Zianda was an influential official in the Fire Nation during the rule of Taiso and Sozin. In Sozin's early reign, he rose to the Fire Lord's right-hand man, carrying out covert and often criminal operations to increase Sozin's power.[1]
History[]
Zianda was born into Fire Nation nobility. Both a competent official as well as a fanatical loyalist to the Fire Lords, he rose to the position of minister during Taiso's reign. When the old Fire Lord died and Sozin rose to the throne, Zianda stayed in his official position and also became the young ruler's closest advisor. He achieved this due to being not only completely loyal to Sozin, but also willing to serve his sovereign through covert operations of dubious morality and legality.[1] At one point, he ruined the career of a student, Ezra, from the Fire Nation after a dispute.[2]
Eventually, Sozin's sister, Princess Zeisan, began to openly challenged Sozin's policies and aligned herself with a rogue Air Nomad sect, the Guiding Wind. Furious, the Fire Lord tasked Zianda to find a way to get rid of Zeisan. The minister consequently worked out a plot to discredit both Zeisan as well as the Guiding Wind.[1] He ordered his agents to steal a number of Air Nomad robes and subsequently provide these to a group of firebenders. Together with some technical gadgets, the robes would allow the bodyguards to look like Air Nomads.[1][3] Zianda planned for the fake airbenders to infiltrate a symposium organized by Zeisan in the Fire Nation Capital. There, they would voice anti-nobility propaganda and attack any attending Fire Nation nobles, making it appear as if the Guiding Wind were solely violent radicals.[1] Zianda hoped such an attack would also disrupt the planned wedding between Zeisan and Khandro, leader of the Guiding Wind. The minister also wished that this plot would enhance his standing in Sozin's eyes.[4] After learning of his advisor's plot, Sozin gave his blessings, and ordered some of his bodyguards led by Mio to assist the conspiracy.[5]
On the day of Zeisan's symposium, Zianda opted to attend the event personally so he could later act a witness to the Guiding Wind's alleged attack.[6] Beforehand, he changed into a plain outfit and met with Mio at the teahouse of Unzai, a long-standing friend of his, to discuss the plot's preparations and hand over a scroll with some last orders.[7][8] Unbeknownst to him, however, his meeting was noticed by four agents of Rioshon, a friend of Zeisan,[7] namely Ezra, Boin, Nyanchi, and Zeebee.[2][9][10][11]
Personality[]
Zianda was "blindly" loyal to the Fire Lords, willing to do absolutely everything for them. Accordingly, he saw its as his duty to deal with any threats to Sozin.[1] To some extent, he was an insecure and even troubled man, constantly craving for Sozin's approval.[1][4] He was also a bit vain, always wearing fine clothing, jewelry, and complex hairstyles.[1] Zianda could also be exceedingly petty, such as when he not only got Ezra expelled from his school due to one dispute, but also ruined the young firebender's career by ensuring that no other academy in the Fire Nation would accept him in the future.[2]
Abilities[]
Zianda was a firebending master, capable of a powerful breath of fire.[1]
Appearances[]
Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game[]
Trivia[]
- In the All-Star Actual Play which served as the inspiration for An Urgent Request, Dante Basco claimed that the dispute between Zianda and Ezra took place when the former was the principal at the latter's school. According to this version of events, Zianda had channeled funds intended to support the school into covert projects, and expelled Ezra because the student had discovered this plot.[12][13] However, this detail was not included in the official release of An Urgent Request.[14]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Ezra the Hammer playbook.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 10.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 4.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 5.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 7.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 8.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023, p. 11.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Zeebee the Rogue playbook.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Nyanchi the Bold playbook.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Boin the Guardian playbook.
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game All-Star Actual Play -- Session Zero!!. YouTube (April 16, 2023).
- ↑ Avatar Cast REUNITES To Play Avatar Legends. YouTube (April 19, 2023).
- ↑ Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. An Urgent Request, Version 1.0, 2023.