Episode 23: Ithaca

Toji and Dharma at Shimoni Dhato:

Toji returns from the Misty Library and debriefs with Bhaga and Neila. He explains the vision he had about Jyoti escaping with the reliquary and transcribing Tribhuvan's journals. Toji asks Bozan about how worried the Fire Nation commander is about his family, and although Bozan notes he'd worry more if they were outside the capital nearer the warzone, Bozan agrees to Toji's help to move the family to Shu Jing island to be better monitored by Nue and Fire Iron Tech.

Dharma returns with Wu Hana and explains the situation with Zato the Unyielding (tl,dr: we wait). He goes to check on the Embers with Jang Tae, who is eager to strike out against Shan's camp again. Dharma foolheartedly accepts Jang Tae's request and approves their going out to the north-west.

Toji confronts Dharma about leaving the camp alone (discounting Bhaga's protection). Toji aquiesces that they knew Wu Hana's sly nature when they recruited her, and he takes Dharma's mention of sending the Empers to Shan's camp surprisingly well.

Toji drafts a letter to Nue but later thinks he may be further putting Bozan's family in jeopardy. He's even further troubled by the deal neogitated with Gyara for her support in moving supplies and keeping her on retainer for the camp.

Toji later has dinner with Dharma, in order to confide in his closest friend that he still wants to take a more active role in pushing back the Fire Nation. He ntoes that leading the Embers is not his strongest skill and he's more easily a coordinator. Dharma agrees the camp's efficiency is suffering and wonders if it's due to the different leads and objectives, although he commends Toji's clarity of the endgoal and vision.

Moshi and Shizaku at the Merchants' Pier:

Moshi and Shizaku look for help with Fort Daoten. They have little success fishing for rumors, but eventually get wind of an Earth Kingdom sailor named Captain Mara. At first Mara seems askance about the goings-on of Daoten, but Moshi flexes his connections as a Seeker for the Misty Library and that he may be able to help Mara obtain goods if Mara can get an in on finding information and manifests going to Daoten. 

A bribe of Spider-Bat Venom cognac and all seems well while the duo (and Joji) wait for Gyara to pick them up. They manage to obtain some Earth Kingdom goods to bring back to Shu Jing (as payment to the military who supported their exit), and Nue informs Shizaku that Toji has offered jobs to Bozan's family. Shizaku admits them access to the facility.

Everyone's Home Again:

Shizaku, now with a supply chain in the works, begins drafting production of more Honey Cannons. Toji debriefs his companions about his adventure in the Library, and that more information on the Place Beyond the Clouds could be found in Daoten. This gives Moshi a chance to brief about Captain Mara's involvement. 

Shizaku absolves his guilt by allowing Toji control of Gyara's contract, to which the Fire Nation trooper is better suited, and convinces Gyara that her skills would be better used helping the community at large rather than just her whims. This changes her outlook for the time being to be more supportive.

All is interrupted, however, when Chuko arrives, battered and bruised, and announces the Embers have been bested by Captain Shan and captured!

Episode 22 pt 2

Shizaku and Moshi - Back at Shimoni Dhato:

Shizaku begins work on modifying their stolen engine and installing it in Gyara's ship. 

Moshi sends a hawk to the Misty Library to see how Toji and Layi are doing, and that he uncovered information on a Fire Nation fort with supplies/treasure (Fort Daoten, the "Treasure Hole"). He then works with Shizaku and the camp to finish Gyara's engine, and helps Shizaku recenter himself to think about expanding the workshop for its future industry. 

They plead with Gyara to help begin moving supplies, and think about contraband to send back to Shu Jing in return-favor for their exit visas. Shizaku, Joji, and Moshi then take Gyara's ship and make for Fort Daoten to scope it out. It's positioned in a flat expanse east of the Great Divide, and they fear they wouldn't do much good going in unprepared. They head back west to the Merchant's Pier on the coast to reorganize.

Layi and Toji - In the Library (and in Memories):

Toji, transported to a past time of Jyoti's, finds himself in a mutable memory, where Jyoti and another Airbender guru, Arjan, have escaped from the Fire Nation's hunt and are trying to protect the Air Nomad reliquary. Toji finds himself an active player on this stage, and coneverses with the Air Nomads, who explain their goal to join the gathering remnants of the Air Nation at the Western Air Temple and protect their communal legacies. Arjan thinks to sacrifice himself to help younger Jyoti escape, but Toji accompanies him to help come up with a better plan. They encounter Yama and  Toji spreads rumors of a great ambush. Arjan leads said ambush, a ruse to give everyone else time to escape. Yama and Arjan have a final showdown, the heat of which sends Toji back to the real world.

Toji confronts Jyoti about the vision he had. Jyoti is ashamed that he hasn't been able to help the Air Nation and carries what's left of the Northern Air Temple. He considers going west, but Toji comments it is far too dangerous now with Yama even more engaged. He makes copies of the journals for Bozan and they plan to go back to Shimoni Dhato. Toji convinces Bozan to continue fighting for his family's future and join the Resistance.

Layi, in the meantime, discusses with Panha the Guardian the best ways to help the Earth Kingdom. Panha remarks on Layi's passion, and has her consider joinging the Misty Library to further protect her people, not just Taku. This pushes her to consider a new path and she stays at the Library to learn and continue training.

Dharma (and Wu Hana) - Off to See the Wizard

Dharma and Wu Hana navigate and explore a ruined monastery at the edge of the Great Divide, looking for a 'legendary' Earthbender named Zato the Unyielding. Dharma fails at several of Wu Hana's challenges to make their journmey easier, and eventually he lashes out at the elder Earthbender, who chastizes him for not being more self-sufficient. She waxes on about the industrious resourcefulness of her family, who grew up in the crime-sprees of Kyoshi's time.

Eventually Zato takes interest in the waiting pair, and at first is cagey. When Dharma pleas for his help in their fight, he mentions he takes little interest in the ever-changing waters of political affairs. Dharma continues to push, citing the group needs help and insight from someone so aged and Zato eventually considers it, saying if he visits the camp it would be on his own terms in time.

Wu Hana tries to convince him further to intervene in the Fire Nation's encroachment, but he notes he isn't out for petty revenge. It gets people, like her ancestors, killed.

Dharma and Wu Hana make to return to the base, with a little glimmer of hope in their mission.

Episode 22 part 1:

 Dharma's Journey:

While making preparations, Dharma chooses to be transparent about his mission with Wu Hana to Neila and Bhaga. Bhaga comments that they're still not sure about her loyalties to protecting the camp, and entrusts Dharma to do the right thing and watch her.

Dharma and Wu Hana move southward, crossing into the Fire-Nation controlled territoy stretching from Pohuai to the staging area south of Taku. Dharma fakes being a citizen fleeing with his grandmother, and the Fire Nation soldiers buy it and escort them through the fringes of the camp lines.

They overhear talk of prisoners having been captured and being interrogated for information. Wu Hana stresses they should move on and forget them, and Dharma, moving back towards survivalist-mode, agrees.

They continue on and meet a group of refugees. Dharma explains there are pockets of people pushing against the Fire Nation and points them in the direction of the camp without divulging more information about it. Wu Hana is skeptical they'll survive the Fire Nation encampments.

At the edge of the Great Divide, both use their bending to easily navigate into the canyons. They follow the trail the Wu Hana has and eventually come to a dark cave....

Shizaku and Moshi play COOs:

After Nue notes that all the original designs and notes for Shizaku's engines have been taken by the military, the group (Moshi, Shizaku, Gyara, and Nue) deliberate on options. Shizaku considers having some kind of schematic or stealing ore but that might be more difficult from a military installation. It's finally decided to try and steal an older prototype they can rebuild and retrofit.

Moshi uses his investigative skills to sniff out word of an old derelict yard on a nearby island protected by private security. He and Gyara plan to sail in, find an engine, hoist it out, and move out. They manage to hoodwink the guards, but the military patrol on leaving Shu Jing proves more problematic. While trying to leave the shut-down port, they are roped into a missive to bring back goods for the military from the continent, and although Kazu, the Navy overseer in the region, is skeptical, he lets the ship pass.

They return to the Hidden Docks of Shimoni Dhato and bring the engine to Shizaku's workshop so that they can install it on Gyara's ship. 

Episode 21: San-dou

The companions split up: Moshi and Shizaku with Joji to Shujing to set up trade with Fire Iron Technologies, Toji and Layi with Bozan to the Misty Library to investigate the Air Nomad reliquary and specifically the journals of the guru Tribhuvan, and Dharma stays behind at camp to avoid the Fire Nation and (may)be an anchor for the community.

Dharma's Day: Deciding he's better off avoiding helping either thread of investigation, Dharma contemplates his own survival.While checking up on the camp, he's visited by Wu Hana. She laments that she was brought back from Makapu to "fight the good fight," but in her older age knows she alone can't tackle thr growing threat of Sozin (and Azulon's) ambitions. She regales Dharma with the tale of a mighty Earthbender, rumored to be at the end of a dangerous trip south. An ancient bender named Zato, the Unyielding.

Dharma decides a field trip with surprises might be more fun and plans with Wu Hana to go find Zato.

FIT Dealings: Aboard Gyara's ship, Moshi and Shizaku are stopped by a Fire Nation patrol. Led by Commander Kazu, it claims to search the ship and prevent issues entering the islands. Shizaku steps in as a business and, with help from Moshi, pursuades them to back down on a Fire Nation citizen and business owner. Kazu is wary and mentions he'll keep an eye on the suspect ship.

Meeting with Nue at Fire Iron Technologies, negotiations ensue about how to expand Fire Iron Tech into Shimoni Dhato's resistance without compromising the company. The final plan is to have FIT move their ships only into the Mo Ce sea instead of the guarded ports, and have Gyara pick up the contraband/supplies and move them in a more secretive fashion to the camp's mountain dock. For this, Gyara requests 20% of the profits made, and Shizaku mentions they could outfit her ship with one of his engines. This causes Nue to squrim, and he takes his boss for a more secretive and furtive meeting: they don't have the designs or models of his original engines - those were taken by the military when they started increasing their postures and attacks, when Shizaku began speaking out and was imprisoned months ago. Shizaku thinks he can rebuild the (or a) design from memory but it may take some time and effort.

Moshi and Gyara, in the meantime, meet and Moshi asks Gyara what she knows of the Fire Nation taking and hiding artifacts and historical objects from the conquered Earth Kingdom. Gyara mentions that there is a Fire Nation fort south of the Great Divide, nicknamed the "Treasure Hole" by people in her line of work. She knows the Fire Nation has amassed some of its spoils of war there.

Take a Look; It's in a Book: Met by Panha, the Guardian of the Library, Toji and crew are brought to meet with Jyoti. The Airbender is happy to meet his former comrade, but now hesitant as more people are brought into the fold. Toji talks him out of his hesitance over Bozan, and they go to look through the journals with renewed eyes. Layi, meanwhile, goes to find information on Taku to see if there's information (such as old tunnels/maps, etc) that can be used to push back against Okuru's oncoming assault. While investigating, she seeks guidance from Panha, who helps clear her troubled mind about her shortcomings in Taku's defense.

Toji begins copying information from Tribhuvan's journals as he, Bozan, and Jyoti go through more meticulously. Bozan mentions that killing the dragon on Mount Makapu earned a young Captain Yama his promotion to General,, but also changed him. The spirit of the dragon mentioned how it and Yama had been locked in a stasis, splintering part of the material realm. Toji finds info on the World Beyond the Clouds, an Air Nomad tale of a realm that Tribhuvan claimed linked the traditional Spirit World and the Four Nations.

When Bozan and Jyoti retire for sleep, Toji's restless work continues alone. At one point, he touches the reliquary, and is seemingly transported into a memory: a moment of a younger Jyoti carrying the box, escaping the Fire Nation. The Library around him disappears.

Episode 20: Shared Traumas

 AT SHIMONI DHATO:

While Shizaku works on the muffler to his Screaming Mongoose-Lizard Mobile. He doesn't make much headway, however, and instead lashes at Dharma, calling him out for being more mercenary and not as involved in their friendship. Dharma, however, pushes back at Shizaku's overlord attitude and stresses he needs to step down from his elitist Fire Nation high-ostrich-horse. 

Leaving Shizaku obsessed in his workshop and working through his insecurities, Moshi and Dharma send a messenger hawk to Gyara the Pirate, informing her that their hidden-bay docks are now open. They plan to meet to discuss logistics. To their surprise, Tokala of the Water Tribe approaches them and says that if Gyara is to work with the camp he could no longer stay with them. He's aware of the advantage Gyara's shipping would bring and doesn't admonish them for taking advantage of the opportunity, but stresses he cannot be a part of it. They reach a temporary compromise by eliciting his help with the Embers on the outskirts of the province for the time being.

Moshi and Dharma seek Noya's advice about the situation, and she explains that Tokala and Gyara share a history of which he's ashamed. Tokala, in the meantime, visits the ever-busy Shizaku to claim an Embers mask, and as Shizaku seems entrenched in his work, the Waterbender tries to explain how he's too lost in his mind and work. The Fire Nation engingeer needs to not be a slave to design and think more creatively.

It isn't until Gyara arrives that they learn that she is Tokala's sister, a black-sheep of their Northern Water Tribe family. Her care-free ways have since causes a rift in their family, and Tokala bears the shame of his once-proud lineage in her listless absence. 

Gyara shrugs off her brother's stubbornness. She negotiates a starting route with the camp to Shu Jing, where they can begin importing needs for Shizaku's business. They plan a trip to the Fire Nation island with Shizaku and Joji. Dharma, however, stays behind to keep an eye on the camp and avoid Fire Nation military. Shizaku introduces his 'fixed' mobile platform - now with a thicc boot(y), rechristened the "mochidzuki" - the Full Moon!

ON THE ROAD TO THE MISTY LIBRARY:

Toji trains with Bozan, trying to expand his arsenal of Fire Bending to take on the more militaristic enemies they are facing. He learns Bozan left a wife and two young children in the Fire Nation capital , while Toji shares he's an only child caught up in the patriotism of Sozin's boom. Layi, meanwhile, fumes off to the side, suspicious of Bozan.

The next day they meet Choten, an Earthbender traveling with a Earth Kingdom soldier. They mention that to the north Okuru is planning a redoubt against Taku's forces and soon will push back to take the city anew. The group doesn't share their history, but Layi leaves seeds of the camp's existence to the west if Choten is looking to join a real chance at survival. 

When they part, Toji questions Okuru's tactics and the history of Yama. Bozan shares that Yama has been changed since 10 years ago when he killed the dragon at Mt Makapu. Okuru will be far less forgiving in the siege than Okuru - now that 'peaceful' coexistence seems less possible, the Fire Nation will simply try to take the city at full force. They're wary of Choten, however, as a possible threat, and keep a watch out.

They continue into the eastern mountains and, nearing the Misty Library, are met by Panha, the Guardian of the Library and chief of its security forces. A former Kyoshi Warrior, she greets them taciturnly but notes they were ware of their coming by the messenger hawk sent by Moshi. The Library is pleased to have visitors, but his watchful of Bozan, knowing who he is. Toji, Layi, and Bozan follow their guides up into the spacious hall of the Misty Library.

Episode 19: Fight the Good Fight, Part Deux

 The western fighters continue to engage Captain Shan. Toji boasts the Embers of the Earth Kingdom will continue to burn and light against the darkness of the Fire Nation's encroaching empire. Shan retorts they will be eventually snuffed out. As the battle ends at a stalemate, Shan and Saoku wait for the resistance fighters to leave, fixated on the destruction of the (fake) reliquary, and the oncoming wrath of Yama.

Layi comforts Moshi after the battle. Moshi accepts her cheerful plea for hope, and mentions his desire to keep the Misty Library, where the true Air Nomad reliquary is, safe. Toji, exhausted from the conflict with Shan, breaks his Ember mask and with Dharma buries the remains of the (fake) reliquary.

Back at camp, Shizaku monitors the crew putting the finishing touches on excavating the mountain-port in the camp, but continues to receive a cold shoulder from most of the camp. He goes to Bhaga and Neila for guidance on  how to better connect with the other resistance members. They explain that he's still seen as Fire Nation aristocracy, and often more so as a combative egoist. Shizaku would need to shed his attitude to better co-habitate with the others who have spent most of their lives fighting against everything the engineer represents. He takes these words to heart and waits for his friends' return.

The camp is pleased to hear the fight with Shan seems to have settled some of the Fire Nation's hostilities. They are still worried about Yama's arrival and the eventual counterstrike on Taku and sweep for dissidents.

In the short term, Layi lashes out at Chuko for her shortcomings against Shan's men, and continues to train to improve herself. Moshi checks in with Shizaku and attempts to comfort him from his troubles with the camp's work crew in his absence. Shizaku is still off put but opens up, explaining that these communication issues likely were what ended his marriage beforehand.

Toji meets with Neila and Bhaga, explaining that he knows the companions don't have enough power or knowledge to thwart Yama's advances. He asks to take responsibility of Bozan and take him to the Misty Library to go through the Air Nomad reliquary with Jyoti and find more information. Bhaga is dubious, as he feels Bozan escaping could put the whole camp at risk. Toji is confident Bozan wouldn't do so, if only for the sake he'd be blamed for the failure of the siege of Taku.

Toji talks Bozan into accompanying him, where they agree finding out more about the reliquary could be helpful, and Bozan is becoming more suspect about Yama and Prince Azulon's goals. Toji claims Bozan could even use some of the information to get back into the good graces of the Fire Nation military. This plan is secretly overheard by Layi.

Toji asks Moshi for guidance and a map to Misty Library. Moshi helps him and explains the monks there may be suspicious and for the Fire Nationalists not to be too hot-headed. Moshi says he wants to stay at the camp and finalize the plans for the port and opening up trade with the pirate captain, Gyara, rather than return specifically to the Library. He also thinks he should keep an eye on Shizaku, who has moved on to a new shiny penny, a muffler for the Screaming Mongoose-Lizard Mobile.

On the road eastward, Bozan and Toji are stopped by Layi. She claims she doesn't trust Bozan and wants to stay on the road with them. Toji agrees and they begin their trek east.

Episode 18: Fight the Good Fight

•  Toji, Layi, Moshi, and Dharma go west to take on Captain Shan
• Shizaku completes the Embers' masks. Continues to help the excavation of the camp mountains to create a seaport. Motivates Dao Sing and Lan Ho to help for the progress of the camp.
• Shizaku fails in helping train the Embers, earning the distrust of Jang Tae.

Episode 17: Finding Faraway Friends

Moshi and Dharma make their way west (avoiding Fire Nation patrols) to the small village where Ma Leng, the young earthbender, and her brother Ma Ran had been fending off the Fire Nation. The companions had previously liberated them from Commander Saoku, and the children earlier weren't convinced travelling the wilderness with the companions was a great idea. Now, however, Dharma uses his charm to explain the benefits of the "new and improved!" resistance camp. Everyone's joining the band!

Ma Leng is interested, but her brother mentions that a couple of their protectors were taken by Saoku and Captain Shan, whose encampment lay to the west, immobilized by Toji's earlier machinations. If the group can rescue their last-standing allies, they'll return to Shimoni Dhato.

Leaving Ma Leng in the safety of the village, Moshi and Dharma take Ma Ran into the fringes of the Fire Nation camp. Dharma creates a distraction so that Moshi and Ma Ran can sneak in and rescue the villagers. They're successful and Dharma manages to keep the Fire Nation soldiers busy and then escape as well. Ma Leng thanks the group for again helping out the common folks, and Dharma solidifies their friendship offering to protect them on the way to camp.

Elsewhere, Tojim Layi, and Chuko head into the nearby mountains to visit the protected town of Makapu, under the volcanic Mount Makapu. While Layi and Chuko talk to townsfolk for recruits and get the lay of the land, Toji goes to the town leader as a representative. They learn most of their fighting forces have gone west to Taku, Omashu, and Ba Sing Se. The mountains around the village and proven a good defense, and Fire Nation since ignored them since a young Captain Yama slew the dragon of the mountains. Toji and the mayor agree to a contract whereby Shimoni Dhato can protect them if they can use Makapu as a supply and rest post.

Layi and Chuko learn there are not many fighters left, but there's a rebellious woman named Wu Hana who lives on the outskirts who may yet be persuaded. Wu Hana seems a little spiteful, however, saying she wants nothing to do with the Earth Kingdom or governments, with whom her ancestors had previously also battled. They're eventually joined by Toji, directed to Wu Hana by the mayor, and he tries to convince her to join them and fight for the cause of ridding the Fire Nation from the land, rather than the government.  Wu Hana is not immediately convinced but gives the idea some thought.

With at least the protectorate contract fulfilled, the group returns to camp.

Whilst all this occurs, back Shimoni Dhato Shizaku finalizes the decoy reliquaries. He goes to check on the surveyors expanding the camp, but they are stand-offish to a Fire Nation citizen. He instead goes to check on Bozan. The two reminisce about the Fire Nation urbanity and that the camp is more impressive than Bozan would have initially thought. Bozan asks to send a letter back home. Shizaku allows this and checks if it's a coded message. Seeing nothing amiss, they send the messenger hawk to the Fire Nation islands. 

When everyone returns, Shizaku debriefs about Bozan's letter and that the reliquaries are now ready. The group decides to maybe send one back east to Ma Leng's village, where they can set an ambush up against Captain Shan. Layi, Moshi, and Dharma agree to deploy there. Shizaku and Toji stay in camp, to further plan and perhaps convince Bozan to help their cause.

Episode 16: Building Budding Buddies

 At camp: Shizaku begins work on making masks for the Embers, but hits a roadblock as they discover their resources are running thin (woods burned by the Fire Nation's ingress into the region). This troubles the engineer and he begins to recalculate his plans.

Toji, meanwhile, consults with Dharma. Toji explains his desire to build a unit and take the fight to the Fire Nation Army while they can. Dharma, having learned to temper Toji's passion while they spent time together in the prison camp, urges Toji to show restraint and carefully plan out their moves.

Meanwhile, with the aide of Lan Ho and Dao Sing the land surveyors, Moshi and Bhaga begin trying to construct more intricate and defensive positions within the mountains around Shimoni Dhato. Moshi laments to Bhaga that they need more Earthbenders and the camp is evolving too slowly. Bhaga notes that Moshi and his companions treat all the problems of the camp as their personal crises, and they need to reach out and use the help of the communities around them.

Dharma and Toji begin training with Jang Tae and the other candidates for the guerilla-Embers unit. While out in the wilds, they pick up some more Earthbending rebels and learn that General Yama, upset at the setbacks of his Captains, is enroute to the region to regain control of the situation.

Eventually the group looks to interrogate Commander Bozan, brought back to the camp from the siege of Taku. Bozan cites the Fire Nation's tempered will as the correct path to unite the Four Nations from the lawlessness and civil strife that have plagued them since even the time of Avatar Kyoshi. He seems upset that an Air Nomad, like Dharma, had escaped Fire Lord Sozin's wrath, but is also intrigued by the camaraderie and resourcefulness of the camp. Feeling that there is still an opportunity to turn him into an ally, the group decides to allow him some (monitored) free time, under coordination from Bhaga and the companions.

The council of Shimoni Dhato meets to discuss the impending arrival of Yama. They fear they're unprepared to face further might of the Fire Nation Army. Knowing Yama's main interest lies in Jyoti and the Air Nomad reliquary they sent to the Misty Library, the consider making decoys and false rumors to throw him off the scent. Toji decides to head to the nearby town of Makapu to see if they can get supplies dropped from Gyara, the pirate privateer. Dharma and Moshi decided to head back west to see if they could recruit Ma Leng and her brother to the camp.

Episode 15: Expanding Horizons

 After the victories against Captain Shan and the siege of Taku, the companions return to Shimoni Dhato to convene next steps and plan against the Fire Nation. Toji calls a summit and desires to train more "Embers," freedom-fighter guerillas in the wilds. Jang Tae is willing to lead them and Toji suggests Dharma help train them.

Shizaku receives word that his supply chain from the Fire Nation is pretty much locked up by Okuru's forces' defensive line around Pohuai Depot. This causes Shizaku to get a little drunk and lament his situation.

Having acquired hawks, the camp is in need of a hawkmaster to properly train and utilize the messenger hawks (and avoid them returning to Fire Nation forces). There is also discussion of expanding the camp (possibly through the mountains into the southwestern bay), and it's deemed a surveyor would be necessary to begin expansions.

Shizaku and Layi return to Taku, where Shizaku can connect with the engineer Faohu and the two can look for a geologist and other earthbenders. Shizaku helps Layi move past her beating during the fight with Commander Bozan by explaining everyone fails and gets beaten - the important thing is getting back up. Layi reveals that she doesn't know who she is, and her parents' adoration of her brother Yoyo complicates her own self-image.

Shizaku meets with Faohu, who explains that perhaps the Fire Nation's individualistic emphases has blocked the architect, and Shizaku should instead look to the companions and community around him for support, much like the Earth Kingdom. Shizaku pleads for help, and Faohu suggests coordinating efforts.

Layi, meanwhile, returns home and sulks in the room of her brother. Her mother finds her and laments that Layi has virtually run away, but Layi comments she's still trying to find her own path, possibly returning to the soldier she was. This suggests to her to meet with Chuko. Layi and Chuko discuss their ways forward, and Layi convinces Chuko to tell her friends of the camps' efforts to stand up to the Fire Nation just like they did in Taku.

Shizaku connects with other minds in Taku, and meets Dao Sing, a land contractor, whom Shizaku talks into joining the camp. Layi finds a hawkmaster, Takashi, but he seems green and insecure, but is the best connection they have. They plan to return to camp.

To the south, in Harbor Town, Moshi and Toji investigate leads to help open shipments for Shizaku's supplies.  They learn of a pirate named Gyara, whom they convince to bring into their navigation and supply network once it can be expanded.  Gyara agrees on the condition that they don't run totally afoul of the Fire Nation, given the don't want to risk open conflict at this time.

They also learn of Lan Ho, a geologist that can help survey and expand their mountain territory. Lan Ho only agrees so long as Moshi can protect him and his family, as Okuru's defensive contraction is beginning to tighten its grip on the region.

Toji and Moshi return to camp, and the companions all collaborate at planning out the camp's next steps. Dharma begins training the Embers, and Shizaku begins to open up his company ideology to include Faohu and others....

Episode 14: Sic vis pacem

 As decisive battles draw near, Shizaku frantically tries to finish the honey cannon. He becomes frustrated but Moshi assists him in the final hour to push through. They mount the prototype honey-cannon on the prototype SML-mobile and head east to Taku to help Layi and Dharma.

In the western forests, Toji, masked as the fiery-spirit Yuujin, confronts Captain Shan. With Jang Tae and Tokala helping fend off Shen's main forces, Toji takes on the Captain directly, but he's stopped by Saoku. Saoku and Toji exchange blows, but then Toji manages to intimidate Saoku into backing down. Toji then rushes Captain Shan -- the two battle as benders, with Toji crashing through the captain's palanquin. When it looks like Shan has the upper hand, Toji reveals the stash of Shizaku's flash-bang crystals, which ignite in a terrible light. This gives Toji and crew enough time to escape after harrying the western army. It also leaves Captain Shan blinded.

In Taku, Layi's brother, Yoyi questions why she has turned her back on the militia and Taku's defenses. Layi reconciles her insecurities as a fighter and notes she has seen the greater picture of protecting the Earth Kingdom from the Fire Nation, and even begins to reconstruct her relationship with Chuko. The two look to infiltrate Commander Bozan's camp while his army begins to fight into the main gates, the Fire Nation forces attacked by rebellious fighters led by Dharma and Major Harano. The fight swiftly swells over the Fire Nation forces.

From the gates, Dharma joins Layi and Chuko as they engage Bozan and his guard. A fierce fight ensues, and Chuko is badly hurt, but Moshi and Shizaku arrive with the honey cannon to slow down and stop Bozan's forces. The group bands together to best Bozan, and they choose to capture him and return to Shimoni Dhato.

A victory banner flies over Taku, for now....

• Commander Bozan, leader of the eastern force besieging Taku, has been taken prisoner to Shimoni Dhato. 
• Taku has been freed from the immediate Fire Nation siege. Okuru's forces begin to muster around Pohuai.
• Shan has been blinded and, with the damage caused by Toji, Tokala, and Jang Tae, stopped in the western forests.

Episode 13: Para bellum...

On the way back, Toji tries to take custody of Jang Tae, mentioning he feels responsible for the outburst that led to their recent troubles. Bhaga calls him out on not investing in the camp, causing Toji to feel guilty. Toji later apologizes to Jang Tae for his rashness, and asks the rebel to give him a day to think about a proper way forward. Moshi tries to help Toji recenter and they opt to reconvene on a plan.

At Shimoni Dhato, Moshi's shirshuu, Kou, returns to camp with supplies. Toji seeks out the merchant Obi to procure supplies, and looks to Shizaku to make a mask.

Later, they hold a camp meeting where Toji makes an impassioned speech about the fight against the Fire Nation. He mentions that Layi and Dharma are making way in defending Taku, and that he perhaps, as a Fire Nation citizen, hasn't made enough progress to gaining the camp's trust.

Meanwhile...Shizaku:

Toji pledges to deal with Captain Shan himself. He talks Jang Tae and Tokala into joining his quest northwest to challenge Shan, while Moshi prepares the camp to help Taku. They send one of the messenger hawks to Taku to prepare Dharma and Layi for their push against Shan.

Meanwhile in Taku, Dharma takes the information broker Nupiq to see Major Harano and the shang, Keerati, and inform them of the troop movements they discovered with Chuko's help. They press to attack while the siege camp is less defended, and Dharma goes to rouse people to the cause. They also send word back that they'll be moving against Commander Bozan in the siege camp and ask for help.

As Toji prepares to leave, he visits Shizaku for the mask to his new persona. Shizaku spends time trying to get the honey cannons further ahead, but makes little progress. Moshi comforts him, however, and pushes the engineer to admit he's found friends in the camp he wants to protect, unlike the Fire Nation that has been moving into the Earth Kingdom on his stolen tech.

Toji and his group go out into the night and track down Shan's encampment, preparing for an ambush. Dharma and the city of Taku prepare to soon engage Bozan....

Episode 12: Taps, Traps, and Tips

At Camp:

Shizaku reads a letter from Nue, asking for guidance on whether to produce more SMLizard-mobiles or begin construction on the honey cannons. The honey cannons would require materials and sap to start designing and prototyping in-house. Shizaku writes back that the focus will be on the honey cannons.

Neila, Toji, and Moshi meet with one of the Fire-Nation soldiers inducted into the camp. The soldiers are concerned that the camp cannot meet the might of the oncoming Fire Nation Army. Toji and Neila are concerned, too, that they haven't done enough, and Toji wants to increase speed of dealing with their enemy. He also laments the loud alpha-build of the Screaming-Mongoose Lizard-mobile. Toji does, however, help talk the Fire Nation soldiers into staying.

The group has Tokala and Noya write back to the Northern Water Tribe via messenger hawk for some connection or help. Toji is eager to engage Captain Shan in the west, but Moshi manages to restrain his ambition and that they cannot keep chasing down refugees. 

Toji and Moshi go to see Shizaku, who is guarded by one of his work-aides, Monoichi. There is a large debate about the problems with the SMLmobile and planning and trust in the community. The group does come to a consensus on moving into the woods to the northwest to lay traps for Shan's oncoming army and tap tree-sap for continuation on the honey-cannons.

With Bhaga and Jang Tae, the group gets to work in the wilderness. Jang Tae moves off on his own and eventually draws the (f)ire of Fire Nation soldiers. Eager to fight, he gets into and causes a mild forest fire. This causes the group to scramble to protect Jang Tae and their operation. While Moshi and Bahga create a trench to stymie the flames, Toji scolds Jang Tae. He then asks Bhaga to arrest him. There is a tense moment where the group debates this -- Moshi abstains, asking if this is really what the camp has become among each other. Bhaga seeks to protect the camp and they return with Jang Tae, in danger of the camp's punitive or charitable whims....

At Taku:

Dharma is confronted by Etisha, the scroll artist. Etisha is upset that Dharma is an airbender and has slipped past her, but Dharma is willing to placate her if she keeps his bending a secret for all the obvious reasons. He looks to her for info and she mentions that Taku, being besieged, is going to start struggling with supporting itself. In the market, Nupiq informs Dharma that she wants to re-establish her information network, but to do requires reconnecting with a Fire Nation contact in Bozan's camp. Dharma suggests using someone to get into the camp and start opening the lines of communication, and Layi's former comrade, Chuko, comes to mind.

Chuko is suspicious of Dharma, wondering if Layi sent him. But Dharma uses his charm to convince her to continue to play sides for the good of Taku and continue playing a good girl for the Fire Nation. She debates the plan and they wait until later to enter Bozan's camp.

In the meantime, Dharma returns to Etisha to demonstrate some of his Airbending skill. Etisha spots it as amateurish and lacking the quality of a trained student, which causes Dharma to become insecure over his upbringing and lack of Air Nomad connections.

Later, Dharma works with Chuko to infiltrate Bozan's army, looking for a Fire Nation supply-coordinator who has helped Nupiq's network. Because Nupiq questions Chuko's loyalty, Dharma stays vigilant but Chuko seems to commit to the cause. While in the camp they learn that Okuru's army is consolidating back south around Pohuai after an attack a few days ago. Dharma brings this information back to Nupiq, and they question whether this leaves an opening to press against Bozan directly. Dharma returns to Major Harano to see if they should go on the offensive....