Avatar

Template:Under Construction Template:Infobox Template:Tocright Avatar is a title used for players that arrive in New Britannia at Character Creation.

Overview

The Avatars are legendary figures, thought by some to be those who brought the Virtues to their ancestors, but as often considered mere myths to frighten children and make sense of the Fall. "Avatar" is a title given to those champions from another world by the native inhabitants of New Britannia. It is a title bearing as much mystery as it does dread, as the native Britannians have ancient legends that state the Avatars battled Gods and that their return would signal the end of the world.

Players will become Avatars upon entering New Britannia. Currently, little is known about the background and abilities of Avatars, except that death is not permanent for those who hail from Earth.

Ultima Reference

In the Richard Garriott's Ultima Series, the Avatar is a title that refers to one who has become and continually strives to be a paragon of the Virtues. While anyone could theoretically become an Avatar, only one (the player character) managed to do so during the main series games.

Etymology

The word Avatar is derived from the Sanskrit word avatāra/अवतार (descent). In Hinduism it refers to a deliberate descent of a deity to Earth, or a descent of the Supreme Being, and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation", but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation".

Lore

“I asked Syenna that just the other day,” Aren replied. “She told me that 
before the Fall, there was a great battle between the Gods of Man and the 
Avatars. It raged all across the face of the world.