Taqukaq

Taqukaq was Avatar Roku's waterbending teacher who taught him the bending art when he was in the process of mastering the four elements.
== History ==
=== Early life ===
Taqukaq was born in the Northern Water Tribe during the later life of Avatar Kyoshi, a time of peace and spirituality. As a child, Taqukaq was always connected to the Spirit World of the North; his ability to observe the world through eyes that saw more than just the surface allowed him to transcend his humble birth. He was fascinated by the spirits that inhabited his home, most of all the spirits Tui and La, the Moon and the Ocean. He watched and studied them, discerning the secrets of waterbending from their movements.
As a kind young man, Taqukaq sought ways to serve the Northern Water Tribe. His soft-spoken nature, innate charisma, and forceful personality made him a perfect fit as a diplomat for the chief of the Northern Water Tribe. In that role, he traveled across the world to strengthen alliances with the other nations, but the tensions of the world made espionage an undercurrent in his journeys. Not everyone he dealt with was earnest in their desire to cooperate, and Taqukaq quickly learned that words and deeds were not the same in diplomatic circles. While investigating allegations of stolen Water Tribe technology, he learned that one of his colleagues, his best friend Nai, was selling secrets to the Fire Nation. Nai was a paragon of the Northern Water Tribe, thought to be a selfless champion, volunteering for the most dangerous and difficult missions. Nai's betrayal shook Taqukaq to the core, and promised never to trust so easily again.
As the years marched on, Taqukaq gained the title of master. His ability to whip up a quick fog allowed him to slip past many security checkpoints and trade blockades without a whisper of trouble. By the time he earned a title, no one could question his prowess as a waterbender.
=== Teaching Roku ===
When Roku sought a waterbending master, Taqukaq initially refused to train the Avatar, due to his betrayal at the hands of the Fire Nation as a young man. Taqukaq believed that any Fire Nation subject would hold a higher loyalty to the Fire Lord than to the people of the four nations. However, Roku refused to seek another instructor and eventually convinced Taqukaq of his devotion by living in the North for several years.
After several years of training, Taqukaq eventually lost a duel to his student, who sealed his victory by bending a massive wave toward his teacher, sending him crashing into the palace of Agna Qel'a.
=== Attending the Four Nations Summit & Technological Symposium ===
After Roku became a fully-realized Avatar, Takukaq used his charisma to perform diplomatic missions for the Northern Water Tribe along with some covert espionage. As one of the most famous waterbenders in the world, Taqukaq carried the dual burden of being respected and blamed for the Avatar's actions. He spent his time between the Fire Nation and the Northern Water Tribe, investigating allegations that the Fire Nation had stolen Water Tribe technology. While he often privately worked together with Roku, in public, Taqukaq and Roku maintained their distance to ensure that the waterbending master was not accused of being the Avatar's puppet. As an innovative statesman, Taqukaq also wished to bring the North and the South together in more than just name.
Roku sent Taqukaq to the Four Nations Summit & Technological Symposium in Hari Bulkan, with both foreseeing a possible political incident occuring at the summit. When Minister Khuchtei announced that multiple crates of rare meteorite had been stolen, Taqukaq was prepared to deal with the situation, but did not want to out himself as the Avatar's spy. He therefore had to depend on his connections, relying on Bo, Chegu, Ema, Sherab, and Norbu, a delegation of Air Nomads sent by the Southern Air Temple under Roku's request.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 110. Taqukaq trusted them to bring a peaceful end to the potential crisis.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 96. His personal quarters at Tako Dormitory housed climbing equipment and lock picks during the day. Every night during the summit, Taqukaq left to spy on the Fire Nation.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 104.
== Personality ==
Taqukaq was a kind, soft-spoken man with an innate charisma and force of personality. He was usually wary of those who provided selfless help to him, but would end up accepting them if they proved that their motivations were earnest. While he was a man of words over violence, he was not a pushover, and could discern the motivations of most people with a glance. He did not suffer cruelty, and could always stand his ground.Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 23.
Taqukaq always assessed a situation before acting, and never rushed headfirst into a fight. His time as a diplomat allowed him to keep secrets to the best of his ability. His way with words made him a valuable asset in negotiations. As a teacher, he was quiet, and often helped his students learn their true lessons on their own, rather than providing it outright. Although he did not want to share his hard-won skills with everyone, he took on students if he knew that their heart would be in the right place, and wanted everyone he taught to succeed in their training. He encouraged non-violence in his students, wanting to break the pattern of seeing those he taught often making the first move when it came to fighting.
== Abilities ==
Taqukaq was a legendary waterbender and one of the greatest masters of his time. He was renowned for his ability to bend fog to conceal himself or to provide an opportunity to escape. His other signature techniques involved creating fast, cutting swoops of water that could cut through vulnerable materials like a knife, and he could also use ice to slip over his environment with ease.
== Appearances ==
=== Avatar: The Last Airbender ===
==== Book Three: Fire (火) ====
=== Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game ===
* Core Book
* Adventure Booklet 2: Fire & Brimstone
== Trivia ==
* Taqukaq bears a physical resemblance to Kuruk, specifically his beard and the size of the amulet around his neck.
== References ==
== See also ==
* Northern Water Tribe
* Roku
* Sud
de:Taqukaq
es:Maestro de Agua Control de Roku
fr:Maître de la Maîtrise de l'Eau de Roku
nl:Roku's watersturings leraar
Category:A to Z
Category:Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game characters
Category:Characters
Category:Four Nations Summit & Technological Symposium
Category:Major characters (Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game)
Category:Minor characters
Category:Northern Water Tribe characters
Category:Teachers and instructors
Category:Water Tribe characters
Category:Waterbenders