Luukos
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Luukos is the god of unending death.
Unlike Lorminstra, Luukos shows no reverence for the souls of those who have died. To him they have two uses, either to animate one of his undead minions in his efforts to extend his power, or as sustenance for himself. Luukos' primary foods are the blood of the dead and the souls of the recently fallen. Luukos' form of choice is that of a large green serpent. It is not unusual for survivors of a large battle to report the sighting of such a creature slithering from corpse to corpse on the recently abandoned field of combat.
Luukos is able to claim the souls not only of those he takes by force through his undead minions, but also of those who have sullied themselves in life. Thus, Luukos is also the Lord of Lies, and his minions always seek to spread misinformation among mortals. Legend holds that Luukos can snatch the soul of one who has died with a lie on their lips even from Lorminstra, and that the only way to be free from his hideous jaws is to renounce the lie.
Luukos' preferred humanoid manifestation is that of a dark-complected man with faintly reptilian features and a forked tongue. In manner, he is persuasive, treacherous and sadistic. His symbol is a green serpent on a brown field.
Shrines, Statuary, and Holy Places
Wehnimer's Landing, Coastal Cliffs shrine
| [Underground, Hidden Wing] | |
| This appears to be a small shrine of some sort. Against the east wall is an altar with tarnished religious symbols on it. The covering is tattered and the three pews here are dry and rotted. For the first time you notice that the thick dust on the floor is punctuated by shallow footprints, leading you to think that this place is not as abandoned as you first imagined. | |
| Obvious exits: west | |
>look altar The altar stands about waist high and is covered with a tattered cloth. A rotting book holder, tarnished oil lamps and small sacrificial pots hold their place on the altar top. >look on altar On the small altar you see a faded ancient tome. >look tome Upon further examination of the tome you realize that disturbing it in any way would cause the pages to turn to dust. You decide to satisfy your curiosity with just the two pages the book is currently open to. >look at pages The ancient script on these pages is faded and barely legible. From the parts that are still readable you derive that this tome contains various rituals which are used in the worship of Luukos. The ritual detailed on these pages appears to call for a blood sacrifice of some kind. You cannot, however, determine exactly what manner of creature is required.
Solhaven, Garden of Death
| [Garden of Death] | |
| Blank white marble headstones dot the uneven landscape of red-veined creepers and thick crabgrass, the bulk of which is yellowed and hovering between life and death. An immense brownstone crypt stands at the center of the dying garden. The ancient cypress leaning over it boasts a wealth of gnarled branches, the black, finger-like shadows of which strain over the austere cenotaph. Some reach so far as to brush the bulk of a boulder with a brass plaque set into its surface. You also see a copper-chased black iron gate. | |
| Obvious paths: none | |
>look crypt Lacking doors or openings of any kind, the crypt is held aloft by coiled serpents of interleaved copper and brass. Despite its plain brownstone bulk, sinuous fluting of ivory, ebony, and viridian imflass lends the crypt a darkly majestic appearance. >look at plaque The plaque appears to have once been etched with neat letters, but it has been defaced by a jagged scrawl. >read plaque In the Common language, it reads: Serpent whose coils entangle the world, Master of Death, and Lord of Life Eternal, We do pledge ourselves unto you. There are but two paths: To lead beneath your banners in life everlasting, Or to serve as soldiers in thy shambling horde.
Cleric Guilds
Displayed in the Prayer Rooms of each Cleric Guild is a state of Luukos. These prayer rooms are considered a holy shrine to multiple deities.
There is a reptilian cast to the face of Luukos and a graceful, if discomforting, sinuosity to his stance. Although a smile plays on his lips it does not extend to his eyes. His smiling lips are slightly parted, revealing the tip of a forked tongue. >touch Luukos You reach out and touch the statue of Luukos. The rasp of scales fills the air, and a hissing voice speaks in your ear. "There's no harm is a little white lie to save face, to gain power. One little lie, so many conveniences...." The cold coils of a reptile's body wrap loosely about you. "There's no harm in a little tiny lie. I promise."
Wehnimer's Landing Cleric Guild
Located in the Antechamber of Lornon is a table inset with fist-sized seals depicting all of the Lornon arkati, including one for Luukos. This area is not considered a holy shrine.
A green serpent on a field of brown is painted on the golden seal of Luukos.
Kharam Dzu Cleric Guild
Just inside the entrance to the Kharam Dzu Cleric Guild is a pair of statues depicting Lorminstra and Luukos. This room is not considered a holy shrine.
Two statues, one carved from shimmering glaes and the other from soapstone in a sickly shade of green, glare at each other in the center of the room. The figures stand on a pedestal of black stone, words painstakingly chipped into the surface. >look statues A thin woman in layered robes stands rigid, hatred written into every carved line. Across from her stands a man of faintly reptilian cast, forked tongue flickering out as if to mock his opposer. Each glares at the other, obviously distrustful of what one another will do. >read pedestal In the Common language, it reads: "Only in death can we truly understand the Gods."
Additional information
In the first part of the 51st Century, servants of Luukos participated in the Griffin Sword Wars. His chief high priest in the affair was known as Morvule.
Behind The Scenes
The I.C.E. Age precursor of Luukos, who was called Klysus, had a winged serpent avatar. However, Klysus is also a sun god, as well as a lizard god. His emphasis was soul destruction in bloody rituals rather than undeath. This is the version of him reflected in his Coastal Cliffs shrine, which appears to be part of the Etrevion story. There are subtle references to Klysus throughout The Graveyard, undoubtedly partly meant to further spite Eissa (Lorminstra) symbolically.
The sculpture representation of Luukos on Teras Isle was changed over a decade ago. It was reflecting his original appearance, before the gods document was re-written, where his serpent form had a frilly collar.
Related articles
- The Gods of Elanthia - Luukos, Eater of Souls (official documentation)
- The History of Luukos (official documentation)
- The Feast of the Immortals
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