Loki's Wagers

Many of you know that I was not born among the Aesir, yet I am still a God through my blood bond with Odin.  I have elevated myself from mortal to God, and I hold the power and knowledge necessary to create and destroy Gods.  As a testament to this, I have, shall we say, borrowed some items from other Gods and will give one of them to my most devout follower.  With this item, the formerly mortal and powerless follower will become, him or herself, a demi-God.

I wagered my head against Cupid's bow that I could win a kiss from somebody madly and hopelessly in love with another.  Cupid set his arrows on an unsuspecting victim.  This man was a blacksmith, who immediately fell in love with the milkmaid who came to deliver some rations of cheese.  They shared a moment of intense passion while I memorized her attributes from around the corner.  As she left to continue her deliveries, I built my body to be exactly as hers was, and walked in.  Here, I was greeted by the kiss of the blacksmith, and Cupid forfeited his bow to me.  If my follower should choose to receive Cupid's bow as a gift, she or he will have power over the love of those in his or her domain.

I am a benevolent and mighty god, however, and I decided my follower should have a choice of more than just a bow.  I wagered this bow against the crook and flail of Osiris, which grants him eternal youthfulness as well as power and influence over many people.  I told him that his power over the Nile was no match for my Great Powers, and he accepted this wager.  He gave me one day to prevent him from flooding all that was in the path of the river.  Using Cupid's bow, I seduced a giant, who toiled all day and night for my love.  The giant carved canyons and blocked inlets, and the course of the Nile was changed.  Osiris begrudgingly gave me his crook and flail.

Thinking my follower should have an even greater power, I turned to Siegfried, whose coat Tarnkappe could render him invisible to others.  I bet Osiris' crook and flail against his coat that I could find him faster than he could find me.  We arranged to meet on a mountaintop, and Siegfried was sure I had no chance to defeat him.  Using Osiris' crook and flail, I summoned a throng of followers to climb the mountain with me.  Disguised among them, we surrounded Siegfried, who appeared as an empty space in the mass of people.  I tapped him on the shoulder and he surrendered the cloak to me and my power.

Here, followers.  Here are my powers.  I can make people into Gods, and I can remove from Gods their own powers.  One of you, the most devout, shall join my army against the Aesir during this Ragnarok.  Who shall it be?

God of the Sun, Ra vs. Serpent Apep Battle!

Coyote's Time to Shine

The time has come for the noble and powerful Coyote to ascend to his rightful place atop the pantheon of the Gods. For too long, Coyote has been dismissed as nothing more than a playful trickster, a fool whose only real power was to amuse or deceive those around him through his extraordinary antics. Coyote was well known for bringing music, dance, and storytelling to the first people of the Earth, and humans would often summon Coyote when they wished to be entertained. The Gods called upon Coyote to make use of his cunning and keen intellect in their squabbles with other deities. 

 

Soon, however, Gods and mortals alike will realize the awesome might of the Creator-God Coyote. All will beg for benevolence in the presence of a supreme being.  And benevolent he shall be, for Coyote does not desire to cause harm to others; he is by nature a righteous and compassionate God.  That being said, Coyote has a darker side which only appears when others have wronged him or when he does not get his way.  As it is told in a Navajo myth: "Don't bother Coyote when he takes the first-born goat or lamb. It is his, and it keeps order in the world. If he is given the first-born freely, he hopefully will leave the rest in peace."

 

As the Chief animal deity in the Native American hierarchy of Gods, Coyote's powers are virtually limitless.  In many southwestern cultures, Coyote is even supreme over his mighty cousin the wolf, with some legends describing the wolf as a “big coyote”. Coyote has the ability to shapeshift and assume the form of any human, animal, or object he chooses.  Additionally, Coyote possesses a keen intellect and superior cunning; it is said that Coyote is able to outwit Death itself.

 

Although Coyote is known for being deceitful and mischievous, he also uses his unparalled wisdom and cleverness to educate man and help him live a better life.  One Native American myth tells of Coyote's strange method of teaching: "Coyote stole the stars laid out by First Man and scattered them, willy nilly, across the heavens. Yet, from Coyote's unruly behavior, changes came about that made life better. From Coyote's foolishness, mortals gained wisdom, learned what, and what not, to do. Coyote, as the forerunner of change, created ways of doing things so that customs, moral codes, ceremonies, and designs for living came into being. Coyote's selfish acts thus clarified the boundaries of human and animal conduct. Acting as the wise fool, Coyote is able to speak and act as others of the holy pantheon, due to inherent decorum, cannot."

Coyote would certainly be a formidable foe and a deity deserving of worship even if his powers ended here. But Coyote's most sacred ability is the power of creation.  Indeed, according to Native American myth, it was the Great Coyote who created everything we see on this Earth, including humanity itself: "Old Man Coyote named buffalo, deer, elk, antelopes, and bear. And all these came into being... Old Man Coyote then took up a handful of mud, and out of it made people."  Coyote is omnipotent and benevolent, but will not hesitate to use any means necessary to ensure he and his followers get their way, making him the clear choice for Ruler of the Gods.

Kali's Story

To best display my powers I will tell you a story:

"I assumed form on Earth in order to vanquish the demon Raktabija, whose name means "the seed of blood", who was harming my children.  The other gods could not kill the demon Raktabija because every drop of his blood that touched the ground transformed itself into another and more powerful Raktabija. Within a few minutes of striking this demon the entire battlefield was covered with millions of Raktabija clones. In despair, the other gods turned to Shiva. But Shiva was lost in meditation at the time and the gods were afraid to disturb him. Hence they pleaded with me for assistance.

I immediately set out to do battle with this dreaded demon.  They say my eyes were red, my complexion was dark, my features gaunt, my hair unbound, and my teeth sharp like fangs. I rode onto the battleground on my tiger, holding weapons in all of my eight arms, Raktabija experienced fear for the first time in his demonic heart. As the gods rallied around me, I lead the attack on Raktabija. I then spread my tongue to cover the battlefield preventing even a single drop of Raktabija's blood from falling on the group. Thus, I prevented Raktabija from reproducing himself and the gods were able to slay the demon.

Drunk on Raktabija's blood, I ran across the cosmos killing anyone who posed a threat to my children. I adorned herself with the heads, limbs and entrails of my demon victums, to let all know of my protection of my children. I could not stop to madness until Shiva threw himself under my feet. I calmed down, embraced my husband, and shed my ferocious form to became Gauri, "the Fair one".  But at any time when I feel my children are threatened, I can ince again assume my dark form to protect them."

As you can see this story of the past displays my greatest strengths.  I was the only god able to protect my children.  For this protection, they will do anything for me.  Yes, my weakness may be displayed here as well but I have learned my lesson.  I still wear my necklace of heads to remind myself of the destruction I once caused.  Never again will I let this happen.  All I do I do for my children; no where will you find so fierce a protector.

Life as the Polar Bear God

I'm Nanook the Bear, and I do declare,
that my territory is anywhere you feel the arctic air.
I watch your hunting practices from atop of my hill,
From when you leave your igloo and you're dressed to kill.
Each and every hunt must follow the rules,
or I'll make you look like a bunch of fools.
But follow the rules and you will see,
the benefits you will receive.
As polar bears we like to be killed by good hunters,
I can pass that message along, or you'll face long winters.
I may not have as many powers when compared to the likes of Thor,
but I'd like to see him sleep on a snow covered floor.
Next to my igloo I keep a stock of meat and fish
My hunting skills are that of what professionals only wish.
Both Alaska and Russia can be seen from my house,
Unlike some who don't think when they move their mouths.
At any given time I can make the bears all around
rise up, and bring pleasure or pain to the people of the world.
This one goes out to all the bears in captivity,
Once we're all free we'll have one heck of a festivity.
If you want to come there's only one invitation,
and that is if you follow hunting rules without hesitation.
I'd like to stay and chat but I really have to go,
life as the polar bear god is something I've gotta show.

Bmola’s Test

In the northern state of Maine,

On the peak of the tallest mountain,

Sitting atop a massive boulder,

Rested the great bird spirit, Bmola.

The ancient deity soared across the skies,

With the head of a moose,

Wings of an eagle 

And crushing talons,

 Putting anyone and anything in its place gracefully.

Legend of the beast traveled long through history,

But slowly rumor that it was a myth developed to disbelief.

Though often quiet and reserved;

A creature of solace and peace,

Bmola raised his head and roared in angst.

Any nonbelievers would be taught a lesson.

So on a day in late fall,

From the corner of his eye,

He caught eager hikers scrambling to the summit.

Gone was respect for the trees they pushed past,

Vanished was appreciation for the moss they trampled,

And missing were the animals they scared off.

So the protest began,

A bitter wind rose over the Katahdin summit,

Chilling the bones of those who ascended.

But determined to reach the top,

They continued to press on,

Un-phased and un-caring.

Then thunder rumbled deeply across the sky,

Rolling through their meek and foolish ears.

But still, the mortals trekked forward,

               Climbing jagged rocks,

                         Scaling dense forest,

Sure to reach the sacred peak.

But they lacked vital knowledge,

That staring down on them was a stronger force.

So he waited at his post,

Planning to teach these beings what they did not understand.

As they reached the top,

Entering his view,

Summoned was the largest gust he could,

 To rage across the mountain face,

Sending the mortals off a cliff.

But worry not,

Bmola is not a terrible being.

Falling to their death,

They cried and wailed for help;

Consumed with regret and shame.

Yet before meeting their doom,

Giant wings swooped down from the sky,

Talons outstretched,

Grabbing the mortals from demise,

And placing them at the mountain’s base.

With a smirk of delight,

He stood up straight,

Exposing the body of a giant that loomed above.

And from their beady black eyes,

Like tiny pebbles from a stream,

Rose a fear far stronger than any other.

Yet, clarity struck each individual of their ignorant acts.

A realization of wrongdoing,

And newfound regard for a spirit whose limits should not be tried.

Though never his goal to harm another,

His strength and wit to do so are always there.

If you test the great Bmola,

He will test you back and teach you a lesson.

A loyal spirit of land and sky,

Who will always defend what is right.

Noden's deeds of good

As a god I have influence over many things and many powers. I am the god to choose, because I have power over things that are important to society like Healing, water, the ocean, fishing, the Sun, sailing, childbirth, dogs, youth, beauty, smiths, carpenters, poets, historians,  writing, and warfare. I should have the honor of ruling because I am not lecherous or psychotic like my Greek counterparts, or so limited in power as the Native American deities like Nanook. I shall display some of my deeds below and you shall see that having a god of many abilities as chieftain is essential.

A fisherman's barren haul of fish and below the same fisherman with helpers pulling in a loaded net after having prayed to me.
 

A display of my power over healing and dogs. Above is a man who had leprosy, but after being licked by my deer hound, he recovered quickly and was allowed to return to a normal life as a carpenter.

  Since I am a god of water as well, I created a spring to provide those who worship me with fresh water infused with my healing powers while giving them success and talent in the professions that I  represent (smiths, carpenters, poets, historians, hunters, fisherman, sailors...). Also, I am an awesome hunter and can do so much more than the polar bear, I'll just hunt him.

The spring that I created which will never carry disease and provide recovery from illness.