Avatar:Jasmine Island protectors
📚
This article was imported from Avatar Wiki under the CC-BY-SA license.
📎 View original · 📅 Imported: 2025-12-22
<infobox theme-source="nation"> <image source="image" /> <title source="name"><default>Jasmine Island protectors</default></title> <group> <header>General information</header> <label>Leader(s)</label> <label>Notable members</label> <label>Founder(s)</label> <label>Headquarters</label> <label>Affiliation</label> <label>Purpose</label> <label>Engagements</label> <label>Status</label> </group> <group> <header>Chronological information</header> <label>First appearance</label> <label>Last appearance</label> </group> <header></header> </infobox> The protectors are the security forces of Jasmine Island, a small, independent state located in the southern oceans. The protectors are not a formal military or police, and instead consist of individuals who have trained in the island's traditional martial arts to keep their homes safe. The importance, size, and organization of the protectors has changed over time, as Jasmine Island's relative security and status waxed and waned.[1] By the 170s AG, the island's protectors began to take on emergency response roles in addition to their security service.[2]
History
For much of Jasmine Island's history, both internal and external conflicts were rare. This led some islanders to even question the protectors' purpose, and sometimes the group dwindled to a "handful" members. However, occasional violent incidents involving "warlords, pirates, even a dangerous spirit once or twice" did temporarily disrupt the island's peace over the centuries, reinforcing the continued need for the protectors.[1] When Southern Water Tribe merchants discovered Jasmine Island and established trade links with the islanders, it also became customary for the traders to support the local defenses. Ultimately, merchants of Southern origin began to directly join the protectors' ranks.[3]
In the 290s BG, the protectors were led by Chidaw, who strove to reform and strengthen the militia.[4][5] The group's importance was once again demonstrated when a Fifth Nation pirate fleet launched a major raid against Jasmine Island, aided by the betrayal of Mirlon, a protector. The other protectors, alongside a small group of Fire Nationals under Hei-Ran successfully defended the island.[3][6] The event strengthened the role of the protectors among the islanders' society.[7] However, the attack caused Jasmine Island's leadership to sign a treaty with the Earth Kingdom to become the latter's protectorate to gain a stronger defense in the future.[8]
Hundreds of years later, the Earth Kingdom's influence on Jasmine Island became increasingly problematic. In the 50s BG, the nation's local representative Magistrate Emerald attempted a creeping coup to take control of the island. Among other efforts, he tried to undermine the protectors,[8][9] bribing local officials to gradually dismantle them and use Earth Kingdom soldiers as replacements.[7] The few remaining protectors, aided by Guiding Wind revolutionaries, eventually uncovered Emerald's plans and put an end to his machinations.[9][10]
When the Hundred Year War broke out in 0 AG, Jasmine Island officially declared its neutrality. However, many protectors felt sympathy for the anti-Fire Nation forces across the world, and a large number volunteered to serve in foreign militaries or guerrilla groups during the conflict. As a result, the protectors' numbers gradually dwindled over the decades of fighting, with older group members teaching younger ones before venturing abroad; by the 90s AG, this left only a small number of protectors led by Akataa to defend Jasmine Island itself.[11][12] These warriors played a major role when their home came under attack by the Fire Nation during the campaign later known as "The Devastation".[13] Jasmine Island was left devastated by the Fire Nation attack, whereupon the protectors' roles grew as they took on new duties as peacekeepers, emergency response units, dock guards, and investigators.[14]
After the Hundred Year War's end in 100 AG, Jasmine Island was affected from considerable political unrest and debates over the state's future direction. This included disputes over the role and size of the protectors.[15][16] Many protectors joined the political faction known as "Risen Wave", which demanded the militia's strengthening as well as reparations by the Fire Nation. In contrast, many other islanders believed that the protectors had become too powerful and expansive, seeking to reduce their responsibilities as well as numbers.[14] The latter view was supported by the factions known as "Climbing Vines", "Autumn Leaves", and "Antiquarians".[16] In the late 100s AG, a group of protectors was employed to investigate a conspiracy relating to the famous anarchist Xai Bau,[17][18][19] an event which influenced the next elections on the island.[16]
Over the next decades, the protectors were further modernized and became more organized.[20] In the 170s AG, a group of protectors investigated the activities of the powerful K-N Mining company under Kunchen, whose deliberately dangerous activities threatened Jasmine Island.[2] The protectors also had to deal with the fallout when the company caused a major earthquake.[21]
Organization
Historically, the protectors had little formal structure and were more akin to a "tradition" than a real organization. Islanders training as fighters to keep the island safe would just be dubbed "protectors", yet often take on other roles; in the island's quietest periods of history, most of them retired early and focused on tea-making. The protectors also traditionally lacked a clear-cut command structure, though there were usually figures that islanders could turn to if there was a threat.[1][3] The most binding element of the protectors' identity was their oath in which they swore "to protect Jasmine Island", though its wording was vague enough to allow for different interpretations of this pledge.[4]
The protectors' structures began to become more stable beginning with Chidaw's reforms during the early era of Kyoshi, including generally recognized leaders and more regulated duties.[4][5] This development was disrupted in the 50s BG due to Magistrate Emerald's conspiracy,[7] though the protectors subsequently regained their importance.[11] By the Hundred Year War, the militia had its own barracks in the island's main settlement.[22] The group's roles further expanded after "The Devastation".[14] By the 170s AG, the protectors were responsible for fire response, law enforcement and health emergency response. They looked to other public services in the rest of the four nations, and some protectors even proposed they follow the model of the Republic City Police.[2] At this point, the protectors were organized into different teams and had a formal hierarchy which included squad leaders, lieutenants, and the overall leader.[20][23]
Known members
Known leaders
- Chidaw (c. 290s BG)[3]
- Akataa (c. 90s AG)[13]
- Wei (c. 100s AG)[14]
- Kyong (c. 170s AG)[20]
- Megomi (c. 170s AG)[20]