At 08:30 PM 6/30/98 -0400, you wrote:
>
>Now, I've heard it said on this mailing list that the gods
>absolutely do not ever appear to anything on Cerilia.
This is wrong. While the "big oath" is still in effect, the gods due still
sometimes appear as avatars but not to the EXTENT other TSR world's gods
do. The Book of Priestcraft stated that Eloele (sp?) did often appear to
men. This is also refered to for Erik and Haelyn. Nesiree has appeared in
at the end of at least on published adventure, I believe in either the
Cities of the Sun or The Legend of the Hero Kings. Avani was supposed to
have been the midwife at el-Arrassi's birth(1) and according to the BOP
"Although few can claim to have recieved a visit from their goddess in this
form, she has appeared to her worshippers regardless of their station in
life, from humble farmers to dread kings(2)" (1.Cities of the Sun; 2.Book
of Priestcraft, pg.4). In some of the stories that have appeared in the
Rjurik books Eric has appeared in some way. When Birthright started out
the "big oath" was pretty air tight. Since then the writers have become
more lapse in letting them slip through. The avatars probably wouldn't
appear in battle, unless the avatar quest spell was cast, but they should,
and do in my campaign, show up subtly from time to time, especially the
young gods (Kirche and Eloele). Laerme only seems to want to appear in dreams.
>I must admit that
>I've bent this rule a little bit and Cuiraecen's avatar has shown up in my
>campaingn on at least one occasion I can remember.
It is your campaign and meant to be fun. Play it that way (especially if
TSR stops Birthright). I just recommend not letting Birthright become a
powergamer realm otherwise it loses its own special appeal.

> Also, I'd be
>interested to know if anyone has evered figured out why avatar stats were
>included when it would seem that avatars a few and far between?

I think the main reason is to give you the option. The second is that the
diety section of the Priestcraft book fits the standard format of the other
pantheon books published by TSR. Finally, there is a questing priest spell
for avatar form in the BOP.

T