BKatastrophe
Member
Bandits were all over beforehand? They were only history because of Kuvira as far as the show is concerned. The one example we seen was a sizable group ambushing trains/cargo around unpledged provinces near the end of Kuvira's campaign. This implies that similar situations are ongoing with other provinces that had not pledge allegiances.
Why would she imprison water and fire benders during her campaign to unite the former Earth Kingdom when she was sanctioned by other world leaders from the start? Such actions, of which even a whiff of it comes back to any of the world leaders would endanger her initial legitimacy. In this kind of false campaign of uniting the former kingdom for Wu, these people would not oppose Kuvira. Even when after her intentions were made clear, are there any reasons not to either evict or convert the water&fire benders once she proclaim her empire? Oh, she can't because she already sent them to the camps, for unprovoked charges of destabilization during her 3 years of sanctioned actions.
Unless the bandits in Book 3 that Korra and Asami took out were my imagination, then I would imagine that before Kuvira and before the Earth Queen's death, that there were bandits about. Maybe not as many, but bandits were definitely out there.
They straight up say in Book 4, that after Kuvira proved herself by retaking Ba Sing Se, that the world leaders put their trust and control in her hands. Raiko was busy coddling Wu, Tenzin was running the new Air Nation, and I'm sure Desna and Eska didn't give a fuck. Tonraq was in the Southern Tribe, doing Southern Tribe things and watching over Korra's healing process. The Fire Nation is isolated, and Izumi clearly is not a fan of meddling in affairs that don't affect her nation (save for protecting Republic City). They make it clear that the mentions are rumors, but after Kuvira proved herself, the world leaders had no reason to distrust her. I assume she did a good job of covering it up, because they lacked proof. She was a woman with a plan and very thorough, so she very likely covered all her bases. The only reason those refugees that Varrick and Bolin helped got through the perimeter was because Varrick and Bolin helped. She had shit on lock. At least, she managed until her speech at Republic City, at which point all bets are off. Why does she need to care after that?