Character Profile: Hermes

NAME
Hermes

ALIAS
Mercury, Messenger of the Gods, God of Travelers, God of Thieves, God of Orators, God of Medicine, Guide of the Dead, etc.

AGE
Even he’s lost count. He’s the second youngest Olympian, though he’s been around since early Ancient Greek times.

OCCUPATION
Teacher

RELATIONSHIPS
Half-brother to Diana (though as he puts it, who isn’t he related to, as Zeus has yet to learn to either keep it in his pants or use birth control)

PERSONALITY
Hermes is sometimes considered the trickster of Greek Mythology, and for a good reason. He’s very cunning and witty, and can talk for hours and hours. Most of the time he’s used his wit and cunning for the Gods, but has occasionally used his skills against them for the sake of mankind. He also isn’t nearly as detached from the human world as the other gods are, due to his job as messenger. He’s actually quite fond of humans, and is extremely impressed with their technological advances.
However, Hermes also can be very manipulative and charming when he wants to be. He is extremely dangerous and should not be trifled with. Don't let that boyish and goofy nature fool you.

FEARS
He’s a god, so there isn’t much that can scare him. He’s only heard stories of the Titans, but he is wary of them, as he should be. He also does have a slight fear of his brother, Ares, which is why he’s so fond of Diana, seeing as she killed him.



HISTORY

Hermes was born as the result of the rape of Maia – one of the Pleiades – by Zeus. He was born in secrecy in a cave, but within the first hours of his birth, he escaped from his cradle and stole some oxen from Apollo. He put on sandals to conceal his footsteps, hid the oxen in the cave, and then killed two and created divine worship. When he returned to his cave, he found a tortoise by the entrance. Hermes then took the tortoise’ shell, strung it, and created the lyre. Apollo discovered Hermes’ theft through his prophetic abilities, and brought him to Zeus to demand his oxen back. Hermes denied having stolen the oxen, but seeing that no one believed him directed Apollo to the cave. However, as Apollo discovered his oxen, he heard Hermes playing on the lyre. He was so charmed by the sound that he let Hermes keep the oxen. The two remained friends afterwards
Well, Hermes grew to adulthood – though he still participated in plenty mischievous acts – and became the herald of the gods, carrying messages to and fro with the aid of his winged sandals. He also became the shepherd of the dead, guiding souls to the underworld. Hermes would also become the patron god to orators, thieves, and travelers. He became the god of social interaction, of speech, of inventions – he himself is credited with inventing many things, such as measures, weights, even the alphabet and numbers – and made a reputation for himself as the craftiest god in Olympus.
Though Hermes would occasionally be a nuisance to the gods, he would also help them on numerous occasions. He helped rescue Zeus’ lover-turned-cow Io by distracting her guard – Argus, a man with a hundred eyes – with a story that was so dull it literally bored Argus to death – in actuality Hermes just bored him to sleep and then slit his throat, but he likes to say bored to death, considering he invented the phrase that way. He also saved an unborn Dionysus when his mother, Leto, demanded to see Zeus in his godly form and was burned from the magnificent sight. Hermes took Dionysus from Leto’s womb and sew him to Zeus’ thigh to carry out the rest of the term.
And though Hermes likes to make fun of Zeus’ numerous flings, he himself has had a few affairs, quite a few producing children. His most notable offspring is Pan, the satyr god of the forest. Hermes uses this to brag that he also created panic.
Well, centuries started to pass. The gods fell out of human worship, though Hermes still visited the human world. He was still messenger, after all, and would ferry messages from the gods to certain nature-bound gods and such. He stayed in contact with the humans, marveling at their advances – and pushing them along when he felt they were moving too slowly. Unlike the gods of Olympus, Hermes did not retreat from society, and as such has been a constant influence in the human world.



POWERS/SPECIAL TALENTS
Due to Hermes’ divine heritage, he is immortal, and as such cannot be killed in conventional ways. He heals rapidly, and no poison or sickness can touch him. He also has increased strength and speed, along with his powers of flight – due to his winged sandals (though nowadays they take the form of any kind of shoe he likes). He also bears the caduceus – a staff given to him by Apollo that allows him to heal others.
In addition to these powers, Hermes also possesses knowledge of all languages and inventions, due to him being the patron god of both. He also has an extremely acute sense of direction.






Show me how to lie, you’re getting better all the time
And turning all against the one is an art that’s hard to teach
Another clever word sets off an unsuspecting herd
And as you step back in the line a mob jumps to their feet

With a thousand lies and a good disguise
Hit ‘em right between the eyes, hit ‘em right between the eyes
When you walk away, nothing more to say
See the lightning in your eyes, see ‘em running for their lives