Avatar:Fifth Nation raid on Jasmine Island
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Template:Battle infoboxAround the late 290s BG, a Fifth Nation pirate fleet launched a raid on Jasmine Island, an independent island-state. The corsairs were divided in their aims: Their main commander, Pirate Queen Tagaka, sought resources to rebuild the weakened Fifth Nation, whereas her second-in-command Erchtei wanted to become the island's ruler. Ultimately, the local Jasmine Island protectors managed to fend off the attack with the aid of a group of Fire Nationals led by Hei-Ran.
Background
In 296 BG, the powerful Fifth Nation, a pirate people which had existed for generations, suffered a catastrophic defeat at the hands of a coalition led by Yun and supported by Avatar Kyoshi. The Fifth Nation's leader Tagaka was captured and imprisoned, the corsair fleet largely destroyed,[1][2] and the survivors split into many rival factions.[3][4] Tagaka eventually managed to escape from prison and subsequently attempted to rebuild her pirate nation. Though many corsairs remained loyal to her, others had begun to doubt her leadership.[4][5] Among the latter was Erchtei who was forced by his crew to once again pledge loyalty to Tagaka, yet actually sought to create his own power base.[5] Ultimately, Tagaka managed to only rally a small splinter fleet to her cause; hoping to revive her fortunes, she subsequently sought easy targets to plunder.[4][6][7]
The pirates eventually turned their attention to Jasmine Island, a lightly populated, independent, and somewhat prosperous island.[8] As a result of its rather isolated position, the island had historically relied on an informal security forces (known as "protectors") and armed Southern Water Tribe merchants to defend itself; both groups were led by Chidaw by the 290s BG.[7] However, one of the protectors –Mirlon– learned of the Fifth Nation's plans and opted to betray his home. In return for money, Mirlon provided Erchtei with crucial information on Jasmine Island's defenses. Thus, the corsairs set out for a large raid; unbeknownst to his comrades, Erchtei had a grander vision, as he hoped to conquer Jasmine Island to become its ruler in the Fifth Nation's name instead of merely plundering it.[5][9]
As the pirates moved toward the island, they chanced upon a large but isolated Fire Nation Navy warship. In a daring operation, Tagaka led her forces to capture the vessel, providing her fleet with a major asset. In the proccess, the pirates also captured a inventor named Tei Eesoni who had worked on the warship. Ignorant of the woman's true worth, Tagaka ordered her to act as an engineer for the warship's steam engine. When word of the ship's loss reached the Fire Nation, its government immediately organized a rescue mission as Tei was one of her country's most important researchers. The operation was led by Hei-Ran, a powerful firebending master who took a fast ship with a small crew to follow the Fifth Nation splinter fleet.[9]
History
As Tagaka's fleet neared Jasmine Island, Hei-Ran's vessel caught up with the corsairs and launched an immediate attack.[10][11] As a naval battle erupted, the fighting was witnessed by a group of protectors who were in a nearby fishing boat, namely Ara, Joh, Fu Karaq, Revik, and Yarru. Realizing that these were natives, Hei-Ran warned them of the pirates' intention and asked them to raise alarm at home. As a result, the Fifth Nation no longer had the element of surprise on its side.[11][12] Even as Hei-Ran and her followers continued to attack the large pirate warship, and contingent of smaller corsair ships under Erchtei raced toward Jasmine Island's coast. By the time this first wave landed, the protectors had organized an ad hoc defense. After a short battle, the pirates' initial landing party retreated.[10][11]
After this small victory, the protectors tried to coordinate their next action with Hei-Ran's Fire Nationals who revealed that they were seeking to rescue kidnapped Tei Eesoni from the pirates. Together, the local fighters and Hei-Ran worked out a plan to defeat the next pirate attack as well as save Tei: It was agreed that one group would sneak onto the warship to free Tei and possibly disable it (thereby weakening the invaders), while the main force of the defenders blunted the pirates' second landing.[6] The following battle was hard-fought, and the corsairs split into multiple contingents as they landed. However, the local defenders were aided by the fact that Erchtei was acting increasingly autonomous, seeking to gain power for himself and disregarding Tagaka's orders. The locals also discovered Mirlon among the invaders, thus revealing his treachery.[10][13][14] At the island's main port, the defenses were led by Foreperson Leela who organized the local dockworkers and shipwrights into an ad hoc militia. In contrast, most of the island's food farmers and fishers under Hue Li focused on just defending their own homes.[10][15]
Ultimately, the islanders and Fire Nationals prevailed, rescuing Tei and defeating Tagaka as well as Erchtei. Ara, Joh, Fu Karaq, Revik, and Yarru played a major role in securing this victory.[13][14] While the pirate leaders managed to escape, many other corsairs were captured.[16]
Aftermath
Following the raid, discussions arose about what to do with the captured pirates. Furthermore, disputes arose over Tei's fate, as the inventor unexpectedly declared her intention to stay on Jasmine Island. Ara, Joh, Fu Karaq, Revik, and Yarru helped to solve these disputes.[10][17] The Fifth Nation raid had a major impact on Jasmine Island's history, as the local leadership recognized that its long-held traditions and defenses no longer adequately protected the small state. This caused the islanders to reorient themselves. Avatar Kyoshi subsequently crafted a treaty between Jasmine Island at the Earth Kingdom, which ensured that the island would become the latter's protectorate while retaining its independence.[18][19] Though the treaty initially worked well, it later caused its own problems, most notably Magistrate Emerald's conspiracy in the 1st century BG.[18]
Meanwhile, Tagaka continued her efforts to restore the Fifth Nation. Though the attack on Jasmine Island had failed, this defeat was largely attributed to Erchtei's self-serving actions, keeping the pirate queen's reputation intact. Regardless, Tagaka's project did not succeed and the Fifth Nation gradually faded away,[3][20] though some of its descendants continued to honor its traditions for centuries.[20][21]
Disgraced by his failures, Erchtei retired from piracy and settled in the Fire Nation, but he and his family remained dishonored due to the failure of the raid. His clan thus developed a deep self-hatred as well as a fierce grudge against Jasmine Island.[16][22] In the late Hundred Year War, his distant descendant Yueya, an admiral in the Fire Navy, exploited her position to take bloody revenge on the Jasmine Islanders in a campaign subsequently dubbed "The Devastation".[23]