Avatar:Kiwaq
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"All the wealth in this hideout was acquired by my ancestors. Earned by their blades, not by blind obedience to pompous lords and ladies. Why toil away in the dirt, living under the tyranny of laws when you could just take whatever you want from whoever you want?"
— Kiwaq to some adventurers.[1]
Kiwaq was a waterbender pirate who allegedly descended from the Fifth Nation.[2] By winter of 99 AG, she had embarked on a quest to seek the treasures of her ancestors, considering them her birthright.[1]
History
Early life and starting her quest
Kiwaq claimed that she was descended from Fifth Nation pirates[2] who built the Icebound Labyrinth as a hideout in the South Pole region centuries before the Hundred Year War.[1] However, she lived her life as an exile, lacking a home and growing up on the high seas around the Earth Kingdom.[6][7] Her family were outlaws and relatively poor; Kiwaq thus became accustomed to a criminal lifestyle from an early age, helping her relatives to run scams and stealing food to survive. Her family also often retold tales of their claimed ancestry.[5] Over time, Kiwaq became proud of living a life free from the "tyranny of laws" and the "blind obedience to lords and ladies".[1] At one point, Kiwaq and her crew cornered the rival pirate group of Boru "the Brown". After boarding Boru's ship, the waterbender and her followers killed most of their rivals, forcing the remainder to join them. Only three of the enemy crew, including Boru, escaped.[2]
Eventually, Kiwaq and a group of other pirates were hired by an Earth Kingdom archaeologist called Wen, who wished to retrieve a golden lion turtle statue from the labyrinth that had been stolen by Kiwaq's ancestors centuries beforehand. Kiwaq and her allies pretended to help Wen, but turned on them and left the archaeologist alone. The pirates set their trained owl wolves and snow leopard caribou to guard the passageways across the labyrinth, with other pirates standing guard.[1]
Kiwaq and her band of fellow pirates eventually reached the Chamber of Fortune, where many of their ancestors' treasures were kept, including the greatly coveted golden lion-turtle statue. While they found the statue, they were confronted by a group of adventurers who had found Wen and allied to them. The adventurers started to confront Kiwaq, with the pirate enjoying the opportunity to engage in a challenge to earn her take. Kiwaq was defeated and forced to retreat by the adventurers, who subsequently took the statue back to Wen. However, Kiwaq and the pirates eventually managed to regroup and returned to the Chamber of Fortune to plunder whatever treasures remained in the labyrinth.[1]
Later, Kiwaq left the Icebound Labyrinth with her crew, and found Wen once more at Razor Reef, pulling up to the island as they and a group of adventurers finished a study session. Kiwaq had heard that the highly valuable scrolls of Master Tidao were located there, and intended to plunder them for herself in order to sell them to a potential buyer. Gleefully thanking Wen for leading her to the "good stuff" once more, she was bemused to see Wen play dead as the pirates started confronting the archaeologist's party. However, Wen's allies managed to beat Kiwaq, and reluctantly forcing her to admit defeat for the time being. The pirate captain rudely ordered her crew back to the ship, informing them that they would retreat.[4]
Glacial Temple
After the setbacks at the Icebound Labyrinth and Razor Reef, Kiwaq continued her quest for the Fifth Nation's treasures. At some point, she learned that a Fifth Nation sub-commander, Taliriktug, had once discovered a treasure-filled cave in the eastern South Pole. However, he had never been able to loot the location. Kiwaq consequently led her crew to the cave, discovering the area dotted with ancient ruins of the "Glacial Temple". The pirates began to collect any relics they could find, though most of it was only of historical value. Kiwaq realized that the great treasures were hidden behind a large door deep in the cave. The pirates spent weeks trying to gain entry through brute force or by solving the door mechanism, yet nothing worked.[8]
Eventually, a Fire Nation expedition under Mamushi landed at the nearby coast and ousted Kiwaq's crew from the outer ruins. As the Fire Nation forces entered the cave system, Kiwaq pursued them, discovering that her old enemy Wen was among the expedition. After greeting them, she continued to hunt for Mamushi while ordering some of her followers to deal with the researcher and their guards. Ultimately, the pirates were unable to prevent Mamushi's forces from advancing. When Kiwaq arrived at the door to the treasure chamber, she was shocked to see that Wen had been able to solve the puzzle mechanism and Mamushi had gained entry. Angrily, the pirate captain demanded that the treasures be handed over, but Mamushi mocked her. Kiwaq ordered a full assault, but even as the pirates and Fire Nation soldiers battled, Mamushi escaped with a coffer. Kiwaq wanted to hunt the commander, but she and her pirates were unable to overcome Sergeant Gyaku's unit. As they retreated, Kiwaq cursed Wen for always getting into her way.[8]
Eventually, Kiwaq's crew returned to the cave in hopes of finally looting it, and discovered that Wen as well as Gyaku's soldiers had also returned to study the ancient relics there. The pirate attempted to threaten them into retreating, and when this failed once more, another battle erupted. Despite her efforts, Kiwaq was again repelled.[8]
Personality
Kiwaq valued the freedom of her criminal life and the chance of quick riches above all else. She took pride in her lifestyle, considering honest work a form of badly paid exploitation by the upper classes.[2][1] The threat of death, a constant companion for a pirate, also did not deter her, as Kiwaq believed a "brief life and a happy one" to be preferable than a long one of constant toil.[2] She was also cruel, not hesitating to murder or betray outsiders,[1][2][5] even those who had hired her as security detail.[1]
Abilities
Kiwaq was a waterbending master,[5][3] and one of the few waterbenders capable of using the difficult "Ice Gauntlet" technique without harming herself.[3] Her fighting style was one of a "scrappy brawler", and she excelled at ambushing enemies as well as striking harder the longer a battle lasted.[5]
Appearances
Avatar games
Trivia
- Though Wen noted that they had found no "paperwork" confirming that Kiwaq was descended from the Fifth Nation,[2] there were multiple hints that the pirate's claim was true. For once, her description of her ancestors[1] matched the Fifth Nation's history.[9][10] In addition, Kiwaq's speech to a group of adventurers[1] partially mirrored the one by Fifth Nation leader Tagaka during her confrontation with Avatar Kyoshi.[9] Kiwaq also owned the Blade of Tagaka.[11] Avatar: Generations media also refers to her as one of the "mighty Fifth Nation Pirates".[3]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Template:Cite video game
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Template:Cite video game
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Template:Cite video game
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Template:Cite video game
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Template:Cite video game
- ↑ Template:Cite video game
- ↑ HammerOfThor (host), Kaz (interviewee) (April 18, 2023). Interview with the developers of Avatar: Generations. Avatar Wiki. Retrieved on April 18, 2023.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Template:Cite video game
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Template:Cite Kyoshi
- ↑ Template:Cite Kyoshi
- ↑ Template:Cite video game