Avatar:Noehi
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"What's mine is mine, Henshe. I'm not giving up what I've earned. You'd better see to that."
Noehi was one of the most prominent shang merchants in Bin-Er, owning a business that had a monopoly on the pearl trade.[2][1]
History
Noehi's father shared the same calligraphy tutor as the Earth King, and was thus granted a monopoly on the pearl trade. He died of a heart clutch, and left his entire business to his daughter. With the rise of the shang system in the wake of the Platinum Affair, Noehi became a leading figure in Bin-Er.[1]
Noehi was present with Avatar Yangchen's first formal meeting with shang merchants, where she saw the Air Nomad call for the system to be reformed, such as ensuring that its people would be fairly paid and allowing alms to be given out. The shangs were completely unresponsive, and Noehi was the first to speak up, rhetorically asking if there was a spirit in the room. She stated that, while Yangchen had succeeded with spiritual problems in Tienhaishi and Ma'inka Island, Bin-Er was a city of reason and commerce, and that she therefore had no power.[2] When Yangchen tried to turn them to her side and noted that the spirits smiled on those who took care on their neighbors, and Noehi noted that they had not shown their displeasure yet, and then made a performance of looking for an imaginary spirit, causing the other shangs to laugh at the Avatar. However, Yangchen was able to recover from Noehi's mockery by revealing that she knew that the shangs had violated the terms of their charter by having moved much more cargo than they were officially permitted to, and threatened to expose this to Earth King Feishan unless the funds were redirected to charitable efforts.[3]
When the shangs met together with Sidao to discuss what Yangchen had asked of them, Noehi panicked that the Earth King was going to raze them to the ground after Zongdu Henshe asked them to remain calm. The zongdu continued, noting that the Avatar had reminded them that they were all vulnerable to the Earth King, the Fire Lord, and the Chief of the Water Tribe. Noehi snorted, not believing Henshe would have a solution to that, but he then raised the possibility of using the secret Unanimity project to hold complete power over the Avatar and all heads of state. As they left, Noehi told Henshe that she expected to see results, as she was not giving up her wealth.[1]
The shangs of Bin-Er did not know the exact details of the Unanimity project. Weeks after Yangchen's first visit to their city, however, they heard very loud noises and saw bright lights from up in their manors.[4] After Yangchen and her companions stopped the Unanimity project in the middle of its display of power, the shangs of Bin-Er stayed out of sight, as if shamed by the increased attention upon their settlement.[5] Afterward, Yangchen managed to gain the appointment as the new ruler or "Protector" of Bin-Er, intending to improve the local population's livelihood. To do so, she blackmailed the city's shangs -including Noehi- by threatening to expose their tacit support for the Unanimity project.[6][7] The traders opted to comply, a choice made easier by Yangchen proving herself as a decent administrator. Furthermore, Noehi (alongside Teiin) became one of the local merchants' representatives in their dealings with the Avatar. However, she and her comrades experienced some financial pressure, as Henshe's disappearance after the Unanimity project's attempted implementation meant that their investments into the former zongdu were not repaid. The shangs of Bin-Er thus became indebted to many other traders.[6]
A few months later, Bin-Er's shang merchants attended an official meeting chaired by Yangchen and observed by royal inspector Gu, an agent of Earth King Feishan. Knowing that Gu could easily sentence any of them to death, Noehi was visibly nervous at the meeting's start. When Yangchen requested additional funds by the shangs to further improve Bin-Er's infrastructure, however, Noehi and Teiin stalled. They claimed that they lacked the necessary money due to the continued need to repay debts related to Henshe's disappearance. Yangchen responded by demanding Teiin's expensive hat and Noehi's pearl earrings. After a moment of hesitation, both hurried to comply in order to avoid Gu's attention. Yangchen then used the items to point out that any material goods were ultimately assets, worthless by themselves unless they were used to invest in the future. The Avatar then declared her willingness to sell her airbender staff to raise the infrastructure funds, while offering to return the hat and earrings. Understanding the Avatar's unspoken threat and promise, Noehi and Teiin instead declared their willingness to sell more of their personal belongings to assist Yangchen's plans.[6]
Physical description
Noehi often incorporated her business into her clothing, and would often be "draped in pearls from shoulder to shoulder" in a formal setting.[2]
Personality
Noehi was a very greedy woman who only cared about wealth, and had no regard for those who were beneath her. Even though she had inherited her wealth from her father, she often spoke of having earned her fortune. She feigned enterprise and risk-taking while simply making money from a corrupt system.[1] Despite her pompous and arrogant exterior, however, Noehi was an adaptable individual; under Yangchen's rule, she rose to become a representative of Bin-Er's shangs and adjusted to the changes implemented by the Avatar.[6]