Avatar system

The Avatar System is a divine mechanism through which each God and Goddess of Elema created an avatar to assist them in understanding and interacting with the mortal universe. Although the deities crafted life and shaped everything in the mortal realm, the passage of time and the continuous evolution of the world made it challenging for them to fully grasp the complexities of mortal existence. To bridge this gap, the gods fashioned avatars as their intermediaries, allowing them to better comprehend the mortal experience.

The avatars serve as the voices and hands of their respective deities in Elema. They provide blessings to followers, assist believers, and carry out various divine tasks and responsibilities. These tasks range from aiding and blessing mortals to caring for animals and plants. Additionally, avatars are charged with promoting and nurturing the churches dedicated to their deities. During Elema's early years, avatars played a pivotal role in building and accelerating the growth of many civilizations and kingdoms.


As Elema has evolved, so too have the avatars. Even gods and goddesses have been influenced by their followers, and their avatars, existing in the world over time, and have experienced changes that reflect the shifting dynamics of the mortal realm. The relationship between a deity and their avatar can vary widely, ranging from a boss-to-subordinate dynamic to a parent-child bond, depending on the specific deity and avatar in question.

Manifestation

• Kasai God of Fire
Avatar: Drake, a bipedal draconic being who vanished from Elema at the end of the Forgotten World War. Prior to his disappearance, Drake was known for his close collaboration with Kaze, working together to create a brighter future for Elema.


• Mizu Goddess of Water
Avatar: Lucinda, the first Sea Hag, who can shapeshift and prefers a bipedal form resembling Dark Elves or Human with dark skin, though she has also appeared as an Aquadians with a darker blue hue. Her true form is akin to a massive slime. Lucinda and Mizu are at odds, with Lucinda often choosing her own path. She occasionally blesses Mizu's followers but is largely independent, having formed her pirate crew and taken to the vast ocean.


• Chikyu Goddess of Earth
Avatar: Blossom , a living plant woman with a dark green complexion, orange patterns on her skin, and red hair. Though she wishes to continue aiding Chikyu, contact with her deity has been sporadic since the Forgotten World War. After centuries of limited connection, their bond has recently strengthened. Blossom has settled in various places, adopting a more stationary role while still providing blessings and guidance to Chikyu’s followers in new ways.


• Kaze God of Air
Avatar: Kaze's avatar changes approximately every thousand years, initiated through a trial to select the next embodiment. The relationship between Kaze and each avatar shifts with each new incarnation, reflecting Kaze’s nature as a god of change and understanding.


• Maindo God of Will
Avatar: Shou, the Chimera, a creature capable of absorbing and integrating body parts from other life forms. This was intended to help Maindo better understand the world by observing how a divine body merged with mortal elements. Eventually, Maindo severed their connection, leaving Shou to act independently, now disconnected from both the god and his followers.


• Seishin Goddess of Spirit

Avatar: Char, a ghostly, divine spirit without a physical form. Seishin designed her avatar to exist both within and outside the world, offering unseen guidance to those who deserve it. Char’s presence is subtle, providing influence and direction in the same manner as Seishin, focusing on the smaller aspects of life.


• Hikari God of Light

Avatar: L, a sundial timepiece that merges with a chosen host to become a single superperson entity. L’s personality and power reside in the watch, which is passed to someone Hikari deems worthy. L often manifests as a Hero, Herald, or Protector, bringing about significant changes in the world under Hikari’s direction.


• Yami Goddess of Darkness

Avatar: Unlike the others, Yami’s avatar is born from a mortal. She transfers the powers, gifts, and memories of the previous avatar to a new child, who gradually gains access to these abilities by the age of 23. Yami’s avatar is meant to experience mortal life fully, learning and teaching the goddess about the mortal condition. Yami’s avatars have been both revered and reviled, accomplishing both grand and humble deeds in Elema.

Type

Metaphysical, Divine