Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon

Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon Ch'ule-L, also known as the Chronicler of the End Times and by the nickname Ixlel, was the Ninth of the Thirteen Sovereign Lords. She is a quest-exclusive NPC that appears in the World Quest Open Your Heart to Me.

Profile

Ixlel was once the Ninth of the Thirteen Sovereign Lords and the ruler of Chichen Uctokah, the original name of Ochkanatlan.^[2] Thousands of years ago, she was sealed within the Old Core of Chu'ulel by Och-Kan. In the present day, the Traveler frees her from her imprisonment.

In the past, she was acquainted with Ajaw, as she referred to him as a "lost colleague in rulership."^[3]

Like many dragons, Ixlel is very prideful; she insists that Paimon address her by her rank and believes that only the Traveler (the "Chosen of Dragons") is worthy of undoing her imprisonment. Near the end of her life, she seems to be cynical and restless, weighed down by millennia of memories, silent confinement, and hatred for Och-Kan.

Appearance

She has the appearance of a large stone dragon statue. It is implied that before her imprisonment, she could change her form at will.^[4]

Manqu witnessed her in human guise, where she was described as a young woman with skin made of crystal and eyes made of turquoise.^[5] Though Manqu says she should have been beautiful, he found her unsettling for some reason.

Quests and Events

World Quests

• Open Your Heart to Me

Story

Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon Ch'ule-L had been the ruler of Chichen Uctokah since before human civilization bloomed in Natlan. She retained the position until the city fell, some thousands of years ago.^[6] In addition to maintaining the city, she also had an interest in a certain "well," likely the pit of the Old Core of Chu'ulel, which other dragons are known to have feared.^[2] This location is a hotbed of Abyss activity, and it is possible that Ixlel was investigating the Abyss or Forbidden Knowledge in this location, as she is actively defended by Tenebrous Mimiflora.

A few thousand years ago, Och-Kan ordered the "well" to be excavated, which required draining large amounts of water. However, workers experienced strange hallucinations and diseases during the project,^[7] with all teams but one dying during the process. Eventually, Ixlel herself was uncovered beneath the water, and Och-Kan personally burnt all the surviving workers alive. Only the leader of the team, Manqu, survived; Ixlel appeared before him in human form, and gave him a vision of events which closely match the War of Funerary Flame.^[5]

Ixlel initially swore allegiance to Och-Kan because of his royal blood (though he himself hated it), dubbing him the "fated Sovereign" and sharing her knowledge of the ancient dragon empire, including information about the "ladder that climbed up to the firmament" and the Three Moons' collapse. However, Och-Kan became deeply disturbed by this knowledge, believing that humanity would be crushed should the dragons regain their power. He concluded that reconciliation between the two sides was futile, and resolved to completely strip Ixlel of her authority.^[8]

Not long after this revelation, Och-Kan trapped Ixlel within the Old Core of Chu'ulel. To keep her imprisoned, he extracted her "heart," ripped it apart, and hid the pieces in various devices.^[9] However, he had based the power system of Ochkanatlan on that of Chichen Uctokah, and thus only a dragon could operate it. For a time, Och-Kan forcibly siphoned Ixlel's energy to power his city, but her hostility and defiance eventually prompted him to build a new Core of Chu'ulel — one he could fully control.^[10]

Following this, monsters aligned with the Abyss (likely the Tenebrous Mimiflora still seen in the present day) began appearing, centred around the Old Core of Chu'ulel. Humans around the city began contracting a strange illness which also turned them into some kind of monster.^[7] Eventually, the incursion of the Abyss would push Och-Kan to breaking point, contributing to Ochkanatlan's eventual downfall.^[11] It is unknown whether Ixlel actively enabled this incursion, but it isn't outside the realm of possibility, due to her statue being guarded by Tenebrous Mimiflora.

Ixlel would remain confined within the statue until the present day. At some point, her prison filled with water, submerging her completely.

During the events of Open Your Heart to Me, Ixlel calls out to the Traveler from within the Old Core of Chu'ulel. The Traveler lowers the water level and reveals the giant statue, allowing her to speak freely once more. Knowing that her life was nearing its end but refusing to die in shackles, Ixlel asks the Traveler — the "Chosen of Dragons" — to release her and grant her a dignified death. Obliging her request, the Traveler collects the pieces of her "heart" and destroys the chains binding her consciousness. She then pours her remaining energy into the "heart," and her soul is put to rest.

Trivia

Aliases and Titles

• Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon is known by these aliases or titles:
  • Chronicler of the End Times^[12]
  • Dragonlord
  • CL-09^[12]
  • Ninth Lord^[12]
  • Type-L Self-Regulating Overseer Array Integrated Processing Unit

• Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon is known by these terms of address:
  • Your Excellency^[13]

Etymology

• Ix Uxul Tz'ib Bolon Ch'ule-L name comes from the Mayan languages.
  • Ix (Mayan: Ix) means "woman". It is the "female prefix" used to form female titles.
  • Uxul (Mayan: Uxul) means "at the end." It was also an ancient Maya settlement in the Campeche region of Mexico.
  • Tz'ib (Mayan: Tzʼib) means "to write, to paint."
  • Bolon (Mayan: Bolon) means "nine."
  • Ch'ule-L (Mayan Tzeltal: Ch'ulel) means "essence" or "soul." It is the inner, individual soul which has thirteen parts and is centered in the heart.
• Ixlel (Mayan Tzeltal: Ixlel) means "little sister."

Other Languages

Change History

References