Hermes

Hermes is the Messenger of the Olympian Pantheon, and the Olympian God of Trade, Wealth, Luck, Fertility, Thieves, and Travelers. One of the favored sons of Zeus, carries out essential tasks for the various members of his pantheon, and spends the most time out of all the Olympians among mortals.

Infancy and Theft of Apollo's Cattle
Born to Zeus and the Pleiad Titaness Maia, Hermes began making mischief before he left infancy. Before a full set of hair had grown on his head, Hermes had slipped from the cave where he and his mother dwelt, and after spending several hours zipping about on his tiny legs, he discovered the sacred red cattle of Apollo, his elder half brother. The devious little child used his burgeoning magical powers to lead the cows backwards into a river, and emerged on the opposite bank, where he manipulated the winds into blowing the tracks away. However, his deed was witnessed by an old dryad, who Hermes convinced was having a dream, due to the ridiculous sight of a baby herding cows After stealing the cattle, he killed four and ate two of them, and after finding and slaughtering a tortoise, he used its shell, along with guts from the stolen cattle to construct the first lyre, which he then taught himself to play. The remaining two he had killed were divided into several portions as a failsafe if he should be discovered. The precocious child then hid the cattle, and returned to his mother and wrapped himself in swaddling clothes, going to bed. Thanks to his guile, Hermes would have remained completely undiscovered, but for Apollo receiving a vision of Hermes’s theft and of his location. Apollo dragged his brother before Zeus, with the Lord of the Sky being highly amused by the incident. It was then Hermes revealed his failsafe, and set the pieces of cow he had left ablaze, proclaiming that each was a sacrifice for one of the gods, including himself, which earned him the favor of many of the elder gods. Apollo, still enraged by Hermes’s theft of his cattle, was placated when Hermes gifted him with the lyre he had constructed. Later, Hermes constructed the reed pipe, which Apollo was also enchanted with, and asked Hermes to name his price for it. The boy chose his brother’s golden staff, along with his title of God of Herdsmen and Shepherds, to which Apollo agreed. Zeus, after witnessing his son’s wit and silver tongue, made Hermes his Herald and Messenger.

Hermes, upon reaching adulthood, would become one of the most beloved gods of Olympus, winning over almost all who met him with his charm and cleverness.

Physical Appearance
Hermes typically chooses to appear as a lean man of average height, with a light, compact physique usually found in runners. Like most of his fellow gods, he usually appears quite handsome, preferring a net of tight brown curls and green eyes which sparkle with mischief, most of the time.

Personality
When not carrying out tasks for his fellow Olympians, Hermes is a good natured prankster. Along with his half brother Apollo, who he shares an extremely close relationship with, Hermes constantly plays practical jokes on his relatives, though he does make sure not to ever do anything that would cause true harm, physical or emotional. Beneath his joking and snarky exterior, Hermes is a deeply compassionate individual, with his spending more time than any other member of his pantheon among mortals having given him a great respect for them. As such, Hermes  typically tries not to use his considerable skill in the art of manipulation to exploit and beguile for malicious purposes.

Zeus
As one of Zeus’s favorite sons, Hermes is afforded some privileges that others do not have - usually, being let off rather lightly after playing a few too many pranks on his family. On Hermes’s part, he is trusted with numerous important and secretive missions, which he makes every effort to complete and takes very seriously. He earned his good esteem, after all, by being reliable in his tasks and deeds, and capable in his information gathering.

Having often travelled with Zeus and seen his judgements first hand (such as in the tale of Baucis and Philemon), Hermes trusts in his father’s sense of law and justice. Well, for the most part. Knowing full well about Zeus’s womanizing tendencies, Hermes would very much like to discourage them but is often roped into such shenanigans regardless. Poor Argus.

Though he was appointed as herald and messenger to keep him out of trouble, Hermes thinks that Zeus enjoys such mischief (so long as he’s not on the receiving end of a prank, at least) and Hermes delights in amusing him with jokes.

Skills
Charisma: Hermes is known as one of the most clever and charismatic gods on Olympus, even surpassing the charm of even his brother Apollo. His charisma is overwhelming, his oratory skills legendary, and he is able to persuade or enthrall nearly any being in the cosmos without fail, with his considerable intuition and insight allowing him to discern how to best manipulate and persuade people.

Combatant: Hermes is quite the proficient fighter, especially when wielding his Caduceus staff.

Genius: Hermes is an absolute genius, and is skilled in the art of manipulation and planning, especially when orchestrating pranks.

Caduceus
The Caduceus is Hermes's most prominent symbol. It is a bronze staff with two golden wings at the top, entwined with two bronze snakes. The staff has been imbued with some small personality by Hermes himself, and at a need, it is capable of some independent action. It is capable of flight with its wings, and can fly towards its master's hand whenever summoned, be directed to attack anyone he chooses, or fly to aid someone of his choice and be wielded by them. Additionally, the snakes will come alive when picked up by any individual who Hermes would not wish to wield the staff, and may do anything from wrap themselves around the culprit's arm, to sink their fangs into the offender's hand. These bites are supernaturally painful. In addition to its semi-autonomy, the Caduceus is suited to channel divine power, and is a potent magical artifact. It is able to fire lightning bolts from the round top of the staff, and can manipulate winds by beating its wings. Said wings are also extremely sharp, and wounds dealt by them will begin to turn whoever suffered them to stone, with the speed of petrification increasing the greater the severity of the wound. Bites from the snakes on the staff will reverse this effect, and also have healing properties (meaning that bites inflicted to chastise those who try to pick up the staff will heal almost immediately after).

Winged Helmet
Hermes's winged helmet takes the form of a bronze, open faced helmet with golden markings and two golden wings on either side. It offers him total protection against all forms of weather related phenomena. The wings will beat reflexively to manipulated the winds around him, preventing him from being hampered by any form of airflow, and rendering all offensive uses of wind against its wearer useless. Clouds can also be dispersed by this effect. Additionally, all electricity directed at Hermes will be absorbed into the helmet.

Winged Sandals
Hermes's winged sandals are brown leather sandals, each with a pair of golden wings on either side of the heel. They increase his already prodigious speed, and allow him to engage in unassisted flight without the expenditure of any of his own magical power. Whenever Hermes loans them out (which he often does for his various mortal children), this affect also applies to whoever else wears them.

Traits
Power Level: 4

Strength: 8

Dexterity: 13

Stamina: 9

Intelligence: 10

Charisma: 10

Perception: 10