Tlaloc

Greyhawk Divinity

Tlaloc
Names and titles
Title(s):	He who makes things grow
General information
Portfolio:	Rain and moisture
Home:	A parallel Material Plane
Alignment:	Lawful evil
Gender:	Male
Class:	Cleric 20/fighter 10/magic-user 20
Superior:	Ometeotl
Rules items
Domains:	Air, Evil, Law, Pestilence, Plant, Water, Weather
Divine rank:	Intermediate

Tlaloc is god of rain and moisture in the Olman pantheon. His symbol is a deer totem, known as a mazatl in the Olman tongue, or a black reptilian head with bulging eyes and tusks, or a serpent chasing its tail.

Description

Tlaloc is depicted as a reptilian humanoid dressed in black. His eyes, circled by white rings, bulge from their sockets and great tusks protrude from his mouth. His tongue is forked and snakelike. His black headdress is decorated with a garland of white feather. He stands fifteen feet in height.

Relationships

Tlaloc is the husband of the goddess of water, beauty, and youth, Chalchihuitlicue. Their children, minor water spirits known as the Tlaloques, serve him.

Realm

According to Legends & Lore (1990), the Aztecs, whose gods are often also Olman gods, believe in a "world above" and a "world below." The world below is the home of the dead. Tlaloc dwells in the world above, specifically on the tops of the highest mountains.

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, while the FAQ for that book (originally available on the TSR website) suggests they still dwell there.

Tlaloc has also created a paradise for those who die by drowning, known as Tlalocan, as a present for his wife. According to the Maztica Campaign Set, Tlalocan is on the first layer of Arcadia.

Dogma

Tlaloc encourages obedience and discipline. He teaches that the will of the Olman gods must be obeyed if people are to receive their blessings, such as rain. Similarly, those who obey their superiors on the mortal plane will likewise be rewarded. Tlaloc also encourages his worshippers to seize opportunities to advance themselves, just as Tlaloc does.

Worshipers

Tlaloc is arguably the most worshiped deity among the Olman, for all depend on the crops his rain sustains. He is also worshipped by those yuan-ti of Olman descent.

Clergy

The duties of Tlaloc's clerics include kidnapping, torture, and tracking and predicting the weather. They pray daily to their god in hopes of retaining his good will. When not serving at the temple, they often give guidance and blessings to rural communities, exalting their god's power and expecting gratitude and obedience in return. They wear leather helms and feathered cloaks, and dress in ash gray or black with a necklace of white feathers, jade, or metal.

As with most Olman priests, priests of Tlaloc 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.

Tlaloc's favored weapon is the javelin. Dragon #354 says it is the sickle.

Temples

Most Olman cities include a step pyramid dedicated to Tlaloc, with entrances at the bottom corresponding to the four points of a compass. Typically, such pyramids will be found nest to similar ones dedicated to other major Olman gods. Small shrines to Tlaloc and his wife can be found near springs.

Rituals

Clerics of Tlaloc construct idols from cornmeal paste, which they sell to farmers who wish to perform rituals to the rain god.

During times of drought, additional rites are performed involving shouting and dancing through the night in hopes of awakening Tlaloc from his slumber. If prayers fail, blood sacrifice may be attempted. A youth may be bled; the more he cries during this ritual, the more rain Tlaloc's worshippers believe will fall.

Typical quests for Tlaloc include protecting an Olman noble from evil spirits or overthrowing an impious king.

Holy days and observances

A child or baby is sacrificed to Tlaloc during every full moon. Once a year, on the Spring equinox, a great feast is held in Tlaloc's honor. Many babies are purchased or kidnapped during this time and sacrificed to Tlaloc; afterwards, the priests cook and eat them. The public is required to attend every ritual, held at Tlaloc's temple.

Relics

• Tlaloc's Tear was a relic created by the Olman of the Isle of Dread to defeat the aboleths of Golismorga.

Myths and legends

The Third Sun

After the Second Sun, which was ruled by Quetzalcoatl, ended, Tlaloc became the ruler of the sun of the third age of the world. After a time, Quetzalcoatl sent a firestorm that burned the earth, transforming the people who survived into turkeys. Quetzalcoatl then invited Tlaloc's wife Chalchihuitlicue to become the fourth sun.

Food Mountain

Quetzalcoatl discovered Food Mountain, where corns, beams, peppers, and other foods had been hidden since the beginning of the world. Most of the gods thought these foods should all be given to humans, but Tlaloc stole them and hoarded them in his own realm and doles out portions of them only as he chooses. Some years he gies out more, some years less.

The four pitchers

It is said that Tlaloc owns four pitchers. The first contains fresh water, which he will sprinkle on the world if he has gotten sufficient prayer and sacrifice. When he is displeased, he will sprinkle water from one of his other pitchers. The second pitcher contains water filled with spider webs and eggs, which will cause blight. The third pitcher contains frost, and the fourth pitcher rots fruit.

History

In approximately -1100 CY, the high priests of the Olman city-states Alocotla and Xapatlapo made a pact with Tlaloc. In an elaborate ceremony, they sacrificed and devoured one thousand infants, and all who partook of that feast were transformed into yuan-ti. These changes bred true, and yuan-ti continue to rule those two cities to this day, as well as the city of Xuxulieto and elsewhere.

References

Bibliography

• Conforti, Steven, ed. Living Greyhawk Official Listing of Deities for Use in the Campaign, version 2.0. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2005. Available online:[1]
• Johnson, Harold, and Jeff R. Leason. The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.
• Kenson, Stephen. "Do-It-Yourself Deities." Dragon #283. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001.
• Niles, Douglas. Maztica Campaign Set. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1991.
• Schwartz, David. "Aztec Mythos II." Dragon #354. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2007.
• Reynolds, Sean K. The Scarlet Brotherhood. Renton, WA: TSR, 1999.
• Ward, James and Troy Denning. Legends & Lore. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1990.
• Ward, James and Robert J. Kuntz. Deities & Demigods. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1980.

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
Tlaloc (Rain god)	Deity	Native of: Material Plane,	Bastion of Faith	42
Tlaloc (Rain god)	Deity	Native of: Material Plane,	Deities & Demigods (1st & 2nd printing), AD&D 1e	35, 36, 136
Tlaloc (Rain god)	Deity	Native of: Material Plane,	Deities & Demigods (3rd+ printing), AD&D 1e	35, 36, 121
Tlaloc (Rain god)	Deity	Native of: Material Plane,	Dragon magazine #354	90-91
Tlaloc (Rain god)	Deity	Native of: Material Plane,	Legends & Lore, AD&D 1e	35, 36, 121
Tlaloc (Rain god)	Deity	Native of: Material Plane,	Legends & Lore, AD&D 2e	51
Tlaloc (Rain god)	Deity	Native of: Material Plane,	The Scarlet Brotherhood	43, 47, 49, 53, 54