View source for Avatar:Epilogue (The Reckoning of Roku)

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Epilogue}}
{{Icons|real}}
:''This article is about the epilogue of ''The Reckoning of Roku''. For other similar uses, see [[Epilogue]].''

{{Chapter infobox
| image   = 
| title   = Epilogue
| nation  = fire
| novel   = 5
| author  = [[Randy Ribay]]
| chapter = Epilogue
| words   = 
| start   = 351
| stop    = 355
| prev    = "Ever-Shifting Currents"
| next    = End novel
}}The '''epilogue''' is the closing section of ''[[The Reckoning of Roku]]''.

== Overview ==
''Returning to Lambak Island to oversee his new mining and weapons development operation, Sozin plots his next moves.''

== Synopsis ==
One year after the destruction of the Sacred Cave on Lambak Island, [[Sozin]] returns to the island with [[Kozaru]] and [[Dalisay]]. Standing at the crater where the cave was previously located, he thankfully muses that the truth of his near-death at [[Ulo]]'s hands has remained generally unknown. Instead, he had successfully spread [[Propaganda in the World of Avatar|propaganda]] in the [[Fire Nation]], making most people believe that he had saved [[Avatar]] [[Roku]] from a "[[Outer Islands Rebellions|separatist]] [[Tribal chief|chieftain]]", earning great popularity and even power. He continues to ponder how Dalisay might be clever enough to have figured out the truth, yet would not tell anyone due to her new position.

Sozin reflects that Dalisay's new position is linked to Lambak Island's new status, as Sozin had kept his promise to Roku to ensure the [[Lambak clan]]'s [[Politics in the World of Avatar|political]] autonomy. The clan and its island had been recognized as a "special region" of the Fire Nation after Sozin had managed to convince his father, [[Fire Lord]] [[Taiso]], using his new popularity among Fire Nationals. Sozin then turns to Dalisay, warning her that his presence be better worth it. Below them, workers are quarrying and moving machinery, as the [[Heir to the Fire Lord|prince]] has initiated a mining operations in cooperation with the native Lambak clan. As Kozaru expresses her continued lack of understanding over the local operation, Dalisay again explains that she reverse-engineered [[Malaya]]'s dagger and discovered that the [[Spirit World|spirit]]-infused metals of Lambak Island were both stronger and lighter than regular minerals, potentially providing them with a much-boosted metals industry.

Hearing Dalisay's words, Sozin muses that this was not why he had sought Lambak Island, yet presented new, unique opportunities to strengthen the Fire Nation and his position. In contrast to his previous obsession with [[Bending arts|enhanced bending]], Sozin increasingly develops different ways to grow his power, notably including the [[Science in the World of Avatar|sciences]] and [[Economy in the World of Avatar|economy]]. Turning to Dalisay, the prince reminds her that the entire operation must remain secretive; even Taiso falsely believes that they are just mining coal on Lambak Island. After ignoring Dalisay's attempt to emphasizing her role in discovering the local ores' special attributes, he loudly warned his comrades over the potential problems which could arise if the [[Earth Kingdom]]'s [[Earthbending|earthbenders]] learned about spirit-infused metals. Furthermore, the prince thinks about his father potentially squandering the metals' advantages, a fear which motivates him to keep Taiso in the dark as well. His thoughts wander as the prince is beginning to realize that he has a very different vision for the Fire Nation than his father.

Kozaru and Dalisay grow nervous, causing Sozin to return to the present. Kozaru then reveals that her informants in the Earth kingdom have learned about the [[Western Kingdom Trading Company]]'s researchers [[Yuming and Qixia]] and their mercenaries had been pardoned by [[Monarch of Omashu|Queen]] [[Guo Xun]] of [[Omashu]]. They had seemingly shown the queen something, causing her to drop any charges over their violation of Fire Nation territory during the [[Lambak Island conflict]]. Sozin immediately realizes that the Western Kingdom Trading Company members had also understood the importance of Lambak Island's spirit-infused ore, gaining their pardons by telling Guo Xun about their discovery. The prince gets annoyed, thinking how this information should have been delivered to him by [[Ta Min]] who had been appointed as a diplomat in Omashu to spy on Guo Xun. Yet Ta Min had rarely sent any information to Sozin, not delivering any new messages in the last weeks.

Once again, Sozin's thoughts wander, and he angrily thinks about Roku being responsible for the Western Kingdom Trading Company members being allowed to return to the Earth Kingdom. The prince blames Roku's seemingly misplaced mercy and changing ideology on the [[Air Nomads]]' devious influence. At the young Avatar's urging, Sozin had even allowed the building of the [[Fire & Air Center of Learning]] in the [[Fire Nation Capital]], though he happily notes that the institute struggles to attract attention and would probably fail within a short while. Saddened, Sozin thinks that his friendship with Roku might be over due to Roku moving away from his Fire Nation identity.

Dalisay asks about their next moves, whereupon Sozin watches three nearby birds being shot by local hunters for his next dinner. He then orders his followers to find more sources of spirit-infused ore.<ref name="TRoRE">{{Cite Roku|10E}}</ref>

== Production notes ==
=== Series continuity ===
* The ore of Lambak Island, previously noted as being unusual,<ref name="TRoR28">{{Cite Roku|128}}</ref> is revealed to be spirit-infused and possess special qualities.
* In accordance with Roku's demands in "Leverage",<ref name="TRoR51">{{Cite Roku|151}}</ref> Lambak Island has been granted autonomy by the Fire Nation. In reality, however, Sozin has turned the island into a private fiefdom for a mining and weapons development operation under Dalisay.
* Dalisay managed to reverse-engineer the dagger which she received from Malaya in "The Dirt-Eaters".<ref name="TRoR41">{{Cite Roku|141}}</ref>
* Ta Min is becoming an unreliable agent for Sozin, signaling her future shift of loyalty to Roku.<ref name="dead 306-4">{{Cite nickold|306|4}}</ref><ref name="AFL">{{Cite episode|1|306}}</ref>
* Sozin is becoming more interested in scientific and industrial advances to strengthen the Fire Nation, hinting at the mass industrialization and great technological advances of his later reign.<ref name="AFL" />
* Sozin increasingly questions his friendship with Roku and blames the Air Nomads for corrupting him, setting up his later rivalry with the Avatar and his anti-Air Nomad policies.<ref name="AFL" /> His developing fear of the Air Nomad culture's "corrupting" influences may also contribute to Sozin later investing great energy in stamping out an Air Nomad presence inside the Fire Nation.<ref name="CoreBook-44">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Quickstart|Quickstart]], Version 1.0, 2021, p. 44.</ref><ref name="CoreBook-50">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Core Book|Core Book]], Version 1.0, 2022, p. 50.</ref>
* First mentioned in ''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]'',<ref name="CoreBook-46">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Quickstart|Quickstart]], Version 1.0, 2021, p. 46.</ref> the Fire & Air Center of Learning is revealed to have been set up in response to Roku's urgings for more international cooperation after the Lambak Island conflict. Sozin completely fails to predict the center's development in this chapter, as it would later grow very influential and popular.<ref name="CoreBook-46" /><ref name="CoreBook-47">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Quickstart|Quickstart]], Version 1.0, 2021, p. 47.</ref>
* Sozin falsely spread the propagandistic claim that he saved Avatar Roku's life from Ulo, even though it happened the other way around, as seen in "That Near-Miss With Destiny",<ref name="TRoR46">{{Cite Roku|146}}</ref> "Fading Warmth",<ref name="TRoR47">{{Cite Roku|147}}</ref> and "Two Wicks".<ref name="TRoR48">{{Cite Roku|148}}</ref>

=== Character revelations ===
* Dalisay is the new head of Sozin's secret mining and weapons development operations. She is also growing more and more confident to the annoyance of Sozin.
* Ta Min has become Sozin's diplomat and spy in Omashu.
* The Western Kingdom Trading Company members involved in the Lambak Island conflict are revealed to have been pardoned by Queen Guo Xun of Omashu.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Real world]]
[[Category:The Reckoning of Roku chapters]]
[[Category:Sozin POV chapters]]