Hermes

Hermes was the Olympian god of boundaries, roads and journeys, travelers, messengers, shepherds, flocks, speed, merchants, trade and commerce, financial gain, athletes, orators, heralds, the herms, cunning, wit, thieves, language, eloquence, writing, communication, luck, liars, and trickery.

Birth and Abducting Apollo's Cattle
Hermes was born sometime after the First Titanomachy, the son of Zeus, king of the gods, and the Pleiad Maia. (The god's place of birth was, according to many sources, Mount Cyllene in northeastern Arcadia). Being a god, he matured rapidly and within a few minutes of his birth stole the cattle of Apollo and invented the lyre. He even thought of a clever way to cover up his crime: tying bundles of grass to the cows' feet and leading them backward out of the pasture to make it look like something had been led into the pasture but not away from it.

Despite this, Apollo found out and went to Zeus for justice. When brought before his father on Mount Olympus, Hermes attempted to charm Zeus into letting him go by telling him he was just an innocent newborn baby. Undeceived, but amused by the child's boldness and wit, Zeus instead forced him to compensate Apollo, which Hermes did by presenting him with the lyre. Apollo was instantly enchanted by the instrument and forgot about his anger immediately. Hermes also traded the shepherd's pipe (another invention of his) to Apollo in exchange for his golden staff (Caduceus), sword, and knowledge of the art of prophecy. When he came of age, Hermes was made the messenger of the gods.

Chelone
Hermes was in charge of distributing invitations to the many guests of Zeus and Hera's wedding. Among them was the nymph Chelone, who had no desire to come to the celebration. An angry Hermes then lifted her house and hurled it at Chelone, transforming her into the first turtle.

Pandora
When his father Zeus decided to create the irresistible Pandora (in order to punish Epimetheus for his brother Prometheus' actions), Hermes helped by gifting the girl with deceitfulness, which was what greatly contributed to her finally opening her pithos.

Messenger of the Gods
As the messenger of gods, Hermes would often serve as the intermediary between the gods and the mortal world. As a result, Hermes became the only major Olympian that could freely enter the realm of any other god without an invitation. One of his tasks would also be to lead the souls of the deceased to Charon in the Underworld.

First Gigantomachy
During the First Gigantomachy, Hermes brought down the Giant Hippolytos with the help of the mighty demigod Heracles.

Hermes was also the one to reluctantly free Ares from the latter's 13-month long imprisonment in Otis and Ephialtes' Celestial Bronze jar.

Typhon
After Zeus' defeat in his first battle with the monstrous storm giant Typhon, Hermes found his father's disabled and immobilized body (since Typhon had ripped his divine tendons out), and carried it to a cave with the help of the minor satyr god Aegipan. After Aegipan managed to trick Typhon into returning Zeus' tendons, Hermes helped re-attach them to his father with careful zaps of the lightning bolts retrieved back from the storm giant's bag. As a god, a very grateful Zeus healed almost instantly and requested that Hermes stay out of the way of his final grandiose battle with his colossal foe, Hermes being more than happy to comply.

Helping Perseus
When his demigod half-brother Perseus was given the seemingly impossible task of beheading Medusa, Hermes promptly arrived to help, bringing with him a magical expandable bag, a pair of winged sandals (similar to his own), and a replica of Hades' Helm of Darkness. Hermes then gave the demigod strict instructions on how to use these items and advised him to visit the Gray Sisters first, as they were the only ones who knew the location of Medusa's secret lair, which then Perseus, being grateful, tried to give him a hug.

Trojan War
During the Trojan War Hermes sided with the Greeks and delivered Zeus' order to Achilles that the hero return Hector's body to his father, King Priam. When Priam sought to ransom Achilles to return Hector's body to him, Hermes guided him at night to the hero's tent.

Hermes later aided the hero Odysseus against Circe and later told Calypso to either let him go or face the wrath of Zeus.