Wan was the first Avatar, having lived ten thousand years prior to Avatar Korra's time. After being banished from her home, she learned to coexist with the spirits and decided to help bring balance between them and the rest of mankind. This quest eventually led to her becoming the first Avatar by fusing with Raava, the spirit of light and peace, to defeat Vaatu, the spirit of darkness and chaos. As the Avatar, Wan sealed the spirit portals to avoid future conflicts between spirits and humans, and spent the rest of her life in an attempt to achieve a peaceful coexistence among humanity.