Corn King
by hughpierre
Summary
Beloved for his wisdom and bountiful harvests, king Tzenteul claimed communion with the ancient gods, whispering to the unseen in the vast cornfields at dawn. As seasons passed, the soil grew strange - too rich, too eager. Stalks grew tall as trees, and the corn itself began to twitch when no wind blew. He sought a final miracle to end hunger forever. Since the eclipse of a red moon, a figure woven of husks and shadow was found wading through the earth. The harvest that first year was unnaturally plentiful. Since then; his wife, Queen Malcahetl, had waited at the temple doors with tears in her eyes and warriors at her back urging her into becoming the first white corn queen.
Historical Basis
Tzenteul
The story of Tzenteul is a well known tale in Soonous that explains the matriarchal nature of the Corn Court amidst a sea of patriarchal societies. Cintēteo's faithful view Tzenteul as a guardian deity who protects Mais from intruders while granting free passage to them.Spread
Warning
An alternative interpretation is that the tale explains how corn smut maps its way through the human blood vessels to cleanse it, much like how Tzenteul's vines move through the soil.Variations & Mutation
Maize Demon
For outsiders - especially invaders - the corn king is a malevolent entity living in the corn rows. Returning soldiers report eery feelings, distant moaning and disappeared comrades. Superstitious telling attribute these phenomenon to the corn demon rather than the more logical explanation of partisans that the generals proposed.Cultural Reception
Corn Queen
The possibly frictional King Tzenteul is popularly viewed as the cultural counterpart to the corn queen. All queens are - in a way - married to him. And by this esoteric union, their culture and traditions are shielded to last forever.In Art
Courtiers model their iconography of the corn king as an appendage to an even greater entity. From the king, vines trail off up to 100ft and connect with every single servant in a web of awareness throughout the rows.
These vines have AC 12 and 10hp and grants 5hp at the start of their turn if they have at least 1 hp.
HP: 462 ( 44d8+264 ) Speed: 120ft Saving Throws: DEX +10, CON +13, WIS +14 Proficiency Bonus: + Skills: Magic +14, Deception +16, Insight +14, Perception +14, Persuasion +16 Abilities: |
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