Jacawitz ("Stands So Far" Series)

[madimpossibledreamer]

Sources: wikipedia, https://www.latinamericanstudies.org/toltecs/Tulans-Maya.pdf

As per this file, keep an eye on all volcanoes and/or mountains on Earth using the Speedwagon Satellite and report any suspicious activity. As Giles said, it’s unlikely that anything will come of it, but it’s better to be sure.
 

Jacawitz is one of the few deities with territory both in Xibalba and outside of it, since he shares his name with a mountain actually located on maps in Guatemala. A similar word, q’aq’awitz, means “fire wasp”, and yet another similar word means “yellow wasp”, both rather straightforwardly indicating his appearance. The name Jacawitz can be translated to ‘first mountain’, and his association with fire likewise suggests that his powers may be the very fires of creation themselves. Volcanoes themselves can be seen as geological features of destruction and creation, since the initial destruction of the volcano is followed by the rapid growth of fertile soil given a helping hand by volcanic ash. He was the primary deity of one group of the Maya. Many human sacrifices were performed in his honor, and at one time he was seen as an equal to Awilix and Tohil.

One might suspect these facts would lead to a position of greater power and respect than seen by Captain von Stroheim, Brown, and Violetta, so what led to this state of affairs?

In all likelihood, it’s a matter of being ‘in the wrong place, at the wrong time’. While not mentioned directly, Jacawitz was likely one of the deities defeated by the Hero Twins. The seat of his power was, after all, not in Xibalba, but rather in his territory on the surface. If anything, he was potentially more of a contemporary to Kukulkan, full of danger and the possibility of destruction, but also capable of offering growth and stability for the right price—though it’s possible he was never as ‘altruistic’ as his fellow deity. Cut off from the outside world and unable to offer his support to his faction of people, the Mayans that worshipped him declined in strength and power as others rose to take their place, and were thus unable to offer him the kind of belief, support, and most importantly, human sacrifice, the currency of power and prestige in the world of the Mayan deities, which probably led to a vicious cycle of decline.

As an occasional visitor of Xibalba, so, too, was Jacawitz unable to establish a position for himself as opposed to the full-time residents of the place, and with diminishing power, a takeover was impossible unless attempted immediately, when at the peak of his power. It is likely that some attempt was made, though perhaps not immediately, as Jacawitz had, at one point, been known for a higher-than-average sense of restraint and plotting patience. No record exists of this event, most likely because it was extremely unsuccessful. Jacawitz is forced to serve as a servant to the other Lords of Xibalba, the situation no doubt grating on the proud, fierce, and at times downright violent temperament of one of the deities of the Maya.

Hatred on both sides is likely. The cruelty from every other member of the Lords of Xibalba is not entirely pointless; it is a reminder and reinforcement of the hierarchy. The likelihood of a new successful coup is low, especially since the repeated mistreatment and lack of knowledge suggests that repeated humiliation has all but broken Jacawitz’s patience and his ability to actually plot revenge. Likewise, it is unlikely that Jacawitz will ever be able to attain the full glory of his powers once more, but some among the Lords of Xibalba might still be intimidated by the very possibility.

As such, while the columns of fire that could probably easily incinerate a person alive, his ability to melt ranged attacks, and the sting could be dangerous, but his attack style lacks any sort of thought and relies largely on bluffing and reckless, spur of the moment decisions. At one point, Jacawitz might have been able to set off nearby volcanoes, or turn said mountains into volcanoes. It is unclear whether his diminished power or the possibility that Xibalba is out of reach of such volcanoes prevented him from using this ability, but it is highly improbable that we will ever receive data to prove either hypothesis.