| "Working yourself to the brink of oblivion was pointless if you couldn't defend the life you made. Maneuvers, deals, negotiations were simply dance steps. Pageantry. The true arbiter waiting at the end of the performance was violence." |
| — Chaisee musing about the realities of the world.[1] |
Chaisee was a shang merchant selected as Zongdu of Jonduri, and one of the world's most successful businesspeople during the adolescence of Avatar Yangchen. She was extremely effective at keeping the other shangs in line, and helped everyone reap massive profits. Having dynastic ambitions for herself and her family, Chaisee helped engineer the Unanimity project in order to free the shang cities from the authorities of the four nations.
Though her plot came close to fruition thanks to her ruthless employment of brainwashing and a human weapon, her operations were ultimately foiled by Yangchen. After this defeat, Chaisee and her family had to go underground due to be being hunted by various world leaders, most importantly Earth King Feishan. Furthermore, her continued survival became dependent on Yangchen's protection, forcing Chaisee to become part of the Avatar's secretive network.
History[]
Early life[]
Chaisee grew up on a small island in the south Mo Ce Sea as the daughter of shellfish divers. There were no benders of any sort in the family, and no clan traditions, with her ancestry being a mystery to herself. While she was technically a subject of the Fire Nation, she considered herself to be from an "in-between place", her nationality unknown.[2] She and the villagers of the island dove into the depths of the sea for prized cucumber sponges, which they carefully killed and dried in order to sell them on open markets. As Chaisee grew older, she began to manage the village's books. She also took over from her father the negotiations with haulers who collected the sponges, pearls, and dried shellfish meat, for which she used to spy on other suppliers while using uncharted islands as stashes to control market prices.[1]
One day, a ship that bore flags from the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom arrived to the island. The party was led by junior ambassadors from both nations, who read a proclamation in front of the villagers which decreed that the inhabitants of the island would no longer be allowed to produce certain goods of the sea. According to an agreement between the Earth King and the Fire Lord, the exclusive rights had been granted to a merchant from a faraway city. Chaisee's father attempted to protest against this decision and decided to treat the crew as honored guests, showing them their customs of hospitality in order to discuss business the next morning, to which the officials agreed. Chaisee stayed away from the feast, merely observing from the distance as was her habit, which allowed her to see how one of the sailors — as instructed by the ambassadors — picked up a torch and flung it into the hut where the villagers dried the cucumber sponges. The fire spread and burned the adjacent huts as well until half the village was ablaze. Chaisee watched the delegation escape in their longboats as the villagers attempted to fight the fire, albeit unsuccessfully. This event had a profound impact on Chaisee. It not only forced her to seek a new employment away from her home, but also convinced her that one had to secure their gains by any means necessary. Ultimately, everything boiled down to influence as well as power and the resulting ability to use violence to defend what one owned. Without power, so she reasoned, one always remained defenseless.[1]
Chaisee consequently moved onto one of the Fire Islands closer to the heart of the Fire Nation, gradually working her way upward as a trader. Mastering the codes of business of all four nations, she built up a network of influenced and indebted merchants. With this base of support, she was in an excellent position to exploit the upcoming changes in the world economy.[1] She also continued to educate herself, studying the works of Guru Shoken in great detail, even though they were considered obscure to many.[2]
Starting the Unanimity project[]
With the Platinum Affair giving rise to the shang system in four cities open to international trade, Chaisee recognized that this would result in the accumulation of immense power in the hands of a small number of people. Accordingly, she used her network to maneuver herself into the right position. Before long, she rose to great heights in the mercantile class of Jonduri and managed to become zongdu of the city, being elected unanimously after manipulating the other shangs.[1] As zongdu, Chaisee became the most effective shang leader since the beginning of the system, managing to keep the influence of Fire Lord Gonryu out of Jonduri by bringing him the revenue she reaped from the city's massive profits. Earth King Feishan and Chief Oyaluk were said to have both envied Jonduri as the jewel of the shang system.[4][2] While Chaisee made sure the post-Platinum Affair security arrangements were followed to the brushstroke, the city was just as full of spies and errand-runners as Bin-Er, and was just better organized at hiding its corruption.[5][6]
Despite being in a position of tremendous wealth and power, Chaisee was well aware that her status as zongdu was both tenuous as well as envied. In particular, Fire Lord Gonryu grew increasingly hostile toward her autonomy.[2] Remembering the fate of her home island, Chaise wanted to ensure the continued safety of her family at all cost; to this end, she cooperated with a select number of other shangs to initiate the so-called "Unanimity project".[1] This secretive project was designed to give the shangs leverage over the authorities of the four nations, as they were all banned from raising an army.[7][3] Personally, Chaisee hoped to gain a hereditary title for her family, so that she would be no longer be dependent on conspiracies, bribery, and dealings to maintain power.[1][8]
Chaisee initially worked on the Unanimity project with Dooshim, the Zongdu of Bin-Er, before his retirement.[7][3] Dooshim was suceeded by Zongdu Henshe of whom Chaisee had a low opinion.[1] In turn, Henshe did not trust her and sent an undercover agent to spy in Jonduri. This agent, Kalyaan, rapidly rose within Chaisee's network, eventually becoming not only her right-hand-man,[9] but even her lover.[10] Meanwhile, Chaisee's research proved crucial to the Unanimity project. She acquired a substantial number of ancient, obscure and highly valuable texts; using these, her researchers began experiments on a remote island. In her drive to secure human weapons for herself, Chaisee's researchers subjected trainees to brutal and tortuous training, some of which killed all those involved.[11][12] Though most experiments resulted in deadly failures,[13][12] the project allowed a small number of firebenders to gain combustionbending abilities for the first time in recorded history.[13] These firebenders were subjected to brainwashing.[14] As it was Chaisee who had led to the project coming to fruition, she had the authority to decide when and where Unanimity would be deployed.[7]
Around late Year 16 of the era of Yangchen, Chaisee got pregnant by Kalyaan.[10] His fatherhood was kept secret from the public.[2] Her pregnancy only intensified Chaisee's determination to use the Unanimity project to create a stable regime for her family.[1][7]
Troubles with Henshe[]
In Year 17 of the era of Yangchen, Chaisee received a growing number of letters by Henshe. She ignored his messages, refusing to answer his messages via hawk due to the security risks involved. Eventually, Minister Sidao personally visited Chaisee. The latter was one of Henshe's agents, but officially worked for Avatar Yangchen. Sidao informed her of the Avatar's official visit to the shang city of Bin-Er, during which Yangchen had requested that the shangs donate their fortunes to helping the people of the city, or she would expose the violation of their charter to the Earth King. Chaisee was relatively unconcerned over Yangchen's threats, but feared that Sidao was operating as a double agent for the Avatar. Seeing him as a security risk, Chaisee had the Earth Sage killed.[7]
Not long after, Chaisee welcomed Yangchen when the Avatar's official tour of the shang cities took her to Jonduri. At this point, Yangchen was already investigating the truth of the Unanimity project, a fact which the zongdu suspected. Yangchen was surprised to see that Chaisee was seven months pregnant, a detail that had not been mentioned in the reports about her within the last year. When they met, Chaisee was able to converse pleasantly with Yangchen, and introduced her to the works of Guru Shoken. Once they spoke of Yangchen's desire for reforms, Chaisee promised that they would be implemented, but the Avatar realized that Chaisee was trying to manipulate her by promising everything she wanted without planning to follow through. Once Yangchen inquired more into the time it would take to work with these reforms, possibly extending past Chaisee's term as zongdu, she dismissed her servant and took a walk in the garden with Yangchen. She told Yangchen that her servant was a spy for the Fire Lord and would have to be disappeared; speaking openly to Yangchen about her brutal policy of silencing all dissent. Once they returned, Chaisee gifted Yangchen with the works of Shoken, and delivered a message from Ma'inka Island about a curse that the children of the Saowon clan were suffering from, a problem which she knew would distract Yangchen from the issues in the shang cities and Unanimity.[2] Not long after, Chaisee realized that Yangchen had placed another spy at Jonduri; she mistakenly assumed this to be Qiu and ordered him killed.[15] The zongdu then sent a message to Yangchen via messenger hawk about supposedly meeting a spy of the Avatar, implying her role in the murders of Sidao and Qiu to threaten the Avatar into backing down.[16]
At some point after Yangchen's departure from Jonduri, Henshe visited Chaisee in person to appeal his case. Just as in his messages, he tried to convince Chaisee deploy Unanimity to Bin-Er. When she refused, Henshe expressed his resentment over Chaisee's killing of his messenger. She countered that there had been severe security risks with Sidao, and she had been dealing with many potential leaks in the city. Henshe proceeded to threaten to ask the Fire Lord to have her replaced with another zongdu, knowing it would ruin her plans to build a dynasty for herself. Seemingly taken aback by this blatant blackmailing, Chaisee then agreed to deploy Unanimity to Bin-Er, but claimed that she needed more time. Knowing how Jonduri's zongdu manipulated people, Henshe did not trust her promises and arranged to steal Unanimity from her at once by using Kalyaan, his personal spy in Jonduri.[7]
Unanimity was taken to Bin-Er, yet the three combustionbenders were stopped by Yangchen just after they began their display of power. Yangchen covered up Unanimity as strange spiritual activity, while she planned to interrogate the combustionbenders about Chaisee's involvement.[17] Chaisee was furious upon learning of Henshe's betrayal and ill-advised usage of the combustionbenders,[1] especially as the human weapons ended up under Avatar Yangchen's supervision.[1][18] She swiftly moved to cover up her involvement in the Unanimity project, while trying to salvage as much as possible.[1][12] Chaisee ordered her researchers and guards to abandon the secret island where the project's experiments had been conducted; all remaining trainees were left behind. It was assumed that these individuals — now considered liabilities and potential witnesses — would soon die of starvation or exposure. This assumption was largely correct, as only two trainees survived and were later rescued from the island.[12] Meanwhile, Kalyaan revealed his role as Henshe's spy to Chaisee. As he suspected, the zongdu spared him despite his betrayal due to her genuine love for him as well as his value as an excellent agent.[10]
Regaining the initiative[]
Some time after the incident in Bin-Er, Chaisee gave birth to a son. Over the following period, she redesigned her office to care for the boy while continuing to work. In doing so, she appeared exhausted and stressed to her servants and visitors. In truth, Chaisee used the adaptions to her work space and her son's activities to distract any spies and observers, misleading them over her plans and state of mind.[1]
One day, as she worked in her office, an attendant (covertly a spy) came with news just as her baby woke up. The boy began screaming, causing Chaisee to feign anger and frustration over having to get him to sleep again. Unsettled by the situation, the attendant hurriedly withdrew from the room. The zongdu promptly dropped her act, quickly calming her son as she turned to the information delivered to her. As she rocked the crib, Chaisee opened a cryptic message that had hidden signals that let her know the writer's identity,[1] namely Thapa, one of the combustionbenders.[14] She smiled as she folded the letter and looked at it again, pleased to know that her plans were in full motion.[1]
Thanks to the letter, Chaisee was able to identify the location where Yangchen had imprisoned the combustionbenders and Henshe: the Northern Air Temple. Accordingly, she sent Kalyaan and other agents to free the prisoners and kill Henshe, considering the latter a loose end.[14][19] However, the raid on the Northern Air Temple partially derailed as Thapa used the opportunity to seemingly kill the other two combustionbenders, Yingsu and Xiaoyun.[14][20]
After her agents had extracted Thapa, they brought him to the luxury inn of late zongdu Dooshim. Chaisee had secretly bought the establishment years prior, and vacated it prior to Thapa's arrival so that the two could talk in peace. She ordered a great meal to be prepared for the combustionbender, and then demanded that all guards and staff leave. Once they were alone, Thapa began to ravenously eat, while Chaisee mildly expressed her anger at the death of the other combustionbenders. Thapa responded by trying to blackmail the zongdu. He demanded thirty times as much money as previously agreed, arguing that he had become Chaisee's only option due to the demise of the other combustionbenders. Contrary to his expectations, Chaisee was merely disgusted at Thapa's bravado and blunt attitude, as it reminded her of the behavior of the sailors who had burned down her home village all those years ago. She calmly rejected the combustionbender's demand, declaring that she did not "do business with people lacking in character".[14]
Angered, Thapa threw the table with the food aside and openly threatened his former employer. In response, Chaisee used the code phrase of his brainwashing, turning him into a submissive slave. After checking the combustionbender's eyes and concluding that he was not faking his mental state, the zongdu decided to test the brainwashing's control. She ordered Thapa to use a knife to stab himself without hitting an artery, and the man complied.[14]
Plans discovered[]
Sometime afterward, Chaisee alongside Yangchen, Kavik, and Taku's Zongdu Iwashi played a game of sparrowbones.[21] This game was purposefully planned by Yangchen while Akuudan, Jujinta, and Tayagum were sneaking on the Bliss Eternal, Iwashi's boat, to discover any secret records Chaisee may have about the Unanimity project and Thapa's hiding place.[22] Chaisee greeted Yangchen and Kavik alongside Iwashi and at the council hall prior to the game in a meeting with other zongdus and shangs. Chaisee congratulated Yangchen on bringing the Bin-Er shangs under her control, remarking that they now seemed to fear her, with Yangchen replying that people were capable of great change, and that the common good rewarded those who tended to it properly.[23]
Following her covert investigation of the island where the Unanimity project was developed, Yangchen attended a meeting at council hall with the other zongdus including Chaisee, the policies and security measures discussed making her realize Chaisee would deploy Thapa soon. Chaisee noticed when Yangchen burned a note she received in frustration, and asked to adjourn the meeting, asking to speak with Yangchen in private.[24]
Final confrontation[]
Chaisee revealed she had taken on some of Iwashi's debts following their Sparrowbones game, gaining control over Taku's zongdu. Yangchen remarked that Chaisee always seemed to come out on top, even when broke even in the game, claiming Chaisee was better than her. Chaisee feigned ignorance to the veiled accusations, before Yangchen asked that they speak plainly. Chaisee tried challenging Yangchen's understanding that they were adversaries, rebuking her assumption that her pride was at stake.
Stepping out into the balcony, Yangchen airbent the doors open in frustration, Chaisee voicing her opinion that Avatarhood was not fair. She clarified her point when Yangchen misunderstood it to mean bending all four elements, explaining that she meant how people held the Avatar responsible for matters like the Platinum Affair throughout history. Yangchen interpreted the seemingly benign comments as an implicit threat to become one of her assets. Chaisee suggested people would act with more wisdom if the Avatar did not exist to intervene on their behalf, conceding the argument when Yangchen pointed out her existence.
Chaisee revealed her goal of wanting the zongdu position to become permanent and hereditary, wishing for Yangchen's support in achieving it. She alleged no interest in taking control over the shang cities other than Jonduri, but Yangchen reasoned to herself Chaisee would take indirect and unofficial control over them through their zongdus, like she did with Iwashi and Henshe. Chaisee justified herself as the most competent shang system official, promising to raise her son to be as competent, and to provide stability in uncertain times. Yangchen realized that Chaisee's scheme could indeed allow her to carve out her own domain alongside the existing nations, creating a new world order.
Chaisee assured Yangchen that allowing her to ascend in such a manner would not lead to another world crisis, and that both of them could benefit with her as a lifelong zongdu, rather than have to contend with the uncertainty generated by the current system of rotating zongdus. Yangchen figured that Chaisee would use Unanimity to further extort her after the meeting of the nations leaders, before the zongdu asked the Avatar to help secure her legacy, suggesting they could work on Yangchen's afterward. Yangchen remarked that providing the requested aid would require her to ignore all of Chaisee's past crimes, but Chaisee replied that the past could not be changed, and it was better to focus on the future.[8]
Yangchen suddenly sealed the hall's doors with earthbending, trapping them in the balcony, before ringing the great gong of Taku thrice with airbending and further enclosing them in earth. Recognizing Thapa's trigger, Chaisee began to panic and tried in vain to appeal to Yangchen's sense of regret over the chaos that would follow. Unmoved by the attempt, Yangchen offered to save her if she revealed Thapa's location, pointing out that as the Avatar, she was fated to always return. She instead wondered about Chaisee's legacy, how her son would fare with so many that Chaisee manipulated free to act.
Unwilling to gamble with her son's life, Chaisee revealed that Thapa was hidden in the basement under the hall. Because of Chaisee's many previous lies, Yangchen did not take her at her word, believing it to be a trick so she could attempt an escape. Only when Chaisee let go of her remaining pride, begging for help and offering anything to make it right, did Yangchen take action.[25]
Aftermath[]
After Thapa's death, Yangchen allowed Chaisee to leave Taku and go into hiding with Kalyaan and her son, swearing she would not allow any harm to her infant. Her intention was to pit both Chaisee and Earth King Feishan against one another, preventing either of them from causing the world more trouble, possibly stepping in if one side becomes more successful than the other. Yangchen knew Feishan would do everything he could to obtain Chaisee's knowledge on Unanimity if he knew exact details of its existence and killing Chaisee upon acquiring it. Chaisee and her family instead were forced to spend their lives constantly on the move, unable to stay in one place long enough to grow and draw attention from Feishan's agents hunting them.[26]
Personality[]
In her youth, Chaisee developed a deeply determined, fierce, and unscrupulous streak by involving herself in the often cutthroat and underhanded ways of sponge and pearl trade.[1] Regardless, she maintained a certain devotion to her family, her homeland, and their traditions; this contributed to her becoming even more ruthless after witnessing how the world governments casually destroyed her people's existence.[1][8] Afterward, Chaisee concluded that might made right, and thus became determined to ensure future safety for her family by gaining a stable and powerful position on the world stage.[1][8]
Over the course of her career as regional trader, Chaisee was willing to do anything necessary to ensure her own success. Her network was built upon blackmail, debts, and murder. Nevertheless, she never adopted a nihilistic worldview, and treated her followers, comrades, and even opponents with respect as long as they respected her in return.[1][14][8] In contrast, she occasionally relished in humiliating some of her less savory allies.[14][27] As an intellectual, Chaise developed a fondness for Air Nomad philosophy and the works of Shoken, sometimes using their concepts to rationalize her own brutality.[2][14] Most of the time, however, Chaisee privately accepted full responsibility for her actions and their self-serving nature, seeing her own behavior as natural way of doing things in an uncaring, profit-oriented world.[1][8]
Regardless of her calculated, often even cold personality, Chaisee was very fond of Kalyaan. She was willing to forgive his betrayal despite usually killing any double-agents.[10] Her greatest care was extended to her son, however, whom she genuinely adored. It was her love for her family which ultimately contributed to her defeat at Yangchen's hands and submission to the Avatar's cause, as Chaisee was willing to throw all her achievements away as long as it helped to protect her loved ones.[8][25][28]
Relatives[]
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Appearances[]
Chronicles of the Avatar[]
The Dawn of Yangchen[]
- 119. "A Meeting of Minds"
- 127. "Closing the Deal"
The Legacy of Yangchen[]
- 201. "Depths"
- 214. "Bad Company"
- 216. "Matters of Pride"
- 217. "Baited"
- 218. "Hooked"
- 219. "Landed"
- 227. "Bereavement"
- 229. "The Pitch"
- 232. "Blinking First"
- 234. "The Burial"
Trivia[]
- Chaisee is a Thai name meaning "innocent", which is ironic given her involvement in the Unanimity project.[29]
References[]
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