Air Nation

> "Even despite the generations being born, us breeding like rabbits, there still aren’t many of us, and the Air Acolytes still outnumber us one to three. It’s going to take many, many years - if ever - to even replicate what we had before... well, *before.* It’ll never be the same again." - Nico Tshomo
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## Physical Information

### Location

Mountain and island ranges across the globe

## Government

### Form of government

* Unitary directorial ecclesiocracy (formerly)
* Unitary ecclesiocracy (As the Air Nation)

### Head of state

* Four Councils of Elders
* Tenzin (formerly, for the Air Nation)

### Religious authority

* Airbending masters
* Four Councils of Elders

### Currency

None

**Air Nomads** is the collective term for the monastic order of men and women who practice the discipline of airbending and the pacifistic ethics of their theocratic society. One of the four nations, the Air Nomads are wanderers by definition, but have four air temples, one located at each corner of the globe, found atop mountain ranges and under cliffs, in the northern Earth Kingdom and on three remote islands, all of which are hard for outsiders to reach. Unlike the other nations, those born to the Air Nomads were, without any seen exception, all benders due to the high level of spirituality of their people.

Of those that suffered because of Fire Lord Sozin's ambitions, none were harmed more than the Air Nomads. The Air Nomad Genocide saw their entire population nearly obliterated, with what few airbenders remained being hunted down. The Airbenders became nearly extinct, with Avatar Aang as the sole survivor. Aang and the Air Acolytes kept the culture or the Air Nomads alive, and their was much excitement when Tenzin was born; the first new airbender to be brought into the world in over a hundred years. He went on to have several children with his wife Pema.

Everything changed during the Harmonic Convergence, when new airbenders suddenly started appearing all throughout the world. Tenzin and the Air Acolytes passed on the culture and teachings of the Air Nomads of old to this new generation of Airbenders, and thus, the Air Nomads were reborn.

## History

#### Post-Harmonic Convergence

With help from the Fire Nation, the Air Nation restored the Air Temples, including the Northern Air Temple which had previously been destroyed by the Red Lotus. It was after the insurrection of the Red Lotus, that Tenzin decided that the Air Nation would roam the world and help people of all nations to stop corruption and disorder. Later dubbed “The Peacekeepers”, the Air Nation now takes a more active role in shaping the world.

### Modern Day

In the modern day, The new Airbenders brought new cultures and customs with them, diversifying the airbender way of life. Now a combination of both bending and non-bending peoples (The Air Acolytes), the Air Nation celebrates everyone's unique talents and abilities. While most choose to hold true to the old ways, avoiding meat, shaving their heads, wearing traditional attire, etc, these customs are no longer required or strictly enforced. This has given rise to a new, smaller group of airbenders called “The Free Airbenders”. The Free Airbenders belong to no temple and choose to live normal lives. Nevertheless, the invitation to learn and hone their airbending abilities remains open at any of the Temples throughout the world. A Free Airbender can even earn their Mastery Tattoos if they so choose.

For those who reside in the Air Temples, the Airbenders have taken to replicating the way of life before the genocide with a modern twist, based on the new contempoary way of life and the vows taken as part of the Air Nation. Those being taught live, work, learn and reside in the Air Temples but will also travel across the world on nomadic, sightseeing ventures or as part of voluntary peacekeeping duties.

## Culture

The Air Nation, small as it is, has become influential throughout the world. The Air Nation plays a major role in humanitarian efforts and strongly advocate for peace and diplomacy. The Peacekeepers in particular, actively shape the world through their efforts, whether through acts of diplomacy, or protecting those that cannot protect themselves. Many of the World's Leaders seek the wisdom of the Air Nomads.

### Education

Where education is concerned, the entire community takes part in educating the children, bending and non-bending alike. Amongst the Air Acolytes, there are many Academics that take up the role of teaching Math, Science, Literature, History, etc. Foreign Academics who come and visit the Air Temples are also sometimes invited to share their knowledge and experiences. Along with the traditional subjects, Airbenders are also taught philosophy, geography and social studies. Their physical education is included within the curriculum as Airbending training; these classes always occur at least once a day, and for longer hours once a week (half a day for younger students, a full day for older students).

There are also optional subjects available for younger students, with a large variety available and students recommended to pick three to study within each year of their education. These optional subjects are intended to broaden the mind, enhance the spirit and contribue towards Airbending training. These subjects include speech & debate, environmental science, various arts such as painting or architecture, dancing, drama and acting, music practice, creative writing and meditation.

Homework is rarely given out, as the Air Nomads believe spare time should be dedicated for free time or their own personal Airbending or spiritual training. Only those falling behind on classes or in trouble are handed homework.

### Work

As a unitary society that does not rely on currency, 'jobs' are not delegated to Air Nomads but are rather voluntarily undertaken as part of keeping the temple running. Air Nomads may alternate between positions or will remain in one. Many Airbenders will become instructors, teaching the younger generation the techniques and spiritual guidance they need to become master Airbenders. Some will take up political positions within the temple as elders, advisors or ambassadors between allied nations.

Other jobs include gardeners, medical specalists, tradesmen between other nations or nearby settlements, blacksmiths, leatherworkers, woodworkers, chefs, bison and lemur keepers, specialised academics and entertainers.

Others may instead became Peacekeepers, dedicated to travelling the world to resolve societal or political conflicts.

### Mastery Annointment

#### Selection

The signature blue arrow tattoos found on Airbenders are given to those who have mastered all thirty-six tiers of Airbending (or, alternatively, thirty-five plus the invention of a new Airbending move). In order to be selected to become an Airbending Master, an Airbender must come before the Council of Elders select to their temple. These are a select group of Airbending masters in the temple, designated to be the most powerful and most wise, who oversee all functions of their temple. This begins the first step in the process: The Mastery Selection.

This Selection's method has always varied from test to test, each unique to the person entering the selection, but involves proof of all thirty-six tiers (or an Airbending move) being revealed to prove their mastery at Airbending. This may be done through various ways - some Elders will be have already percieved the entree's mastering of the tiers throughout the years, and others will put the entree through a test to demonstrate it. Additionally, many Elders will put them through an aptitude test to prove their heart still lies within the ideals of the Air Nomads.

Once the Airbender has passed, they will be anoited a Master - although it is not formally recognised until their ceremony. Those who fail are welcome to try again, tradtionally at the beginning of the next season.

#### Tattoos

The process of gaining tattoos is a delicate process. Once they have passed the Selection, a Ceremony to celebrate their appointment will usually take place the following day. Three hours before the Ceremony, the selected Airbender will be taken into a seperate chamber to recieve their tattoos. The process begins with the shaving of the head, if it is not shaved already. Despite the technology present today that allow easier methods of tattooing, Airbenders mostly stick to a traditional pin-prick method. Up to four Airbender Masters, including one close to the Airbender, will assist in the process.

This process is noted to be extremely painful, thus requires a strong will to pass through it. Options are available to those who would prefer to gain their tattoos over a longer process of several days - however, this comes with a disadvantage. By tradition, only those assisting are permitted to see the Airbender during the tattoo process and thus are isolated until the Ceremony begins - this is because the Airbenders see the appointment of Mastery as a 'rebirth', allowing others to only see them now reborn as a powerful Master.

#### The Ceremony

The Ceremony is regarded as the most important section of becoming an Airbending Master. The process takes place in the main hall of the temple. The audience holds other members of the temple, whilst friends and family stand in the wings of the stage. Placed at the rear are Air Nomads part of that Airbenders class who have the process of bending incense.

The Airbender in question is led to the main center of the stage wearing yellow robes and a hood, who will kneel before the audience. A selected Airbending master, typically either their parent or primary tutor, will lead the ceremony with a speech signifying the skills and aptitude of the Airbender, highlighting their achievements, and remarking on the importance of Airbenders and Air Nomads in that society.

Finally, the hood is pulled back to reveal the Airbender's new tattoos. The Airbender will unfasten their cloak and rise; meanwhile, the Air Nomad classmates behind the Airbender will bend smoke from incense burning behind them in a choregraphed looping pattern and circle around the stage to hit metal wind chimes encompassing the area.

The Ceremony is followed by celebration in the form of drinking, eating, socialising and dancing.

### Weddings & Funerals

Weddings and funerals in Air Nomad culture are considered sacred and adhere to traditions dating back to the Air Nomads before the genocide. Whilst weddings are considered celebrations of love blossoming between two or more individuals, funerals are considered a celebration of life and the process of transmigration of spirits.

Weddings are a traditional affair that involve celebration and union between the two families, although in modern day most weddings adhere to the common 'white wedding'. Similar to the mastery ceremony annoitment, the married couple will have wind spun around them upon their marriage and drawn into wind chimes. Afterwards, there will be many performances made in honour of the wedding couple in celebration, such as Airbending dances, group ribbon dances and music. Air Nomad wedding feasts are noted to be some of the best in the world, as they will provide plentiful foods to last all night.

Funerals are typically conducted in one of two affairs, dependent on the preference of the deceased and/or their family. The most common is colliqioualy known as a **wind funeral.** The body of the deceased is directly cremated, either by an Elder of the deceased's temple or by a family member. In a ceremony with the rest of the temple, family and friends, the deceased ashes are then scattered at the peak of their home temple into the wind, so that their spirit may live on in the Spirit World and on the wind itself. Alternatively, some more traditional Air Nomads may instead be put through a **sky burial**, in which the deceased's corpse is laid to rest upon a natural environment, typically a mountainside, to decompose and be exposed to the elements or eaten by scavengers. Sometimes the remains will be collected afterwards for a burial elsewhere. This has fallen out of popularity with time. Regardless, a marking is usually placed somewhere in the temple, nearby mountains or the deceased's personal choice as a shrine to the deceased. Although gravestones in common, many Air Nomads request a tree to be planted on their site.

### Same-Sex Relationships

The Air Nation has been, is, and likely will always be completely accepting of same-sex relationships. This is owed to their very culture, the core of which is freedom. Their belief that all people should be equal with no divisions between them in society, has led them to openly embrace all forms of consensual love.

## Notable Places

* Air Nation Military Encampment
* Air Temple Island
* Caeli Temple
* Eastern Air Temple
* Mt. Kalish
* Northern Air Temple
* Southern Air Temple
* Western Air Temple

## Notable Figures

* Nico Tshomo
* Hano
* Monk Batso
* Raalhaan
* Sonam
* Kenzo

## Trivia

* The Air Nomad culture closely resembles that of Hindu priests and Tibetan monks.