam Qiji's teahouse was to order "jasmine picked in fall, scented at noon, and steeped at a boil", which would get a specific reply: "We have every color blossom known to man and spirit."[2]
- The Flying Opera Company was inspired by "old-school Hong Kong martial arts movies or wuxia movies where you have bandits living outside the law. Some of them are heroic, some of them are not". As criminals, the group's initial members acted as foils to Kyoshi, who was a strong believer of justice.[4]
- The makeup worn by the Flying Opera Company and the symbolism of its colors is identical to those worn in traditional Chinese opera, which is consistent with their adopting it through Hark's theater lineage. The group's martial and acrobatic skills were influenced by the Beijing Royal Opera.[4]
References
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