Loa

**Loas** are a race of god-like spiritual beings that are venerated in the Voodoo religion.

## **Characteristics**

The Loa were originally created by the god Bondye to act as his messengers and servants who interact with the humans in his place since he isn't involved with human affairs.

The Loa share similarities with some other supernatural races, most notably Deities and Angels. Like gods, they have power over a certain natural or social phenomena, and like Angels, they are messengers of a distant god. However unlike gods, their power isn't omnipotent and they aren't worshiped, they are served.

They are each distinct beings with their own personal likes and dislikes, distinct sacred rhythms, songs, dances, ritual symbols, and special modes of service.

## **Loa Families**

Like humans, Loas tend to have families. Each family has a distinct function and each have a family surname like humans. Some famous Loa families are:

### Rada

The Rada Loa are generally older, as many of these spirits came from Africa to the New World. The Rada Loa are mainly water spirits and many of them are served with water. The Rada are "cool" in the sense they are less aggressive than some other families. Many of these spirits are served with white, sometimes in conjunction with another colour. However as a rule of thumb, the colour white is appropriate for all Rada.

### Erzulie

The Erzulie is a family of Loa that are often associated with fluidity, femininity, and feminine bodies. They are one of the only family of Loa directly tied to these characteristics and those who become possessed often are women or queer men.

### Petro

The Petro Loa are generally the more fiery and bloodthirsty, occasionally aggressive and warlike Loa, and are associated with Haiti and the New World. Their traditional colour is red. As with the Rada, additional colours may be associated with individual Petro. Different houses may additionally take navy blue, green, or gold.

### Kongo

Not much is known about this specific family of Loa, however they did arrive in the Americas from the Congo region.

### Simbi

The Simbi are a family of serpentine-like Loas that are heavily associated with magic and water. However they have a wider range of associations such as plants, leaves, and poisons.

### Nago

Arriving in the Americas from West Africa, this family of Loa use "Ogou" as a last name. This family is associated with transportation occupations and transportation such as military generals, pilots, and ship captains.

### Ghede

The Guede are the Loas of the unclaimed or unremembered dead, thus categorized separately from one's remembered ancestors. They are traditionally led by the Barons. The Ghede as a family are loud, rude (although rarely to the point of real insult), sexual, and usually a lot of fun. As those who have lived already, they have nothing to fear, and frequently will display how far past consequence and feeling they are when they come through in a service — eating glass, raw chilis, and anointing their sensitive areas with chili rum, for example. Their traditional colors are black and purple. They are known for the *banda*, a dance they perform that mimics sexual intercourse.

## **Powers and Abilities**

Similar to Deities, each family of Loa has powers that are representative of their respective domain, however they do share standard powers. Unlike gods, they are not all-powerful and have a lot less power than them.

### Basic Powers

* **Super Strength**- Loa are very powerful beings, their strength far exceeds that of any monster and are much more powerful than Angels and Demons. However they are far weaker compared to gods in terms of physical strength.
* **Super Stamina**- Since they are spiritual beings, they do not require sleep or sustenance to maintain themselves and can go indefinitely without it.
* **Immortality**- Loas are immortal beings, they are immune to aging and disease and will live forever unless killed.
* **Advanced Invulnerability** - Only a god, or a weapon of a god can harm and/or kill a Loa. Otherwise they are immune to all conventional and supernatural weapons.
* **Teleportation**- All Loas have the ability to teleport anywhere on Earth and in our universe. However it is unknown if they possess the capability to teleport themselves to other dimensions.
* **Possession**- People who venerate Loas are able to become possessed by them, they can only enter a human vessel if they are invited to do so.
* **Clairsentience**- A Loa is able to sense hidden supernatural energy and auras, and can tell if somebody is plagued by evil.
* **Telekinesis**- They are easily able to manipulate objects with their minds and exert great force on them.
* **Astral Perception**- As they are spiritual beings, they are able to see hidden supernatural activity and beings that are normally invisible to humans.
* **Invisibility**- They are naturally invisible to humans, and can make themselves visible to humans if they so wish.

### Specific Powers

* **Pyrokinesis**- A power common to the Petro family, these Loas have the ability to generate and manipulate various forms of fire at will to an impressive extent.
* **Hydrokinesis**- Loa with associations with water have the ability to control and manipulate all forms of water at will.
* **Weather Manipulation**- An uncommon power among Loas, some are able to manipulate the weather systems or create their own weather.
* **Biokinesis**- Some Loa have the power to manipulate another beings body.
* **Necromancy**- A common power among the Ghede Loas, some Loas are able to summon the souls of the dead.
* **Soul Manipulation**- Common among the Ghede, Loas with this ability are able to help a soul cross into an afterlife.
* **Chlorokinesis**- Nature oriented Loas can positively or negatively influence plant life.
* **Pathokinesis**- A power commonly associated with the Erzulie Loas, some are able to influence the emotions of humans.

## **Weaknesses**

* **Deities**- Loas are subservient to Bondye, as their creator, he can destroy them.
* **Divine Weaponry** - Godly weapons can be used against Loas.