Gaoling Crisis

The Gaoling CrisisAvatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game. Core Book, Version 1.0, 2022, p. 81. was a failed attempt by Commander Guan in an effort to reform the Earth Empire in 174 AG, following Kuvira's surrender. Using brainwashing techniques created by Dr. Sheng, Guan tried to rig the election of the State of Gaoling in his favour during the first step of the democratic movement in the Earth Kingdom. However, his attempts were toppled by Avatar Korra, her team, and other allies, including Kuvira herself.
== Prelude ==
Upon the assassination of Earth Queen Hou-Ting in 171 AG by the Red Lotus, the Earth Kingdom descended into a period of anarchy and chaos, and only by the intervention of Interim President Kuvira, the former captain of Zaofu's security team, was the country stabilized. However, Kuvira went rogue and established her own Earth Empire, thus becoming a military dictator.
She attempted to annex the United Republic and attacked Republic City, although she was defeated by Avatar Korra, and was forced to surrender, the Earth Empire seemingly dissolving itself while power was handed over to Earth King Wu, who ultimately decided to usher in a democratic movement, and chose the State of Gaoling to be the first province to undergo the transition.
== Crisis ==
Commander Guan, who led the State of Gaoling during Kuvira's regime, was distraught with his leader's surrender, and later became disillusioned with the Earth Empire's leadership, thus deciding to take control and reestablish it. Announcing to his forces that he would not abandon them like Kuvira, he decided to enter the upcoming elections for Governor of Gaoling.
Along with Dr. Sheng, he began secretly plotting to rig the election in his favour via brainwashing. Having learned of a potential resurgence of the Earth Empire with Guan's candidacy, Avatar Korra temporarily released and enlisted Kuvira to help her end the situation.
Once the former Earth Empire leader was in his custody, Guan confronted Kuvira, mocking her affiliation with Korra and asked her whether she was ready to serve the Earth Empire once again. Kuvira rejected his offer, telling him that she served no one, neither the Earth Empire nor the Avatar, and especially not him. Guan then told her that she left him with no choice, and metalbent the tent wall to reveal Asami Sato, Mako, and Bolin bound, gagged, and hooked up to brainwashing machinery, with Dr. Sheng standing behind. Kuvira demanded they be released at once, while Guan reminded her of the scientist and her close work with Kuvira's ex-fiancé, Baatar Jr.
Kuvira questioned what the machinery was for, and Guan informed her it was how the Earth Empire would regain power. Sheng recounted how after Baatar Jr. left to become her second-in-command, she began researching more effective methods to reeducate prisoners, and that she discovered how the Dai Li had maintained order in Ba Sing Se by enhanced indoctrination techniques. Kuvira retorted that she meant brainwashing, which Sheng affirmed, though she elaborated that the Dai Li's methods were unreliable and that she experimented with magnetic waves to alter the brain, successfully combining modern technology with ancient techniques to dramatically increase effectiveness. Kuvira was appalled by Guan and Sheng's methods and claimed she would never condone their actions had she known about them.
With Korra's friends brainwashed, she and Kuvira captured Asami and took her to Zaofu and, with the help of Baatar Jr., they were able to revert the effect and restore Asami's mind to normal. Meanwhile, Guan brainwashed King Wu to speed up the election so he could win.
When Kuvira pretended to volunteer to be brainwashed as a distraction, while Korra, Asami, and the Beifong family attacked the commander's base. Asami incapacitated Dr. Sheng with her electrified glove and, after an intense battle, Kuvira managed to defeat Guan. As she was about to kill him, Suyin Beifong approached, telling Kuvira that taking her former subordinate's life would not solve anything or bring her any peace. Kuvira accepted the truth of her adoptive mother's words, lowering her metal, but telling Guan that he was finished, and that the Earth Empire was over for good.
== Aftermath ==
The next morning, Korra and Asami undid the brainwashing effects on Mako, Bolin, Wu, and the citizens of Gaoling. The newly reinstated Mayor Rhee thanked Korra for her help in stopping Guan, to which Korra replied that Kuvira deserved credit for taking matters into her own hands, though she made clear that she would nevertheless take her back to Republic City. After hearing Rhee question if they should continue with the election after all that happened, Wu gave another speech to the people of Gaoling, where he admitted that he was so eager for change that he pressed on with the Gaoling election despite objections. Henceforth, he would not force his will upon the people as Guan did, but allow the states of the Earth Kingdom to proceed with the elections at their own pace, and continue to rule throughout the Earth Kingdom's transition to democracy.
The incident showed Kuvira that her actions have consequences, so when her trial resumed, she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to house arrest at the Beifong estate in Zaofu. Guan, however, was imprisoned for his actions during the Gaoling Crisis.
== References ==
Category:A to Z
Category:Earth Empire
Category:Earth Kingdom
Category:Events
Category:Legend of Korra