Flytting 1

[whose_son_am_i]

Sender: Loki of Asgard
To: Everyone
Subject: Introduction and a Riddle

It seems a popular way to test and get used to this journal is to do a proper introduction. I am Loki of Asgard. As might be surmised, I am newly arrived--though I find this place intriguing and curious so far. I think I'll have fun here.

I could go on, but instead, I have a riddle for you all.

My head was forged / by hammer's hit,
pricked by a point / and polished by files.
What comes before me, / I frequently eat.
With rings adorned / I doth strike,
hard against hard, / a hole in my back.
Shoved forth / I shall defend
my master's money / amidst the night.
Sometimes I spin / my skull backwards,
when my lord wants me / - the warden of his wealth -
to hand him the treasures / of hundreds of heroes
he killed in battle / to capture their gold.

I look forward to hearing your answers.

Comments

[whose_son_am_i]

The complete answer is a lock and a key, but I accept your answer as correct.

[herewardbound]

Not quite perfect, I suppose, but I'll accept an 'A-' in this case, I think.

Loki of Asgard, you said?

I'll admit I've always had a personal interest in Norse myth, but I never would've imagined encountering a figure from them in person.

How does Akechi's name show up on the Sender line?

[whose_son_am_i]

They are not always accurate, as they were inspired by our travels and visits to Midgard. I especially seem to have been equated with 'whatever is needed' for an antagonist or distraction.

I can't imagine a reason he wouldn't have his name there, so just 'Akechi' most likely

[herewardbound]

It differs dependent on the narrator, like with most things in mythology.

That's not uncommon, at least in my experience, for archetypal tricksters in myth. Though I doubt they're referring to you specifically, since there's no evidence whatsoever of the existence of literal Æsir in my home, as many of the stories about you portrayed you as clever and ultimately... well, benevolent would be a stretch, but no more malevolent than any other god of the time.

[whose_son_am_i]

All interesting to know. An acquaintance of yours mentioned that we should be introduced, that you were a fan. I am clever, but as for benevolent or malevolent--that would depend on my mood and reasons.

[herewardbound]

Wait.

Shit.

You could

say that. Not in a religious sense, but out of curiosity who was it who mentioned me, and what did they say?

[whose_son_am_i]

Now that would be telling, wouldn't it? Far more fun to make you wonder.

[herewardbound]

I see. Well, if you're curious, I suppose you wouldn't be the first to know.

Did whoever-it-was happen to explain the concept of Persona to you?

[whose_son_am_i]

I suspect you're not simply talking about it as the psychological concept popularized by a midgardian scientist. And I am curious.

[herewardbound]

I suppose it is all a bit Jungian. I think his theories were considerably less literal than this, though.

Broadly, there is a space which is generated by human thought- we called it the Metaverse, though I don't know if it has any more proper name. The Metaverse is shaped by humanity's collective cognition, filled with Shadows, each corresponding to a living human in the physical world. Shadows are usually some facet of their counterpart's personality- an aspect they hide from the world, or something about themselves they suppress.

A Persona can be born when a living human enters the Metaverse and is forced to confront that aspect of themselves- whether through a literal confrontation with their Shadow, or being forced by circumstance to reveal that part of themselves they can no longer ignore. The Persona is more or less an extension of the summoner's will, and is usually capable of some fairly astounding physical or magical feats.

They also... tend to take the form of figures of history or myth.

I'd imagine whoever mentioned me did so because the Persona I awoke to was Loki.

[whose_son_am_i]

Then an aspect of you that you'd been hiding or suppressing, upon confrontation, awoke within you something that related to the myths about me. Interesting.

[herewardbound]

I'm not completely comfortable getting into the details for reasons I'm sure you understand

but I have noticed a tendency for Persona awakened in life-or-death situations to take the form of either mythological Tricksters, or famous anti-authoritarian figures. For instance, the literary 'Gentleman Thief', Arsene Lupin.

Given I didn't have a stellar relationship with the authority figures in my life, I'd hazard a guess the connection wasn't the myths about helping the gods.

[whose_son_am_i]

Oh I'm certain there's a whole swath of analysis one could go into about all of that with regard to awakening a Persona and situations one would do it in.

If it helps--I've been there, done that--as they say, regarding my less pleasant aspects and need to tear things down. I can't say they won't crop up again given the right circumstances...but I'm calmer, if that helps put you at ease. As you might imagine--I, the being, am much more complex than simply the myths might portray.

[herewardbound]

Most people are, I suppose.

I don't have access to Loki anymore, for a number of reasons- but that's something that seems at least to be fairly common, Personas changing when the emotions that drive them fade, or when some personal epiphany is reached. But I did consume a lot of Norse mythology in the months following that awakening. Admittedly, I did find the gap between the popular portrayal of 'the Viking' in media, and what the historic ancient Scandinavians were actually like, to be of particular interest.

[whose_son_am_i]

If we're also from different worlds, then there are likely even more differences between the myths you know and what 'actually' happened.