Crypt of the Avatar

The Crypt of the Avatar beneath the ruins of Midras was one of a number of locations where Avatars were supposedly buried, each wreathed in superstition and warnings about curses.

The Crypt features a very-specifically-designed sarcophagus-like tomb near the entrance… From the dashing, bearded, single-braided figure in ornamental armor carved on the lid, to the ancient engraved symbol of the Principles, to the bed of flowers carved in dark granite and inlaid with gold, jewels, and jade,… You can see this chamber from above-ground while exploring one of the temple-like structures in the Midras Ruins found just beyond an enormous old tree! Through a debris-clogged hole from which feeble light shines down, a lone sarcophagus can be glimpsed. A hatch nearby leads down into those same depths, and after a short walk through ruined halls whose ancient splendor surely inspired later Obsidian architects, the Crypt chamber can be seen from the room’s upper gallery, though the surrounding edifice itself lay in terrible ruin…

The same symbol, an ancient Midras representation of the Principals and associated Virtues, can first be seen adorning the entry hall leading to the upper balcony of the Crypt, as well as the gallery beyond. The legendary sword has long since been taken hundreds of years ago, and the primary difference you may notice is that the tomb is no longer empty. In the intervening centuries, someone has taken it upon themselves to lay some other forgotten soul to rest there, and left an offering of a flower and a book describing the Principles themselves.

Connections

 * Midras Ruins
 * Midmaer Passage

Trivia

 * The description of the carved figure on the empty sarcophagus in bears a similarity to Richard Garriott, perhaps a reference to Lord British not being dead just yet.

The ancient Crypt of the Avatar was found by Aren and Syenna in Blade of the Avatar novel. It contained an empty sarcophagus, and the lid was carved into a bas-relief likeness of a knight in armor on a bed of flowers, grasping an actual sword -- an Avatar Blade.

The etching of a three-curved sword was prominent in this tomb, and three doors sealed with the same symbol led away from it. Mysteriously, one of these doors seemed to have opened after the Avatar Blade was removed from the sarcophagus.
 * The Map Name and Area Name for this scene is:
 * Map Name: Novia_R3_Hills01_CryptOfTheAvatar/Samael
 * Scene Name: Crypt of the Avatar