Bwonsamdi

General

Titles
Loa of Graves
Keeper of Souls
Species
Loa (Ghede Loa)
Gender
Male
Eyes
Glowing pale blue
Hair
Greenish black; spiked up
Skin
Gray-blue; fades into skeletal areas
Status
Alive

Known Languages Common, Zandali

Bwonsamdi was a powerful ghede loa that had dominion over the souls of the dead, primarily those of trolls. His realm was the Other Side, which was the final resting place of any trolls that worshipped the loa.

Appearance

Bwonsamdi was a striking figure as what skin remained on his body was pale gray-blue, but his hands transitioned into skeletal figures and the upper half of his face was skull-like in a manner that it was hard to tell whether it was a mask or his genuine skull. Glowing, bright blue eyes peered out from the eye sockets. His hair was wild and normally freely spiked up, and his body was adorned in a combination of bones, leathers, teeth, skulls, and other trinkets that would be representative of his domain over the dead. Most notably, he had a mantle on his back from which bone-like protrusions erupted, which had skulls dangling from them that would clatter quietly as he moved.

Personality

Bwonsamdi was something of a trickster, and he was fond of teasing and ribbing—particularly with mortals he was fond of. He could be coy, but he was ultimately fair and protective of those who worshipped him, and he was someone that never went back on his word once he gave it. As a result, he became somewhat infamous for his fondness of deals, which he made freely with mortals should they be able to give him something he would want.

Given that his domain is resting place of the troll spirits, he had a dislike for undead, as trolls raised in undeath were ultimately kept from him. However, this dislike was shown to not be universal, as he had an amicable relationship with the undead elf, Velameestra Windrunner, and it ultimately seemed to stem more from a dislike for his souls being stolen away than the passive existence of unaffiliated undead.

Biography

It was said that Bwonsamdi was once a mortal servant of the loa of death, Mueh'zala, before Bwonsamdi eventually ascended and became the guardian loa of the dead.

Chapter Four: Homecoming

Bwonsamdi briefly appeared to the half-troll druid Seria during a dream she had when she made a visit to Zandalar. He made some jokes about the recent deal Seria had made with the loa Gonk and mused that it seemed that she had forgotten about him, but quickly reassured her that he was just playing around and she was free to make as many deals as she wanted. He admitted that he was in a bit of a bind, as the troll Zalazane had somehow managed to slip away from his realm on the Other Side, and in the process several other souls had also disappeared: notably Vol'jin.

Bwonsamdi wanted to offer Seria a deal. In exchange for helping him retrieve Zalazane and the souls he was missing, he was willing to do a favor for her of her choice, and offered a smattering of suggestions such as power, extended life, or even the opportunity to say goodbye to her mother.

Seria agreed to the deal, and Bwonsamdi gave her a blessing to help her out which manifested in a shimmering, skeletal tattoo on her body that could be invoked to utilize some of Bwonsamdi's power. The loa also suggested that Seria request the aid of Seria's friend, Velameestra, as she similarly had a score to settle with Zalazane and had expertise that could be of further use. His message delivered and a deal made, Bwonsamdi returned Seria to her slumber.

Later on, Bwonsamdi was able to speak to Seria and Velameestra briefly by using the shadow hunter Rokhan as a conduit through which he could answer questions they had in their further pursuit of Zalazane. He was able to confirm their suspicions that a troll Seria had run into in Zandalar named Yenniku was, in fact, the first-born son of Vol'jin and Vanira, which meant that he may have very well had the symbolic connection to Vol'jin that they needed for him to be used as a link to Zalazane's metaphorical "body", as Zalazane and Vol'jin were as close as blood brothers.

When Zalazane was ultimately tracked down and defeated so that his soul could be consumed by the Hungering Hex that sought him, Bwonsamdi appeared again to collect the manifestation of the hex (which had taken the form of a spider) so that he could use it to ferry Zalazane back to the Other Side. In a gesture of gratitude, and also to fulfill the deal he had made with Seria, Bwonsamdi briefly allowed the spirits of those lost to the Darkspear Tribe to appear in the material realm so they could exchange last words with their loved ones.

Vol'jin also made himself present so that he could exchange final words with his children, though he had a stern exchange with his patron loa about how they would not be repeating what had happened with Zalazane's escape. Bwonsamdi relented to allow Vol'jin to take a more active role in the imprisonment of Zalazane, and he sat back to survey the reunions before he eventually shephered the spirits back through the portal to the Other Side.

Tales of the Loa

Bwonsamdi guards our spirits well,
He makes death most inviting.
Ya think he be a trickster,
His humor often biting.
Behind his smile and pointed humor,
Dere lies a darkness, a hint of rumor.
He knows things dat make de brave men shriek,
The truth from him, ya must not seek.

De realm of death be his alone.
Ya life and spirit to him be known.
And when dat life do end,
Make sure Bwonsamdi be ya friend.

Den Bwonsamdi will surely guide,
"Come on through to de other side."

Appeared In

Chapter Four: Homecoming

Trivia


Divinities
Titans AggramarAman'ThulAzerothEonarGolgannethKhaz'gorothNorgannonSargeras
Keepers ArchaedasMimironOdynThorimTyr
Loa Ghede Loa Mueh'zalaBwonsamdiLukouLegbaOgounShangoZanzaZul'sen
Zannimo Loa AkaliAkundaBethekkAkil'zonAkil'daraShadraKimbulGonkGralHalazziHar'koaHethissHir'eekJaniJan'alaiKra'waMam'tothNalorakkPa'kuQuetz'lunQ'onzuRezanSethralissShirvallahTorcaliTorgaXolotal
Andeyò Loa Hakkar
Wild Gods AessinaAvianaAgamagganCenariusBlaitheEche'roGoldrinnOhn'ahraUrsocUrsol
Cosmic Forces Eternal Ones Sire DenathriusWinter Queen
Seelie Court MananTatiana (Obaron)
Void Lords DimensionZigan
Prime Naaru Xe'ra
Naaru A'dalK'ureMu'ru