Difference between revisions of "Morpheus"

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Morpheus is the god of dreams, leader of the Oneiroi, currently voiced by [[Lorien Blake]].
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Morpheus is the god of dreams, leader of the Oneiroi, currently unscribed, voiced by Michael Beckett.
[[File:Morpheus2.png|thumb]]
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[[File:Morpheus5.png|thumb]]
  
 
=== Know Your God ===
 
=== Know Your God ===
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'''Facial Hair''': Usually clean-shaven, but sometimes appears with stubble
 
'''Facial Hair''': Usually clean-shaven, but sometimes appears with stubble
  
'''Eyes''': Morpheus has striking violet eyes, the color of the eastern sky at sunset and the western sky at dawn, when the world shifts from the waking world to the dreaming world and back.
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'''Eyes''': Violet
  
'''Distinguishing Features''': Morpheus, like his brothers, has articulated wings similar to a bat or gargoyle, with black bones and phalanges and webbing of deep charcoal grey. These wings fold tightly and disappear at will when Morpheus needs to move in the mortal world. As a result, Morpheus’ clothes have very strange tailoring in the back: long, parallel bars of overlapping fabric that will allow his wings to be present. Those who know him take this as a fashion statement, a trademark of his style. More than a few have imitated this without knowing its purpose. Morpheus has black tattoos on his forearms and chest in an intricate tribal pattern. When Morpheus is completely in the Dream Realm, these tattoos invert and glow pale like starlight.
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'''Distinguishing Features''': Morpheus, like his brothers, has articulated wings similar to a bat or gargoyle, with black bones and phalanges and webbing of deep charcoal grey.  
 
 
'''Other''': The Oneiroi, to a one, are otherworldly in appearance, with deep grey skin dusted with stars (a birthmark from their Primordial mother). Crowned with long tresses of silver hair, the Oneiroi are black-winged. They only communicate telepathically outside the Dream. No one has ever heard one of the Oneiroi speak in the physical world. Within the Dream, the Oneiroi can be heard and speak in Triad voice, a unison of three voices at once - one high pitched, one low, and one whispering tone in between. The Oneiroi have black eyes, the color of unconsciousness and the “little Death” that is Sleep.
 
Morpheus is unique among the Oneiroi, an aberrant issue of Nyx, similar to a white crow among a murder of black. His black wings are the only trait he shares with his brothers. He is the only one of the Oneiroi that presents as mortal. His eyes are also not the deep black of midnight but rather the violet of dusk and dawn as he possesses a more intimate contact with the sleeping and waking world than his Brothers.
 
  
 
=== Family ===
 
=== Family ===
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=== Professions ===
 
=== Professions ===
Morpheus owns an art club named Synefoenía (a variation of Sýnnefo Enniá, or Cloud Nine in Greek). Its doors are open from dusk to dawn, providing a haven for working artists and performers. The business plays host to poets, singers, painters, acting troupes, and performance art of most any kind. The concept is creative space as deep as dreams, and Morpheus works hard to ensure that those inspired to create have a place to do so without interference or judgement. Sýnnefo Enniá
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Morpheus owns an art club named Synefoenía (a variation of Sýnnefo Enniá, or Cloud Nine in Greek).  
 
 
Morpheus also does outreach in the communities by offering artistics “conservatory camps” for adults and youth where artists in the community offer classes and mentoring to those who wish to learn. These classes are free to students and Morpheus handles payment to the artists who teach from his own pockets. There is stiff competition to attend as space is limited and some teachers are very well known in their artistic fields.
 
  
 
=== Residence ===
 
=== Residence ===
  
'''The Underworld.''' Morpheus lives on the Isle of Oneiros in the Underworld, which is bordered by the River Lethe. His palace sits on a low cliff, with a central great hall and two wings. The left wing holds his private apartments. Above ground, it contains his sleeping quarters, parlour, and other comforts. Below ground, it contains his laboratory, the Viewing Room for the crystals given by the Well of Dreams, and other work space. The right wing holds The Reverie, above ground, and The Chimera, below ground, holding spaces for those given refuge in or imprisoned by the Dream respectively. The wings of the palace fold around a beautiful garden of white-blossomed plants that glow in the moonlight, as well as soporific herbs for sleeping preparations.
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'''The Underworld.''' Morpheus lives on the Isle of Oneiros in the Underworld, which is bordered by the River Lethe.  
 
 
There is a secret garden away from the palace, gated and on the shores of the River Lethe, where Morpheus grows the Dream Poppies used in his most potent sleeping tonics and elixirs. These Dream Poppies are the same color as Morpheus’ eyes - a deep violet, with silvery leaves. They are incredibly poisonous and require special preparation to eliminate their lethal tendencies. Only Morpheus knows the proper requirements and ratios to differentiate between the Sleep of Rest and the permanent Sleep of Death.
 
  
 
'''The Dream Realm.''' Morpheus does not live in the Dream Realm, only frequenting it as part of his tasks (similar to “going to the office”). While in the Dream Realm, Morpheus is basically untouchable unless the Dreamer has both the ability to dream lucidly and the power to take on the Dream King in his place of power.  
 
'''The Dream Realm.''' Morpheus does not live in the Dream Realm, only frequenting it as part of his tasks (similar to “going to the office”). While in the Dream Realm, Morpheus is basically untouchable unless the Dreamer has both the ability to dream lucidly and the power to take on the Dream King in his place of power.  
  
'''God Complex - Floor 9.''' Morpheus has apartments in the God Complex on Floor 9. Since Zeus called the Gods to return, Morpheus has taken to venturing to the surface more often to integrate his operations with mortals at Zeus’ request. The apartments in the God Complex are modeled after his apartments in his palace in the Underworld. It is also rumored that he is frequenting the Tower more because of his developing relationship with Persephone.
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'''God Complex - Floor 9.''' Morpheus has apartments in the God Complex on Floor 9. Since Zeus called the Gods to return, Morpheus has taken to venturing to the surface more often to integrate his operations with mortals at Zeus’ request.  
  
 
=== Personal Information ===
 
=== Personal Information ===
  
'''General Overview''': Morpheus could be described as cool and aloof, if not downright chilly, to those that do not know him well. This is a side-effect of the emotionless base he tries to maintain in the overly emotion-laden world of dreams. He does enjoy companionship of the right type: intellectual discussions, poetic nuance, the creative wandering of like minds. He has a dark sense of humor that is subtle, not sharp or sarcastic as a rule. He is well-spoken, oft romantic in his communications, tending towards formal speech and mannerisms. He wears this demeanor like fine clothing: well-tailored, cut to fit the situation, many-layered, buttoned down. Though he wears sunglasses as a rule, one only has to look into his eyes to see the darkness that lies beneath that is far less tame. For the God of Dreams is also the God of Nightmares, lest anyone forget.  
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'''General Overview''': Morpheus is the prime of Dreams, one of the thousand Oneiroi gods born to Nyx during the beginning of time. Though unlike other gods, he is almost completely powerless when in the physical realm, but is all powerful in the dream state.
  
'''Nicknames''': He doesn’t know, and he doesn’t care.  
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'''Nicknames''': None.
  
'''Likes''': Darkness. The moment that day shifts into night and the silence that follows. Any kind of natural light in darkness -- moonlight, starlight, candlelight, foxfire. The sound of the voice when a secret is revealed. Reading. Poetry. Music that provokes an emotional response. Building within the Dream -- a form of architecture combined with creative art that creates new spaces for Dreamers to wander. Altering substances that make the Dream more vivid or bring it into the waking world. Good scotch and berry-based brandies. Silk.   
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'''Likes''': Darkness. Reading. Poetry. Music that provokes an emotional response. Building within the Dream -- a form of architecture combined with creative art that creates new spaces for Dreamers to wander. Altering substances that make the Dream more vivid or bring it into the waking world. Good scotch and berry-based brandies. Silk.   
  
'''Dislikes''': Alarm clocks. Barking dogs. Modern mortal habits that make for restless sleep and poor dreaming. The corrupted mortal mind that drags all manner of things into the Dream Realm to wreak havoc. Loud noises. Rude behavior. Bright light. Fast food of any kind.
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'''Dislikes''': Alarm clocks. Barking dogs. Loud noises. Rude behavior. Bright light. Fast food of any kind.
  
 
=== Flaws / Weaknesses ===
 
=== Flaws / Weaknesses ===
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'''Weaker In The Flesh.''' Even though he is still more powerful than mortals in the flesh, Morpheus knows he is strongest within the Realm of Dreams. Morpheus feels the lack of physical strength as a vulnerability and goes to great lengths to cover for it, keeping his emotions tightly under lock and key. He developed his skill with the sword to offset this vulnerability, which does not help with the impression he makes since people don’t just keep swords ready to hand, much less know how to use them.
 
'''Weaker In The Flesh.''' Even though he is still more powerful than mortals in the flesh, Morpheus knows he is strongest within the Realm of Dreams. Morpheus feels the lack of physical strength as a vulnerability and goes to great lengths to cover for it, keeping his emotions tightly under lock and key. He developed his skill with the sword to offset this vulnerability, which does not help with the impression he makes since people don’t just keep swords ready to hand, much less know how to use them.
 
'''Something Real.''' Morpheus is the King of Dreams, of ephemeral, transient things that disappear upon waking. Morpheus secretly longs to give birth to something real. His art establishment was begun to feed this need, for what is art but birthing something from nothing? But lately, Morpheus realizes that this is not enough. What he wants, more than anything, is a child of his own.
 
 
'''Once Upon A Dream.''' Morpheus has spent his existence seeking companionship primarily in the Dream Realm. Being able to disguise himself as anyone, he has had his share of lovers and relationships, but all within the Realm of Dreams. Though he typically disguised himself to align with the Dreamer’s needs and expectations, he has on occasion let his true self be seen, to disastrous consequences, for these mortals often find themselves pining for someone they cannot have in the waking world. Morpheus has reached a point where this no longer satisfies him and seeks living companionship. The only problem is, he is so used to being whatever the Dreamer needs or wants that he is somewhat inexperienced in showing who he is. He doesn’t fear intimacy - he simply doesn’t have much practice.
 
  
 
=== Skills / Abilities ===
 
=== Skills / Abilities ===
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'''Immortality.''' Technically immortal. Immune to the effects of aging, cannot die by any conventional means, and is immune to all known mortal diseases and infections. As a deity, they are able to teleport, or "pop" anywhere in the mortal plane with a few exceptions, the God Floors of the GC HQ are mystically protected, so no teleporting to or in between them, anything on the non-mortal plane, i.e., the Underworld, Atlantis, and the Void, are non-accessible without a guide.
 
'''Immortality.''' Technically immortal. Immune to the effects of aging, cannot die by any conventional means, and is immune to all known mortal diseases and infections. As a deity, they are able to teleport, or "pop" anywhere in the mortal plane with a few exceptions, the God Floors of the GC HQ are mystically protected, so no teleporting to or in between them, anything on the non-mortal plane, i.e., the Underworld, Atlantis, and the Void, are non-accessible without a guide.
  
'''Babble-speak.''' Morpheus can communicate in all languages and dialects.  
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'''Mother Tongue:.''' As the bridge between the mortal world and the divine, they speak all languages mortals do, even the long dead ones.
  
 
'''Dream King.''' As master of the Realm of Dreams, Morpheus may assume any humanoid shape or form within a dream, his or another’s. Morpheus may travel the landscape of dreams to deliver messages to both mortal and immortal dreamers. Morpheus also has the ability to create constructs within the dream that appear real to the dreamer.  
 
'''Dream King.''' As master of the Realm of Dreams, Morpheus may assume any humanoid shape or form within a dream, his or another’s. Morpheus may travel the landscape of dreams to deliver messages to both mortal and immortal dreamers. Morpheus also has the ability to create constructs within the dream that appear real to the dreamer.  
  
 
'''Waking Dream.''' Morpheus has the ability to cloak himself in the veil of the Dream World and take on the appearance of any mortal being. The illusion is strong enough to fool mortal senses, though immortals can see through it. If a mortal has strong ties to the Dream Realm or has met Morpheus before, they can potentially see through the illusion.
 
'''Waking Dream.''' Morpheus has the ability to cloak himself in the veil of the Dream World and take on the appearance of any mortal being. The illusion is strong enough to fool mortal senses, though immortals can see through it. If a mortal has strong ties to the Dream Realm or has met Morpheus before, they can potentially see through the illusion.
 
'''Well of Dreams.''' Morpheus is the keeper of the Well of Dreams, from which dreams that foretell futures for mortals are drawn. Morpheus brings these dreams to mortals as needed, sometimes at the directions of other immortals.
 
 
'''Dreambound.''' Morpheus has the ability to waylay the consciousness of a dreamer and keep them in the Dream Realm indefinitely. In the case of a mortal, the length of time would be limited by their body’s ability to survive unconscious. In the case of an immortal, the time could be much longer, with the immortal weakening the longer the dream state was maintained. Morpheus sometimes uses the Dreambound power to ease the experience of coma patients as well. For Morpheus to trap a dreamer in the Dream World requires a continuous and unwavering application of power, which limits Morpheus’ other abilities as long as the Dream Bond holds. If the dreamer is willingly held, it requires significantly less energy than if Morpheus is holding the dreamer against their will.
 
 
'''Dream Door.''' Morpheus can travel from the Dream Realm into the physical world by going through the Dream of a dreamer and exiting through them. The only limit on this form of travel is that the dreamer must be asleep where Morpheus wishes to travel to, and Morpheus must know where that dreamer is sleeping (where their body is) for accuracy in travel.
 
  
 
=== Personal Attire ===
 
=== Personal Attire ===
  
'''Normal Daily Wear:''' Morpheus dresses elegantly at all times. Tailored pants, silk button-downs, brocade vests, overcoats (often with tails), fine leather shoes. He has done his best to update his look to modern textiles to avoid too much attention, and prefers black, deep purple, crimson red, midnight blue to other colors. His clothing has special tailoring to accommodate for his wings, which he prefers to show but does not unless it is safe to do so. This strange tailoring is seen as an eccentric fashion statement, though it is entirely functional. He wears a ring on his left hand. If he wears a necklace or other jewelry, it is beneath his clothes and not visible. He prefers a fine pocket watch to a wrist watch, and has a collection of several.  
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'''Normal Daily Wear:''' Morpheus dresses elegantly at all times. Tailored pants, silk button-downs, brocade vests, overcoats (often with tails), fine leather shoes.  
  
 
'''Alternate Dress Wear:''' When work requires it, his “casual” mortal dress is black jeans and a black t-shirt and black boots. Even then, he carries himself like he was wearing a three-piece suit.
 
'''Alternate Dress Wear:''' When work requires it, his “casual” mortal dress is black jeans and a black t-shirt and black boots. Even then, he carries himself like he was wearing a three-piece suit.
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'''Poppy Tea.''' Morpheus knows how to concoct a tea blend comprised of the Dream Poppies that grow in Oneiros on the banks of the River Lethe. The tisane brewed from these poppies acts as a painkiller and can also be used as a supportive aid to facilitate lucid dreams. The poppy tea can induce group hallucinations and may also be used to help with analyzing messages.  
 
'''Poppy Tea.''' Morpheus knows how to concoct a tea blend comprised of the Dream Poppies that grow in Oneiros on the banks of the River Lethe. The tisane brewed from these poppies acts as a painkiller and can also be used as a supportive aid to facilitate lucid dreams. The poppy tea can induce group hallucinations and may also be used to help with analyzing messages.  
  
'''Ring.''' Morpheus wears a signet ring of black gold with a large ruby cabochon, round and smooth, like a welling drop of bright blood caught in a setting of metal. Around the stone are etched the words Somnis Veritas, Latin for In dreams, there is truth. Beneath the stone lies the image of two arched gates, mirroring each other, overlapping to make an ‘M’ beneath the stone. One of the gates is black, the other an outline to form an inverse image. The arches that form his initial are the Gate of Horn (black gate) and the Gate of Ivory (outline gate). These two Gates correspond to the Reverie (the Gate of Horn) and the Chimera (the Gate of Ivory). This ring allows Morpheus to draw forth the dreamer’s conscious mind and bring it with him into the Dream Realm to stay in his palace as either honored guest or prisoner.
 
  
 
=== Historical Synopsis ===
 
=== Historical Synopsis ===
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He resides in the Underworld with the rest of the Oneiroi, who fly forth from the Gates of Horn and Ivory to deliver both prophetic and false dreams to man and gods. Like his siblings, Morpheus is black-winged, but that is the extent of the similarities as the myths make it very clear that Morpheus is set apart by his ability to appear as a mortal in the dreams of mortal men.
 
He resides in the Underworld with the rest of the Oneiroi, who fly forth from the Gates of Horn and Ivory to deliver both prophetic and false dreams to man and gods. Like his siblings, Morpheus is black-winged, but that is the extent of the similarities as the myths make it very clear that Morpheus is set apart by his ability to appear as a mortal in the dreams of mortal men.
 
<ref>Theoi Project © Copyright 2000-2017 Aaron J. Atsma, Netherlands & New Zealand </ref>
 
<ref>Theoi Project © Copyright 2000-2017 Aaron J. Atsma, Netherlands & New Zealand </ref>
 
=== Introduction written by [[Lorien Blake]] ===
 
Men have always lived in two realms: the real world and mine. Sixteen hours a day, they belong to Zeus and live physical lives with all its physical pleasures and pains, and all its physical limitations. For the other eight, they are unbound and may live as gods in the Realm I provide them.
 
 
It has always been a good arrangement. From dreams are spun the stuff of genius and creativity, allowing the dreaming mind to purge and process the beautiful burden of being alive. Emotion still holds sway in the Dream. If anything, it is more powerful there, because the dreamer is at the mercy of the Dream. I do not take this charge lightly, for dreams often bleed into the waking world. When the mortal wakes and acts on the Dream, dreams become actualized. Nightmares draw breath.
 
 
This Mortal Age is a waking nightmare not of my making. Humans adulterate their bodies with caffeine. Artificial light shifts their natural rhythms. The fast pace of living makes time in my Realm a necessary nuisance instead of the sacred place the Ancients knew. Mortals medicate themselves with force-fed entertainment that rots the creative ground of the subconscious.
 
 
And the Dream Realm doesn't just go one way. People think that I am in charge of bringing everything to existence in a dream. As with many things, they are wrong. What they do not realize is that the Dreamer brings shit into MY realm, for ME to subdue and deal with. And as mankind has become more twisted, my realm becomes ever more populated with the twisted creations of that corruption. I and my Oneiroi spend as much time wrangling down the things brought in as we do providing good dreams to offset the bad.
 
 
It takes a firm hand, a solid sense of self to manage a kingdom where all vanishes in the fluttering blink of the waking eye. I keep my emotions reserved, for the Dream is already filled with unbridled fear and passion. Subconscious need and terror prowl the Dream Realm, my Kingdom, with tooth-and-claw at all times. Always feeding, never sleeping.
 
 
I can only hope that it is enough that I am the eye in this swirling storm born of the dark minds of men and gods. For if we reach the point where the waking world is indistinguishable from the nightmare, I have failed.
 

Latest revision as of 09:17, 17 September 2020

Morpheus is the god of dreams, leader of the Oneiroi, currently unscribed, voiced by Michael Beckett.

Morpheus5.png

Know Your God

Height: 6′

Weight: 180 lbs

Hair Color: Dark brown, long, thick waves, brushing top of shoulders

Facial Hair: Usually clean-shaven, but sometimes appears with stubble

Eyes: Violet

Distinguishing Features: Morpheus, like his brothers, has articulated wings similar to a bat or gargoyle, with black bones and phalanges and webbing of deep charcoal grey.

Family

Parents: Nyx (solo)

Siblings: Morpheus and his brothers make up the Oneiroi

Spouse: None

Children: None

Professions

Morpheus owns an art club named Synefoenía (a variation of Sýnnefo Enniá, or Cloud Nine in Greek).

Residence

The Underworld. Morpheus lives on the Isle of Oneiros in the Underworld, which is bordered by the River Lethe.

The Dream Realm. Morpheus does not live in the Dream Realm, only frequenting it as part of his tasks (similar to “going to the office”). While in the Dream Realm, Morpheus is basically untouchable unless the Dreamer has both the ability to dream lucidly and the power to take on the Dream King in his place of power.

God Complex - Floor 9. Morpheus has apartments in the God Complex on Floor 9. Since Zeus called the Gods to return, Morpheus has taken to venturing to the surface more often to integrate his operations with mortals at Zeus’ request.

Personal Information

General Overview: Morpheus is the prime of Dreams, one of the thousand Oneiroi gods born to Nyx during the beginning of time. Though unlike other gods, he is almost completely powerless when in the physical realm, but is all powerful in the dream state.

Nicknames: None.

Likes: Darkness. Reading. Poetry. Music that provokes an emotional response. Building within the Dream -- a form of architecture combined with creative art that creates new spaces for Dreamers to wander. Altering substances that make the Dream more vivid or bring it into the waking world. Good scotch and berry-based brandies. Silk.

Dislikes: Alarm clocks. Barking dogs. Loud noises. Rude behavior. Bright light. Fast food of any kind.

Flaws / Weaknesses

Wrong Century. Morpheus sometimes appears and acts like he is from another time. Among the artistic community, this eccentricity is applauded though he can sometimes appear and conduct himself in overly formal ways. Piss him off and you half-expect him to say “Pistols at twenty paces?”. He is a consummate gentleman in a world that is rapidly losing all civility, but that sense of propriety makes it hard for others to get to know him.

Weaker In The Flesh. Even though he is still more powerful than mortals in the flesh, Morpheus knows he is strongest within the Realm of Dreams. Morpheus feels the lack of physical strength as a vulnerability and goes to great lengths to cover for it, keeping his emotions tightly under lock and key. He developed his skill with the sword to offset this vulnerability, which does not help with the impression he makes since people don’t just keep swords ready to hand, much less know how to use them.

Skills / Abilities

Immortality. Technically immortal. Immune to the effects of aging, cannot die by any conventional means, and is immune to all known mortal diseases and infections. As a deity, they are able to teleport, or "pop" anywhere in the mortal plane with a few exceptions, the God Floors of the GC HQ are mystically protected, so no teleporting to or in between them, anything on the non-mortal plane, i.e., the Underworld, Atlantis, and the Void, are non-accessible without a guide.

Mother Tongue:. As the bridge between the mortal world and the divine, they speak all languages mortals do, even the long dead ones.

Dream King. As master of the Realm of Dreams, Morpheus may assume any humanoid shape or form within a dream, his or another’s. Morpheus may travel the landscape of dreams to deliver messages to both mortal and immortal dreamers. Morpheus also has the ability to create constructs within the dream that appear real to the dreamer.

Waking Dream. Morpheus has the ability to cloak himself in the veil of the Dream World and take on the appearance of any mortal being. The illusion is strong enough to fool mortal senses, though immortals can see through it. If a mortal has strong ties to the Dream Realm or has met Morpheus before, they can potentially see through the illusion.

Personal Attire

Normal Daily Wear: Morpheus dresses elegantly at all times. Tailored pants, silk button-downs, brocade vests, overcoats (often with tails), fine leather shoes.

Alternate Dress Wear: When work requires it, his “casual” mortal dress is black jeans and a black t-shirt and black boots. Even then, he carries himself like he was wearing a three-piece suit.

Magical Artifacts/Weapons

Poppy Tea. Morpheus knows how to concoct a tea blend comprised of the Dream Poppies that grow in Oneiros on the banks of the River Lethe. The tisane brewed from these poppies acts as a painkiller and can also be used as a supportive aid to facilitate lucid dreams. The poppy tea can induce group hallucinations and may also be used to help with analyzing messages.


Historical Synopsis

Morpheus is the God of Dreams. Born of Nyx, Goddess of Night, firstborn of Chaos. Leader of the Oneiroi, his siblings by Nyx. Ruler of the Realm of Dreams.

Morpheus was known as a messenger of the Gods, bringing messages in human guise to Kings while they slumbered in the Realm of Dreams. The root of his name, morphe. signifies shaping or molding. As the ruler of his kingdom, Morpheus is responsible for shaping dreams, both beautiful and terrible, for all that sleep.

He resides in the Underworld with the rest of the Oneiroi, who fly forth from the Gates of Horn and Ivory to deliver both prophetic and false dreams to man and gods. Like his siblings, Morpheus is black-winged, but that is the extent of the similarities as the myths make it very clear that Morpheus is set apart by his ability to appear as a mortal in the dreams of mortal men.

[1]

  1. Theoi Project © Copyright 2000-2017 Aaron J. Atsma, Netherlands & New Zealand