Loloto

Loloto is the mermish guardian of the deep ocean. Personified as secretive, aloof, and unforgiving, they are a figure of great presence, with a somewhat fearsome reputation.

Loloto's domain is the vast deepness of trenches and unknowable fathoms of the ocean.

## Symbology

Loloto is depicted as a giant black merperson with bioluminescent spots, and sometimes the lantern light and teeth of an anglerfish.

The icon of Loloto is anglerfish jaws, sometimes with a stylised crack to represent an ocean trench.

## Worship

Full temples to Loloto are rare, instead at the boundary edges of what is considered their territory (eg, at the precipice of a deep sea trench) altars are often kept. Offerings of precious stones or minerals, especially those that are bioluminescent, are left to curry favour from Loloto for protection on any ventures into the depths.

While most worship of Loloto is casual, or equal in part to the other guardian deities, there exist sects of dedicated followers of Loloto known as Le Lalo. They are known to patrol deep sea trenches and guard the seas from creature encroachment.

This is a vocation often shared with Triton, with whom the Le Lalo share a protective relationship. While the Undine and Triton have their own gods, many of them also pay homage to Loloto as a fellow guardian of the deep, following customary offering practices.

### Traditions

#### Songs

As with much of merfolk culture, songs play a huge role in worship. Many of the songs about Loloto concern them protecting the seas from the horrors of the deep, monsters, demons and devils that try to cross though the deepest portals or use the cover of the deep dark to plot nefarious schemes.

### Rituals

* Sinking a carcass into a trench is believed to appease Loloto and make passage through an area safer, but killing specifically for the purpose is frowned upon.
* Bioluminescent adornments such as jewellery or paints are thought to attract the attention of Loloto - for good or ill.
* Leaving an offering of something precious at the site of any shipwreck found in the deepest sea is believed to help appease the spirits of drowned sailors.
* Leaving an offering of food at any cave used as a rest area in the deep sea, to thank Loloto for their hospitality.

### Superstitions

* Nudibranch pairs, oceanic vents and low silt are seen as a sign of Loloto's favour.
* Poor visibility (for those who can usually handle the darkness) and goblin sharks circling are seen as a sign of Loloto's wrath.
* Spotting luminescent crabs, riding deep-sea currents and shell patterns in the sand are considered good luck.
* Excessively making bubbles, disturbing shipwrecks and leaving too many prints in the sandbed are considered bad luck.

## D&D 5e Mechanics

### Channel Divinity

#### Silt Storm

When in deep water, you may use channel divinity as a bonus action to kick up silt from the seafloor and obscure the vision of an opponent. If a target has *darkvision* and/or *watersight*, their range of these abilities is reduced to 5ft. All other targets have visibility reduced to 0ft. Can effect an additional opponent at levels, 5, 8, 13, 17 and 20.

### Traits

#### Withstand Pressure

*You were born in the deep, and have grown accustom to the pressure there, making you sure-footed and able to withstand force.*

You gain advantage to resist any attempt to render you prone or otherwise immobile by sheer force e.g. being pushed over, or pressed with a large object (may not apply to certain trip actions, at DM's discretion).

#### Rapid Ascension

*When things get dangerous in the deepest, darkest places of the ocean, sometimes the only way out is up. Your body has adapted to making a quick getaway when you need to.*

When ascending from submerged (moving towards the surface), you gain 10ft speed and do not suffer any applicable ill-effects of rapid ascension.