Avatar

Body of the Ilu

An avatar is a physical manifestation of an entity from Beyond Aldern in the material world. Travel between realities is extremely difficult. As such many entities have found a workaround in the form of an avatar. This is most often achieved by possessing a willing being in the material world, though this usually results in the death of the possessed mortal. Some entities go to less extremes by creating connections to sacred objects like statues or mirrors. All forms of manifest avatars are created with the aid of faithful worshippers of the entity in question through ritual magic.

Avatars come in a variety of levels, from the full manifestation in a willing host, to the far more common possession of objects such as statues of the entity. This lesser form is done similar to the full manifestation by the entity connecting their spirit to an object with the aid of ritual magic by worshippers. The entity will then have a permanent connection to the material world through this object. Destroying this item is extremely difficult. Even if broken or shattered the connection can remains. The item must be completely disintegrated or similarly destroyed to sever the link.

Avatars, while possessing some of the power of the entity within, are not the entity itself. Their bodies, though far more resilient, are still mortal, and thus can be killed or destroyed. This has no impact on the true entity itself still dwelling Beyond Aldern. Destroying these avatars chalks up to losing a useful tool to the entity in question. Mortal bodies possessed by these entities burning out quickly from the amount of power flowing through them but are extremely resistant to illness and decease of the mortal world.