Avatar:Emerald
📚
This article was imported from Avatar Wiki under the CC-BY-SA license.
📎 View original · 📅 Imported: 2025-12-22
Emerald was an Earth Kingdom politician and bureaucrat during the 1st century BG. After being appointed as the magistrate (de facto civilian representative) of his nation's outpost on independent Jasmine Island, he covertly orchestrated a creeping coup to bring the small state under Earth Kingdom control. His conspiracy was ultimately foiled by the Jasmine Island protectors and Guiding Wind revolutionaries.
History
Early career
Born in the Earth Kingdom, Emerald was very ambitious.[2] Concluding that he could rise in the ranks of the Earth Kingdom bureaucracy by annexing new territories,[1] he sought to be appointed magistrate on Jasmine Island.[1][3] This location was a formally independent state, but had been under protection of the Earth Kingdom since a pirate invasion in the 3rd century BG.[4] The past magistrates had been tasked to uphold and oversee the implementation of the Jasmine Island-Earth Kingdom treaty, with the job being widely regarded as rather unimportant and even boring. In contrast, Emerald recognized that he could exploit the treaty and the magistrate's post to garner covert power. As few others applied, he easily got the job.[2]
Upon arriving on Jasmine Island, Emerald initiated his long-term project, even as he publicly claimed to honor all terms of the old treaty between the natives and the Earth Kingdom.[4] At first, he started to use his budget to improve the island's docks, but also then charged higher taxes for their use.[2] Emerald built a hidden cave in the northern island to house his accumulating wealth,[5][6] and used it for bribes and to hire new followers.[2] Furthermore, he brought in a growing number of Earth Kingdom traders and settlers, arguing that this would strengthen the island's economy. Though some economic growth did happen, the wave of migrants largely created a local community that generally supported his actions.[4][2] The islanders initially did not recognize the dangers of these developments, and many welcomed Emerald's investments.[2]
Conversely, the magistrate quickly realized that he could not rely on his military counterpart, Captain Buo Ren of the Earth Kingdom Army garrison on the island. The latter was a moralistic and law-abiding officer who enjoyed the loyalty of the garrison; knowing that she would oppose his schemes, Emerald deceived her over his projects and often sent her on missions to distract her from the developing conspiracy.[2][1] Indeed, no one among the Earth Kingdom's leadership knew of or approved his plans either, but Emerald believed that they would quickly accepted his actions once he presented them with a new province for the Earth Kingdom.[4]
Over years, he gradually subverted many of Jasmine Island's institutions. He began to dismantle the island's security forces – the protectors – by further reinforcing the Earth Kingdom Army garrison and then claiming that the protectors were becoming unnecessary.[1][4][7] Among these military reinforcements were also elite soldiers who were directly loyal to the magistrate, allowing him to deploy these troops without getting Buo Ren involved.[1]
He also started to undermine of the small state's ruling council by funding the election campaign of an Earth Kingdom native, Xi Chin. As she was mostly interested in money, Emerald easily bribed her to become his pawn after being elected. Another councilmember, Fu Hong, was turned into a reluctant supporter after Emerald blackmailed him with the knowledge of his illegal side activities.[2][6] Emerald's plans were mostly hindered by a single obstacle, namely councilmember Tsenten who firmly opposed the subservience to the Earth Kingdom and suspected the truth behind the magistrate's actions.[4][2]
Coup attempt and downfall
Eventually, Tsenten asked two friends of his, Fengying and Sakuru, to investigate Emerald's activities. They discovered evidence of the magistrate's conspiracy, but were captured before they could leak them. To Emerald's concern, Fengying and Sakuru were members of the Guiding Wind, a revolutionary movement opposed to nobility and wealth; their imprisonment promptly caused the group to turn its full attention to Jasmine Island. Afterward Guiding Wind leaders Zeisan and Khandro travelled to Jasmine Island, requesting the release of their followers. Correctly fearing that the Guiding Wind leaders suspected his motives, Emerald regarded their arrival as a risk and tried to accelerate his conspiracy. He was determined to seize control of the island, even if violence became necessary. Concluding that he had already gained enough control over the island and that the major nations would ultimately not care about tiny Jasmine Island's fate, he decided to somehow force Tsenten to sign a new annexation treaty.[4][2]
Emerald's accelerated operations faced new opposition by the small number of remaining Jasmine Island protectors, including Ukiuk, Qi Wei, Pushi, Sukaya, and Baljin.[2] Allying with Khandro and Zeisan, the group raided the Earth Kingdom outpost on the island, attempting to free Fengying and Sakuru. When Emerald learned of this event, he framed the raid as a criminal act and demanded that Buo Ren enforce martial law to catch the perpetrators. Under this guise, he sent his troops and loyal followers to secure the island's most important locations as well as force the councilmembers to sign his planned annexation agreement.[2][8]
With the combined efforts of the protectors and Guiding Wind revolutionaries, however, Emerald's conspiracy was eventually revealed. The magistrate was expelled from Jasmine Island.[9] The islanders soon recovered from the crisis, and reaffirmed their full independence.[10][11]
Legacy
To commemorate the failure of Emerald's plot as well as honor the Guiding Wind's support, the Jasmine Islanders built a monument in their main settlement. The monument was largely destroyed during the Fire Nation invasion known as "The Devastation" in the 90s AG, but later rebuilt with assistance by the Air Acolytes.[10] Emerald's actions continued to taint the Earth Kingdom's reputation on Jasmine Island into the 100s AG, with the Antiquarians highlighting his conspiracy to justify their anti-Earth Kingdom beliefs.[12]
Personality
Emerald was a highly ambitious and ruthless man, seeking to not just advance his own career but also the fortunes of the Earth Kingdom at any cost. Over years of experience, he had learned to cunningly exploit systems and other people, while maintaining the appearance of a simple bureaucrat. He regarded most individuals as being beneath him and saw the Jasmine Islanders as mere pawns or resources to be used. Once in full control, he intended to completely exploit the island and squash the native culture to his career's benefit.[1]
Abilities
Emerald was quite skilled at bureaucratic and political work, well versed in manipulating and distract others to achieve his goals. Furthermore, he was an earthbender.[1]