Gavin Clough

Real Name:  Gavin Clough
Renegade Name:  The Blacksmith
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Race: Human, Caucasian
Hair: Thick, curly brown.
Eyes: Deep, dark brown.
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 235 lbs
Blood type: O-


Gavin has wide shoulders and strong arms gained from his hours working as a blacksmith's apprentice, and then blacksmith, for a variety of Renaissance Fairs. He is tall, standing at 6 feet, 5 inches in height, and weighs around 235 pounds. He has thick, curly brown hair, a beard to match, and deep, dark brown eyes. Hidden under his clothing, he also has a small majority of scars on his arms, where sparks from his forge work have burnt him.




Gavin is typically very gentle and slow to anger. Due to his naturally great strength, he learned while he was still a young boy to restrain himself so as not to inadvertently harm others. This restraint extends to his mindset as well, and he typically says only what he thinks needs to be said and nothing more. He also takes great care before speaking, making sure his thoughts are well formed and complete before opening his mouth. This carefulness, combined with his bear-like stature, often gives others the impression that he is somewhat slow of wit. However, his cautious way of thinking gives him such insight into people and situations that scheming "Heroes" and "Villains" often mistake his straightforward manner for one of extreme craftiness that he has intentionally disguised with a simplistic veneer.


Gavin has, since he was 12, worked with his uncle in the a traveling forge that joined various Renaissance Fairs. He enjoyed the work, as it gave him something to focus on, and also something that would allow him to use his natural strength. He spent three years learning the art of the blacksmith from his uncle, and friends of his uncle. And then one day, shortly after he turned 20, his powers manifested.

Shortly after his 20th birthday, Gavin was working the forge with his uncle, helping craft a number of special order swords for a group of "knights" for the Fair they were attending. While holding one of the swords on an anvil for his uncle, a fight between Fair goers spread into the forge and caused a spill of coals, which started a fire. In the confusion that followed, Gavin's uncle was trapped in the burning building. When Gavin realized this, he rushed into the building to help him get out, still holding the tongs he had been using during the work.

It was only after Gavin emerged from the burning building, with his uncle, that he saw what had happened. His body was iron, literally. And it had allowed him to push through the burning building and rescue his uncle. He was so shocked that he dropped the tongs, and the iron was gone, as if it had never been there.

Gavin has spent the last eight years learning to control his powers, moving between Fairs with his uncle. Recently, however, he has saved up enough money to be able to buy a house and plot of land on the outskirts of Chicago. Using some of the land, he built his own forge, where he hones his skills, both mundane and power-related.


1. Strength
2. Endurance
3. Reaction
4. Agility



Matter Absorption
Gavin has the ability to duplicate the properties of any solid, non-living matter he touches. For example, if Gavin touches the metal titanium, his body takes on the appearance and properties of titanium. In accordance, his physical attributes are enhanced to match the matter he absorbs. Gavin retains his intellect and capacity for speech and full physical movement.


Normal Human
Without absorbing any matter, Gavin is susceptible to all the same things a normal human being is, such as physical injury and illness.

Matter Weaknesses
While his powers allow him enhanced durability and strength, they come with the weaknesses that match the matter he becomes. For instance, if he becomes glass, sufficent force will shatter him and enough heat will melt him.


When at home and working, Gavin wears a comfortable pair of pants, a shirt, steel-toed boots, and a leather apron that protects his clothing from sparks. When he leaves home, he normally carries with him a leather satchel filled with various items made of different materials. The various items are as follows: One dull arrowhead, made from high quality steel; one pair of brass knuckles, made of lead; a broken chuck of concrete; the tongs he was using the first time his powers manifested.


Gavin stood, his back to the wall. His outfit worked well for this kind of situation, as it was just the right shade to match with the concrete he was touching with his left hand. Absorbing the concrete allowed him to blend just enough that the bank robbers had missed him in the hustle, as they rushed in to take over the lobby, and hold the patrons and staff hostage. One of the guards had tried to fight back, and had received a bullet for his trouble. Seeing that had caused the blacksmith to pause for a moment, instead of stepping in and ending the situation. After all, if these men were willing to shoot a normal person, there was a good chance that they would shoot him as well, no matter what his abilities. So he stood and watched, his left hand resting inside his satchel, fingers running across the four items in it.

After a good deal of shouting, mostly from the patrons, as they scrambled in fear, the lobby went silent, save for a woman sobbing as she held her head in her hands. And then the bank robbers got "organized", as they ordered the staff to open the tills and fill their bags. As two of them stood watch in the lobby, the other five went across the counter, to make sure the tills were emptied and the silent alarms weren't touched. One of the five grabbed the manager and drug him towards the back, where Gavin was certain the safe was. Watching, Gavin frowned softly at the woman who was still sobbing. One of the robbers was staring at her, his eyes narrowing. It was hard to tell what his expression was, hidden under the hockey mask, but Gavin could guess, as the young smith watched the mans fingers tighten on the grip of his rifle. The robber moved forward, towards the woman, and raised his rifle up in the air, aiming the butt-stock at the woman. He brought it down to smack her, only for it to stop just short, the middle of the rifle held clenched in a hand made entirely of high quality steel.

"Now, I know that this kind of work can be stressful, sir. But I also know that you shouldn't smack people around with weapons. Now, hows about you move along and leave this poor lady alone. Before I take that rifle and twist it around your neck like a pretzel?"

The robber stared for a minute at the steel-clad man, before he let go of the rifle with one hand to pull a pistol out. Leveling the much smaller weapon at the blacksmith, he squeezed the trigger once, and then a second time, watching as the first bullet hit the man and then dropped to the ground. The second bullet shot off at a ricochet, passing through and shattering one of the windows set in the entrance doors. In the time it took for the entire interaction between the two men, the other robber in the lobby had managed to level his rifle at Gavin, and call out to the other robbers. In short order, Gavin was surrounded by 5 armed men, each with a weapon pointed at him.

"Fellas, no matter what happens here, this day is not going to end well for you if you don't stop pointing those weapons at me," came his calm, collected voice. "The only person walking out of this Mexican stand-off intact is going to be me. And I really don't want to have to give the police a really long statement about how I beat all 8 of you unconscious," he continued, turning his head to look at each man in turn.

From outside the bank, there was already one police car parked, with the two officers assigned to it already on the radio, calling that shots had been fired. There was silence for a moment, after the first three shots, and then a rapid burst of gunfire, followed by screams and grunts. And then, silence once more.