Iboji

## Overview

Iboji is of one of the 12 great Necropoli of the Inferi, being located under the ruins of ancient Benin. The Iboji, also known as Death-Weavers, have embraced the aspect of the spider and intruige; being known for their wicked intelligence and ruthless ways to drain the souls of their enemies for knowledge.

## History

### Birth of Alantakun

The story of the Iboji began deep in the Incubi Realm, in the peaks and chasms of the *Morrow Mountains*. Since the dawn of time the Hedonites have been caught in an eternal struggle for power and dominance over their rugged realm; waging a covert war of intruige, assassination and espionage. The greatest actors in this conflict are the almost god-like *Infernal Ancients* and their feuds run by far the deepest. *Moranna* was among the most powerful of their Shattered Coven, being notorious for her ruthless cruelty and ability to predict and evade deadly attacks. As the other Hedonite lords began to grow anxious over Morannas growing power they decided to destroy her; aquiring an ancient dagger covered in a toxin said to even corrode a Demons Essence.

They chose one of *Morannas* favorite assets, a mortal slave taken from the pyhsical world, to carry out the deed. This women was of a high standing among *Morannas* concubines and pregnant with the Ancients infernal Essence. Her mortality made her an easy target as she was unable to resist the Incubis charms and magical manipulation, pushing her to do the deed even against the womens own wishes.

In the following night she got close to her master, approaching Moranna with the blade hidden in her garment. Seconds before the deadly weapon could strike the Ancient grasped the concubines wrist and wrested the dagger out of her hands. Enraged by this betrayal Moranna turned the blade against her former lover and drove it deep into her bloated belly. Unbeknownst to her or the Hedonite lords that send the assassin; the toxin on the blade was the Essence of a Daeva. Within seconds the eldritch bile seeped into the unborns wounded body and corrupted the Halfblood child with the energies of death. With a deafening shriek the corrupted featus bursted out of the mortals body as the abomniable transformation took place.

This creature slivered out of Morannas halls before she or any other Incubi realised what even happened. Soon after the Hedonites send out hunters to track down the corrupted spawn and destroy it; but all of them returned with empty hands. The creature was sligh and fast, hiding in the unreal shadows and slithering below the gaze of any demon or bound soul. It knew full well that it could never be save in the Outer Realms, instead searching for an entrance into the living world.

### Rise of the Spider-God

It wouldn´t be long until the creature managed to slip into the material world, possessing a nest of spiders that was readied for a sacrifical ritual. Until this day the tales surrounding the Iboji speak of their masters first emergance as a swarm of burning arachnids emerging from a fiery pit, setting the surrouning temple ablaze. The swarm fled into the surrounding yoruban jungles, espacing the mortals ire and weaving a protective cocoon to regenerate.

As time progressed the medival Yorubans would name it *Alantakun*, which literally translates to spider; regarding it as an evil and corruptive spirit. *Alantakun* itself was in a desperate strive for sustenance as the surroundings constantly degraded its Substance. Soon it realised it could drain and consume a targets soul using a counterfeit of the Daeva Essence that spawned it; sinking its fangs in unwary victims and dragging them into the shadows to add their soul to its own growing form.

The Vodoun Priests of the Yoruban coast where not impotent against such a thread however; themselves having great insight into the occult and the practice of summoning. The first Neverborn they send against Alantakun would meet an unexpected fate however; as its venom could also infect and corrode their eternal forms. Most of them where temporarly destroyed while others where quickly reduced to mindless spectres bound to the service of the Spider-God. The Vodoun soon realised that mere force would not be enough to disspell *Alantakuns* thread so they hatched a plan.

As the sun dusked on into a starless Sethnight, the priests used a group of offerings to lure the Spider-god onto a jungle path and within the walls of ancient Benin. Driven by its hunger the many-limbed shadow slithered into its trap; realising to late that the priests activated a warding in the walls to imprison it inside. There they performed a costly ritual that would bind *Alantakun* in a pocket-dimension; sealing it away from the material world and the Outer Realms.

## Culture

### Curse of Alantakun

Every Iboji was created through recieving the bite of Alantakun, infecting them with the Spider-Gods toxin. This macabre replica of the Daeva-Essence that birthed it permanently takes root in an Iboji after they initially succambe to the venom, burrowing deep into their essence and starting to eat them inside out. As the toxins spread they will hollow out an Iboji, first attacking their mind and then their substance; reducing them to a shadowy mist that is sucked up into Alantakuns bloated belly from afar. Those that fail to resist will be drunken empty by the spider-god until only an empty hull remains; reduced to a whispering echo of their former selfes. These beings are known as ***Hollows*** or (...) and wander around the Necropoli or follow their former kin.

Those that wish to avoid such a fate must provide fodder as a proxy through gaining souls and extracting their knowledge. The more souls an Iboji catches and forces into their realm, the longer they can forestall their corruption and grow their own powers; even to unnatural extends. Gaining a souls knowledge does not only quench their unending hunger but also their evergrowing curiosity. As their transformation takes root they develop an obsession with the living; including their impressions, emotions and memories; as it pushes away the numbness in their souls. Many of them despertaly cling to anything that reminds them of their former existance. Iboji are eternally aware of the spiritual venom inside them and more than anything they fear its effects. An Iboji is driven by this spiritual panic that accompanies them with ever rattling breath they take and every soul they doom; and most of them would to anything to ward it off. For many the fact that this state of being is far from voluntarily makes things much worse.

### Soul-Catchers

An Iboji forcing a soul into their realm with weave a cocoon of shadowy silk around them, trapping them entirely and connecting their life-force to the Ibojis Substance through the web. As time progresses the spirits memories and Essence will be sucked out of its soul as it twitches and screams within its webbed prison.

Traditional Iboji infesting the african coast will usually weave an illusionairy cloak around them and approach a souls living relatives posing as their deceased ancestor. In some cases they may even manage to steal a souls voice; although it slowly distorts the more they use it. Using the knowledge they extracted they will gain the mortals trust and affection using the initial burst of pathos; that inevtiably degrades over time. The more they interact with the Iboji the more hollow their imitation will become as the Inferis hunger and inner void begins to show. When realising what kind of being stands before them it is usually to late for a mortal as their soul is already trapped inside the Ibojis spiritual web. Soon after the Iboji will kill its target; often assuming its physical body while continuing the cycle.

Despite their association with shadowy ancestors in west africa modern Iboji take a different approach using subterfuge and the knowledge of the dead. After picking a target they will confront them with knowledge of a deceased relative, friend or lover; posing as a mutual friend in order to gain their trust. As time progresses and their hollow trades will become more evident they will break their preys image of the deceased through revealing dark secrets and shameful details.

### Social Order

Despite Iboji being very social beings they use their charisma and subterfuge only to hunt and catch their prey which they usually find quite entertaining. Within their Necropoli Iboji are very individualistic and abstrain from forming bonds with their kin; instead trying to preserve a respectful distance to one another. While the entire realm is very much centered around *Alantakun*; no Iboji would try to contest its power or gain its favour to improve their hierachical standing. The only form of intruige they engage in is manipulating the prey of chosen kin; in an attempt to corrode their character or turn them into a Hollow to bind to themselves.

#### Grey Weavers

While all of this is true for the majority of Iboji there exist the *Grey Weavers*, the five Neverborn that *Alantakun* cursed after its seal was broken. These beings are not only the most powerful among their kind but are also directly linked to their master; while having their own mind reduced to a shadowy echo. *Alantakun* merged their Essence; allowing it to share thoughts and desires with the *Grey Weavers* and use them act in its stead in the material and immaterial realm since *Alantakun* itself can not leave its accursed nest.

## Realm

Iboji is a shadowy and pressing place that resembles a gigantic spider burrow. It consits of a labyrinth of tunnels made from compressed earth or ragged stone occasionally broken up by webbings of clawed and twisted roots resembling those of giant rubber trees. Anyone trapped in the necropoli will be unable to navigate the interlocking tunnels that appear to constantly shift their position and are fitted with pitfalls and trap-like funnel webs in which *Rachnids* breed or hide. The entire realm is covered with silk and spider threads that the Iboji use to sense movement and vibration; aswell as understand the realms structure to perfectly nagivate it. While the larger ones are clearly visible; the air itself is streaked with invisible threads that send out magical signals when broken. A myriad of shadowy spiders of all shapes and sizes constantly patrolls the tunnels to keept them intact and are very careful not to disturb the signaling.

Around the nests of larger Iboji the spider webs form massive structures of pale silk; vaguely resembling archways, walls, small towers and statues woven to fit the inhabitants specific taste. The larger webs are filled with countless twichting cocoons in which souls are trapped and sucked dry. Their screams, maddened babbles or choked soliloquies are the only sound that can be heared in Iboji; while the spectral glow they emit from the cocoon is the only source of light. After a soul has been utterly consumed the hollow cocoon is not removed; often starting to appear rotten and spiked with blackened limbs sticking out.

In the Necropolis center lies the burrow of *Alantakun*; a gigantic nest of titantic proportions. Within its silky ornaments and chaotic webbings the Grey Weavers hold court; carefully keeping their distance to their ever-hungry master. In the borrows center broods *Alantakun*, the many-legged Spider-God. Its massive abdomen is connected to the ragged walls; making the being unable to move or leave its nest. The only thing brighter than the glow of the countless entrapped souls is the chilling light emitted from *Alantakuns* uncounted eyes.

### Gates

Iboji´s main gain is located under the ruins of ancient Benin; being buried under several tons of warded earth and stone. Whenever a spirit from its accursed tunnels tries to burrow itself up into the material world; a group of Voudon priest steps in to bind and destroy it. It is their vigilance that limits the Iboji´s influence since centuries; although it is nowhere near perfect.

Although some of its Inferi manage slip by their watchful gaze; their main way of interacting with the world is getting summoned or using a temporary gateway; which limits their local influence. Weaker but permanent gates are located at:

* Under an old tree in the *Abari Cementry* in **Lagos;** which is permanently open
* In the tombs under the *Monastery of San Francesco* in the **Carribeans;** which can be opened temporarily
* In the swamped debts of the *Atchafalaya Bayou* in **Louisiana;** which requires a ritual to be opened
* In a hidden cavern deep in the *Rao Kao Cave* in **Laos;** which requires a ritual to be opened
* In the *Lost Temple of Iktomi* in **Kainai;** which can be opened temporarily
* Below the *Wiradjuri Burial Mount* in **Australia;** which can be opened temporarily
* In the catacombs in *St. Pauls Church* in **Leicester**, **Sierra Leone;** which requires a ritual to be opened
* In the sanctum of the *Palliyara Devi Temple* in **Southern India;** which has been sealed
* Below the *Khartoum Grand Mosque* in **Sudan**; which has been sealed

## Neverborn

* **Death-Mares** of the Iboji are known as ***Rachnids***. In their Arch-Form they usually appear as giant spider-like creatures; made from a mess of bustling legs; seemingly growing in numbers as they move forward until almost taking an elongated shape. In the center of their bodies glows a webwork of cold eyes illuminated in an ashen fire; aswell as several toxic fangs. When moving or fighting they raise a pair of long pedipalps that end it sharps claws and are almost shaped like spears. Their entire body appears as if made from living darkness in the shape of countless smaller spiders that turn into an almost liquid swarm should they be harmed. When bound into a physical host its body will move forward unnatural and twitchy, appearing as a corpse moved by the liquid spiders inside that push out of its mouth, eyes and ears aswell as any wound when agitated. They often weave almost invisible webs and nets of pitch-blackness; trapping any passing light aswell as the fears and nightmares of those around them inside which can be consumed to learn the gathered information.

### Notable Iboji

* **Ananse-** also known as the *Trickster God*, is perhabs the most powerful Iboji below the *Grey Weavers*. His main strategy was enveloping himself in a mantle of folklore and superstition; becoming an element of yoruban religions if not a god. Carefuly we spins the tails that make up his infamous reputation; creating a web of stories that can be easily exploited to lure in new prey.
* **Aatraxee-** also known as the *Dreamspinner,* is a former Heccan Listener that specialised on manipulating and weaving their victims dreams. She wickedly uses lullabies, nightmares or sweet dreams to corrode the minds of her prey until finally revealing her true form; causing them to wake up in a spectral net outside of their body. After consuming her victims Aatraxee often uses elements of their dreams to construct a new persona she uses as a disguise in the waking and dreaming world. Aatraxee is often depicted as Ananses wife due to the romantic bond they shared before their transformation; something the curse of Alantakun has turned into a cold hatred for one another.
* **Gox Raaoul-** also known as the *Fateweaver*, this former Aphelius was once the greatest seer of Benin. After being dragged infront of Alantakun and succumbing to its toxin; the seers clear mind turned into madness. Gox Raaoul is one of the oldest Iboji that managed to evade Alantakuns curse and is specialised on manipulating and engineering the fates of potential victims.
* **Seath**- is a lesser Iboji that is notable for willingly embracing Alantakun´s cursed bite. As a former Incubi he grew obsessed with gaining and using personal information to manipulate mortals and saw the Iboji´s methods of directly extracting them from flesh or soul much more efficient.

## Rules

### Might

In order to catch a mortals soul and extract its powers an Iboji must gain and break their trust using the knowledge of a dead or deceased friend.

### Advantages (Optional)

Note that the following rules may not be included into every Campaign and may only be used after the Storytellers approval.

* **Soul-Catchers Chicanery-** *Iboji are proned to hunt and enweb souls in their Necropoli, draining their substance and memories out of them. This malign intel is used to lure their closest relatives in a similar trap.* The Iboji gains the knowledge of souls caught in their realm as time progresses. Whenever they desire they may assume a chosen souls voice.