Avatars are the celestial and terrestrial powers capable of being called forth by summoners.



Avatars can form pacts that allow adventurers to summon weaker versions of themselves. These "summoned avatars" are only a portion of the avatar's true strength.

Such avatars are capable of using powerful abilities: normal physical attack and Blood Pact abilities–both physical and magical–that require the summoner's magical energy (MP) to use. To maintain the avatar's presence, the Summoner gradually gives up a few of his/her magical energy (Avatar Perpetuation Cost).



Certain beastmen (such as Yagudo or Lamiae) have summoners within their ranks, and are capable of summoning avatars as adventurers do.

In certain instances, avatars also appear on their own to attack adventurers. They may be in a "prime" form (summoned by the avatar themselves), such as Fenrir Prime in "The Moonlit Path" or Carbuncle Prime in "Waking the Beast." It may also be the true avatar itself, such as Diabolos in "Waking Dreams," Bahamut in "The Wyrmking Descends," or a "mystic" form seen in Temenos. There are also several avatars of Diabolos in Dynamis - Tavnazia that appear on their own.





The term "celestial avatar" is a given name due to their reference as "celestial beings" and their presence on the Stellar Map as constellations, and that they came before the Terrestrial Avatars in the origin of Vana'diel. They are also referred to as the "sleeping gods". Each of the six basic elements is governed by one Sleeping God.

Also present in the constellations above Vana'diel are Alexander and Odin, referred to by the epithets "Iron Colossus" and the "The Dark Rider". Odin is also called "Dark Divinity" because that is the name many Beastmen races worship him under. His black protocrystal was once found in Bearclaw Pinnacle before it was broken during the Crystal War by the Orcs. Alexander's crystal is unknown, but might have something to do with the Astral Candescences. These two are not included among the "sleeping gods" although they are the elemental gods of darkness and light.

On the Stellar Map and in the night sky, each constellation has a star the same color as the sleeping gods' element. These stars are named for most importaint person or thing other than the avatar in their respective legends. The exception is Odin and Alexander (as they have no legends to read). Odin's star is named Sleipnir, after his horse. Alexander's star is named Gordius. That is the name of the object at the center of worship of the Walahra Temple of Aht Urhgan. [[On Earth, it is the name of the king who created the Gordian Knot. Whoever untied it was the rightful ruler of what is now modern-day Turkey. Instead of untying it, Alexander the Great cut it in half with his sword.]]





There exists two beings for each protocrystal avatar: one that is one of the original gods, and the other is a living being (as seen in the avatar legends).

The protocrystals were created as a result of the Zilart dividing the power of the mother crystals elementally, and containing it in a smaller form.

The sleeping gods call each other "the true gods" whereas they call the terrestrial avatars "the false gods" and look down on all who came after them.

The sleeping gods are currently in a slumber. When energy is sapped from them (such as by obtaining the "whisper" or "eye" key items), they are closer to awakening. When they awaken, they will try to restore Vana'diel to its original state (known as "paradise") which would only allow for Zilart and gods to live freely (and reduce the terrestrial avatars to mere beasts). It would also allow for the resurrection and death of Promathia, which would bring about the end of Vana'diel.

The sleeping gods also desire to restore the power of the "divided god" which is presumably the key to restoring paradise. The god is, more likely than not, Promathia, as a part of him is found in every lifeforce. Another, less likely possibility is Alexander, or it could just be their name for the true mothercrystal "Great Crystal" (before it was split into five parts by Altana in an effort to keep Promathia alive).

The Zilart also used the power of the sleeping gods to help heal Vana'diel after the war between the wyrms and the Zilart.


Ifrit / Ifrit Prime
God of Flames

A blazing incarnation wreathed in the flames of retribution. Ifrit aids the summoner with its command over heat and fire.




Leviathan / Leviathan Prime
God of Tides

A great serpent said to rule over the rivers and the seas. Leviathan aids the summoner with its command over waves and water.




Garuda / Garuda Prime
Goddess of Gales

The queen of avians, said to soar through the heavens on immeasurable wings. Garuda aids the summoner with her command over air and wind.




Titan / Titan Prime
God of Tremors

A legendary giant said to bear the world in its arms. Aids the summoner by shifting earth and rocks with its enormous strength.




Shiva / Shiva Prime
Goddess of Frost

The queen of winter, said to have dominion over the glaciers of the north. Shiva aids the summoner with her command over cold and ice.




Ramuh / Ramuh Prime
God of Storms

A secretive hermit said to be hoarding the wisdom of ages. Ramuh aids the summoner by using his staff to call forth electricity and lightning.






Connected to the Six Sleeping Gods by the constellations above Vana'diel, the avatars known as Alexander and Odin are prophesied to clash in the land of Aht Urhgan at the time of Judgment, "Ragnarok".

Odin
The Dark Rider

A dark horseman who it is said will emerge to cause chaos in the Empire.




Alexander
The Iron Colossus

The great ancient who it is said will fight against Odin in the age of judgment.

The Five Terrestrial Avatars

The terrestrial avatars are five powerful gods born of Vana'diel to protect the five mothercrystals. They–like any beast–can die, and if Vana'diel was restored to its original state of paradise, they would be reduced to mere animals.

Carbuncle / Carbuncle Prime
Bringer of Rainbows

A mysterious ruby said to bring good fortune which takes the form of a small creature and leads the summoner to the other avatars.





Diabolos
Ruler of Dreams

Creator of Dynamis, the Shrouded Land. Diabolos aids the summoner with his command over the power of dreams.





Bahamut
Conqueror of the Skies

The almighty Wyrmking.




Fenrir / Fenrir Prime
Guardian of the Moon

A gigantic wolf summoned by Karaha-Baruha during the Great War, whose power was unleashed in a last-ditch effort to drive back the Shadow Lord's armies from the gates of Windurst. Fenrir aids the summoner with his command over darkness and abilities related to phases of the moon.





Phoenix
Fiery Bird of Resurrection

Tenzen has the Phoenix Blade, which contains the flames of resurrection–Phoenix's life essence. She is believed to be worshiped in the Far East.

The Temporal Avatar

The term "temporal avatar" is a given name continuing in the pattern of celestial and terrestrial avatars. Atomos is revealed to be the avatar of time in Wings of the Goddess Missions, and is unrelated to the stars and the planet of Vana'diel. Atomos is the only unique (i.e., not a "clone" such as Tejas or Ogopogo) avatar independent from the celestial and terrestrial beings.

Atomos
Fearsome Destroyer of Time

Choosing not, ceasing not, Atomos exists only to return dispensable time to the void.

Tears of the Goddess

Cait Siths have been revealed to be avatars in the July 15, 2011 news update.

Mysterious beings born of the goddess Altana's tears and connected to the Cavernous Maws, Cait Siths have been watching the progress of the Crystal War. There are ten distinct Cait Siths, and a final composite Cait Sith consisting of the other Cait Siths combined into a single entity.

Cait Sith Aon (often floats in the air upside down)
Cait Sith Dha († - Dancers in Distress)
Cait Sith Tri (often lazing around)
Cait Sith Ceithir († - Distorter of Time; fought as an enemy)
Cait Sith Coig
Cait Sith Sia († - Crossroads of Time)
Cait Sith Seachd
Cait Sith Ochd († - Dancers in Distress)
Cait Sith Naoi (leader)
Cait Sith Deich
Cait Sith (Composite)