Tohil ("Stands So Far" Series)

Sources: wikipedia

I was exploring the subbasement as part of my duties today when I opened a disused closet and found a skeleton. I must have screamed, because the Head Librarian came running and then said, upon seeing the bones, “Oh, it’s just Gold.” Upon further query, it transpired that this was roughly the same events that had introduced her to Gold, and the novelty had worn off by now. I have resolved to go through all the records to try to see if I can’t find some reference as to who this Gold person might be and why their bones are in our subbasement.

Tohil is one of the most powerful of the Lords of Xibalba, other than Lord Akan and Lord Kisin. At some point, some overlap or cooperation existed between Tohil and Kukulkan. Tohil is a god of fire, the sun, war, rain, the mountains, sacrifice, hunting, thunder, lightning, rain, and sustenance. He was the most important of the trio including Awilix and Jacawitz. Depictions show a face emerging from the jaws of a snake, and a deerskin bundle is considered sacred.

Like Prometheus, Tohil brought fire to the people, but unlike the Titan, his services were not given for free. If the Mayans wanted to keep that fire, they had to practice blood sacrifice, a trade many of the Mayans took freely. Tohil is one of the gods where cutting out the victim’s heart was practiced. Quetzal feathers (usually associated with Kukulkan) were sometimes offered during rituals, as well as blood. It is possible his services with ensuring rain for crops were also paid for in a similar manner. One tribe refused to pay the blood tribute and stole fire and thus was banished and declared an enemy of the people. He does actually take several forms, one of which helps the sun travel across the sky during the day (and also happens to be one of the Hero Twins, which likely angers several of his fellow Lords of Xibalba, though whether this is a case of a new avatar or a rebirth of the deity is unknown). Specifically, he was the one that Camazotz had previously beheaded. One might argue this was a case of trying to take out the competition, to get all of the sacrifices for himself.

His presence might very well have been curiosity, and perhaps a taunt, as he and his brother helped trap many of them within Xibalba. Tohil has full ability to leave Xibalba and his his own place of power elsewhere. He also happens to be one of the gods with the highest current worship, though his characteristics have been partially merged with several different Christian saints, and most blood sacrifice has been quenched, though some demons may still practice such rites in exchange for power. Tohil, like Balam and Kukulkan, places some emphasis on retaining the same human worshipers, while the rest of the Lords of Death don’t put much stock in retaining the worship of the same civilization. As such, while he would not cause vast destruction, it’s highly possible while bored he might cause small disasters just to amuse himself, particularly as he has the capability to undo those very same harms.