Discounting Avatar Kyoshi and Roku, who appear in shorter flashbacks and seem to be using the mode as an access to part experiences rather than a normal power boots, we have 3 references for behavior in the state.
First, chronologically speaking anyway, we have Wan who entered the AS not knowing exactly what would happen. Though it is really only seen in full at the end of his battle with Vaatu, we can still see Wan's inner qualities shining through. First he effortlessly transitions between the bending style and is consistently moving forward, reflecting Wan's desire to be something more in life(we can see that in most everything he does). Second, and perhaps most important, he does not attempt to kill Vaatu but rather imprisons him. Wan, powerful though he may be, does not like the idea of actually killing a person. He'll use force but never to take a life, even though Raava and Vaatu had been destroying each other for years.
Now Wan may not count because he was still more or less in control but the point is the AS reflects the current Avatar. Aang was a little kid and most of the times when he entered AS he would simply encase himself in an airball and float around. Not causing harm but rather blocking out anything in the world that could hurt him. His use of the elements is passive, reactionary. He does not step forward like Wan but rather allows the sheer power he wields to protect himself and nullify his opponents ability to attack him. He chases Ozai sure but he never really does get violent. Most of his moves consist of trying to stop Ozai or block his attacks. Even when wielding unlimited power, he still tries to be a pacifist.
Korra basically has no pacifistic tendencies. When Korra is mad she goes to kill, plan and simple. If Aang wants to block out the world, Korra wants nothing more than to destroy it. Anything that is harming her will be gone and she'll basically attack it with everything she's got. Not technique but sheer, unadulterated power. She trades the protection of an air bubble for the speed and destructive potential of firebending jets.
It actually is rather neat imo.
Makes sense to me. Though I still partly feel that how they act is altered by the cycle, only because of Aang. Even though he was still himself, it was as if he was someone else where Korra has always seemed to be the same.
Anyhow two more questions.
First, how did Korra wrap the chain around Zaheer? Air bending from her or the tornado? Platinum bending? Or simply a cool, chain grab trope?
Second, who confirmed that killing an Avatar in the Avatar State will destroy the Avatar Cycle? This happens because of Raava directly dying, but how does anyone know? Why would anyone think that the State is anything more than the Avatars spirit themselves, which still falls into the cycle after death?
Well the Red Lotus is a break-away group from the White Lotus, who I could see Aang trusting enough to tell them about what would happen if he dies in the Avatar State, so they could protect the Avatar's better. Theres other possibilities too, like maybe the Fire Sages knew about it or Zaheer found some ancient writings.
As for the chain, I assume Korra just threw it. Or maybe helped it with airbending.
Originally posted by BloodRain
Late Edit: Third. Who were the original Benders? Lion Turtles or the four elemental animals?
Good question. I think the Lion Turtles and the 3 animals (+ da moon) were all original benders, then the Lion Turtles gave mankind the elements and they learned how to wield them effectively from watching the animals bend them. The Water Tribe said they learned waterbending from how the moon pushed and pulled the tides, but that's unlikely to be true and is likely just a legend.
Originally posted by BloodRain
IIRC Raava only hinted to Wan about the Cycle on his deathbed.Late Edit: Third. Who were the original Benders? Lion Turtles or the four elemental animals?
Well first there's only 3 elemental animals. The Waterbenders learned from the moon.
Lion Turtles seemed to exist long before the Dragons, Air Bison, and Badger Moles though and were granting people bending back in Wan's time.
So I'd wager they were first, and then either passed on the arts to the animals, or the animals simply came along and possessed a natural affinity for them as well.
I classed the MoonKoi as animals for simplicity. Dragons were around the time of the Lion Turtles, and it makes little sense that the Turtles would give Bending to random animals. Especially when you consider just how adapt Air Bison and Badger Moles are to their elements, mainly the moles.
Only thought I have goes off Neph's, cept thinking that the animals with the elements evolved on the backs of the Turtles and took after them?
/shrugs
The elemental animals all, to me, seemed more to be personifications of the bending element. Badger Moles live underground and "bend" the Earth naturally. Dragons and their iconic Fire breath is their "bending", while Air Bison's ability to fly represents Air. The moon is the most enigmatic of the bending avatars, if you will.