Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 16:06:07 GMT
[PTabbedContent][PTab=GENERAL INFORMATION] CHARACTER INFO: NAME: Loki Laufeyson ALIAS: God of Mischief, Silver-Tongue, God of Chaos, Loki Odinson AGE: Ancient OCCUPATION: Deity and (reformed) war criminal MEMBER GROUP: Asgardians POWERS AND ABILITIES: Superhuman Physiology - Loki has the strength of a Frost Giant, allowing him to lift weights far greater than his size would indicate, as well as hold his own against great forces. He is very agile and durable, and his stamina exceeds the human peak potential. Tissue and Bone Density - It is not easy to pierce his skin, and harder still to try and break his bones, though he is far from indestructible. Sorcery - A student of Frigga, Loki has become an accomplished sorcerer, outdoing his teacher long ago. A master of illusion, he is able to shift his shape and appearance at will and also project himself astrally. Those closer he is to Asgard, his powers are augmented further giving him plethora of psionic abilities. These include: -- Telepathy (communication through the minds of others, as well as plant thoughts into their heads) -- Hypnosis (an ability that was hugely augmented when he has possession of his sceptre, allowing him to use the power of suggestion against others thus making them act as he wills, though those of particularly strong will are able to combat this) -- Telekinesis (movement of objects via concentrated mental thought, telekinetic blasts and waves, and the creation of forcefields) -- Teleportation (both local, and enough to move across the realms). He is under strict guard while back in Asgard so as to limit his use of these abilities, and while they exist in weaker forms while on Midgard he they are not enough to be considered the same level of threat. Shape-Shifting - This is his most oft-used ability, changing his appearance or multiplying it, and while he uses it commonly it is also that which is most taxing on him and so requires the most concentration. He can transform into anything or anyone, and gain the inherent natural abilities of that being while doing so (such as a fish's ability to breathe underwater, or a bird's ability to fly). He can also project this ability onto things other than himself, changing their shape or indeed hiding them from view for as long as he concentrates upon it. Healing Factor - Immune to all terrestrial diseases and very resistant to physical injury, Loki is able to regenerate cells and repair damage to his body faster than any mere mortal. Allspeak - A natural ability for many of Asgard, Loki is able to speak every language of the Nine Realms. Genius-Level Intellect - He is considered smart even by Asgardian terms, and his knowledge far exceeds that of many accomplished mortal minds. PLAYBY: Tom Hiddleston OOC INFO: PLAYER NAME: KJ AGE: Over twenty, yet under thirty. GENDER: Whatever you want me to be. TIMEZONE: GMT OTHER CHARACTERS: None [/PTab][PTab=PERSONNEL ASSESSMENT] PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT: LIKES: CHAOS - As the God of Mischief, it is not a surprise to know that Loki is rather partial to a little bit of chaos. While he is quite able to stir it up into a frenzy by himself, he also takes pleasure in sowing the seeds of discord that can swiftly grow into anarchy with little to no intervention by him. Chaos, he will also now point out, doesn't always have to be negative either. It's chaos that allows for individuality and miracles, after all. Loki finds there is a beauty in chaos and destruction that cannot be matched by order and calm, with the uncertainty of what may be giving events that element of mysticism that makes them feel truly magical. NIGHT - The darkness makes even the smallest of noises amplified, and the most innocent of shadows seem menacing. It has always been a hobby of Loki's to cause trouble until the cover of darkness, the shadows acting as his ally as they work to induce paranoia in the minds of those he messes with. He feels that he comes into his own when darkness falls, and has been referred to by the Midgardian term of "night owl" more than once, only having recently bothered to find out what that actually means. He assumes it is not meant as an insult... READING - Perhaps some may find it odd, to see the god of Mischief and Chaos sat calmly reading a book (he cannot get the hang of the many Midgardian devices they use in place of paper), but anyone who has spent a significant amount of time around Loki will have noted the regularity in which he will withdraw into solitude to read. Nowadays, with friends scarce and his freedom somewhat limited, he feels as though he has worked his way through a small library with the amount he has consumed. While he will partake in just about anything, he has a fondness for rare or ancient literature, and languages that have not been used for centuries hold particular interest for him. INTELLIGENCE - Loki cannot stand dullards, and those who can match him (or at least come close) in wit and intellect often receive a warmer reaction from him than those who struggle to keep up. While his intelligence exceeds that of most of humanity thanks to the advanced culture and technology of Asgard, he is begrudgingly willing to keep this in mind and judge humanity by their own relevant standards rather than his own near-unattainable ones. NOISE - Whether it be ambient noise one hears in a street or a crowded plaza, or music from an orchestra, Loki likes to the comfort of sound. He is a little selective in this instance, his musical tastes rather specific (he cannot stand that mess that Stark listens to) and the voices he surrounds himself with of a certain caliber (listening to teenage mortals discuss their love lives makes him want to vomit), but any sound is better than no sound. APPROVAL - Despite his past, Loki wishes to prove that his path has not been set for him, and that he may make his fate whatever he wishes it to be. As such, gaining the approval of others has begrudgingly become rather important to him, though he will rarely if ever admit such a thing openly. Top of the list of those he secretly wants to appease is Odin Allfather, in whose eyes he has fallen so far and must climb unimaginable heights to reattain his former glory. If he can regain the trust and kinship of his adopted father, then everyone else would seem an easy goal by comparison. DISLIKES: SILENCE - Loki hates silence. He can tolerate it and feign very well that it does not bother him, but he does not enjoy it in the slightest. Silence is uniform, order, predictable in its nothingness, which goes against everything the chaos god stands for. He finds it suffocating and claustrophobic, only able to fully appreciate it when he uses silence to intimidate others. He is also quick to point out that 'quiet' and 'silent' are not the same, and while he can appreciate the occasional allure of being in a quiet space he cannot understand those who wish for their world to be devoid of sound completely. THOR - An obvious one, perhaps, but one still worth mentioning. Thor, the golden child of the All-Father, and hero of Midgard. Thor, who everyone thinks is so perfect and so brave, yet he doesn't have the courage to ever take up his father's mantle. There was a time when Loki may have loved Thor like a brother, but those days are now long gone, and he doubts they are ever likely to return. Having lived in the shadow of his brother for so many centuries has taken its toll on the younger of the pair, their differences having always been a broad gap to try and bridge and made only broader when the truth of Loki's parentage came to light. There was a time when Loki would go so far to say he hated Thor, but he has found that feeling has begun to mute itself over time, though they still remain far from friends. Loki sometimes wonder if winning over his brother will be harder than appeasing the Allfather. HULK - Perhaps a grudge, but Loki despises the creature known as the Hulk, ever since being rather brutally manhandled by the beast. The hatred extends to his alter-ego of Bruce Banner, who seemed to carry little remorse for what his unleashed form did to the god, and Loki is not likely for give either of them soon. To be thwarted by such a dull and unintelligent monstrosity is something Loki takes great offence to, and he can hold grudges for a very long time... FAST FOOD - Unique to Midgard, Loki is amazed with the mortals ability to be proud of some of the Realms worst culinary achievements in history. The phenomenon known as 'fast food' disgusts him, and he downright refuses to ingest it under any circumstances... even if the food known as 'hot dogs' are, admittedly, not all that bad. Still, he has an image to uphold, and he'd much rather be seen dining a little more finely rather than indulging in carbohydrates soaked in fat. AUTHORITY - One of the biggest issues he has had in agreeing to work with S.H.I.E.L.D. is having to submit to authority. Loki hates being told what to do, and has had to swallow this if he is to prove he is dedicated to personal reformation. Regardless, he will still flout the rules if there is room to do so, though tends to be very subversive about the matter. "If you do not get caught, then no-one need know a rule has been broken" he will say, and he will always be the type of character to wonder just how much he can push his luck before it runs out. STRENGTHS: AMBITION - Loki is capable of setting himself high standards, and knows he has the ability to achieve them. Ambition and confidence come hand-in-hand to the god, who possesses a drive unrivaled by many others as he will go to any lengths to achieve his goals. He takes a 'means to an end' approach, and will happily step on others to get the results he desires. Deception is one of the many skills in his arsenal he will employ to get what he wants, and over time he has become incredibly talented with it. ADVANCED RACE - Asgardians are far evolved and progressed in comparison to Midgard, and while some of their ways may appear to be old-fashioned this is primarily a cultural and aesthetic trait. Their knowledge far surpasses Midgardians own, and their technology is unparalleled across most of the known universe. Loki uses this to his advantage, though he is not always keen to share what he knows. In fact, he finds there is a certain pleasure in hinting that he could help more than he already was, before making claims that humanity is not ready for the knowledge he has to offer. CHARISMA - They do not call him 'Silver-Tongue' for nothing. Loki has a smooth, attractive voice that many find almost hypnotizing, his words difficult to resist paying heed to. When coupled with his sly and quick-thinking mind, he becomes just as dangerous in speech as he is in strength, able to manipulate others by telling them what they need to hear to get them to act as he wishes them to. While some are able to see through his lies, many find themselves falling for them, which Loki takes great pleasure in. IMMORTALITY - Jotun's may not be immortal in the truest of senses, but they come very damn close. They are immune to natural illness, disease and decay, and can live exceptionally long lives. As such, it is very rare that one of their kind will die of old age, but rather in battle or by assassination. The same is true of Asgardians, and it is unknown which of the races can live the longest. WEAKNESSES: MIDGARDIAN INTERFERENCE - Not being born in this realm brings a level of limitation to Loki's abilities. They are greater on Asgard, and stronger still on Jotunheim, meaning that while he is a formidable foe (or ally, depending on where you stand) he could be stronger still were he not so far from home. Irritated by this fact, he works constantly to expand and increase his powers to counteract this handicap. INFERIORITY COMPLEX - Having believed himself a Price of Asgard only to then find he was an abandoned Frost Giant, Loki has since developed an increasingly problematic inferiority complex that leads him to constantly belittle others. He sees all beings as below him, be they mortals or the All-Father himself, and cannot abide being bested by those he sees as his inferiors. This arrogance and self-centered attitude leads to extreme over-confidence which has more than once been his undoing. He control over his emotions wildly varies in these situations, from being able to keep a lid on his reactions with practiced precision to totally flying off the handles in a passionate rage. ALIEN - Loki has not been on Midgard long, and as such he doesn't have a huge understanding of mortals, their culture, nor their nature. Many things about them are odd and confusing to him and, while he probably could learn to understand their ways, he sees them as creatures below themselves and so often chooses not to. While Thor seems far more willing to adapt to the Midgardian way of life, Loki is far more stubborn, refusing to integrate unless absolutely necessary. GOALS: TRUST - If he can gain the trust of those he once called his enemies, then he will have achieved much. He is fully aware that he has committed great crimes against the realm of Midgard which will take great pains to set right, but he is confident that he is on the right track to doing so. FREEDOM - Currently under the care of those he once called his enemies, Loki strives for the day when he can walk free and tall once more without having to answer to anyone he deems below him. Until then, he will remain among those who can help protect him from Thanos' wrath, knowing that he is truly no match for such an enemy. BETRAYAL - Of course, what was the point of gaining the trust of others if not to betray them when the wound will hurt the most? Loki knows that reformation will be difficult for him, and his dislike of Thor still has not faded. While he does not want to see Midgard and Asgard fall that does not mean he is willing to accept his fate as the charge of Thor for the rest of eternity. His children deserved to be princes and princesses of a King, and he will see it done. FEARS: DEATH - A common fear, but a profound one for the God of Mischief. He does so much to ensure his continued survival that the concept of his immortality reaching an early end terrifies him. Should such a risk occur he will do almost anything in an attempt to plead for his life, giving up anything he is asked for so as to ensure his continued existence. If offered a deal to kill a million mortals in return for sparing his own life, he would not hesitate to rain down death and chaos upon them. IRRELEVANCE - To die is one thing, but to fade into irrelevance with his name nothing more than a footnote in the history books is a far worse fate. He has already done much in an attempt to make sure the future never forgot who he was, but is it enough? History would always recall a tyrant, but it sang songs and praises to its heroes for generations after they have gone. While the latter is far harder to achieve, Loki cannot help but wonder if it is the better fate to wish for ones self... OVERALL PERSONALITY: Loki can, quite literally, be whatever you want him to be. Manipulative and charismatic, he can bend and alter his personality to whatever best suits his purposes, which has served him well for many centuries now. Naturally he is a charming yet aloof individual who revels in the belittlement of others for his own amusement, with a naturally sarcastic edge that he finds difficult to shake. He has always been quick-minded and sharp with his words, as well as able to twist the speech of others to make them sound as if they had made claims they'd not. But is he 'evil', as so many claim him to be? He believed good and evil to be far too binary a set of terms to be particularly relevant when discussing the subtle nuances of morality, and far from seeing himself as 'evil' he prefers to believe he is simply ambitious and ruthless, with a strong drive to get what he wants. Morality, he is quick to point out, is a social construct which varies depending on which realm you are in (with variances within the realms themselves!) and so how can anyone truly claim to be able to categorize him when the categories themselves were so fluid? There was one constant variable throughout the realms in the form of 'power', and Loki would class himself as one of those beings who preferred to wield it rather than be controlled by it, regardless of where that may place him on the morality scale. Despite all this, he is trying his best to give the impression that he has 'reformed', putting his past ways behind him and instead working for the greater good of Midgard and all the realms beyond. Part of this is penance for his attack on the mortal world, but the suggestion that he do so was entirely his own, much to the surprise of many. While it is clear that subservience is not something he enjoys, it has been noted with some shock that he has been able to bite his silver tongue instead of constantly cut it across the orders of those whom he now answers to, and some are even beginning to believe that the God of Mischief may indeed have suffered a change of heart... HISTORICAL OVERVIEW: BIRTHPLACE: Jotunheim RESIDENCE: New York City, of the Midgardian United States of America. Also the Palace of Odin, within the realm of Asgard. PARENTS: Laufey, King of Jotunheim (father, deceased), Odin Allfather(adopted father), Frigga Allmother (adopted mother) SIBLINGS: Thor Odinson (God of Thunder, adopted brother), Baldr Odinson (God of Innocence, adopted brother), Vidarr Odinson (God of Silence, adopted brother) and Váli (God of Vengeance) IMPORTANT RELATIVES: Hela (daughter, Goddess of Hel) Fenris (Son, The Wolf God), Jörmungandr (Son, The World Serpent), Sleipnir (Son, Steed of Odin), Narvi (son) and Vali (son) IMPORTANT PERSONS: Romantic Inclinations - None at present hold Loki's eye in any romantic fashion, but there are those beyond his family that hold some importance or relevance to him: Sigyn Iwaldidottir - Ex-wife of Loki, their marriage (of which he tricked her into) having been dissolved since his apparent death when the Bifrost was destroyed. Despite once believing himself in love with her he had never been kind to her, and knows that her dislike for him runs understandably deep. He is unsure just how easy that will be to repair, if indeed it should be repaired at all... Bobbi Morse - An agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and something of an ally. She aids him most in his new 'job' and while she does so firmly, she does not do so with malice. Clint Barton - It is hard to fully apologize to someone whose mind you controlled against their will, and Loki knows he has a great debt to repay to Barton. He is an Avenger, and one of Thor's close allies, and so he must make what amends he can in whatever way seems most fitting. OVERALL HISTORY: Loki's knowledge of his history was once a lie, and it is only within the last decade that he has learned the truth. The life he thought he had was one where he was son of Odin and Frigga of Asgard, younger brother to the firstborn Thor and one of three other Sons of Odin. Raised and treated as a Prince of Asgard should be, Loki never had cause to question this throughout most of his life, despite the physical differences he had with his brothers. These concerns were ironed out due to his similarities to his mother, both of them similar in build and in talent, with Frigga taking Loki under her wing while Thor learned how to fight and instead teaching him not only the magic of her sorcery, but the even more skillful art of fighting with words. He may not have been a warrior son of Odin, but his talents were difficult to ignore regardless. As a child, he always knew how to talk his way out of trouble, saving himself and his brothers from numerous punishments for their immature behaviors. Maturing into a young man, his words became more skillful and deceptive in their nature, learning to twist people to his will and turn situations to his advantage even when the odds seemed stacked against him. He did this artfully, portraying himself not as a master of deception but instead a champion of mediation, able to talk down some of the most volatile of encounters until everyone went away happy, or at least calmer. He enjoyed this reputation of diplomat and negotiator and played the part exceedingly well, his ability to work people with words only continuing to develop as time drew on. Clearly possessing a certain level of intelligence his elder brother Thor did not (Thor was by no means a dullard, but it was clear that one brother had his strength in brains while the other in brawn), anything Loki chose to study came to him with relative ease, the young prince growing to be an expert diplomat and soon enough a powerful sorcerer akin to his mother, as well as learning enough about combat to at least be able to hold his own against his brothers in strength, though still only able to best them through the use of agility and strategy. He was perhaps not the warrior that Odin hoped him to be, but he was by no means a disappointment, and he could hope for little more than that. Having accepted his weaknesses for what they were, his interests in magic and illusion increased as a result of it, and this became his true area of power. Power, as it turned out, rarely went unnoticed. His accomplishments as a student of Frigga as well as the very fact of his parentage made him popular among his peers. While he may not have possessed the same rugged appearances as his brothers, there were still those who found Loki's more slender frame appealing, and it was no surprise to anyone when he started taking partners once he had come of age. No-one desired nor expected any of these youthful flings to amount to anything more that short periods of passionate exploration. Such a thing was never to last, however, and given his position it soon came to be expected of him to give more consideration to a more permanent partner, which Loki was somewhat adverse to. Yet even young men whose attentions wander did tend to eventually come across that one who catches their eye. The one to gain Loki's more intense interest was a sorceress herself. Angrboð was by no means any conventional woman, being not of Asgard herself and with powers that were new even to Loki himself. Their affair was a secret and private one, and while their time together was often kept short in an attempt to maintain their secrecy this in turn made it all the more appealing to the young man. Through twisted user of both their magics a pact was made, one that would make them incapable of conceiving children with one-another unless both were ready and willing to face the consequences of their people for doing so. The magic was a test of their dedication to one another in a most unusual of ways, and while Loki may have had his reservations at first, his growing adoration for Angrboð was deep enough that he eventually agreed to undergo the spell. While both had assumed this would give them ample time before any conception was able to take place, they were sorely mistaken. Either through a flaw in the spell or an under-appreciation to just how far they were willing to go for one another, Angrboð conceived a child relatively early into their relationship. This unexpected development resulted in a lot of strain on their connection to one another, with Loki having had no time to prepare with telling the Allfather of his relationship, coupled with stressful partings from each other between their visits. Eventually their fights with one another reached such a peak that he was banished from her side, and even his attempts to apologize fell upon deaf ears. Any attempt to contact her after that failed, and for a while he was certain he'd lost not only his lover, but any children he may have borne of her. This was proven false when she appeared in the palace halls of Asgard to him one day without announcement, pressing into his arms a basket he knew to contain his children, before departing again without giving him even the shortest of times to try and repair what they had. Yes, he had been right to think he had lost Angrboð, but he at least still had his children. Fenrir, Jormungrandr and Hela he named them, each one unique in their creation with the magic of both their mother and father woven into them. Parenthood was not something the Prince had planned to enter at so young an age, but he found himself drawn and connected to the children almost instantaneously. He revealed their existance to his mother, Frigga, trusting her with not only them but the story of their conception (one which surely would be looked down upon by most), proud of what he had helped to create. It was she who convinced him to reveal their existance to Odin, who was visibly displeased at having not been made aware of such a thing before all others. Parenthood was not an easy task, and the turmoils and trials he faced with them would truly test his resolve both as a father and as a man, but he came to succeed through all of them with Frigga at his side. They barely left his presence, nor he theirs, and all around him saw a change in the Prince that could never have been foreseen. It was a tentative happiness, however, as whispered echoed through the halls of Asgard of the predictions of Ragnarok, which featured the children of Loki oh so clearly. He did not believe in such fantasies, of course, seeing no future in which his children could ever become the monsters they were claimed to be destined to become. Even as Fenrir first turned from man to wolf, or Jormungrandr to serpent, Loki still brushed off the claims as idiocy, citing their parentage as reason for these unique abilities rather than fate playing a hand in their futures. Hela was next to change, the magics that held her very form beginning to unravel day by day, her flesh falling apart as the sorcery that was bound to her began to fade. Despite this she appeared to feel no pain, and so Loki did not concern himself as to her unusual appearance, though this was not shared by all.It seemed strange and unique children would come to be a trait for the trickster god, who even went as far as to couple with the mighty stallion Svaðilfari and bearing a child who was named Sleipnir, a strange creature bearing the shape of his equine father but with double the number of legs, and soon displayed to move with incredible speed and strength. A child of this nature was hard to parent by any usual methods, however, and eventually Sleipnir was taken in by Odin as his own personal steed (something Loki was told he should feel honoured by, though his feelings on the matter are somewhat more complex than that). Few Asgardians trusted his children, and those who did could not exceed the trust and love showed by Frigga, who showed them great kindness and treated them as one would expect grandchildren to be treated. But fearing prophecy as many of them did, Odin chose to banish Hela from the halls of Asgard and instead to Hel. His own father, the man he served as Prince of his Kingdom and of all the realms, had stolen his daughter from him as a mere child and banished her to a land where no youth should ever be forced to inhabit. Despite his protestations and pleads she was given no clemancy, though after a time he was permitted to visit his daughter in her exile. It amazed him, truly, to see how well she coped with her forced situation, and how well she continued to grow even without her father at her side. While he still hated Odin for what he had done to her, Loki could at least sleep easier knowing Hela was capable enough to handle it. She was but the first, as the Allfather saw fit that one day all of Loki's children should face exile from Asgard, striking when his son least expected it. Fenrir was first and found a fierce fight from his father, while Jormungrandr and he had time to prepare for what they knew would one day come, their separation seeing no struggle, but all the more bitter because of it. With all his offspring stolen from him, and by his own father, Loki's heart finally began to truly darken towards those who should have given it the most light. He turned to those who had shown him support: his mother, brothers, and the Warriors Three. Considering the amount of time Loki spent in the presence of Frigga, it stands to reason that he would know her handmaidens and ladies-in-waiting with some degree of familiarity. One of these in particular, a woman by the name of Sigyn, took Loki's interests not only due to her looks but also her intelligent mind. He did what he could to befriend her, and while he was gifted with her companionship he could not gain from her what he ended up truly yearning for: her love. This was due to her engagement with the warrior Theoric, with whom she seemed perfectly content with. The thought of this enraged Loki, who could not understand how the bright young woman could possible value a warrior over another intellect, and so he sought to make things go the way he believed they should have gone. Theoric was murdered in secret, Loki using his powers of illusion to replace him at his wedding to Sigyn who despite her own skills in sorcery was unable to tell the difference. AS such, the ceremony took place as planned and it wasn't until everything was oath-bound that Loki finally revealed his deception and unveiled himself to the gathered parties. Of course, this sparked outrage among the guests, though try as the Allfather might to find a loophole that may annul the union, the only option available to him was to exile Loki... and to the surprise of many, it was Sigyn that objected to this solution. It was lucky for the trickster that his new wife was more honourable than he, as despite the fact she had been duped into marriage she still felt bound by the oaths she had taken, and so she agreed to accept the marriage oaths and did what she could to make their tentative relationship work. Perhaps this could have been changed had Loki made similar efforts, but knowing the efforts that others had gone through to attempt to undo their union (efforts that Sigyn herself had not tried to prevent) made him somewhat bitter towards her, and so he spent most of their marriage away from her company. The time they did spend together was strained, Loki's temper often getting the better of him and serving to make the life of his wife even more difficult.His character had already twisted far from the once pleasant man he'd been, a cruel streak shooting through him that soon became quite commonplace. He was not the best of husbands, nor the most faithful, though he made sure to often remind Sigyn of her vows to him so that she did not leave. It was no surprise, unfortunately, that children were eventually born of their union. Two sons, Narvi and Váli, who Loki couldn't help but note were doted upon by their mother with a tenderness he became somewhat jealous of. It was thanks to Loki that Sigyn had become so withdrawn from Asgardian society, a fact which he helped orchestrate thanks to many peoples distrust of him after what he had done, but the arrival of their sons seemed to spark new life in the woman and give her a focus and drive he had not before seen in her. Her family became her life, and Loki's own mother (who would not shun Sigyn as many others did) became a confidante to his wife, only further bolstering her confidence. Frustrated by this, Loki once more made a point of spending as much time away from his family as he was able. He still retained a hold over his mother and some of his brothers, however, choosing his words with great care so as not to have them turn against him as so many were beginning to, with Thor in particular still showing his trust for Loki. Life was complicated, and unfortunately things were unlikely to get much better for the God of Mischief any time soon. Stuck in a marriage with little love and still mourning over the loss of his original children, Loki soon learned that there was no sense in trying to plead for their return with the Allfather, who trusted in ancient prophecy more than he clearly did in Loki. The shadow cast by Odin grew over the young prince until he almost didn't notice it any more, becoming too accustomed to living in shadow to fully acknowledge it. Instead, he concentrated on his relationships with his mother and brothers, finally taking more interest in the battles in which his brothers fought and choosing to join in on many of them, becoming a useful asset to their fighting team that they were glad to have on board. It helped him focus, and it helped him forget... but he never truly was able to forgive. Their battles were always a success, even if it was hard-won, and eventually their achievements reached such a point as give Odin cause to consider his eldest son as ideal for one day taking up the throne of Asgard. A poor choice, Loki felt, as his brother was still very much a child in more ways than one, still with much growing to do before he ever had the mental strength or wisdom to lead them all. Strength and wisdom that Loki himself possessed, knowing he could rule over Asgard with ability that his elder brother would likely never have, and yet any pretense of this ever being a possibility was cast aside by Odin despite his assurances in their childhood that all three of them stood an equal chance of holding the throne. The shadow in which Loki stood was now not just that of his father, but of Thor as well. Loki had reached a point where he was no longer willing to sit back and let others decide his fate for him. He was going to take his future into his own hands. Liaising in secret with the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, he arranged to teach them of one of his secret entrances into Asgard and allow them passage under the promise that they could take the Casket of Ancient Winters as their own, in turn postponing Thor's coronation. Even if he cannot take the throne, he would no allow his loud and overly violent brother to do so either until he was ready to do so. The plan worked, and while the guards of the Casket were more than capable of defending it and destroying the Jotuns, this was not enough for Thor. Quite aside from simply disrupting his coronation day, Thor was eager to instead launch a counterattack which Loki openly appeared to try and prevent, though seeing this as a perfect opportunity to demonstrate just how ill-suited to rule he was, subtly pushed him into action. Showing support in Thor and choosing to leave with him, it was not without informing a guard of their intentions knowing it would be passed along to the Allfather. The trip to Jotunheim is more treacherous than Loki anticipated, and what was intended simply as an indication of Thor's immaturity instead became a dangerous fight in which both Princes genuinely did have to fight to protect themselves. Loki proved the master of illusion he was in deceiving the creatures with mirror images of himself, though falling short when one of the creatures seized him by the wrist. To most Asgardians the touch of a Jotun Frost Giant is enough to freeze the skin to the point it burned, and yet Loki was shocked to discover that far from hurting him the touch did nothing but turn his skin blue, before turning back into Asgardian flesh. Still, they were outmatched against Laufey and his warriors, and it was only with the arrival of Odin himself that they were given passage to leave, with a promise from the king of the Frost Giants that Thor would have the war he seems to so eagerly want. Having done what was forbidden to Asgardians in going to Jotunheim, Loki cannot help but feel a certain sense of pride when the Allfather found he had little choice but to banish Thor, his first born, his anger not quite enough to mask the disappointment and sadness he felt in having to do so.... Emotions he had not shown when banishing Loki's own children. The younger prince plays his role well as he tried to defend Thor but he is easily silenced and gives no further fight. Thor's exile is to Midgard, with his hammer Mjolnir removed from his care and sent as well, with instruction that it may only be lifted by those who are worthy to do so, meaning Thor must prove himself if he wished to wield it once more. Thor's banishment was not the only concern of Loki's, however. The strange reaction of his skin when touched by Jotun flesh still confused him, and making his way to the weapons chamber he decided to see for himself what would happen if he were to touch the Casket with his bare hands. To his bewilderment it lifted in his hands, his skin turning to the blue and marked skin of the Jotuns, eyes morphing blood-red. Finally, the truth came out about his history as Odin came across Loki during this realization, revealing to him his parentage: Loki was not a son of the Allfather, but an abandoned child of the Jotuns who was left to die due to his meager size in comparison to the rest of his kin. During the war against Jotunheim he had been rescued by Odin who had hoped that one day in the future the child, being a Jotun raised on Asgard, would be key to bringing peace between the two constantly warring realms. Furious at the lies he had been told all of his life and how he had been used since before his memories could even recall. His ensuing rage at Odin is enough to trigger him into a deep slumber know as the Odinsleep, from which no-one could ever be sure when (or if) he would wake. "Laufeyson", Odin had told him. His father was not the King of Asgard, but the King of Jotunheim. This left Asgard in flux, with the King incapable of ruling and the firstborn son banished. The throne of Asgard was instead offered by Frigga to Loki himself who, despite seeing hesitant to take the role, does so with a secret pride in what he had achieved for himself. Despite all the odds he finally ruled over Asgard in the seat where his father or brother should have sat, so proud of himself that he even traveled to Midgard himself to rub salt in Thor's wounds further and tell him that 'their' father had died and his exile had been made permanent. Next his travel was to Jotunheim once more, now as King of Asgard with the pretense of trying to make peace with the Frost Giants once more. Instead, he spoke to Laufey with a promise that he could give him the chance to enter Asgard and slay the Allfather as he slept and finally have the Casket of Ancient Winters returned to him, a proposition which the King of Jotunheim accepted. Not all were willing to accept Thor's exile and Loki's rule however, and the Warrior's Three chose to go to Midgard to try and retrieve Thor themselves. They heeded Laufey's words that there were traitors in the house of Odin, suspecting Loki being the traitor the Frost Giant spoke of. With this in mind, they left for the realm of Midgard despite knowing it was against Loki's will. As a result, the new king punished Heimdall for allowing them to go through, and then tries to thwart their efforts by sending the Destroyer (protector of the Casket) after them, figuring that without Mjolnir there is no way that Thor could possibly fight the mechanical warrior. He was mistaken, however, as Thor found himself proving his worth through his courageous actions and regaining his powers, the Destroyer no match for the power of the mighty Thor. Meanwhile, Laufey came through on Loki's promise and made his way into Asgard, breaking into the chambers of the Allfather to try and kill him only to find Loki, who gave an impressive performance in 'protecting' Odin and killing Laufey with his own hand. It was then that Thor returned, demanding to know what Loki had done now that his betrayals had been made clear to them all. The two engaged in a bitter fight that eventually led them to the Observatory, the Bifrost left open to Jotunheim as Loki intended to unleash it's full power upon the real and finally destroy it forever. Knowing he could not allow this, Thor destroyed the Bifrost and overcomes Loki. As he clung to the edge of the broken Bifrost with Thor trying to save him (and the awakened Odin in turn holding back Thor from the abyss of the universe beyond), Loki pleads with the pair that he was only ever trying to do what was best for Asgard, and for Odin himself. Finally seeing Loki's deception clearly Odin refused to believe that this was the case, and so Loki released his grip and fell into the hole left by the shattered remains of the Bifrost. He floated through nothingness for time he could not begin to measure, floating between the realms instead of through them and ending up in a place unknown to the world tree. It was there he was recovered by a being known only as The Other and introduced to Thanos, a being of great power who was gathering his strength for a colossal take-over of the realms. Seeing power and potential in the Frost Giant he struck a deal with him to aid in his plans, and with no other allies to turn to Loki had little choice but accept or face annihilation. Any chance of turning against Thanos was thwarted when he realized that the creature had his son Jormungrandr until his control. With that in mind, Loki agreed to fully support Thanos in his plans. Even in his short time at Thanos' side he could see just how immensely powerful and dangerous the being was, with no way that any of the realms could stand in his way as they currently were. A part of Loki wanted to see the realms crumble while he stood at the head of the attack, ruling over Midgard and Asgard as Thanos had promised to him... but these were the homes of those who did still care for, and the idea that they might be utterly destroyed was not something he could tolerate. He had no allies, and so would have to play an immensely dangerous game if he were to see the realms safe from Thanos' reach. He played his role with perfection, leading the war on Midgard with the Chitauri at his heel, the destruction and fear he caused of unimaginable levels. He was defeated, however, though not without putting up fierce opposition to the point where he was more than happy to see either Thor or any of his new allies as casualties to make the play even more believable. Instead, he found himself disabled by a great creature known as the Hulk who possessed strength beyond anything he had ever known, and the humans own paranoia that almost threatened to kill so many of their own kind instead was turned against the Chitauri, the one known as Stark sending an explosive through the portal Loki had created with the aid of the Tesseract (an artifact he had been sent to Midgard by Thanos to achieve) and destroying the control ship. He gave no further fight, allowing Thor to take him finally into custody and return him to Asgard where he would face the judgement of Odin Allfather. Finally back on his 'homeworld', he learned that his assumed death had resulted in his marriage to Sigyn being finally dissolved, and news of his actions against both Asgard and Midgard had spread like wildfire among the peoples there, the Trickster God finally seen for what he truly was, with few willing to ever give him their trust again. The questioning he underwent was brutal, and yet he gave no leeway in his refusal to tell them what they wanted to know. He could not, knowing that he had to play his part without flaw if he were to see Thanos and his plans not come to fruition. He fully intended to keep his silence for as many centuries as it took despite it meaning his permanent imprisonment, and it was only when he heard of an attack on the Bifrost injuring Frigga that his resolve was finally shaken. He had lost too many, and she was one of the few he could not stand see to fall. He broke, and Loki gave up all he knew of Thanos and his plans in the hopes that someone could stop him, since Loki alone clearly could not. The unfortunate downside to having shown himself as such a talented liar and manipulator, however, is that your words often fell on deaf ears, and his admission was assumed to be nothing more than further deception by all who heard them. It took an attack from the Chitauri themselves to finally make them realise that Loki had not lied about this future that awaited them, and it was Frigga who came to him to finally listen to the truth from his own lips. And he gave it, in full and without one word of a lie. She saw hope in this, that her son wanted to make amends for his actions and set things to rights where he had done so much harm. The damage he had caused to Midgard was ongoing, with the Chitauri and Thanos clearly planning to attack the realm once more in the near future, and likely in far greater force. With this in mind, Frigga pleaded to the Allfather to give Loki the chance to redeem himself and, to Loki's surprise, Odin presented him with an offer: Go to Midgard under Thor's command, aid the realm in it's protection, and perhaps some day he would see his name redeemed in the history of the Nine Realms. He had little choice but to agree to these terms, despite his dislike of having to answer to Thor, and so made his way to Midgard to work with his adopted brother and his new mortal allies. It was with S.H.I.E.L.D. that most of his work was done, to his surprise he was eventually taken on as what they called a "public relations manager", showing off their control over one of the worlds most notorious war criminals while all the while taking advantage of the Silver-Tongued Asgardian and his ability to win people over with his words. After all, if S.H.I.E.L.D. could tame Loki, then surely there was none that were beyond their power... And so this has become Loki's life, trying to assure both his new allies and Midgard that he could be trusted, all the while trying to protect the homes of those he held dearest so that Thanos' future may never come to pass. [/PTab][PTab=IMAGE][/PTab][/PTabbedContent={width:485px;border:0px;margin-left:-2px;}] |