The Clockmaker - Leader of the Foundation

[Guest Houdinimachine]

Name

The Clockmaker

 

Pic

 

OOC History

I'm introducing a team of golden age heroes who have suddenly started reappearing all across the city of New York. The Clockmaker is the man possibly behind their reappearance and their former leader.

 

Personality

Charles Nightingale was a man of many words, most of which were later found to be invented by him in the spur of the moment. He spent the vast majority of his adult life manipulating his friends and family not only into loving him, but one another. It's suggested by some that the super team he helped form, The Foundation, never would have taken off of the ground had he not convinced his then wife, Flora, that her son was his. She had been about to leave him and travel to LA, but Charles convinced her the child was of his blood and not of the foundry worker she slept with during their trial separation.

 

Some would question his morals due to his lifelong estrangement from honesty, but none can argue with the results this enigmatic king of lies brought about. The good that came from his manipulations was long lasting and widely felt until, one by one, the Foundation disappeared.

 

 

Fictional Character Biography

Born of an Irish, bartender mother and a Dutch-English, tugboat captain father, Charles Victor Nightingale struggled through the depression like any other child of the time not lucky enough to be born into wealth. It was during these harsh times, as a teenager, that Charles started to realize his potential. While completely uninterested in school, he took quickly to speech, debate, and forensics. Other students his age struggled to keep up with him as it seemed like every contingency they had considered was already thwarted by Nightingale before they had even spoken.

 

To his credit, Charles still had no idea of the true power of his gift. He saw possible outcomes for every branch in the course of conversation. It wasn't long before the frustrated young man dropped out of school to illegally enlist in the war effort. As a grunt in the marines, Charles met his future teammate and best friend, Elliot Baker, who would eventually be known as the Foundation's strong man, Crown.

 

At the Normandy beach head, Charles' ability took a gigantic step forward. He sidestepped bullets and snaked his way through the thick gunfire with Elliot by his side the whole time. When later asked how kept Elliot and himself safe through the danger, he would smile knowingly and say that it was dumb luck. Of course, after four years of dumb luck, even Elliot started to wonder what exactly Charles was. When they returned to the States, Nightingale was tested rigorously by the government and the findings showed that the dopamine levels in his mesolimbic pathway were off the charts. Charles Victor Nightingale was schizophrenic. Later, Victor would admit to Flora that in his schizophrenic visions, he'd see the entire world as a machine. Setting one part of the machine in motion would lead to another part of the machine being moved, and he could see all of it.

 

When Charles and Elliot created the Foundation with the other founding members, Rainmaker, and Flora, the group became celebrities in the Manhattan district they set up shop in. Some still argue to this day that even the fame of the group was a symptom of Charles' manipulations, but he never confessed to that particular lie. The Foundation grew exponentially. The networking of Charles as the Clockmaker had made the entire city of Manhattan nearly impossible to commit a crime in. Then, one by one, members of the Foundation began to fall off the map. Some died, but a majority just disappeared and never appeared again. Charles was the last to vanish, and, when he did, it is said that he turned off the lights at the Frederick Building where the group had called its home for nearly a decade. In a note he left, he said, "If God is as perfect as man says he is, then his clockwork has been in motion all along and it's man's fault for not seeing the gears in front of him."

 

Then, nearly half a century later, Charles reappeared showing no signs of aging. With him were Flora, Crown, and half a dozen other members of the Foundation. The group completely cut off contact with the media, and no public announcements have been forthcoming. The Clockmaker is alive, and his lies and machinations spread to all the ends of the earth. Why are the Foundation back, and what is Nightingale planning?

 

 

The Quick & Dirty Description

 

The Clockmaker is an otherwise normal human being with the possibly superhuman ability to see the entire world like a gigantic Rube Goldberg machine ready to be sprung into motion and the very human ability to lie constantly to everyone he loves and cares about.

 

Powers and Abilities

In a possible religious vision that was diagnosed as schizophrenia, Charles began to see the world as a set of clockwork gears that moved with and against each other depending on where he pulled or pushed. He will convince a man he's contracted a disease just so he heads to the hospital and, inadvertently, crashes headlong into the getaway car of a bank heist.

 

His martial arts skills are passable, and he maintained marksman level on the rifle while in the marines. He is also possessed of a genius level intelligence and his faithful clockwork robotic butler, Derelict.

 

Equipment

At all times, he carries a stun gun and a silenced tranquilizer dart pistol along with cartridges and ammunition for both. He prefers to not have to be in combat period, but if that is what is called for, he will lower himself to fisticuffs.

[treacherous]

Is this an original line?

 

“If God is as perfect as man says he is, then his clockwork has been in motion all along and it’s man’s fault for not seeing the gears in front of him.”

 

Because I love it.

[Guest Houdinimachine]

Is this an original line?

 

“If God is as perfect as man says he is, then his clockwork has been in motion all along and it’s man’s fault for not seeing the gears in front of him.â€

 

Because I love it.

 

Yep. I looked for lines to steal about clockmaker god theory, but none sufficed so I came up with something a pretentious asshole would say. (Which is strangely easy for me...) So thanks.

[Guest Artemis Entreri]

Hmmmm! Very interesting! First of all the concept is brilliant, and Nightingale's vision of the world is quite original. But the question that is bothering me is; Why the name Clockmaster? I mean, I understand it is a machine and a very complex one at that. But has Nightingale ever tinkered in machine making? Particularly clocks?

 

This is important to me as the reader because the story is based in mystery. In order to follow the rabbit down the hole; I must understand the characters reasons...his motives! Clocks are a mysterious machine because it deals in time. A universal concept, which nearly fits into his vision, as the actual earth is a type of clock.

 

So is this his reasons for the clock reference. I get that the Earth is a time keeper (a clock)and he is the Master of manipulation. The results...Clockmaster! Or is saying so going to reveal too much.

 

The writing was very decent but stilted toward the beginning. I wanted to learn more about his time in the war and why he and Baker was so close. Also what was the reason for a "Foundation" in the first place. What was the other members purpose. You stated they had cleaned up crime in New York. Why? Is New York and crime and vital cog in Nightingales vision?

 

I failed to see the purpose for his teammates if he could simply manipulate anyone and then see the out come in his vision! Unless the others shared his talent they are no more than a means to provide him with companionship! Maybe I'm wrong but I'd like to know more about each member and what Nightingale needed from them.

 

Still over all I liked the character. It held my attention the whole time and I think Clockmaster is orginal because his motives are so hidden. Is he good or evil. Is he a prophet doing the bidding of God! These are just some questions the reader is left with.

 

Aside from that the only other question and concern I have about the character, is if he is so good at manipulation. Why the problems at home. The seperation, the ilegitimate child. Why did he not for see that. Does emotional attachment cloud the vision.......?

 

Okay that's it! This is my first critique on FPL. Not sure how good it is but hope I helped! Plus I have nothing harsh to say....I'm such a rookie!!!!

[Guest Houdinimachine]

Hmmmm! Very interesting! First of all the concept is brilliant, and Nightingale's vision of the world is quite original. But the question that is bothering me is; Why the name Clockmaster? I mean, I understand it is a machine and a very complex one at that. But has Nightingale ever tinkered in machine making? Particularly clocks?

 

This is important to me as the reader because the story is based in mystery. In order to follow the rabbit down the hole; I must understand the characters reasons...his motives! Clocks are a mysterious machine because it deals in time. A universal concept, which nearly fits into his vision, as the actual earth is a type of clock.

 

So is this his reasons for the clock reference. I get that the Earth is a time keeper (a clock)and he is the Master of manipulation. The results...Clockmaster! Or is saying so going to reveal too much.

 

The writing was very decent but stilted toward the beginning. I wanted to learn more about his time in the war and why he and Baker was so close. Also what was the reason for a "Foundation" in the first place. What was the other members purpose. You stated they had cleaned up crime in New York. Why? Is New York and crime and vital cog in Nightingales vision?

 

I failed to see the purpose for his teammates if he could simply manipulate anyone and then see the out come in his vision! Unless the others shared his talent they are no more than a means to provide him with companionship! Maybe I'm wrong but I'd like to know more about each member and what Nightingale needed from them.

 

Still over all I liked the character. It held my attention the whole time and I think Clockmaster is orginal because his motives are so hidden. Is he good or evil. Is he a prophet doing the bidding of God! These are just some questions the reader is left with.

 

Aside from that the only other question and concern I have about the character, is if he is so good at manipulation. Why the problems at home. The seperation, the ilegitimate child. Why did he not for see that. Does emotional attachment cloud the vision.......?

 

Okay that's it! This is my first critique on FPL. Not sure how good it is but hope I helped! Plus I have nothing harsh to say....I'm such a rookie!!!!

 

He calls himself Clockmaker out of a (false?) bravado suggesting that he is in the position of god. (There is a deist theory of religion in which god is merely a clockmaker, someone who creates the watch and then releases it into time, his or her job done.)

 

As far as his teammates, I am currently writing a fiction surrounding their disappearance and reappearance, and some other FPL people are helping me by creating members of the team. As far as why he needs them and why all the trouble? Think about it this way. Yeah, you may believe a lie a friend told, but you'll possibly find out about it after the fact. Why does he need them? Possibly as a physical crutch to defend himself, and possibly an emotional crutch to keep himself tethered to society.

[Guest Artemis Entreri]

He calls himself Clockmaker out of a (false?) bravado suggesting that he is in the position of god. (There is a deist theory of religion in which god is merely a clockmaker, someone who creates the watch and then releases it into time, his or her job done.)

 

Okay I buy that. But what about his mechanical background? You said he excelled in a lot of things but machines was never stated. Then you say he had a robotic butler. Sheesh hope i'm not being an ass here. Just wondering.....

 

Why does he need them? Possibly as a physical crutch to defend himself, and possibly an emotional crutch to keep himself tethered to society.

 

I figure the latter because with the powers of his manipulation, he could sell fish to the ocean. So convincing a person not to kill him should be a breeze. Still the problems with the wife is bothering me.....

[Guest Houdinimachine]

Okay I buy that. But what about his mechanical background? You said he excelled in a lot of things but machines was never stated. Then you say he had a robotic butler. Sheesh hope i'm not being an ass here. Just wondering.....

 

I probably should have mentioned that was Flora's specialty. Thanks for the catch.

 

 

I figure the latter because with the powers of his manipulation, he could sell fish to the ocean. So convincing a person not to kill him should be a breeze. Still the problems with the wife is bothering me.....

 

Well, like I said, it's a combination of both, and the fiction will show his relationships. This was merely a wikipedia entry.

[granobulax]

I enjoyed the read but it was sporadic in parts. I thought certain parts where somewhat sufficient in detail to convey to the reader what you wanted to get across, but in most parts the concept was rather vague. I would like to see more to this character. There's so much potential here that I think was overlooked (Was that your intention?)

 

For instance, the first paragraph briefly went over Charles' difficult childhood. I would have liked to have seen more of his struggles that brought him to be the person he is today. Also, during the war effort, what kind of atrocities did he have to endure? Did he even view said atrocities as having been endured?

 

All in all, a great concept that just left me wanting more in the way of detail and "meat" to the story itself.

[Guest Houdinimachine]

I enjoyed the read but it was sporadic in parts. I thought certain parts where somewhat sufficient in detail to convey to the reader what you wanted to get across, but in most parts the concept was rather vague. I would like to see more to this character. There's so much potential here that I think was overlooked (Was that your intention?)

 

For instance, the first paragraph briefly went over Charles' difficult childhood. I would have liked to have seen more of his struggles that brought him to be the person he is today. Also, during the war effort, what kind of atrocities did he have to endure? Did he even view said atrocities as having been endured?

 

All in all, a great concept that just left me wanting more in the way of detail and "meat" to the story itself.

 

 

I would hope it's rather vague. This is just a wikipedia entry.

 

While I'm glad that you're interested enough to want to know more about his childhood, I don't really plan on doing any early life stories. It was hard, but then, every kid's life was hard during the depression. The same with World War II, but I might actually get around to a WW II story eventually if only because it's a fascinating period of time.

[Guest Ivan]

For some reason, I can't help but think of Prez Rickard...

 

Seriously, I like the JSA-esque concept of the original supergroup being non-existent for decades and then suddenly showing up again. I like the ideas of lies making the world a nicer place. I like the Niles Caulder angle of the team leader being a manipulative bastard. It will be interesting to see how he exists in a modern day and age when the flow of information could obviate some of his lies prematurely.