Aclazotz
Aclazotz | |
---|---|
Bat God of the Night | |
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Aclazotz-real.png}}|250px]] | |
Details | |
Race | Bat God |
Birthplace | Ixalan |
Divinity | |
Temples |
Temple of Aclazotz Temple of the Dead |
Inspiration | Camazotz (Maya) |
Aclazotz, the Great Betrayer, is the Bat God of the Night on Ixalan. He is the eternal enemy of the Threefold Sun. He is responsible for vampirism on Ixalan, as Saint Elenda of Garrano learned dark rituals from him.
Description
Aclazotz's body is brown, with gilded wings.[1] He wears a collar of skulls and a black and gold crown. His single left eye glows red. He can lengthen and sharpen his fangs when imbuing his followers with demonic power. During his imprisonment, Aclazotz was wrapped in loops of thick golden chains inlaid with hundreds of cosmium crystals. As tall as three to four people stood end-to-end, he stands at roughly fifteen to twenty-five feet.
History
Birth of a betrayer god
In ancient times, before the birth of the Oltec civilization, a civilization known as the Fourth People inhabited Ixalan's core. The being who would become Aclazotz was a mortal member of this civilization, with a fear of death that drove him to find a way to escape his people's fate. Through an unknown method, he survived "the ending of all things" and found a way into the divine nothingness where the next realm was being shaped. He watched the birth of the Deep Gods and realized what he would need to do to survive. As the final god was spawned forth, he killed it and drank its divinity, becoming a horrific bat god with dominion over the border between life and death. The god he supplanted would be reborn as a ghostly spirit known only as the Ancient One.[2]
Night War
Aclazotz rose to prominence during the 320 years of darkness that followed the Coin Empire sealing Chimil in a cosmium prison.[3] The Oltec banded together with the Malamet and fought against Aclazotz's force in a conflict known as the Night War.[4]
At some point before his imprisonment, Ojer Axonil tore Aclazotz's right eye out.[5] Upon his defeat, he was bound inside the Core of Ixalan and the Oltec ensured his place of binding was kept secret. However, one of his temples still existed on the surface.
Imprisonment
While imprisoned, Aclazotz fell into a slumber.[3] He is said to be the creator of the first vampires, though if the first vampire Elenda of Garrano was only sired centuries before his freedom, it is unclear when or how this occurred.[3]
Freedom
Aclazotz was awoken by New Phyrexia's Invasion of Ixalan.[1] A year later, an expedition of vampires from the Church of Dusk, led by Vito Quijano de Pasamonte, delved into the Core of Ixalan.[6] They learned Aclazotz's location from his worshipers and brought him blood sacrifices to restore his power. He then burst free of his bindings and granted his supplicants demonic power. He flew to Chimil, the Inner Sun, and began trying to snuff it out; he would need more power from sacrifices to do so, and bade his minions bring them to him.[1] However, they were defeated by the forces of the Sun Empire present in the Core.
Aclazotz escaped, securing passage to Torrezon on a Dusk Legion ship.[7] He decided that he would find Vona, hoping that she would make better use of his power than Vito.
Inspiration
Aclazotz is inspired by Camazotz, the Maya Bat God associated with night, death, and sacrifice.
Gallery
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Aclazotz appears to Arguel during a blood fast.
In-game references
- Represented in:
- Associated cards:
- Depicted in:
- Referred to:
References
- ↑ a b c Valerie Valdes (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 5". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ MtG Discord Q&A - Worldbuilding The Lost Caverns of Ixalan. Reddit (November 9, 2023).
- ↑ a b c Valerie Valdes (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Valerie Valdes (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 5". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ The Preview Panel at MagicCon: Las Vegas 2023 (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (September 22, 2023).
- ↑ Valerie Valdes (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Valerie Valdes (October 20, 2023). "The Lost Caverns of Ixalan - Episode 6". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.