Atavist

“We are a hundred blades guided by a single spirit. You cannot stop us all.” —Lanharath, atavist shadow watcher

The path of atavism was developed in Khorvaire over the course of the last century, but its power is drawn from the very foundation of the kalashtar race. The quori spirits that gave birth to the kalashtar are spread throughout their descendants, existing now as little more than a memory. The discipline of an atavist strengthens his bond to this ancestral spirit and to all other kalashtar that have embraced their unique heritage. When working alone, atavists can be versatile and dangerous opponents; when acting in concert, they become an unstoppable force.

History

One of the most significant innovations in kalashtar history is the development of the path of the atavist. Pioneered by Soserath the seer in 978 YK, this discipline allows kalashtar to strengthen their bonds to the quori spirits—and in the process, to one another. For centuries, the bonds between quori and kalashtar have been growing weaker and weaker: That decline is no more.

The atavist is only the beginning, however. Soserath believed that a master atavist would eventually be able to fully incarnate the power and memories of the quori, becoming a true avatar of the spirit. This would irrevocably alter the balance of power between the kalashtar and the Dreaming Dark, since it would effectively allow the kalashtar to create new quori—something even the Dreaming Dark cannot do. Soserath was killed, though, before he could complete his research into the ascension from atavist to avatar. The Serath kalashtar have continued to spread his teachings, and the atavist shadow watchers have begun to take the offensive against the Dreaming Dark, but Soserath’s notes on avatars have never been found.