| "Of course, you'll want to see our most unique attractions: the Spirit Wilds. Here, spirits and people live harmoniously together." |
| — Shiro Shinobi introducing Republic City's Spirit Wilds in a newsreel.[1] |
The Spirit Wilds are areas on Earth that are dominated by spirits, often affecting the local flora and fauna to behave in strange and otherworldly ways. In many of these territories, the veil between the mortal realm and the Spirit World is thin, with deliberate or accidental crossings possible for humans, spirits, and animals.[2][3]
In the era of Raava, the Spirit Wilds encompassed most territories on Earth not inhabited by humans,[2] but after Avatar Wan closed the spirit portals, most spirits left the mortal realm. Several regions remained home to spirits, however, though humans gradually expanded into these lands and drove the spirits away.[3][4] The Spirit Wilds partially resurfaced when Avatar Korra chose to keep the spirit portals open following the Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG.[1]
History[]
Era of Raava[]
In the era before the Avatar, the Spirit Wilds encompassed most of the mortal world but remained largely uninhabited by humans due to many spirits being hostile toward any intruders into their lands. Spirits often disguised themselves as plant life to deceive human trespassers and attacked individuals whom they regarded as threats to their well-being. For instance, vine-like entities that resembled grass would lie in wait until they made contact with a group before ensnaring and pulling the individuals underground. Furthermore, as humans typically only ventured into the Spirit Wilds in search of food, spirit wasps would join together atop trees resembling fruit and attack humans who attempted to eat them.[2]
A parade of spirits entered the Spirit Oasis near the city from where Wan was banished, under the watch of the guardian aye-aye spirit.
Due to lack of human occupation, the Spirit Wilds were replete with resources and a variety of fauna, including cat deer and dragons. Dozens of lion turtles were also scattered throughout the wilds and served as home to humans, who settled on their backs and depended on protection from the spirits.[2] The sentient capacities that the Spirit Wilds possess allows vegetation to communicate with one another, even when they are growing in different locations.[5]
Two spirit portals located at both the North and South Poles led to the Spirit World, where Raava and Vaatu battled every ten thousand years for the fate of the mortal realm. Before Wan destroyed the link between Raava and Vaatu, the two spirits also fought in the Spirit Wilds, where they caused considerable damage.[6]
Era of the Avatar[]
Spirits like Lady Tienhai and General Old Iron disagreed on how to handle the first human settlers in the wilds, some favoring cooperation and others violence.
When Avatar Wan closed the spirit portals, the majority of the spirits returned to the Spirit World and effectively separated themselves from the physical world. A minority did not leave their homes in the physical realm[4] or at least maintained a temporary presence, often at locations where the veil between the worlds was thin.[7] However, with most spirits gone and the Avatar as a new mediator between spirits and mortals, the humans left the protection of the lion turtles and settled in the wilds. Before long, they formed states and expanded their holdings, ultimately developing into the four nations.[6]
Though some spirits, such as Lady Tienhai, allowed humans to freely settle in their remaining domains,[4] most of the spirit holdouts regarded themselves as protectors or owners of the last wilds, and protected them aggressively.[3][8][9] When humans tried to settle in these protected zones, the spirits retaliated through kidnappings,[9] curses,[3] or outright violence.[10] Some humans tried to live in peace with their spirit neighbors, signing treaties and maintaining traditions to allow for peaceful and productive exchanges. The Air Nomads were foremost in this regard, though other societies also respected the remaining Spirit Wilds.[4][10][7] Over thousands of years, however, the number and strength of the humans grew, and many people saw the remaining wilds as unused land ripe for exploitation. Despite risking the wrath of the spirits, colonists kept expanding,[3][11] and most eventually prevailed.[4] In these struggles, many spirits were destroyed or turned dark as their homes were occupied by mortals.[4][12]
The Spirit Wilds overtook Republic City after the spirit portals were left open following the Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG.
After Avatar Korra reopened the spirit portals, many spirits crossed over into the mortal world once again, settling in places like the Misty Palms Oasis in the Si Wong Desert[13] and the desolate areas of Republic City that were damaged during the Unalaq Crisis.[1] Some spirits even developed a fondness for the new, techonology-heavy parts of Earth, settling in the most bustling areas of human settlements.[14] Just as in previous centuries, however, some spirits laid claim on specific areas and demanded that the humans leave them alone; in Republic City, such tensions led an agreement according to which the Air Nation would hold the land around the local spirit portal in custody for the spirits.[15]
Historical locations[]
Spirit domain on Ma'inka Island[]
On Ma'inka Island, there was a large forest which was centered around cenotes which was the domain of phoenix-eel spirits. Under the influence of these cruel and jaded spirits, the forest was twisted and partially crossed over into the Spirit World, effectively trapping any human intruder in an endless green maze. The phoenix-eel spirits were hostile toward any attempt by the surrounding humans to take their land, leading to repeated struggles during the era of the Avatar.[3][11]
Eventually, Avatar Yangchen signed a treaty between phoenix-eel spirits and the Saowon clan to fix a border, but the humans soon broke the agreement. Yangchen intervened to prevent an escalation of hostilities,[3][11] yet after her death the Saowon once again renegaded on the deal. This time, the phoenix-eel spirits' trust in humanity broke so completely that they turned dark and had to be destroyed by Avatar Kuruk.[12] Without the spirits' protection, the island's wilds were colonized by the Saowon, allowing the clan to greatly increase its wealth and power.[16]
Spirit Oasis[]
Existing during the era of Raava, this spirit oasis was guarded by the aye-aye spirit, who only permitted spirits to enter prior to his encounter with Wan. The Spirit Oasis had waters with replenishing properties along with several trees lush with fruit. Before he departed for his journey, Wan remained in the oasis and protected the grounds alongside the spirit.[2]
Modern locations[]
Republic City[]
- Main article: Republic City
Republic City's spirit wilds are focused around the settlement's spirit portal.
The Spirit Wilds partially reemerged following Avatar Korra's decision to keep the spirit portals open in the aftermath of the Unalaq Crisis during Harmonic Convergence in 171 AG. Specifically, spirit vines began to grow destructively throughout Republic City, prompting citizens to evacuate from boroughs which became virtually uninhabitable.[17] This vegetation became home to spirits that migrated to the physical world. At first, the citizens struggled to cope with these changes, but they eventually learned to coexist; roads were built around the vines and the spirits eventually became a tourist attraction.[1] Varrick took an interest in these plants after witnessing UnaVaatu's attack and procured a spirit vine for research into new technology.[18] However, he discovered that the vines were made of pure energy that had become unstable by being in the physical world and deemed them too dangerous to be used.[19] Due to Kuvira's attack on the spirit vines at the base of the banyan-grove tree, the Spirit Wilds in Republic City reacted violently to its visitors, imprisoning them in vegetative pods that trapped their souls in the Spirit World.[5] The Spirit Wilds that grew from the vines became a combination of tourist destination and site of spiritual pilgrimage. Most people in Republic City no longer balk at the sight of spirit vines and have their own ways of living alongside them.[20]
Foggy Swamp[]
- Main article: Foggy Swamp
The roots of the banyan-grove tree connected the Foggy Swamp to the rest of the world.
The Foggy Swamp is a vast wetland that spans over a large portion of the southern Earth Kingdom and harbors the ancient banyan-grove tree, of which the roots spread for miles throughout the entire swamp. It possesses a great amount of spiritual activity, such as mysterious weather patterns, sentient flora, and induced visions and hallucinations on those who enter it.[21][22] The swamp is also abundant in spirit vines containing energy more powerful than those in Republic City.[23] The spirit vines reacted in a hostile manner to Kuvira's mecha suits that worked to harvest the vines at the base of the banyan-grove tree, though the flora was no match for the machines' chainsaws and metal cables.[5]
Forgetful Valley[]
- Main article: Forgetful Valley
The Forgetful Valley is located at an isolated part of the Fire Islands. Covered by a large forest with a number of lakes, the valley is closely connected to the Spirit World and the domain of the Mother of Faces. As a result of her influence, the Forgetful Valley's flora and fauna is covered by face-like patterns, as are the spirits who permanently reside there. Though a hostile and dangerous location whose sanctity has been traditionally respected by surrounding human settlers, some people occasionally travel into the Forgetful Valley to request a new identity from the Mother of Faces.[7][24]
North Pole[]
- Main article: North Pole
The spirit portal located in the center of the North Pole was originally one of the two passages that allowed entry to the Spirit World.
The North Pole is the site of one of two spirit portals that allowed entry to the Spirit World. It is also home to a variety of spirits that dwelt within the ancient forest surrounding the portal, who Tonraq inadvertently disturbed when he flooded the forest in 151 AG.[25]
Scorched forest[]
- Main article: Scorched forest
A forest in the western Earth Kingdom was protected by the spirit Hei Bai for thousands of years.[26][8] When the forest was largely burned down during the late Hundred Year War, Hei Bai responded by attacking and kidnapping settlers at nearby Senlin Village, though Avatar Aang was able to appease him by connecting with him and pointing out that the forest would regrow.[8][9]
South Pole[]
- Main article: South Pole
Covered entirely in snow, the South Pole was located at the point where the two corners of the world met through a spirit portal connecting the two realms. After defeating Vaatu in battle, Wan sealed the Southern spirit portal, preventing human access to the Spirit World until its reopening in 171 AG.[6]
Notable figures[]
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Trivia[]
- The trees in the sacred forests around the northern and southern spirit portals are based on ancient bristlecone pines, some of the oldest organisms on Earth.[27]