Ashoona

:This article is about the Zongdu of Port Tuugaq. For the food vendor, see Ashuna.
Ashoona was a shang merchant selected as Zongdu of Port Tuugaq who served during the adolescence of Avatar Yangchen.
== History ==
Ashoona had been serving as zongdu for some time by year 17 of the era of Yangchen, being scheduled to retire soon by that year. In the convocation between zongdus and world leaders in year 16 of the era of Yangchen, Ashoona played Sparrowbones with Iwashi, and was trounced so badly that he refused to touch a tile afterward.
When Yangchen first came to Port Tuugaq, Ashoona had been away in Agna Qel'a for a constitutional that had lasted the better half of a year. She decided that he was unlikely to be a player in the political game around the Unanimity crisis, instead worrying about Chaisee or Henshe's agents in the city.
Around six months after Yangchen came to Port Tuugaq, Ashoona arrived in Taku for the yearly convocation just after recovering from a lingering illness. When Yangchen arrived at the council hall, Ashoona was sitting in a place of prominence with Iwashi and Chaisee, and raised a hand in greeting to the Avatar.
When the day's meeting reached a midway lull, Ashoona began to forget details about certain clauses, with Chaisee snapping at him to make a "yea" or "nay" vote. Ashoona stated that he had lost track of the contract, and asked to start the contract over. When the merchants in the hall began to groan, Yangchen's companion, "Master Lio", began to speak unprompted to the zongdu, informing Ashoona that there was a three in ten chance of a tremendous risk, weighed against a seven in ten chance of a paltry reward, recounting the specific number of ingots Ashoona would lose or gain. Ashoona asked if Lio had kept a running tally, to which he stated that he had only kept a mental record of his calculations. Iwashi's accountants verified Lio's figures, and the Avatar's companion bowed deeply before Ashoona, apologizing for his impertinence, while stating that he did not want a business partner mistakenly enter a poor deal. He also made an intentional reference to Sparrowbones as he did so, intentionally attracting the attention of Iwashi. Ashoona offered his thanks to Lio, appreciating his honesty.
After a temporary adjournment, the convocation reconvened in the council hall. When Yangchen entered the hall once more, Ashoona watched a thin trickle of medicinal tea drip from a silver strainer into his cup, he called out to the Avatar, asking her where her companion was. Yangchen stilled for a short amount of time, believing for a brief moment that he was speaking about Nujian, before realizing that Ashoona was talking about Kavik. Yangchen explained that Lio would not be joining them, as he was reconciling discrepancies in their books. Ashoona served as an oblivious smiling barrier between Yangchen and Chaisee, and blocked their line of sight to one another. He stated that the day's agenda was light on business, as they would be preparing for ratification from the Earth King, the Fire Lord, and the Chief of the Water Tribes.
The convocation stopped discussing the details of ratification when Jujinta delivered a message to one of Iwashi's attendants. When Yangchen was delivered the note, she sent it into the air and burnt it, causing members of the assembly to gasp in surprise. Yangchen struggled to explain herself, but Chaisee stated that the Avatar had been working too hard, and called for a morning recess, confusing Ashoona. As Iwashi and the assembly began to file out of the building, Ashoona glanced back between Yangchen and Chaisee. While he sensed the tension in the air, he followed his instincts, and realized that pursuing the matter was not worth the effort. He said farewell to the others before bowing and exiting the hall with the remaining members of his retinue.
When Yangchen confronted Chaisee in Iwashi's parlor, she was able to find and defeat Thapa, and permanently eliminated the threat of Unanimity. With Yangchen revealing more of the truth about Unanimity to Earth King Feishan, she began to make new demands. Instead of choosing to immediately dissolve the shang system, she asked for control of all shang cities, intending to be the one holding the reins of power in order to let them go. While Ashoona was not a traitorous conspirator like Chaisee or Henshe, and neither was he deadweight like Iwashi, she pointed out that Ashoona would retire soon, justifying her taking over Port Tuugaq.
== Physical description ==
Ashoona was bundled in furs in Taku in spite of the heat, due to his health problems. He smelled faintly of medicine plasters.
== Appearances ==
=== Chronicles of the Avatar ===
==== The Legacy of Yangchen ====
== References ==
de:Ashoona
Category:A to Z
Category:Characters
Category:Merchants and businesspeople
Category:Minor characters (Yangchen novels)
Category:Neutral characters
Category:Shang merchants
Category:Yangchen novels characters