: But the political nature of the Avatara designation sort
: of kills the possible "incarnation of a god"
: meaning. Unless...maybe they're supposed to be the
: incarnations of a more abstract "spirit of
: good" or "spirit of the Cath Bruig" or
: something? You know, like the government is
: collectively referred to as "Uncle Sam." To
: be an Avatara is to let yourself be possessed by the
: spirit of Light and patriotism, or so an idealist
: might say.
Nah, I doubt that they're inhabited by any special spirits, though Alric was a reincarnation of Moagim/Tireces and was the Great Hero (who may be a special spirit like the Leveller). Maybe other Great Heroes or Levellers were former avatara; did Connacht become an Avatara after he saved the world? He seemed to be vehemently anti-power, destroying and hiding all sorts of magical artifacts in an attempt to break the cycle, so I doubt he would go out and search for all the Dreams of Wyrd like the Avatara do.
Though that brings up a point: why the Avatara are called that. They are a circle of nine magicians, each seeking out the Dreams of Wyrd in an attempt to become his Avatar. Hence, the Avatara.
