ATLA, In A Darker World

New chapter. More Powerstones please.

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During the Hundred-Year War, the three most important things were the following. Food, Water, and manpower.

In any war that lasts even a fraction of this one, supplies would always be required in large quantities.

In this case, the Fire Nation was certainly having an easier time than the Earth Kingdom. Strongholds, bases, outposts, they all ran on food for its inhabitants to survive.

The Fire Nation could simply plunder and pillage to make up for their needs. The Earth Kingdom, on the other hand, couldn't behave so recklessly as they would be robbing their own territory.

For the Firebenders who had mastered maritime fleets and had the sea advantage, transportation of food, weapons and other things wasn't a concern anymore.

Regular resupplies were scheduled successively. The Earth Kingdom didn't have such convenience.

As the Fire Nation encroached more on their lands with each passing year, good food had become a luxury for the vast majority of earth kingdom citizens.

With the Fire Nation's early attack and the Earth kingdom's slow response during the early years of the war, the outcome had already been set in stone.

All villages the Fire Nation encountered were captured, occupied or simply burned to cinders. At first, the Earth Kingdom didn't take it too seriously, feeling that they had simply lost some land to their invaders. But subsequent developments let them know how stupid their slow response decision was.

The fall of several settlements led to a chain reaction that the Earth Kingdom army didn't notice until it was too late.

Entrenching themselves in captured land, the Fire Nation immediately attacked unrelentingly, occupying all trade routes in their area and successfully creating a rift between one part of the earth kingdom and another.

In this way, the cornered land wouldn't be able to receive supplies from allies and strongholds in other regions.

With starving and delaying tactics, they pressed their advantage and colonized more and more settlements within a sort period of time.

The Earth Kingdom eventually reacted, but the damage was done. The already occupied land now served as a springboard for more as they burned the towns, villages, and settlements around many earth kingdom strongholds, isolating them from the main army and strangling their food supply.

When food rations were depleted, the soldiers were soon defeated with the passing of time. Their invaders had used this method to defeat base after base while suffering minimal casualties and retaining large numbers of personnel.

Sometimes, paying a certain price, but it paled in comparison to the rewards.

It was no wonder the Earth kingdom was losing. One wrong move had led to a chain reaction leading them to a downward spiral.

Prices of food skyrocketed like there was no tomorrow as food transportation in certain regions was no longer possible.

Soldiers barely had enough to fill their stomachs. So you could imagine what the refugees who had fled their homes were experiencing.

Currently, Haican was experiencing a similar situation.

All surrounding settlements East, South, and West had either been destroyed or occupied by the Fire Nation.

The land North, although not occupied by invaders, was fraught with dangers. Without bending, those who took that path might not survive.

There were no villages to obtain supplies from, showing that the Fire Nation was using the same tactics as always. And refugees gathered at the stronghold for food and a safe haven every day, consuming whatever they had left.

All these facts showed that this seemingly strong fortress was actually in a precarious situation.

One wrong decision was enough for everything to come crumbling down on itself. Hence, begs the question.

How exactly were the soldiers stationed here going to provide for all these people?

Boom! The sound of rumbling earth resounded throughout the air, alerting the refugees to the sudden change.

Everyone looked at the wall only to see it open up in the middle while an Earth kingdom soldier of unknown rank stepped outside alongside several more Earthbenders behind him.

"Alright, I'll take it that these are all for today …". He uttered while sweeping his gaze through the large crowd.

The emergence of the earth kingdom soldiers immediately made the crowd restless as numerous people moved from their positions and began to press forward frantically.

All sorts of words, roars, complaints, and requests flying from their mouths as they sought to speak to the man in charge.

Their faces full of anxiety, fear, panic, relief …. Unfortunately

"Order!"

Crack!

The loud roar doused the hot enthusiasm back to its original level. As if that weren't enough, a large boulder emerged from the floor, floating high over their heads as a display to calm them down.

It worked wonders.

Seeing the crowd quiet, the man nodded and continued.

"Welcome all of you. I am the leader of this fortress, and you may all refer to me as Captain Li Shan .....". His voice was loud and sonorous, made that way, so everyone could hear him.

".... We are from the military unit of the great city of Omashu. Tasked by king Bumi to bring as many refugees as possible to Omashu's lands".

Once again, restlessness emerged as his words stirred up the crowd.

This time, he didn't interrupt and let them stir for several seconds before continuing.

"We can all see what has happened to our country. All experienced the impact this war has had on our lives firsthand".

He uttered with a gesture and his voice took a solemn tone laced with a hint of sadness.

"Most of you have fled from the places you call home and lost people dear to you. Hungry, starving, cold …. You are not the first group of refugees to arrive here. Many of us have felt the same pain. So do rest assured that we will help you to the.".

In the crowd, Luca couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows. Something …. Didn't quite seem right.

He listened to the words of the Earth Captain, traces of doubt emerging on how they planned to transport this many people.

His mood shifting uneasily for some reason. It was slight, so slight that ….

"..... I am under the orders of The Monarch Of Omashu himself to gather as many refugees as we can support towards somewhere you can be safe from the Fire Nation's advance. Scattered, we will be easily destroyed. Only by coming together as one force can we win this war, with each one of us contributing to the greater cause".

The Captain paused, letting his words sink in before clearing his throat. "Many of you are farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, herbalists, architects, and the likes. Most of you might even be Earthbenders. With the war ongoing, Omashu requires skilled workers with expertise in various professions. With your contribution, our offense against the invaders will place us in a more advantageous position. Which brings us to the next course of events ..... The recruitment selection".

Thud! Thud!

The soldiers walked forward from behind him and stood in different areas.

Murmurs moved through the crowd at their movements. Luca raised an eyebrow.

"As I just stated, many of you possess skills that we require. While we can provide you with food, clothing and shelter within this base now and safe transport to the city in a few hours. But first we need to determine what exactly your addition can bring to The Great City Of Omashu". The deep voice full of vigor resounded through the open area as fell into the ears of the refugees.

"This will determine where we will place you in the employment guild once you are there so you can fit into the city's system. That way you can make a livelihood, provide for yourself and your families. Create a better future for your loved ones".

His words didn't earn a wave of applause or nods, but instead, more murmurs.

Luca could hear the muttering all around him.

'..... Huh …. '. He resisted the urge to chuckle. '..... I should have known'.

Thud!

The earth kingdom soldiers all stood in a single file and stomped on the floor.

A small earth wall barely reaching a man's waist emerged from the ground, effectively separating the soldiers and the civilians apart completely.

"These men are my trusted soldiers. They will ask you various questions on your professions and abilities while determining your eligibility and the value your skills possess. After this is done, you will be given food, water and arranged for an escort to Omashu". The man uttered with an expressionless face as he finished his announcement.

However ...

The murmurs and small talks escalated immediately as a large number of refugees began to discuss among themselves.

Seeing this, the captain didn't react and stood where he was without change.

Just watched these low lives release their exclamations for several seconds before he raised his hand to signal their silence.

"Now then, let's begin".

His voice stopped, but that meant it was time for the soldiers to do their job.

"Line up in three single files and walk up for your assessment. If anyone is caught making a disturbance, they will be treated as a spy from the Fire Nation and arrested immediately". The murmurings ceased once again as the soldiers threatened.

"A list will be called out publicly. If it's your area of expertise, come out and stand in the designated area".

"Professional Cook ... Engineer .... Architect ... Blacksmith ... Geographer ..... Machine builder ..... Miner ..... Nurse ... Herbalist ..... A Warrior with fighting experience ..... Ferryman ..... And benders of any element". The Earthbender finished reading out the scroll in his possession and looked to the crowd.

As soon as his words fell, people in the crowds began to move. The large portion of them were men of varying ages.

At the forefront was a fat man with worn out clothes and a big belly. Judging from his look, the fact that he was at the forefront, and the addition of a Professional cook being the first occupation to be called out, it was no doubt that this fatso was a chef.

He pulled a little girl beside him with a happy smile plastered on his haggard face, looking like he had just won a lottery.

".... Dad, are we gwaing To Owa shoe?" By his side, a little girl with dirty hair, brown eyes and rough clothes asked curiously with her immature language skills as she saw her father moving forward.

"We sure are pumpkin. We sure are". The man uttered with a relieved smile as he turned to look at his daughter lovingly.

'…. The numbers aren't much .....'. Luca took a look at the moving crowd. After staying here for half an hour, he had a rough estimate of how many people were taking refuge at this stronghold.

More than a thousand.

Perhaps close to two thousand. And judging from the Captain's words, they weren't the first to come to this place. Understandable, but that meant that thousands of refugees had come to this place all to escape.

Despite this, the total number of people moving towards the gate wasn't as large as he expected.

Barely over a hundred. This indicated that the people with mastery on the listed professions weren't many.

If Luca had to take a guess. The vast majority of them, just like the fatty were probably taking up cooking occupation and warriors with fighting experience.

Rumble!

With the call completed, a small rumble resounded as the fence created by the earthbenders created an opening.

The fatty at the forefront sped his footsteps with his daughter in hand.

However .....

Crack!

A large rock protruded from the ground, blocking the fatty just as he was about to enter.

"I'm sorry, but you're not qualified to enter".

"What?" The fatty had his eyes widen. "But I'm a professional chef. I had my own restaurateur before it was destroyed".

Facing his declaration, the soldier stated plainly. "I wasn't referring to you sir". His gaze lowered downwards before falling on the little girl.

Seeing this, the timid child trembled and moved behind her father.

".... Well, this is interesting….". Luca thought to himself at the unexpected turn of events.

"Wait ..... What?"

"The call was specifically for those skilled in the listed areas. Or do you plan to tell me that this little girl has such level of expertise?"

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