Buy me a coffeeXipe Totec (Shee-peh Toh-teck), The Flayed Lord of Renewal
“Meet Xipe Totec: The Aztec God Who Flayed Himself to Bring Life and Fertility!”
- Pantheon: Aztec pantheon
- Deity Title: The Flayed Lord, Lord of Renewal
- Deity Symbol: Flayed human skin worn as a cloak
- Home Plane: Unknown
- Deity Level: Lesser deity
- Alignment: Neutral Evil
- Aliases: Red Tezcatlipoca, Xipe, Tlatlauhca, Yoalli Tlauana
- Superior: None
- Traditional Allies: Tezcatlipoca, Huitzilopochtli, Tlaloc
- Foes: None explicitly; contrasts exist with Quetzalcoatl but not enmity.
- Divine Artifact: A flayed skin cloak and a bag containing the seeds of the new harvest
- Servants: Priests, warriors, and the Tlaloque rain spirits
- Servitor Creatures: Flayed Guardians: Humanoid spirits or undead entities clad in flayed skin, serving as protectors of his temples. Butterfly Swarms: Mystical insects spreading renewal and decay.
- Sacred Animal: Jaguars and other Mesoamerican symbols of strength and transformation
- Manifestations: Disease, flayed skins, and flowers
- Signs of Favor: Bountiful harvests, flourishing crops, healing from disease
- Purpose: To nourish humanity through self-sacrifice and to symbolize the transformative power of death and renewal.
- Worshipers: Farmers, gardeners, healers, priests, and those seeking renewal or rebirth
- Cleric Alignments: Chaotic Neutral, Neutral, Chaotic Evil
- Specialty Priests: Skinweavers, flower arrangers, healers, and those who perform ritual sacrifices
- Holy Days: Tlacaxipehualiztli (the Flaying of Men), celebrated in February and March, Tozoztontli (Little Vigil)
- Portfolio: Renewal, spring, seasons, agriculture, and disease
- Domains: Fertility, agriculture, renewal, sacrifice, craftsmanship (goldsmiths and artisans)
- Favored Weapon: Flaying knife (Obsidian Dagger)
- Favored Class: Druid
- Favored Race: Human
- Duties of the Priesthood: Preside over agricultural and renewal ceremonies, conduct sacrifices, and maintain the temple and surrounding gardens
- Major Cult/Temple Sites: The temple of Tlacaxipehualiztli in Tenochtitlan
- Benefits: Healing magic, ability to summon butterflies and blooming flowers, resistance to disease.
Xipe Totec is an Aztec god of agriculture, fertility, and rebirth who is often depicted wearing the flayed skin of a sacrificial victim.
Xipe Totec, also known as the “Flayed Lord,” is a prominent deity in Aztec mythology symbolizing renewal, transformation, and the cycles of life and death. His name translates to “Our Lord the Flayed One,” derived from the ritual act of flaying, which embodies themes of shedding the old for the new—mirroring the regeneration of crops and the earth. Often depicted wearing the skin of a sacrificial victim, Xipe Totec represents the raw potential for rebirth and the inherent sacrifices that sustain life.
Bio Summary
Role and Actions
Xipe Totec flayed his own skin as a divine act of generosity, symbolizing the shedding of old life to foster new growth—akin to seeds shedding their husks to sprout. His mythic self-sacrifice was both a source of life and a powerful metaphor for the cycles of nature, where death is essential for rebirth. The deity is a patron of transformation, overseeing both the fertile fields and the creative fires of artisans.
Why Xipe Totec Acts
Xipe Totec’s actions reflect his commitment to the cycle of creation and destruction, ensuring that humanity and the natural world thrive. Through his rituals and symbolism, he reminds mortals of the cost of life’s blessings, urging them to embrace sacrifice and renewal. His flayed visage serves as a stark reminder of life’s impermanence and the beauty of transformation.
What Xipe Totec Hopes to Achieve
By embodying the essence of renewal, Xipe Totec seeks to maintain balance in the world. He aims to remind mortals of their interconnectedness with nature, the value of sacrifice, and the inevitability of change. Ultimately, he hopes to inspire a sense of reverence for the cycles that sustain life, encouraging humanity to align with the regenerative forces of the universe.
Xipe Totec, The Flayed Lord
Large Celestial (Deity), Neutral Evil
Armor Class 23 (natural armor)
Hit Points 950 (70d12 + 490)
Speed 50 ft., fly 120 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 (+9) | 24 (+7) | 28 (+9) | 26 (+8) | 28 (+9) | 26 (+8) |
This layout makes it easy to see the values and their respective modifiers. Let me know if you’d like
Saving Throws Strength +17, Dexterity +15, Constitution +17, Wisdom +17, Charisma +16
Skills Insight +17, Medicine +17, Perception +17, Religion +16
Damage Resistances Necrotic, Poison, Radiant (half damage)
Damage Immunities Disease, Psychic, Poison
Condition Immunities Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses Truesight 120 ft., Passive Perception 27
Languages All, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge Rating 28 (120,000 XP)
TRAITS
- Divine Presence: Xipe Totec exudes a divine aura. Any creature that starts its turn within 60 feet of him must succeed on a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature that succeeds on this saving throw is immune to the effect for 24 hours.
- Flayed Body: Xipe Totec’s appearance is that of a being wearing the flayed skin of a mortal as a cloak. Any creature that hits him with a melee attack takes 10 (3d6) necrotic damage as they are afflicted by the divine rot of his skin. A creature that is reduced to 0 hit points by this effect is cursed and cannot be resurrected by magic for 7 days.
- Master of Renewal: Xipe Totec can restore the health of others through blood sacrifice. As a bonus action, he can heal one creature within 60 feet of him for 100 (20d10) hit points by expending a sacrifice (see Legendary Actions). He can do this up to 3 times per day.
- Aura of Transformation: Any creature within 30 feet of Xipe Totec that drops to 0 hit points is immediately revived with full hit points, but their body is transformed into a twisted, flayed version of itself under his control for 1 minute. The creature is considered charmed by Xipe Totec during this time and is unable to take hostile actions. A creature revived this way must succeed on a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw to break free of his control.
ACTIONS
- Multiattack: Xipe Totec makes three attacks: one with Flaying Macuahuitl, one with Whip of Renewal, and one with his Claw of Rebirth.
- Flaying Macuahuitl: Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 52 (10d8) slashing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 26 Constitution saving throw or take 20 (6d6) necrotic damage at the start of its next turn. On a failed save, the target is blinded until the end of its next turn.
- Whip of Renewal: Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 15 ft., one target. Hit: 45 (8d8) slashing damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 26 Dexterity saving throw or become restrained by the whip for 1 minute. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
- Claw of Rebirth: Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 55 (10d10) slashing damage plus 20 (6d6) radiant damage. On a critical hit, the target must succeed on a DC 26 Constitution saving throw or suffer paralysis for 1 minute.
- Flayed Curse (Recharge 5-6): Xipe Totec can cast Bestow Curse without expending a spell slot. The curse causes the target to suffer disadvantage on all saving throws and attack rolls, and whenever they take damage, they must roll a DC 26 Constitution saving throw or suffer the blinded or paralyzed condition for 1 minute.
SPELLCASTING
Xipe Totec is a 20th-level spellcaster (Charisma spellcasting, DC 24, +16 to hit). He has the following spells prepared:
- Cantrips (at will): Chill Touch, Thaumaturgy, Sacred Flame, Toll the Dead
- 1st Level (4 slots): Inflict Wounds, Cause Fear, Bless, Healing Word
- 2nd Level (3 slots): Mirror Image, Spiritual Weapon, Lesser Restoration
- 3rd Level (3 slots): Animate Dead, Bestow Curse, Revivify
- 4th Level (3 slots): Blight, Death Ward, Greater Invisibility
- 5th Level (3 slots): Flame Strike, Cloudkill, Mass Cure Wounds
- 6th Level (2 slots): Harm, Heal
- 7th Level (2 slots): Plane Shift, Finger of Death
- 8th Level (1 slot): Earthquake, Power Word Stun
- 9th Level (1 slot): True Resurrection, Meteor Swarm
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
Xipe Totec can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Xipe Totec regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.
- Flay (Costs 2 Actions): Xipe Totec makes one Flaying Macuahuitl attack.
- Sacrifice (Costs 3 Actions): Xipe Totec expends a sacrifice, healing a creature within 60 feet of him for 100 (20d10) hit points.
- Summon Butterfly Swarm (Costs 3 Actions): Xipe Totec summons a swarm of butterflies (see stat block) that fills a 30-foot radius area. All creatures within that area must make a DC 26 Wisdom saving throw or be charmed for 1 minute.
MYTHIC ACTIONS (After Xipe Totec drops to 0 hit points)
Once Xipe Totec is reduced to 0 hit points, he does not die but instead begins the process of rebirth. For the next 1 minute, he automatically regenerates 100 hit points at the start of his turn. After 1 minute, he returns to full health and regains all expended legendary actions.
REGIONAL EFFECTS
The region within 1 mile of Xipe Totec’s temple or influence becomes a zone of transformation. The following effects occur:
- Bountiful Harvests: Crops in the area grow in abundance, but they are always unnaturally large or malformed. Farmers near his temple will experience booming harvests, but their soil is constantly tainted by death and decay.
- Disease and Suffering: Creatures within the region feel the sting of Xipe Totec’s curse. Smallpox, rot, and other ailments ravage those who fail to properly offer homage.
- Sacrificial Offerings: The scent of blood lingers in the air. Every night, there is a 10% chance that Xipe Totec demands a sacrifice in the form of an animal or humanoid to maintain his dominion over the land. Failure to provide results in natural disasters or widespread illness.
LORE
Xipe Totec, the Flayed Lord, is a god of life, death, and renewal, whose very nature is tied to the brutal cycles of sacrifice and rebirth. His skin is constantly flayed, a visual representation of the sacrificial acts that fuel the world’s cycles. He walks the line between creation and destruction, as death and decay are essential to bring forth new life. His worship is an integral part of Aztec culture, where sacrifices are seen as a means of appeasing the gods to ensure the prosperity of crops, livestock, and health.
Despite his fearsome nature, Xipe Totec’s actions are born of necessity. He feeds on the death of the old to promote the life of the new, making him a god revered by farmers, healers, and those who understand that true growth comes through sacrifice. His temples are places of both reverence and fear, where the rituals of renewal often include bloody offerings.
As a deity, Xipe Totec is not merely a tyrant but a force of nature that mirrors the cycles of the world—constantly evolving, constantly transforming. He is a god who embodies the harsh truth that life cannot exist without death, and only through the shedding of the old can new life emerge.
Butterfly Swarm
Small Swarm of Tiny Beasts, Unaligned
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 56 (8d6 + 24)
Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (+0) | 16 (+3) | 16 (+3) | 2 (-4) | 14 (+2) | 10 (+0) |
This layout presents the ability scores in a compact and clear horizontal format.
Damage Resistances Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from nonmagical attacks
Condition Immunities Blinded, Charmed, Frightened, Paralyzed, Poisoned
Senses Blindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Passive Perception 12
Languages —
Challenge Rating 2 (450 XP)
TRAITS
- Swarm: The swarm can occupy another creature’s space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through a space as narrow as 1 inch wide without squeezing. The swarm can’t regain hit points or gain temporary hit points.
- Flitting Chaos (Recharge 5-6): As a bonus action, the swarm can fly in a chaotic, erratic pattern for 1 minute. During this time, any creature that starts its turn within 15 feet of the swarm must succeed on a DC 13 Dexterity saving throw or take 7 (2d6) slashing damage and be disadvantaged on its next attack roll until the start of its next turn.
- Healing Aura: The swarm can spread restorative magic by swirling around injured creatures. Any creature within 15 feet of the swarm regains 5 (1d10) hit points at the start of its turn. The swarm can do this up to three times per day (1d3 uses).
ACTIONS
- Swarm Attack (Melee Weapon Attack): +5 to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm’s space. Hit: 10 (3d6) slashing damage, or 5 (1d10) slashing damage to creatures within 5 feet of the swarm’s space.
- Confounding Dance (Recharge 6): The swarm performs a dazzling display of erratic flying patterns. Each creature within 20 feet of the swarm must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become charmed by the swarm for 1 minute. While charmed, the creature cannot take hostile actions against the swarm, and any creature attacking the swarm has disadvantage on their attack rolls against it. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on a success.
LEGENDARY ACTIONS
The butterfly swarm can take 2 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. The swarm regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.
- Fly (Costs 1 Action): The swarm moves up to 30 feet without provoking opportunity attacks.
- Dazzling Flurry (Costs 2 Actions): The swarm creates an explosion of bright, radiant energy. Each creature within 10 feet of the swarm must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or take 10 (3d6) radiant damage and become blinded until the end of its next turn.
LORE
The Butterfly Swarm is a manifestation of renewal, grace, and the ever-present cycle of life and death that is central to Xipe Totec’s domain. These ethereal swarms are often seen fluttering near his temples or sacred grounds, spreading divine influence through their beauty, but also carrying the eerie sense of transformation. While they appear harmless, their magic carries the potential for both healing and harmful chaos, embodying the dual nature of their master.
Currently in the World
The Flayed Lord Walks the Earth
The air is thick with the scent of offerings as Xipe Totec strides through the fields, his flayed skin clinging loosely to his golden body. Every step he takes leaves imprints of life, transforming barren earth into fertile soil. Farmers kneel in reverence, whispering prayers as corn stalks grow tall and strong in his wake. Xipe Totec, the Flayed Lord, walks the earth not as a figure of terror, but as a reminder of life’s greatest truth: renewal comes only through sacrifice.
His gilded eyes scan the horizon. It is the 1450s, a time of change and upheaval for the Aztec Empire, as it rises to power under leaders like Moctezuma I. Xipe Totec feels the pulse of humanity growing stronger, yet with every step forward, he senses the fragile balance of the world teetering. Death feeds life; life demands sacrifice. The Flayed Lord is both shepherd and harbinger, guiding mortals while demanding payment for the earth’s blessings.
A God Among Mortals
Xipe Totec moves unseen in the crowded markets of Tenochtitlan, his presence manifesting in the hands of goldsmiths as they hammer raw metal into brilliant shapes. He is the patron of artisans, and he whispers through the clinking tools, reminding them that beauty emerges through fire and transformation. Merchants sell obsidian blades and bright feathers, oblivious to the divine figure among them, but Xipe Totec feels their offerings and hears their whispered devotions during the festival of Tlacaxipehualiztli.
His heart, though scarred and ancient, swells with pride as he watches his people thrive. Yet he knows prosperity cannot endure without cost. The cycle of life must be fed.
The Festival of Renewal
Spring arrives, and the Aztecs gather to honor him. In the great temple courtyard, sacrifices take place. The flaying ceremony begins, and Xipe Totec watches as priests don the skin of the sacrificed, their transformation echoing his divine truth. Some see only brutality, but Xipe Totec knows better. This act renews the world, feeding its fragile lifeblood.
In a realm unseen by mortals, Xipe Totec communes with the other gods. “The humans prosper, but their arrogance grows,” he warns Tezcatlipoca, the smoking mirror. “They must not forget that death sustains their lives.”
Tezcatlipoca nods but says nothing, his obsidian form shifting in the shadows. The gods are watchers and guides, but their patience wears thin as mortals begin to see themselves as invincible.
His Desires and Motivations
Xipe Totec is not driven by cruelty, but by a deep love for the world and its fragile beauty. His flayed form is not a punishment—it is a gift. He sacrifices himself again and again to ensure that the earth remains fertile, that humanity survives. Yet he is troubled by the ambitions of mortals, their hunger for power threatening to upset the delicate balance he strives to maintain.
He dreams of a world where humans understand the value of their offerings, where they do not take the earth’s bounty for granted. His greatest desire is to see mortals embrace the cycles of death and renewal as sacred, rather than something to be feared.
The Shadow of Change
As the 1450s draw to a close, Xipe Totec senses a growing unrest in the winds. The Aztec Empire is flourishing, yet the blood-soaked altars are whispered about with dread by those outside its reach. Beyond the ocean, unseen forces stir—an era of conquest looms, and Xipe Totec knows that the cycles of life and death will soon face a test greater than ever before.
He stands at the edge of a golden field, watching as his people celebrate, unaware of the storm brewing on the horizon. The Flayed Lord is ready, as he has always been, to endure the pain of transformation. For even gods are not immune to the demands of renewal.