The Spirit World Bestiary

Avatar Spirit

• Fusion of living human spirit + Raava
  • Human becomes known as “the Avatar”
  • Grants ability to bend all elements + energy itself (spiritbending)
• Reincarnated upon death into the next nation in a cycle (fire, air, water, earth)
  • Able to recall memories from + converse w/ past lives
  • When invoking Avatar State, can channel energy from all past lives at once
• Bridge between Spirit World + physical world
• Embodiment of peace, light, balance, harmony
• See also: Raava

Aye-Aye Spirit

• Takes form of anthropomorphic aye-aye
• Guardian of an oasis in the Spirit Wilds
• Able to teleport over short distances + possess humans
  • Leaves human hosts w/ physical attributes permanently altered to resemble aye-aye
• Suspicious + distrustful of humans
  • “Ugly, destructive, and lacking any respect for nature” 
  • Initially denied Wan access to oasis, until he proved himself ally to spirits
•  See also: Spirit Wilds

Baboon Spirit

• Takes form of anthropomorphic baboon
• First encountered meditating near the realm of Koh
• Unfriendly toward humans
  • Brushed off Aang when he asked for their help
• In pursuit of ultimate tranquility for meditation purposes
• See also: Koh

Catgator

• Takes form of giant catfish-alligator chimera
• Encountered in aquatic regions of the Spirit World
  • Smaller physical counterparts first encountered in the Foggy Swamp
• Ravenous bottom-feeders, yet easily overpowered/tamed by humans

• See also: Foggy Swamp

Dark Avatar Spirit

• Fusion of living human spirit + Vaatu
  • Human becomes antithesis of the Avatar
• Greatly amplified ability to bend element of original human bender
  • Also able to spiritbend
• Embodiment of darkness, chaos
• Attempts to replace Avatar spirit in cycle of reincarnation
• Gigantic + monstrous when balance disrupted
• See also: Avatar Spirit, Raava, Vatu

Dark Spirit

• Spirit that has become unbalanced
• Most notable when under influence of Vaatu
  • Generally susceptible to turning dark when energy around it is negative
    • E.g. when Korra was upset after getting lost in Spirit World
• Appearance takes on more sharpness + darker colors
• Consumed by thoughtless rage
  • Able to be controlled by dominating force like Vaatu
• See also: Vaatu

Dragon Bird Spirit

• Takes form of dragon-bird chimera
  • Purple when young, yellow + red as adult
  • Young dragon bird spirits merge together to become one adult
• First encountered near Hai-Ryo Peak in Spirit World
  • Nests on top of mountains
• May allow humans to ride it

Dragon Eel Spirit

• Takes form of dragon-eel chimera
  • Aerial, not aquatic
• First encountered at Tree of Time in Spirit World
  • Retreated when Kuvira began threatening spirits living in Republic City after Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG
• Spoke on behalf of spirits when Korra asked for their help in defending Republic City
  • Informed her that spirits would no longer get involved with human wars
  • Reminded her how Unalaq once used Vaatu to force spirits to fight for him
• See also: Harmonic Convergence, Tree of Time, Vaatu

Dragonfly Bunny Spirit

• Takes form of small dragonfly-bunny chimera
• First encountered at the Eastern Air Temple
  • Apparent proclivity for moving between Spirit World + physical world
• Travels in groups
• Curious + friendly
• Only appears to humans with strong spiritual connections
  • Can bond with specific individuals

Fang

• Spirit of Avatar Roku’s dragon
  • Animal guides accompany Avatars from birth to death
• Retained ability to fly
• Telepathic whiskers used to communicate with Aang
• Can transport spirits of living humans to + from spirit world
  • While spirit is journeying, physical body remains a motionless shell
• As spirit, invisible + intangible to nearly everyone in physical world

Firefly Spirit

• Takes form of firefly
• Guided Aang to lair of Koh, after he was dismissed by Baboon Spirit
  • Shows Spirit World visitors where to find what they are looking for

• See also: Avatar Spirit, Baboon Spirit, Koh

Foggy Swamp

• Sprawling, mysterious wetland in Earth Kingdom
  • Everything connected to giant banyan-grove tree in the middle
  • Toph able to use it to sense what is happening throughout the world
• Considered part of Spirit Wilds
• Spiritual + sentient properties
  • Creates own weather/climate
  • Induces visions of past/present/future
  • Occasionally moves of its own accord
• Home to isolated tribe of waterbenders
• See also: Spirit Wilds

Frog Spirit

• Takes form of anthropomorphic blue poison dart frog
• Encountered in Spirit Wilds
• Capable of changing physical size
  • Wan accidentally stepped on spirit when he was small
  • Spirit rebuked Wan, grew to giant size, tried to step on him in return
• See also: Spirit Wilds

Fruithog Spirit

• Takes form of durian-hedgehog chimera
• Migrated to Republic City after Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG
  • Took up residence with spirit vines in middle of road
• Nearly crashed Korra’s satomobile
  • Blamed her for problematic integration of physical + Spirit World
  • Claimed spirits + vines were “one and the same”
• See also: Harmonic Convergence, Spirit Vines

Guardian Spirit

• Takes form based on Chinese guardian lion spirit
  • When dark, becomes darker + sharper + more menacing in form
• First encountered en route to Hai-Ryo Peak in Spirit World
  • Guided Korra to summit in quest to return injured dragon bird spirit to nest
• Affection, helpful, playful
• Able to teleport in beam of blue light
• See also: Dark Spirits, Dragon Bird Spirit

Harmonic Convergence

• Alignment of planets every 10,000 years
• Greatly amplifies spiritual energy
  • Spirit portals overlap
  • Spiritual energy envelops physical world
• Raava + Vaatu battle to determine whether world experiences era of light + peace/darkness + chaos

• See also: Raava, Spirit Portal, Vaatu

Hei Bai

• Takes form of six-legged black-and-white monster or giant panda
• Protector of forest outside Senlin Village
• Became enraged when Fire Nation destroyed forest
  • Abducted villager into Spirit World every night at sundown
    • Abducted Sokka, prompting Aang to give chase
  • Calmed down after Aang reassured it the forest would regrow
• In monstrous form, able to teleport + decimate buildings + emit sonic screams
• In panda form, able to make bamboo spontaneously grow
• Able to transport spirits of living humans to + from Spirit World

Iroh

• Spirit of Iroh residing in Spirit World
  • Chose to leave physical body + ascend to Spirit World
  • Befriended spirits + started tea shop
• Guided Korra when lost in Spirit World + reverted to four-year-old self
  • Advised her to find balance within self in order to bring balance back to Spirit World + inhabitants
• Able to appear/disappear + find other souls in Spirit World

• See also: Avatar Spirit

Kind Spirit

• Takes form of ethereal, green, plantlike beings
• Innocent + childlike in nature
• First encountered at Spirit Oasis
• Kind + helpful to Wan as he searched for other lion turtle cities
  • Befriended him when he decided to live in Spirit World

• See also: Lion Turtle, Spirit Oasis

Knowledge Seeker

• Takes form of fox
• Assistant to Wan Shi Tong
  • Collects books + parchments from around the world to add to his library
  • Perfect archival knowledge of library
  • Assists library patrons in return for treats
• Able to travel long distances + scale vertical walls
• Helped Aang, Katara, Sokka find out about Day of Black Sun
• Helped Jinora find out about Harmonic Convergence
• See also: Wan Shi Tong, Harmonic Convergence

Koh

• Takes form of enormous centipede-like being
• Resides in dark lair in Spirit Wilds
• Steals faces of beings that express emotion in his presence
  • Tries to startle/goad visitors to his lair, in order to steal more faces
  • Wears different stolen faces like masks
• Stole face of the lover of a previous Avatar incarnation
• Ancient + knowledgeable spirit
  • Told Aang the lore of Moon + Ocean Spirits
    • Old enough to remember when they crossed over to physical world 
    • But kept trying to steal Aang's face throughout

• See also: Avatar Spirit, La, Spirit Wilds, Tui

La

• Takes form of black koi with large white spot on head
• Ocean spirit who crossed over to physical world
  • Resides in Spirit Oasis with Moon Spirit (Tui)
  • Keep balance together in eternal dance of push + pull
• Able to fuse with Avatar in Avatar State
  • Formed giant, destructive koi spirit made of water + light
    • Wrath of ocean incarnate
  • Wiped out entire Fire Nation fleet
• See also: Avatar Spirit, Spirit Oasis, Tui

May-Jim

• Takes form of frog with two heads
  • Left head is female, named May
  • Right head is male, named Jim
• May + Jim married to each other
  • First encountered at wedding ceremony outside Iroh’s tea shop in Spirit World
  • “Polar opposite personalities”
• When dark, May + Jim begin arguing with each other

• See also: Dark Spirits, Iroh

Light Spirit

• Takes form of little yellow spirit with leaves on head
• Migrated to Republic City after Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG
  • First encountered at Misty Palms Oasis
• Appeared to Korra while meditating in Tree of Time
  • Appeared to her again as small white dog in Earth Kingdom town
  • Scared away her Avatar State doppelganger
  • Led her to Foggy Swamp for spiritual healing

• See also: Avatar Spirit, Foggy Swamp, Harmonic Convergence, Tree of Time

Lion Turtle

• Takes form of massive lion-turtle chimera
• Early humans established cities on backs of different lion turtles, as protection from Spirit Wilds
• Each associated with different element
  • Able to grant humans power to bend that element + take it away again
• Last lion turtle appeared to Aang in form of moving island
  • Taught him how to spiritbend
• See also: Avatar Spirit, Spirit Wilds

Painted Lady

• Takes form of beautiful, ghostly woman with a painted face
• Guardian of Jang Hui, a river town
  • Said to have protective + healing abilities
• Driven away when Fire Nation polluted river
• Appeared to Katara to thank her for protecting Jang Hui residents + cleansing river

Raava

• Takes form of abstract entity made of white light
• Spirit of light + peace
  • One of the oldest known spirits
• In perpetual conflict with Vaatu
  • Even when she vanquishes him, he will be reborn from darkness within her by next Harmonic Convergence
  • When separated by Wan, had to fuse with his spirit in order to restore balance
    • Created Avatar Spirit
• Severed from Korra + previous Avatars by Vaatu during Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG
  • Fused with Korra’s spirit again in Spirit World, starting new Avatar Cycle

• See also: Avatar Spirit, Vaatu

Spirit Oasis

• Warm, verdant garden + pond at the North Pole
  • Most spiritual place in the Northern Water Tribe
• Home of Tui + La, after they crossed into physical world
  • Their energy makes oasis flourish
• Avatar may enter Spirit World here, through meditation

• See also: Avatar Spirit, La, Tui

Spirit Portal

• Gateway between Spirit World + physical world
  • Allows humans + spirits to travel freely between worlds 
  • Can be opened by Avatar during solstices, when Spirit World is closest to physical world
  • Appears as beams of energy extending from ground to sky when opened
• Considered part of Spirit Wilds
• Two located at North + South Poles
  • Created when Vaatu first broke through barrier separating worlds
• One located in Republic City
  • Created by Korra spiritbending
• During Harmonic Convergence, spirit portals overlap + greatly amplify spiritual energy
  • Spirits temporarily become more powerful
• Korra made decision to keep spirit portals permanently open after Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG

• See also: Avatar Spirit, Harmonic Convergence, Raava, Vaatu

Spirit Vines

• Thick, fast-growing vines that emerged in Republic City after Korra decided to keep spirit portals open
  • Initially grew quite invasively throughout city
  • Imbued with potent spiritual energy
    • Kuvira tried to weaponize their incredible destructive power
• Became home to spirits that migrated over from Spirit World
• New part of Spirit Wilds

• See also: Spirit Portal, Spirit Wilds

Spirit Wilds

• Places in physical world with heavy spiritual energy + connection to Spirit World
• Widespread in early days, until humans eventually settled over most of it
  • Home to diverse spirits
  • Generally considered dangerous by humans
• Some pockets of Spirit Wilds still remain in present day
  • E.g. Foggy Swamp, Spirit Oasis, Spirit Portal, Spirit Vines
• See also: Foggy Swamp, Spirit Oasis, Spirit Portal, Spirit Vines

Tui

• Takes form of white koi with large black spot on head
• Moon Spirit that crossed over to physical world
  • Resides in Spirit Oasis with Ocean Spirit (La)
  • Together, they keep balance in eternal dance of push + pull
• Original, most powerful waterbender
  • Taught early Water Tribe members how to waterbend
• Gave baby Princess Yue some of its life force to save her life
• Killed by Admiral Zhao
  • Resulted in spiritual lunar eclipse that threw world out of balance
    • Waterbending ceased to exist
  • Resurrected by Yue, who sacrificed herself to become new Moon Spirit

• See also: La, Spirit Oasis, Yue

Vaatu

• Takes form of abstract entity made of darkness + shadow
• Spirit of darkness + chaos
  • One of the oldest known spirits
  • First to cross over to physical world, creating Northern + Southern spirit portals in process
• In perpetual conflict with Raava
  • Even when he vanquishes her, she will be reborn from light within him by next Harmonic Convergence
  • Separated by Wan, then imprisoned in Tree of Time after Wan fused his spirit with Raava
• Severed Raava from Korra + previous Avatars during Harmonic Convergence of 171 AG
  • Fused with Unalaq’s spirit to form Dark Avatar
    • Defeated again by Avatar before beginning new era of darkness

• See also: Avatar Spirit, Dark Avatar Spirit, Harmonic Convergence, Raava, Tree of Time

Wan Shi Tong

• Takes form of giant black-and-white barn owl
• Extremely knowledgeable spirit
  • “He who knows ten thousand things”
  • With help of knowledge seekers, collects knowledge from around the world
• Brought library from Spirit World to physical world
  • Generally suspicious of human visitors, ever since Admiral Zhao used his knowledge for warring purposes
  • Price of admission: new piece of knowledge
• Sank library back into Spirit World after Aang, Katara, Sokka learned about Day of Black Sun
  • Neutral spirit unwilling to aid any side of human conflict
  • Made exception for Unalaq
    • Believed him to be true human ally of spirits

Yue

• Spirit of Princess Yue, after she sacrificed herself to become new Moon Spirit
  • As baby, was gifted life force by Tui
  • Resurrected Tui after Admiral Zhao killed it
• As Moon Spirit, world’s most powerful waterbender
• Can appear + speak to spirits of living people in Spirit World

• See also: Tui