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{{Icons|Firebender|Fire Nation}}
:''This article is about the Fire Nation organization. For the chapter from ''The Shadow of Kyoshi'', see "[[The Fire Sage]]".''

{{Quote|fire|We are the Fire Sages, guardians of the temple of the Avatar.|The Fire Sages introducing themselves to [[Team Avatar]].<ref name="WS2">{{Cite episode|1|108}}</ref>}}

{{Organization infobox
| nation         = fire
| image          = Fire Sages.png
| leaders        = * [[Fire Lord]] <small>(formerly)</small>
* [[High Sage]]
| notablemembers = * [[Kaja]]<ref name="ESWF">[[Escape from the Spirit World#Avatar Roku Online Comic Book|''Escape from the Spirit World'', Avatar Roku Online Comic Book]] (fun fact)</ref>
* [[Nyahitha]]
* [[Shyu]]
* [[Great Sage]]
| founders        = 
| headquarters    = [[High Temple]]
| affiliation     = * [[Avatar]] <small>(formerly)</small>
* Fire Lord <small>(formerly)</small>
* [[Fire Nation]]
| purpose         = Religious and spiritual authority of the Fire Nation
| appearance      = "[[The Southern Air Temple]]"
| lastappearance  = ''[[The Shadow of Kyoshi]]''
}}The '''Fire Sages''' are an [[Organizations in the World of Avatar|organization]] that serves as the [[Spiritual beliefs in the World of Avatar|religious]] authority of the [[Fire Nation]] and is responsible for identifying the [[Avatar]]'s incarnation when they are born in the Fire Nation. Their additional duties include guarding the temple and conducting coronations, weddings, and funerals for the [[Fire Nation Royal Family|Royal Family]] and for those who seek their spiritual advice.

The primary headquarters of the Fire Sages is the [[High Temple]], located in the [[Fire Nation Capital]]. Below this building are the [[Dragonbone Catacombs]], which store the [[History of the World of Avatar|history]] of the Fire Nation and its Fire Lords.<ref name="AFL" /> The group also oversaw and maintained an important temple located on the remote [[Crescent Island]] prior to its destruction in the last months of the [[Hundred Year War]], as well as many other lesser temples housed by sages and monks across the Fire Nation.<ref name="Quickstart-7">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. Quickstart, Version 1.0, 2021, p. 7.</ref>

== History ==
=== Ancient history ===
Thousands of years prior to the Hundred Year War,<ref name="LS">[[The Lost Scrolls#The Lost Scrolls: Fire|''The Lost Scrolls: Fire'']], page 177 of ''The Lost Scrolls Collection.''</ref> a group of [[Bhanti]] sages ventured off their remote island into an archipelago<ref name="MDM">{{Cite web |url=https://mikedimartinostory.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/korra_207_premise_10-12-11.pdf|title = K207 "Beginnings: part 1", Premise|date = 2014-05-21|accessdate = May 24, 2014|format = PDF}}</ref> known as the "[[Fire Islands]]". Although these islands were engulfed in constant warfare,<ref name="SS2">{{Cite comic|SS2}}</ref> the Bhanti settled down and became known as the "Fire Sages".<ref name="LS" /> Eventually, a head sage assembled an army and [[Unification wars of the Fire Islands|defeated the warlords]] who ruled the Fire Islands. He unified the archipelago<ref name="SS2" /> and his high level of [[firebending]] and deep spiritual connection to fire earned him the moniker of [[Fire Lord]].<ref name="LS" />

The Fire Sages initially ruled the newly unified Fire Nation alongside the Fire Lord, who was considered to be first among equals. They formed a council and led the Fire Nation with a strong sense of spirituality,<ref name="dead 108-2">{{Cite nickold|108|2}}</ref> similar to the [[Air Nomads]]. Over time, however, control of the nation's [[Politics in the World of Avatar|political]] and governmental structures moved from the sages to the Fire Lord, eventually leading the Fire Lord to sever ties with the Fire Sages and become the autocratic leader of the Fire Nation.<ref name="LS" /> This resulted in the loss of the sages' political power, and their loyalty eventually turned from the Fire Lord to the Avatar, aiding him or her in their journey to become a fully realized Avatar.<ref name="WS2" />

=== Involvement in politics during the eras of Kuruk and Kyoshi ===
[[Nyahitha]] was a Bhanti Fire Sage who served as a spiritual guide to Avatar [[Kuruk]].<ref name="TSoK24">{{Cite Kyoshi|224}}</ref> He was a leader in the High Temple, but the powerful [[Saowon clan]] interfered with the selection process. The uncle of the [[Huazo|clan's leader]] became the new High Sage, while Nyahitha became a charlatan fortuneteller in [[Fire Fountain City|North Chung-Ling]].<ref name="TSoK12">{{Cite Kyoshi|212}}</ref>

The fact that the Saowon clan had influence over the Fire Nation's religious authority added to their power. Fire Lord [[Chaeryu]] sent his illegitimate son [[Chaejin]] to the Fire Sages after excluding him from the royal family. Following Chaeryu's death, Chaejin was invited to court as the High Temple's liaison, which put him in a position to rival his legitimate half-brother, [[Zoryu]].<ref name="TSoK8">{{Cite Kyoshi|208}}</ref> Taken together with the then-High Sage being of Saowon origin, this meant that the Fire Sages factually supported Chaejin during the [[Camellia-Peony War]].<ref name="TSoK11">{{Cite Kyoshi|211}}</ref> Following the end of the conflict and the Saowon clan's fall from grace, many of the sages became potential targets for extreme scrutiny.<ref name="CoreBook-38">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Core Book|Core Book]], Version 1.0, 2022, p. 38.</ref>

=== Slow downfall ===
[[File:Past Sages.png|thumb|left|200px|Fire Sages told [[Avatar]] [[Roku]] of his identity during his sixteenth birthday.]]

In 66 BG, during [[Roku]] and [[Sozin]]'s birthday party, the Fire Sages announced the identity of the next Avatar, who was revealed to be Roku.<ref name="AFL">{{Cite episode|1|306}}</ref> Fire Sage [[Kaja]] later assisted Avatar Roku in his mastering of the [[Avatar#Avatar State|Avatar State]], training with him for five months which lead to Roku eventually forcing himself into the Avatar State by using the [[summer solstice]] sun. Roku became stuck in the Avatar State and ended up destroying the upper half of the [[Crescent Island Fire Temple]] and causing the nearby volcano to erupt, but Kaja was able to help Roku out of the Avatar State in the same way that Roku had triggered it.<ref name="ESWF" /> The activation of the volcano triggered a period of seismic instability across the eastern Fire Islands, and the Fire Sages feared that it would be only a matter of time before the volcano erupted again.<ref name="CoreBook-46">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Core Book|Core Book]], Version 1.0, 2022, p. 46.</ref>

When the [[Dragon Hunts]] began, the Fire Sages struggled with the murder of ancient creatures who had such a deep connection to firebending. The hunts caused numerous ethical debates between the [[Society in the World of Avatar#Nobles 2|nobility]], who embraced the blood sport voraciously, and the cautious spiritual leaders of the Fire Nation.<ref name="CoreBook-47">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Core Book|Core Book]], Version 1.0, 2022, p. 47.</ref><ref name="CoreBook-49">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Core Book|Core Book]], Version 1.0, 2022, p. 49.</ref> During this time, one Fire Sage named Bu Kujian became aware of other sages and officers in the [[Military of the Fire Nation|Fire Nation military]] planning to seek out the [[Wan Shi Tong's Library|Spirit Library]] to ransack it for any ancient plans of ancient war machines and [[Weaponry in the World of Avatar|weapons]]. Bu Kujian tried to stop them subtly, but every effort failed, and he began to grow terribly worried about what would happen if the plans fell into his nation's military leadership. He hired a team to escort him to the library to try to get their first, planning to burn the most dangerous records and knowledge within, even if it brought down the wrath of [[Wan Shi Tong]].<ref name="WSTAG-15">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. ''[[Wan Shi Tong's Adventure Guide]]'', Version 1.0, 2022, p. 15.</ref>

After Avatar Roku died, Fire Lord Sozin began the Hundred Year War with an [[Air Nomad Genocide|attack]] on the Air Nomads. The Fire Lord set forth a decree that anyone who helped the Avatar would be considered a traitor to the Fire Nation and dealt with accordingly. Because of this, the Fire Sages were ordered to switch their allegiance to the Fire Lord. Some, such as [[Shyu]]'s father, resisted and were executed for continuing to profess loyalty to the Avatar.<ref name="AEWS2">[[Avatar Extras (Book One: Water)#.22Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku.22|''Avatar Extras'' for "Winter Solstice, Part 2: Avatar Roku"]] on Nicktoons Network.</ref>

Over time, as the Avatar failed to reappear, most sages lost faith that the Avatar would return and gradually fell completely under the control of the imperial government. By the time of Fire Lord [[Azulon]]'s reign, the sages had become little more than aging remnants of a time where spirituality was placed before military might.<ref name="WS2" /> By Azulon's late reign, some sages were so oblivious to the wider [[Earth|world]] that they completely believed the Fire Nation's [[Propaganda in the World of Avatar|propaganda]]. Other sages knew the truth about the Fire Nation's imperialistic conquests and brutal war crimes thanks to the artifacts and documents they guarded. However, most well-informed sages actually considered it their duty to "protect" other citizens from this truth to ensure the government's ability to maintain total control of the country.<ref name="Quickstart-30">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. Quickstart, Version 1.0, 2021, p. 30.</ref>

Despite these developments, Azulon maintained a little spirituality, thus allowing the Fire Sages to continue to perform their religious services. Besides regular activities like presiding over weddings, the sages sometimes even advised the Fire Lord in spiritual affairs and the arranging of the Fire Princes' marriages.<ref name="WS2" /> Their prediction that pairing the Avatar's granddaughter with Azulon's son would yield a powerful bloodline even led to the marriage of Prince [[Ozai]] and [[Ursa]].<ref name="S1">{{Cite comic|S1}}</ref> However, when [[Zuko]] was born to the Fire Prince, they were not sure if he was a bender at all, as he lacked the "spark in [his] eyes". Subsequently, Ozai planned to cast his firstborn over the palace wall, and the infant was only saved because the sages and Ursa came to his rescue.<ref name="S2">{{Cite comic|S2}}</ref>

=== Fire Lord Ozai's reign ===
The Fire Sages officiated the funeral of Fire Lord Azulon in 95 AG, with the High Sage subsequently crowning Ozai as Fire Lord. Unfortunately for the sages, Ozai was only interested in power, and unlike his father, he was not in the least spiritual. Following his coronation, they lost all their remaining power and influence.<ref name="WS2" /><ref name="SAT">{{Cite episode|1|103}}</ref><ref name="CoreBook-24">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Core Book|Core Book]], Version 1.0, 2022, p. 24.</ref>

By the time of [[Aang]]'s reemergence from the iceberg, the Fire Sages had turned completely away from their original purpose. They learned of the Avatar's return when Aang's triggering of the Avatar State in the [[Southern Air Temple]] caused various statues and murals within Avatar Temples around the world to become supernaturally illuminated, and immediately relayed the news to Fire Lord [[Ozai]].<ref name="WS2" />

[[File:Fire Sages arrested.png|thumb|right|200px|The Fire Sages were arrested by [[Zhao]] for letting the [[Avatar]] escape.]]

Later, when Aang and his [[Team Avatar|friends]] tried to enter the shrine on Crescent Island, the five sages there confronted Aang and attempted to prevent him from speaking with Avatar Roku, chasing the three around the entire temple. However, one sage, Shyu, had remained loyal to the Avatar. He betrayed his associates and helped the three trick the four other sages into opening the doors of the sanctuary that held Roku's statue. Once inside, Aang met with Avatar Roku and together, they destroyed the temple for the sages' betrayal of the previous Avatar. Afterward, all five sages were blamed by [[Military ranks in the World of Avatar#Commander|Commander]] [[Zhao]] for the upsetting failure and arrested.<ref name="WS2" />

The Fire Sages that resided in the capital were not purged, however, and continued to serve their functions for the Royal Family. After Ozai was made [[Phoenix King]], the sages set out to coronate [[Azula]] as the next Fire Lord but were interrupted by the arrival of Zuko and [[Katara]].<ref name="SC3">{{Cite episode|1|320}}</ref> Instead of finishing the coronation, they watched as Azula and Zuko fought an [[Comet-Enhanced Agni Kai|Agni Kai]] for the crown. Afterward, the sages conducted Zuko's coronation as Fire Lord.<ref name="SC4">{{Cite episode|1|321}}</ref>

=== Reformation ===
Following the Hundred Year War, Fire Lord Zuko reformed the country to steer it away from its imperialistic past. Accordingly, he placed the traditionalist Shyu into the position of Great Sage of the High Temple, allowing the Fire Sages to regain their independence from the Fire Nation government.<ref name="SS2" />

== Known members ==
* [[Bai]]
* Bu Kujian<ref name="WSTAG-15" />
* [[Chaejin]] - [[High Temple]]'s liaison
* [[Kaja]]
* [[Niuan]]
* [[Nyahitha]]
* [[Shyu]] - Great Sage
* The [[Great Sage]]
* Uncle of Lady [[Huazo]] - [[High Sage]]

== Trivia ==
{{Imagelink}}

* At least for the sages on Crescent Island, some of their jobs are to watch over the sanctuary, protect it from invaders, and gather what knowledge they can about the Avatar.<ref name="dead 108-2" /><ref name="LS2">[[The Lost Scrolls#The Lost Scrolls: Fire|''The Lost Scrolls: Fire'']], pages 176 and 177 of ''The Lost Scrolls Collection.''</ref>
* During funerals, at least some Fire Sages wear white clothes instead of their usual red garments.<ref name="ZA">{{Cite episode|1|207}}</ref> In China, white is the color of mourning and sadness.

== References ==
{{Scroll|{{Reflist}}}}

== See also ==
* [[Earth Sages]]
* [[Fire Nation]]
* [[Organizations in the World of Avatar]]

[[de:Feuerweisen]]
[[es:Sabios del Fuego]]
[[fr:Sages du Feu]]
[[nl:Vuurwijzen]]
[[pl:Mędrcy Ognia]]
[[pt-br:Sábios do Fogo]]
[[ru:Мудрецы Огня]]

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