Episode 35: "Recon"

 Moshi and Toji work with Bozan and Tokar to try and take on Captain Okuru. While Bozan is still hesitant about taking on his former commander at this time, Toji attempts to intimidate him into pressing their advantage - he's lightly guarded and not expecting assault.

The group attempts to fend off Okuru's Firebending guardians, but the fight is fairly stalemated. Before long, Moshi and Tokar provide coverage for the group to retreat. 

Meanwhile, Dharma and Jang Tae are out reconnointering the Fire Nation's expansion. They start to map out some of the camps and forts building up around Taku and the river. They see the Ember signal Toji put up before ambusing Okuru and make their way west.

The two groups meet, and discuss next moves. Toji calls out Bozan for stepping back from a possible victory, claiming his hesitancy allows the Fire Nation to gain more ground. Bozan pushes back, claiming he's served under and has seen Okuru "The Executioner" at work. The group is lucky to have survived.

During this time, Jyoti and Shizaku ride on Kou back to camp as well.

The decision is made to return to Shimoni Dhato. 

Bozan and Toji smooth things over, and Jyoti plans to go eastward back toward the Northern Air Temple, where they might find the Place Beyond the Clouds.

At this point it looks like Moshi, Dharma, and Jang Tae set to go with him.

Toji suggests taking the Mochitdzuki and hitting variuous Fire-Nation camps along the way. He also receives word Tokala is on his way back from the Northern Water Tribe, and Toji cautions that group that Okuru's expanding the Fire Nation's claim in the region.

Shizaku rallies a number of the camp's Fire Nation expats together, detailing what he learned at the Northern Air Temple - the true breadth of the Fire Nation's war and cruelty. He pushes for them to band together to fight for a more just world with the Earth Kingdom, and then sets to work in the workshop to increase the camp's defenses.

Episode 34: Planning Salon

 Starting with Shizaku and Jyoti in the Northern Air Temple:

As they enter the main halls of the temple, Shizaku is met with a vision of the past - the night of Sozin's comet when the Fire Nation attacked the temples. Destruction and death surround Shizaku as he sees a young Jyoti fighting off Firebenders, and then his master, Arjan, comes in carrying the reliquary the group has come to know so well.

Arjan helps Jyoti escape, knowing they would have to leave the temple behind in any attempt to save the Air Nation.

Shizaku wonders what he'd just witnessed, but it stirs his own memories of witnessing the Fire Nation military's brutality. This war had shaken Shizaku's belief in his nation, wondering if it's all just propaganda and where his loyalties lay.

He comes to see how intentional the Fire Nation has been, and how blind he was. He asks Jyoti how he can help others see this isn't a 'greater good' effort on behalf of Sozin and Azulon, but megalomaniacal ambitions. Shizaku's simmering anger has him lash out at Jyoti, claiming the Air Nomad didn't stress enough how big a deal this had all been.

Jyoti counters Shizaku with the need to plan and act accordingly - to not only rally against the Fire Nation, but to find this Place Beyond the Clouds where he can save the Air Nomads, either by finding a new home or burying their history away from the flames of war. Preserving the Air Nation is critical.

They plan to depart, but Jyoti is wary of the bounty hunters still roaming around the Temple. Shizaku goes to find them in secret, to ask them to back off. Saki and Mura mention they've been traveling in the region a while, having come across the remains of a buried temple southward in the mountains (connecting to the location of the Place Beyond the Clouds Jyoti is looking for).

Jyoti and Shizaku sneak out of the temple away from the bounty hunters, just in time to find a (tired) Kou, who informs them that Timmy Moshi fell down a well! (Not really, but that the camp is reggrouping its strategies.)

Meanwhile, in camp:

While awaiting word from companions out and about (Tokala, getting help from the Northern Water Tribe, and Dharma and the Embers on patrol to map out the Fire Nation Camp's borders), Toji and Moshi receive word that Fire Nation commanders have been moving north in an attempt to recon and solidy the borders of Okuru's own bases. Bozan's men around Tokar's farmstead insist they've heard Okuru himself is in the area looking for recruits, dissidents, and pressganging others.

Toji, Moshi, and Bozan go north to discuss with the Fire Nation soldiers there that the camp can protect them and the unity of the camp is a stronger ally than falling under the military banner again. 

They're interrupted by word that a captain's palaquin is spotted, and they investigate to find a retinue and, indeed, Okuru approaching. They see Bozan's former soldiers talking, and Okuru steps out to converse (the group is too far away and cannot hear this whole conversation, but Bozan surmises that Okuru us testing the borders of the resistance camp's influence and where Okuru can safely draw the lines of his own camp.

Toji and Moshi question whether they can handle Okuru, but it's believed this may be the only shot where he's so unguarded and a strike is tempting. Bozan cautions Toji into restraint, but Toji pushes back, leaning on Moshi's sense of freedom to do the right thing - try to cut off one of the badger-hydra's heads here and now. They consider options and decide to go back to Tokar for help.

They build a trap and firewall to try and lure Bozan in, springing it as he approaches Tokar's farmstead. Okuru doesn't seem too fazed, but the companions approach....

Episode 33: For Those Who Come After

 At Camp:

Toji gathers the camp leaders and decides another celebration should be held - not just for the sake of the Embers' successful mission rescuing Etisha, but for the whole camps growth and forward momentum.

Dharma pulls Jang Tae aside to congratulate him on their infiltration, and Moshi comforts Etisha while she acclimates to settling in the camp.

During the celebration, a farmer approaches and tells Toji that Fire Nation soldiers are terrorizing farmsteads up to the north.Toji is cautious this could be a trap, and Dharma questions if the camp is getting too big if the farmer was able to find them as their notoriety increases.

Agreeing to assist the farmer in pushing back the soldiers, the group gears up, bringing Chuko. Toji assigns a duty to Chuko - if the farmer is lying and it is a trap, she'd have the least trouble putting an end to them.

At the farms, the group meets Tokar, a burly Earthbender who's been leading the hand-off of supplies and food to these soldiers. He explains they're essentiually ronin from Bozan's units when he was captured at the Fall of Taku. He'd heard of successful anti-Fire-Nation raiders in the region (the capture of Shan and rescue of the Embers) and was hoping for help to end these soldiers.

The group agrees to assist if the farms keep quiet about the camp proper and join as a sattelite outpost. Rather than combat the soldiers, the group traps them and intimidates them into not only backing down, but joining with these Earth Kingdom citizens in protecting the land.

They return to camp, leaving Tokar in charge for the time being. Plans are made to further patrrol the outskirts of the region. Toji seeks guidance from Bhaga, and the idea is offered to build inward, but more Earthbenders are needed to expand. Bhaga suggests also expanding toward/gaining help from Ba Sing Se, but thise angers Toji, who believes the Earth Kingdom monarchy doesn't care about the people on the fringes (unlike the great protective shield of say..the Fire Nation army).

Toji wonders about word from Tokala, as help from the Northern Water tribe would help improve any attack on Okuru's camp to the east.

Meanwhile, at the Northern Air Temple:

Shizaku has difficulty traversing the mountain paths upward, dumbfounded by Jyoti's nimbleness. They find some camps and evidence that others have been up in the region and it's not completely abandoned. Shizaku is less perceptive that others have been in the temple far more recently.

This causes two bounty-hunters to get the drop on them - a scarred and muscular firebender name Saki and a slim, cocky waterbender name Mura. Shizaku manages to convince them they aren't air nomads or worth any trouble and are just looking for relics.

The bounty hunters seem to back down, uninterested, while Jyoti pushes forth toward the records hall with Shizaku....

Episode 32: Rescues and Research

 Toji sends a note via messenger hawk to his companions at the library about Etisha being held in the Fire Nation camp to the east of Shimoni Dhato. The library group prepares to meet up with the Embers dispatched to plan a rescue attempt.

Tamping down Jang Tae's gung-ho attitude, the group sneaks into the camp and, with Dharma's expertise, manages to secure Etisha easily.  Moshi dispatches the firebender interogating her and the group leaves without much conflict.

Back at Camp, Toji works to convince Etisha that she should stay and help train their benders through the use of the scrolls she has left. She's no friend of the Fire Nation, but she's hesitant since getting involved got her captured in the first place. Dharma leans into wanting to amend that and apologizes, convincing her to stay for now.

Bozan pushes forth to Toji that allowing the Fire Nation to recuperate to the east may prove costly - with Okuru that group cannot hesitate. Toji stands by his restraint, citing the need to recalibrate resources and plans. With the handover of Shan to Ba Sing Se, the notoriety of the resistance will spread and they'll have a much easier time dealing with Okuru and Yama.

Meanwhile, Ma Leng and Ma Ran return the camp from the Advance Station headed by Wu Hana. They claim she has invited a number of her seedy past comrades and are taking advantage of the pop-up town. Moshi, Toji, and Bhaga go to set Wu Hana in her place - getting her to agree to send her friends back, but they're disgruntled.

At the Misty Library, Shizaku remains poring over ideasd for camp defenses and improved weaponry. Jyoti approaches him and suggests Shizaku join him going to the Northern Air Temple - think of the wonders we could find! Shizaku is initially hesitant, but Jyoti expands his ideas suggesting anything from the Air Nation could benefit their resistance. 

As they trek through the mountains Jyoti explains how, since his master Arjan sacrificed himself to protect Tribhuvan's journals from Yama, Jyoti is keen to try to protect - and restore - the Air Nomads. He suggests Shizaku can help push Dharma towards such a goal, bigger than himself. Shizaku wonders how it benefits him as he follows Jyoti through the wilderness. 

The camp, working to decide next steps, sends Kou east to pick up Shizaku, not knowing he's moving further away.

Episode 31: Reasoning and Reading

 At Shimoni Dhato, the group discusses what to do with the items taken from Fort Daoten. Toji considers using Yama's armor as a scarecrow/battle standard, asking Shizaku if he can replicate the armor for a morale-fighting machine. Shizaku considers how to find information about a machine he could bring into battle.

Shizaku sidelines the project as he, Dharma and Moshi begin to get ready to go to the Misty Library, to return any Earth Kingdom relics and meet with Togai. Jyoti is interested in bringing the Air Nomad relics, journals, etc, taken from Daoten to the Library as well.

AT CAMP

Toji, meanwhile, is interested in tracking down Etisha, the bending-scroll artist. He looks to the merchant-guide Obi, but Obi is busy working through the camp's logistics and brushes him off. Toji considers his role in the camp and successes, and with Gyara comes to understand the main companions have somewhat ostracized themselves from the camp - going on their demagogue quests and adventures while the rest of the camp works. 

This gives Toji pause, and he restrains himself to lean more on Neila and Bhaga as leadership decision-makers, with the companions aiming for less full-handed control. 

Jang Tae returns from Taku, having brought back Bao-S.S. Iron Tech engineer Faohu (who helped develop traps and defenses for Taku during its defense). Toji enquires of Etisha (last seen in Taku) from Jang Tae and rumor has it she was captured by the Fire Nation Army under Okuru. Word spread she had contact with an Air Bender. 

Toji sends Jang Tae to scout out for more information, and goes to Bhaga, now his main lodestar, for advice. Bhaga pushes Toji to retraint, making sure the group doesn't rush in.

Syncretizing all of the feedback he's been given, Toji looks to enquire more of what the camp needs and checks in with the Embers. Tokala suggests going back to the Northern Water Tribe, not only to check on his brethren but to gather support for the resistance (and perhaos for the camp to help his people in the future). Toji agrees, and Cho and some other Embers go with.

Toji turns an eye to developing the Staging Entry for prospective rebel recruits, led by Wu Hana but he also entrusts Ma Leng and Ma Ran to help build its illusory paths and keep an eye on the elder Earthbender.

Learning of the camp where Etisha is, when Jang Tae returns, Bhaga suggests sending an advanced detail for the attempt.

LIBRARY CARD GROUP

As the group heads toward the main river separating the camp from the eastern region where the Misty Library lies, they find increased Fire Nation patrols and presence. It's clear Okuru (and Yama, now in the region) are strengthening their positions.

The group sneaks past patrols, but Dharma chooses to be a daredevil and disrupt a checkpoint dept. Dharma sets up a fire that ruins the depot, making it appear like a storage error. 

At the Library, Moshi debriefs with Grand Mastere Togai, who thanks Moshi for fulfilling his role. He asks Moshi if he intends to stay attached to the resistance out of Shimoni Dhato. Moshi does, moving towards freedom.

Jyoti and Dharma work with the librarians to catalogue the journals and items from Daoten. Dharma wants an airbender staff, but Jyoti admonishes that Dharma hasn't fully reached out to his Air Nomad heritage. Moshi pleas and helps Dharma double down on his current goals as Jyoti calls out the rogue's survival.=, citing that their goals aren't aligned right now: Jyoti is looking too heavily at the Air Nation, while Dharma is looking to disrupt the Fire Nation's conquest.

Shizaku looks to the librarians to trade some of the Air Nomad drawings for research more relevant to him, lookling for defenses and maps. They find and copy a map of the Northern Air Temple, somewhere near the Place Beyond the Clouds mentioned in Tribhuvan's journals (wanted by General Yama). 

He also comes across harpoon cannons (as well as the icicile cannon designs found in Daoten), looking to invest in the camp's defenses. He also.. comes across some romance novels, staring a young Firebender named Joji and a Waterbender named Nutts.

The group at the Misty Library continues being nerds....

Episode 30: One fight over, another begins....

The fight with Sambat continues as Shizaku and Moshi, having gathered items from the captured relics below Fort Daoten, join Toji and Dharma in fighting the commander.

Shizaku first comes in and tries to get Dharma to slow down and think through the fight, he fails and Dharma becomes more aggressive. Toji seizes the opportunity to intimidate Sambat into backing down, citing the rising Embers' rebelliona nd clear push against the Fire Nation. Sambat gives in, reluctantly positing that the Earth Kingdom should prevent further losses and accept the Fire Nation's might as it rolls into the western reaches. Toji chides him, saying the Fire Nation's grasp isn't as tight as their propaganda machine would have others believe.

Moshi steps in, pressing his role as a seeker for the Misty Library as an advocate for the peoples of the Earth Kingdom, protecting its culture and citizens. He pries Sambat into admitting they could protect the Earth Kingdom more by preventing the Fire Nation to further tighten its hold anywhere. Smbat gives in to this, admitting it would do more good to stymie the Fire Nation's advances. 

Moshi presses his luck to get Sambat to show them any other treasures hidden here, and the former Earth Kingdom comnmander takes them to a small room where General Yama left stuff after his fight with the dragon on Mount Makapu: journals and his original military armor.

In this anteroom Shizaku becomes more curious to discover other blueprints, but gets angry when he only finds intrticate Air Nomad sketches and nothing he deems valuable.

Moshi pleas with Sambat to join the cause at Shimoni Dhato, but Sambat rejects the call for now, wantingh more evidence it's a viable play. He's willing to accept his loss for the Fire Nation and see what happens, but Moshi tells him to keep his ears open for the resistance's successes, such as the capture of Shan.

The battle over, the group discusses next steps. Jyoti pushes to return to the Misty Library with Moshi and investigate what they have collected at Daoten. The group as a whole returns to the Merchants' Pier, amidst a long GOT/GRRM detour. It's really amazing the group didn't get lost in that, but, no, they sneak past some Fire Nation patrols without incident.

Toji finds a place for everyone to lie low and they bring Gyara in to discuss the goings-on at sea - most notably the Earth Kingdom privateer Mara.  Discussion about how to get Mara off the camp's back ensures for the night, witht he gang hoping to leverage Gyara's shipping/pirate/sailor expertise in understanding him.

Toji decides to push for real results and, with Shizaku's help, discuss with Mara a conract of allowing the camp passage and trade without hindrance. In exchange, Shizaku would give Mara a basic FIT ship engine with the possibility of future upgrades.

Aboard Gyara's ship, the gang then returns to Shimoni Dhato before getting ready to move forward.Toji comforts Shizaku's insecurity by admitting that the technician is helping rebuild the camp to show the greatness of the nations, not just the poisoned version fo the Fire Nation.

Toji also begins to look more to Bhaga for guidance as his lodestar, shifting from Dharma's growing pull to his Air Nomad heritage.

Shizaku, Moshi, and Jyoti prepare to head out to the Misty Library. Shizaku wishes to use the Librarians' help to build plans for the defenses of Shimoni Dhato. Moshi goes to return artifacts taken from Daoten and seek Togai's guidance.

Dharma and Toji stay in camp, and Toji looks to Bhaga for steps forward for the resistance.

Episode 29: Downton Daoten

 While on the road to Daoten from Omashu...

Toshi pontificates to at Dharma about designing a changing path from the rally-point farmstead to Shimoni Dhato proper. The group could further dictate the security and entry of the camp. Dharma counters this, troubling Toji, as he questions who dictates who's a citizen of the camp - it's a community not a club. Dharma does however attemopt to clear Toji's mind by reining him, oushing that the community of the camo should make decisions.

The group collects outside Daoten, splitting into two forces: the main gate attack is spearheaded by Toji, Dharma, along with Chuko and Tokala. Moshi leads the rear group to open the stone gates in the back, with the help of Shizaku, Bozan, and Jyoti.

As night falls, the group pushes forward: Toji and Dharma storm the main gate, assessing the best way  through the main soldiers, and spotting the fort's commander on an upper wall. He's not a Fire Nation soldier, but appears to be ex-Earth Kingdom. The two quickly move to inapcitate their immediare attackers and jump to attack the commander, an older Earthbender named Sambat.

While the main forces are distracted and Bozan and Jyoti round up the rearguard, Moshi and Shizaku move into the hidden stores beneath the fort. They split up, Shizaku looking into weapons and schematics, and Moshi looking for Air Nomad relics and artifacts.

They move stuff through the back gates with Bozan and Jyoti's help, and then move on to finish the fight against Sambat....

 Elsewhere, a package of minidonuts creates a rambunctious child....

Episode 27/28: Dual Episode Recaps are Totally In

 After celebrating the defeat of Captain Shan, the camp of Shimoni Dhato recuperates. The Embers heal and begin to retrain and the group considers its next moves.

Moshi meets with Shizaku to absolve the engineer of his guilt around his inventions - the flashbombs and gear they brought with to Shan's camp did the job and everything was successful. 

Toji meets with Dharma to discuss the Airbender's plans. Dharma is interested in reconnecting to Jyoti and centering himself; Toji has plans to make a public display of Shan and show the impotency of the Earth Kingdom. This would help spread the word of the Fire Nation's invasion and draw possible recruits to the resistance. They plan to go to Ba Sing Se.

When Moshi learns of this, he notes Ba Sing Se is too insulated from the Fire Nation's war that they won't really care. He suggests the outer cities such as Omashu. Toji, Dharma, and Bhaga prepare to take Shan to Omashu (along with the help of Gyara, Tokala, and Chuko

Moshi goes to the Misty Library to seek guidance from his group and its leader, Togai. Shizaku joins him in the hopes of learning new techniques to improve the camp's infrastructure.

Moshi trains and practices to get better in fighting the Fire Nation. He and Togai come into conflict when Togai mentions Moshi isn't fully performing his role as Seeker and instead playing soldier, but Moshi notes he needs to be able to hold back the Fire Nation in order to proect the Earth Kingdom's heritage. As they talk and Togai learns of Daoten, the fort collecting relics, weapons, and other Earth Kingdom treasures, he tasks Moshi with collecting what he can.

Shizaku learns some older Earth Kingdom irrigation ideas and a way to mount the honey cannon onto the Mochitduki nee Screaming Mongoose-Lizard Mobile.

Moshi sends a hawk to Omashu to explain the plan to attack Daoten. He also puts out feelers for a Library fence in Omashu named Shohe.

Meanwhile (after a brief run-in with Earth Kingdom privateer Captain Mara), the group arrives in Omashu. There's discussion about how to best make a public display of Shan's capture, much to the frustration of Ba Sing Se's General Kehan. He and Toji share words 

There is a rousing speech from Chuko about how the western provinces have been holding off the Fire Nation's assault, with less help from the Earth Kingdom military and more help from the camp of Shimoni Dhato, a collection of refugees and resistance fighters. The courage of Taku and its region are more noticable than Ba Sing Se, they extoll, and Shan is left for the mighty Earth Kingdom.

The companions return to Gyara's ship; Toji feels a little insecure as he worries about the Earth Kingdom framing their unit as fantatics using unscrupuled tactics.

Moshi and Shizaku shore up the camp and gear up to go to Daoten. Shizaku convinces Jang Tae to get into Taku and convince Faohu, the engineer, to join up with the camp and improve the resistance headquarters along with Shizaku. Moshi seeks counsel from Bozan to join the trip to Daoten, and successfully convinces the former comamnder to come along.

Gyara lands her ship at the Shady Merchants' Pier, letting the others head toward Daoten to converge....

Episode 25/26: Showdown in Shan Town

 In the wilderness between the Shimoni Dhato and Shan's camp, Dharma first goes ahead to scout. He encounters three Fire Nation soldiers, and maanages to split them up and tie one of them up with Airbending. 

The rearguard encounters another of the split soldiers; Moshi and Bhaga capture him and, in the nondescript guise of Embers masks, interrogate him for information on Shan's camp.

With the layout and information, Dharma goes in first to seek information and sow Ember masks as a paranoia-inducing stunt. H eoverhears that Commander Saoku isn't with Shan - he had gone south to Pohuai to inform Yama.

He returns, the group begins to plan their assault and rescue:

A western group, consisting of Shizaku, Ma Leng and Ma Ran, Boba and Ti will breach the western walls and rescue the Embers and take or destroy any supplies.

A southern group, consisting of the other main fighters, engages with the main fighters (locking most of them in to the barrack area) and fighting Shan. The battle rages, and Shan is eventually defeated and the consensus is to take him captive.

Toji speaks out to the other Fire Nation soldiers, trying to appeal to their empathy, and convince them to join or lay down arms. He is met with limited success, but does seem to sway some minds.

Back at camp (after everyone celebrates), Shizaku laments his lack of fighting prowess and seeks guidance from Bozan, who eases his troubled mind since he did not have a military upbringing.

Moshi talks to Dharma and suggesrs taking Kou and going to the Misty Library to see Jyoti and check in on his comrades.

Toji intends to set up a re-education program for any of the Fire Nation willing to join their cause. He also discusses with Gyara and Tokala bringing Shan to the Earth Kingdom. They reach out to meet an Earth Kingdom contingent in the southern merchant pier-town, where Shan can be brought before the stronger and more secure military forces of Ba Sing Se....

 

Episode 24: Prepare for War 2: The Reckoning

 After Chuko's escape from Shan's internment, she is brought to Noya the Healer while the gang discusses what to do regarding their captured fighters. Dharma and Toji go to Neila, who reprimands Dharma for enticing the Embers to go on their own. This pushes Dharma to think about rescusing his friends and comrades. Toji steps in to quiet Neila's heat and anger; she backs down but warns the Fire Nation is only closing in. Toji agrees, and the only way to gain a modidum of safety is to regain some of their footing.

Moshi and Shizaku begin work on supplies and Ember masks for the trip north, knowing they're going to go in to rescue everyone.

Toji seeks guidance from Bhaga on the best way forward - the Earthbender remarks that the enemy is boastful and perhaps too sure of their footing - now is the time to throw boulders at them. Dharma resigns to be more involved with the Embers, believing his mistake wasn't in sending them out into the wilderness alone, but in their own overstimation of their abilities.

As Chuko wakes, she recounts how Shan got the drop on them, adapting to his blindness by using his firebending to read heat signatures. She believes the others were captured alive, but she crawled out, escaping in the midst of the fray.

The companions send out a flare to alert and collect any other Embers who may have escaped, resulting in the return of two soldiers, Boba and Ti. Dharma uses his pull if fighting for friends to entice them back into the fray. He also convinces Wu Hana to throw in with their fight, giving the old Earthbender a chance to stick it to the Fire Nation where it hurts.

Toji confirms with Gyara that she would stay with the camp if they failed -- she resigns to tell him to bring her brother back, at least.

Ma Leng and Ma Ran approach Moshi to join the rescue mission, and, despite their age, the Seeker sees potential in their spirit. 

Toji tries to have Bozan commit, but the Fire Nation commander chooses to stay put, not quite willing to fight one of Yama's captains for the sake of the foolish Embers that got captured.

A rousing speech and dinner brings everyone together before the group sets out.

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.