Avatar

Avatar Symbol

An Avatar is a term used for players that arrive in New Britannia after Character Creation.

Overview

Avatar is a term for legendary figures, thought by some to be those who brought the Virtues to their ancestors, but are 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 brought forth their Virtues.

In the present age of Oracular Enlightenment the people of New Britannia fear their return would signal the end of the world as recounted in the The Dirae Prophecies.

Players will become one of many Avatars returning to New Britannia and known as Outlanders by the native human population. Currently, little is known about the background and abilities of Avatars, except that death is not permanent and they seem immortal for those who hail from Earth.

Abilities

Avatars have access to Adventuring Skills and Crafting Skills and knowledge within Journal Entries.

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

• This section has specific quoted references from the Blade of the Avatar series of Books and contains spoilers. Click the Expand option to read the contents.

Book Spoilers
“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.

Book Spoilers
"All the might and the glory of the past has taught us nothing. The Avatars are gone, their Virtues left with them, and we are left with the broken relics of their hopes and dreams.”