Avatars

The Avatars are as follows:

* The Avatar of Chaos
* The Avatar of Darkness
* The Avatar of Death
* The Avatar of Justice
* The Avatar of Knowledge
* The Avatar of Light
* The Avatar of Nature more commonly known as Wild or Fang.

To understand the Avatars it was necessary to understand their origin and to understand that one had to consider the origin of Tal. There were various versions of the origin myth on Tal. Here will only be considered the briefest points that were most commonly repeated in the mythos of the races of Tal.

**Origin**

In almost all variations the myth began with the eternal Platinum Crystal in the Paromere. From this origin, through a pure manifestation of will 'life' was created, but it was life unfettered, not molded or cognisant.

As life matured it began to struggle for awareness. This was manifested as knowing and this knowing manifested from one of the six facets of the platinum crystal a being. This entity was Knowledge or at least it was what was known as Knowledge in the legends and worship of Tal and its peoples. Knowledge grew as life did. The more life expanded, became defined and progressed so the extent of realised knowledge grew.

Knowledge was wise enough to realise that more was needed in order to craft life into something that could do more than simply exist and know. Therefore from the crystals facets emerged the forces that were named Light and Darkness. These forces were manifest be life's desire to choose.

So came to exist the universe and the world of Tal within it. Light and reflected light allowed for life to be given a form on the land and live. Life manifested as dwarves and elves the first races. They lived indefinitely, growing in learning as they explored the existence they had been given. Their exploration enhanced what they could learn, bodies and senses, the power of discovery all added to Knowledge and made it more, extending its eternity, adding to its glory. The opportunity to consider choices allowed for the concepts of good and evil. For choices to be selfless or selfish as the concept of identity became clear to life. In this Light and Darkness grew and became more defined. Then these defined bits of life started to develop concepts of friendship loyalty and even worship. This in turn advanced and further defined the concepts of the forces growing them in their own self exploration of what they represented.

Then came something Knowledge had not foreseen. It knew there were six facets and more forces could manifest but the innate force of the world was what was to manifest next. Almost in opposition to the races now living upon it life force of Tal exploded out from the forth facet of the Platinum Crystal. It was Nature, but this force was not life those before. It was not a creature who wished to develop knowledge through civilisation but rather was an expression of life as it began, savage, primal and carnal. The force became known as Wild and rather than seeking to develop the 'life' the others had focused on it manifested from the planet a life of its own. A subset of life from which plants and animals sprang.

The opposition and cooperation between these forces marked and divided the races on Tal. Now that Wild had come Dragons, orcs and Giants joined the elves and dwarves on the land. It was during this period that the forces started to use Avatars to manifest themselves in a conceivable way to the races on Tal's surface. The forces manifested themselves as limited constructs, objects, people or specific manifestations of power so that they could be understood on some level by these creatures they had made and wished to cultivate. From this time the Avatars became described as male, female or both as they took on increasingly understood identities.

After this the forces became known as the Avatars.

It was often told in the myths that this period lasted a long time but life was still very limited as it could not move beyond Tal to the realms the Avatars themselves occupied. These were very poorly understood at the time but later became called the Celestial Haven, the Abyss and the Eternal Vistas.

Death arrived from the fifth facet of the crystal and began an era of terror and nightmare. Death sought destruction and endings. It was the manifestation of ruin and finality. The races of Tal became mortal and humans were created. Yet Death also allowed for new experiences and learning and so grew Knowledge, Death forced choice upon the peoples, making their time more limited and thus forced to action enhancing the understanding and power of Light and Darkness. Wild's cycles of seasons allowed for constant endings and beginnings. Yet all feared Death because all would eventually end and so he became the most feared, the most revered and the most powerful. For the first time the concept of war was known and the growth and destruction that came with it.

Yet Knowledge feared least for though Death brought endings he knew that Knowledge itself could survive beyond individuals and more, he noted the remaining side of the crystal. From it emerged Justice. It was he who restored balance to the struggle. Everyone would die but now they would be judged and depending on how they had lived and what they believed Justice would see them dealt with fairly. This removed Death's overarching claim to ultimate power.

So the six Avatars allowed life to continue and through them grew in power and influence and self-actualisation.

**Chaos**

Centuries after this from the edges and lines between the facets of the Platinum Crystal emerged a force that had no conceivable desires, goals or purpose. This 'Avatar' opposes everything the other six had tried to create.

**Traits**

As such they can manifest avatars in any form. They have their favourites but they can as easily manifest as one race as another, or one sex or another. They can take on the appearance of objects, of creatures or just pure energy at will. It their fullness they are utterly beyond the mortal scope of comprehension. It is only as they manifest avatars that they can even be considered.

**The Armlets**

The Avatars also created the Armlets. They wear their own armlets to enhance their powers, but six Armlets each linked to an Avatar were left to Tal. Information on these most powerful artifacts can be found here.

**Tara-Vor**

Their special chosen servants outside of their clerics are the Tara-Vor.

**Planes**

They created and occupy the Planes.