Gideon Nikolai Thorne
Male | Forty-One | Professor of Botany, PhD
Alias
Wildwood
Secret Identity
Yes
Appearance
Civilian: Gideon is a fairly average individual, standing at 6'0" and weighing roughly 165 lbs. He isn't particularly muscular, but that's not to say that he isn't physically fit; longtime hobbies of hiking, rock-climbing, and long-distance running have given him good cardiovascular endurance. As a result, he is built mostly with lean muscle, having a slim waist and somewhat angular shoulders. His complexion is fair, accompanied by blue eyes and messy blond hair that is beginning to gray around his temples. When teaching, he often wears glasses for nearsightedness, but opts to wear contacts when in costume. (It's notably difficult to wear glasses under a mask.) His clothes often scream "science teacher."
Costume: His costume is a relatively simple one, but it serves its purpose. He wears thick, flexile pants in dark brown, a long-sleeved, heavy shirt in dark green and, over that, a hooded leather-like vest. (The inside of the vest is lined with Kevlar-- a precaution he will hopefully never need.) He wears brown boots and gloves with his costume, and covers his face with a mask that protrudes slightly over the edge of his hood. His pants tuck into his boots and fit just loosely enough in the leg to cover a supportive brace worn on his right knee.
[
Mask and
vest--
less fitted and sans fur/laces.]
Superpower
So far as Gideon can tell, his power enables him to manipulate energy on the molecular level. Using his body as a conduit, he is able to draw energy from one living thing and channel it into another. This ability enables him to heal injuries by inducing growth and repair on a cellular level. He is also able to channel energy into living things in order to manipulate non-sentient beings (read: plants). Creatures with will, including animals, are too resistant for him to control-- which is perfectly fine by him. By drawing both free energy and energy from other living beings, Gideon is able to force plants through rapid growth before assuming temporary control of them.
That said, his ability to move and manipulate plants isn't without its limits. While he is able to lift a growth of roots out of the ground or cause weeds to ensnare feet, he cannot do anything monumental like uproot trees and send them for a stroll downtown. After he ceases his control over a plant, it returns to its original state. Occasionally, accelerated growth or extreme manipulation will damage a plant beyond repair, though Gideon tries to avoid such.
When Gideon draws energy from other humans, there is a finite amount he can access. If he is focused on a single person, he can siphon energy until that person is fatigued, but he cannot damage them further than that. (And he has never
tried to damage someone beyond that point.) He does not need to be touching an individual to draw small amounts of energy from them, but when drawing a large amount of energy from someone, or when healing, he must make physical contact with that individual. He is also only able to heal injuries, not sickness. Theoretically, he should be able to speed recovery, but again, he has previously lacked the resources to investigate further.
It should be noted that Gideon can only act as a medium for channeling energy. Because of this, he cannot heal himself. When he heals someone, he must actively draw energy from a source and direct it into the recipient. Any form of healing takes an incredible amount of concentration from him, and leaves him quite tired. The same is true for channeling energy in order to manipulate plant life. If no other sources of energy are available, he can transfer energy from himself. This is used only as a last resort, as it leaves him incredibly weak.
Biography
Gideon is relatively new to Voltapolis, having relocated to the city just two years ago. He was formerly a professor at University of Vermont, teaching botany and forestry courses. Apart from lecture, Gideon was the school's leading researcher in plant genetics and cell manipulation. His unique abilities had given him a great position from which to conduct his studies, and he seldom used his powers outside of research.
(He didn't use them much in his research, either-- mostly to accelerate plant growth in order to obtain better samples.)
When two individuals began patrolling the surrounding cities as superheroes, Gideon finally took interest in using his own abilities for what he thought might be a greater good. When he had the spare time, he would join the two other heroes and helped them to prevent and stop small crimes. Gideon enjoyed his work as a so-called superhero-- almost as much as teaching and conducting his research.
Involvement with a colleague, however, ended both of his careers. He had been involved in an on-again, off-again relationship with one of the other researchers at the university, who was constantly competing with Gideon for funding and acclaim. Gideon had been naïve enough to believe that the competition was friendly and that she cared enough about him to not disclose his secret, should she find out.
Inevitably, she found out.
She gave Gideon the ultimatum of leaving the university on his own, or she would inform the administration that he was a dangerous vigilante who wasn't fit to teach-- and had been enhancing his research with "mutant abilities."
This occurrence was one semester before he would've had tenure, and Gideon left the school with a heavy heart. Fearing that her threat would follow him to another institution, Gideon decided to move across the country. He had read that a city called Voltapolis was a sort of hub for metahumans and bizarre happenings, and he was able to secure a job at Voltapolis University, teaching botany and environmental science.
He is now happily settled into his new life in Voltapolis, but is eager to make acquaintances with whom he can better relate.
Misc.
- Speaks fluent Russian
- Currently learning bo staff, but isn't comfortable taking it out in the field just yet
- Would probably sell you his soul for a good drink after finals week
- Beware of the dad humour
Hexcode
3CB371
