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metemmods ([personal profile] metemmods) wrote2011-10-26 01:35 am
Entry tags:

Loki App

Player Information
» Name:
Dan
» Age: 30
» Journal: [insanejournal.com profile] bass_hero
» Contact: email (daniel.helfman@gmail.com)

Deity Information
» Pantheon:
Norse
» Deity: Loki
» Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loki
» Divine Family: {mother & father} Laufey and Fárbauti; {spouse} Angrboða and Sigyn; {siblings} Býleistr and Helblindi; {children} Hel, Fenrir, Jormungand, Narfi, Sleipnir, and Váli
» Mythology: Loki, often called the Shape Changer, Sky Traveler, or Sly One, is the quintessential Trickster figure. His handsome, charming demeanor masks a cunning, treacherous personality that shifts allegiances as easily as his body shifts form. In various myths he has taken the form of a salmon, mare, seal, and housefly, among others. Depending on his mood or interest, this foster-brother of Odin may assist his divine comrades or cause problems for them. Over time his relationship with the gods worsens, and his behavior becomes increasingly malicious, culminating in Baldur’s death as well as the apocalyptic Ragnarok.

By the giantess Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungand. By his wife Sigyn, Loki is the father of Narfi.

Loki’s propensity to get himself into trouble, and subsequently extricate himself from it, is observed during the episode of the Asgardian wall construction. Despite the misgivings of his fellow gods, Loki proposes a contract with a mysterious builder. If the builder can successfully complete a wall around Asgard within six months using only the stallion Svadilfari for assistance, then the builder can receive Freyja as his wife, as well as the Sun and the Moon as compensation. Loki believes the man has no chance of finishing the wall within six months; however, he is soon proved terribly wrong. Three days before the deadline, thanks to Svaldilfari’s immense strength, the builder has nearly completed the wall. The gods blame Loki and threaten to execute him for agreeing to the builder’s terms. A frantic Loki proposes to resolve the problem, and this he accomplishes by taking the form of a mare to woo Svadilfari away from the construction and into the forest. In a fit of rage the builder reveals himself as a giant and subsequently dies at the hands of Thor. Loki returns sometime later leading the product of his union with Svadilfari: the eight-legged horse Sleipnir, called the best horse among gods and men.

Another prime example of Loki’s mischievous behavior occurs when he shears the enchanted golden tresses of Thor’s wife, Sif, as a practical joke. Thor demands Loki replace her hair or face execution. Loki travels to the realm of the dwarves and pleads with them to spin gold as a replacement for Sif’s hair, promising them the loyalty of the gods. Through a series of interactions between Loki and the dwarves, in which Loki capitalizes on their pride as craftsmen, five legendary treasures are produced and later presented to the gods to make amends: the spear Gungnir, for Odin; the vessel Skidbladnir, for Freyr; Sif’s own newly refurbished golden hair; the golden ring Draupnir, again for Odin; and most notably the hammer Mjollnir, for Thor.

Loki later goes in search of Mjollnir when it has been stolen. Thyrm, the frost giants’ king, has hidden Mjollnir eight leagues beneath the earth and will return it, provided Freyja is brought to him as his wife. When Loki and Thor suggest this to Freyja, she steadfastly refuses. After discussing the matter with the other gods, Loki decides the best plan is to disguise Thor as Freyja, complete with her enchanted necklace Brísingamen (which in another episode Loki assumes the form of a flea to steal, at Odin’s request), and infiltrate Jotunheim. Thor and Loki travel to Jotunheim disguised as Freyja and her handmaiden, respectively. After a series of comical interactions with the giants, during which the boorish Thor forever changes Thrym’s perception of the delicate Freyja, the two gods succeed in retrieving Mjollnir, but not until after a large battle ensues.

Loki’s downfall results from two tactless actions. The first occurs when he decides to play a trick on Baldur, whose mother, Frigg, has made every object on earth except mistletoe swear a vow not to harm Baldur. Loki fashions an arrow from mistletoe and gives it to Baldur’s blind brother, Hod, to shoot at Baldur for fun. The mistletoe arrow naturally kills Baldur, and Loki receives much blame for the scheme. The second misstep occurs when Loki attends a party, to which he has not been invited, held by the sea god Aegir. In an exceptionally malicious mood that evening, Loki kills the servant Fimafeng and hurls vicious insults toward everyone present, thereby inciting much quarreling within the hall. Loki escapes to a nearby river and tries to hide by taking the form of a salmon, but is soon captured by the angered gods. As punishment for his transgressions, Loki is bound to a rock under a large serpent that drips poisonous venom upon his face. Loki’s wife, Sigyn, sits by his side and collects the venom in a bowl; however, when she leaves to empty the bowl, the venom drips on Loki’s face, causing him such agony that he causes earthquakes. It is foretold that with the onset of Ragnarok, Loki will break free of his bonds and lead the frost giants in an epic war against the gods, during which he and Heimdall will slay one another in battle.

Character Information
» Played By:
Simon Baker
» Journal: [insanejournal.com profile] skytraveler
» Current Name: Connor Sean Volk
» Birthdate: 11/10/1972
» Height: 5’10”
» Distinguishing Marks: None
» Family: {mother & father} unknown; {marital status/spouse} single/NA; {siblings} none; {children} none; {pets} none
» Occupation: Stage illusionist (by profession), con artist and gentleman thief (by avocation)
» Currently Residing In: Las Vegas, Nevada
» Ability: He possesses apparent shape changing abilities; however, it is unclear whether these skills are simply refined mind tricks and acting rather than genuine mystical powers. He also possesses seemingly irresistible charm that can manipulate people.
» History: Loki does not remember—or care about—any previous incarnations.

In his current incarnation as Connor Sean Volk, he was born November 10, 1972, in Detroit. Connor never knew his birth parents and was raised in a foster home by a mysterious man known only as Uncle Charles. Though Uncle Charles treated the children under his care decently, his foster home was little more than a training ground for pickpockets and other petty criminals. From an early age Connor demonstrated a theatrical flair, using his innate charm and wit to manipulate adults—and even other children—to get his way. Uncle Charles recognized young Connor’s potential and began to tutor him in more refined criminal activity: the art of being a con man and gentleman thief. Connor excelled at the art’s requisite manipulation, and before he had reached his teens he was successfully conning some of Detroit’s wealthiest out of considerable sums.

Throughout his childhood and adolescence Connor supplemented his criminal activities with extensive (and eclectic) reading. The acquired knowledge served a dual purpose, for it not only satisfied his natural curiosity, but also lent credence to his charades. Fascinated in particular by sleight-of-hand, he taught himself magic tricks and started performing them for the other children in the foster home. When he realized he could draw a crowd with his magic tricks, he began to use them as yet another “tactic.” Along the way, he also encountered Norse mythology. In doing so, he could at last account for a series of strange recurring dreams involving images of fire and monstrous animals, including a wolf and a horse. He was none other than the Norse Trickster himself, reborn as a suave modern con artist. Connor enjoyed the discovery thoroughly and even began to incorporate references to his recollected life into his routines along with sleight-of-hand.

In a moment straight out of show business legend, one day while performing magic tricks in a park, the teenaged Connor was approached by a man claiming to be a talent agent. The man urged Connor to apply with his talent agency. Bored with Uncle Charles and life in the foster home, and figuring the agent could at the very least be scammed, Connor obliged. Much to the teenager’s surprise and delight, the agent was legitimate, and in no time Connor found himself performing as a professional illusionist under the sobriquet Sky Traveler. (The moniker resulted from one of his signature tricks, in which he appeared to walk in midair above the audience.) His onstage charisma and adept sleight-of-hand, perhaps aided with some well-timed mind tricks, catapulted him to fame, to the point he was performing to sold-out crowds around the world.

Connor eventually settled in Las Vegas at a posh penthouse apartment in the newly opened Rainbow Bridge Casino and Hotel. Despite his fame and wealth as Sky Traveler, he found himself bored again. His hectic touring schedule prohibited con artist activity, and he missed that satisfaction. Furthermore, he wanted to top any of his previous schemes. Then one day he realized he had all the resources he needed—manipulation skills, money, henchmen, easy access to affluent individuals and establishments, and above all, an iron-clad alibi when he was onstage—to execute grand heists, like the gentleman thief Uncle Charles was in youth. Connor inaugurated his new hobby by orchestrating a successful multi-million-dollar robbery from a casino’s vault, all of which was conducted while he was performing to a captivated audience in the casino’s auditorium. Nowadays Connor lives for the thrill of his next heist, and he will pull off one for any situation that piques his interest ….

» Personality: In many ways Connor embodies his mythical—and mercurial—personality. He can be irresistibly charming one moment, and repulsively rude the next. He can approach a plan with unwavering self-confidence, and yet evince considerable self-doubt during said plan’s execution. Put another way, for someone apparently so intelligent and accomplished, he can do some very bumbling, tactless things, such as playing practical jokes that backfire or insulting people he is trying to con. It is precisely these paradoxes that make Connor Volk so compelling, and few people who have encountered him would deny his charisma.

While Connor clearly has a large international fan base from his illusionist career, as well as a network of accomplices for his heists, he has few, if any, real friends. Like a petulant child, he is self-absorbed and has a short attention span, unless something piques his interest, in which case he will pursue it (literally) to the ends of the earth. Outside his career he prefers a life of secrecy and solitude independent of that annoying little thing called “commitment.” This does not, however, mean that he avoids fame and glory. On the contrary, he seeks them assiduously, but he does not always feel the need to be acknowledged publicly for his accomplishments. With his con artist (and heist) activities it is more about the journey than the destination itself, because by the time he has attained a heist’s goal or conned someone successfully he has usually moved on to the next pursuit. As easily bored as he gets, he needs the constant thrill of the hunt, be it sneaking past security guards in darkened museums or seducing gifts from people at banquets, to feel alive.

In his free time, Connor continues his self-education, particularly honing his manipulation skills (both by becoming better acquainted with eclectic topics and by practicing what could best be called Method acting) so that he can assume convincing guises for his schemes. He also enjoys cooking, exercising in his personal gym, and playing the piano. Connor would never admit it publicly, but a part of him wishes he had experienced a normal family life rather than growing up in a foster home with Uncle Charles’ apprentice criminals. On the other hand, he would likely lose interest in family members quickly (he has not spoken to Uncle Charles or any of the other children in years, and could not care less about finding them), and being independent allows him to enjoy all his riches by himself.

» Other Notes: Connor considers himself completely straight in terms of sexual orientation. His manipulation skills—and flamboyant stage persona—have allowed him to enjoy no dearth of attractive women over the years!

In his travels and readings he has picked up words and phrases in various languages, most notably English, German, French, Russian, Spanish, and Italian.

» Sample Journal: Sometimes I still can’t believe how gullible these rich do-gooder broads are. Take the one I was with tonight, for example. (Was her name Susan? I don’t even remember now.) Hubby’s wealthy and gone all the time, so she has nothing better to do than dabble in painting. Judging by what I saw hanging in her studio, “dribble” is probably a better choice. She actually bought into the Tajikistan thing. Seriously, lady, why the hell would a Vegas illusionist like me give a damn about helping starving children in a country most celebrities couldn’t even find on a map? At any rate, the Sky Traveler Save Tajikistan Fund gladly appreciates your contribution of one pearl necklace. I assure you it will be put to good use … maybe to seduce someone who can actually paint or at least doesn’t sag so much. Seriously, though, I need to find a new routine for next time. This one’s getting boring.

» Sample Log: “And now, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, here is the moment you have all been waiting for … allow me to present to you the sly master of illusions himself … Sky Traveler!”

The announcer’s intonation and the audience’s thunderous applause ringing in his ears, Connor strode confidently onstage. As he raised his arm to wave at the hall, in particular to the attractive female audience members he knew would be seated in front, he adjusted the position of his shoulders to ensure his black velvet cape would billow with each step. He couldn’t allow that dramatic effect to go unused this evening.

The limelight reflected his pearly white teeth, the sight of which seemed to cause the audience to applaud even louder. Besides winning over the female audience, Connor had other reasons to be smiling. At that very moment, in the darkened basement of a little-known art museum several hundred miles away, some skilled accomplices of his were likely in the process of “liberating” a set of Faberge miniatures eggs from their display case. With any luck, they would be in his possession by the end of the week to use as bait for a Russian supermodel he would soon be meeting. If not, he could rest assured that the accomplices would not be able to betray him. After all, they thought they were performing the job for an Omaha mobster, not one of the world’s most famous stage illusionists. He made sure of that.

Connor gazed into the audience and said with gusto, “Good evening, folks! How are you all doing tonight? Can I have a volunteer?”






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