Loki
The Provoker, the Sly One, the Trickster, the Shape Changer, the Sky Traveller, the Great Deceiver
Loki is a deity in the Norse pantheon. An infamous trickster deity, he is at various times an ally and an enemy to the gods of Asgard. He is responsible for some of the greatest successes of the Norse gods, as well as some of the greatest crimes against them.
Prior to his imprisonment by the gods, Loki sat as one of the twelve most important gods at Asgard.
Loki is proud and vainglorious. He believes himself the best of the Norse gods, and will always take an opportunity to prove himself smarter and better capable. This attitude often raises the ire of the gods of Asgard, and they are rarely motivated to help Loki with his own problems.
Loki's habit of treachery is so ingrained that it causes him significant psychological issues. Since he is so used to lies, he sees no truth or purpose in anything, and worships only his own mischief-making. This endless self-deception causes Loki to lead a hollow, unsatisfying existence.
Loki is chaotic evil in alignment. However, he does not become truly evil until Ragnarök approaches, where his resentment for the gods of Asgard accumulates during his torture and imprisonment at their hands.
He is an excellent liar. His words act as mass suggestion magic. He can instantly tell the exact value of any treasure he can see, know every item carried by a creature he can see, and knows where on their body it is carried. He can perform any rogue skill instantaneously and with trivial ease. He is swift in combat, can dodge attacks, and can inflict bleeding wounds upon his opponents. He is nearly impossible to sneak up on. He cannot be harmed by fire. He can instantaneously slay all mortals within one mile, or raise them back to life.
Loki casts sorcerer spells instantaneously, and counterspell magic that he knows. In addition to being able to cast sorcerer spells of 9th level, Loki can innately cast numerous spell-like abilities, including animate objects, eldritch blast, create undead, disintegrate, polymorph any object, and time stop. Loki can create any magic item related to rogues or assassins, even legendary ones.
Loki is considered a patron of illusionists. This connection is so strongly held in Asgard that magic is considered less honourable than melee combat.
Loki often sends omens to his worshipers in the form of illusions. He often calls upon his followers to help him escape from trouble he has gotten himself into. Loki rewards anyone clever enough to be able to steal from him.
The spell animate dead, considered shameful and dishonourable by the Aesir, is acceptable to Loki.
In the Known World, it is believed that Loki was once a mortal of the Ebrieten tribes, a mage and master of fire magic. His ascent was sponsored by Rathanos, who he betrayed in order to follow the Sphere of Entropy. He is depicted by the Northmen of that world wearing the furs of their people, having red hair, and carrying no weapons.
Loki's followers worship in secret. They are mistrusted by society at large, and command little respect. Clerics who revere the entire Norse pantheon as a group do not sanction the worship of Loki. A few cults of Surtur and Thrym in Midgard have alliances with Loki's cult.
A few darker sects of Loki practice outright murder, mayhem, and chaos. Loki is worshiped in many worlds, including the Northern Reaches of Aitso, and also it's South Pole, where he stirs up political intrigue. He is known there by the aliases Bozdogan, Lokar, and Farbautides.
Notable followers of Loki include the cambion Rule-of-Three, who is said to have worshiped Loki for a while before he tired of it; Wastoure, a mage who worships him as Lokar, and Bersi, who disguises as a follower of Thor.
New visitors to Loki's temples are treated with suspicion, but giants are especially welcome.
Other symbols variously used to represent Loki include a pair of red and black boots, a drinking goblet filled with bubbling venom, and a fly.
Appearance
Loki is a handsome young man. He is capable of changing his shape, and often assumes female form. He stands six feet tall, and always wears red and black, even when he takes other guises.Personality and alignment
Loki is restless, impulsive, talkative, and highly sociable. He is particularly clever, and enjoys subverting expectations. He often plays practical jokes on the other Norse deities. However, they also value him for his ability to think outside the box and solve problems in ways the other gods would not have considered.Loki is proud and vainglorious. He believes himself the best of the Norse gods, and will always take an opportunity to prove himself smarter and better capable. This attitude often raises the ire of the gods of Asgard, and they are rarely motivated to help Loki with his own problems.
Loki's habit of treachery is so ingrained that it causes him significant psychological issues. Since he is so used to lies, he sees no truth or purpose in anything, and worships only his own mischief-making. This endless self-deception causes Loki to lead a hollow, unsatisfying existence.
Loki is chaotic evil in alignment. However, he does not become truly evil until Ragnarök approaches, where his resentment for the gods of Asgard accumulates during his torture and imprisonment at their hands.
Titles
Loki is known by many nicknames, often due to his exploits. He is called the Sly One; the Trickster; the Shape Changer; and the Sky Traveller. He is called the God of Mischief, Strife, and Fire. Some call him Lokar, the Great Deceiver.Abilities
As a deity, Loki is immortal. He cannot die of natural causes, and is immune to normal dangers such as disease, paralysis, poison, magical imprisonment spells and planar banishment. He can still be slain. He can see, hear and sense at to a distance of 16 miles from himself, any of his followers, holy sites, holy objects, or any place where one of his names or titles is spoken. Loki can change his form at will, and often assumes the guise of a woman. He can take the form of other creatures or objects. In the past he has transformed into a bridesmaid, a mare, and a needle.He is an excellent liar. His words act as mass suggestion magic. He can instantly tell the exact value of any treasure he can see, know every item carried by a creature he can see, and knows where on their body it is carried. He can perform any rogue skill instantaneously and with trivial ease. He is swift in combat, can dodge attacks, and can inflict bleeding wounds upon his opponents. He is nearly impossible to sneak up on. He cannot be harmed by fire. He can instantaneously slay all mortals within one mile, or raise them back to life.
Loki casts sorcerer spells instantaneously, and counterspell magic that he knows. In addition to being able to cast sorcerer spells of 9th level, Loki can innately cast numerous spell-like abilities, including animate objects, eldritch blast, create undead, disintegrate, polymorph any object, and time stop. Loki can create any magic item related to rogues or assassins, even legendary ones.
Portfolio
Loki is a god of thieves, trickery, and murder. He automatically senses all crimes, cons, practical jokes and tricks, and knows them up to sixteen weeks before they happen. Loki has power over the domains of chaos, death, evil, and trickery.Loki is considered a patron of illusionists. This connection is so strongly held in Asgard that magic is considered less honourable than melee combat.
Worship
Dogma
Most cultists of Loki revere the god's trickster aspect. They believe that practical jokes and pranks are beneficial to society, encouraging their victims to see the world from a different viewpoint. However, their tricks are often cruel and not well received by the victims.Loki often sends omens to his worshipers in the form of illusions. He often calls upon his followers to help him escape from trouble he has gotten himself into. Loki rewards anyone clever enough to be able to steal from him.
The spell animate dead, considered shameful and dishonourable by the Aesir, is acceptable to Loki.
In the Known World, it is believed that Loki was once a mortal of the Ebrieten tribes, a mage and master of fire magic. His ascent was sponsored by Rathanos, who he betrayed in order to follow the Sphere of Entropy. He is depicted by the Northmen of that world wearing the furs of their people, having red hair, and carrying no weapons.
Worshipers
While the people of Midgard typically worship the Norse pantheon as a collective group, Loki is particularly followed by rogues and assassins, though social outcasts and troublemakers are often drawn to Loki. Some sorcerers also revere Loki. In some worlds, he is followed by the yuan-ti.Loki's followers worship in secret. They are mistrusted by society at large, and command little respect. Clerics who revere the entire Norse pantheon as a group do not sanction the worship of Loki. A few cults of Surtur and Thrym in Midgard have alliances with Loki's cult.
A few darker sects of Loki practice outright murder, mayhem, and chaos. Loki is worshiped in many worlds, including the Northern Reaches of Aitso, and also it's South Pole, where he stirs up political intrigue. He is known there by the aliases Bozdogan, Lokar, and Farbautides.
Notable followers of Loki include the cambion Rule-of-Three, who is said to have worshiped Loki for a while before he tired of it; Wastoure, a mage who worships him as Lokar, and Bersi, who disguises as a follower of Thor.
Clergy
Many priests of Loki are also rogues or sorcerers. In public areas, they disguise themselves as followers to other deities, most commonly Mystra, Bahamut, and Odin.Rituals
Unlike most of the Asgardian pantheon, priests of Loki are not required to perform any particular services or rituals. Those clerics who pray to Loki for divine intervention for some personal gain may, on rare occasion, receive a personal visit from Loki's avatar, though no individual has ever received this gift more than three times in their lifetime.Holy sites
Temples of Loki are usually maintained in secret. They may be hidden in other buildings, or in caves. Some use legitimate businesses as a front for the cult. Temples are often full of weapons, poison, and supplies for causing mayhem.New visitors to Loki's temples are treated with suspicion, but giants are especially welcome.
Holy symbol
Loki's holy symbol is flame.Other symbols variously used to represent Loki include a pair of red and black boots, a drinking goblet filled with bubbling venom, and a fly.
Favoured Weapon
Loki favours the dagger.
Family
Loki is the son of the giant Farbauti and the giantess Laufey. Despite his giant heritage, he is one of the gods of Asgard thanks to his adoption into the family of Odin, who considers Loki a blood brother. Loki is also brother to the ancient storm god Aegir, whose brother is Kari.With his first wife, Glut, Loki had two children, Eisa and Einmyria.
Loki also has three monstrous children with his second wife, the giantess Angrboda: the world-serpent Jormungandr; the wolf Fenrir, and the death goddess Hel.
Loki's third wife is Sigyn, who tends to him during his imprisonment. With Sigyn he has two sons, Vali and Narfi, who the gods will kill before his eyes when he is imprisoned.
A rumour asserts that the ancient obyrith demon Pale Night mated with Loki to produce a race of demon spawn, one of them the demon prince Graz'zt. However, Graz'zt's parentage is not known with certainty.
Enemies
Loki is fated to be imprisoned by the gods as punishment for his role in the death of Balder. When he breaks free, he will fight against the gods of Asgard at the final battle of Ragnarök.Loki has special enmity for Heimdall, who he will fight at Ragnarök. Heimdall, watchman of the gods, often foils Loki's tricks and schemes. He is envious of Balder's beauty.
Thrym and his cultists hold a grudge against Thor and Loki for thwarting his attempt to win Freya's hand in marriage.
The spider-god Korotiku is Loki's rival.
Allies and Minions
Loki has journeyed alongside Thor and aided the other gods of Asgard on numerous occasions. However, thanks to Loki's arrogant attitude, they are rarely interested in helping him with his problems. Loki has attempted to form alliances with gods of other pantheons, but such alliances are exploitative and short-lived.Loki will side with the fire giant Surtur at Ragnarök. He is friendly with giants, as well as dwarves, who the gods of Asgard often look down upon.
On more than one occasion he has hidden out in Bast's plane of Merratet.
Loki has several divine proxies, giants with whom he has granted a portion of his divine power. One is Starkad the Gnawer, a cloud giant who watches over Loki's realm of Winter's Hall.
Children
Magical Items
Shard of The Bifrost, a rainbow coloured crystal shard, once a week it's holder may cast the teleport spell.Ring of the Charlatan Changeling, This ring, supposedly once worn by the great Loki himself, is the only one known of it's kind. It's magical properties come at a cost, however, and must be mastered to take full effect. This ring is a gold band, with gem-like petals and an emerald in the centre.
This ring has 3 charges, and regains 1d4-1 charges each dawn. As an action, you may expend a charge to transform your physical appearance to that of any creature you've seen before, for up to 1d4 + 2 hours. You look and sound identical to the target creature. You can't change your body type, so you must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs, and you can only adopt a form that is of your size or smaller. To discern that you are disguised, a creature must use its action to inspect your appearance and must succeed on a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check. Curse. Upon donning this ring, it binds itself to your hand and cannot be removed except by a remove curse spell or similar magic. While you are disguised as a creature, you use that creature's Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores if they are lower than your own. Attuning to the ring ends the curse.
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