The Rough Rhinos are a team of mercenaries and minor antagonists in Avatar: The Last Airbender and its comic book continuation. Originally a group of five loyal Fire Nation members (later expanded to eight), each member specialized in a specific fighting ability and rode a komodo rhino.
History[]
Animation[]
According to Jet, the Rough Rhinos attacked the village where he used to live and killed his parents, causing Jet's lifelong hatred of the Fire Nation during the Hundred-Year War, when the Fire Nation attempted global imperialism.
When Aang and his friends were sleeping, the Rough Rhinos surrounded them and attempted to capture them; however, they all escaped by mounting Appa and fleeing.
Later, while Aang was placed on trial for what Avatar Kyoshi—one of his past lives—had done to Chin the Conqueror, whom they considered their great leader, the Rough Rhinos arrived to destroy the village for the glory of Fire Lord Ozai. Despite this, all five were quickly defeated by Aang, Sokka, and Katara.
Some time later, the Rough Rhinos encountered Zuko and Iroh while they were fugitives of the Fire Nation. They planned to capture the two to claim the bounty, but Zuko and Iroh fended them off and escaped.
Comics[]
After the Hundred-Year War ended, the Rough Rhinos no longer served the Fire Nation and worked as freelance mercenaries. Mongke recruited three new members named Utor, Seijir, and Junho. They worked as personal security for the owners of the Earthen Fire Refinery—Lao Beifong and Loban. The Rough Rhinos once again encountered Team Aang and renewed their old hostilities; however, Team Aang emerged victorious once more.
Members[]
Animation and Comics[]
- Colonel Mongke (Founder and Leader)
- Kahchi
- Ogodei
- Vachir—a former and disgraced member of the Yuyan Archers.
- Yeh-Lu
Additional Members in Comics[]
- Utor—a former Fire Nation soldier who had a comfortable life under the Fire Nation's military. He held a grudge against Team Aang for ending that life.
- Junho
- Seijir
Trivia[]
- The Rough Rhinos were based on Mongols. Many of their members' names were inspired by Mongol Khans—Colonel Mongke was named after Möngke Khan, and Ogodei was named after Ögedei Khan—which explains their specialization in cavalry and later work as mercenaries, referencing how nomadic steppe peoples were hired as mercenaries by their settled neighbors.
