An Avatar is the combination of a mortal (usually Humans but in some cases Dragons (e.g. the Ashcan Draegunim)) and Divines from the Divine Realm. This combination can only be produced when a human enters The God Machine and successfully survives the transition to the Divine Realm. Successful combination is highly unpredictable and success rates hover at less than 0.004%1.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Avatars are complex organisms with some shapeshifting capability. The effect on the mortal body is to extend the lifespan, although the physical appearance can remain unchanged otherwise. They generally resemble their mortal selves most of the time, although this is largely based on the observation of the very few Avatars currently in existence (High Ashad Isha, High Ashad Alix, Talija, etc.).
It appears that the unification process in the God Machine combines the intellect and knowledge of the Divine with the Mortal, as well as changing the biological structure of the mortal body to not only extend lifespan but also provide an extended capacity to work with Kata, Ana, and Heka. The degree to which this change is produced depends on the strength of the Divine involved, although how this occurs is largely unknown.
All of this is based mostly upon reports from the Avatars themselves, as well as material translated from some of the oldest texts surviving from the period of the Ancient Anther, many of which cannot be fully translated because many of the words and grammatical rules of the languages and dialects used have been lost. A little of this material seems to have been reproduced in very early Keshwari and Turati material, but the degree to which it can be trusted is not known. Further archaeological research is planned to investigate whether early records documented in former Ganjapuri, Basati, and Tikhtai territories may shed provide more information, as it is known that there are references to similar beings in these areas, and geological evidence supports Avatar presence in Southeast Ganjapur at least.
Genetics and Reproduction
It is not known whether or how Avatars would reproduce beyond encouraging another mortal sapient being into the God Machine to become united with a Divine. Thus far, there is no evidence of a Divine attempting to initiate the process either, or if that is even possible. According to an early Keshwari legend, which may have been a re-telling of an Anther theory, the appearance of the Avatars came in a specific order.
The legend recounts that when the Avatars first appeared in Mortal form, the most powerful came first, known to the Ancient Anther and then the Keshwari as the "Black Gods" or the "Gods of the Void". The term "Black" here referred to the ability of these Avatars to control and "devour" the whole spectrum of kata, ana, and heka, thus rending the rest of reality "void".
This was followed by the appearance of Golden Gods, Red Gods, Blue Gods, and finally White Gods, who had the least strength and were able to control only the emotional kata energy produced by sapient species. It would appear that the legend held up during The Rending War, with at least the dominant "Black Gods" of Creation, Destruction, and Time appearing first. However, because documentary evidence from the Rending War becomes fragmentary quickly, it has been difficult for researchers to ascertain whether this played out in its entirety.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Avatars are known to be able to naturally see and sense the three dominant forces of existence (kata, ana, and heka), and are especially attuned to one or another of them. They have especially acute sensory perception, although the degree to which this occurs is not known. While human and other sapient inhabitants of the Exclusion Zones are capable of telepathic communication through the Kata Matrix, Avatars have no need of the additional support of a high background kata presence to do this. Avatars are thus able to communicate not just across great distances but between Realms and Domains as well.
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