Nightmeld
Character Name: Jacob Varnis
Character Alias: Nightmeld
Other Known Alias: varies
Identity: Semi-Secret
Group Affiliations: None Currently
Past Group Affiliations: Childs Play
Gender: Male
Age: 24
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 180 lbs
Eyes: Onyx Black
Hair: Short, Onyx Black
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Skin Tone: Onyx Black
Birthplace: Santa Rosa, CA
DoB: July 9
Handedness: Naturally Left. Taught to be Right Handed in primary school.
Identifying Marks: Several large tattoos covering back, chest & arms. Tats are colored white with some viberant greens & reds
Physical Form: Random Mutant
Origin: Natal
Public Popularity: 0
Resources: Varies
Powers:
Sound Manipulation: AM 50
Shadow Shaping: RM 30
Shadow Step: RM 30
Spiderclimb: EX 20
Talents:
Stealth
Martial Arts C
Acrobatics
Thief
Contacts:
Jimmy "Gets", a street savy fence with a mean streak.
Joey Z, owns a safe house
Limitations:
Stealth talent is only applicable in dark areas & shadows.
Sound Manipulation is extremely localized and range cannot be extended
Power Explanations:
Sound Manipulation is a power that is always active. It nullifies any and all noise made by Nightmeld other than his speaking. As an extension of this, anything that Nightmeld carries, manipulates or holds onto is likewise affected by his anti-sound. This means that he could be tap dancing while carrying a sack full of pennies, while operating a leaf blower and holding a screaming baby and no sound would emit from any of this. Unfortunately his power seems to be pretty localized so, for example, if he were to touch the tread of a bulldozer, that particular side of the tread may make no noise, but the digging and the engine and the other tread would still make normal noise. To use phones he must specifically concentrate to allow the talker's voice to get through his anti-sound aura. It is why he prefers speaker phones and never uses communication devices while on a job.
In short, it appears that, within approximately six foot of his person, anything he is actively manipulating makes no sound but beyond that, he cannot control sound whatsoever.
Shadow Shaping is fairly self explanatory. He can cause naturally occuring shadows to expand in size, covering areas where shadows would not naturally be due to light. He can also cause shadows and darkness to become darker, making it more difficult to see through. He can affectively make a dimly lit corner appear as full night and full night to appear thick and impenetrable, as if the darkness was palpable. Due to his natural skin tone and to his dark colored costumes, it enables him to hide much more effectively.
Shadow Step is a travel power that allows Nightmeld to physically step into a shadow and step out of shadow in another location. It is similar to a teleport or an energy path. Due to his training in hapkido throughout jr high and highschool, he is adept at grappling opponents and uses Shadow Step to slam opponents into walls, ceilings and floors. He has also used this same technique to escape holds on him.
Nightmeld found that he is able to walk on sheer surfaces such as walls and even walk upside down on ceilings. This also allows him to use nonconventional objects to dangle from, stand or perch. This is only useful if the wall or object he is using can support his weight.
Apart from these amazing powers, Jacob spent many years trying to get into sports, such as football or wrestling but was not allowed due to parent outrage that freak genes might "rub off" on their children. To resolve this, he enrolled in a hapkido studio as a young boy. He would patiently wait in the sensei's office until all of the parents would drop their children off at the door and leave to get away from their brats for an hour or two. He would then join the class and spar for the duration. Kids, especially martial arts disciplined children, always seemed to accept him better.
Jacob also took up gymnastics. It was a sport he could perform without parents getting bothered that he would infect other children. He became an excellent acrobat and due to his natural agility, he couldve gone into the olympics or beyond. This dream was halted by officials stating he had a genetic advantage over other competitors and removed him from any level of real competition.
Growing up in such a manner took it's toll on his morale and mindset. Finding problems with acquiring gainful employment along with his natural ability to be deathly silent and move through shadows finally pushed him into a life as a thief. He learned quickly how to break locks, pop safes and gain quiet entry into places he did not belong. Due to the fact that he was obvious in any line up or suspect search, he began wearing a dark and fully covering outfits and calling himself Nightmeld. He also, strictly refrains from ever using his powers (except sound manip) outside of costume, with rare exception.
He is generally not a bad person and does not consider himself a villain. He actually does a lot to help orphaned and homeless children, especially ones with mutant genes. His contact Jimmy "Gets" keeps busting his chops about being a 'modern day robin hood schmuck', but he dismisses such references as moronic. He does what he feels he has to and tries to counter this by doing what he feels is right.
(according to the point buy system i use, he is 630 points. if he is a npc, he is 120 points shy of 750. if he is a player, the 130 extra points are for his skin tone & sound manipulation range limitations)
The one and only Moo.
