Hephaestus

### Aliases

God of Fire and the Forge, Firebeard, Smith God, Keeper of the Burning Mountains, Blacksmith of Olympus, the Broken God, the Ugly, the Worthless One, Shame of Olympus

### Relatives

Zeus (father)Hera (mother)

Ares (brother)

Aphrodite (wife)

Eros, Phobos, Deimos (adopted sons)

### Affiliation

Olympian Pantheon (member)Olympian Council (member)

## Statistics

*"Machines are easier than people."*

*Hephaestus Firebeard, the Broken God*

Hephaestus is the Olympian God of Fire and the Forge, and the son of Zeus and Hera. A principle member of the Olympian Pantheon, husband to the legendary beauty Aphrodite and possessed of a seat on the Olympian Council, Hephaestus is unlike many of his peers in that he spends little time in the spotlight. Though his skills as an artificer and forgemaster are without question, Hephaestus spends much of him time in seclusion, working on various projects, and as a result, has few strong allies (beyond the allegiances of the pantheon) and even fewer friends. In many circles, he is mocked as a deformed recluse, looked upon with pity and scorn. Oftentimes he is referred to by those who make light of him as the Broken God.

## Biography

### Early Life

Hephaestus's youth was not particularly happy. Hurled from Olympus by his mother Hera after he was born, Hepheastus was crippled, an extreme rarity for any deity.

#### Tumultuous Birth

Hephaestus was born in turmoil. His birth was premature, brought on by the rage of his mother Hera when she learned that Zeus had been unfaithful to her. Unlike most royal princes, Hephaestus's birth was not attended by a flock of midwives, and he instead came into the world with none but his mother present. Shortly after he was born, however, Hephaestus found himself the target of his mother's rage towards his father, as he was hurled down from Olympus by his mother.

Despite his newborn infancy, he was still a god, and the fall did not kill him. Even so, smashing through a small island and then crashing into the sea left him with considerable injuries. Fortunately, several Nerieds happened upon the injured and terrified baby, and Hephaestus was taken to the isle of Lemnos. Shortly thereafter, forces that his father Zeus had sent to search for him found him there, and he was taken back to Olympus. For several days, Zeus refused to allow the boy to be parted from his side. It was noticed at this time that Hephaestus's wounds were not healing properly.

Eventually, Hephaestus was brought back to his mother, but he had become deeply frightened of her, and would cry any time she tried to hold him.

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS HIGHLY OUTDATED

Years later, Hephaestus was also present for the birth of Athena, being the one who cracked open Zeus’s skull to allow her to emerge fully grown and armored. Hephaestus was immediately enamored with her, and over the next few months, he marveled at her intelligence and wit. Struck with love, he asked for her hand in marriage, only to be scornfully rejected. Later on, upon the arrival of Aphrodite to Olympus, Hephaestus avoided the goddess, far to shy from his previous rejection to approach. However, Zeus, his father, interpreted this as a calculated move to avoid conflict, and thus married Aphrodite to him. Hephaestus was thrilled, and did everything he could to try and please his bride, crafting jewelry for her, and constructing a new palace for them on Olympus. However, despite his kindness, whenever Hephaestus traveled to his forge, Aphrodite would make a fool out of him with Ares, his brother, which resulted in three sons that Hephaestus believed were his own. When Helios informed him of this betrayal, Hephaestus was heartbroken and hurt, and resolved to take his revenge by humiliating the pair in front of all the gods. Nevertheless, he still resolved to raise Aphrodite's bastards as well as he could, trying his best to teach the value of humility and hard work. At some point later, whilst travelling the realms, Hephaestus encountered the early dwarves, and taught them the secrets to crafting.

## Personality

Hephaestus is among the least personable gods in Creation. Gruff and awkward of speech, Hephaestus has a hard time making casual conversation, and an even harder time making friends. Having been teased and mocked for much of his life, he is easily offended and easily hurt, often seeing insults where none were intended. Turning one's attention away from him, making a friendly joke at his expense, helpful criticisms, and other such innocent statements all wound his fragile ego, and cause Hephaestus to retreat inside himself, brooding on his every flaw and failing.

The Broken God is a being who spends a great deal of time brooding. Of all the gods of all the realms, one would be hard pressed to find one possessed of such a low opinion of himself, so filled with self loathing. Thrown off Mount Olympus and crippled with a wound that his self perception has never allowed to heal, his first memories are of rejection. Having grown up witnessing the splendor and strength of the other gods of Olympus, Hephaestus compared himself to them constantly, and always found himself wanting.

Faced with perceived ostracism and rejection, Hephaestus prefers isolation to the company of other people. Rather than force himself into the grueling and unpleasant task of social interaction, Firebeard would rather tinker and craft, creating wonderous weapons, contraptions, and constructions. They, at least, can be beautiful and perfect, the opposite of their maker. Automatons can be programmed, a shield shaped as one wills it, a wall built and torn down.

Very few people are possessed of the patience needed to befriend Hephaestus. He is blunt and direct, with no aptitude for the general social niceties. At the same time, when such niceties are not directed at him, the thin skinned and prickly Hephaestus is quick to deem a person rude or mean spirited, and usually will attempt to avoid their company thereafter. Laughter, one of the most unifying forms of social interaction, is almost foreign to Hephaestus, for the Broken God mistrusts laughter, always imagining it is directed at him.

While he is utterly lacking in social skills, Hephaestus is possessed of an extremely keen mind. He has an exacting eye for physical detail, being able to discern the tiniest flaw in any natural substance or item crafted by living hands, which he is always on the hunt for. Puzzles and mathematics come easy to him, and he enjoys the challenge of having his mind tested by such things. His wits fail him, however, in most all matters social, emotional, and political.

Hephaestus respects intellect in others, and loathes what he calls "mutton-headed brutes", those who are dull witted and physically able. Those with clever hands, skilled in making works with them, are the most likely to receive his admiration, though Hephaestus is poor at expressing it. He also despises those who are proud and pretty, resenting those blessed with the forms that he was denied, and is inherently mistrustful of anyone who acts with charm and flowery speech, for too often, their words go over his head, or are meant to deceive, manipulate, or mock. So many slights, both real and imagined, have been levied against him over the centuries, and Hephaestus broods on every one, resenting both those who slighted him, and himself for being so inadequate.

## Skills

### Traits

**Strength:** 5

**Dexterity:** 3

**Endurance:** 4

**Intelligence**: 5

**Charisma:** 0

**Perception:** 5

### Skills

**Academia:** 3

**Alertness:** 2

**Artistry:** 5

**Brawl:** 1

**Charm:** 0

**Command:** 1

**Craft:** 6

**Deception:** 1

**Empathy:** 2

**Intimidation**: 1

**Intrigue**: 1

**Leadership:** 0

**Marksmanship:** 0

**Medicine:** 3

**Melee:** 1

**Occult:** 3

**Performance:** 0

**Seduction:** 0

**Stealth:** 1

**Stewardship:** 4

**Survival:** 1

**Torture:** 1