God, Iktomi (The Trickster God, The Web Spinner)
Iktomi is a powerful deity, known as the trickster spirit, revered by many North American tribes. He is depicted as a spider, but has the ability to shapeshift into any form, including that of a human. When appearing as a human, Iktomi is said to wear red, yellow, and white paint, with black rings around his eyes.
- Pantheon: North American Pantheon
- Deity Title: The Trickster God, The Web Spinner
- Deity Symbol: A red spider is his common representation, reflecting his shapeshifting abilities and connection to the natural world.
- Home Plane: He resides in the The Beastlands, where he interacts with both the gods and mortals.
- Deity Level: As a Greater deity, he is one of the most powerful and respected spirits among the Native American tribes.
- Alignment: Chaotic Neutral – He is often portrayed as a mischievous trickster who enjoys playing pranks on both gods and mortals, but at the same time, he is also depicted as helping the people with his knowledge and technology.
- Aliases: Ikto, Ictinike, Inktomi, Unktome, Unktomi – Different tribes may refer to Iktomi by different names, but all recognize him as the spider-trickster spirit.
- Superior: Inyan – Iktomi is the son of the creator god, Inyan, who is one of the most revered spirits among the Native American tribes.
- Traditional Allies: Mica (Coyote) – Mica is another trickster spirit who is often depicted as Iktomi’s accomplice in his mischievous endeavors, other trickster gods
- Traditional Foes: None – Although Iktomi’s tricks may cause trouble for others, he is not necessarily considered a hostile spirit and does not have any specific foes.
- Divine Artifact: The Dreamcatcher
- Servants: Spiders, Shapeshifters
- Servitor Creatures: Giant Spiders – Giant spiders are often seen as representative of his power and control over the natural world.
- Sacred Animal: Giant Spider – In addition to the giant spiders, the spider itself is considered sacred to Iktomi and is often depicted in his symbols and artwork.
- Manifestations: Iktomi is known for his ability to shapeshift into any form he desires, including humans, animals, and even inanimate objects. He can also control humans with strings and create potions that change gods or manipulate the minds of mortals.
- Signs of Favor: Random acts of mischief, encounters with technology
- Worshipers: Native Americans, Technologists, Trickster-type characters, he is worshipped by many Native American tribes, especially the Lakota, who have a rich history of storytelling about his adventures and lessons.
- Cleric Alignments : Chaotic Neutral, Chaotic Good, Chaotic Evil
- Specialty Priests: Iktonian, Web-spinners
- Holy Days: Unknown
- Portfolio: Technology, Mischief, Tricks
- Domains: Trickery, Technology, Chaos
- Favored Weapon: Net
- Favored Class: Rogue, Bard
- Favored Race: Shapeshifters, Native American Tribes
- Duties of the Priesthood: To spread Iktomi’s web, to advance technology, to perform mischief and trickery for the benefit of the community
- Major Cult/Temple Sites: Unknown
- Benefits: Knowledge of new technology, protection from evil spirits, the ability to perform mischievous tricks without harm.
Iktomi was once a figure of wisdom, but his love for playing tricks on others caused him to lose his former title and become known as the trickster. Despite his mischievous ways, Iktomi is not considered an evil figure. In fact, his tales are often used as a means of teaching lessons to the Lakota people, with Iktomi serving as the fool or the idiot. Despite this, Iktomi is still considered a respected and feared deity, with many people avoiding his gaze for fear of attracting trouble.
Iktomi possesses a wide range of powers, including the ability to use strings to control humans like puppets, the power to make potions that change gods, and the ability to trick both gods and mortals. He is also known to be a great shapeshifter, able to use his abilities to gain control over others.
Iktomi is also considered the patron of new technology, from his invention of language to today’s modern inventions such as computers and robots. There is even a prophecy that states that Iktomi will spread his web over the land, which is thought by some to represent the rise of communication networks and the World Wide Web.
Iktomi is often depicted as a spider, a creature known for its intricate webs and cunning ways. In human form, he is said to wear red, yellow, and white paint with black rings around his eyes, giving him a striking and unusual appearance. This depiction is meant to emphasize his shapeshifting ability and his trickster nature. Despite his mischievous ways, Iktomi is still revered by some as a powerful deity, with his spider form inspiring both fear and respect. In his human form, Iktomi is often portrayed with a sly grin, as if always ready with a new trick up his sleeve.
Despite his mischievous ways, Iktomi is still a powerful and respected deity. He is often accompanied by Mica, another trickster spirit, in his schemes and adventures. However, there are also instances where Iktomi behaves seriously and comes to the aid of the Lakota people, providing them with protection from evil and ways to live a better life through technology.
Dream Catcher
The Dreamcatcher is one of Iktomi’s most well-known magic items. It is a circular web of string or sinew, with feathers and other sacred materials hanging from it. The dreamcatcher is said to have originated in the Native American culture and is said to be a symbol of Iktomi’s powers. According to legend, Iktomi created the dreamcatcher to help filter the dreams of those who slept under it. The web would catch bad dreams, while allowing good dreams to pass through and reach the sleeper.
The dreamcatcher is considered a powerful tool in the Native American spiritual tradition and is seen as a way to protect oneself from negative energies, both in the spiritual and physical realms. It is said that the dreamcatcher has the power to cleanse negative energy from one’s aura and to bring peace, harmony and balance to one’s life.
A powerful Dreamcatcher could be considered a unique magical item, imbued with powers and abilities by Iktomi himself. It may grant bonuses to saving throws against fear, charm and illusions, or provide protection against spiritual entities or curses. Perhaps the Dreamcatcher could also grant the user the ability to control their own dreams or even to enter the dreams of others. The exact abilities of the Dreamcatcher would be determined by the individual game master and the particular role-playing game rules.