Balance. Serenity. Peace. These were the goals of Wan, the first Avatar. He saw a world where man and spirits could live in harmony, with him at its epicenter. With the power of all four elements, and his connection with the Light Spirit Raava, Wan had the power of a God. He was unstoppable. However, he knew that if he was to succeed in his mission for peace, he would have to be a man.
The power of the Avatar was already immense, but with Raava's spirit combined with his own, Wan was essentially immortal. To ensure that he would remain a man, Wan severed a piece of Raava's being from himself, transferring it to a dear friend. This transference permanently split the Avatar's power, and brought about the birth of the Guardian.
While the Avatar is tasked with maintaining balance in the world, it is the Guardian's task to find them and protect them while they train and prepare for their mission. When they are ready to pass on the mantle, the Guardian trains an apprentice of the next nation in the cycle, preparing them for the duties of Guardianship. The latest in this long line of guardians is a young Earth Kingdom woman named Min.