Avatar

An avatar is ... a Shard manifesting a semi-autonomous piece of itself that is still connected to who they are. An avatar of Autonomy, for instance, depending on how Autonomy creates that avatar - might know, might not know - but they are still an aspect, they are still part of Autonomy. And when one gets down to it, a part of them knows that, and it's almost a god roleplaying, but in a way that only a Shard, or a god in the cosmere, can do.YouTube Livestream 32, 6/3/21
It is possible for an avatar to form without the Shard directly making it so independent. They would be aware of it, however. They couldn't not be aware of it, but it could arise without their direct and conscious decision to do so. The avatar on First of the Sun, though, was directly created by Autonomy.Book signing, Prague, Czechia, 10/26/19
==Known Avatars==
Patji (from Sixth of the Dusk 1) is that avatar of the Shard Autonomy.General Reddit 2018, 1/1/18
==Q&A with Brandon==
Q. The combination of a Shard and its Vessel leads to sapient mind with access to a virtually infinite pool of Investiture. Are avatars the product of a similar combination of a mind and a pool of Investiture, only on a smaller scale, with less power?
A. I would say that is an accurate representation of what an avatar is. It's not the only way, but it is an accurate ... some avatars are that. I would say that's the standard.Starsight Release Party, Orem, UT, 11/26/19 
==References==
Category:Cosmere