"Link", Messenger God
God of the Mail
A younger God within the pantheon, the patron of the mail service and messengers. Post offices around the world maintain shrines to Link and often house stray cats in his honor. He often receives gifts from the Gods he delivers to-- Gifts, not bribes.
Personality
More often than not, Link is kindest to those who spoil him. He's not above invoking his neotenic looks to his advantage, though it's rare that he has any active need to do so. Largely impartial to the conflicts of the Gods on the whole, Link acts primarily according to his duty, and secondarily in his self-interest. It's said he's seen many interpersonal conflicts between other Gods firsthand, and as a result, he's never short on gossip, should one afford his price...
His favorite treats include fresh fish and poultry.
Appearance
Link is most often seen and portrayed in the form of a Scottish Wildcat, standing either quadrupedal or bipedal dependent on context and desired running speed. When delivering to colder regions, such as The Polecat's Temple to the north, he can be spotted wearing boots and a thick white coat. He has no known alternate forms.Personality
More often than not, Link is kindest to those who spoil him. He's not above invoking his neotenic looks to his advantage, though it's rare that he has any active need to do so. Largely impartial to the conflicts of the Gods on the whole, Link acts primarily according to his duty, and secondarily in his self-interest. It's said he's seen many interpersonal conflicts between other Gods firsthand, and as a result, he's never short on gossip, should one afford his price...
His favorite treats include fresh fish and poultry.
Cultural Impact
Tales of Link's dutiful heroism not only allowed him to be granted Minor Godhood, but spread worldwide following that appointment.
Scottish Isles
The Scottish Wildcat had already been considered a protector and friend to their neighboring omnia throughout the Isles; Link's ascension only bolstered this reputation further. The local population of wildcats were given unofficial yet unconditional protection in turn: Killing a Scottish Wildcat is said to be an immoral and unconscionable act spelling doom for the perpetrator. The time-honored tradition of providing for the local wildcats in return for protection and swift delivery continues to this day; in local storytelling and writing, wildcats acting as the last hope of an imperiled hero to call for help is a common trope, and merchants are never caught without some depiction of the wildcat present in their shop or caravan, nor without an offering of meat handy.
Michigan
Link is one of the primary Gods worshiped in Michigan, ensuring swift delivery of goods and offerings to the Gods to their intended shrine or temple by his favor; his image is nearly as synonymous with the region as their personal connection to the pantheon as a whole for how often it's invoked on cars, wagons, trucks, ATV hosts... On anything carrying cargo, in truth. Considering his meager ask of treats, toys, or weather-appropriate clothing for boons of protection and good favor, Michigan acts as the largest source of offerings to the Messenger God. His legend soared to popularity among traders, commonly invoked in pep talks encouraging determination in the face of adversity; conversely, overworked compatriots are encouraged to take time to themselves with the phrase "you're not Link running for Wheat-shielder".
Divine Domains
Messengers, The Postal System
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Prior to Link's ascension to the Minor pantheon, wildcats around the world had been rumored to be silent agents of espionage. Link was born to the consolidated clan of Scottish Wildcats and selected by the clan's reigning alpha, Wheat-shielder, as his successor. For two years of the young wildcat's life, he would remember nothing of note, unaware of an illness befalling the clan in specific areas. The illness had made its way north, spreading via fluid transmission from an infected cat or from the fur of some prey species. Wheat-shielder had fallen victim to this illness, spending his final days cared for by his faithful vassal.
The care, however, was unprecedented from most cases of wildcats caring for their dying in the wild: Several villages had caught wind that Wheat-shielder had fallen ill. In an effort to repay the centuries-long kindness of the wildcats, omnia from all around the Isles offered their medicines, remedies, and even food to be delivered to Wheat-shielder by Link. Perhaps due to his youth and good health, or perhaps due to his careful study of his mentor, Link alone braved the journey throughout the Isles in a noble effort to aid his teacher. Various legends allege Link had swam straight through the seas separating each island, survived avalanches, or even fended off an unnamed dragon in his quest; he will not confirm nor deny any such allegation. Whatever the case, his perilous journey came to a somber close when, despite the best efforts of both Link and all of the Scottish Isles, Wheat-shielder passed silently in his sleep awaiting Link's return from the south.
The death of Wheat-shielder was one felt throughout the land, and those in the Cult of Ludovic were no exception. Word of Link's heroic yet futile plight reached Ludovic, reaching further up into the Land of Gods. After some deliberation, Link was granted ascension to Minor Godhood in honor of his heroic deeds and devotion to his duties of delivery. This also granted him the ability to speak, which he makes use of often.
Gender Identity
Link does not consider the concept of "gender" to be applicable to himself. Sentient or not, he maintains he is "only a cat". While he may refer to himself with he/him pronouns, he does not seem to have a specific preference for any set of pronouns. Where presentation is concerned, he considers any item of clothing worn by him to be "kitty/cat clothes", divorced entirely from implicit or explicit gendering. Any insistence by third parties to refer to him as any specific gender will only confuse Link.
He also maintains that this attitude is incredibly common about wildcats, yet this assertion cannot be proven nor disproven at present. Perhaps it is better to take his word for it.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
While Link embodies the very qualities his kind are known for, he does display some tendencies more in line with self-interest than duty. His boons are considered some of the most-easily won, as he only requires something that would be of use to him: Meat to fill his belly, toys to calm his mind, or clothing to gird his body against the elements. Out of respect for his services, his staunch opposition to declare specific loyalties, and perhaps his charm, this proclivity for accepting offerings as bribes is seen as harmless at best, annoying at worst... But who could stay annoyed at that face?
Personality Quirks
Due to his being a wild animal before becoming a God, Link retains some qualities one may consider animalistic. He grooms himself with his tongue, bats at whatever dangles or flies over his head, pounces on whatever may move too suddenly (should be he in the mood to play), hisses, meows, growls, purrs, and yowls alongside his more sapient behaviors of speech and higher reasoning.
Alignment
True Neutral
Current Status
Delivering mail, unfailingly
Current Location
Species
Age
100
Circumstances of Birth
Named alpha of Scottish Wildcats
Birthplace
Scottish Isles
Children
Current Residence
Central Scottish Isles
Pronouns
He/Him
Sex
Male
Gender
Technically nonbinary (Gender-apathetic)
Eyes
Green
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Silver/Grey Tabby
Height
3'2"
Weight
10lbs
Aligned Organization
Other Affiliations
Comments