Some worldbuilding...
I've been working on some details of the Skypirates AU, including how each nation was affected, and how the war (called "The Hundred Year War,") was different.
The Water Tribes:
Both the North Pole and South Pole were greatly affected by the loss of the ocean. Although much of the ice remained, the water still disappeared, and so did many of the fish that both tribes depended on for food.
Rather than moving, the Water Tribes adapted. They became semi-nomadic, their movements based around a series of hidden wells. The ocean's disappearance did not take all the animals with it, and many plants and animals made new homes where the water had left arid land.
When the Hundred Year War began, the Water Tribes were mostly spared, at first. The Fire Nation saw no threat from benders who struggled to find their element. That changed when the warriors of the Southern Water Tribe began helping the Earth Kingdom.
The Water Tribes built their airships differently than the fire Nation did. Firebenders and wooden ships didn't mix, so the Fire Nation had to use metal for their navy. The Water Tribe was not so limited, and could build lighter ships, thatcould go higher and attack the Fire Nation's ships from above without fear of counterattack. The Water Tribes were now an official threat.
The Fire Nation attacked the Southern Tribe and wiped out many of their benders. Rather than relent, the Southern Water Tribe learned how to hide their homes more effectively.
The North Pole had one large city as well as the nomadic tribes living there. The Fire nation laid seige to it once, but were easily driven off. Whether this had more to do with the actual fighting instead of the Fire Nation just deciding the frozen tundra wasn't worth it is up to interpretation.
The Earth Kingdom (West):
The western Earth Kingdom became a bustling area of trade. Whole cities grew up around advantagous ports and on mountains. The western Earth Kingdom also became the favored region for sky-pirates.
This part of the Earth Kingdom had always been factionalized, but by the time the Hundred Year War began, each city was a law unto itself. Many ports declared themselves neutral, or cut off all trade; others banded together to fight the invading forces.
The Earth Kingdom (East):
The eastern Earth Kingdom also fractured into city-states, but for different reasons. Small villages and towns continued with their lives, farming and crafting. The larger cities became insular, fearful of attack. Most used earthbending to create more protection in case of attack from the skies. The great city of Ba Sing Se went miles below ground.
The Air Nomads:
The Air Nomads were mostly unaffected by the changing world. They noticed the increased traffic in the skies, but did not take to airships. Why would they, when a sky-bison could outfly even the fastest balloon?
This mastery of the skies may have been what motivated the Fire Nation to wipe them out, in a stuggle for dominance of the airways.
The Fire Nation:
The Fire Nation adapted well to the loss of the seas. Their islands became mountains, and plant life began to spread to the sea floor. They used firebending to gain an advantage in powering airships, though it was balanced out by the disadvantage of using metal to construct them. When they began using the ships for battle, the practice of wearing armor quickly ceased.
The Hundred Year War:
After wiping out the Air Nomads, the Fire Nation tried to conquer the Earth Kingdom in a series of attacks, but they only managed to take and hold several western cities. Since then, they have mostly been engaging in small skirmishes with Earth and Water forces. The only exceptions to this were several sieges of Ba Sing Se, the North Pole, and other large cities, and a short war on the Southern Water Tribe in retribution for its resistance on the behalf of the Earth Kingdom. The war is at something of a stalemate now, with the Fire Nation not actively attacking, but still refusing to leave the occupied cities taken early in the war.
The Water Tribes:
Both the North Pole and South Pole were greatly affected by the loss of the ocean. Although much of the ice remained, the water still disappeared, and so did many of the fish that both tribes depended on for food.
Rather than moving, the Water Tribes adapted. They became semi-nomadic, their movements based around a series of hidden wells. The ocean's disappearance did not take all the animals with it, and many plants and animals made new homes where the water had left arid land.
When the Hundred Year War began, the Water Tribes were mostly spared, at first. The Fire Nation saw no threat from benders who struggled to find their element. That changed when the warriors of the Southern Water Tribe began helping the Earth Kingdom.
The Water Tribes built their airships differently than the fire Nation did. Firebenders and wooden ships didn't mix, so the Fire Nation had to use metal for their navy. The Water Tribe was not so limited, and could build lighter ships, thatcould go higher and attack the Fire Nation's ships from above without fear of counterattack. The Water Tribes were now an official threat.
The Fire Nation attacked the Southern Tribe and wiped out many of their benders. Rather than relent, the Southern Water Tribe learned how to hide their homes more effectively.
The North Pole had one large city as well as the nomadic tribes living there. The Fire nation laid seige to it once, but were easily driven off. Whether this had more to do with the actual fighting instead of the Fire Nation just deciding the frozen tundra wasn't worth it is up to interpretation.
The Earth Kingdom (West):
The western Earth Kingdom became a bustling area of trade. Whole cities grew up around advantagous ports and on mountains. The western Earth Kingdom also became the favored region for sky-pirates.
This part of the Earth Kingdom had always been factionalized, but by the time the Hundred Year War began, each city was a law unto itself. Many ports declared themselves neutral, or cut off all trade; others banded together to fight the invading forces.
The Earth Kingdom (East):
The eastern Earth Kingdom also fractured into city-states, but for different reasons. Small villages and towns continued with their lives, farming and crafting. The larger cities became insular, fearful of attack. Most used earthbending to create more protection in case of attack from the skies. The great city of Ba Sing Se went miles below ground.
The Air Nomads:
The Air Nomads were mostly unaffected by the changing world. They noticed the increased traffic in the skies, but did not take to airships. Why would they, when a sky-bison could outfly even the fastest balloon?
This mastery of the skies may have been what motivated the Fire Nation to wipe them out, in a stuggle for dominance of the airways.
The Fire Nation:
The Fire Nation adapted well to the loss of the seas. Their islands became mountains, and plant life began to spread to the sea floor. They used firebending to gain an advantage in powering airships, though it was balanced out by the disadvantage of using metal to construct them. When they began using the ships for battle, the practice of wearing armor quickly ceased.
The Hundred Year War:
After wiping out the Air Nomads, the Fire Nation tried to conquer the Earth Kingdom in a series of attacks, but they only managed to take and hold several western cities. Since then, they have mostly been engaging in small skirmishes with Earth and Water forces. The only exceptions to this were several sieges of Ba Sing Se, the North Pole, and other large cities, and a short war on the Southern Water Tribe in retribution for its resistance on the behalf of the Earth Kingdom. The war is at something of a stalemate now, with the Fire Nation not actively attacking, but still refusing to leave the occupied cities taken early in the war.