Papa Legba
GENERAL INFORMATION
â Race
Loa
â Affiliation
Himself
â Gender
Male
â Nickname(s)/Alias(es)
Vye Legba, Atibon Legba, Met Kafou Legba, Papa Labas
â Age
Eternal
â Love Interest
N/A
â Face Claim
Lance Reddick
⊠APPEARANCE âŠ
â Height
6'4"
â Weight
Unknown
â Build
Imposing
â Hair Color
Black
â Eye Color
Coal-Red
â Scars/Tattoos/Piercings
He has no scars, tattoos, or piercings. His body is basically flawless.
â Description
Tall, dark, and mysterious is the Voodoo God known as Papa Legba. His hair is long and black made up into impressive dreadlocks that flow from underneath his top hat. His face however draws the most attention from those who are honored (or unfortunate) to meet the shady spirit. Covered in a grey-white facepaint that resembles a skull, his already haunting and burning eyes seem to explode from his own head. With eyes so intense, it feels as if he can bore into your very soul. Which may very well be true. His fingers have noticeably long nails that are almost claw like. Besides those eccentricities, he seems to resemble a tall, black man rather than some otherworldly entity.
â Preferred Clothing
Papa Legba is a deity of style and class. His overall appearance can be defined as mixture of an aristocrat and a shamanistic tribesman. Easily the most distinguishable piece of fashion, the rather stylish Papa Legba wears is his black, Top Hat. Adorned upon his hat is a band with a triangular pattern that is further accessorized by the addition of tiny skulls that ring around his hat. The rest of his clothing is no less stylish, ornate, and imposing. He wears a black suit and trenchcoat, with a red, leather vest, that seems to be made from the skins of alligators, and a white button up shirt that is left undone at his neck. From there he wears a tribal necklace that is adorned with the fangs and claws of dogs. Upon his shoulders he is covered in black feathers that have been plucked from the tails of roosters. Papa Legba also enjoys jewelry, often wearing a ruby pendant and a necklace where a blue crystal dangles from it. He also wears a ring with a green stone of some kind. All of this is topped off with a walking cane that has snake skin patterns upon the wood.
⊠MENTALITY âŠ
â Oddities
While Papa Legba does seem like a representation of the Christian Devil, he does however show curious signs of being something more than just demonic. He can be rather fatherly, especially towards children. He does care about children, especially their innocent souls. Often leading them to Heaven where they will live in eternal bliss. He also may act fatherly to those who summon him, depending on how they behave around him and what kind of person they truly are. It's because of this behavior that he is called Papa in the first place. Earning him his veneration amongst those who believe in the Voodoo faith.
â Likes
-Dogs
-Roosters
-Coffee, may have sugar but no cream
-Rum
-Cocaine
+Souls
-Various Entryways, like Cemetery Gates, Thresholds of Homes, and Doorways
-Crossroads
-"Helping" Others ease their torments in life
-Cigars
-Playing Cards
-Anything sweet like Candy, Plantains, Hot Chocolate, Coconuts, and Cakes.
-Tormenting Sinners in the Afterlife
-Children
â Dislikes
-Disrespect
-Swindlers and Cheaters
-Disobedience
â Hobbies
-Collecting Souls
-Guiding Souls
-Making Deals
-Punishing Sinners in the Afterlife
â Phobia(s)
There is nothing Papa Legba fears
â Sexuality
It is unclear what his preferences are.
â Personality
Not many know what the mythical Papa Legba is like, for not many have had the pleasure or displeasure to speak with the storied Loa of Voodoo legend. Some say he is diplomatic, able to speak and understand many languages, an eloquent and respectful orator. Some say he is a trickster, able to come up with clever and cunning ways to outsmart another person. Always mysterious and never fully speaks the truth and has a penchant for telling riddles. Some say he is a businessman, able to figure out what people want and able to negotiate terms and prices that makes all parties happy. Never once did he have a dissatisfied customer. Most say he is a guardian, stoic and ever watchful of the bridge between the Earth and the Hereafter.
He is many things but those that have met him know otherwise. For the most part Papa Legba is an intimidating, but well cultured being. He isn't rude and disrespectful, nor wild and crazy. He is calm and collected and often speaks with carefully picked words that sound even lovingly. Yet, Papa Legba is devious, his intellect is greater than most would let on. To the point that he doesn't need to sugar coat or lie about his intentions, and people still fall for his tricks every time. He understands you can catch more flies with honey than vinegar and that honesty is more attractive than a well polished lie. Papa Legba does not hide the fact that he enjoys sadistic pleasures, such a perpetrating psychological torment or physical torture in the afterlife. He enjoys watching people suffer and often laughs about if from within the shadows.
He is intimidating and haunting, a tall, dark figure that commands both fear and intrigue. All respect Legba out of fear of his power but also out of greed for his willingness to put that power to work for someone else's benefit. He acts cordial during his business dealings and even is thankful for those that provide a little tribute for him taking time out of his eternity to visit someone. He is upfront and does not lie when someone asks for him to elaborate on the details of his deals. He makes it clear that he wants your soul and your service to do whatever he commands of you. Most people would not accept those terms, well rational people, but Legba worries not. Those who summon him want what they ask for and he is all but willing to give it to you.
Yet, he delights in visiting a collected soul every year to further push someone's sanity. He enjoys breaking people psychologically, knowing that person cannot refuse him lest he take away what he gave them. If refused their soul will end up in Hell to be tortured for all eternity. Either way, Papa Legba gets what he wants, a win-win situation every time. This makes him an incredibly dangerous being, but he does not force people into his dealings. Papa isn't one for such brutish tactics. He'd rather let the world break someone down into the point of desperation and more times than not, the world will screw that person over. No need for Papa Lebga to do it himself. Yet, there are things that he does have particular love for. Such as children for which they see this normally dark and demented figure as fatherly. He is kind to the innocent as he guides them through purgatory to their blissful afterlife. He also loves many things like sweets, food, cocaine, rum, and coffee. These are often small tribute for the deity if someone wishes to incur his favor. He also loves dogs and roosters, even considering them sacred as he proudly wears their parts as dressings.
There are rare instances that Papa Legba breaks his meticulous and chilling demeanor. Yet if angered, the deity will raise his voice as it becomes a deep and demonic while it spreads across the room as an echo. This shows that Papa Legba is an authoritative figure within the Spirit Realm as most spirits avoid angering the God. He sometimes alters his voice for fun and to be intimidating, often loving how people cower beneath it. It's simple, you never mess with Papa Legba.
⊠BACKGROUND âŠ
â Relationship Status
Single
â Family
Mawu (Mother)
Liza (Father)
â Personal History
Papa Legba was the youngest son of the creator spirits, Mawu and Liza, the Loa that created the world. Like many of the Loa they confine themselves to their own nations. Whether they be Radas, Petros, or Ghedes, the Loa stick to their nations. Legba however was one of the known Loa that straddles amongst all nations. His job since his creation was to be a gatekeeper, a regulator between the Afterlife and Earth. He was the Spirit of Life and Death and therefor guided all spirits to Heaven or Hell. He was also the Loa's personal mediator, he understood all languages and helped facilitate communication between the nations and Earth. Many Loa respect Legba for his honored position but belonging to no one nation he has taken up the characteristics found amongst each nation.
Like the Radas he was a benefactor, but like the Petros he can be aggressive, and like the Ghede he had a connection to the dead. That is why Legba is considered the God of Travel, Opportunity, and Luck in Voodoo Culture. He is also the Gatekeeper of the Spirit World, and therefor has control over life and death itself. Despite his important standing as the mouthpiece of the gods, Papa Legba desired spirits for himself. The other Loa would not allow Legba to forcefully take spirits for himself and denied him to even attempt collecting them. His job was to guide not keep. Yet, the crafty Loa had proposed an alternative, one that would avoid an conflict between the gods. He had said what if they gave themselves to him? He would offer them an opportunity to be collected if they so choose. He would never force, merely offer. The Loa considered this and did believe that the Humans would not readily sell their souls, and even if they did it would be there own faults, not theirs. Seeing as the other Loa will collect spirits no matter what, they allowed Legba to gain his own spirits only if they chose to be collected.
Papa Legba continued to show his cleverness by arranging a system for which would make Humans more agreeable to having their souls be Legba's personal property. He allowed himself to be willfully summoned so long as the summoner shows great desire. He would come and he would give them what they want so long as they give him their soul. Once he owns a person's soul he is allowed to command that human in what ever manner he feels like. The Loa cannot stop him since the Human willingly offered themselves. This has earned Papa Legba a nice collection of souls, which continues to grow so long as desperation and fear commands the Human mind. Papa Legba has continued to do since time immemorial and will continue to do so until the end of all time. So rejoice! Your wish is his command but is the price worth it?
⊠OTHER âŠ
In order to summon Papa Legba, one must express true desire and intent. One does not necessarily have to believe in the Voodoo faith to summon him. Papa Legba is more than willing to have any soul he can take. He can also be called upon for wisdom, advice, or answers to questions. Although he would expect and be thankful for any tribute one provides. One may also impress the Voodoo God and in exchange he may do a service to that person. Of course if anyone wants something expensive, like immortality, one most give him their soul and must provide a service to him every year. Once agreed he will pick a day and will return and give that person his request, they must never refuse and most follow it to the letter. Failure will result in the revocation of his gifts and upon death will wind up in their Personal Hell. This shall occur ever year on that same day until they can no longer perform this service. He may sometimes assist someone in the afterlife, say if a witch performs Descensum . He may drop friendly hints or advice to help guide that wanderer in his realm, but of course he will never give direct assistance. Also when Papa Legba comes the shadows in the room seem to alter and shift as the sound of bones rattling can be heard. Almost like a shade the spirit appears from out of thin air before his summoner, awaiting to hear why they have called him.
What a lovely evening. Hale was peachy, pale flesh of his cheeks flushed with the rush of token intoxication as he stepped onto the front porch. A thin leather lace of his dress shoe had come undone during his stroll, elbows nearly rubbing betwixt himself and Silas. He paid no mind. Smoky clouds sidled across the sky and like raptorial snakes, wrapped themselves about the moon and shot the light from the front path of Robichaux. The night had become excellently dark. Unusual, though. Generally speaking, the subconscious urges at play kept the moon high and full, thanks to Hale. Allowed it to spill ivory luminescence freely for playful witches and warlock alike. But, tonight, it was disappearing. No work of his own. A sign? No, just his ability dimming because of whiskey. He laughed to himself. A virile hand slapped emptily at ebony slacks, until Haleâs eyes lowered to his feet and an ill-matched grin stole at the corner of his mouth. Silas had followed, studious and respectful. Lingered at the Council operativeâs side.
