Tayagum was a waterbender and trusted warrior of the Water Tribes, serving in an important role for Chief Oyaluk during the Platinum Affair, along with his husband Akuudan. After being imprisoned in the Earth Kingdom when the international blunder began to unfold, Tayagum and Akuudan became trusted contacts and allies of Avatar Yangchen, and helped her investigate and bring an end to the Unanimity project in Bin-Er and Taku.
History
Early history
Tayagum was born in the Orca Islands to Angtan and Taganak, and was named after his cousin. He came to serve in a high-profile, secretive military capacity for the Water Tribes that involved direct orders from Chief Oyaluk in the Northern capital of Agna Qel'a. At some point, he met and married Akuudan a fellow warrior who hailed from the Southern Water Tribe. They modified the traditional custom of giving a hand-carved necklace by both wearing betrothal armbands; Akuudan made Tayagum use all of his failed attempts at carving to use as stones on his own armband, though the stone that Akuudan carved was perfect the first time.[1][2] He spent time in Bin-Er at some point, and became acquainted with Mama Ayunerak.[1]
During the Platinum Affair, they served as expedition quartermasters, escorting the Water Tribe's payment of platinum ingots to General Nong under diplomatic pretenses. However, they were run down by Earth King Feishan's forces at Llama-paca's Crossing, along with the platinum they were guarding. The Water Tribe ambassadors could not get them released right away, and eventually, they stopped trying. The two warriors were disavowed by Oyaluk, and were only freed when Avatar Yangchen personally took it upon herself to negotiate amnesty for them. The husbands became firm allies of Yangchen, believing her to be a person who would help others without question. After being freed, they came to run a Water Tribe inn located in the shang city of Jonduri which could act as a safe house for the Avatar's allies.[2]
Unanimity project
In year 17 of the era of Yangchen, Tayagum arrived on a pickup boat in the Baizhi Sea, coming to collect Kavik, Yangchen's new informant who she could not officially bring into Jonduri. He reached down and clasped Kavik's arm, pulling him up to the boat. He smiled when he met him, glad to meet "kin" from the Water Tribes. They waterbent together to ride out of the patch of windless sea, and took a break when they could unfurl the sails, chatting about Kavik's past. After doing so, he used a rope to hoist up Kavik and startle him, as if he were trying to garotte his contact. After he unwound the line, he told Kavik to keep his head on straight, as the pickup could have been compromised. When Kavik asked if he would have been able to really overpower Tayagum and steal the boat, he snorted, telling him no, and to remember his passphrases.
As they neared the city, Tayagum explained that it was impossible for even adept waterbenders such as them to survive landing the dangerous beaches of Jonduri, and that they had no choice but to dock at the harbor, where only Tayagum and his assistant were authorized to leave and enter. Tayagum hoped that the new harbor agent, Ping, would be on duty and easily mistake Kavik for Tayagum's assistant, but it ended up being Harbormaster Lee on duty. Slowing their approach enough to avoid suspicion, Kavik asked if his hair was the same as his assistant, and after hearing that their height, build, and hairstyle were all the same, he smashed his face onto a hard surface to make it bloody and unrecognizable. When they arrived to meet the harbormaster, Tayagum's assistant was reprimanded for his supposed incompetence, and led Kavik down the pier, instructing him to keep his head down.[1] After hustling down the streets of Jonduri, they made their way to the inn, where Tayagum giving him a place to sit. He left Kavik in Akuudan's care, and went back to the dock to smooth things over.[2]
After Tayagum returned from the dock, he chatted quietly with Akuudan as Kavik napped. When he woke up, they offered him a meal, with Tayagum noting that Jonduri was able to get Water Tribe ingredients easily due to the large amount of trade in the city. Kavik tried to inquire more about Tayagum's assistant, but was met with standoffishness. He began to speculate on Tayagum and Akuudan's past, and they ended up telling Kavik what Yangchen had done for them, with Tayagum's nostrils flaring when Kavik made a somewhat disparaging comment about the Avatar. Kavik realized they were "true believers" in Yangchen, and then also inquired about when they were wed, having deduced that they were a married couple. They reminisced about their past and the romantic meaning of their betrothal armbands before finishing dinner. When Kavik explained his mission to find information on the Unanimity project in Jonduri, Tayagum and Akuudan were skeptical about the plan, especially since Kavik talked about simply getting roughed up in Bin-Er. The couple explained how Jonduri was a different city from Bin-Er due to Chaisee's complete grip on the flow of information, as well as the more cutthroat attitudes on the island. Kavik then worried about Yangchen meeting Chaisee face-to-face, but Tayagum said she would be okay, as it was aboveground, and Akuudan said that they would talk her out about her plan for Kavik. When the younger waterbender gave them a look, Tayagum told him not to doubt her, as they were professionals who knew when the risk was too great. Kavik pointed out that if they had been in the game for so long, they should be ready to break the nose of Tayagum's assistant so that Lee did not get suspicious, which a tense Akuudan said he would do.[2]
For the next few days, Tayagum went out to fish as they waited for the Avatar. By the middle of the third day, Yangchen still had not arrived, and Tayagum suspected that she was being watched and could not join them yet, doubtful that anyone would harm an Avatar. When Kavik doubted that, thinking of Avatars who had died violent deaths, Tayagum pointed out that those were great war heroes, not Avatars knifed in the middle of cities. Tayagum and Akuudan then told Kavik that they had an opening for him to join Chaisee's association, but it had to be that very night. When Kavik asked why there was so much unrest when Jonduri was supposedly pristine, Tayagum explained that Chaisee always sent people to "resolve the conflict". They also speculated on the nature of the Unanimity, with Tayagum was sure that it had to be money. Kavik then left the two men to join Chaisee's association after he pointed out to them that Yangchen herself would be willing to take such a risk.[3]
Later, Tayagum and Akuudan met up with both Kavik and Yangchen. The Avatar was shocked after she learned that both her advisor, Sidao, and Kavik's former information broker, Qiu, had been killed. Yangchen was in shock, and while Tayagum said it was her call what to do next, she declared that she did not know, and stormed out the inn. Tayagum left with Akuudan and Kavik to go outside, but she had already left. While Akuudan despaired that they would not find her, Kavik had a hunch where she was, and left for the loudest beach on the island.[4]
As Kavik kept working for the association, Tayagum and Akuudan provided him with some money, which he intentionally lost in gambling so that he could figure out what jobs people were being assigned. Yangchen then encouraged her informant to take on the job raiding the main warehouse in Jonduri, as it would likely give them access to the logbook that had the details on Unanimity. Before Kavik joined the team, Tayagum told him to move fast, as everyone would be trying to get the logbook if a fight broke out, and whoever was holding the goods would have all the negotiating power.[5] When Kavik re-entered the inn, he told Tayagum, Akuudan and Yangchen that they had been wrong about Unanimity, first describing his fight in the warehouse and how he had recklessly opened the crates, with Tayagum voicing disapproval while showing a hint of respect with a smirk. Kavik explained that Unanimity was coming from Port Tuugaq on a ship called the Sunbeam. Before leaving to reach what she thought was the secret project, the Avatar tasked Tayagum and Akuudan with keeping an ear out for the warehouse workers in case Chaisee tried to retaliate against them. Kavik was told to stay under cover, and, secretly following orders from Kalyaan, he spent the next few days at the association building, telling the couple that sleeping there would help protect his cover.[6]
Some time later, Yangchen returned to Jonduri, having deduced that she was wrong about Unanimity. She first picked up Kavik's partner, Jujinta, and then took him, Tayagum, and Akuudan to Bin-Er for their own safety and the extra help. Arriving at the city, they realized that the Unanimity project was actually three combustionbenders being used as human weapons. After arriving in the city, they first conducted a raid on Xiaoyun's position, with Yangchen quickly removing the air before Tayagum and Akuudan picked up his unconscious form.[7] They moved on to Thapa next, Yangchen repeating the process, with Tayagum checking the room for hidden dangers as Akuudan hurled the huge combustionbender over his shoulder. Tayagum personally dragged away Zongdu Henshe, the very leader of the shangs who sought to use Unanimity as leverage.[8] The raid on Yingsu, the final combustionbender, took longer, and Tayagum and Akuudan came rushing to Yangchen and Jujinta from deeper within the city, staying sight out of the gathering hall where the combustionbender had fallen back to. Tayagum was able to deliver an unstrung Water Tribe bow to Jujinta from a long wooden case, and then presented the marksman with the quiver. Jujinta said he could make the shot, but that there were too many places where Yingsu would be, and he could not pinpoint her precise location. Yangchen then launched herself at Yingsu, bellowing at her and commanding her to stand down, and Tayagum and Akuudan screamed at her out of concern. Yingsu fired in the Avatar's direction, but Yangchen was able to move aside, and the blast gave Jujinta an opening to strike Yingsu, allowing Yangchen to detain her and bring an end to the Unanimity crisis in Bin-Er.[7]
Tayagum alongside Akuudan were relocated to a village by Yangchen near the Northern Air Temple due to the fallout of Kavik's betrayal. They set up a teahouse there with Jujinta alongside them, while Yangchen hid the combustionbenders in the Northern Air Temple after they were captured in Bin-Er. About six months after the conflict, Tayagum, Akuudan, and Jujinta were all gathered in the teahouse when Kavik unexpectedly entered catching all of them by surprise.[9] Tayagum encouraged Jujinta's attempt to kill Kavik before he was pulled away by Akuudan.[10] Afterwards, Tayagum showed extreme resentment to Kavik over his betrayal. Soon afterward, the Unanimity combustionbenders held captive in the Temple escaped, causing a rockslide endangering the village, Tayagum along with Kavik, Akuudan, and Jujinta assisted Yangchen to keep the situation under control.[11] Yangchen sent Tayagum and Akuudan to tell Abbot Sonam about the situation and to help set up a perimeter around the temple.
After a team briefing, Tayagum accompanied Yangchen to Taku along with the rest of the team in Air Nomad disguises arriving at a safehouse.[12] Tayagum's next mission was sneaking on the Bliss Eternal, the boat of Taku's Zongdou Iwashi, with Akuudan and Jujinta to discover any secret records Chaisee may have about the Unanimity project and Thapa's hiding place,[13] while Yangchen and Kavik distracted Iwashi with a game of sparrowbones.
After a successful mission, Yangchen had to separate Akuudan, Tayagum, and Jujinta from Kavik after he said a sarcastic remark towards her.[14] She assigned Tayagum and Akuudan to remain in Taku to keep an eye on the city proceedings while Yangchen ultimately decided to look for an island which may hold more members of Unanimity with Jujinta and Kavik.[15] Upon their return from the island which involved Nujian's death, Tayagum helped Yangchen by standing alongside her bed with Jujinta while she grieved her lost companion.[16]
Tayagum partook in Kavik's final plan alongside Akuudan and Jujinta to bring Kalyaan to justice. Kavik agreed to be non-lethally stabbed by Jujinta prior to Kalyaan's questioning. After Jujinta's stab, Kavik was carried to a nearby apothecary by Kalyaan. Once he entered the trap, Tayagum and Akuudan both questioned him after a fight ensued. Tayagum manipulated Kalyaan upon mentioning Kavik's previous betrayal and questioning if Kavik's ultimate goal was to betray them once again to escape with Kalyaan.[17] Upon deceived into thinking Kavik was tortured by Akuudan and witnessing his agonizing pleas, Kalyaan gave up the information on the signal causing Thapa's attack which Jujinta forwarded to Yangchen.[17] When the bells rang for a third and final time with no explosions heard, Tayagum along with Kavik, Akuudan, and Jujinta celebrated Yangchen's completion of the mission.[18]
Both Tayagum and Akuudan stood next to Yingsu as she was given the signal by Yangchen to fire combustion blasts around a boat Yangchen and Earth King Feishan were meeting at, a demonstration to allow Feishan to understand the power Yangchen was protecting him and the world from, also to avoid Feishan himself starting conflicts.[19]
Physical description
Tayagum was a wiry man, who had reached his forties by the time of the Unanimity crisis. He had a long face and a chin like a stone plinth.[1]
Personality
A strong and reliable presence, Tayagum was initially friendly toward Kavik and amused by his presence, considering them "kin" due to them both being Water Tribe. He also warned Kavik about staying on guard in Jonduri if he wanted to keep his head.[1] He later turned stand-offish after figuring Kavik was the wrong kind of person for his mission, considering him annoying and a liability.[2]
When Tayagum was worried he had a habit of freezing and melting and unfreezing water into different strand patterns between his fingers.[3] He was careful of taking too great risks, believing it was the professional way of handling things,[2] but he also could not help but respect Kavik for the risks he had taken of behalf of their mission.[6] Later, he grew to greatly dislike Kavik after he betrayed them and did not care when Jujinta tried to stab him, even telling him that he could do it better.[10] He was very suspicious of Kavik and continued watch him in case he planned to trick them again. He was angered by the younger waterbender to the point his husband had to gently calm him down, although Tayagum eventually managed to forgive Kavik.[18]
Tayagum was affectionate toward his husband and they had great team-work. They made jokes about different ways to physically harm Kavik, and were later hardened enough to actually torture him, even if it was part of a plan.
Abilities
Tayagum was a waterbender. His motions were different from the form Kavik practiced, prone to sudden fast movements among the slow, his hands winding around each other.[1] He knew basic field healing without the use of bending.[2]
He was poor at carving stones for a betrothal armband, making several failed attempts, but improving each time.[2]
Relatives
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Appearances
Chronicles of the AvatarThe Dawn of Yangchen
The Legacy of Yangchen
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Seventeen, "Breaking In". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Eighteen "A Place to Lay One's Head". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Twenty, "The Gamble". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Twenty-Four, "Rememberance". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Twenty-Five, "The Numbers Game". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Twenty-Eight, "Following Through". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Thirty-Six, "Exposure". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 19, 2022). Chapter Thirty-Five, "The Display". The Dawn of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Eight, "Stomping Grounds". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Nine, "Dead Giveaway". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Ten, "Gravity". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Fifteen, "The Oathbreaker". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Seventeen, "Baited". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Twenty, "Anonymity". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Twenty-One, "Keeping Pace". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Twenty-Six, "Aftershocks". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Thirty-One, "Casualties". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Thirty-Five, "Truth". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Yee, F. C. (author). (July 18, 2023). Chapter Thirty-Six, "The Path Forward". The Legacy of Yangchen. Amulet Books.