Attempted kidnapping of Chief Unalaq

The attempted kidnapping of Chief Unalaq was a preemptive attack planned by Varrick and carried out by Southern Water Tribe rebels, who had grown uneasy with the Northern occupation of the Southern Water Tribe following the Glacier Spirits Festival of 171 ASC. The attempted kidnapping was thwarted by Korra, who subdued the kidnappers.

Prelude


After the Winter Solstice of 171 ASC, Northern troops arrived at the Southern Water Tribe, under Unalaq's pretenses of protecting the Southern spirit portal from those who wished the spirits harm. Unalaq claimed that he'd unite both Water Tribes by opening both the spirit portals. The Northern forces quickly closed the port, and had removed the tribe's chieftains and elders from the Southern Water Tribe Royal Palace. The increasing interference and second-rate handling by the Northern forces stirred old resentments between the North and South. Despite an appeal by Avatar Korra, who had taken part in a meeting of Southerners, Unalaq insisted that what he was doing was in the best interest of the Water Tribes. At night, Korra learned from her mother Senna that Varrick was plotting a rebellion, and had asked Tonraq to join in. At once, Korra took off to the palace.

Attempted abduction


At the palace, Korra called out for her uncle, but found only Northern soldiers tied up. Going to the upper level, she discovered, a group of Southern rebels, one of them carrying Unalaq over his shoulder. Korra tried to negotiate Unalaq's release, even offering to let them go, but the rebels attacked her.

The rebel carrying Unalaq split from the others, who proceeded to battle Korra. Korra fought them with much restraint, trying her best only to incapacitate them. Korra used airbending to tie up a couple rebels in a tapestry, and used another's rope to tie him to a pillar.



As the rebel carrying her uncle escaped on a snowmobile, Korra crashed it with waterbending, and unmasked the rebel leader, shocked to learn it was not her father, as she believed. The rebel leader told her they approached her father, but that he would not help them, considering him a traitor much like they considered her one.

Aftermath
The rebels involved in the kidnapping attempt were arrested, and Unalaq demanded Varrick to be found and arrested as well. Korra advised Unalaq that arresting them all would only make the South angrier at the North, and instead suggested that they stand trial for what they did. Unalaq respected Korra's wishes as the Avatar, and the rebels were to face trial.

Korra later met with her parents, glad that her father was not among the rebels. Their encounter was cut short by Unalaq, who arrived and had Tonraq and Senna arrested for plotting to assassinate him. During the trial, Senna was found innocent, but all others were found guilty. Unalaq asked Judge Hotah to change his sentence from death to life in prison. Korra later learned Unalaq's machinations, both present and past. In trying to free her father, Korra directly contributed for the beginning of the Water Tribe Civil War.