Bestiary

Love is inspirational. So, for that matter, is lust. And so, certain Avatars assume the form of a Beloved: a person of the mage’s preferred gender whose devotion to that mage runs deep, if not always easy, through both partners’ lives.

Such manifestations assume a distinct form and identity — typically, though not always, the mage’s lover. The Avatar could appear as a child, a parental figure (perhaps the apparent “ghost” of a long-dead parent or sibling who’s not actually among the Restless Dead), an adored (and possibly long-gone) pet, a cherished mentor, the best friend you never had, a dedicated roommate, perhaps even a rival whose antagonism stems from a frustrated form of love.

Avatars can be a real pain in the ass. A Beloved one is no exception. Sure, this entity loves you… but might not particularly

By default, a Beloved Avatar manifests in perceptible ways. That spirit might be seen and heard only by the mage herself, but the Avatar does have a distinct, recognizable identity and presence. In Trait terms, such Avatars comprise Background ratings of 3 or higher; a lesser Avatar could not have such a potent relationship with its mage. The Manifest Avatar Merit (see The Book of Secrets, p. 71) is essential when such spirits come into play, and the Ally Background must be chosen as well if the Beloved is to become an entity that people other than the mage herself can perceive. Chances are good, though, that the Beloved will assume an apparently mundane form. It’s possible to have a Beloved Avatar who looks like a puppet, shark, or six-armed alien, but it’s not bloody likely and that relationship would seem weird even by the standards of a mage.

like you, and certainly won’t make your life easier. The Avatar in question can be as demanding, neurotic, quarrelsome, obnoxious, irritating, selfish, depressing, messy, infuriating, and abusive as any human being can be. A Beloved Avatar is inevitably possessive, too — after all, that entity is literally possessing or possessed by the mage, so it’s a natural state of affairs. Thus, a relationship with a Beloved Avatar tends to be rather dysfunctional by human terms — at best, high-maintenance, at worst, a literal walking nightmare.

As detailed in the Manifest Avatar entry, this sort of Avatar becomes a character in his own right. It’s possible that a trusted player could roleplay that Avatar if the player portraying the mage agrees to that arrangement. Otherwise, the Storyteller controls the Beloved; the mage’s player can give suggestions and guidance, but Avatars are notoriously independent entities and so the Beloved spirit ultimately remains beyond the player’s command.