Advanced Combat Bending Arts (WIP)

Each bending art comes with secondary or advanced skillsets; such as Waterbending's Healing, or Firebender's Lightning Generation. Each base bending art comes with at least one type of secondary/advanced skillset. The Advanced Combat Skills will be addressed here. Certain bending arts, namely Bloodbending and Metalbending, will be addressed in much greater detail in their own guides. Lightning Generation and Redirection have been given their own stand alone guide.

Sandbending

Sandbending is a specialized type of Earthbending normally found in tribal peoples that live in sandy desert areas. Due to the nature of the sand itself, they have had to adapt their classical earthbending styles to fit; in doing so they have created the newer art of Sandbending. Each tribe has a slightly different overall style, however they are all similar enough to be considered one bending art. The very nature of the sand makes pinpoint, fine control impossible; instead the sandbender uses the sand to blind and hide in plain sight; or else bury their opponents under tons of shifting earth. Suffocation due to the particulate pollution in the air is a common tactic as well. Tornados of sand, sandstorms, and waves of sand are the epitome of the Sandbending style.

• Sandbending cannot be learned until an Earthbender has reached Acolyte.
  
• Rocky terrain can be canverted into sand, however it takes significant time (1 post = 5lbs (2.3k)) to create new sand.
  
• Training: 2000 words (Master), 5000 (Alone)
  

Plantbending

Plantbending is the ability to manipulate the ample water within highly saturated flora, including vines and roots found within swamp lands and seaweed from the ocean floor. Huu used this technique frequently, covering himself in vines and other plant life to create a monstrous-looking being capable of lifting great loads such as tundra tanks. Going further, a skilled waterbender can more effectively utilize the water from plants by separating and extracting the water within, just as they would from mud, sand, polluted river systems, and other sources. The use of this variation essentially destroys all affected plant life, which immediately wither or fracture following extraction.

• Waterbenders MUST be Acolyte level to properly learn Plantbending.
  
• A Novice/Adept Waterbender can be taught to pull the water from highly saturated plants (Water vines, large trees, etc), however the process WILL result in the death of the plant.
  
• Any waterbender below the level of Acolyte attempting to Plantbend may be able to cause slight movement within a plant, however at the end of the post the water will be forcably removed and the plant killed.
  
• Plantbenders CANNOT become Bloodbenders. For the sake of balance, the two skills have been completely seperated.
  
• Training: 4000 words (alone); 2000 (with Master)
  

Metalbending

Metalbending is a specialized sub-skill of earthbending that allows an earthbender to ferrokinetically bend processed metal in a similar fashion to bending regular earth. The technique has been perfected by generations of earthbenders to the point that not even Seismic Sense is required to bend metal.


Lightning Generation

Lightning generation, also known as cold-blooded fire, is a sub-technique within firebending where firebenders are able to produce and direct a bolt of lightning from their fingertips. Lightning generation is very dangerous, even among firebenders, and only a few powerful firebenders are capable of the technique. An extremely powerful firebender is able to generate a powerful lightning strike with great speed, proving not only that lightning can be generated very quickly, but also that it can be sustained, or be shot in a continuous bolt of lightning and held until the user stops producing it. While once exceedingly rare; with only one or two Firebenders in any generation ever able to create lightning; the ability has become far more common in recent generations; although with this increase in number of users, the overall power has diminished.


Bloodbending




Healing

Healing is a sub-skill of waterbending which involves healing wounds by redirecting energy paths (or chi) throughout the body, using water as a catalyst. On rare occasions, waterbenders may instinctively be able to access this ability without any formal training, and even be able to heal themselves. While healing is a part of waterbending there are certain restrictions that everyone must be aware of - these restrictions are both in what can or cannot be healed at each rank and how many times per thread healing can be done.

Restrictions on Ability
Novice: Novices are incapable of healing, there are no if's, ands, or butts about this.
Adept: Can heal minor cuts and scrapes.
Acolyte: Minor 2nd degree burns. Deeper cuts and gashes, large area healing, closed fracture repair.
Master: Major 2nd degree and early 3rd degree burns. Attatching fingers/toes/noses/ears. Badly broken bones. Internal injurues.
Grandmaster: Lethal burns within a short time frame. Entire limbs can be reattached so long as they're not crushed to powder. Extreme trauma both internal and external.

Amount of Healing Allowed
Novice: None
Adept: Once per Thread
Acolyte: Twice per Thread
Master: Three times per Thread
Grandmaster: Four times per Thread


Spiritbending

Spiritbending is a specialized sub-skill of airbending that allows an Airbender to enter into the Spirit World as well as use certain aspects of the Spirit world to their advantage. The technique is dangerous, and requires a great deal of skill; therefore only Grandmasters are capable of such feats. 

Metalbending

Quote :

"If you open your mind, you will see that all the elements are one. Four parts of the same whole. Even metal is just a part of earth that has been purified and refined."

Metalbending is a specialized sub-skill of earthbending that allows an earthbender to ferrokinetically bend processed metal in a similar fashion to bending regular earth. For much of history, no earthbenders were able to manipulate processed metal with their bending, this inability demonstrated by many earthbender prisoners being held in facilities made entirely of metal, to prevent escapes and riots. Master Earthbenders long ago realized that the metals of the world were just highly purified earth, and using the mastery of seismic sense, they where able to learn how to control the trace amounts of earth left in the metal. Once this was discovered, generations of Earthbenders refined the skills and control needed to harness metal to the point that Seismic Sense was no longer needed. For many years, several Metalbending academies existed to make sure that the arts of Metalbending were not lost; however, while the popularity of Metalbending hasn't waned, the recent trends of private militaries trying to recruit their students before they have been properly trained has forced the teachers and masters to retreat into the various Earth temples and hidden cities.

metalbending is ineffective against highly purified metal. An example of such a material is platinum, a metal that while rare and highly valuable for reasons other then war, has become a common plating for armor and vehicles to prevent Metalbending. Metalbenders can still use other bendable metals to restrain and attack these otherwise protected people and machines. Other disadvantages of the sub-skill are its susceptibility to magnets, which can be used to subdue and electrocute the usually metal-armored Metalbenders.

• Metalbending can be learned by any Earthbender once they reach the rank of Acolyte.
  
• Metal armors and cables used by Metalbenders are highly suceptible to Lightning attacks.
  
• Metalbending must be taught by a Master/Grandmaster.
  
• Training: 4000 words
  

Lightning Generation

Quote :

"There is energy all around us. The energy is both yin and yang; positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance. The energy wants to restore balance and in a moment the positive and negative energy come crashing back together. You provide release and guidance, creating lightning."

Lightning generation, also known as cold-blooded fire, is a sub-technique within firebending where firebenders are able to produce and direct a bolt of lightning from their fingertips. Lightning generation is very dangerous, even among firebenders, and only a few powerful firebenders are capable of the technique. An extremely powerful firebender is able to generate a powerful lightning strike with great speed, proving not only that lightning can be generated very quickly, but also that it can be sustained, or be shot in a continuous bolt of lightning and held until the user stops producing it. While once exceedingly rare; with only one or two Firebenders in any generation ever able to create lightning; the ability has become far more common in recent generations; although with this increase in number of users, the overall power has diminished.

Generating lightning involves a circular motion with the arms. Mentally, it involves a complete absence of emotion and peace of mind, and physically it requires separating the energies of yin and yang, also interpreted as positive and negative electric potential respectively. When the yin and yang collide together to become whole again, lightning is created, with the bender only guiding, rather than controlling, the lightning's direction. Because of this complexity, a lightning attack usually takes much longer to initiate than standard fire attacks, though skilled benders, have generated lightning much faster than the others. Other have demonstrated the capability to generate lightning with minimal motion, even restrained, though it was not lethal in power.

If it is not blocked or redirected in some way, a lightning blast will be fatal to any human being, although a few instances have been reported of people being shot with lightning and surviving. The generation technique cannot be used to defend against lightning; knowledge of a separate technique is required. Even in cases where a person survives a strike, it seems they will still be critically wounded: wounds are still raw, to the point where they bleed, and debilitating for long periods of time. The charge, and thus the damage, of a lightning strike can be regulated, as many benders show the ability to control the charge of lightning and fire a blast strong enough to incapacitate, but otherwise not harm their opponent.

• Lightning Generation can only be learned by Master and Grandmaster Firebenders.
  
• Generation MUST be taught by a teacher, it cannot be learned alone.
  
• Generation requires 5000 words of training to learn.
  
• Generation DOES NOT mean that you can redirect. They are seperate skills. End of Story.
  

Lightning Redirection

Quote :

"If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips up your arm to the shoulder, then down into the stomach. The stomach is the source of energy in your body; it is called the sea of chi. From your stomach you direct it up again and out the other arm. The stomach detour is critical; you must not let the lightning pass through your heart, or the damage could be deadly."

Lightning redirection is a specialized technique within the art of firebending that allows a firebender to absorb lightning into their body as energy, then release it in a more desirable direction. The technique was developed by studying master waterbenders, who redirect an opponent's energy rather than oppose it head-on. Lightning redirection has been shown to work well for both natural and bender-generated lightning, and electricity conducted through metal.

Redirecting lightning deals with the flow of energy in a firebender's body and turning an opponent's energy against them, a technique waterbenders use in battle. The person redirecting it must create a pathway from fingertips, up the arm to the stomach, then up and out the other arm. The stomach is referred to as "the sea of chi", as it is the source of energy in the body. It is essential that the lightning pass through the stomach, as if the lightning passes through the heart, the effects could be fatal. A physical motion may help focus the energy flow in the path through the body. Lightning can be successfully redirected regardless of whether the source is natural or generated.

• Lightning Redirection can be learned when a Firebender reaches Acolyte.
  
• Non-Firebenders can learn Redirection at Master.
  
• Redirection CANNOT be learned alone, you must be taught by a Master/Grandmaster with the skill.
  
• Benders may only redirect lightning ONCE per post, and a maximum of 5 times per thread.
  
• Training: 5000 words
  

Energybending

Energybending is the ability to bend another person's life energy. It predates the four main bending arts, the formation of the four nations, as well as the arrival of the Avatar. Before the Avatar came into existence and the separation of the four elements, people bent the energy within themselves. Eventually, they discovered the other four bending arts, and, over time, the knowledge to perform energybending was almost completely lost. The last known keepers of the art are the ancient lion turtle Shishikame, and the current Avatar.

The capabilities of energybending are not well understood; what is known is that bending a person's life energy can impart them with knowledge instantly, remove one's bending completely, or restore one's bending. This bending art is dissimilar to the others because it is so perilous to the user, which is why so few have ever used it.

Because of the extreme danger and power of Energybending, very few benders have ability to even understand the concepts needed to become an Energybender, and even few have the ability and unbreakable spirit. This is why Energybending is rarely, if ever, taught to anyone beyond the current Avatar.

Requirements for learning Energybending are extremely simple; but nearly impossible to fullfill, for good reason. You may not learn Energybending alone, it must be taught to you by either Shishikame himself, or the Avatar; both of which are staff controlled NPC characters. Petitioning staff for the chance to learn Energybending is not allowed currently; and no player character currently has access to the bending art. This MAY or MAY NOT change in the future. Pestering staff to release it will only result in it being permenantly locked down.

Spiritbending

Spirit-bending is the specialized sub spec of Air bending, capable by only the most high ranked monks and benders. Spirit-bending gives those that can use it special perks, including access to the Spirit World. The Spirit World is a parallel plane of reality that coexists alongside the mortal world, and is home to the spirits, immortal supernatural entities which often embody different aspects of life and nature. All past lives of the Avatar reside in the Spirit World.

It is very difficult and extremely rare for a human to enter the Spirit World; conversely, only a handful of spirits are able to exist physically in the mortal world and they must give up their immortality to do so. The Spirit World and the physical world are closest together during the solstices, which makes it possible for spirits to manifest in the mortal world and for humans to pass into the Spirit World. There are also certain locations in the physical world which act as bridges to the Spirit World; these locations are often revered by the cultures living near them, such as the Spirit Oasis in the North Pole. There are some, highly trained individuals that act as a spiritual bridge between both worlds and can travel between them freely.

Those who are trained in the art of Spirit-bending are able to pass fully into the Spirit World. They are also able to carry other people, or objects, into the Spirit world by touching them. Spirit-benders can use this ability to trap people or objects in the spirit world for a self-defined period of time. While in the Spirit world those who have been taken there are incapable of bending.

This ability can also be used as teleporting for the Spirit bender, allowing them to travel either small or large distances in practically no time at all.

Spirit-benders are also capable of projecting themselves, otherwise known as astral projection: leaving the body behind and traveling as a spirit across the land. This allows them to go unseen, while allowing them to see everything that is going on around them - however, this leaves their body vulnerable as it cannot defend itself while the spirit is not housed in it.

- Spirit bending can only be learned by Grandmaster airbenders.
- Spirit bending MUST be taught by a teacher.
- Spirit bending requires 3,000 words of training to learn.
- Teleportation can only be used in non-combat situations.
- When bringing someone to the spirit world to trap them you may only so do for 5 posts, after which your opponent will be automatically expelled from the Spirit world. You must make physical contact with the object or person you want to touch. However, you will also be trapped there for one post after the initial entrance into the Spirit world. If you are grabbed in the process of leaving your opponent there then they are also brought back. You also cannot bring someone into a potentially dangerous area of the Spirit world (however, roaming spirits do what they will).

**All Credit for Spiritbending goes to Avery.***