Avatarp System

The Avatar System.

"The Avatar System is one of the most ambitious programs undertaken by the entirety of Dormina, in it's entire history. It is a system like no other, that enables us benefits, which are unknown to other natives of Ano, or even of other planets and worlds altogether.

The Avatar System is based around a number of concepts. Fragmented Terminals, The Aether Sun, the Monoliths, the Avatars themselves, and the Aether Nodes. Other portions of the system seem to include things like Emblem Capes, Banner Knights, the Tree of Souls and Edict Blades, described below.

To begin with, one must explain the Aether Sun.

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The Aether Sun.

A massive container of Aether, that originated from the Fragmented Lord, Aura. It was believed that the Aether Sun was merely a transitory step on the path from a Fragmented Terminal to a Monolith, however it was soon discovered that it did much more.

The Aether Sun seems to be the one that first provides an Avatar to the users of the System (and not the Terminal as it was once thought). It is also what preserves the state of an Avatar, specifically, their collected Aether Nodes, should they be absorbed unto the core of said Avatar,

It also preserves the connection between a person and their Avatar, making sure nobody ends up in the wrong Avatar (although amusing accidents have occurred at times.)

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Fragmented Terminals and Monoliths.

Fragmented Terminals are grounded pods found in Dormina, in which a person can enter, and be connected with the Avatar system. During the first time this happens, their body is transported into the Aether Sun, in the exact spot an unclaimed Avatar and the unclaimed Avatar is then transported to a Monolith. The consciousness of the person is then transported to their Avatar, as their body "sleeps" in the Sun.

Monoliths on the other hand, are very tall, pylon-like structures, with an aether core, and a cover of Weave, that open up to allow an Avatar to be transported from the Aether Sun, to Ano. They seem to require certain degrees of Aether concentration to work properly as well. In an aether deprived environment, an Avatar's powers might not work.

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Avatars.

Avatars are, at first, an exact copy of the body of a person that uses the System. Avatars are made of raw Aether, and thus, killing them has little impact, on the actual person. At the moment of an AvatarMs death/dissolution , a person "disconnects" from their Avatar, so the trauma isn't really too difficult to handle.

Avatars start with slightly better attributes than your average human, by virtue of being made of Aether. They are slightly stronger and faster, physically, because of the environmental aether fields enhancing their forms, but that is not all they can do. Over time, Avatars can grow much, much stronger, and much more capable of achieving previously unheard of feats.

They cannot really be killed, for their true form lies with the Aether Sun, and someone with a particularly strong will, can stop themselves from disconnecting and their Avatar from disappearing.

Avatars have an Aether core, that has normally, four open "links" that can connect to smaller, Aether Nodes, granting the Avatar certain powers. They can have their own race, as well as beliefs, separate from those of the person they hailed from. Some report that Avatars can develop "souls" of their own, and that they do some things on their own, without the user's direct input.

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Aether Nodes

The main way through which an Avatar gains power, Aether Nodes. They come in numerous varieties, shapes, sizes and powers, and are generally found in Cauldrons. Can be carried around, as well as bought or sold.

The rare ones, definitively are. Some of them can be found outside of Cauldrons too, but those are usually the most generic. Aether Nodes, do however, have a number of main categories, depending on their origins and functions, which will be explored below.

1. Magic Nodes. "Arcane Nodes" as some call them. These Nodes achieve purely arcane, occult or supernatural effects, such as manipulating raw Aether, empowering spells, physical attributes, flinging around objects, flying etc. They seem to be the ones granting outright "superpowers" to their users, and are considered a work of genuine mafic.

2. Incarnate Nodes. Called thus, due to the way they work being reminiscent of Incarnates. They allow power over some portion of nature (trees, water, stones) or ofer certain phenomena, again, naturally occurring (lightning, fire, rain etc.). Generally found pretty commonly.

3. Entity Nodes. Entity nodes come in two great categories. Modification Nodes and Summoning Nodes.

-------| Modification Nodes |-------

Modification Nodes basically allow the Avatar that possesses them to change their race, outward appearance, gender, etc. Generally utilized in combination with other Nodes. For example, a fire resistant race Node (likely a Fiend) when you have a Node that sets your body on all consuming fire.

-------| Summoning Nodes |-------

Summoning Nodes, are basically the souls of fallen enemies/Cauldron guardians, that Avatars can rarely see converted into Nodes, allowing for their wielder to summon them in battle. It is however, a difficult thing to do, because it opens one's mind and soul to the summoned being, and also takes a huge toll on one's Aether reserves.

4. Equipment Nodes.

Nodes that summon items on the Avatar, mostly weapons, armor, or artifacts of all sorts. Generally, Cauldron Guardians who perish will either leave behind a Summon Node, rarely, or more commonly, Equipment Nodes. Equipment not hailing from Cauldron Guardians can be found, and is considered to be pretty good too. It's just that it's very rare. Equipment Nodes can provide more than one item at a time.

5. Enhancement Nodes.

Nodes pertaining to the manipulation of an Avatar's nature and their relation to Nodes. Common examples include, a Node that can mix the effects of two other Nodes together, a Node that has two loose connections (as a result, providing extra room for Nodes), a Node that summons a second copy of one's Avatar, or that revives them near a Monolith after their death, instead of having to leave the Terminal and wait for the Avatar to regenerate.

6. Ancient Nodes

They are explicitly called Ancient in the Embros Peak Records, and that is the name one will refer to them as. These Nodes are found only deep into Cauldrons that the Lords interacted with. Their effect is simple..they grant a super powered mode. Something Arcane or Enchantment Nodes can also do, yes, but this Mode is unique to every Avatar, and it outright changes their energy source, from Aether to ...something else.

7. Cauldron Nodes. Nodes that can be used to deploy and connect objects, or expendable creatures. Generally utilized within Cauldrons, where there is a higher concentration of Aether. Generally, the effects seem to distinguish between people the user is friendly to, and hostiles as well.

~~~~Addendum~~~~

Finding yourself in possession of more than one of the same Node? No problem! If you have two Thunder Nodes, you can simply merge them into a more powerful, singular Thunder Node. This is also how Avatars grow more powerful.

Caution!: There are uncertain effects to merging certain Nodes, like say, a gender flip node, or most Enchantment Nodes. Inquire a more experienced Avatar System user on what Nodes can be merged, or otherwise, contact a scholar.

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Utilities

Here, the many utilities of the Avatar System will be briefly touched upon.

Knights Fragmented: Beings made of metal, created by Aura. Congregate near Terminals, Monoliths and Cauldron Entrances, and protect the users of the Avatar System and their Avatars during the time they are vulnerable.

Banner Knights: Leaders of the Knights Fragmented, bearing large banners. They seem to be capable of guiding the speechless, animated metal suits, into action, and hold a semblance of intelligence and free thought.

Emblem Capes: A cape that gives an Avatar, leadership privileges over an immediate group of other Avatars. Being a leader, means they must select which Cauldron the Avatars enter, and are the only ones who can commune with Banner Knights and Fragmented Knights, into letting them in. They can order Fragmented Knights around, for very simple tasks.

Edict Blades: Swords made of Weave, that have been etched with a set of words on the side. Planting it somewhere, will have that effect come true, and remain true as long as the blade is left there. "Do not enter" for example, creates a protection zone. "Burn" sets the surrounding area aflame and keeps burning it etc. Their power is said to be absolute.

The Tree of Souls: Magic is a thing of the past. Generally, the idea was that the Aether Core, sent a branch of Aether to parts of whatever is in between the surface of Ano and the Core. Then this parts, sent branches to every living being, and then humans themselves, had branches leading them to the Aether Sun, and then there is the while Avatar Business.

Looks like a big ol' tree. Apparently, humans too had an amount of aether in them, and thus, could connect it with Nodes, just like how Avatars do, to achieve supernatural effects. Except this was tiring. Using more than one Node at once, was much more so. Using a Node too much, had the same effect. In the end, the Avatar System was made use of, making magic much safer to use.