Great points! The environmental factor is a huge disadvantage. It makes a lot of sense that even a novice of air or fire could manage to do a lot since they're element is all around. Yeah I remember them now! What is it with Earthbending guards getting owned XD

Yeah I pictured him as our strongest member besides Qin (who has the most experience) and Yalun (the Avatar himself). Assam is a seriously dangerous guy to be on the wrong side of XD

Cool! Brainstorming is fine. I'm an ok writer lol. I'm definitely not as good as like TANC but I think we can make a fun side quest.

Haha! Not an ideal water source, but it's there just in case we get trapped in some wasteland lol. The smell could be a good defense. Forgot about spitbending. This might be a small step up on the disgusting scale XD

Yeah though the tides could change into Earthbending's favor with the world becoming more industrial, city concentrated and with more people being able to metalbend.

I don't know if Assam is more powerful than Qin, but I think he'd beat Qin in a fight because of superior agility and his monk spade and all the crazy and lethal weapons he has under his airbending robe XD. Which is ironic to due to the fact how each of our respective nations view us.

In the fire nation, Qin is probably viewed as a national hero and pretty much up to legend status.

In the Earth Kingdom, people probably view Li Chen as the most powerful and feared man in the whole kingdom due to his unpredictable personality and unbelievable Earthbending ability.

In the Water Tribe, Nilak is kind of seen as the Future face of the Water Tribe with being able to teach the Avatar at such a young age and having been born in one of the most productive families in the Tribe.

And in the Air Nomads, Assam is seen...as..well a heretic and an outcast.

Yeah definitely. I'm not going in thinking the writing is gonna be an awesome level or whatever, but I'm hoping for a fun and creative side story and to help show more of our characters

XD. Gotta do whatcha ya gotta do as they say.

I see that as a plus and minus. Metalbending is really cool and you can get really creative with it. The downside is everyone isn't good at it.It's hard enough to learn, but mastering it a whole different story. Then of course the more cities you build, the more restrictions on bending like Korra's first day in RC. But, if you can train a lot of really good metalbenders, it'd be asweome living in a city! I know Li wouldn't make a very good metal bender. Not patient enough XD

Agreed. I think Qin is likely the strongest with raw power alone, but Assam's got a ton of tricks up his sleeve (literally and figuratively). And that airbending agility is crazy! Being so unorthodox might make him even more of a threat than Gyatso and we saw the damage he could do.

Pretty much. They absolutely hate to admit how good Li is. The King of Omashu hates him, but needs him and that makes him hate even more. He's helped with a lot of crises (even ones he was partly responsible for XD) Plus if Li was banished, he might defect to an enemy and come back as a threat (he wouldn't do that but they don't understand kindhearted people). Instead of thanks he gets "You're obligated to serve your King and your country. Don't expect anything in return! You're lucky we let you keep living here". They don't appreciate him he's treated more like a necessary tool. Worst of all, they know they can't do anything with him. They can't catch (too fast), kill (not with his grandparents around), or banish him (who else would work for a royal jerk for free). Also may be some jealousy involved.

It'll be a lot of fun! Side stories can be really cool and I know this one will be

"When you're a waterbender in a strange land.... " XD

True. I feel like metalbending is so different than Earthbending that's it's kind of like it's own element. The style and use of it just seems like the complete opposite of regular Earthbending. Li may not be able to metalbend, but other greats like Bumi and Bolin couldn't either. Who needs metal when you can do stuff like Bumi did on the day of the eclipse

Both would definitely help against Raijin XD. Yeah I think Assam is probably stronger than any airbender except for Aang and flying Zaheer, and he's obviously more dangerous than Aang. Qin is probably Iroh/Ozai level.

Yeah I imagine the propped up politicians and business man would hate Li, but would do the alpha male type and manly man soldiers think of him? I imagine some would like his wreckless and fun attitude. I imagine some of the kids, espically the poor ones see Li as an inspiration due to the fact he's made himself a pretty impressive resume when he was given tough circumstances.

It's gonna be great.

XD

True. All hail King Bumi! Guy broke outta prison with just his face XD

I actually forgot Zaheer could fly! So far the only one in the entire series. I kinda pictured Qin as an Iroh level type this whole time. I've actually been picturing a tall Iroh with black hair, but after Iroh got ripped in prison XD

That's a good question and I never thought of it till now. It makes sense for the rougher around the edges guys to admire him. It would even be cool if some of the lower ranking soldiers seretly liked seeing Li take on their boss. Definitely could see the poor citizens looking at him as a hero kids especially. They could live through him in a way since they wouldn't all have the power or (wreckless) courage to do what he does. You've actually given me an idea! Some disgruntled soldiers as commoners could ask Li to help them start a rebellion. If they overthrow the King, they could put someone fair in place and try to close the gap between the super rich and the dirt poor. This is a little too much like what happened in Ba Sing Se on ATLA (tho that King wasn't evil just a figurehead) and the Queen on LOK. But I guess it doesn't matter much since it's fanfiction and I'm not pitching it to networks XD

Definitely! I'm kinda thinking of it like Katara and Toph's scam adventure and the fieldtrips with Zuko combined

That's very cool. I guess has Li Chen as some Robin Hood in him XD. I know Toph would be on Li's side lol. In terms of ideology, I see Nilak as traditionalist/conservative given how the NWT was portrayed and his personality. Big belief in strong military, dominating the international trade business, religious (or spiritual in Avatar World as they say), etc. Which probably creates conflict with Assam, Li Raiden, and maybe even Yalun at times, but creates agreement with Qin.

Haha no doubt. The chemistry between our characters should be great imo

Robin Hood of the EK XD

Nilak and Li might clash on the NWT attitude about women since his grandma taught him so much about bending. That could be a fight starter. He isn't a huge fan of the military if innocent ppl get caught in wars, but understands their purpose (unless they come from corrupt or evil tyrants that use war for purely selfish reasons and not to protect their people from threats). He doesn't know much about business outside of helping with his grandparents' farm. He isn't very spiritual. No real opinion on it. Earth seems like the least spiritual element in the series. He has problem with spiritual ppl tho. He likes anyone who isn't a jerk XD

Definitely!