Kuruk

Avatar Kuruk was the last Avatar from the Water Tribe before the birth of Aang. He was the Avatar immediately preceding Kyoshi, and died 400 years before the events of the series.

Kuruk was first seen in "The Avatar State". However, only a glimpse of him doing an incredible waterbending move is seen. His name and actual history are revealed in the online game, Escape from the Spirit World.

History


Avatar Kuruk was the last Avatar incarnate born out of the Northern Water Tribe. Kuruk was a gifted but cocky Avatar who enjoyed constantly searching for people to challenge his bending prowess, usually for no other reason than the sake of it. He also liked providing others with grand displays of his bending ability, especially in regards to women. Never having even the slightest thoughts of settling down, Kuruk went on with this up until the day he met the love of his life. At the New Moon Celebration, a meeting of the two sects of Water Tribes, he met a woman named Ummi from the Southern Water Tribe, it was love at first sight. Shortly after, Kuruk presented her with a customary betrothal necklace, which she accepted, and the two were to be married at the Spirit Oasis. On the night of their wedding, as they approached the altar, Ummi fell into the pond, seemingly pulled in by an unseen force. As it turns out, she had been taken by the spirit Koh, the Face Stealer to punish Kuruk for his past actions. Ever since that day, on the anniversary of their wedding, Kuruk traveled to the Spirit World in hopes of saving Ummi, but failed on every attempt. Now in the Spirit World, Avatar Kuruk still searches for his wife, with information on her present state imparted to him by a brief encounter with Aang enticing him even further.

Aang called Kuruk forth to ask how he could defeat Fire Lord Ozai without killing him. Kuruk, like the other Avatars, said it was necessary to use lethal force in order to protect the world when the situation called for it. He said for Aang to be rational in his decisions and to be attentive to the circumstances, as it was Kuruk's own arrogance that cost him his beloved wife. He clearly has yet to succeed in saving Ummi. He appears in Sozins Pt 2: The Old Masters as Aang contacts 4 of his past lives. 4 of his past lives.