Tlazoteotl

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Greyhawk Divinity
Tlazoteotl
Tlazoteotl, as depicted in Deities and Demigods (1980). Art by David S. LaForce.
Names and titles
Title(s):Mother Goddess of the Earth
General information
Portfolio:Earth Mother, Agriculture, Nature
Home:A parallel Material Plane
Alignment:Neutral
Gender:Female
Class:Cleric 14/druid 14/magic-user 15/illusionist 25/assassin 15/bard 15
Superior:Ometeotl
Rules items
Domains:Animal, Community, Earth, Plant, Water
Divine rank:Intermediate

Tlazoteotl is the mother goddess of the earth in the Olman pantheon. Her symbol is an ear of corn.

In the Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, a gibbering mouther is identified with Tlazoteotl. In the first edition of Deities & Demigods and second edition Legends & Lore, the goddess is called Tlazolteotl, goddess of guilty loves, bodily pleasure, and vice. In the two latter books, she is identified as chaotic evil, and her symbol is an ocelot totem or a red serpent's head.

Description

When the goddess is under stress, rushed, or under attack, she manifests as a monster with a humanoid body, fiendish face, fangs, blazing eyes, talons on her feet and hands, and black, warty skin, slick with grease. This is an illusion, however, and when she is relaxed or at ease she appears as a beautiful woman, inspiring jealousy and lust in equal measure, but fifteen feet tall. She is scantily clad, revealing as much of her charms as possible.

She is described as an eater of filth and a sinister temptress who seeks to ruin lawful good beings. She does not fight except with spells, and will teleport away rather than resort to physical combat. No evil being may even think of harming her, even if magically compelled to do so.

Relationships

Tlazoteotl is the sister of Tezcatlipoca. She helped trick Quetzalcoatl into getting drunk and debasing himself, an act that led to his exile.

Realm

In Tales of the Outer Planes (1988), Tlazolteotl is shown dwelling with the god Xochipilli in a "pleasure palace" known as Zannibar on an unnamed jungle world. Zannibar appeals to every sense, likely even senses not possessed by humans, filled with music, perfumes, musks, statues, tapestries, waterfalls, decorative plants, and delicious foods. The temperature is constantly 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and it is always evening. The complex is guarded by warriors with the heads of ocelots or monkeys.

In Deities & Demigods (1980), all Central American deities dwell on a parallel Material Plane. In The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999), the Olman deities were originally worshipped on another prime material plane[1], while the FAQ for that book (originally available on the TSR website)[2] suggests they still dwell there.

Worshipers

Clergy

Priestesses of Tlazolteotl are tasked with exposing those of a base and immoral character by tempting them into indecent acts. Every three months (at the least) they must tempt a man into a guilty love. They subsist on garbage, filth, and offal. Their favored weapon is the sickle, and they may also wield poisoned daggers.

As with most Olman priests, priestesses of Tlazoteotl must choose a direction to pray to at the beginning of their careers. Clerics of the east wear red, clerics of the south wear yellow, clerics of the west wear black, and clerics of the north wear white.

Temples

Olman temples are usually step pyramids with entrances at the bottom corresponding to the four points of a compass.

Rituals and holy days

Rituals to the Olman deities are typically performed every 20 days, corresponding to the various "signs" of the divinatory calendar. Each sign is ruled by a different deity. Sacrifices may take many forms, depending on the god. The public is required to attend every ritual, held at the temple of the appropriate god.

Publishing history

Tlazoteotl is mentioned briefly in the title of a gibbering mouther encounter in The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan, and identified as the mother goddess of the earth. She appears as Tlazolteotl, the goddess of vice, in Deities & Demigods, Legends & Lore, and Dragon #283. Steven Conforti's Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities details her mother-goddess aspect, assigning her the portfolio, domains, favored weapon, and alignment used above. The poisoned dagger weapon use is from Legends & Lore. In Dragon #283, her domains are given as Chaos, Evil, and Trickery. Dragon #352 spells her name Tlazoteotl, but identifies her as the wicked goddess of vice.

References

Notes

Citations

  1. ↑ Scarlet Brotherhood, p42
  2. ↑ Scarlet Brotherhood FAQ, archived from the original. Retrieved, 30 Sep 2021

Bibliography

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic Type Description Product Page/Card/Image

Tlazoteotl {Tlazolteotl} (Goddess of Vice) Deity Worshipped by: Human (Olman), Native of: Material Plane, C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan 21
Tlazoteotl {Tlazolteotl} (Goddess of Vice) Deity Worshipped by: Human (Olman), Native of: Material Plane, C1 The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan 21
Tlazoteotl {Tlazolteotl} (Goddess of Vice) Deity Worshipped by: Human (Olman), Native of: Material Plane, Deities & Demigods (1st & 2nd printing), AD&D 1e 36, 136
Tlazoteotl {Tlazolteotl} (Goddess of Vice) Deity Worshipped by: Human (Olman), Native of: Material Plane, Deities & Demigods (3rd+ printing), AD&D 1e 36, 121
Tlazoteotl {Tlazolteotl} (Goddess of Vice) Deity Worshipped by: Human (Olman), Native of: Material Plane, Legends & Lore, AD&D 1e 36, 121
Tlazoteotl {Tlazolteotl} (Goddess of Vice) Deity Worshipped by: Human (Olman), Native of: Material Plane, Lost Tomaochan: The Hidden Shrine of Lubaatum 34
Tlazoteotl {Tlazolteotl} (Goddess of Vice) Deity Worshipped by: Human (Olman), Native of: Material Plane, OP1 Tales of the Outer Planes, AD&D 1e 4, 9
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