Dark spirit incidents

"water"

- Angry spirits are already attacking ships in your waters. I only hope we are not too late to change course.

The dark spirit incidents are a series of attacks of dark spirits on humans in several places of the world. Originally, the spirits targeted members of the Southern Water Tribe as well as sailors in the South Sea, prompted by the decline in spirituality and traditional practice in the South. However, the attacks spread after the outbreak of the Water Tribe Civil War.

Prelude
In their struggle for survival during the Hundred Year War, the Southern tribesmen abandoned many old traditions that were established to appease the spirits of the South Pole. As a result, the South Pole became spiritually and physically unstable during the war, and though the Northern Water Tribe helped rebuild its sister tribe physically following the conflict's end, its population remained largely secular. Observances such as the Glacier Spirits Festival, which was founded to unite the two tribes and celebrate the spirits, evolved into commercialized celebrations. This further put the tribe out of balance spiritually, and the southern lights disappeared from the skies as a result. As spirits ceased to dance in the skies, they were thrown out of balance completely and became dark, summoning the Everstorm in their wake. As conditions became harsh and hostile, trees located in the heart of the South Pole became encased in ice, and the portal to the Spirit World was sealed.

Attacks in the South


Since late 170 ASC, the number and aggressiveness of dark spirits in the South Pole increased dramatically, leading to numerous attacks on ships in the waters. This alarmed Chief Unalaq, the Chief of the Water Tribes.

He addressed his disappointment in the deterioration of Southern traditional practices during the Glacier Spirits Festival, but was largely ignored. The severity of the situation became clear when a dark spirit attacked Korra and destroyed the festival grounds, defeating the Avatar and numerous benders in the process. Unalaq was able to calm the spirit through the use of special waterbending technique, demonstrating his knowledge of spiritual ways to Korra and prompting her to agree to being his student.



Unalaq then assembled a small expedition to the center of South Pole against the protests of Korra's father, Tonraq, and set out to restore spiritual balance in the Southern Water Tribe. While passing through the Everstorm, Unalaq explained to Korra that she had to open a dormant spirit portal at the heart of the frozen spirit forest. The group was attacked shortly after by numerous dark spirits, who destroyed their supplies in the process. This prompted Tonraq to urge the others to turn back once more, but his efforts were rebuffed by Korra, who continued along with the others.

Upon reaching the frozen forest, Korra ventured alone in search of the portal, but was attacked by several dark spirits in the process. Using the Avatar State as a last resort, she managed to touch and open the portal, dispersing the Everstorm and restoring the southern lights, thus calming the spirits in the south.

Continuing attacks


Although the spirits residing in the spirit forest at the South Pole were calmed, not all dark spirits disappeared, as a giant dark spirit attacked Korra on her way to the Fire Nation while she was being pursued by Desna and Eska on the Mo Ce Sea. At first, Korra simply tried to dodge the spirit's attacks, but the spirit was too fast, and she was knocked into the ocean. She entered the Avatar State in response and attempted to purify the spirit, but her attempt failed, and the spirit proceeded to drag her below the surface of the water. The Avatar somehow survived the attack and washed up on an island in the Fire Nation, where she is found by the Fire Sages, with no memory of who she was. 