Characters / Book 5: Legends

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For characters from the Legend of Aang, see here.

For characters from the Legend of Korra, see here.

For original characters contained herein, see below:

The Enemy

• All Your Powers Combined: Steals away the bending of others in order to further empower itself and create a new Dark (or more accurately, Anti) Avatar. Also present in Korra's Nightmare, whereupon the enemy is the merged form of all of Korra's old foes.
• Big Bad: Of Book Five. Later revealed to be a Big Bad Duumvirate.
• Black Cloak: Goes with the Cool Mask, and helps to hide their form and figure, making them harder to identify.
• Cool Mask: The look of a Plague Doctor, which inspires terror and helps mask their true identity.
• The Dreaded: Once they see what the enemy can do, Team Avatar quickly become very afraid of the idea of them and what they're attempting to do.
• Establishing Character Moment: Appears seemingly out of nowhere in the midst of a graveyard, terrifying its already frightened keeper, and then proceeds to raise the dead as if it was as easy as casting stones.
• Foreshadowing: Some of its more impressive feats occur off-screen, and are only described by Temuji and Fumiko. This sets up The Reveal that Temuji and Fumiko are the ones behind the mask, at different times.
• Hero Killer: While not exactly killing those whose bending it steals, it brings them close to death by sucking out their life force as well, leaving Wing, Tahno, and Daw incapacitated until the enemy is defeated.
• Our Zombies Are Different: Raises dead men to fight on its behalf, though they are more typically ghouls given the nature of their animation, which is rooted in actual bending techniques (albeit powerful ones). They have no free will but they continue to fight even in pieces until reduced to dust.
• Plague Doctor: The look of the beaked mask, purposefully chosen for the terror the trope invokes.
• Rule of Symbolism: Someone makes a remark on how the enemy is stealing benders abilities in the reverse order of the Avatar Cycle.
• The Reveal: It wasn't just one person behind the mask, see below.

Temuji

• Angrish: After his epic breakdown, he spits fire both figuratively and literally.
• All of the Other Reindeer: Was shunned by all but his mother because of his appearance and mannerisms. At least, that’s how he sees it, the truth of the matter is a little more vague.
• Breath Weapon: Whenever his control slips away, Temuji has a nasty habit of doing this. Fitting since his original element was fire.
• Determinator: Does not know when to stop, consequences be damned. It ultimately leads to his own defeat.
• Elemental Eye Colors: As a red-eyed albino, plays this straighter than any firebender before in either setting of the franchise.
• Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: Getting her back is the source of his turmoil.
• Expy: Of Kaworu Nagisa (aka Tabris) from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
• Foil: To Korra, Mako, and Asami. Korra in that they are both greatly powerful and have a desire to change the world for the better. Mako for being the elder sibling of a fire-earth duo. And Asami for having lost a parent they were very close to.
• Heal It With Fire: Temuji introduces a new, advanced technique that ‘burns out infection’ and cauterizes wounds.
• Healing Magic Is the Hardest: Hinting at his status as a firebending prodigy, Temuji remarks firebending healing is not easy to master, though that is also partially because no one has an interest in learning it. It is also subtly implied that using it can be dangerous, as a slip in concentration or a misstep can do more harm than good.
• Incorruptible Pure Pureness: Seems to be this at first, but it’s later revealed to be an act. Though Temuji still seems to hold some semblance of this, viewing his actions as Necessarily Evil and being genuinely shocked when he actually kills someone.
• Light Is Good: Seemingly at first. Later Light Is Not Good. Not good at all.
• Mystical White Hair: Temuji is white-haired albino, and has great powers both naturally and as a result of his actions.
• Meaningful Name: As in Temujin, the birth name of Genghis Kahn. Also, six letters, just like all previous Big Bad villains of The Legend of Korra.
• Playing with Fire: At first, then upgrades to all four later on.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning: As an albino, his eyes are naturally red, and seem to avert this as first because he’s a gentle soul. When he becomes an Anti-Avatar, they glow briefly like hot coals in a vein similar to the Unavaatu.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: The Savvy Guy to Fumiko’s Energetic Girl.
• Smart People Play Chess: She plays Pai Sho with Korra from time to time before The Reveal.
• Unskilled, but Strong: Possesses phenomenal power as the Anti-Avatar, but lacks restraint to use it properly, furthering the parallels between him and Korra.
• Villainous Breakdown: Slowly slips into a rage over the course of the final battle as all his efforts to save his mother seem futile.
• Walking Spoiler: There’s a reason most of his entries are blanked out.
• Wrong Genre Savvy: Thinks he can resurrect the dead like he’s in a Mary Shelley novel.

Fumiko

• Affectionate Nickname: Miko, to her friends.
• Badass Normal: A modest chi-blocker and acrobat in the same vein as Ty Lee. Later revealed to be untrue.
• Big Eater: Threatened to eat an Elephant-Koi whole, and seems to frequently be raiding the pantry or asking for some fire flakes. Mostly takes place off-screen though.
• Cute Bruiser: 14 years old, precocious, and can still take on anything you throw at her with a smile on her face.
• Cloud Cuckoolander: Is a bit odd, to say the least. Slightly less so after The Reveal, though Word of God it was at least fifty percent accurate, and she plays it up to throw her enemies off.
• Dishing Out Dirt: After The Reveal. Sandbending, specifically, though she has no skill with metal (or glass) because it's too pure.
• Elemental Eye Colors: Seemingly subverted at first, then played straight after The Reveal.
• Expy: Of Miko from Transformers: Prime.
• Foil: To Bolin primarily, as the younger sibling of a fire-earth duo.
• Genki Girl.
• Girlish Pigtails: With pink highlights, no less.
• Perky Female Minion: To Temuji after his Faceheel Turn.
• Pink Means Feminine: Can be rather girly and attention is often drawn to the highlights in her hair.
• Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: The Energetic Girl to Temuji’s Savvy Guy.
• Undying Loyalty: To Temuji.
• Waif-Fu: Routinely adds flips and the like to her fighting. And her daily walking, for that matter.
• Wrestler in All of Us: Displays some moves, notably an elbow drop she uses on Bolin at one point.

Jasmine

• Action Girl: Wields fans with deadly skill, as befitting an old school Kyoshi Warrior.
• Amazon Brigade: Her and the other Kyoshi Warriors, as they still keep the old traditions.
• Badass Normal: Has no bending ability. Doesn’t let it stop her.
• Combat Hand Fan: Standard Kyoshi Weaponry.
• Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: Technically it’s face-paint, and she’s more domineering than eerie, but she otherwise gives off this vibe.
• Hero of Another Story: It’s said even Kuvira’s Earth Empire was never able to fully subjugate Kyoshi Island, and Jasmine was head of the Kyoshi Warriors at the time...
• Spiky Hair: Compared to a borcupine.
• The Stoic: Seems to have zero sense of humor. Especially in regards to her name and how it sounds similar to the tea brand.
• This Means Warpaint: Standard cosmetics for Kyoshi Warriors.

Princess Koko

• Badass Bookworm: Played for Laughs. During the Republic Rim battle she’s seen fighting off the dead... by throwing her precious books at them.
• The Caligula: Could be seen as a benevolent version of this. Her subjects treat her Cloud Cuckoolander tendancies with some disgust and regret, but she is honestly trying to help them out.
• Cloudcuckoolander: Very... odd, to say the least. Must be hereditary, as she's implied to be a descendant of the original King Bumi, who practically defined the trope.
• Expy: Of Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.
• Hidden Depths: Her reforms do actually help the overall education level of Omashu, and when danger threatens she’s quick to rally the guards and take command of the situation.
• Hime Cut: She has this hair style for emphasizing her regal nature.
• Insistent Terminology: Almost always refers to Korra as Princess, and uses the same title. Technically, she’s not wrong in the case of Korra. Her own case is... odd.

Bao

• Badass Pacifist: Maybe, per Shrug of God. He’s only ever seen fighting dead men, and then only non-lethally ties them up in vines and promises to have them properly buried when the fighting is over.
• Color-Coded Eyes: His gray eyes emphasize the wisdom and knowledge of an Old Master.
• Cool Old Guy: White Lotus Grand Master, described as in his later years, and a plantbender on par with Hu from the old series, he’s definitely got all three qualifications down.
• Old Master: Not quite geriatric, but definitely past his prime, and as a Grand Master of the White Lotus, this is practically a requirement.

Tso Lan

• Punny Name: Seems somewhat skittish, and his name sounds like ‘so long’ to make it extra funny.

Aki

• Character Development: Seems to accept Tenzin's offer to join the Air Nation and make something of himself following his brief appearance.
• Foil: To Tenzin, a young upstart against an old master. Double bonus points for being voiced by the same actor who voiced Aang from the original series, which means Tenzin is essentially schooling a darker version of his own father.
• Gravity Is a Harsh Mistress: How he is defeated, failing to realize his perch on a weak tree branch until Tenzin showed him.

Spoiler Character

Azula

• Character Development: Seems to have undergone quite a lot off-screen, showing a markedly different persona then she had during the era of Aang.
• Dysfunctional Family: She aintains communications with her older brother, Zuko, but rarely interacts with the rest of her family, and does not seem to care for them. Also, being the great-aunt of the story's villain doesn't exactly do wonders for her record either.
• Hidden Depths: She seems to have gained some in the ensuing years, teaching students in secret how to firebend, as well as somewhat raising Temuji after his mother passed away.
• Love Makes You Evil: Inverted; she took in Temuji as family and seems to have mellowed as a result of it.
• Morality Chain: Zuko has intended to be this for her, which is why they still correspond in secret. It's unknown how well it's working for his sister though, but the fact that she still answers his letters speaks volumes.
• Must Have Caffeine: Drinks coffee in flashbacks.
• Older Than She Looks: In an inverse of her portrayal during Aang’s day, Azula still has quite a few black hairs left and overall less wrinkles than her brother, despite only a two year age gap. It’s implied the less stressful life of an nihilistic exile as opposed to a Fire Lord and ambassador allowed her to maintain more of her looks.
• Persona Non Grata: In the Fire Nation. Justified, in that she’s an criminally insane lunatic and easily one of the most dangerous firebenders still alive.
• Reformed, but Not Tamed: And the reformed part is more neutral than good.
• Sociopath: Azula remains in fine form, not having mellowed too much in the past decades.

Legend of Ban Characters

Team Avatar

• Foil: The core four bear some strong differences to their predecessors.
  • Ban, unlike Aang or Korra, starts the series much older, at age sixteen, with almost no bending ability, unaware he was even an Earthbender, let alone the Avatar. Thus far he's also proven calm and collected during most crisis, unlike hyperactive Aang and hotheaded Korra during their early years.
  • Unlike Zuko or Mako, both very serious, Meiling is chatty, active, and bubbly. She names her attacks when she makes them and likes to pick fights. Also, obviously, she's a girl and rather on the short side, as opposed to the two taller men they were.
  • Most waterbenders associated with Team Avatar tend to be women (Katara, Korra, Kya), and mothering and nurturing, who often pick up the healing subset of the skill to aid their teammates and can be very creative in the versatility of their element. In contrast, Ryuku is a close-quarters brawler who hits hard and fast and is deeply jaded about the world, lets his fists and waterskins do the talking whenever possible and thus far has displayed no healing talent of any kind.
  • Whereas Aang was the only airbender of his era, and the subsequent generation saw either a matured adult (Tenzin) or children (the kids) working alongside them infrequently, Willow is a full-time member of Team Avatar, and unlike the majority of previous airbenders tends to be remarkably relaxed, even a bit spacey, like a New Age Retro Hippy.
• Four-Temperament Ensemble:
  • Ban is Melancholic. Introverted, task-oriented, analytical, organized, and tends to be polite whenever possible. Can get in a few good snarks, however.
  • Meiling is Sanguine. Talks a lot, cheerful, energetic, and very passionate about what she feels is right and good. Can be a bit wild and unpredictable.
  • Willow is Phlegmatic. Sweet, quiet, kind, sensitive, and empathic. Easily the groups heart and soul.
  • Ryuku is Chloeric. Rude, short-tempered, but is a hard worker, stronger willed, and very practical when it comes to solutions. Zero qualms about solving a problem with his fists or his water.
• Heroic Lineage: Ban is from the line of Opal and Bolin Beifong, which also makes him a descendent of Toph. Willow comes from from Avatar Aang's line.
• In-Series Nickname: More like review nickname, but some reviewers of the story have taken to calling them The Band, after Aang's Gaang and Korra's Krew. Thus far, it hasn't been used in-story, but then again neither has Team Avatar, officially.

Ban Beifong

• The Ace: Inverted. Unlike the previous Avatars, Ban has almost zero talent at earthbending (that he knows of) and mediocre ability in almost anything else he tries, making him more of The Everyman.
• All-Loving Hero: Implied. He brought home an eel-hound pup for no other reason than he wanted to help it.
• All Your Powers Combined: Implied, by virtue of being the Avatar, but never seen on-screen. Then again, he only just realized he can earthbend.
• Badass Bookworm: Is said to read frequently, and he's the Avatar (though he isn't aware of that fact at first).
• Blue Blood: Part of the prestigious Beifong family, though he's considered a black sheep due to his lack of bending ability (at first).
• A Boy and His X: Implied to have been drawn to his Eel-Hound Pup in the same vein of Naga, Appa, Fang, and other Avatar companions. He’s not quite big enough to ride yet, but he’ll grow.
• Contrasting Sequel Main Character: Whereas Korra was brash, somewhat arrogant, and learned three of the four elements when she was four (in addition to learning she was the Avatar) Ban is laid-back, relaxed, calm and composed. He takes no offense to being bullied, and doesn't even realize he's an earthbender until his Avatar State awakens at age sixteen. Invoked by Word of God as a deliberate means to make a very Anti-Korra AND Anti-Aang sort of Avatar.
• Die or Fly: Awakens his Avatar spirit and natural earthbending seconds before being crushed.
• Dishing Out Dirt: A native earthbender, though it takes him a while to realize his potential.
• Glowing Eyes of Doom: Once the Avatar awakens, casting aside any possible doubt.
• The Leader: Apart from being the Avatar, is a natural mediator and peacekeeper, and thus can keep Meiling and Ryuku from being at each other’s throats, and keep Willow on task when her mind wanders.
• Legacy Character: He is the latest person to become the Avatar. Korra and Aang are just a few of his named predecessors.
• Meaningful Name: To Ban is to prohibit, forbid, or stop certain activities. Suitable for one who stands up against immoral acts that threaten the balance and harmony of the world, if not necessarily illegal activities as a whole. It can also mean a curse, which fits with how Ban initially views being born the Avatar, as a burden rather than a blessing.
• Personality Powers: Ban was envisioned as the embodiment of the spiritual side of earthbending, that being neutral Jing. Subverted at first when he displays zero earthbending talent, but later played straight.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The Sensitive Guy to Ryuku’s Manly Man.
• Supernatural Gold Eyes: Made to help him stand out, since his other features are relatively plain and unremarkable.
• The Smart Guy: Well-read and learned, at least. He tends to rely more on Ryuku for street smarts, however.
• Tranquil Fury: Once the Avatar State activates, he shatters stone walls like they're nothing and terrifies both the thieves and Meiling, but is utterly silent the entire time.
• Reincarnation: Of Korra. And Aang, and Roku, and Kyoshi, and all the others going back as far as Wan and perhaps further still.

Meiling Zheng

• Annoying Younger Sibling: Not by blood, but Ban considers her like the little sister he never had, or wanted, frequently.
• Blessed with Suck: She was Ban's best friend, and a self taught fire bender, but that came with its own inherent issues. And then, her body develops to then do combustion bending, which really stresses her out and forces her to act in ways contrary to her nature.
• Break the Cutie: Starting from a bright place, the story isn't kind to Meiling. She sees death up close for the first time, has the hardest time adjusting to being a nomad and cooped up. And then she finds out she's a combustion bender, which really messes her up.
• Calling Your Attacks: Meiling does this with her firebending, in order to give it more "oomph". It helps emphasize how very new at it she is.
• Four-Temperament Ensemble: Sanguine.
• Genki Girl: Is said to talk fast and often about a variety of topics.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: Appears that way, but its dyed. Either way, her kind heart is evident from the get-go.
• The Lancer: Ban’s number two, his voice of reason, conscience, and general sounding board.
• Like Brother and Sister: With Ban, though it's implied it could grow into more.
• Meaningful Name: A perfect fit for someone frequently described as very pretty. And useful when its shortened to Mei by Ban, since they often act Like Brother and Sister. Mei-Mei is sister in Mandarin Chinese.
• Pop Culture Osmosis Failure: Appears to be a victim of this, as the Avatars exact origins and history have become more obscure in recent years, though she comes close to the general idea. Ban usually corrects her misconceptions.
• Power Tattoo: Acquires one of these when she's spent some time with the Sun Warriors, the familiar "third eye" that all Combustion Benders have to focus their powers.
• Villainous Lineage: Admiral Zhao actually was family member back during the Hundred Years War. And that's not even mentioning her Uncle Drago.

Willow

• Aura Vision: Something unique she's developed over the years, Willow can see people's auras and read their moods and personalities. It's hinted to be one of the new quirks she has as an airbending descendent of an Avatar.
• Cuddle Bug: Coupled with her No Sense of Personal Space and general love of almost everyone she meets, love to give out hugs like they’re going out of style.
• Four-Temperament Ensemble: Phlegmatic.
• Innocent Gray Eyes: Like her great-great grandfather, Willow has these. Fitting for someone equally innocent and kind-hearted, to say nothing of an Air Nomad by birth.
• Meaningful Name: Slender and graceful fits Willow to a T.
• New-Age Retro Hippie: Acts a little loopy and speaks of auras and past lives with a casual, indifferent air about her.
• No Sense of Personal Space: One of her mom's rules, which Willow tends to think of most as suggestions. She just can’t grasp why people wouldn't want to be up close to one another.
• Walking the Earth: Something of an Air Nomad tradition, and Willow follows it in fine example. She’s in the midst of her wanderings when she meets up with her grandfather and the plot is kicked off, and continues following Ban and Meiling in much the same way throughout the story.

Ryuku Kuruk

• The Big Guy: The muscle of the New Team Avatar, first to fight, toughest to knock down. He's also the biggest — he's a head taller than Ban and Willow, and positively towers over Meiling.
• Combat Pragmatist: Doesn’t hesitate to mix it up physically whenever water isn’t enough, or take a cheap shot to end a fight quickly.
• Dark and Troubled Past: Alluded to, his parents were fishermen apparently, who died when he was young. Word of God is that the section of Book Two devoted to "Water" will further highlight and shed some light on his past, and dark indeed it shall be.
• Satisfied Street Rat: Seems almost proud of his rough and tumble childhood and current lifestyle.
• Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The Manly Man to Ban's Sensitive Guy.
• Socially Awkward Hero: He's a member of Team Avatar who doesn't really know how to make small talk.
• Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Very tall, very dark, and while a bit rough around the edges and not the fanciest dresser, definitely easy on the eyes.

Jiao

• A Boy and His X: Ban's pet Eel-Hound pup. In the same vein of Naga, Appa, Fang, and other Avatar companions. He’s not quite big enough to ride yet, but he’s still growing.
• Meaningful Name: Jiao is a Chinese currency, but it also means Dragon, which Jiao resembles to a small degree.
• Mix-and-Match Critters: Part eel, part greyhound. And it’s only a puppy, meaning its eventually going to get much bigger.
• Non-Human Sidekick: To Ban, in the same vein as Naga to Korra and Appa to Aang.
• The Nose Knows: An expert tracker, though it doesn’t come up much.
• Undying Loyalty: To Ban, as his spiritual animal. Doubly so since he’s part hound.

Rohan

• Color-Coded Eyes: His gray eyes emphasize the wisdom and knowledge of an Old Master.
• Cool Old Guy: Member of the White Lotus, and an Airbender Master, as evidenced by his tattoos.
• Old Master: Not quite geriatric, but definitely past his prime. Considering he was only an infant when we last saw him in Korra's age, it really spells out how much things have changed.

"The Third"

Surprise, it's another Baatar Beifong, the son of Baatar Jr, making him Baatar III.

• Broken Pedestal: Averted. Even when Ban and the others find out about his criminal past, they listen to his side of the argument, and largely seem to forgive him.
• Chekhov's Gunman: Rohan reveals "The Third" as a potential safe haven to Ban and Co. when they have to go on the run. Several chapters later, Baatar saves them and takes them in, even becoming Ban's earthbending teacher.
• Dishing Out Dirt: A native earthbender.
• Freudian Excuse: Has some mommy issues, and later on has a criminal past, which explains some of his bluntness when dealing with others. He doesn't trust easily.
• Strong Family Resemblance: He greatly resembles his father and grandfather, though unlike either of them, avoids having to wear glasses.
• Tattooed Crook: Has a green dragon tattooed on the back of his neck (presumably extending down between his shoulder blades). However, he's a former Triad member, and a peripheral one at that, so the trope Zig-zags a bit.

Jade Li Xa

• Dishing Out Dirt: Specializes in "Praying Mantis" earthbending style, the same as Toph used in the original series.
• Expy: Hypothetically voiced by Grey Griffin, usually calm and collected, but flies off the handle when things don't go her way? Sounds like an Azula or a Ming-Hua who was a Triad Boss instead of a Princess or a Terrorist.
• Foil: To Ban, obviously. She's an older, more experienced earthbender, and a woman with very dubious morality, as opposed to the very noble, humble Ban.
• Greed: Cares only for money. Not people, not ideals, not your goddamned revolution, just cold hard cash.
• Meaningful Name: Beautiful like the stone, but also hard and cold like it. The value of Jade also means she, as a Triad leader, is primarily concerned with material wealth. Suitable for a criminal earthbender.
• The Sociopath: Has zero concerns for anyone who isn't her.
• Tattooed Crook: Has a number of Celtic designs on her arms and the back of her neck, and she’s as crooked as they come.
• Villainous Breakdown: Has one the longer she fights with Ban, since he's ruining her warehouses during their fights (although most of the damage is done by her or her underlings). It reaches a climax when she's just screaming and throwing things, wanting to kill him despite implicit orders not to. Granted, she wasn't too stable to begin with.

Drago

• Badass in a Nice Suit: Wears a very excellent suit when he murders Jade in prison.
• Evil Uncle: Meiling's uncle, of all people.
• Playing with Fire: A firebender.

"The Steel Stalagmite"

• Cold Sniper: Uses earthbending to propel metal stalagmites through the air at breakneck speeds.
• Psycho for Hire: Jade hires him to take out the Avatar.

Songtan

• Character Tic: Whistles little song snippets at random times.
• Light Is Not Good: Dresses in white and is rather pale, to say nothing of white haired, but he is definitely not one of the good guys.
• Musical Assassin: Likes to whistle as he attacks, and definitely a hardened killer.
• Psycho for Hire: Drago hires him to take out the Avatar, and Ryuku as a bonus. He stipulates, however, he wants Meiling entirely unharmed. Songtan is just relieved he doesn't have to bring in anyone alive, though he implies he's done so in the past.
• The Sociopath: Has no real value on human life.

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