Post by Tami on Oct 21, 2007 14:05:41 GMT -5
Within every Awakened mage dwell two distinct spirits or sides: her Avatar and her mortal self. The two parts interact with one another in many ways, developing a complex dynamic that may be akin to that occurring between teacher and student, boon companions or even adversaries. Whatever form this relationship takes, its eventual goal is to bring about the mage’s Ascension.
It is the Avatar’s function to cajole, coerce or drag the mage kicking and screaming into enlightenment. Mages with more powerful Avatars will be prodded into action more often than their less mystically endowed compatriots. Though few of their fellows would envy the constant goading these mages must endure from their pushy Avatars, they do, in fact, enjoy an advantage over their colleagues. The constant hounding serves to push such mages to excel. They are more prepared to endure the trials and tests demanded of them during Seekings, and consequently, they often find enlightenment more easily than their more relaxed brethren, becoming wise beyond their years quickly.
Another property of the Avatar is the ability to grant its possessor insight into her past lives. The Avatar is the part of the will worker that is eternal. Within its depths lie the experiences of all of its former earthly incarnations. Some mages learn to access this wellspring of knowledge and apply its teachings to their advantage in the present.
In times past, a large number of Avatars appeared to their mages as distinct, tangible entities. Whether it appeared as an angel or djinn, god or hero, the mage is capable of conversing with the Avatar, coming to blows with it or treating it as material friend or foe. In more modern times, it's become much more rare for an Avatar to manifest itself physically to a mage. In fact, in the aftermath of the Reckoning, such an event has become downright unusual. Nowadays, the Avatar communicates through more subtle means, such as in dreams or flashes of intuition. The time of corporeal materialization is past.
As they do about most issues, mages disagree about whether it is the Avatar that allows one to wield magic or whether it is one's own innate magic that allows one to sense the presence of the Avatar. Whatever the truth of the matter, the Sleeper's higher self must Awaken before she becomes capable of exploiting the full potential of magic.
It is the Avatar’s function to cajole, coerce or drag the mage kicking and screaming into enlightenment. Mages with more powerful Avatars will be prodded into action more often than their less mystically endowed compatriots. Though few of their fellows would envy the constant goading these mages must endure from their pushy Avatars, they do, in fact, enjoy an advantage over their colleagues. The constant hounding serves to push such mages to excel. They are more prepared to endure the trials and tests demanded of them during Seekings, and consequently, they often find enlightenment more easily than their more relaxed brethren, becoming wise beyond their years quickly.
Another property of the Avatar is the ability to grant its possessor insight into her past lives. The Avatar is the part of the will worker that is eternal. Within its depths lie the experiences of all of its former earthly incarnations. Some mages learn to access this wellspring of knowledge and apply its teachings to their advantage in the present.
In times past, a large number of Avatars appeared to their mages as distinct, tangible entities. Whether it appeared as an angel or djinn, god or hero, the mage is capable of conversing with the Avatar, coming to blows with it or treating it as material friend or foe. In more modern times, it's become much more rare for an Avatar to manifest itself physically to a mage. In fact, in the aftermath of the Reckoning, such an event has become downright unusual. Nowadays, the Avatar communicates through more subtle means, such as in dreams or flashes of intuition. The time of corporeal materialization is past.
As they do about most issues, mages disagree about whether it is the Avatar that allows one to wield magic or whether it is one's own innate magic that allows one to sense the presence of the Avatar. Whatever the truth of the matter, the Sleeper's higher self must Awaken before she becomes capable of exploiting the full potential of magic.