Xai Bau

 

"After the Hundred Year War, the White Lotus lost its true purpose. Its members came out of hiding and openly served the Avatar. They became nothing but glorified bodyguards who served corrupt nations. So a great man named Xai Bau broke from the White Lotus and began his own society."

— Zaheer to Korra.

Xai Bau
Personal information
Pronouns	He/him
Allies	Red Lotus, Teki, Isonash
Political information
Position	Founder of the Red Lotus
Affiliation	Order of the White Lotus (formerly) Red Lotus
Chronological information
First appearance	"The Stakeout" (mentioned only)
Last appearance	Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game - Return & Regrowth (mentioned only)

Xai Bau was a political philosopher who founded the Red Lotus. Originally a member of the Order of the White Lotus, Xai Bau grew disgusted with the society in the wake of the Hundred Year War's end, believing it had become mere lapdogs of the Avatar. Xai Bau traveled the world and shared his beliefs in total freedom with others. He eventually broke from the White Lotus entirely, creating the Red Lotus, which would be truly committed to changing the world.

History

Shortly after the end of the Hundred Year War, Xai Bau grew disillusioned with the White Lotus after it revealed itself to the world, and began to work more closely with Avatar Aang. He believed that the ancient order had gone from a force for global change to the lapdogs of an undisciplined youngster.

Xai Bau soon began to roam the world, seeking rebellious minds to mold. On the small, indepedent Jasmine Island, he met with the Autumn Leaves, a group of community-minded anarchists who were seeking to abolish the Council of Elders and directly devolve crucial decisions about their island to people in their places of work. Xai Bau only met with a few members of the group, circulating some of his written works throughout the Autumn Leaves. Teki and Isonash became disciples of Xai Bau. Aputi, one anarchist who met with Xai Bau, came to be disgusted with him for turning their group into "extremists". She thought he had only come to the island in order to subvert the chance of factions forming a coalition.

Eventually, the order's Grand Lotus, Iroh began to hear worrying rumors about Xai Bau. He and Master Piandao traveled to Jasmine Island in an attempt to find Xai Bau. Xai Bau had already left the island, heading for the Earth Kingdom. Iroh and Piandao began to recognize the rhetoric of Xai Bau in protests across the island. The most dedicated disciples of of Xai Bau, such as Teki, believed that no council whatsoever should be allowed to re-form, as it would go against their commitment to complete freedom.

Iroh would try to keep the White Lotus united in the face of growing tensions, but continued to express little understanding for Xai Bau's aversion to all forms of government. Xai Bau would later split from the White Lotus entirely, forming his own society called the Red Lotus.