I suppose this thread is going to be an area for myself (as well any other player) to post their ideas/established plans for cities and cultures inside of the world of the roleplay. Considering that this is rather early into the Hundred Year war (10 ASC), there are many Fire Nation colonies being established in the Earth Kingdom due to Fire Lord Sozin's focus on them. There are dozens. Along with these, there's bound to be many villages far and between, maybe even some located off of the main continent.
I suppose the purpose of this is to provide more flesh to the world in this time than what has already been provided. I'll start with providing a couple, and will ultimately end up contributing a ton more, but a few examples will due for the time being. Feel free to post ideas/ect here.
The Hu Xin Provinces
History
The Hu Xin Provinces are an assemblage of territories situated along the east coast of the Mo Ce Sea, a small, open body of water between the Earth Kingdom, the Fire Nation, and Crescent Island. It also travels from the Fire Nation Islands to the western lake of Ba Sing Se, along with the western coast of the Earth Kingdom. Formerly under Earth Kingdom jurisdiction, the Hu Xin Provinces were conquered by Fire Nation troops under the leadership of Prince Azulon, the provinces were colonized by Fire Nation residents shortly thereafter.
Description
The Hu Xin Provinces, being still situated on the very outer coast of the Fire Nation, are home strictly to Fire Nation residents and have architecture that the Fire Nation is most well known for, the buildings being grandiose. There are arches, lamps, and wooden houses strewn about.
Culture
With these provinces being new colonies, social discrepancies between Fire Nation citizens and Earth Kingdom natives are widespread. Earth Kingdom citizens occupy a second-class position in the city's society, while the higher positions are generally reserved for the Fire Nation residents. This social division leads, in many cases, to an inequality in wealth among the citizens, leaving some people at the mercy and submission of the nobility's power.
Yu Dao
History
Yu Dao is the oldest of the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom, having been settled before the beginning of the Hundred Year War, settled by ordinary families as part of the Fire Nation's initial campaign of expansion. Prior to Fire Nation colonization, Yu Dao was a poor backwater village. When the Fire Nation settlers came to the area, however, that all changed. Together with the Earth Kingdom civilians already living in the area, the Fire Nation created a thriving metalworking industry which evolved into one of the best in the world. The tiny village grew into a thriving, cosmopolitan city. Through the unique blending of Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation culture, Yu Dao became one of the wealthiest cities in the world.
Description
Yu Dao is located in a wide, flat valley which is bounded by rocky terrain on all sides. The city is enclosed by a sandstone wall with one opening which serves as the gateway to the city. Yu Dao's streets are lined by predominantly low rise buildings which are built in a unique style that combines Earth Kingdom and Fire Nation architecture. The metropolis is very compacted as the surrounding terrain limits Yu Dao's building space.
A wide, central pathway runs from Yu Dao's gate to the back of the city. The avenue serves as the main thoroughfare of the metropolis, and many smaller streets branch off of it.
Businesses include: the Green Flame Inn, the Green Blaze Inn, Old Chen's Blacksmith Shop, Yu Dao Grocery store, Tasty Hotpot Restaurant, and the Sweet Aroma Teahouse. Other buildings include the Morishita home.
Culture
Unlike most Fire Nation colonies, Yu Dao advocated a form of public equality, allowing Earth Kingdom citizens to live among Fire Nation citizens freely without any form of oppression; this appeared to be effective at a very high level, as Earthbenders were able to freely practice their bending alongside Firebenders without any fear of persecution.
Yu Dao's unique blend of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom architecture gave it a distinct feel, as the architecture of the city represented a merging of both nations' styles of building. The Earth Kingdom citizens generally occupied a second-class position in the city's society; however, this was not universally the case, as the Fire Nation mayor's wife, Mrs. Morishita, was an Earthbender, as was her daughter.
Ryun Ki
History
Despite being a relatively small settlement, the town was a renowned cultural center during the colonial era, hosting the popular Fire Days Festival every year.
Description
Ryun Ki is surrounded on all sides by hills and an expansive forest, through which a small river runs. A wooden, rectangular wall separates the forest from the town. The settlement is accessible via a single gate at the front entrance.
A place known for its beautiful cultural events, the town is filled with grandiose and brilliantly extravagant architecture. The settlement's landmark buildings are the three pagodas located at its center. The central pagoda is the largest, while the two identical ones to its sides are smaller. They are all three stories tall and have a yellow exterior with slanted black rooftops. Other smaller but similarly-designed structures surround the pagodas. The buildings are all centered around a wide and spacious square, at which many of the town's paved stone streets culminate. Several facilities and shops are based in and around the square, allowing it to thrive as a bustling commercial and social center.
Many fancy arches, lamps, and wooden houses are found elsewhere around the town. They are made to look aesthetically pleasing and are often heavily decorated. The houses all have multiple windows, yellow sides, and blue rooftops covered with shingles. Each house has a single door that faces in the direction of the main road. Houses are surrounded on all other sides by dark, unpaved alleyways that have little to feature.
Culture/Fire Days Festival
The main cultural event of the town, the Fire Days Festival, attracts Firebenders from across all the colonies. A traveling group brings Fire Nation culture to colonists that had been forced to leave their homeland. One common tradition is to wear masks at the festival, which are freely given out at the town's many street side stalls. Free food is also served, including flaming fire flakes. People can partake in numerous events and activities at the festival, such as puppetry, magic acts, and firework light shows. A number of these festivities are quite violent or expose poignant issues in society, which is deliberately done to indoctrinate the colony's inhabitants and express Fire Nation ideals.
Many decorations are put up across the town for the festival, including a large red pillar that is placed in the center of town square. Guards serve duty during the festival to subdue crime and ensure the safety of all civilians.
