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:''This article is about the conflict between the [[Northern Water Tribe|Northern]] and [[Southern Water Tribe]]s. For other similar uses, see [[Civil war (disambiguation)]].''

{{Quote|water|Opening the spirit portal was only the first step in getting the Southern Water Tribe back on its righteous path. There's more difficult work to be done before our two tribes are truly united.|[[Unalaq]] to [[Korra]].<ref name="SL">{{Cite episode|2|202}}</ref>}}

{{War infobox
| previous       = [[Anti-bending Revolution]]
| conc           = [[Dark spirit incidents (171 AG)|Dark spirit incidents]]
| next           = [[Insurrection of the Red Lotus]]
| image          = Civil War.png
| begin          = Occupation of the [[Southern Water Tribe]], 171 [[History of the World of Avatar#Dates|AG]]
| end            = [[Unalaq Crisis]], 171 AG<ref name="HC">{{Cite episode|2|212}}</ref>
| place          = [[South Pole region]], with minor spillovers in [[Republic City]]
| result         = * Strategic Southern separatist victory<ref name="HC" />{{#tag:ref|Even though most Southerners wanted independence,<ref name="CW1">{{Cite episode|2|203}}</ref> there were some that were loyal to Unalaq's regime.<ref name="KAAS2">''[[The Legend of Korra—The Art of the Animated Series, Book Two: Spirits]]'', page 23.</ref> As a result, Southern independence meant defeat for the Southern loyalists.|group=nb}}
* Southern Water Tribe gains independence
* [[Iknik Blackstone Varrick|Varrick]] is arrested but escapes
* [[Vaatu]] is released and fused with [[Unalaq]] but is defeated by [[Avatar]] [[Korra]]
* The [[Avatar]] [[Avatar#Avatar Cycle|Cycle]] is destroyed, but is restarted
| side1           = * [[Southern Water Tribe rebels]] <small>(armed by [[Future Industries]])</small>
* [[Team Avatar (Korra)|Team Avatar]]
* [[United Republic of Nations|United Republic]] <small>(late)</small>
----
* [[Varrick Global Industries]]
| side2           = * [[Northern Water Tribe]]
* Southern loyalists<ref name="KAAS2" />
* [[Dark spirits]]
| commanders1     = * Avatar Korra
* [[Tonraq]]
* [[Desna and Eska]] <small>(late)</small>
* [[President]] [[Raiko]] <small>(late)</small>
* General [[Iroh (United Forces general)|Iroh]] <small>(late)</small>
----
* Varrick <small>(fugitive)</small>
| commanders2     = * [[Tribal chief|Chief]] Unalaq †
* Vaatu <small>(dissipated)</small>
* Desna and Eska <small>(early)</small>
* Unknown Northern Army commander<ref name="PK">{{Cite episode|2|205}}</ref>
| battles         = * [[Attempted kidnapping of Chief Unalaq]]
* [[Bombing of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center]]
* [[Attempted kidnapping of President Raiko]]
* [[Battle of the Southern Water Tribe]]
* Unalaq Crisis
| appearance      = "[[Civil Wars, Part 1]]"
| lastappearance  = "[[Light in the Dark]]"
}}The '''Water Tribe Civil War''', known alternatively as the '''War of the Water Tribes''', was a conflict fought in 171 [[History of the World of Avatar#Dates|AG]] to determine the survival of the Union of the [[Water Tribe]]s. The conflict began as insurgency of separatist [[Southern Water Tribe rebels]], supported by [[Varrick Global Industries]], rose against the central government which was in turn supported by the [[Northern Water Tribe]] and a loyalist Southern minority.<ref name="CW1" /><ref name="KAAS2" /> Even though the support for independence had a long history at the [[Southern Water Tribe]],<ref name="KAAS2" /> it was the attempt of [[Tribal chief|Chief]] [[Unalaq]] to forcibly remove the South's autonomy that caused existing tensions to escalate into civil war.<ref name="CW1" /> The early and mid stages of the conflict were determined by the absolute military superiority of the North's forces, leading to the expulsion of most rebels into the [[South Pole region|South Pole]]'s hinterland,<ref name="PK">{{Cite episode|2|205}}</ref> while the [[Military of the Water Tribe#Northern Water Tribe|Northern military]] controlled the South's ports, cities, and [[spirit portal]].<ref name="CW2">{{Cite episode|2|204}}</ref>

In course of the civil war, support for the Southern separatists grew both at the South Pole and internationally: [[Tonraq]] was consequently elected rival chief, while [[Team Avatar (Korra)|Team Avatar]] and [[Future Industries]] declared open assistance in the fight against the North.<ref name="PK" /><ref name="CW2" /> Despite this, the rebels were eventually defeated by Unalaq's human and [[Dark spirits|dark spirit]] forces.<ref name="NTS">{{Cite episode|2|211}}</ref> Afterward, Unalaq succeeded in releasing [[Vaatu]] from his imprisonment in the [[Tree of Time]] and [[Spirit-mortal transcendence|fused]] with him to become the [[Dark Avatar]], attempting to bring humanity and spirits together under his leadership.<ref name="HC" /> In the end, he was defeated and killed by his niece, [[Avatar]] [[Korra]], who subsequently declared the civil war over and the Southern Water Tribe independent.<ref name="LD">{{Cite episode|2|214}}</ref>

== Prelude ==
=== The Era of the Avatar ===
After the Harmonic Convergence in 9,829 [[History of the World of Avatar#Dates|BG]], the first Avatar, [[Wan]], sent all the spirits thriving in the mortal realm back to the [[Spirit World]]. He closed the portals and assumed the role as the bridge between the two worlds. Over time, humanity became divided into [[four nations]]: The Water Tribe, the [[Earth Kingdom]], the [[Fire Nation]], and the [[Air Nomads]].<ref name="B2">{{Cite episode|2|208}}</ref>

=== The two Water Tribes ===
Initially, the Water Tribe solely existed in the [[North Pole]]. Due to civil unrest, a group of Northerners headed to the South Pole and engendered a new tribe. Despite the separation, the tribes maintained a civil relationship, temporarily convening in events such as the [[New Moon Celebration]] and the [[Glacier Spirits Festival]].<ref name="ESW3">[[Escape from the Spirit World#Avatar Kuruk Online Comic Book|''Escape from the Spirit World'': Avatar Kuruk Online Comic Book]]</ref> Eventually, the Southern Water Tribe reaccepted the authority of the Northern chiefs, becoming an autonomous self-governing federation under Northern jurisdiction.<ref name="KAAS2" />

Despite the political reapproachment, the relationship between the North and South remained unequal. The Northern Water Tribe prospered and became rich as well as powerful. In contrast, the Southern Water Tribe's economy stagnated and its division into numerous autonomous communities prevented it from becoming a significant international actor. By the 3rd century [[History of the World of Avatar#Dates|BG]], the South was weak and impoverished in comparison to its sister tribe.<ref name="TRoK17">{{Cite Kyoshi|117}}</ref> By the 1st century BG, the South had recovered to some extent from its economic crisis and had forged closer bonds to the North, but its local chieftains were still unwilling to fully commit their homeland to the political decisions of their sister tribe.<ref name="CoreBook-53">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Core Book|Core Book]], Version 1.0, 2022, p. 52.</ref> 

[[File:Southern Water Tribe attacked.png|thumb|left|200px|Abandoned by [[Northern Water Tribe|its sister tribe]], the [[Southern Water Tribe]] was [[Southern Water Tribe raids|nearly destroyed]] during the [[Hundred Year War]].]]

The events of the Hundred Year War severed the connection between the Water Tribes and worsened the South's situation once more. At first, the two tribes united their navies to battle the Fire Nation, but after suffering a series of heavy defeats, the Northerners retreated.<ref name="Quickstart-5">''[[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game]]''. [[Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game Quickstart|Quickstart]], Version 1.0, 2021, p. 5.</ref> The North Water Tribe subsequently endured the war in self-isolation, while the South lost nearly all of its [[waterbending]] population because of constant [[Southern Water Tribe raids|Fire Nation attacks]], along with most of its culture and spirituality.<ref name="SR">{{Cite episode|1|316}}</ref> Many Southerners would blame the North for effectively abandoning them to the Fire Nation. They contrasted the Northern Water Tribe's decision to only focus on self-defense with the Southerners' willingness to aid the Earth Kingdom even as their own lands were destroyed.<ref name="NS1">{{Cite comic|NS1}}</ref>

After the [[Siege of the North]] in 100 AG, a number of Northern citizens led by [[Pakku]] traveled to the South to help them rebuild.<ref name="KAAS2" /> Even though the [[Southern Reconstruction Project|Northern support]] greatly improved the Southern Water Tribe's situation, many Southerners gradually became wary of the North's intentions. Some feared that the North intended to transform the South into a mere colony. Eventually, a militant Southern faction led by [[Gilak]] launched an anti-foreigner uprising. The rebellion was defeated, but revealed that representatives of the Northern Water Tribe had actually planned to subjugate the South Pole in order to exploit recently discovered natural resources, most importantly a great oil field. This led to a surge of anti-Northern sentiment among the Southerners.<ref name="NS2">{{Cite comic|NS2}}</ref><ref name="NS3">{{Cite comic|NS3}}</ref>

[[File:Katara, Sokka, Malina, Maliq at refinery.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[Northern Water Tribe]]'s [[Southern Reconstruction Project|aid to]] the [[Southern Water Tribe|South]] was partially motivated by its desire for the [[South Pole region|South Pole]]'s resources such as oil.]]

Despite these tensions, the tribes reconnected in the following decades.<ref name="KAAS2" /> Just as the Southern nationalists had feared,<ref name="NS3" /> the Southern Water Tribe was actually subjugated under the North's leadership.<ref name="KAAS2" /> While the North mostly did not meddle with Southern issues unless absolutely necessary, it began to impose taxes after the South had grown prosperous. These demands aroused more tensions between the South and the North, as the Southerners were less than willing to share what they believed was rightfully theirs.<ref name="CW1" /><ref name="KAAS2" />

=== Unalaq's true agenda ===
Unalaq had such a great connection with the spirits that he wanted to have a world where humans and spirits could coexist. This belief was strengthened when Unalaq joined the [[Red Lotus]]. Under supervision of the secret society, he came to believe that Avatar Wan was wrong when he separated humans and spirits into two separate worlds. In order to work toward a new world order, Unalaq decided that he had to take over the Water Tribe. He planned to frame his older brother [[Tonraq]], and steal his birthright as heir-apparent to the Water Tribe chiefdom to seize control of the still-closed spirit portals.<ref name="HC" /><ref name="STA">{{Cite episode|2|309}}</ref>

[[File:Tonraq's banishment.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Tonraq]] was banished from the [[Northern Water Tribe|North]], making [[Unalaq]]'s scheme a success.]]

In 151 AG, in the [[Northern Water Tribe]], Unalaq exploited his brother's lack of spirituality and brashness by hiring a band of [[barbarians]] to [[Barbarian invasion|attack]] the Northern Water Tribe and flee to a sacred forest thereafter. Unalaq did this knowing his hot-headed brother would follow and continue to attack, destroying the forest and unleashing [[dark spirits]] upon the tribe. This resulted in the tribe's near destruction, Tonraq's banishment, and Unalaq becoming the ruler of the Water Tribes. After his banishment, Tonraq moved to the Southern Water Tribe, where he was highly respected to a degree where he was considered to be the tribe's unofficial chief. There, he met his eventual wife, [[Senna]], and in 153 AG, they became parents of the next Avatar, [[Korra]].<ref name="SL" /><ref name="CW2" />

Upon learning that his niece was the Avatar, Unalaq traveled to the South, under the guise of seeking Tonraq's permission to train Korra spiritually, but his brother rejected his offers. In truth, Unalaq was attempting to gain Korra's favor so she would open the portals for him.<ref name="DiL">{{Cite web |url = https://www.nick.com/games/legend-of-korra-dark-into-light-trivia.html?apiKey=001|title = Legend of Korra - mobile trivia game|accessdate = 2013-09-10 |date = September 10, 2013}}</ref> When this attempt failed, the chief and the Red Lotus devised a more radical plan: They would kidnap Korra to serve the Red Lotus' goals. Unalaq did not directly participate in the kidnapping attempt, however, and when it failed, he betrayed the Red Lotus while covering up his own involvement. Instead, he began to pursue his own goals, namely, to free Vaatu and become the [[Dark Avatar]], enabling him to unite humans and spirits under his banner.<ref name="STA" /><ref name="EQ">{{Cite episode|2|303}}</ref> Unalaq began putting his plans into action during the Glacier Spirits Festival in 171 AG, where dark spirits attacked. After [[Spiritbending|repelling the spirits]] in ways others could not, Unalaq successfully gained Korra's favor, led her niece to veer away from her father and [[airbending]] mentor and eventually open the southern portal for him.<ref name="RS">{{Cite episode|2|201}}</ref>

== Civil war ==
=== Occupation of the South ===
[[File:Occupation of the South.png|thumb|right|200px|When the occupation of the [[Southern Water Tribe]] began, [[Unalaq]]'s [[Military of the Water Tribe|navy]] formed a blockade, while his troops froze [[Wolf Cove]]'s harbor.]]

In 171 AG, Unalaq brought his troops to occupy the South, claiming this was to prevent the South from falling into any further spiritual decay. He proceeded to expel the Council of Elders and the local tribal chieftains, who traditionally governed the South, from power and commandeered the royal palace in [[Wolf Cove]] for his exclusive use. Even though Unalaq still had supporters in the South,<ref name="KAAS2" /> most Southerners felt that the North was invading, and held a meeting at Tonraq and Senna's house. Tonraq tried to dissuade the members of his tribe from doing anything particularly violent, but [[Iknik Blackstone Varrick|Varrick]] managed to persuade the men otherwise.<ref name="CW1" />

A first battle almost began after Southern children threw snowballs at Northern soldiers from the rooftops, to which the soldiers retaliated by waterbending them off the roof. Angered that adults would attack children, several Southern waterbenders threatened to attack the soldiers. However, the fight was interrupted by Avatar Korra, who attempted to create peace between the two groups. Korra was unsuccessful in her efforts, however, as her fellow countrymen accused her of siding with the North. Before the confrontation could get worse, Tonraq arrived and dissuaded the Southern people from attacking, as he felt it would not be worth their time.<ref name="CW1" />

=== Escalation ===
{{See also|Attempted kidnapping of Chief Unalaq}}

[[File:Unalaq being kidnapped.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Iknik Blackstone Varrick|Varrick]]'s [[Southern Water Tribe rebels|rebels]] [[Attempted kidnapping of Chief Unalaq|attempted]] to kidnap [[Tribal chief|Chief]] [[Unalaq]].]]

Later, rebels attempted to [[Attempted kidnapping of Chief Unalaq|kidnap]] Unalaq at night, but were stopped by Korra. She later discovered that they had been acting on directions from Varrick and conveyed the information to Unalaq, who arrested them, as well as his brother and Senna, while ordering that Varrick be hunted down.<ref name="CW1" /> A trial presided by Judge [[Hotah]] was held for these people, where all were found guilty except Senna. All of the rebels and Tonraq were forced to serve their lives in prison, excluding Varrick, who had gone into hiding.

Korra attempted to rescue her father from prison. Later, she chased after Hotah, and after she threatened to end his life, she discovered that it had been her uncle who had orchestrated her father's banishment. She relayed this information to her friends and Varrick, and they decided to break Tonraq and the rebels out of prison. Upon breaking them out, Korra told her father about the truth behind his banishment. Upset that his brother would do such a thing, Tonraq agreed that war was inevitable and he instructed Korra, Varrick, and the rest of [[Team Avatar (Korra)|Team Avatar]] to go to the [[United Republic of Nations]] to attempt to persuade [[President]] [[Raiko]] to get the [[United Forces]] on their side, so they may have a chance of winning the war.<ref name="CW2" />

Tonraq and the rebels went into hiding in the hills outside Wolf Cove, though Unalaq chose not to deal with them, ordering his forces to protect the spirit portal. He subsequently sent his twin children [[Desna and Eska]] to capture Korra, as he required her to open the Northern spirit portal. At the same time, Northern forces began to build an encampment at the [[South Pole]] in order to protect the spirit portal.<ref name="PK" />

=== Civil unrest in Republic City ===
{{See also|Bombing of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center}}

[[File:Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center bombing.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[bombing of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center]] led to massive tensions between [[United Republic of Nations|United Republic]] citizens of [[Northern Water Tribe|Northern]] and [[Southern Water Tribe|Southern]] heritage.]]

By the time Team Avatar arrived in Republic City, news of the civil war had already spread, causing tensions between the Northern and Southern residents of the city. Later that night, a peace march was held by Southerners, supported by the Avatar, while the event was being deplored by the Northerners. During that time, the [[Agni Kai Triad]] bombed the [[Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center]], though Korra assumed the Northerners to be responsible.

The next morning, Varrick had arranged a meeting with Raiko to discuss military aid to the South. This meeting did not go in Korra's favor, as Raiko refused to deploy the United Forces to aid the Southern Water Tribe. He instead preferred a more diplomatic approach in resolving the conflict. Therefore, Varrick suggested that Korra go behind Raiko's back and appeal directly to General [[Iroh (United Forces general)|Iroh]]. In the meantime, Varrick would focus on trying to profit from the civil war and gaining United Republic support his own way, by filming highly doctored [[The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South|propaganda]] directed against the Northern Water Tribe. Initially, the general was more than willing to help the Avatar, and even planned on using a routine training session in the South as an excuse to engage the Northern forces with his fleet. The plan quickly fell apart, as Bolin told Mako, who was forced to confess Korra's intentions to Raiko at his order. Raiko warned the general that if he were to leave with his fleet or the country itself, he would be court-martialed. With his hands tied, Iroh suggested Korra to go to the Fire Nation and appeal to his mother, [[Fire Lord]] [[Izumi]], for aid. Korra departed Republic City on a speedboat, and headed toward the Fire Nation, only to be intercepted by her cousins. After a brief battle, Korra was attacked and consumed by a massive dark spirit.<ref name="PK" />

=== Varrick's machinations ===
{{See also|Attempted kidnapping of President Raiko}}

[[File:Attempted kidnapping of Raiko.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Iknik Blackstone Varrick|Varrick]]'s attempt to [[Attempted kidnapping of President Raiko|kidnap]] [[President]] [[Raiko]] and to force the [[United Republic of Nations|United Republic]] into war was ultimately unsuccessful.]]

Despite his alliance with Team Avatar and being from the Southern Water Tribe, Varrick seized the opportunity to profit from the brewing conflict. He purposely sabotaged his own shipments carrying [[Future Industries]] weaponry bound for the South, masquerading gangsters as Northern soldiers, who hijacked the shipments in Republic City's jurisdiction to blame the thefts on the Northern Water Tribe. While the [[Republic City Police#Metalbending Police Force|Metalbending Police Force]] fell for the ruse, [[Mako]] suspected the Northerners were not responsible when a ship captain testified that the attackers used remotely-detonated explosives. But due to the lack of police support and his own position as a junior officer, Mako was forced to act on his own. With Asami, he hired the [[Triple Threat Triad]] to guard a decoy shipment, unaware that Varrick had paid off the triad to keep the two busy while he stole Future Industries' entire line of machines. Having not been able to make a sale since the [[Anti-bending Revolution]], Asami feared her company was falling into bankruptcy, until Varrick bought a controlling interest in Future Industries. Mako realized Varrick's culpability upon learning that his [[Varrick Global Industries|company]] was the sole producer of the same type of remote detonators in his mover series, ''[[The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South]]'' and sought to find more proof to implicate him.<ref name="STI">{{Cite episode|2|206}}</ref> Varrick managed to eliminate Mako as a threat by having the Triple Threat Triad claim to the police that Mako was involved in robbing Future Industries, and planted explosives and yuans in his apartment for them to find, resulting in Mako's arrest.<ref name="TG">{{Cite episode|2|209}}</ref>

On the night of the Nuktuk finale, Varrick plotted to have Raiko kidnapped and blame it on the Northerners, thereby forcing Republic City to go to war in support of the South. Four waterbenders disguised as Northern soldiers infiltrated the [[Pro-bending Arena]] and nearly succeeded in their scheme before it was foiled by [[Bolin]], who managed to get a confession out of one of the kidnappers of Varrick's being the mastermind behind the attempt. Varrick was subsequently arrested by the police and Mako's name was cleared.<ref name="NTS" />

=== The Avatar returns ===
The same night, Avatar Korra returned to Republic City to warn Raiko of Unalaq's plans to release Vaatu and destroy the world and attempted once more to request military support. Despite this, Raiko still refused to aid her, believing it best to hold the United Forces to defend his country. Team Avatar proceeded to visit Varrick in prison, who provided them with his [[battleship]], the ''Zhu Li'', which possessed all of Future Industries' stolen weaponry, to return to the South to stop Unalaq.<ref name="NTS" />

=== Battle for the South ===
{{Main|Battle of the Southern Water Tribe}}

[[File:Injured rebels.png|thumb|right|200px|The [[healing]] hut at the [[Southern Water Tribe compound]] was filled to capacity with dozens of injured [[Southern Water Tribe rebels]].]]

When it became clear that Korra had failed to persuade President Raiko to send the United Forces as reinforcements, the Southern rebels, led by Tonraq, attacked Wolf Cove in an attempt to expel the Northern invaders. Though their initial attack was successful, Unalaq led a counterattack with the aid of Desna, Eska, and a large number of dark spirits. The rebels were quickly defeated, sustaining heavy injuries in the process, and only Tonraq remained able to fight. A fierce battle began between the two brothers, and though Tonraq got within striking distance of Unalaq, the tribal chief managed to evade his attack. Trapping Tonraq in ice, Unalaq dealt a devastating blow which left his brother defeated, and he was subsequently imprisoned in a Northern encampment at the South Pole.<ref name="NTS" />

=== Conclusion ===
{{Main|Unalaq Crisis}}

[[File:Battle of the South Pole.png|thumb|left|200px|[[Team Avatar (Korra)|Team Avatar]] attacked the [[Northern Water Tribe|Northern]] [[Military of the Water Tribe|military]]'s encampment.]]

Soon after the rebels' defeat, Team Avatar and their allies arrived at the Southern Water Tribe, determined to halt Unalaq's attempt to free Vaatu. They attacked the Northern encampment via [[biplane]] and [[Flying bison|sky bison]], causing much damage to its fortifications. When Desna and Eska intervened, the Northern troops and their dark spirit allies were able to turn the tides of battle. The army forces shot down the Avatar and her friends, capturing them in the process. The former United Forces Commander, Bumi, eluded them, however, and infiltrated the encampment. Eventually, he managed to single-handedly destroy the whole camp before rescuing Korra and the other prisoners. After the destruction of their encampment, the Northern military was not able to further interfere in the battle.

Despite his military's defeat, Unalaq freed Vaatu during [[Harmonic Convergence]] and merged with him to become the Dark Avatar, intent on unifying the mortal and Spirit World.<ref name="HC" /><ref name="DF">{{Cite episode|2|213}}</ref> Korra defeated him and used Unalaq's purification technique to dissipate the Dark Avatar Spirit. However, due to being fused with the spirit, Unalaq lost his life in this process. With Unalaq dead, Korra declared the civil war over and the Southern Water Tribe independent with Tonraq as their first chief. She emphasized, however, that the Water Tribes would always be allies.<ref name="LD" />

== Notes ==
<references group="nb" />

== References ==
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[[de:Wasserstamm - Bürgerkrieg]]
[[es:Guerra Civil de las Tribus Agua]]
[[fr:Guerre Civile des Tribus de l'Eau]]
[[pl:Wojna Domowa w Plemieniu Wody]]
[[ru:Гражданская война Племени Воды]]
[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Events]]
[[Category:Wars]]
[[Category:Water Tribes]]