Tlāloc, “He Who Makes Things Sprout”
Tlāloc is a Mesoamerican deity associated with rain, fertility, and water.
- Pantheon: Aztec pantheon
- Deity Title: Tlāloc, “He Who Makes Things Sprout”
- Deity Symbol: Blue mask with large round eyes, fangs, and a headdress made of feathers
- Home Plane: Tamoanchan, the paradise of the gods
- Deity Level: Greater deity
- Alignment: Neutral
- Aliases: Tlaloque, the Rain Bringers
- Superior: None
- Traditional Allies: Chalchiuhtlicue, Xochiquetzal, Huixtocihuatl
- Traditional Foes: Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli
- Divine Artifact: Atl-Tlachinolli, a lightning bolt-shaped wand that can summon storms and lightning bolts
- Servants: Tlaloque, divine rain spirits who assist Tlāloc in bringing rain to the earth
- Servitor Creatures: Frogs, serpents, and water-dwelling creatures
- Sacred Animal: Axolotl, a type of salamander that is associated with water and transformation
- Manifestations: Thunderstorms, rain, lightning, hail, and earthquakes
- Signs of Favor: Clear skies after a long drought, abundant rain and crops, flourishing lakes and rivers
- Worshipers: Farmers, fishermen, gardeners, and anyone who depends on water for their livelihood
- Cleric Alignments: Neutral, neutral good, neutral evil
- Specialty Priests: Stormbringers, Rainmakers, and Earthshakers
- Holy Days: The Feast of Tlāloc (in late summer) and the Feast of the Mountain (in early spring)
- Portfolio: Agriculture, water, fertility, and rain
- Domains: Tempest, Nature, Water, and Earth
- Favored Weapon: Atlatl, a spear-thrower used in hunting and warfare
- Favored Class: Druid
- Favored Race: Lizardfolk
- Duties of the Priesthood: Perform rain ceremonies and maintain water sources, aid farmers and fishermen, defend against enemies of the earth
- Major Cult/Temple Sites: The Temple of Tlāloc in Tenochtitlan, the Temple of Tlāloc in Tula
- Benefits: Protection from lightning and water-based attacks, ability to summon storms and control water, enhanced fertility and crop growth, ability to breathe underwater.
Tlāloc, the Aztec god of rain and water, is depicted as a formidable and powerful deity. His physique is robust and muscular, towering over the other gods with broad shoulders and a muscular chest. His skin is a dark blue, representing the color of water, and is often depicted with glistening droplets of water running down his skin. His hair is long and flowing, made of vibrant green and blue feathers that shimmer in the light.
Tlāloc’s face is fierce, with sharp cheekbones and a prominent nose, yet his eyes are calm and tranquil, conveying a sense of his authority and power. He wears a headdress made of colorful feathers, and a serpent curls around his neck. His attire is ornate, with a loincloth decorated with intricate patterns and adorned with shells and beads.
As the god of rain and water, Tlāloc’s purpose is to provide for the people and sustain life. He is a deity who represents the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, and his actions are essential for the survival of the Aztec people. Tlāloc is known for his ability to summon storms and floods, which can bring both prosperity and destruction. He is also responsible for the fertility of the land and crops, which are essential for the Aztec people’s livelihood.
Tlāloc’s purpose is to bring balance to the world and to remind the Aztec people of the power of nature. He is a deity of both life and death, representing the destructive and regenerative nature of water. Through his actions, Tlāloc hopes to bring the Aztec people closer to their spiritual roots and help them find meaning and purpose in their daily lives.
Currently in the World
As the Aztec people first began to populate the land, Tlāloc, the god of rain and lightning, emerged from the primordial chaos of creation. He was a towering figure, with skin as blue as the sky and eyes that sparkled like lightning bolts. His hair was made of water and flowed down his back, while his fingers were adorned with rings of gold and turquoise.
Tlāloc’s purpose was clear: to bring water to the people of the land and ensure the growth of their crops. He was revered as a powerful and just deity, feared by some for his destructive power, but loved by many for his life-giving rains.
As the centuries passed, Tlāloc’s influence grew, and he became a key player in the complex pantheon of Aztec gods. He fought fierce battles against the forces of darkness, defending the people from evil spirits and malevolent gods. In times of drought, the Aztecs would offer sacrifices to Tlāloc, hoping to appease his wrath and bring forth the rains.
But Tlāloc was not invincible. His power was tied to the whims of the natural world, and there were times when his rains would not come. During these dark periods, Tlāloc would retreat to his watery realm, deep beneath the earth, brooding over his inability to help his people.
In the 1450s, Tlāloc’s attention is focused on the burgeoning Aztec empire, and his motivations have grown more complex. He seeks to maintain his position as a powerful deity, but also desires to protect his people from the excesses of their own rulers. Tlāloc watches with growing concern as the Aztec nobility grows ever more brutal and corrupt, and he wonders if his rains will be enough to wash away the stain of their sins.
With this in mind, Tlāloc has been quietly working to undermine the power of the ruling class. He sends his lightning bolts to strike the palaces of the nobles, setting their grand structures ablaze. He unleashes his rainstorms to flood the fields of the wealthy, ruining their crops and leaving them destitute.
But Tlāloc is not blind to the suffering of the common people, and he sends his blessings to the humble farmers who toil in the fields. His rains are gentle and nourishing, and he provides them with the water they need to survive.
In this way, Tlāloc seeks to maintain a delicate balance between the forces of good and evil, protecting his people while also asserting his own power. He is a complex figure, feared and loved in equal measure, and his actions will shape the destiny of the Aztec people for generations to come.