The Coming of the Avatars

Few would argue the historical importance the arrival of the Sacred Avatars. In 1990 D.A. is when Silbeth Anderson decided to compile all the accounts of the appearances of the first avatars. Silbeth was a young acolyte in the divine temple at Dragonpoint. With the 2000 year anniversary of the first appearances approaching, she wanted to compile the stories to read to the worshippers at the celebration they were going to have. At that time there was no single collection from the time of the first avatars. Some even differed in their retelling. Wanting to be as accurate as possible, Silbeth began her 10 year mission to find the most accurate recountings of the first appearance of each Avatar. She traveled throughout the archipelago, following the known stories and tracing them to their source. Along the way she ended up with a fairly detailed historical accounting of the first avatars and their deeds. In 2000 D.A. her book was published in time for the bimillennial celebration, several copies being given away for free from the Dragonpoint Temple. Quickly demand for the books spread throughout the archipelago. Since then her text has become a staple for new acolytes to the divines, some clerics even using it to teach rural children how to read.

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The Coming of the Avatars

There is a tale from long ago. A tale about the worshipers of Enmir, the human sea god, and Ugdall, the dwarven sea god. Both groups were adamant that the other were infidels and that worship of their god should be eradicated. The followers of Enmir had retreated to their temple on the shores of Niras while the warriors of Ugdall, arrayed in the finest armor the dwarves could craft, marched down from their dwarven stronghold to wipe them all out. Neither group saw the young halfling maiden swim up to the beach next to what would soon be the battlefield. They did see as she strode out into the field with what they took to be an odd silvery staff. A few voices from either side called out to her, bidding her to flee for her life, but she didn't seem to hear them. The maiden simply looked between the two groups: the defenders of Enmir arrayed with spear and bow, ready to die to protect their temple; and the warriors of Ugdall marching in time to the beat of a seadrum, determined to wipe the infidels out for good. The dwarves continued their march and the bowmen readied their arrows, all they were waiting for was that moment when both sides were within range of the other. Before that moment could arrive, however, the halfling raised her staff up and slammed the butt on the ground. All assembled heard her voice boom across the field with a single word, "Halt!" A massive wave crashed upon the shore spraying both sides with mist and foam. It was then that they realized she held not a staff, but a glistening harpoon the likes of which none had seen before. All stood in shocked silence. Her voice was like the clearest of bells heard ringing across the waters, "The battle you seek here is for naught!" Despite her small stature they could see her sapphire eyes almost blazing, "With the voice of truth do I speak to you on behalf of Enmir and Ugdall. For though you know them by different names and different faces, they are but one and the same. Just as the water that flows from the rivers and lakes to the sea may all be called different names, they are still the same water." Once more she raised her harpoon up. This time a wave came in and crashed at her feet only to lift her up so all could witness, "Now, the Lord of the Waters commands his followers to cease this squabbling amongst yourselves and to join as brothers and sisters in worship."And so the warriors of Ugdall and Enmir laid down their weapons and embraced one another as kin, knowing in their hearts that no matter the name a sea was called, it was still the sea and they all loved the sea. Thus the Divine Age began with the coming of Geleni Puddlefoot, the first Sacred Avatar of the Seas , wielding the Relic Tidebringer.

— From The Coming of the Avatars by Silbeth Anderson

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