~Hawley Eames Griffin~
"Young people don't always do what they're told, but if they can pull it off and do something wonderful, sometimes they escape punishment."
~ Hermes
~ Hermes
~General Information~
Name: Hawley Eames Griffin.
Nick-Names: Grif, Wingfoot, Burglar
Sex/Gender: Male.
Species: Demigod
Occupation: Full-Time Camper
Place Of Origin: Belfast, Ireland, raised in America.
Age: Twenty-Years Old.
Camp Cabin: Cabin Six - Hermes.
~Relationship Information~
Relationship Status: Single.
Sexuality: Heterosexual/Straight.
Partner: None at this point in time.
Godly Parent: ฮฯฮผฮฎฯ - Hermes, God of roads, speed, messengers, commerce, travel, thieves, merchants & athletes.
Human Parent: Matilda Griffin
Siblings: Luke Castellan (Older Half-Brother - Deceased), Harriet Tubman (Older Half-Sister - Deceased), an uncountable number of other half-siblings throughout Camp.
Legacy: ฮฮธฮฎฮฝฮฑ - Athena, Goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, useful arts & battle strategy.
Pet/s: A seemingly intelligent fancy mouse named Gustavo
Other: Declan Griffin (Maternal Great-Uncle // Legal Guardian)
~Personal Information~
Personality: Upon first impressions, many people dislike Griffin for his sardonic nature, snarky attitude, and apathetic, brutally honest demeanor. Often unwilling to take a position of responsibility and begrudgingly following orders, Griffin can be aptly described as a "free spirit," uncaring of what he does so long as he chooses to do it.
Griffin does not suffer fools gladly, and completely disregards anyone he perceives to be arrogant, rude, cruel, or stupid, treating them with open disdain and sarcasm. He shows no hesitation hurling insults or barbs at his own friends or companions, the severity of which can range from playful jabs to cruel mockeries, depending on the individual in question.
Infamously mischievous, Griffin is well-known for his frequent jokes and quips thrown about in everyday conversation, and is quite the practical joker, causing chaos and disorder within the camp a few times a semester, often caught red-handed with a few of his half-siblings as lackeys.
Griffin's mocking, playful nature masks a more insightful side that he only displays to those he is closest to. Surprisingly intelligent and quick-witted, Griffin's span of knowledge is only bested by his thirst for it. Problem-solving by nature, he shows an avid fondness for puzzles, riddles, and unsolved mysteries of all kind; often locking himself away in his room to ponder over some new brain-teaser. This thirst for knowledge stems from a naturally passionate personality. Griffin will pursue anything that interests him to the ends of the earth, seeking to learn all he can about said topic. Consequently, he will outright ignore subjects that bore or disinterest him, dismissing them as simply not worth his time (even if all evidence points to the contrary.)
Placing a high value on loyalty and honesty, with a distinct desire to be trusted and liked by his fellows, in spite of his barbed demeanor, Griffin constantly attempts to "prove himself" to those he respects; taking compliments very sincerely and letting critiques bother him far more than they should.
In compliance with his free-spirited personality, Griffin does not believe in things such as fate and destiny, despising the Oracle intensely due to her cryptic prophecies that send young demigods on (often fatal) adventures. A self-proclaimed master of his own luck, Griffin arrogantly believes that his willpower surpasses even the gods' influence within his life.
Beneath the many layers of his demeanor, however, Griffin is a conflicted and complex young man. Though immersed in his Greek heritage, he believes his demigod status to be a curse of sorts, as it forces him into hiding to preserve not only his own well-being, but the well-being of others as well. He views the Camp not as a safe-haven, but as a modern-day Agoge, where youths are taken from their homes and trained to be the gods' army, transformed into living weapons instead of being allowed to live normal lives.
Likes:
- Planning elaborate pranks or practical jokes with his half-siblings
- Relaxing beneath Thalia's Pine listening to music
- Talking to Hermes - enjoying his father's attention and company
- Drinking with friends
- Exploring forbidden locations
- Playing video games or watching movies
Dislikes:
- Being forced to participate in Camp activities
- Going on quests, especially those assigned by the Oracle
- Sitting quietly for extended periods of time
- "Slow" people who can't keep up with his quick mind and tongue
- Most of the Olympians
- Being forced to do something he doesn't want to do
Hobbies: A man of very few hobbies aside from video gaming, Griffin's one consistent recreational passion is riddles and mind-games. Anyone struggling with solving a puzzle will find Griffin to be an invaluable assistant.
Strengths:
- Athleticism- As a son of Hermes, Griffin is incredibly athletic, even amongst other demigods, noted for being remarkably fast, agile, and nimble. He is well-coordinated, dexterous, and highly reflexive; capable of physically reacting to situations with almost inhuman speed. His metabolism is notably above-average, allowing him to burn unnecessary fat far faster than a mortal or even other demigods could.
- Swordsmanship & Combat- A sub-skill of his heightened athleticism, Griffin is a remarkably skilled swordsman, noted for being fast, precise, and deadly. Preferring ingenuity and creativity over sheer might in combat, Griffin frequently incorporates hand-to-hand techniques and misdirection to his arsenal when fighting.
- Intelligence- Noted for his creativity, resourcefulness, and sharp mind, Griffin possesses an instinctual, intuitive intelligence that allows him to make various intellectual leaps that others who rely on logical conclusions would not be able to. This cleverness is matched by an inborn curiosity, as Griffin constantly desires to gain knowledge of new things or subjects that intrigue him.
- Cunning- Uncommonly crafty, Griffin is highly adept at all manners of misdirection, ranging from pulling humorous pranks to manipulating key situations to his favor using sly rhetoric. He is an especially consummate liar, showing little, if any change in facial or body language when lying.
Weaknesses:
- Cockiness- Priding himself among the quickest of the demigods in Camp Half-Blood, Griffin's confidence occasionally lapses into overconfidence and arrogance, making him reckless and impulsive, prone to severe wounds to his ego should he be bested.
- Cunning- Though considered a strength, Griffin's willingness to lie and cheat even to his friends makes him difficult to trust or be held accountable, alienating himself from many of the peers outside his cabin. Griffin has few true friends, and he knows this, masking any negative emotions behind his veneer of humor or sarcasm.
- Physical Strength- While a gifted, innately coordinated athlete, Griffin nevertheless lacks the brute strength and might of the children of Ares or Athena, relying solely on his speed and wits when in a battle.
- Laziness- Simply put, Griffin doesn't want to do anything. Chafing under authority and resisting all attempts at responsibility, Griffin is the exact opposite of the archetypal hero, preferring to stay out of the spotlight and mind his own business. Most infamously, Griffin will outright refuse quests when offered to him unless absolutely necessary.
Biography: Griffin's backstory is a somewhat complicated and bittersweet one. His mother, at the time, was a high school senior with aspirations of being an engineer. Hermes unintentionally soon found himself involved with the young girl, first as a friend, then as something more...
Nine months later, Baby Griffin was born. Young, scared, and with no idea how to raise a child, Griffin's mother, Matilda felt that her child's best option would be with someone who could care and provide for him. That answer came in Matilda's maternal uncle, Declan. Officially putting Declan down as the baby's godfather, Griffin spent his earliest years in the capital city of Belfast in Northern Ireland under the caring, watchful eye of his great-uncle.
Highly curious and mischievous in youth, Griffin, given the first name Hawley, was an explorer, frequently running off on his own to appease his inquisitive nature. Though Declan tried his best to steer the young Griffin towards a more quiet, conservative nature, Hawley nonetheless continued his haphazard 'adventures'.
Unbeknownst to Griffin at the time, his guardian was no mere mortal - but a demigod, son of Athena. Knowing full well the dangers that came with raising a demigod, Declan did all in his power to keep the boy safe from harm, monitoring him closely for any sign of his special powers. Such a sign would come when Hawley was merely 6 years old. An old rusted shed he was trying to break into in his backyard was sealed shut by multiple padlocks. In a fit of irritation, Hawley tugged at the chains securing the doors, only for the locks to shatter into pieces, falling onto the ground.
Now with Hawley's growing powers revealed, Declan took the boy and fled to America to escape any potential monster threat, settling in the bustling state of New York in hopes that the extensive mortal presence would hide the young Griffin's blood.
As Griffin grew older, he began experiencing the various troubles that came with demigod children: crippling ADHD, dyslexia, and a feeling of disconnect with the other children. As such, when he turned 13 years old, Declan decided to reveal Hawley's heritage to him.
Learning that he was the son of Hermes, messenger of the gods, Griffin did not react with vehement disbelief like many other demigods had, but merely took the fact as an interesting note of his heritage.
Shortly after, he was sent to Camp Half-Blood, where he would be kept safe from harm, taught to hone on his abilities.
~Demigod Abilities~
Demigod Abilities:
A child of the god of messengers, Griffin's powers, while not as flashy or extraordinary as the children of other Olympians, are nevertheless powerful in their own right. Due to his father being the god of many diverse things, Griffin can be summed up as a "Jack-of-all-trades", adept at many things, master of few. That being said, Griffin focuses on the craftier elements of his father's abilities, stylizing himself as a modern-day rogue.
Lock Manipulation:
Griffin can magically sense the internal structures and mechanisms of any lock he touches, and can make it unlock with minimal effort. With enough concentration, Griffin can telekinetically force locks to unlock, the use of this ability being the first manifestation of his demigod abilities. Similarly, Griffin can identify traps and/or curses placed on locks, which he can deactivate with enough focus. Griffin's natural skill as a picklock is only rivaled by his half-siblings and surpassed by his father.
Enhanced Thievery:
As his father is also the god of thieves, Griffin is a master pickpocket, capable of stealing just about anything from one's pockets without them noticing. It's even theorized that his ability with thievery can work on the Olympians.
Money Skills:
Due to another of his father's roles being the god of merchants, Griffin is quite skilled when it comes to dealing with finances. He has a keen mind for mathematics, and is remarkably adept at poker, with a notorious winning streak rivaling the children of Nike.
Enhanced Stamina:
Aside from his great physical ability, Griffin possesses remarkable, almost inhuman levels of endurance and stamina, no doubt due to his heritage; capable of running great lengths, swimming vast distances, or engaging in combat for an extended period of time without appearing to tire.
~Weaponry Information~
Weapon: A single xiphos sword, given to him by his father.
Weapon's Name: ฮบฮฟฯ ฯฮฌ ฮฑฮญฯฮฑ - Roughly translated to: The Shear Wind
Weapon Type: Wrought of Celestial Bronze
Attributes: The blade is said to be remarkably light, yet weighed almost inhumanly perfect for one's grip. Shearwind is nigh-indestructible and dangerously sharp, capable of slicing through stone with relative ease. Perhaps most remarkably, the sword is capable of teleporting individuals when swung through the air. Similar to the infamous Shadow Travel used by children of the Underworld, the blade's reach is capable of sending one nearly anywhere they desire, though it causes Griffin great fatigue which only increases with the gain of distance, thus he limits himself as much as he can. Likewise the blade needs time to recharge between instances, as overuse will cause it to shatter.
~Other Information~
Other:
- Griffin despises his first name, not liking the sound of it. As such, he introduces himself solely by his surname, and reacts negatively anytime his first name is said.
- Griffin has never met his birth mother, and yearns to one day meet her, though he keeps this hidden from all but his closest friends.
- Griffin is somewhat known for a trademark two-fingered salute that he will use as a greeting or acknowledgement.
- Though raised in America for most of his life, Griffin speaks with a somewhat heavy Irish accent, and semi-frequently tosses in jargon from that region.
- A self-proclaimed aficionado of western pop culture, Griffin frequently makes various references to books, movies, TV shows, and video games.
- An avid fan of music, Griffin carries an iPod on his person at all times, loaded with a vast assortment of Classic Alternative Rock music from the 1990s-2010s
- It is believed that Griffin's interest in intellectual pursuit and skill in battle come from his ancestral ties to Athena.
~Theme Song~
Theme Song:
"Learn to Fly" by Foo Fighters