Avatar:Fu Hong

Fu Hong

Nationality	Jasmine Island
Ethnicity	Fire Nation, Jasmine Islander
Pronouns	He/him
Position	Jasmine Island Council member
Affiliation	* Emerald's network Fu family
Profession	* Businessman Politician
Allies	Emerald, Xi Chin
First appearance	Uncle Iroh's Adventure Guide - Ceremonies & Secrets (only appearance)

Fu Hong was an elected member of the Jasmine Island Council during the 50s BG. He was born into the prestigious Fu family that had traditionally dominated Jasmine Island's production of different tea blends, and became a businessman as well as a politician to maintain his family's reputation, traditions, and wealth. As a result of growing international economic competition, Fu Hong ultimately resorted to illegal trading to bolster his position, yet was subsequently blackmailed by Magistrate Emerald into becoming a political puppet lest these actions were made public.

History

Born on independent Jasmine Island into the Fu family, Fu Hong strove to assist the clan's business in tea making. However, the Fu family's old economic power was in decline by the 1st century BG, with both local as well as foreign competition reducing their influence. Determined to halt this development, Fu Hong eventually began to resort to smuggling and black market trading, covertly selling tea, including the unique golden jasmine tea, to the Earth Kingdom and falsifying records to make a profit. The resulting money and influence enabled him to win an election campaign for the Jasmine Island Council, and he was desperate to keep this position whatever it took. On the council, he represented the island's traditional tea traders.

Ultimately, Fu Hong's illegal activities were discovered by Magistrate Emerald, the Earth Kingdom's civilian representative on Jasmine Island. The magistrate threatened to expose Fu Hong, a move which would have destroyed his career, but offered a deal: As long as the councilman supported any policies favorable to Emerald, he would not be exposed. In his desperation, Fu Hong agreed to the blackmail, and thus began to enable Emerald's creeping coup, as the magistrate sought to undermine the island's independence and prepare its annexation into the Earth Kingdom. As a second councilmember, Xi Chin, was also bribed by Emerald, this left the council largely under the magistrate's control. Only councilman Tsenten still offered strong resistance to Emerald's network.

As Emerald prepared his next moves, he ordered Fu Hong to sign a secret treaty which agreed to the annexation of Jasmine Island into the Earth Kingdom, and the councilman complied. When two Guiding Wind members, Fengying and Sakuru, were caught breaking into the island's Earth Kingdom base to uncover Emerald's illegal activities in the 50s BG, Fu Hong reluctantly supported the magistrate's demand to extradite them to the Earth Kingdom. He again voted in favor of this proposal when Guiding Wind leader Khandro personally arrived on the island, pleading his followers' case in front of the council. However, Fu Hong was deeply ashamed of his vote, even avoiding eye contact with Khandro during the dispute. Ultimately, Emerald's conspiracy was ultimately exposed and foiled by the Guiding Wind and the Jasmine Island protectors.

Personality

Fu Hong was utterly determined to defend the old standing of his family, and by extension his own position. This led him to become involved in illegal activities and subject himself to Emerald's blackmail. Despite realizing the consequences of his actions and feeling ashamed as well as insecure, he was unwilling to give up power even under these conditions.

Appearances

Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game

• Uncle Iroh's Adventure Guide — Ceremonies & Secrets