Quetzalcoatl

## Iapetus

### Aliases

Quetzalcoatl (primary alias), Kukulkan, The Feathered Serpent, God of Life and Light, Lord of Wisdom, Ruler of the West, The Piercer, Titan of Mortality, He from whom Mortal Fault is Sprung, The Lord of Craft, He who Controls the Lifespan of Men

### Relatives

Ouranos (father)Gaia (mother)

Huitzilopochtli/Hyperion (twin brother)

Titans, Hekatonkheires, Elder Cyclopes, and many more (siblings)

Atlas, Prometheus, Epimetheus, Menotius (sons)

## Statistics

### Power Tier

4

*“Death is the first and only mercy that I shall give you. Give thanks unto me as you pass on.”*

## Biography

### Early Life

*“I find myself overshadowed by my brother, but that is merely testament to his prowess. I do not despise him for it.”*

Iapetus came into the world grasping at his brother Hyperion’s ankle and gumming at his big toe. The two twins were the third and fourth sentient beings to be born, Iapetus being the fourth, as the sons of Ouranos and Gaia, the ruling couple of the Primordials. His father was particularly pleased with the two lustrous twins, both of whom grew up strong and powerful. As they grew and more siblings followed, though Hyperion was undoubtedly the mightiest, Iapetus was never far behind. He greatly admired his twin, and took great lengths to match him, if not in strength, than in skill. Though he could never grapple Hyperion to the ground, in a contest of spears, but blunted sticks in their childhood, Iapatus was second to none. And as his father named his twin to be his most favoured son, Iapetus took less offense than many of his siblings, and took more pride in the fact that Hyperion was his brother.

However Hyperion, whose ego was bloated by their father’s praise, soon began to eclipse Iapetus’ life more than he wanted. He was constantly strutting about, bragging or bullying their younger siblings, pushing them around. This often got him into trouble with his mother, who after seeing Ouranos’ apathy….perhaps even pleasure at his son’s behaviour, turned to Iapetus to rein in his twin brother. This would lead to Iapetus often stepping in against Hyperion. Though he loved his brother, his pride and arrogance were….annoying, and Iapetus could sense that many of their siblings were turning on Hyperion. He would...convince Hyperion to tone himself down. This would in turn cause Hyperion to fall out of favour with Ouranos, and Iapetus always wondered if Hyperion resented him for it.

#### Birth of the Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires

*“Father has chosen to discard of what he refers to as abominations. I wonder if he could just as easily discard us.”*

Iapetus was 30 when the elder cyclopes were born. Though excited to meet his younger siblings, he was forbidden from seeing them by his father, revolted by their appearance. Though curious, he did not question his father, in whom he still had complete faith. However, when the Hekatonkheires were born, and the Iapetus and his siblings were once again forbidden from visiting them, Iapetus began to grow curious.

This curiosity would lead to him eventually questioning his mother, and learning that Ouranos cast the newly born Hekatonkheires and the Cyclopes children into the Abyss. Ouranos would come to hear of this questioning, and would take Iapetus aside. He would eventually confide into all of the titan siblings, claiming that the Hekatonkheires and Cyclopes were monstrosities, somehow corrupted, and that they had to be given into the care of Tartarus. Though Iapetus was reassured for the moment, this planted a seed of doubt in his mind. A small seed of….mistrust. Though he always feared his father, it was more so a respectful fear of his overwhelming power, and not truly of him. However, in this moment, for the first time, Iapetus felt afraid of Ouranos himself.

### The War of Light

*“To bear witness to the victory of my Father is the greatest honor.”*

Iapetus sided with his father in the War of Light against the traitor Primordials and their armies. It was in war that Iapetus, usually overshadowed by the magnificence of his brother, found great fame. His spear was impossibly swift, piercing through foes with such ease. Though he would never match Hyperion in sheer kills, no being desired to find themselves looking down the end of The Piercer’s spear.

Over the several centuries of battle, Iapetus would find himself hardened by the nature of war. Though always introspective, he became brooding and almost apathetic when not in the heat of battle. The enduring rush of combat left every other moment an almost empty canvas of existence. And after it all ended, Iapetus would often find himself…bored.

### The Golden Age

*“I witnessed as Father erupted in anger. Can you imagine the wrath of the cosmos falling upon a single point? The sky itself collapsing upon you in divine fury?”*

Iapetus would assist his brothers and mother in overthrowing Ouranos. In the struggle, Ouranos struck out at Iapetus. Though the blow was likely meaningless for the primordial, Iapetus froze against the weight of the impending doom. It was only by the help of his mother, and Hyperion shoving him aside that he survived. That moment, when it seemed the entire cosmos itself was bearing down upon Iapetus was forever burned into his memory.

After Ouranos was defeated, Iapetus would receive the land of the West as his dominion. He took a wife in Clymene, and bore four children, each of whom he granted dominions of their own within his realm once they reached adulthood. Of the four Lord Titans who rules the four cardinal directions, Iapetus was by far the easiest. Though he was not kind, he cared little for the land he ruled, treating it with apathy, and allowing his children to rein in his stead. He was…bored, and toying with the newly rising mortal species held no interest for him. Throughout the entirety of the Golden Age, apart from a few notable moments in history, Iapetus seemed for the most part content in his current state, spending time with his wife and watching his children.. His lands were notably less eager to secede from his rule due to his leniency, and it can even be said that some small mortal clusters prospered due to his apathy towards their existence.

### The Titanomachy

*“...”*

As the golden age ended, Iapetus was overthrown along with his brothers, and cast into the Abyss, where he faced millenia of torture at the hands of Tartarus. Iapetus’ time in the Pit changed him, and not for the better. He became…crueler. Colder. By the time he emerged from the Abyss during the Bronze Age, he was no longer the titan he once was. His proud form had become gaunt and twisted. His muscles withered and held aloft by the blood magic of Itztli rather than physical might. Whereas before he found the mortals beneath his notice…now they burned beneath his gaze. What gave such insignificant creatures the right to such…prosperity? Happiness? What right had bacteria to have joy? He found great pleasure in decimating the first tribe he wandered into.

Soon, word of him began to spread. Of a being as slippery as a serpent, who slew men by the dozens and took their feathered headpieces as ornament for himself. He became known by a new name. Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent. The tribes began to attempt to worship him, offering up sacrifices in his name. These bloody rituals pleased the twisted Quetzalcoatl, watching as the insects turned from joy to fear and sacrifice. Not only that, but the blood offerings and human sacrifices gave him power through the Itztli arts he had gathered during his time in the Abyss. It became known that the Quetzalcoatl would spare those who sacrificed to it, and may even grant boons to those who offer enough….

## Physical Appearance

Iapetus in life was fairly tall, a titan. He stood tall and strong, well muscled and boasting a frame built for power. He was an imposing figure, especially with his spear in hand. After his time in Tartarus, his sense of self, and his true form became twisted. For some time he appeared as a gaunt, almost skeletal being, withered and eaten away by the corruption of the Abyss. Though he has recovered much of his former appearance over time, he remains….changed. His figure is sharper than it used to be, almost darker. In his time as Quetzalcoatl, he became fond of taking the form of a massive, drakon like serpent with feathered wings when interacting with those who sacrificed to him.

## Personality

As a titan Iapetus was humble and gracious. He found joy in combat, but also in his wife and children. He was a good father, and he cared for his children and his siblings. Though later in life he would become somewhat apathetic towards many topics, mention of the deeds of his children or his brother Hyperion would never fail to put a smile on his face. After being corrupted by Tartarus however, Iapetus has grown…crueler. Though often just as apathetic, he is prone to bouts of extreme anger over seemingly pointless topics. He is crueler, more sadistic. He seems to view those beneath him as little more than dirt to be trampled upon.

## Relationships

### Kronos

Iapetus loved Kronos as any other sibling. He cared for him and would back him up against his twin Hyperion. Though his choice to castrate their father somewhat perturbed Iapetus, he did not speak up against him.

### Hyperion

Iapetus was closest with Hyperion throughout his life. Though the two were very different in attitude, Iapetus was often the only one who could easily force Hyperion to listen. Iapetus always held a deep admiration for his brother’s might, and matching Hyperion was much of the motivation of the early Iapetus’ life.

### Krios

Iapetus was…never very close with Krios. The two spoke, and interacted on a fair basis, but their relationship was simply that of siblings. They held no special bond.

### Oceanus

Iapetus respected Oceanus. He viewed him as many might view an older brother. He was a figure of strength and wisdom, despite being only three years his elder. He was somewhat saddened when Oceanus left Kronos court.

### Clymene

Iapetus never cared for any being more than his wife. He loved her dearly, and she was once one of the constant joys in his life. With her being neutral, Iapetus managed to beg for a lesser punishment for his wife, and she was imprisoned elsewhere. However, after rising again…he seems to have forgotten her, or perhaps he simply does not want her to witness what he has become.

## Powers

Once one of the four Lord Titans of the cardinal directions, and now a prominent deity of the Teotecan, there is no doubt that Iapetus, now Quetzalcoatl is immensely powerful. He is a master of the Dominions of Life and Death, from which his fame as Titan of Mortality and Aztec God of Life come from. With his brother, he gained great ability in the Dominion of Light, though he could never match Hyperion in it. He can manipulate the Dominions of Thought and Aura, and has a decent grasp on the majority of the elemental dominions, specialising in the Dominion of Earth, supplementing his spear strikes with quakes upon impact. He once held potent control over the Dominion of Forge, though he seems to have lost much of his skill.

## Notable Equipment

### Diatrypón

Iapetus’ favourite spear. A weapon said to be the origin of the myth of the scissors of Atropos, the Moirai who cuts the thread of life, his spear is nigh unbreakable, and serves as a potent catalyst for the Dominions of Life and Death, allowing him to inflict instanteneous Soul Severance with a stab, or alternatively and perhaps more comically, actually heal people and reshape them by stabbing them. As Quetzalcoatl, he decorates the shaft of the spear with the scalps of prominent individuals he has slain, a small amount of biomancy keeping the severed flesh as gristly and gruesome as the moment it was scalped from its victims’ heads.

## Stats

### Skills

Academia: 7

Artistry: 6

Brawl: 10

Charm: 4

Command: 10

Craft: 6

Deception: 5

Empathy: 2

Intimidation: 11

Leadership: 5

Marksmanship: 7

Medicine: 5

Melee: 11

Occult: 8

Performance: 7

Seduction: 4

Stealth: 8

Stewardship: 4

Survival: 10

Torture: 11