View source for Hephaestus

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{{Infobox character
| image = Hephaestus.png
| title = God of the Forge
| type  = [[Olympian God]]
| affiliation = [[Mount Olympus]]
| keepsake = Adamant Shard
| status curseh2 = Glow
| familytree = [[Olympian Family Tree]]
| family = 
*[[Zeus]] (Father)
*[[Hera]] (Mother)
*[[Ares]] (Older Brother)
*[[Aphrodite]] (Wife)
*[[Athena]] (Older Half-Sister)
*[[Artemis]] (Older Half-Sister)
*[[Apollo]] (Older Half-Brother)
*[[Heracles]] (Younger Half-Brother)
*[[Hermes]] (Younger Half-Brother)
*[[Dionysus]] (Younger Half-Brother)
*[[Chronos]] (Paternal Grandfather)
*Rhea (Paternal Grandmother)
*[[Hyperion]] (Maternal Grandfather)
*[[Theia]] (Maternal Grandmother)
*[[Hades]] (Paternal Uncle)
*[[Poseidon]] (Paternal Uncle)
*[[Hestia]] (Maternal Aunt)
*[[Demeter]] (Maternal Aunt)
*[[Helios]] (Maternal Uncle)
*[[Selene]] (Maternal Aunt)
*[[Eos]] (Maternal Aunt)
*[[Persephone]] (Maternal Cousin)
*[[Zagreus]] (Paternal Cousin)
*[[Melinoë]] (Paternal Cousin)
*[[Auto-Forcer]] (creations)
*[[Auto-Seeker]] (creations)
*[[Auto-Watcher]] (creations)
*[[Talos]] (creation)
| relations = 
| voiceh2 = Dave B. Mitchell
}}
{{Quote|They told me you needed a weapon or something? Bah! You already got one! Right lousy one, can spot that piss-poor workmanship from here. Though, erm... I could tune it up...|Hephaestus}}

'''Hephaestus''' is the [[Olympian]] God of the Forge and Craftsmanship, son of [[Zeus]] and [[Hera]], younger brother of [[Ares]] and husband of [[Aphrodite]]. In ''[[Hades (game)|Hades]]'', he is only mentioned as the one who built the golden statue of [[Mount Olympus]].

Hephaestus appears in ''[[Hades II]]'' and offers his boons to [[Melinoë]]. His signature [[Status Curse]] is '''Glow''' which increases the damage enemies take by '''+15%''' for 5 seconds.

== Characteristics and Personality ==
A master craftsman, a lover of weapons, he is a tranquil and observant god who has a keen eye for tools, always making one or two comments about the weapons [[Melinoë]] has in hand.

When he appears, he admits that he honestly wasn't so interested and is only helping because his parents asked. But he's very helpful to everyone and doesn't make distinctions. He's a bit reserved, elusive, and solitary, due to spending so much time isolated only in the company of his weapons and the forge fire.

Despite being a god, he is skeptical, a practical man who prefers things done manually. He refers to Melinoë as "Little Witch". Hephaestus stands somewhere on the side of 'science'. He despises Melinoë's magic when he meets her and boasts that his weapons perform 'magic' and are superior to the powers of witches.

Although he is more closed off than other [[Olympian Gods]] and doesn't easily open up, others might say Hephaestus acts a bit rough and without class when he interacts, but he and [[Aphrodite]] are quite affectionate with each other, implying that Hephaestus's skills were one of the reasons she was attracted to him; he's very skilled with his hands.

He has a calm expression on his face and pretends not to care. Internally, Hephaestus is insecure and afraid of rejection, so he avoids any deeper personal involvement before it can happen, as he grew up being shunned and is bitter towards [[Hera]]. When [[Zagreus]] sought aid from the Olympians, Hephaestus chose to ignore the plea, reluctant to entangle himself in another familial conflict and convinced himself that it was best for all parties to handle their own affairs. However, he now acknowledges his regret for not intervening and likely sees Melinoë as a chance to make amends, helping this time.

== Physical description ==
Hephaestus is portrayed as a chubby god who uses a wheelchair. He's completely naked, saved for the light blue mantle that covers his lower half. The tattoos on his arms show traditional Greek patterns, some including people in many different situations. His dark hair is tied into a bun and blends into his beard, and he uses a golden headband. His most prominent feature besides his wheelchair is his mechanical left leg. He carries a forge hammer.

== Background ==
Hephaestus is the son of [[Zeus]] and [[Hera]], brother of [[Ares]]. His mother, feeling envious upon seeing the splendor of Zeus' children, [[Athena]] and [[Apollo]], tried to do the same, but instead, resulted in the birth of Hephaestus. Hephaestus grew up feeling rejected by the queen of Olympus. When he showed his worth, he became the most talented blacksmith among the gods.

Hephaestus himself was not involved during the events of the first ''[[Hades (game)|Hades]]'', but after the [[Epilogue Guide|epilogue]], a statue of Mount Olympus will be left in Persephone's garden as a gift from the Olympians. Zagreus comments that it was made by Hephaestus.

== Hades II ==
Hephaestus lends [[Melinoë]] his boons once he becomes aware of her existence like the rest of the Olympians.

== Affinity ==
As of Early Access, Hephaestus' affinity gauge is maxed out at 4 [[File:filled_heart_icon.png|25px]] hearts.

{|class="fandom-table" style="text-align:center; width:100%; border-radius: 20px; overflow: hidden;"
!style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:rgba(170, 170, 170, 0.10)"|Affinity Gauge
!style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:rgba(170, 170, 170, 0.10)"|[[File:Icon-Gifts.png|25px]] Indulgences
!style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:rgba(170, 170, 170, 0.10)"|Reward
|-
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|[[File:filled_heart_icon_with_gift.png|50px]]
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|'''1''' {{Nectar}}
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|[[File:Adamant_Shard.png|50px]]<br>[[Adamant Shard]]
|-
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|[[File:filled_heart_icon.png|50px]]
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|'''1''' {{Nectar}}
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|2nd Conversation
|-
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|[[File:filled_heart_icon.png|50px]]
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|'''1''' {{Nectar}}
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|3rd Conversation
|-
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|[[File:filled_heart_icon.png|50px]]
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|'''1''' {{Nectar}}
|style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20"|4th Conversation
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center; width:50%; background:#ffffff20" |[[File:locked_heart_notyetavailable_icon.png|50px]]<br>Hephaestus wants nothing more from you for now ''(perhaps in the future...).''
|}

== Book of Shadows Entry ==
{{Codex|You do not know what to make of this one. He rejects our craft, believes only in what he can grasp with his thick hands.

But he is a recluse in his own realm. In that you feel a connection.}}

==Trivia==
*Hephaestus was sometimes depicted using a wheelchair in Greek mythology.
**In real life, there is a 2500 year old [https://www.theoi.com/image/K7.6Hephaistos.jpg vase of Hephaestus on a wheelchair].
*As the god of metallurgy in Greek mythology, he created several weapons and accessories, including his iconic Hammer of Hephaestus, the shield and armor of [[Achilles]], the aegis, the Crown of [[Helios]], the chalice of [[Dionysus]], the bows and arrows of the twins [[Artemis]] and [[Apollo]], and [[Hermes]]' sandals.
*In some versions of the myth of his birth, due to Hera's jealousy over [[Zeus]] giving birth to [[Athena]], it is said that Hera gave birth to Hephaestus alone, through [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis parthenogenesis] without the union of a partner.
*In the game's canon, Hephaestus was born after the twins Artemis and Apollo, as well as Athena.
**However in Greek Mythology, Hephaestus was born before the twins, and some versions also make him older than Athena.
*When speaking of [[Polyphemus]], Hephaestus says he "could've used that one at the old forge", alluding to Brontes, Steropes and Arges, three brothers Cyclops that, given their craftsmanship, were said to be helpers of Hephaestus, when he came to be.
*Hephaestus' elemental boon affinities are fire and earth, a reference to his domain has god of the Forge and Metallurgy.
*According to Hephaestus, the [[Nocturnal Arms]] are of a workmanship superior to even his own.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Hephaestus Reward.png|Hephaestus Reward
Hephaestus symbol II.png|Hephaestus Symbol in ''Hades II''
CodexPortrait Hephaestus.png|Hephaestus Book of Shadows Portrait
</gallery>

== Additional notes ==
{{Wikipedia|Hephaestus}}

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