I admit to being curious about your assumptions that (a) similar loa cannot merely be differing aspects of the same loa, and (b) the primal, animal loa cannot in fact BE the ancients as mentioned previous. Are Hermes and Mercury different gods? The loa seem to more-or-less mimic the style of the MesoAmerican deities mixed liberally with Hammer Movie voodoo. Hethiss and Ula'tek and Sseratuss might not be as separate as you suggest. Since the various pantheons are obviously related, perhaps they are too. Facets of the same deity under different names.

A better way to divide the troll loa seems to be as follows:

Primal Loa -- these are embodiments of the qualities of certain animals, such as Shirvallah or Kimbul the tiger, or Hethiss the serpent.

Ancestor Loa -- these are dead trolls who have taken on deified aspects. Shango, Bwonsamdi or Muehzala, and Zanza [and T'chali!] seem to be good representatives of this type.

Elemental Loa -- one of the quests in Stranglethorn surrounding the Stone of the Tides suggests that the ancient spirit of the oceans [Neptulon?] is viewed as a loa by the trolls. It would not be surprising, and would make troll shamans similar to all the other troll witch doctor types, if so.

This view helps to explain why Zanza [worshipped by the Zandalari, and said to have once been a powerful mage] seems different from the Primal loa. He is different. He would be better compared to T'chali [a dead troll in the process of becoming the loa of booze perhaps?] or even Minshina.

It would also allow the various Primal Loa to be viewed as the trolls' view of the Ancients. Bethekk, the panther Ancient, say, and Hir'eek the bat Ancient.....

Reply