We're back once again with another look into the world of Avatar: the Last Airbender! The latest Magic set is rich and full of great examinations of the lore that fills the world of the animated series. However, many players have never watched the show and might not know what's going on. I'm here to help!

I'm a long-time fan of the series and am thrilled to break down the lore with a few cards to offer a helpful visual reference. This time I'm covering the second part of the second season - or Book - devoted to the element of Earth!

If you missed my previous articles, you can find them here:

• The Lore of Avatar: Book 1, Water - Part 1
• The Lore of Avatar: Book 1, Water - Part 2
• The Lore of Avatar: Book 2, Earth - Part 1

As with each of these articles, there is a ton to cover, so let's not waste any time and instead get right to the action!

Episode 28: The Chase

The group stops to take a break and get some rest, with Toph and Katara fighting among one another. Being pampered as well as left to her own devices at times, Toph feels she can tend to herself rather than be an overall team player. Despite the conflict, the group settles in for the night to get some rest, but before long Toph feels vibrations as they discover a fire nation tank is following them.

The group scrambles to get away from the tank and settle once more, with Toph and Katara fighting again. It's not long, though, before they find the tank on their tail again. It turns out that it's Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee tracking the group. They manage to escape once more but as they're low on sleep and irritable, they lay into one another. Toph points out that they're being followed because of Appa's shedding fur and following another fight, Toph leaves.

The group cleans Appa and sets a fake trail to take their would-be captors by surprise. Azula isn't fooled by this, noticing a treetop Appa broke as he flew off with Sokka and Katara. She chases after Aang while the other two follow Appa. At the same time, Toph runs into Iroh, who is looking for Zuko. Iroh shares some wisdom with Toph and agrees to make up with the group.

They all center in on the spot where Aang and Azula face one another, with Zuko also joining in - having tracked Azula. After a fierce battle, Azula finds herself cornered by the Aang's group, as well as Iroh and Zuko. Noticing a brief moment where Iroh stops focusing on her, Azula attacks and takes down Iroh before escaping. Zuko lashes out at Aang and the others to leave, which they do, and finally they're able to get some rest.

Episode 29: Bitter Work

The majority of this episode is a fairly simple premise: Aang struggles to learn earthbending. While Toph proves to be an effective teacher, there's one unfortunate issue she faces: earth is the natural opposite of air. As a result, Aang struggles to fins a way to achieve any sort of actual earthbending. This leads to him growing increasingly frustrated while Katara attempts to suggest to Toph ways to teach Aang, which Toph ignores. Eventually, Aang - pressured by Toph through countless dangerous methods - coaxes Aang to earthbend.

At the same time, Zuko reconciles with Iroh as he aids his uncle in his recovery. Iroh awakens and tells Zuko that he must be ready for Azula because she is crazy and needs to go down. He teaches Zuko about the balance between the elements in order to get Zuko to a calm enough of a mind to create lightning. In doing so, he also teaches Zuko to redirect lightning, but refuses to use it on him for practice. The episode ends with Zuko screaming at a storm to hit him with lightning, which does not occur.

Episode 30: The Library

The group takes a stop at the Misty Palms Oasis, expecting to see the wondrous frozen fountain that sits in the middle of the desert. When they get there, though, it's fairly run down and the ice fountain melted. They head to a nearby restaurant and meet Professor Zei, head of anthropology at Ba Sing Se University. He tells them of the fabled lost library of the knowledge spirit, Wan Shi Tong, and how his expeditions to find it have failed. Sokka realizes there could be some valuable knowledge to aid in the war against the Fire Nation and encourages the group to help Professor Zei seek it out.

They discover the library buried and make their way in, with Toph staying with Appa outside it. Upon their arrival, they meet Wan Shi Tong - a great spirit that looks like a giant owl. He denies them entry because of the way humans continually use the knowledge for war, but allows them in after much convincing. He takes a piece of knowledge from each of them, and they enter the library.

The group finds the Fire Nation section of the library burnt to a crisp, having been destroyed by Admiral Zhao. However, one of the fox spirits that aids Wan Shi Tong brings them to a piece of paper noting "the darkest day in Fire Nation history" and takes them to a planetarium. There, they discover that the darkest day was a solar eclipse. Wan Shi Tong, angry at the betrayal of trust, attacks the group, but Aang and Sokka manage to return to the planetarium and learn the next eclipse date.

The group escapes, but Zei stays behind as he's buried with the treasured knowledge he sought out. As Aang, Katara, and Sokka exit the library, Toph earthbends to keep the library afloat long enough for them to get out. As a result, she's unable to save Appa from the group of sandbenders who arrive to capture and steal away the sky bison.

Episode 31: The Desert

Aang is furious about the loss of Appa and flies off to try and find him, but to no avail. The rest of the group decides to try continuing on and that Aang would catch up. They struggle to find their way through, to find food or shelter, and nearly lose their water supply as well. Sokka tries some cactus juice and has a freak out over it, causing the others to not try it (except for Momo).

As the group attempts to escape, Zuko and Iroh find their way to the Misty Palms Oasis. When they arrive, they find a man in the corner and play a game of Pai Sho. Beifong's Bounty Hunters try to go after them but are tricked and enabled to escape, revealing Iroh's status as a White Lotus member - a secret society group. They use these connections to escape and make their way to Ba Sing Se where they can hide in secrecy.

As this happens, the group happens upon a boat - a sand-sailer that the sandbenders use. Using the compass on the ship, they find where the sandbenders are hiding and argue with them. They deny stealing Appa, but Toph recognizes some of the voices, determining the leader's son was the one behind it. The leader is incensed by this discovery, which leads to his son admitting they stole Appa and had already sold him. Aang loses his cool, and eventually is calmed by Katara, with Aang furious and tear-ridden in the Avatar State.

Episode 32: The Serpent's Pass

The Gaang, as well as Zuko and Iroh, make their way to a ferry that will take them to Ba Sing Se. Their paths do not cross, however they seek safe passage. Using the previous connections granted via the White Lotus, Zuko and Iroh make it aboard a boat where they meet Jet and his freedom fighters. Aboard the ferry, Zuko aids Jet in stealing some food. They pass it out among the passengers and bond, with Jet recognizing him as a fellow outcast.

Meanwhile, Aang and the group are initially denied entry, but are allowed through via Toph's documentation. However, they stay back and opt to take the Serpent's Pass when a pregnant woman and her husband are denied entry on the ferry after their tickets are stolen. Suki, who is stationed in the area, also agrees to come along and assist them. Despite the treacherous waters and the legendary serpent they encounter along the path, they reach the end safely. However, the woman goes into labor and the group helps her deliver a baby that they name Hope.

Suki leaves the group as they come to Ba Sing Se at last. However, as they reach the legendary walls, they discover a huge drill coming towards the city.

Episode 33: The Drill

This episode primarily focuses on the group's efforts to stop the drill's advancements on Ba Sing Se. At first, the group reaches the top of the wall where they're told their help is unneeded. This is because they're both shooting at the drill from atop the wall and have a special strike team heading for the drill. Unfortunately, they're met with Ty Lee and Mai - who are running the drill alongside Azula - and take out the strike team.

The group finds a way to sneak into the drill where they try to cut the metal support beams with waterbending. However, it's not long before they realize it's taking too long and is wearing them out. It's not enough. They're soon also attacked by Ty Lee and Mai, but escape through a "slurry pipe" full of earthy water. They realize that they can plug up the exit point to cause pressure and bring the drill to a halt. With some effort, Aang is finally able to bring the drill to a stop as it bursts with earthy water, as he fights off Azula in the process. With the city no longer in danger, they head into Ba Sing Se.

Meanwhile, Jet tries to convince Zuko to join his freedom fighter group, to which Zuko turns down. However, Jet then notices Iroh's previously cold tea suddenly steaming hot and realizes they're firebenders. Suddenly his liking of the two turns to disgust and he watches them like a hawk as they all also enter the city.

Episode 34: City of Walls and Secrets

Once inside the city, the group is met by an unusual lady named Joo Dee who shows them around the city. However, she refuses to take them to the Earth King and makes them sit around waiting in the fancy upper ring. They also learn that no one is allowed to speak of the war happening outside the city or scary things may happen.

The group learns of a formal party taking place for the Earth King and tries to sneak in. Katara and Toph lie and are let in by Long Feng, the cultural minister of the city, while Aang and Sokka sneak in as helpers. They soon make a mess of things and are rounded up by Dai Li agents to be brought before Long Fend. He refuses to give the group an audience and threatens them with forced removal from the city should they try and bring up the war to others. To keep them in check, Long Feng knowingly reminds Aang that he may not be able to find Appa should that happen, to which the group agrees to comply.

As this goes on, Zuko and Iroh take a job at a low level tea shop. Iroh's love of tea brings a lot of attention and popularity to the shop, as Jet tries to get them to reveal that they can firebend. The other members of his group try to get Jet to just let things be, but he can't let it go. As a result, he barges into the tea shop, accusing them of being firebenders, and attacks. Zuko defends with his twin blades and Jet is soon stopped by Dai Li agents. They capture him, and take him away to a room where they brainwash him, repeatedly stating "There is no war in Ba Sing Se."

Paige Smith

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