| abstract | - The Southern Water Tribe Royal Palace was built during the Southern Reconstruction Project sometime after the end of the Hundred Year War. Its initial construction was based on blueprints developed by Malina and Maliq in collaboration with Head Chieftain Hakoda. Even though control of the Southern Water Tribe formally reverted to the North sometime after the end of the tribe's reconstruction, the Southern Water Tribe managed to gradually developed into a largely autonomous state, with the palace serving as the seat of local government. During the Glacier Spirits Festival in 171 AG, a banquet in honor of Chief Unalaq was held inside the palace. The celebration was attended by numerous people, with entertainment provided by Wacky Wushu and his otter penguins. After the occupation of the South by Unalaq shortly after the festival, troops of Northern waterbenders ordered Southern citizens outside of the palace to their homes, before dismissing the chieftains and elders inside under Unalaq's orders. Threatened by Unalaq's aggressive takeover of the South, Varrick formed the Southern Water Tribe rebels who assembled in Tonraq and Senna's home. They expressed willingness to engage in physical confrontation to maintain Southern independence, prompting Avatar Korra to confront Unalaq in the palace to notify of him of the possibility of civil war. Unalaq explained that war between the tribes would force the other nations to take sides, allowing dark spirits to thrive on the negative energy from the resulting conflict. He went on to tell the Avatar that she was the only individual capable of restoring balance and preventing war. Soon after this meeting, the Southern Water Tribe rebels attempted to abduct Chief Unalaq, but their efforts were thwarted by Avatar Korra. The rebels were apprehended and sent to prison, where they awaited trial along with Tonraq and Senna. A subsequent tribunal was held in a courtroom located in the palace, where Judge Hotah dismissed charges against Senna. The rest of the accused were deemed guilty for high treason and sentenced to death, before Hotah changed his verdict to life imprisonment, under Unalaq's orders. Following Unalaq's defeat and Harmonic Convergence, the palace was returned to the Council of Elders, who elected Tonraq as the new chief of the newly independent Southern Water Tribe. From the palace, Korra publicly announced the autonomy from the North and the beginning of a new age marked by the coexistence of humans and spirits. Tonraq and Senna moved into the palace after the former's election as tribal chief. Korra resided in the palace as well during the years she stayed at the South to recover from her mercury poisoning.
|
