Chimil

God-Mother Chimil, called the Riven Star or the Inner Sun, is the sun of Ixalan's Core on Ixalan. Worshiped by the Oltec, Komon Winaq, and Sun Empire, she is renowned for her "threefold light," and equivalent to the Threefold Sun. Chimil is considered the mother of the "Deep Gods," Ojer Axonil, Kaslem, Pakpatiq, and Taq. Her eternal enemy is Aclazotz, Bat God of the Night.
==Description==
Chimil functions as a star at the center of Ixalan's core, with the land of Ixalan's core surrounding it as a Dyson sphere. After an invasion by the Coin Empire, she was caged by their invasion ships and only freed after 320 years of darkness when the Oltec launched a final attack against the colonizers, weakening the infrastructure of the prison enough for Chimil to destroy it. Chimil shattered one shard, then another, and then a cascade began. A dark rain of steaming, fractured shards. Cosmium lashed out from Chimil, blasting away the colonizers while innervating the Komon — those present that day became semi-divine figures in their own right — the first angels of Ixalan.
Chimil is now surrounded by a debris field known as the cosmium reef that darkens half the land. Oltec scientists and geologists theorize that cosmium is closely tied to the life-essence of Chimil and may be the godly equivalent of blood or soul; myths contemporary to the era describe the weeping star hemorrhaging cosmium as she healed from the breaking of her shell. As a coming-of-age ceremony, Oltec ride a bat to the star and attempt to claim a piece of cosmium to be forged into a weapon, armor, or other devices.
She is the progenitor of the gods; when her light is eclipsed, so too are the other gods aside from Aclazotz. During Aclazotz's return in 5 Dawn Era, the bat god attempted to reassemble Chimil's imprisoning sphere, briefly plunging the Core into nighttime.
===The Threefold Sun===
Centuries after the Komon Winaq reached the surface, the Threefold Sun is now a deity worshipped in three aspects by the people of the Sun Empire:
*Kinjalli is the Wakening Sun, who created humans from clay and baked them with the sun's warmth. It is associated with order and structure, as well as the rainy season. It is the patron of the empire's founder. Sun Empire citizens carry stones called Kinjalli stones that can spark into a harsh light when offered a prayer to Kinjalli.
*Tilonalli is the Burning Sun, associated with ferocity, fire, and passion. It is associated with anger and love, as well as the hot season.
*Ixalli is the Verdant Sun, who fosters growth in all things. It is associated with fertility and community, and associated with the cold season. Sanctified dead are said to return to Ixalli's embrace.
Avatars of the Threefold Sun manifest on Ixalan as Dinosaurs. The mighty dinosaur Gishath embodies all three aspects of the sun in one form, earning a mix of reverence and fear from the soldiers and priests who seek to harness his strength against their enemies.Explore the Planes: Ixalan
===Worship===
There are no temples dedicated to Chimil among the Oltec, as they worship her openly by looking at her. Oltec cities are commonly laid out in the shape of a nine-pointed star in reverence to Chimil, and many communes keep small shrines, lanterns, or icons of Chimil in their main halls. As well, Oltec architecture, fashion, and armor commonly incorporate a stylized glyph or etching of Chimil, echoing the constant presence of the star above them and her importance in their history.
The faith of the Sun Empire is steered by an Apex Priest from the temple city of Otepec, which is currently being rebuilt. The priest is guarded by canchatan: temple guards chosen for their faith, loyalty, and prowess who wear heavy robes and carry macuahuitls. The current Apex Priest is Caztaca Huicintli, aunt and chief tutor of Apatzec Intli IV.
Aside from Ixalli, whose philosophy advocates harmony, the aspects of the sun are associated with the military of the Sun Empire.
The Sun Empire teaches its people that they are the first of all peoples, created by the Threefold Sun itself to rule any land touched by its light.
Because of the Sun's three aspects, the number three hundred is considered sacred in the Sun Empire.
==Inspiration==
The Threefold Sun bears some resemblance to the Incan sun god Inti. Inti was regarded in three aspects (Apu Inti, Churi Inti, and Inti Wawqi), also associated with different seasons and social roles. The story of Kinjalli's creation of humanity matches closely with that of the Guaraní god Tupã, who formed the first humans from a clay mixture and left them in the sun to dry. Tilonalli may be inspired by the Mesoamerican deity Tlālchitōnatiuh, who was associated with the setting sun, and whose name translates to "red sun of the earth."
Chimil is a Kiliwa word meaning "throat."
==Trivia==
*The three-headed elder dinosaur Zacama is a living embodiment of the Threefold Sun.
*Though Chimil is referred to using she/her pronouns, the Threefold Sun is referred to as "it" or "they."
==In-game references==
==References==