Avatar: The Last Airbender

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TL;DR a setting for AZN kung-fu and high magic without being the over-the-top Exalted and not the highbrow Legend of the Five Rings.

Lets say you want something that is fantasy, set in a large complex world that in no way rips off JRR Tolkien, is presented in visual form and is just well made all around. Well Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko had come to your aid with Avatar: The Last Airbender and its new followup The Legend of Korra. It is in no way related to James Cameron's similarly titled work (thank god).

Setting

You have a world modelled primarily off asia (in particular dynastic China), plus some people can magically manipulate simple matter using martial arts moves called "bending." Benders can manipulate one and only one of the Earth, Air, Fire or Water elements. The exception to this rule is one person called the "Avatar" who can master all four types of bending, and universally regarded as a spiritual leader (think: the Dalai Lama). There is only ever one Avatar in each generation, who is the reincarnation of the previous Avatar can can remember (converse with the ghosts of) previous Avatars.

The world has one language, and four nations:

• The Water Tribes: Hunter-gatherer Eskimo-like people who live in the North and South polar regions. The South Pole tribe consists of stereotypical Eskimos, whereas the ones living at the North Pole got bored of making simple igloos and carved their entire city out of ice. Then they added canals to troll the physicists. Korra was born in the South. There is also a water tribe scattered in equatorial swamps that manipulate the swamp vines by bending the water saturating the vines. Analogous to Indonesia, or a snowy Philippines?

• The Earth Kingdom: A large loose continental power ruled out of the massive fortified city of Ba Sing Se, which is basically the NYC-Paris of the Avatar universe. Wealthy and prosperous, they are masters of resource harvesting with bending as a safe and efficient means of mining metals and rare earths, and reduced labour required for farming. Culturally diverse, but largely modeled on China and Korea. The most urban culture.
  • The sequel splits the Earth Kingdom into three big territories: The original Kingdom, Republic City (a neutral territory independent from each nation while working with them all), and Zaofu (a city of metalbenders who made their own city after Toph began teaching Metalbending. One of her daughters runs the place).

• The Fire Nation: A technologically advanced state based off of a volcanic island chain with Imperialistic Ambitions (so, Japan). By technologically advanced, we mean they have steampunk tanks, ironclad ships, a giant freaking drill and hot-air zeppelins (the original concept for the zeppelins was invented by an earth nation mechanic but the fire nation turned them up to 11). Their culture encourages ambition and competition.

• The Air Nomads: Monastic wanderer-gatherers who lived ascetic lives, like what white people think Tibetans live like. They have four temple-cities that the wanderers will cycle through, and monuments scattered throughout the territories of the other three nations. By the time of the first story, the Air Nomads were purged with holy fire by the Fire Nation in an attempt to prevent the reincarnation of the next Avatar. The Avatar was born to Air Nomads anyways, and is the protagonist of the first story.
  • After the Harmonic Convergence and Korra saving the world, a strange anomaly happens where random people begin developing airbending powers. Of course, Tenzin (Aang's son) begins making a world tour to meet these airbenders and rebuild the Air Nomads.

There is a fifth faction, of the fae creatures collectively called "Spirits," who used to be common but have mostly left the physical world behind for their own Spirit World that is an alternate dimension. The spirits that remain in the physical world are dedicated to the places they reside, interacting very little with people but they have been known to pick-up on the ambient mood of communities around them (ie. a river spirit will be irritable if the river is polluted and neglected, a mountain spirit will be confrontational if the nation has been at war).

When the first story starts, the Fire Nation has been expanding aggressively into the Earth Nation for four generations, which hasn't been reacting beyond resisting in small city states and issuing an "everything is fine they'll never win" message from the capital in what's obvious procrastination, hoping the Fire Nation will give up and decide the constant sieges are too expensive (spoiler: nope). The Fire Nation has already extinguished the Air Nomads, satisfied they have prevented the rebirth of the next Avatar prophesied to end their conquering. The Fire Nation naval aggression have made a virtual embargo on the Water Tribes, isolating north from south and both from the Earth Nation.

The only surviving Air Nomad after the pogrom is the current Avatar, who hid himself in cryosleep. Nobody was around to resuscitate him so he was out of the picture for a century or so. His education was interrupted, and feels he needs to learn all four forms of bending as well as visit each of the isolated culture/nations before he can fulfil his purpose as a peacemaker.

The second story is sixty years after the first story, and the world's technology has advanced to the level of the 1900's -- ironclad ships are common, we can see industrial manufacturing in privately-owned companies instead of Fire Nation government military efforts, automobiles are uncommon but visible, and we see people listening to crystal radios. Most of the story takes place in "Republic City," a city-state independent of the other three nations and regarded as a symbol of the international peace. There is civil unrest, as the improved technology is closing the gap between benders and non-benders, causing resentment since benders have had a leg-up in social strata. There is an organized insurgency against benders calling themselves "Equalists," matched by a "let them eat cake" attitude from the bender upper class.

The Avatar of this era is a young woman from the water tribes who is comfortable with the physical powers granted by her mastery of multiple elements, but stunted in her training with spiritual matters and diplomacy, making her a poor mediator in the role that's expect of her, and easily manipulated by politicians. The Equalist insurgents are lead by a charismatic leader named "Amon," who claims to have a method for permanently disabling any person's bending ability; crippling the Avatar would be a huge symbolic victory for the Equalists, who see the Avatar as the pinnacle bender and biggest target for their resentments.

Characters

The Last Airbender

• Aang: Protagonist de jour. Mostly optimistic (when he's not panicking) and the nimblest motherfucker you'll ever meet. Favorite mode of transport: flying bison. Known to go godmode when shit hits the fan.
• Katara: Feminist motherly waterbending love interest. Occasionally kicks ass. WARNING: FRIENDSHIP SPEECHES AHEAD. The only one in the group with any resemblance of common sense other than Aang, and has a suprising amount of wisdom and knowledge for her age.
• Sokka: Katara's bigger brother, the smart logical one in a world of magic Kung Fu and Spirits that get pissed off if you over log an area. The non bender of the group and has to think his way to victory. Man's man, ladies man, master swordsman, brilliant scientist, leader of men, and a genius in the use of comedy in all its shapes and forms, from the one-liner to the pratfall. We all wish we were Sokka.
• Toph Bei Fong: A blind twelve year old girl introduced in Season 2. Also a massive badass and the best Earthbender in existence.
• Zuko: Exiled firebender prince. Originally a whiny bitch attempting to hunt the avatar to end his exile, but undergoes *gasp* CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT [/gasp] and transitions to antihero and then companion.
• Azula: Zuko's crazy badass dominatrix sister. Also a magnificent bitch with mommy-issues. Hobbies: Shooting lightning, being better than you and volley ball.
• Iroh: Zuko's uncle. Basically what would happen if one of the dirtier-minded Buddhas could shoot lightning, breathe fire, and drink enough tea to cause a younger man's heart explode. A fun guy to be around, minus the team-killing. Voiced by the glorious, the late Mako Iwamatsu.
• Momo: Aang's companion. Hybrid of a bat and a lemur - This is normal in the Avatar universe. Is a cute little bugger.
• Appa: Aformentioned flying bison. Hasn't got a lot of personality and functions as the group's main center of operations, supplied by a platform on its back. A large part of the second season is focused on getting him back from captivity.
• Ozai: Ruler of the Fire Nation, crappy father (burned and exiled his son for being 'rude'; rude here meaning protesting against using new recruits as cannon fodder), and above all evil mother fucker (not surprising considering he's played by Mark Hamill aka Joker). Willing to genocide entire races and nations in order to ensure his power, and his country's undisputed supremacy. Joke's on him when Aang strips him of his powers and his previously banished son becomes the new monarch and throws him in the dungeons to rot.

Legend of Korra

Team Korra

• Korra: The title character, and a brash, athletic tomboy who lacks spiritual aptitude (which means she punches people instead of meditating and talking things through like some kind of hippy... which isn't a good ideal when your chief enemy is claiming you oppress people who disagree with them). Gets her ass kicked a lot despite already mastering three of the four elements. Dates Mako for a while, which just doesn't work out, and ends the series in the closest thing to an openly-gay relationship with Asami that S&P will allow; though the show's creators later outright confirmed they are a couple. The team's Avatar.
• Mako: Writers said he's "Zuko without the angst" however they forgot Zuko had other traits and so is just some generic dude Korra wants to make out with, and kind of a creepy asshole. His primary characteristics are his strong sense of duty and a scarf. Team's Firebender, was taught how to lightningbend by a mobster. Becomes a cop in the second season, and then stopped after scandals involving eccentric rich dudes. Named after the late Japanese actor, Mako Iwamatsu, who among his many accomplishments voiced Iroh in The Last Airbender.
• Bolin: Mako's younger brother unlike Mako, Bolin is an earthbender and has character traits. He's the team's "funny guy" (effectively Sokka MK II, right down to the failed relationship with a northern water princess. At least this time it's more because she's a fucking psycho), being on the better side of the whole dudebro thing while avoiding asshole territory. Also happens to luck into being a movie star because of an eccentric rich man. Ends the series on an up note, dating a nice girl with a happy life ahead of him.
• Asami Sato: Daughter of this world's inventor of the automobile and easily the most rounded and best member of Team Avatar (unless you're a Mako/Korra shipper, in which case she's an evil rich slut and totally going to be a traitor, you guys LOOK AT THE EYESHADOW, SHEEPLE). The token normal, and oddly enough the only good guy to never lost a fight (namely because she brings a taser to a kung fu fight). She does not have any flaws other than being too nice sometimes, which is not a flaw, and yet is somehow not a loathsome Mary Sue. Mostly because she doesn't do much and is constantly screwed over.
• Naga: Korra's pet Polar Bear-Dog. Sadly does less than even Appa, despite being just as cool and much cuter. Admit it, you wish you could ride on a big friendly bear-dog.
• Pabu: Bolin's pet Fire Ferret. He mainly rides on people's shoulders.

Allies

• Tenzin: the sane, calm, rational Airbending master and advisor to Korra... most of the time. Starts off being a hard-ass until his own family insists that he ease off. Is very set on keeping the Airbending traditions alive and considers his duty to his people and his father important above all else to the point that he wants to be just like his father.

  Tenzin's family: Consists of Pema, Tenzin's wife and their four kids: two daughters and two sons.

• Pema doesn't do much in the series, but she did confess to winning Tenzin's affection when she and Lin were fighting for it, despite not being a bender herself. Instead she got it by being okay with having kids, which was rightfully a big deal for Tenzin while Lin wasn't up for that because of her own mommy issues.
• Jinora is the oldest of the bunch, a calm, polite and responsible girl who has incredible skill at Airbending. She also has a strong connection to the spirit world, allowing her to project an image of herself over immense distances. At the end of book 3 she is annoited as the youngest Airbending master in history, even younger than her grandfather (and looking just like him in the process).
• Ikki is energetic, a motormouth and frequently but unintentionally annoying. She suffers from middle child syndrome, where none of her other siblings pay attention to her because they either outrank her, are bratty or only three years old. This turns her into an only sane woman who wants to keep the others in line, and slowly starts getting good at it.
• Meelo's brattiness is only matched by his skill at Airbending. Being only five years old at the start of the story he displays considerable skill at Airbending, despite his orthodox flatulence-styled bending. Has become more of a jerk in season 4 but he still cares for his friends and family, but doesn't quite show it. Is also a very good painter, being able to create a painting of himself that would make a lover of all that is neo-classicist proud.
• Rohan is Tenzin and Pema's youngest. Born during the events of book 1 he's too young to display any skill at bending, and is too young to do pretty much anything yet.

Bumi is the oldest child of Aang and Katara, named after the eccentric old Earth King of the last series. As much of a fun-loving guy as his father and uncle were, Bumi takes it even further by being a borderline clown which makes him great with the Airbender kids.. He was born a non-bender so he spend less time with his parents than his siblings did, he joined the United Forces and rose through the ranks, eventually making it to the rank of commander. He likes to tell outrageous stories about his time in the military, most of whom seem true. He does seem to have ended up with a strange fear of cannibals because of this, so there might be some truth to his stories. At the start of book 3 he becomes an Airbender, finally getting the ability that his father wanted him so badly to have.

Kya is Tenzin's older sister, and Aang and Katara's only daughter. She's a Waterbender free spirit who doesn't want to be tied down, resulting in her not settling down or having kids. This might have stemmed from the pressure from Aang to continue her Airbender lineage, but this is not sure. She's very skilled at Waterbending on par with her mother, but not as good as a healer. She too hold resentment towards her father and Tenzin because him being an Airbender meant their dad didn't have as much time for her and Bumi, but the three of them eventually concile their differences.

Tonraq is Korra's father, and the chief of the Southern Water Tribe. A huge guy, Tonraq is capable as both a leader and a Waterbender but he's very overprotective of his daughter and one of the primary reasons (aside from the Red Lotus) that she lived in a walled compound for most of her life. Has a wife (Korra's mother) named Senna, but aside from that she's a Waterbender and looks like Korra's older sister she doesn't do all that much.

• Lin Bei-Fong: Toph's even more hard-assed daughter who's chief of Republic City Police. Pretty much only uses metalbending and tries her damndest to keep everything under control. Manages to finally mellow out after meeting her sister like three seasons in.
• Suyin Bei-Fong: Lin's sister who built a city of metalbenders named Zaofu. Had to leave Republic City after her mother covered up her association with a gang of criminals and accidentally scarring her sister.

• Suyin's family: After much traveling of her own Suyin married a workaholic architect named Baatar and founded the city of Zaofu where she began to train Metalbenders. The duo had five kids: four boys and a girl.
• Baatar Jr. is the eldest of the bunch and a right prick, eventually siding with Kuvira when she wanted to pacify the Earth Kingdom. He was all in favor of invading the territories of Republic City on account of taking back what you own, depsite him never objecting to the landgrab that his mother did with Zaofu. Used to be engaged to Kuvira, but having her shoot a massive spirit vine weapon at him to try and kill Korra likely put a damper on their relationship. It is not known if he is a bender.
• Huan is at his core an artist: a post-modern and slightly pretentious and emo one that looks like fucking Skrillex, but still an artist. Is never seen fighting, instead preferring to use his powers to create impressionistic metal sculptures. Is also seen to be good with kids and while he's not a fighter he still has a decent spine when he refused to bow to his future sister in-law.
• Opal is Suyin's only daughter, and born a non-bender. Gained Airbending after season 2 and joined the Airbenders, torn between her mother and her duty. Is very sweet but doesn't take kindly to bullshit: Bolin found this out the hard way when he tried to smoothe his way into her heart and promptly got told to back off (and that she prefers his sweeter personality he showed earlier). Is a very skilled Airbender in her own right and has a relationship with Bolin in book 4 (strained and long-distance, but still a relationship).
• Wei and Wing are the youngest of the bunch: identical twin boys distinguished by the metal accessories they wear. Far more boisterous than their siblings they love a good fight but aren't afraid to cry during their big sister's goodbye party. They tend to be outclassed when fighting though: both the Red Lotus and Kuvira's forces either held them off or captured them.

• General Iroh is the grandson of Zuko, named after his great-granduncle. General in the United Forces he's very competent both as a commander and a soldier, being able to shoot down several planes with one of his own, despite never having flown one himself and he's facing trained pilots. He's willing to bend the rules to get things done, but he will not ignore a direct order. Voiced by Dante Basco, who also voiced Iroh's grandfather in the original series.
• Raava: Vaatu's lawful good twin and power source for all Avatars through a pact. Her and her brother get together every ten thousand years or so and duke it out at the center of the spirit world in order to determine whether the next eon will be an age of relative peace and harmony, or pants-shitting grimdarkness.

Enemies

• Amon: Eliphas the Inheritor's bastard son and a hero of the common man and working class who strives to end the oppression of foul bending class and bring about true equality and a golden age of happiness. Also, has the BEST voice in the entire series, being also blessed by Steve Blum.
• Vaatu: Meet the Chaos God of the Avatar world. A spirit of utter chaos who will do anything to wreak havoc.
• Unalaq: Lorgar of the Avatar world. Starts off a malicious prick and then literally gets empowered by the Dark God to make a fucking Kaiju fight. Is also Korra's uncle.
• Red Lotus: A secret society dedicated to the cause of anarchy.
  • Zaheer: The Normie Batman-lite leader of the group, the deeply spiritual Zaheer semi-spontaneously developed Airbending powers after Korra aligned the spirit world with the one that matters. Instead of being a Buddhist about it like Aang, he rips the air out of people's lungs and embraces the void like a boss. Learns how to fly after his girlfriend is tricked into making her own head explode. Voiced and faced by Henry Rollins.
  • Ghazan: An incredibly chill dude for a terrorist who bends lava. Kills himself with an earthquake rather than go back to prison. May or may not have a mutual attraction with...
  • Ming-Hua: A tiny, armless woman who makes-up for her Abaddonness by waterbending (AT LEAST) a pair of snaking limbs onto herself. Probably the most vicious Red Lotus member. Electrocuted unconscious via pokemon physics, then crushed under a mountain.
  • P'Li: A gigantic Firebending lady who can explode things by channeling her chi through a tattoo-eye on her her forehead. Got 'Eadbanged.
• Kuvira: The Lord Commander Militant of the Avatar setting. Student of Suyin and former member of the metal bender clan. Cleaned up the mess left behind by the Red Lotus after Suyin refused to step up and founded the Earth Empire, claiming that the concept of kings was outdated. The fact that founding an empire effectively made her empress is lost on her. Has contacts with the Mechanicus since they provided her with a set of balls big enough to solo the avatar (A.K.A miss I stopped two communist organizations and one end of the world) in a duel and not breaking a sweat while doing it. As of now, owns a fucking Emperor Battle Titan.

Others

• Varrick: The Littlefinger of the Avatar universe. He at first appears to be very eccentric and friendly to Team Avatar, but it turns out he is manipulating entire wars in order to profit off of them. Probably has tons of crack stowed away on many of his boats, which he uses to fund movie production and insane inventions. Always flanked by his secretary/maid/assistant/bodyguard Zhu Li.

Under no circumstances allow M Night Shyamalan near this franchise again.

Games

• There's an Apocalpyse World hack for Avatar like stories. (They dropped the sex movies, you perv.)
• There's a Savage Worlds splatbook for Avatar (link needed)
• "Do: Pilgrims of the Flying Temple" for the vaguely Asian-setting protagonist gang tries to solve other people's problems & hilarity ensues, with a little magic but there's no hit points so there's no kung-fu roll playing here.