| "You could save her if you were in the Avatar State!" |
| — Fong addressing Aang.[1] |
General Fong was a powerful earthbender and a high-ranking officer in the Earth Kingdom Army who served as a general during the final stages of the Hundred Year War. Fong was a temporary ally of Team Avatar who attempted to help Aang master the Avatar State.
Quick Answers
What role did General Fong play in the final stages of the Hundred Year War?
How did General Fong help Aang in Avatar?
What was General Fong's attitude that won him high praises from his superiors?
Who was the voice actor for General Fong in Avatar?
How did General Fong rise through the ranks in the Earth Kingdom Army?
History
Starting as an enlisted man over twenty-five years before meeting Team Avatar, Fong originally fought against the Fire Nation on the front lines where his "no fear" attitude won him high praises from his superiors. Fong worked his way up the ranks, eventually becoming an officer. He was different from the other officers, having a less formal education, but this set him apart and helped him on his path to becoming a general. Since General Fong started at such a low rank, the men under his command considered him one of their own and they were extremely loyal to him.[2]
In 100 AG, General Fong was given the responsibility of providing Aang and company an escort to the Earth Kingdom city of Omashu. Bent on stopping the Hundred Year War, during Aang's stay at his fortress, he informed Aang that if he could just trigger the Avatar State, he could defeat the Fire Lord and end the War immediately. After many failed attempts at triggering Aang's Avatar State, he decided that he would have to activate it using force by putting Aang in genuine danger. To this end, he directed his soldiers to attack the Avatar.[1]
The soldiers' attack on Aang did not succeed in triggering the Avatar State, so Fong fooled Aang into believing he had killed Katara by burying her underground. This caused Aang to enter the Avatar State after all, much to his satisfaction but also his fear. Afterward, General Fong was knocked unconscious by Sokka after he stubbornly thought of more plans to trigger the Avatar State.[1]
After Team Avatar learned that the firebenders would be powerless on the Day of Black Sun and told the Earth King, the Council of Five decided that the invasion of the Fire Nation would be launched from Fong's fortress.[3] However, due to the fall of Ba Sing Se,[4] General Fong was not an active participant in the invasion on the Day of Black Sun. He did, however, send some of his available troops to assist the invasion force.[5]
Personality
Fong was considered one of the Earth Kingdom's most aggressive generals and strategists,[6] especially when he set his mind to achieve something.[2] Described as a "workaholic",[6] he was willing to attempt questionable and dangerous methods to achieve his aims, and was prepared to sacrifice smaller things or even people for the bigger goal of ending the Hundred Year War as quickly as possible. This was evidenced by how, as a last resort, he attacked Aang and his team in an attempt to trigger the Avatar State.[2]
Abilities
Earthbending
Fong was considered a powerful earthbender who could cause powerful earth waves or shoot entire stone desks through walls. He was also skilled in sandbending, using the technique to intercept an attack from Katara and later dissolving the ground beneath her feet, causing the young waterbender to sink deeper and deeper into the ground.[1]
Appearances
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Book Two: Earth (土)
- 201. "The Avatar State"
Trivia
- Although Aang dismissed Fong's suggestion that he go into the Avatar State to defeat Fire Lord Ozai, it was only by doing so that Aang was able to defeat him.[7]