Children of the bat-god Camazotz, zotzilahas are embodiments of their divine father’s rage and might, sent unto his followers to inspire fear and worship.
A zotzilaha is a batlike humanoid that stands almost eight feet tall. Its head is that of a monstrous bat, its mouth filled with enormous fangs. A pair of leathery wings sprout from its back. Its wickedly clawed arms are deceptively long, and it usually keeps them folded against its body like a praying mantis. Each zotzilaha embodies a different aspect of their father and possesses traits according to its character; thus, a zotzilaha that embodies Camzotz’s strength might be unusually muscular, while one who embodies his mastery over darkness might have pitch-black fur. When a zotzilaha enters combat, its body begins to fume as smoke pours from its nostrils and fire licks its claws, and when it uses its breath weapon it briefly erupts in a blaze of flame.
Zotzilahas are Camazotz’s favored servants. He frequently sends them to the Material Plane to inhabit his temples, and allows his mortal worshipers to believe they are Camazotz himself and accept sacrifices in his name. The bat-god’s temples are often built in or near volcanoes, and when not haunting their father’s shrines they cavort in the tumultuous molten rock.
Vyriavaxus, the now-dead demon lord of shadows, is said to have once been a zotzilaha, perhaps the first sired by Camazotz. Vyriavaxus was seduced and murdered by his rival Nocticula, and now all zotzilahas despise the Lady of Shadow and seek out her servants to gruesomely slay. Zotzilahas particularly loathe shadow demons, who were created by Vyriavaxus but now serve his murderer; they will go to great lengths to destroy shadow demons for betraying their eldest brother.
In accordance with Camazotz’s frequent presence on Gladia, his favored sons appear in many historical records. They always associate with cults of Camazotz, acting not as leaders but as emissaries from their father and often as powerful enforcers on behalf of their cults.
Shores of Swords 