Apollo

"Apollo's the name, awesome's the game. But you probably already knew that."

-Apollo Phoebus, Olympian God of the Sun, Medicine, Music, and many other things

Apollo is the Olympian God of the Sun, Medicine, Music, Oracles, and a number of other spheres. One of Zeus's many illegitimate offspring, Apollo and his twin, Artemis, were the product of his affair with Leto. Many are of the belief that he is the most powerful of all his father's many children, and possessed of as many powers and talents as he is, that is difficult to dispute. Potent, clever, charming, courageous, and gorgeous, Apollo is one of the most prominent and popular of the Olympians, and aside from perhaps his brother Hermes, none have more friends and allies from outside the pantheon. Perhaps as a result of his immense power and popularity, Apollo is possessed of an infamous ego, which many of his enemies deride as his greatest flaw or exploit as a weakness.

Early Life
Apollo and his elder twin sister, Artemis, were the product of the first of their father Zeus's affairs, making Apollo the eldest of his illegitimate sons. Contrary to what mortal legends might say, his sister did not help deliver him, and he did not grow to manhood directly after being born and slay the Python which had hounded his mother Leto at the command of Hera. That would not come for many years.

Instead, shortly after his birth, he and Artemis were brought to Mount Olympus by their father's command. For the first few years of his life, Apollo and his sister were sheltered by their mother, who received a great deal of scorn from Hera, their stepmother. All that changed when Apollo was three. His mother had decided she could no longer tolerate the environment on Olympus, and had decided to leave. Most of the knowledge of her departure was not made known to Apollo. He simply knew that his mother was leaving, and she was leaving him behind.

Following Leto's departure, much of his rearing fell upon his aunt, Hestia, who raised him and Artemis alongside their half brother, Hephaestus. With the departure of Leto, Hera's anger was diverted to her children. After Artemis complained to their father that Hera was being mean to them, Hera devoted her efforts to solely undermining Apollo, knowing he wanted to be brave like his father, and so would not go running to him. This continued all throughout Apollo's early years.

Still, despite his stepmother, Apollo always had a companion that he could trust utterly: His twin, who was closer to him than anyone. Despite Hera's efforts to the contrary, Apollo was also well liked by his two older half brothers, Ares and Hephaestus, and would eventually rise to become the most popular of Zeus's children at court.

Physical Appearance
Apollo's form is that of a tall and stunningly gorgeous youth, seeming to be about twenty years old. His skin is quite light, with just the gentlest touch of tan upon it. He is covered in lithe, sharply defined muscle, and moves with the grace and power of a lion, and has been known to boast that his abs are the most cut in all Creation, and his ass the most recognizable. Apollo's hair is as golden as the sun, and usually is cut around his head in a mop of loose curls which gleam whenever light strikes them. His eyes are electric blue, the spitting image of those possessed by his father, Zeus, who Apollo is often said to be quite similar to when Zeus was young.

Personality
Apollo's nature bears a strong resemblance to that of his father's younger self. Once, it was remarked by his aunt Hestia that Apollo is what Zeus would have been like, if he had never been given any responsibility. Even Hera, his stepmother, has grudgingly admitted that Apollo is more alike Zeus than any of her own children.

Like his father once was, Apollo is gregarious, and good humored, at ease in most every social situation. In fact, Apollo is quite avid in seeking out all manner of parties and other gatherings where he can socialize. He oozes confidence, and is gifted with a relentless charm that enables him to warm even the coldest of hearts. Apollo delights in applying these talents, relishing the attention and adoration he receives from the victims of his charm.

Where his father demands respect, Apollo desires admiration. His ego is enormous, and most everywhere he goes, he expects praise to come to him. How could it not? For he is Apollo, glorious, hot, powerful, famous, and so very, very talented! Indeed, Apollo finds it extremely disconcerting when people do not immediately recognize who he is (provided that they are not ignorant mortals, of course), and is quite likely to respond by immediately beginning to boast about his accomplishments and show off some of his skills. Insults evoke shock, which is typically followed by defensive insults, or if his skills are put into question, a call for a challenge or demonstration.

Indeed, Apollo's own ego is his greatest weakness. He is extremely susceptible to flattery, accepting it as completely natural, and has often been manipulated through such means. Deep down, Apollo's foremost desire is for validation, attention and acceptance, which stems from his youth, when he competed with many of his half siblings for the attention of his father Zeus, and was constantly put down by his stepmother Hera. His hidden need to prove himself and receive the adoration of everyone around him is one of Apollo's deepest vulnerabilities.

One of the most outward manifestation of Apollo's thirst for validation is a tendency he shares with his father (though for different reasons): Womanizing. Or in his case, manizing as well. Apollo is boldly flirtatious, and will eagerly hit on anyone he finds attractive. When it comes to more long term relationships, Apollo typically showers his lovers with attention, until eventually he breaks things off with them, always ensuring he is the one to break up with them, and never the other way around. His ego would not allow it. Nor would it allow him to ever form anything truly long lasting, as deep down, Apollo fears commitment and responsibility. He desires a life of fun and relaxation, and abhors any duties he does not enjoy. If he has any sort of responsibility, there is a chance that he might perform poorly at it, and his ego would never tolerate such a thing.

Notable Equipment
Sunbow of Apollo: