Loa

Vodou teaches that there are over a thousand loa (or lwa). They are regarded as the intermediaries of Kiliitu, the supreme creator deity in Vodou. The sage Clément Gagneux argued that by learning about the various loa, practitioners come to understand the different facets of Kiliitu.

The loa can offer help, protection, and counsel to humans, in return for ritual service. They are thought of as having wisdom that is useful for humans, although they are not seen as moral exemplars which practitioners should imitate. Each loa has its own personality, and is associated with specific colors, days of the week, and objects. The loa can be either loyal or capricious in their dealings with their devotees; Vodouists believe that the loa are easily offended, for instance if offered food that they dislike. When angered, the loa are believed to remove their protection from their devotees, or to inflict misfortune, illness, or madness on an individual.

Practitioners believe that some Vodou priests and priestesses became loa after death (such as Baron Glegali), or that certain talismans become loa. Vodouists often refer to the lwa residing in "Jainea", but this is not intended as a precise geographical location. Many loa are also understood to live under the water, at the bottom of the sea or in rivers (such as the famed Rivière Tumultueuse). Vodouists believe that the loa communicate with humans through dreams and through the possession of human beings.

During rituals, the loa are summoned through designs known as veve. These are sketched out on the floor of the ceremonial space using cornmeal, ash, coffee grounds, or powdered eggshells.

Various veve

For game purposes, the multiple types loa are treated as having purviews with the worshiper, and as such have many more "domains" than a standard god or goddess do. The worshiper is able to honor and bargain with multiple loa, and as such have access to different domains depending on the type of loa.

Loa, Benevolent: Any good-aligned worshiper. Domains: Good, Healing, Love, Pleasure, Protection.

• Names: Pyriel, Baltha, Alik, Kielik, Rieliah, Bariel, Nieliah, Kasdiel, Banael, Binem

Loa, Impartial: Any neutrally-aligned worshiper. Domains: Balance, luck, Magic, Mysticism, Travel.

• Names: Kiliitu, Adudis, Inyammid, Suuhazuu, Aralit, Immabius, Tana, Buni, Nyasamsu, Marduga

Loa, Malevolent: Any evil-aligned worshiper. Domains: Bestial, Death, Destruction, Evil, Pain.

• Names: Beraie, Anzus, Aras, Vapar, Lithora, Amaech, Mamma, Vapul, Sadya, Bacha

Loa, Orderly. Any lawful-aligned worshiper. Domains: Domination, inquisition, Knowledge, law, Strength.

• Names: Lili, Ninki, Lila, Ayastal, Mammyl, Puaba, Ninu, Sabi, Nisab, Ammere

Loa, Turbulent: Any chaotic-aligned worshiper. Domains: Chaos, Confusion, Fire, Shadow, Trickery.

• Names: Baron Glegali, Diranwe, Gladuili, Algamron, Erdios, Eneler, Celinerdh, Lineli, Thranwe, Gwindeli