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{{Sequel}}
{{Sequel}}
{{quote|"He's dormant now?"<br><br>"For now. If he had motivations for making one attempt, he's going to budge again soon. But I don't have the instinct he's our threat. He's background. Someone else's problem."|[[Victoria]] and [[Tattletale]]|[[Sundown 17.9]]}}
{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character
| Image =  
|Image = Sleeper's storm by Nocturne.jpg
| imagecaption =  
|imagecaption = [https://twitter.com/SereneNocturne/status/1244150898038689793/photo/1 Illustration] by SereneNocturne on Twitter
| name = Sleeper
|name = Sleeper
| alias =  
|alias =  
| gender = Male
|gender = Male
| age = Unknown
|age = Unknown
| alignment = [[Villain]]
|family =
| occupation = Walking mystery
<!--|occupation = Walking mystery-->
| team = Independent
|classification = [[Shaker]],<ref name="storm"/> [[Stranger]],<ref name="Zcamp"/> [[Breaker]] (Speculative)
| previous team =  
|alignment = [[Villain]]
| location = [[Earths#Earth Zayin|Earth Zayin]]<br>Mordovia, [[Russia]] (Formerly)
|status = Alive
| classification = [[Shaker]]<ref name="storm"/><br>[[Master]]/[[Stranger]] (speculative)
|team = Independent
| family =
|previous team =  
| web serial =[[Speck 30.4]] (mention)
|base of operations = [[Earths#Earth Zayin|Earth Zayin]]<br>Mordovia, [[Russia]] (Formerly)
| ward = [[Interlude 5x II|Interlude 5.x]] (mention)<br>[[Last 20.a]] (appearance)
|web serial = [[Queen 18.4]] (Mentioned)<br>[[Speck 30.4]]
|ward = [[Glow-worm P.6]] (Mentioned)<br>[[Interlude 5x II|Interlude 5.x]] (Mentioned)<br>[[Last 20.a]]
}}
}}
'''Sleeper''' is an [[S-Class|S-Class threat]] of mysterious nature.
'''Sleeper''' is an [[S-Class|S-Class threat]] of mysterious nature.
<!--==Personality==
<!--==Appearance==
Describe aspects of the character's outlook and goals *mentioned in the story* here.
===Relationships===
List characters they liked, hated, or worked alongside.
==Appearance==
Costume and distinguishing features go here. Worm descriptions tend to be sparse, so include as much as possible.-->
Costume and distinguishing features go here. Worm descriptions tend to be sparse, so include as much as possible.-->
==Personality==
Little is known about Sleeper's personality, as he was for the most part dormant.<ref name="I26.x"/> During [[Gold Morning]], he was willing to use his power on refugees at the Zayin settlements.<ref name="Zcamp"/> Some time later, [[Khepri]] found Sleeper sitting and reading a book out loud to himself.<ref name="30.4 e1"/>
When [[Legend]] deterred Sleeper from emerging some time after the [[Attack on Teacher]], [[Tattletale]] believed he was only dormant for now. If Sleeper had motivations for making one attempt, she believed he would budge again soon.<ref name="II17.9 e1"/>
It is possible to bait in Sleeper and lure him to a location.<ref name="II20.9 e1"/><ref name="II20.b e3"/>
Sleeper was not interested in fighting against [[Scion]]<ref name="30.4 e1"/> or the [[Titans]].<ref name="II20.9 e1"/>
===Reputation===
The [[PRT]] classifies him as an [[S-Class|S-Class threat]] like [[the Endbringers]], the [[Slaughterhouse Nine]], and [[Nilbog]].<ref name="18.4 e1">"Didn't need doing in the first place," Triumph said, sighing. "I was prepared to risk my life the day I graduated from the Wards. Knew what I'd be getting into. Week I had clearance, I watched all the video we have of the class S threats. Leviathan, Simurgh, Behemoth, Slaughterhouse Nine, Nilbog, Sleeper. I knew what I was getting into. So I'm not shocked or horrified at the attempt on my life. What gets me is what you did to my ''dad''. Set his career back years, if it's even recoverable, by forcing him to take that stance. The whole thing, start to finish, was unnecessary." - [[Queen 18.4]]</ref> He was an obvious threat like Nilbog and the [[Three Blasphemies]].<ref>'''Wildbow:''' Same sort of thing the Vegas capes were doing.<br><br>Dealing with the class-S threats that aren't so obvious as Sleeper, Nilbog or the Blasphemies, and the villains who don't take the spotlight. - Comment by Wildbow, archived on Spacebattles</ref><!--http://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/13895231--> Because of his dormancy, [[Dragon]] and by extension [[Saint]] consider him a secondary threat.<ref name="I26.x"/>
[[Number Man]] describes Sleeper, with [[Ash Beast]] and the [[Three Blasphemies]], as living examples of the fact that the increasing number of [[parahumans]] would inevitably lead to cataclysmic events.<ref>"No," the Number Man said, and he managed to sound only a ''little'' condescending. "I'm saying that parahumans as a whole are chain reactions waiting to happen, and we were already approaching a critical point. Every year, the percentage of parahumans in the population increases. At that same time, the odds of a cataclysmic event happening ''somewhere'' are increasing steadily. Imagine a situation like the Echidna event that turned out ''more'' unfavorably, or a Nilbog who wasn't content to stay in one place. We have the blasphemies, Sleeper, and the Ash Beast, even the Slaughterhouse Nine, all as living examples of this concept at work. The world already stood on a precipice, and I'm not even mentioning the Endbringers in all of this." - [[Extinction 27.2]]</ref>
Because Sleeper is still a major threat,<ref name="II16.2 e3">But it would let us ''do'' something, when we were faced with a series of situations that felt hopeless. Fucking Sleeper. The Machine Army. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/08/17/from-within-16-2/ Excerpt] from [[From Within 16.2]]</ref> the [[Wardens]] keep an eye on him.<ref name="II8.2 e1"/><ref name="II17.10 e1">"Because I can't shake the notion that this ''isn't'' about Amy Dallon, it isn't about Dauntless, it isn't about the Machine Army, Pastor, Nilbog and the goblins, Sleeper, the Blasphemies, Teacher, or any of the other major threats we've been keeping an eye on." - [[Sundown 17.10]]</ref>
==Abilities and Powers==
==Abilities and Powers==
Little is known about Sleeper's abilities, but he possesses a global reputation for having a great and terrible power.<ref name="I26.x" /> He is compared to [[The Endbringers]], the [[Slaughterhouse Nine]], and [[Nilbog]]<ref>[[Queen 18.4]]</ref> and to [[Ash Beast]] and the [[Three Blasphemies]], and he is described by the [[Number Man]] as a living example of the fact that the increasing number of [[parahumans]] would inevitably lead to cataclysmic events.<ref>[[Extinction 27.2]]</ref>
From an out-of-universe perspective, relatively little is known about his power.<ref name="Interview"/> However, Sleeper deserves his reputation: he does not have a [[Stranger]] power to be inherently viewed as a dangerous [[S-Class|S-Class threat]].<ref>'''Yamakaky:''' A fan theory is that it power is to be viewed as a dangerous class S threat.<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' I've said this isn't it several times now. - Wildbow on Reddit, archived on Spacebattles</ref><!--http://forums.spacebattles.com/posts/34356529--> During [[Gold Morning]], [[Khepri]] declines to capture him while collecting [[parahumans]] to use against [[Scion]], believing him to be "more trouble than he was worth".<ref name="30.4 e1"/>


In addition, [[Khepri]] declined to capture him while collecting parahumans during the battle against [[Zion]], believing him to be "more trouble than he was worth".<ref name="30.4" />
===Storm===
His power manifests as a 'storm' that from a distance crackled, boiled, and popped.<ref name="storm"/> The storm looks like a cloud of rainbow shimmers;<ref name="II20.b e1">It was her first good view of it, and it kept getting more intense, but what had drawn their attention and brought everyone to the rooftop was the cloud of rainbow shimmers that hung over one part of the city. She'd heard about what it was, she'd seen pictures. She'd heard about what it was, she'd seen pictures. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/04/04/last-20-b/ Excerpt] from [[Last 20.b]]</ref> according to [[Defiant]], the rainbow sheen somehow felt nonsensical with the way the colors unfolded.<ref name="storm"/> Sleeper's storm appears to move relatively slowly; it crept forward at the horizon<ref name="II20.a e1">Sleeper's storm was creeping forward.<br>[...]<br>Sleeper was at the horizon, south of the Simurgh and Titan Fortuna's small army of Titans. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/03/28/last-20-a/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 20.a II]]</ref> when the [[Wardens]] lured Sleeper to [[the City]].<ref name="II20.b e3"/> Defiant describes the storm as being Sleeper: this could possibly imply Sleeper has a [[Breaker]] power where the awake state is the storm<ref name="storm"/> and the dormant state is humanoid.<ref name="30.4 e1"/> The storm was large enough to hang over one part of the City while Sleeper was present in the area.<ref name="II20.b e1"/>


His power seems to be related to some form of matter creation, which uses brains or perception as an attack-vector, since Wardens sought out [[All-or-Nothing]] brutes with resistant/non-typical brains and absolute matter annihilators to deal with him.<ref>“I don’t suppose any of you feel brave enough to go up against Sleeper?  Absolute invulnerability better than Alexandria’s, special brains, absolute annihilation powers?” - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/08/17/from-within-16-2/ Excerpt] from [[From Within 16.2]]</ref>
During [[Gold Morning]], Sleeper went through the Zayin portal<ref name="27.3"/> while refugees were still setting up the settlements at [[Earths#Earth Zayin|Earth Zayin]] and the storm swept over them.<ref name="29.9 e1">The largest settlements that remained, the most obvious targets. There was one in Zayin, but the Sleeper had followed the refugees in there. Even if it still stood after Scion's visit, there was no helping any of the refugees there. - [[Venom 29.9]]</ref><ref name="Zcamp"/> Although Sleeper's storm did not cover a large area, it still swelled in size to be large enough to encapsulate the portal, every nearby settlement, and most of its fleeing inhabitants.<ref name="Zcamp"/> The storm disrupts communications in the affected area; by settling near the portal, he blocked the refugees who escaped the area from getting back via the portal.<ref name="Zcamp">When everyone at the Zayin settlements had still been getting set up, that same cloud had swept over them. Nobody had been able to get a message to them to warn them. They'd fled, but communication had been all over the place, a few people had been left behind, most of the others hadn't fled far enough. The storm had swelled in size, and it had encapsulated every settlement in Zayin. It hadn't been a large area, but it had still been mostly everyone, and it had included the portal the rest needed to get back.<br><br>Bye bye Zayin. Entirely at Sleeper's mercy, now. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/04/04/last-20-b/ Excerpt] from [[Last 20.b]]</ref>


From the safe distance his power manifested as a 'storm', with colors taking on a rainbow sheen of impossible colors. It was enough to contain the Simurgh.<ref name="storm"/>
When [[the Simurgh]] was flung into Sleeper's storm, she was trapped, lay prone, and was taken out of the picture entirely.<ref name="storm"/><ref name="II20.10 e1">The Simurgh was out of action. Sleeper had her. - [[Last 20.10]]</ref> She was still dealt with even after he retreated from the area.<ref name="II20.b e3"/> [[Wildbow]] mentioned the following hypothetical capes would be 'goners' trying to survive and escape Sleeper:
*A [[Breaker]] cape that can transform into a lightning-like state with similar-ish speed and can cause damage in this state by firing lightning bolts.<ref>'''NamedByAFish:''' Can transform your body into a "lightning" state, from which you also have a blaster power of -- you guessed it -- lightning bolts. Strong, but it acts like real electricity and tends to make both your lighting bolts and yourself follow a path of least resistance. Your lightning-like state is immune to damage, but can only cause damage via lightning bolts. You can also move nearly as fast as real electricity in your lightning state, but again find it hard to deviate from the path of least resistance.<br>[...]<br>'''Wildbow:'''
:You: Goner. 0/10.
Fixed. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32mr7r/know_what_ill_just_get_the_next_exit/cqcu82a/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>
*A cape that can absorb her own body volume of any inanimate matter more durable than herself to temporarily take on its properties (except for appearance and mass), permanently destroying whatever she consumes.<ref>'''NamedByAFish:''' Can absorb her own body volume of any inanimate matter more durable than herself to take on all properties of the material aside from appearance and mass. This also grants her the necessary strength to move her body volume of the material as easily as she would normally move something weighing the same as herself. Using her ability permanently destroys whatever she consumes, but the effect to her only lasts for five minutes per "charge." She can "recharge" by any amount whenever she has access to the material she used for the original charge, but if she wants to change to using a different material, she has to use something more durable than whatever material she is currently mimicking. Synergizes well with your power if she chooses a conductive material. Causes property damage whenever she uses it for obvious reasons.<br>[...]<br>'''Wildbow:'''
:Your GF: Goner. 0/15.
Fixed. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32mr7r/know_what_ill_just_get_the_next_exit/cqcu82a/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>
*A cape that can sense and understand the emotions of others involuntarily.<ref>A bit of a "fourth wheel" to your synergizing trio. He senses and understands the emotions of others involuntarily. If he focuses, he can see why they feel that way, giving him a constrained but powerful retrocognitive ability. Adept at using this knowledge to his advantage during negotiations.<br>[...]<br>'''Wildbow:'''
:Your GF's Sister's BF: Goner. 0/12
Fixed. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32mr7r/know_what_ill_just_get_the_next_exit/cqcu82a/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>
 
The [[Wardens]] had specific countermeasures in mind and looked for capes with any of the following to go up against Sleeper:<ref name="II16.2 e1">Naphtha was striding down the hallway, coming in our direction. He stopped us. "Changers?"<br><br>"No changers in our team," Tristan said. "Why?"<br><br>Naphtha getting close enough meant I felt the oil touch my skin, as it touched everything in a certain radius of Naphtha. He pulled it away from me as it touched me, but my skin crawled with the memory of the feel of it.<br><br>"Another crisis. Similar to the others. Going to announce it to the dining hall," Naphtha explained. "I don't suppose any of you feel brave enough to go up against Sleeper? Absolute invulnerability better than Alexandria's, special brains, absolute annihilation powers?" - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/08/17/from-within-16-2/ Excerpt] from [[From Within 16.2]]</ref>
*[[Changer|Changers]].
*[[All-or-Nothing|Absolute]] invulnerability better than [[Alexandria]].
*Special brains.
*Absolute annihilation powers.
 
[[Wildbow]] speculates that [[Torso]] could counter and defeat Sleeper in a straight fight<ref>'''SteelRadiance:''' someone was memeing about Torso killing the Sleeper, and Wildbow was all "yeah, I guess so"<br><br>'''kippos:''' Remember that it's talking about someone airdropping torso onto Sleeper's head<br>Not a straight fight<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' Straight fight, I think Torso could win.<br>More so than the airdrop. - Comment by Wildbow on Discord</ref> or even when airdropped on top of him.<ref>'''museofdoom2:''' Torso is metal as fuck. He is a truly top TIER cape, drop him over Sleeper and there will be no more Sleeper anymore :). I fucking love his character already. Weird, crazy ass OP power and his personality is pretty cool too.<br><br>'''Wildbow:''' You might be right. I was just thinking about it. - Comment by Wildbow on Reddit</ref><!--https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/fd80aj/last_203_parahumans_2/fjfuecp/?context=1--> When Sleeper started to emerge at one point after the [[Attack on Teacher]], [[Legend]] leveled around 30 km<sup>2</sup> of city in an unknown timeframe to cause him to go dormant again.<ref name="II17.9 e1"/>
 
[[Wildbow]] notes that a hypothetical [[Shaker]] capable of transforming the atoms of any solid within 200 m into a crystal-like organization and slowly spreading this crystal effect through connected solids would have a very slim chance of surviving against Sleeper despite being [[Manton Effect|Manton limited]] against herself and biological matter. This crystal-like matter is chemically inert, extremely heat-resistant, durable, and electrically-and-heat-conductive. However, her odds are still so poor that it would take a miracle for her to survive.<ref>'''NamedByAFish:''' Can transform the atoms of any solid matter within 200 meters into a crystal-like organization. Chemically, this substance straddles the line between covalent crystal and metallic crystal: it is nearly as durable as carbon crystals (diamond and graphite) and is chemically inert, but has an extremely high melting point and is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. This crystal effect slowly spreads through any connected solids after three seconds of sustained contact with an affected surface. Synergizes very well with her sister's ability and yours, as this arrangement of atoms is both extremely durable and a good conductor. Manton limited against herself and any other biological matter.<br>[...]<br>'''Wildbow:'''
:Your GF's Sister: Would take a miracle. 1/36
Fixed. - [https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32mr7r/know_what_ill_just_get_the_next_exit/cqcu82a/ Wildbow on Reddit]</ref>
 
Based on the countermeasures and capes effective against Sleeper, some speculations can be made. The storm likely appears to be capable of devastating anyone inside unless they have [[All-or-Nothing]] defense, can physically keep taking on different forms, or have a special enough brain. His power might be fueled by some forms of matter or is related to some form of matter subversion/creation, as [[Legend]] leveling areas of city could deter Sleeper and the hypothetical [[Shaker]] had a very slim chance of survival. Destructive attacks that are All-or-Nothing are likely effective against the storm itself.<!--It might possibly spread by contact with already-subverted matter to an extent, causing matter to be altered to serve him in some way, likely capable of the alteration of the brains of others to serve him in some way.-->
 
===Other Abilities===
Sleeper is a blind spot to the typical [[Thinker]] [[precognitive|precognition]].<ref name="II11.4 e1">It wasn't Jeanne who answered. Cinereal gave me my reply. "Thinkers say no. They're either drawing blanks or they don't like what they see."<br><br>"Nothing specific? No details?"<br><br>"No," Cinereal said. "But if you look at some of the other major thinker blind spots, you're going to find yourself running into topics like Eidolon, Sleeper, the Endbringers, Valkyrie, the Island-state, the Pastor incident..."<br><br>"Concentrations of power," I said.<br><br>Jeanne shook her head. "''Complexity'' of power, most often. Whatever thinker powers come into play, with these cases, there's often too many variables to fully consider, thinkers report that their powers are fuzzy, inconsistent, or blacked out." - [[Blinding 11.4]]</ref> However, he is not on the list of blind spots for [[Contessa]] as of the [[Attack on Teacher]];<ref name="II15.7 e1">Not as I or my power understand circumstances, and my power understands everything outside of the blind spots that are Teacher, Valkyrie, the Simurgh, and two broken triggers that authorities aren't aware happened." - [[Dying 15.7]]</ref> [[Titan Fortuna]] created a path that involved Sleeper.<ref name="storm"/> He is not a blind spot for the [[Clairvoyant]].<ref name="30.4 e1">''Sleeper''. I could see him, sitting on a lawn chair on a balcony, reading a book out loud to himself.<br><br>More trouble than he was worth. I let him be. - [[Speck 30.4]]</ref>


==History==
==History==
<!--List events in the story they participated in. Delete subheadings as appropriate. -->
<!--List events in the story they participated in. Delete subheadings as appropriate.-->
 
===Background===
===Background===
Sleeper has been known to move around though usually in Russia.<ref name="23.5 c1">Sleeper roams, but primarily Russia. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/drone-23-5/#comment-26051 Comment by Wildbow] on [[Drone 23.5]]</ref> He eventually settled in Mordovia.<ref name="27.3"/>
Sleeper roams around, though primarily stays in [[Russia]].<ref name="23.5 c1">Sleeper roams, but primarily Russia. - [https://parahumans.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/drone-23-5/#comment-26051 Comment by Wildbow] on [[Drone 23.5]]</ref> He eventually settled in Mordovia.<ref name="27.3"/>
<!--===Story Start=== -->
<!--===Story Start===-->


===Post-[[Timeskip]]===
===Post-[[Timeskip]]===
[[Dragon]] and by extension [[Saint]] constantly monitored Sleeper's activity, including even the slightest shifts, despite his apparent dormancy.<ref name="I26.x">[[Interlude 26.x|26.x (Donation Interlude; Saint)]]</ref>
[[Dragon]] and by extension [[Saint]] continue to monitor Sleeper's activity, though they consider him a secondary threat because he appears to be dormant. Saint noted that Sleeper shifting fractionally wasn't rare.<ref name="I26.x">He shifted his foot, and once again, the screens changed their focus, the rest of the data shifting to miniature windows and moving to the periphery of the viewing area. The focus at the center was on the class-S threats. The Endbringers were stable, all in a resting state.<br><br>Secondary focuses. Not the kind of targets that Dragon checked on with any regularity.<br>[...]<br>Sleeper was, as far as anyone could identify ''anything'' about the threat, dormant.<br>[...]<br>The secondary threats... quarantine still unbroken. Sleeper had shifted fractionally, but that wasn't so rare. - [[Interlude 26.x|26.x (Donation Interlude; Saint)]]</ref>


=== [[Gold Morning]] ===
===[[Gold Morning]]===
The Mordovia Bubble was hit at the beginning of Scion's rampage, rousing Sleeper.<ref name="27.3">Mordovia bubble hit. Sleeper has been roused, last tracked en route to Zayin portal. Casualties unknown.[[Extinction 27.3]]</ref> He then traveled to [[Earths|Earth Zayin]] by portal and "subsumed" it.<ref name="28.5">[[Cockroaches 28.5]]</ref>
The Mordovia Bubble was hit at the beginning of [[Scion]]'s rampage, rousing Sleeper.<ref name="27.3">I nodded, but I was distracted from my response by another vibration of my phone. I picked it up to look at it.
:Mordovia bubble hit. Sleeper has been roused, last tracked en route to Zayin portal. Casualties unknown. - [[Extinction 27.3]]</ref> He then traveled to [[Earths|Earth Zayin]] by portal and effectively cut it out from the greater humanity by settling near the portal and submerging nearby settlements in his power.<ref name="Zcamp"/>


Using the [[Clairvoyant]], Khepri found Sleeper sitting on a lawn chair on a balcony in [[Earths#Earth Zayin|Earth Zayin]], reading a book out loud to himself. Deeming him too troublesome to collect, she let him be.<ref name="30.4">[[Speck 30.4]]</ref>
Using the [[Clairvoyant]], [[Khepri]] found Sleeper reading and sitting on a lawn chair on a balcony in [[Earths#Earth Zayin|Earth Zayin]]. Deeming him too troublesome to collect, she let him be.<ref name="30.4 e1"/>


=== Early [[Ward]] ===
===Early [[Ward]]===
Since the events of Gold Morning, Sleeper stayed in Zayin.<ref>[[Interlude 5x II]]</ref> But apparently, was still uneasy enough to occupy [[The Wardens]] attention and resources.<ref>[[Beacon 8.2]]</ref>
Since the events of [[Gold Morning]], Sleeper stayed in Zayin.<ref>'''► Ferris''' (Cape Dad)<br>Replied on August 22nd, Y1:<br>Right now we don't seem to have many threats at home. Things are quiet. The monsters are out there if they're even alive. Sleeper is still in Zayin and seems contained there. - [[Glow-worm P.6]]</ref><ref>"Sleeper is still parked in Zayin. I wanted to tell Gary Nieves that Cauldron capes are stable. We have the power and we're not as driven toward violence and drama. We're safe." - [[Interlude 5x II]]</ref> But apparently, was still uneasy enough to occupy the [[Wardens]] attention and resources.<ref name="II8.2 e1">"Not taking over, and not doing what they did," I said. "They're- you're, if you want, you're still a fixture. But the Wardens were always focused on the top-level threats. Distant wars. Class-S stuff."<br><br>"Ogun," Weld said. "Sleeper. Machine Army. And a bunch of other things I can't even namedrop, because they're classified." - [[Beacon 8.2]]</ref>


Reported by [[Lisa Wilbourn]] to be "active".
On the same day as [[the Navigators Incident]],<ref name="II10.11 e1">"Nothing's going to happen in the meantime?"<br><br>"I warned people to be wary. All hero teams should be standing down, villains are holding off until a meeting tonight." - [[Polarize 10.11]]</ref><ref name="II10.x e2">Villains had assembled in Sherwood Span. The area was sparse, spread out. Some buildings were in construction, but it looked like that had stopped. Mostly it was scattered houses.<br><br>The major players were notably absent, though Tattletale was keeping an eye on the spies.<br><br>A disorganized mob consisting of two- and three-person gangs, solo operators, mercenaries, the blacklisters that fought over internet rankings, the burglars, kidnappers, the enforcers and killers. A handful were notable in their own way, like Little Midas. - [[Interlude 10.x II]]</ref> [[Tattletale]]'s power told her that Sleeper was active.<ref name="II10.x e1">There were other things. News. Status of Class-S threats...
:''Sleeper; active''
:''Machine Army; 4.83% growth since last check, active''
:''Endbringers; one dormant, one active, others dead or unknown locations.''
Active Endbringer. She zeroed in on that. A few mouse clicks brought her to a site that tracked the Simurgh. - [[Interlude 10.x II]]</ref>


===Post-[[Attack on Teacher]]===
===Post-[[Attack on Teacher]]===
Sleeper was confirmed as active, and was ranked as a non-immediate threat by [[The Wardens]].<ref name="16.2II">[[From Within 16.2]]</ref> [[Legend]] was able to dissuade him from approaching by scorching out [[:wikipedia:No man's land|no man's land]].<ref>“Sleeper.<br><br>“Restless but still around. Earth Zayin in the palm of his hand. He started to emerge, Legend faced him down. [...] Leveled about thirty square kilometers of city.<br><br>I nodded. “He’s dormant now?<br><br>“For now. If he had motivations for making one attempt, he’s going to budge again soon. But I don’t have the instinct he’s our threat. He’s background. Someone else’s problem.- [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/10/29/sundown-17-9/ Excerpt] from [[Sundown 17.9]]</ref>
The [[Wardens]] confirmed Sleeper was active and moving, though not fast enough to matter right now and thus ranked a non-immediate threat.<ref name="II16.2 e2">"Ha, no," Tristan said, genuinely amused. Then his face fell, "Wait, is he moving?"<br><br>"Yeah. But not fast enough to matter right now. It's another thing demanding attention, focus, and manpower." - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/08/17/from-within-16-2/ Excerpt] from [[From Within 16.2]]</ref> [[Legend]] was able to dissuade him from approaching by scorching out [[:wikipedia:No man's land|no man's land]].<ref name="II17.9 e1">"Sleeper."<br><br>"Restless but still around. Earth Zayin in the palm of his hand. He started to emerge, Legend faced him down."<br><br>"''How''?"<br><br>"Leveled about thirty square kilometers of city."<br><br>I nodded. "He's dormant now?"<br><br>"For now. If he had motivations for making one attempt, he's going to budge again soon. But I don't have the instinct he's our threat. He's background. Someone else's problem." - [https://www.parahumans.net/2019/10/29/sundown-17-9/ Excerpt] from [[Sundown 17.9]]</ref>


===[[The Ice Breaks]]===
===[[The Ice Breaks]]===
[[The Wardens]] attempted to utilize Sleeper against [[Simurgh]] and the [[Titans]]. It did not work out by itself,<ref name="II20.9">[[Last 20.9]]</ref> but following the intervention from [[Titan Fortuna]] the Sleeper's storm was able to disable the Endbringer.<ref name="storm">The Simurgh lay prone within the storm that was the Sleeper. Unmoving. That hadn’t been him. That had been Dauntless, acting with the benefit of Titan Fortuna’s sight, guiding the direction of the blast.<br><br>The storm crackled, boiled, popped, the colors taking on a rainbow sheen that somehow felt it shouldn’t make sense with the way the colors unfolded. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/03/28/last-20-a/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 20.a II]]</ref>
The [[Wardens]] baited in Sleeper and lured him to [[the City]] specifically to slow down the [[Titans]].<ref name="II20.b e3"/> It had little effect by itself,<ref name="II20.9 e1">"I am ''fucking'' open to better ideas, ''anything''," I told her. "But I'm worried the Wardens' contingency plans won't work-"<br><br>"They aren't."<br><br>"They..."<br><br>"Sleeper has been baited in. No luck. Saint had a trick up his sleeve when it came to dealing with A.I., in case his big red button for dealing with Dragon didn't work. He's trying it on the machine army." - [[Last 20.9]]</ref> but following the intervention from [[Titan Fortuna]], Sleeper's storm was able to trap and take out [[the Simurgh]].<ref name="storm">The Simurgh lay prone within the storm that was the Sleeper. Unmoving. That hadn't been him. That had been Dauntless, acting with the benefit of Titan Fortuna's sight, guiding the direction of the blast.<br><br>The storm crackled, boiled, popped, the colors taking on a rainbow sheen that somehow felt it shouldn't make sense with the way the colors unfolded.<br><br>That would be enough to take her out of the picture. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/03/28/last-20-a/ Excerpt] from [[Interlude 20.a II]]</ref> Following that, Sleeper retreats and returns to passivity.<ref name="II20.b e3">"First of all, the Sleeper is retreating. He is not an immediate danger, and we will let you know as soon as we can, if that changes."<br>[...]<br>"The Sleeper was lured to the city specifically to slow down the Titans and was used to trap the Simurgh. Some of our best minds and strategists are confident the Simurgh is dealt with."<br>[...]<br>"Didn't you want to be a lawyer?" Presley asked, leaning onto the snow-dusted railing. In the distance, Sleeper's cloud was receding. - [https://www.parahumans.net/2020/04/04/last-20-b/ Excerpt] from [[Last 20.b]]</ref>
 
==Chapter Appearances==
{{Appearance/Sleeper Worm}}


== Trivia ==
==Trivia==
* [[Wildbow]] has stated that Sleeper was included in Worm as a result of a fan's comment that not every character should be fully explained.<ref>"Wildbow: Sleeper was written in as a response to a fan saying that I shouldn’t go into detail and explain every character.  He featured in a snippet I wrote back in the day (I spent ten years writing bits and pieces of superhero stuff before settling on the story I wanted to write) and seemed like a good one to drop in.  He does have a power, but I think it’s best left unsaid, perhaps until the sequel." - [https://t4nky.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/interview-with-wildbow/ Interview with Wildbow by t4nky]</ref><!--
*[[Wildbow]] has stated that Sleeper was included in Worm as a result of a fan's comment that not every character should be fully explained.<ref name="Interview">"Wildbow: Sleeper was written in as a response to a fan saying that I shouldn't go into detail and explain every character. He featured in a snippet I wrote back in the day (I spent ten years writing bits and pieces of superhero stuff before settling on the story I wanted to write) and seemed like a good one to drop in. He does have a power, but I think it's best left unsaid, perhaps until the sequel." - [https://t4nky.wordpress.com/2015/07/02/interview-with-wildbow/ Interview with Wildbow by t4nky]</ref><!--
some form of trump, likely does something via power interactions  
some form of trump, likely does something via power interactions  
Known material
Known material
*https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32mr7r/know_what_ill_just_get_the_next_exit/cqcu82a
*https://www.reddit.com/r/Parahumans/comments/32mr7r/know_what_ill_just_get_the_next_exit/cqcu82a


I would say he and Eidolon could end the world, or stand in for each other.-->
I would say he and Eidolon could end the world, or stand in for each other.-->
* In [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pgn9rgYutpBqJg1lSBP3NHnq9WK4ToLq9K4ys_I4cRc/edit#gid=0 the parahumans list], under Sleeper's power, Wildbow had a message with a caesar shift of 5, saying "As if I'd really put something here. For real."
*In [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pgn9rgYutpBqJg1lSBP3NHnq9WK4ToLq9K4ys_I4cRc/edit#gid=0 the parahumans list], under Sleeper's power, Wildbow had a message with a caesar shift of 5, saying "As if I'd really put something here. For real."
* Sleeper's name seems to be a reference to "let sleeping dogs lie" proverb, whose equivalent also uses the same sleep-metaphor in Russian language too, except with a specific evil bogeyman in place of dogs.<!--
*Sleeper's name seems to be a reference to "let sleeping dogs lie" proverb, whose equivalent also uses the same sleep-metaphor in Russian language too, except with a specific evil bogeyman in place of dogs. "Не буди лихо пока оно тихо" or if literally translated into English: "Do not wake the Evil while it is quiet"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likho#Nomenclature :
 
"Licho wie", literally "Licho [only] knows", used to mean that a given piece of information is known by no one
{{Reflist}}<!--
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Likho#Nomenclature:
"Licho wie", literally "Licho [only] knows", used to mean that a given piece of information is known by no one
-->
-->
{{reflist}}


==Site Navigation==
==Site Navigation==
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[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Males]]
[[Category:Males]]
[[Category:Shakers]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:S-Class Threats]]
[[Category:S-Class Threats]]
[[Category:Worm Characters]]
[[Category:Worm Characters]]
[[Category:Ward Characters]]
[[Category:Ward Characters]]
[[Category:Shaker]]
[[Category:Strangers]]

Latest revision as of 09:31, July 8, 2025

{{#if:Victoria and TattletaleSundown 17.9|
"He's dormant now?"

"For now. If he had motivations for making one attempt, he's going to budge again soon. But I don't have the instinct he's our threat. He's background. Someone else's problem."
{{#if:Victoria and Tattletale|

Victoria and Tattletale{{#if:Sundown 17.9|, Sundown 17.9}}

}}

}}

<infobox> <title source="name"><default>Sleeper</default></title>

<image source="Image"></image> <image source="image"></image> <group><header>Basic Information</header> <label>Civilian Name</label> <label>Aliases</label> <label>Gender</label><default>Unknown</default> <label>Death</label> <label>Age</label><default>Unknown</default> <label>Post-timeskip</label> <label>Ward start</label> <label>Relations</label> <label>Family</label></group> <group><header>Professional Status</header> <label>Occupation</label> <label>Classification</label> <label>Unique Features</label> <label>Alignment</label>

<label>Status</label><format>
Alive
</format>

<label>Location</label> <label>Teams</label> <label>Previous Team(s)</label> <label>Base of Operations</label></group> <group><header>First Appearance</header> <label>Worm Debut</label> <label>Ward Debut</label></group> </infobox> Sleeper is an S-Class threat of mysterious nature.

Personality[edit]

Little is known about Sleeper's personality, as he was for the most part dormant.<ref name="I26.x"/> During Gold Morning, he was willing to use his power on refugees at the Zayin settlements.<ref name="Zcamp"/> Some time later, Khepri found Sleeper sitting and reading a book out loud to himself.<ref name="30.4 e1"/>

When Legend deterred Sleeper from emerging some time after the Attack on Teacher, Tattletale believed he was only dormant for now. If Sleeper had motivations for making one attempt, she believed he would budge again soon.<ref name="II17.9 e1"/>

It is possible to bait in Sleeper and lure him to a location.<ref name="II20.9 e1"/><ref name="II20.b e3"/>

Sleeper was not interested in fighting against Scion<ref name="30.4 e1"/> or the Titans.<ref name="II20.9 e1"/>

Reputation[edit]

The PRT classifies him as an S-Class threat like the Endbringers, the Slaughterhouse Nine, and Nilbog.<ref name="18.4 e1">"Didn't need doing in the first place," Triumph said, sighing. "I was prepared to risk my life the day I graduated from the Wards. Knew what I'd be getting into. Week I had clearance, I watched all the video we have of the class S threats. Leviathan, Simurgh, Behemoth, Slaughterhouse Nine, Nilbog, Sleeper. I knew what I was getting into. So I'm not shocked or horrified at the attempt on my life. What gets me is what you did to my dad. Set his career back years, if it's even recoverable, by forcing him to take that stance. The whole thing, start to finish, was unnecessary." - Queen 18.4</ref> He was an obvious threat like Nilbog and the Three Blasphemies.<ref>Wildbow: Same sort of thing the Vegas capes were doing.

Dealing with the class-S threats that aren't so obvious as Sleeper, Nilbog or the Blasphemies, and the villains who don't take the spotlight. - Comment by Wildbow, archived on Spacebattles</ref> Because of his dormancy, Dragon and by extension Saint consider him a secondary threat.<ref name="I26.x"/>

Number Man describes Sleeper, with Ash Beast and the Three Blasphemies, as living examples of the fact that the increasing number of parahumans would inevitably lead to cataclysmic events.<ref>"No," the Number Man said, and he managed to sound only a little condescending. "I'm saying that parahumans as a whole are chain reactions waiting to happen, and we were already approaching a critical point. Every year, the percentage of parahumans in the population increases. At that same time, the odds of a cataclysmic event happening somewhere are increasing steadily. Imagine a situation like the Echidna event that turned out more unfavorably, or a Nilbog who wasn't content to stay in one place. We have the blasphemies, Sleeper, and the Ash Beast, even the Slaughterhouse Nine, all as living examples of this concept at work. The world already stood on a precipice, and I'm not even mentioning the Endbringers in all of this." - Extinction 27.2</ref>

Because Sleeper is still a major threat,<ref name="II16.2 e3">But it would let us do something, when we were faced with a series of situations that felt hopeless. Fucking Sleeper. The Machine Army. - Excerpt from From Within 16.2</ref> the Wardens keep an eye on him.<ref name="II8.2 e1"/><ref name="II17.10 e1">"Because I can't shake the notion that this isn't about Amy Dallon, it isn't about Dauntless, it isn't about the Machine Army, Pastor, Nilbog and the goblins, Sleeper, the Blasphemies, Teacher, or any of the other major threats we've been keeping an eye on." - Sundown 17.10</ref>

Abilities and Powers[edit]

From an out-of-universe perspective, relatively little is known about his power.<ref name="Interview"/> However, Sleeper deserves his reputation: he does not have a Stranger power to be inherently viewed as a dangerous S-Class threat.<ref>Yamakaky: A fan theory is that it power is to be viewed as a dangerous class S threat.

Wildbow: I've said this isn't it several times now. - Wildbow on Reddit, archived on Spacebattles</ref> During Gold Morning, Khepri declines to capture him while collecting parahumans to use against Scion, believing him to be "more trouble than he was worth".<ref name="30.4 e1"/>

Storm[edit]

His power manifests as a 'storm' that from a distance crackled, boiled, and popped.<ref name="storm"/> The storm looks like a cloud of rainbow shimmers;<ref name="II20.b e1">It was her first good view of it, and it kept getting more intense, but what had drawn their attention and brought everyone to the rooftop was the cloud of rainbow shimmers that hung over one part of the city. She'd heard about what it was, she'd seen pictures. She'd heard about what it was, she'd seen pictures. - Excerpt from Last 20.b</ref> according to Defiant, the rainbow sheen somehow felt nonsensical with the way the colors unfolded.<ref name="storm"/> Sleeper's storm appears to move relatively slowly; it crept forward at the horizon<ref name="II20.a e1">Sleeper's storm was creeping forward.
[...]
Sleeper was at the horizon, south of the Simurgh and Titan Fortuna's small army of Titans. - Excerpt from Interlude 20.a II</ref> when the Wardens lured Sleeper to the City.<ref name="II20.b e3"/> Defiant describes the storm as being Sleeper: this could possibly imply Sleeper has a Breaker power where the awake state is the storm<ref name="storm"/> and the dormant state is humanoid.<ref name="30.4 e1"/> The storm was large enough to hang over one part of the City while Sleeper was present in the area.<ref name="II20.b e1"/>

During Gold Morning, Sleeper went through the Zayin portal<ref name="27.3"/> while refugees were still setting up the settlements at Earth Zayin and the storm swept over them.<ref name="29.9 e1">The largest settlements that remained, the most obvious targets. There was one in Zayin, but the Sleeper had followed the refugees in there. Even if it still stood after Scion's visit, there was no helping any of the refugees there. - Venom 29.9</ref><ref name="Zcamp"/> Although Sleeper's storm did not cover a large area, it still swelled in size to be large enough to encapsulate the portal, every nearby settlement, and most of its fleeing inhabitants.<ref name="Zcamp"/> The storm disrupts communications in the affected area; by settling near the portal, he blocked the refugees who escaped the area from getting back via the portal.<ref name="Zcamp">When everyone at the Zayin settlements had still been getting set up, that same cloud had swept over them. Nobody had been able to get a message to them to warn them. They'd fled, but communication had been all over the place, a few people had been left behind, most of the others hadn't fled far enough. The storm had swelled in size, and it had encapsulated every settlement in Zayin. It hadn't been a large area, but it had still been mostly everyone, and it had included the portal the rest needed to get back.

Bye bye Zayin. Entirely at Sleeper's mercy, now. - Excerpt from Last 20.b</ref>

When the Simurgh was flung into Sleeper's storm, she was trapped, lay prone, and was taken out of the picture entirely.<ref name="storm"/><ref name="II20.10 e1">The Simurgh was out of action. Sleeper had her. - Last 20.10</ref> She was still dealt with even after he retreated from the area.<ref name="II20.b e3"/> Wildbow mentioned the following hypothetical capes would be 'goners' trying to survive and escape Sleeper:

  • A Breaker cape that can transform into a lightning-like state with similar-ish speed and can cause damage in this state by firing lightning bolts.<ref>NamedByAFish: Can transform your body into a "lightning" state, from which you also have a blaster power of -- you guessed it -- lightning bolts. Strong, but it acts like real electricity and tends to make both your lighting bolts and yourself follow a path of least resistance. Your lightning-like state is immune to damage, but can only cause damage via lightning bolts. You can also move nearly as fast as real electricity in your lightning state, but again find it hard to deviate from the path of least resistance.
    [...]
    Wildbow:
You: Goner. 0/10.

Fixed. - Wildbow on Reddit</ref>

  • A cape that can absorb her own body volume of any inanimate matter more durable than herself to temporarily take on its properties (except for appearance and mass), permanently destroying whatever she consumes.<ref>NamedByAFish: Can absorb her own body volume of any inanimate matter more durable than herself to take on all properties of the material aside from appearance and mass. This also grants her the necessary strength to move her body volume of the material as easily as she would normally move something weighing the same as herself. Using her ability permanently destroys whatever she consumes, but the effect to her only lasts for five minutes per "charge." She can "recharge" by any amount whenever she has access to the material she used for the original charge, but if she wants to change to using a different material, she has to use something more durable than whatever material she is currently mimicking. Synergizes well with your power if she chooses a conductive material. Causes property damage whenever she uses it for obvious reasons.
    [...]
    Wildbow:
Your GF: Goner. 0/15.

Fixed. - Wildbow on Reddit</ref>

  • A cape that can sense and understand the emotions of others involuntarily.<ref>A bit of a "fourth wheel" to your synergizing trio. He senses and understands the emotions of others involuntarily. If he focuses, he can see why they feel that way, giving him a constrained but powerful retrocognitive ability. Adept at using this knowledge to his advantage during negotiations.
    [...]
    Wildbow:
Your GF's Sister's BF: Goner. 0/12

Fixed. - Wildbow on Reddit</ref>

The Wardens had specific countermeasures in mind and looked for capes with any of the following to go up against Sleeper:<ref name="II16.2 e1">Naphtha was striding down the hallway, coming in our direction. He stopped us. "Changers?"

"No changers in our team," Tristan said. "Why?"

Naphtha getting close enough meant I felt the oil touch my skin, as it touched everything in a certain radius of Naphtha. He pulled it away from me as it touched me, but my skin crawled with the memory of the feel of it.

"Another crisis. Similar to the others. Going to announce it to the dining hall," Naphtha explained. "I don't suppose any of you feel brave enough to go up against Sleeper? Absolute invulnerability better than Alexandria's, special brains, absolute annihilation powers?" - Excerpt from From Within 16.2</ref>

Wildbow speculates that Torso could counter and defeat Sleeper in a straight fight<ref>SteelRadiance: someone was memeing about Torso killing the Sleeper, and Wildbow was all "yeah, I guess so"

kippos: Remember that it's talking about someone airdropping torso onto Sleeper's head
Not a straight fight

Wildbow: Straight fight, I think Torso could win.
More so than the airdrop. - Comment by Wildbow on Discord</ref> or even when airdropped on top of him.<ref>museofdoom2: Torso is metal as fuck. He is a truly top TIER cape, drop him over Sleeper and there will be no more Sleeper anymore :). I fucking love his character already. Weird, crazy ass OP power and his personality is pretty cool too.

Wildbow: You might be right. I was just thinking about it. - Comment by Wildbow on Reddit</ref> When Sleeper started to emerge at one point after the Attack on Teacher, Legend leveled around 30 km2 of city in an unknown timeframe to cause him to go dormant again.<ref name="II17.9 e1"/>

Wildbow notes that a hypothetical Shaker capable of transforming the atoms of any solid within 200 m into a crystal-like organization and slowly spreading this crystal effect through connected solids would have a very slim chance of surviving against Sleeper despite being Manton limited against herself and biological matter. This crystal-like matter is chemically inert, extremely heat-resistant, durable, and electrically-and-heat-conductive. However, her odds are still so poor that it would take a miracle for her to survive.<ref>NamedByAFish: Can transform the atoms of any solid matter within 200 meters into a crystal-like organization. Chemically, this substance straddles the line between covalent crystal and metallic crystal: it is nearly as durable as carbon crystals (diamond and graphite) and is chemically inert, but has an extremely high melting point and is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. This crystal effect slowly spreads through any connected solids after three seconds of sustained contact with an affected surface. Synergizes very well with her sister's ability and yours, as this arrangement of atoms is both extremely durable and a good conductor. Manton limited against herself and any other biological matter.
[...]
Wildbow:

Your GF's Sister: Would take a miracle. 1/36

Fixed. - Wildbow on Reddit</ref>

Based on the countermeasures and capes effective against Sleeper, some speculations can be made. The storm likely appears to be capable of devastating anyone inside unless they have All-or-Nothing defense, can physically keep taking on different forms, or have a special enough brain. His power might be fueled by some forms of matter or is related to some form of matter subversion/creation, as Legend leveling areas of city could deter Sleeper and the hypothetical Shaker had a very slim chance of survival. Destructive attacks that are All-or-Nothing are likely effective against the storm itself.

Other Abilities[edit]

Sleeper is a blind spot to the typical Thinker precognition.<ref name="II11.4 e1">It wasn't Jeanne who answered. Cinereal gave me my reply. "Thinkers say no. They're either drawing blanks or they don't like what they see."

"Nothing specific? No details?"

"No," Cinereal said. "But if you look at some of the other major thinker blind spots, you're going to find yourself running into topics like Eidolon, Sleeper, the Endbringers, Valkyrie, the Island-state, the Pastor incident..."

"Concentrations of power," I said.

Jeanne shook her head. "Complexity of power, most often. Whatever thinker powers come into play, with these cases, there's often too many variables to fully consider, thinkers report that their powers are fuzzy, inconsistent, or blacked out." - Blinding 11.4</ref> However, he is not on the list of blind spots for Contessa as of the Attack on Teacher;<ref name="II15.7 e1">Not as I or my power understand circumstances, and my power understands everything outside of the blind spots that are Teacher, Valkyrie, the Simurgh, and two broken triggers that authorities aren't aware happened." - Dying 15.7</ref> Titan Fortuna created a path that involved Sleeper.<ref name="storm"/> He is not a blind spot for the Clairvoyant.<ref name="30.4 e1">Sleeper. I could see him, sitting on a lawn chair on a balcony, reading a book out loud to himself.

More trouble than he was worth. I let him be. - Speck 30.4</ref>

History[edit]

Background[edit]

Sleeper roams around, though primarily stays in Russia.<ref name="23.5 c1">Sleeper roams, but primarily Russia. - Comment by Wildbow on Drone 23.5</ref> He eventually settled in Mordovia.<ref name="27.3"/>

Post-Timeskip[edit]

Dragon and by extension Saint continue to monitor Sleeper's activity, though they consider him a secondary threat because he appears to be dormant. Saint noted that Sleeper shifting fractionally wasn't rare.<ref name="I26.x">He shifted his foot, and once again, the screens changed their focus, the rest of the data shifting to miniature windows and moving to the periphery of the viewing area. The focus at the center was on the class-S threats. The Endbringers were stable, all in a resting state.

Secondary focuses. Not the kind of targets that Dragon checked on with any regularity.
[...]
Sleeper was, as far as anyone could identify anything about the threat, dormant.
[...]
The secondary threats... quarantine still unbroken. Sleeper had shifted fractionally, but that wasn't so rare. - 26.x (Donation Interlude; Saint)</ref>

Gold Morning[edit]

The Mordovia Bubble was hit at the beginning of Scion's rampage, rousing Sleeper.<ref name="27.3">I nodded, but I was distracted from my response by another vibration of my phone. I picked it up to look at it.

Mordovia bubble hit. Sleeper has been roused, last tracked en route to Zayin portal. Casualties unknown. - Extinction 27.3</ref> He then traveled to Earth Zayin by portal and effectively cut it out from the greater humanity by settling near the portal and submerging nearby settlements in his power.<ref name="Zcamp"/>

Using the Clairvoyant, Khepri found Sleeper reading and sitting on a lawn chair on a balcony in Earth Zayin. Deeming him too troublesome to collect, she let him be.<ref name="30.4 e1"/>

Early Ward[edit]

Since the events of Gold Morning, Sleeper stayed in Zayin.<ref>► Ferris (Cape Dad)
Replied on August 22nd, Y1:
Right now we don't seem to have many threats at home. Things are quiet. The monsters are out there if they're even alive. Sleeper is still in Zayin and seems contained there. - Glow-worm P.6</ref><ref>"Sleeper is still parked in Zayin. I wanted to tell Gary Nieves that Cauldron capes are stable. We have the power and we're not as driven toward violence and drama. We're safe." - Interlude 5x II</ref> But apparently, was still uneasy enough to occupy the Wardens attention and resources.<ref name="II8.2 e1">"Not taking over, and not doing what they did," I said. "They're- you're, if you want, you're still a fixture. But the Wardens were always focused on the top-level threats. Distant wars. Class-S stuff."

"Ogun," Weld said. "Sleeper. Machine Army. And a bunch of other things I can't even namedrop, because they're classified." - Beacon 8.2</ref>

On the same day as the Navigators Incident,<ref name="II10.11 e1">"Nothing's going to happen in the meantime?"

"I warned people to be wary. All hero teams should be standing down, villains are holding off until a meeting tonight." - Polarize 10.11</ref><ref name="II10.x e2">Villains had assembled in Sherwood Span. The area was sparse, spread out. Some buildings were in construction, but it looked like that had stopped. Mostly it was scattered houses.

The major players were notably absent, though Tattletale was keeping an eye on the spies.

A disorganized mob consisting of two- and three-person gangs, solo operators, mercenaries, the blacklisters that fought over internet rankings, the burglars, kidnappers, the enforcers and killers. A handful were notable in their own way, like Little Midas. - Interlude 10.x II</ref> Tattletale's power told her that Sleeper was active.<ref name="II10.x e1">There were other things. News. Status of Class-S threats...

Sleeper; active
Machine Army; 4.83% growth since last check, active
Endbringers; one dormant, one active, others dead or unknown locations.

Active Endbringer. She zeroed in on that. A few mouse clicks brought her to a site that tracked the Simurgh. - Interlude 10.x II</ref>

Post-Attack on Teacher[edit]

The Wardens confirmed Sleeper was active and moving, though not fast enough to matter right now and thus ranked a non-immediate threat.<ref name="II16.2 e2">"Ha, no," Tristan said, genuinely amused. Then his face fell, "Wait, is he moving?"

"Yeah. But not fast enough to matter right now. It's another thing demanding attention, focus, and manpower." - Excerpt from From Within 16.2</ref> Legend was able to dissuade him from approaching by scorching out no man's land.<ref name="II17.9 e1">"Sleeper."

"Restless but still around. Earth Zayin in the palm of his hand. He started to emerge, Legend faced him down."

"How?"

"Leveled about thirty square kilometers of city."

I nodded. "He's dormant now?"

"For now. If he had motivations for making one attempt, he's going to budge again soon. But I don't have the instinct he's our threat. He's background. Someone else's problem." - Excerpt from Sundown 17.9</ref>

The Ice Breaks[edit]

The Wardens baited in Sleeper and lured him to the City specifically to slow down the Titans.<ref name="II20.b e3"/> It had little effect by itself,<ref name="II20.9 e1">"I am fucking open to better ideas, anything," I told her. "But I'm worried the Wardens' contingency plans won't work-"

"They aren't."

"They..."

"Sleeper has been baited in. No luck. Saint had a trick up his sleeve when it came to dealing with A.I., in case his big red button for dealing with Dragon didn't work. He's trying it on the machine army." - Last 20.9</ref> but following the intervention from Titan Fortuna, Sleeper's storm was able to trap and take out the Simurgh.<ref name="storm">The Simurgh lay prone within the storm that was the Sleeper. Unmoving. That hadn't been him. That had been Dauntless, acting with the benefit of Titan Fortuna's sight, guiding the direction of the blast.

The storm crackled, boiled, popped, the colors taking on a rainbow sheen that somehow felt it shouldn't make sense with the way the colors unfolded.

That would be enough to take her out of the picture. - Excerpt from Interlude 20.a II</ref> Following that, Sleeper retreats and returns to passivity.<ref name="II20.b e3">"First of all, the Sleeper is retreating. He is not an immediate danger, and we will let you know as soon as we can, if that changes."
[...]
"The Sleeper was lured to the city specifically to slow down the Titans and was used to trap the Simurgh. Some of our best minds and strategists are confident the Simurgh is dealt with."
[...]
"Didn't you want to be a lawyer?" Presley asked, leaning onto the snow-dusted railing. In the distance, Sleeper's cloud was receding. - Excerpt from Last 20.b</ref>

Chapter Appearances[edit]

Worm Chapter Appearances
{{#if:Queen|{{#if:Queen|Queen|Queen}}|Queen}}
1. Queen 18.1 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
2. Queen 18.2 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
x. Interlude 18.x {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
3. Queen 18.3 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
4. Queen 18.4 {{#switch:m debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
y. Interlude 18.y {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
5. Queen 18.5 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
6. Queen 18.6 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
z. Interlude 18.z {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
7. Queen 18.7 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
8. Queen 18.8 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
f. Interlude 18.f {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
i. Interlude 18 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
{{#if:Sting|{{#if:Sting|Sting|Sting}}|Sting}}
1. Sting 26.1 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
2. Sting 26.2 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
3. Sting 26.3 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
x. Interlude 26.x {{#switch:m debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
4. Sting 26.4 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
5. Sting 26.5 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
6. Sting 26.6 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
a. Interlude 26a {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
b. Interlude 26b {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
y. Interlude 26 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
{{#if:Extinction|{{#if:Extinction|Extinction|Extinction}}|Extinction}}
1. Extinction 27.1 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
2. Extinction 27.2 {{#switch:m debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
3. Extinction 27.3 {{#switch:m debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
4. Extinction 27.4 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
5. Extinction 27.5 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
x. Interlude 27.x {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
y. Interlude 27.y {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
{{#if:Cockroaches|{{#if:Cockroaches|Cockroaches|Cockroaches}}|Cockroaches}}
1. Cockroaches 28.1 {{#switch:m debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
2. Cockroaches 28.2 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
3. Cockroaches 28.3 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
4. Cockroaches 28.4 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
5. Cockroaches 28.5 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
6. Cockroaches 28.6 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
x. Interlude 28 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
{{#if:Venom|{{#if:Venom|Venom|Venom}}|Venom}}
1. Venom 29.1 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
2. Venom 29.2 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
3. Venom 29.3 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
4. Venom 29.4 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
5. Venom 29.5 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
6. Venom 29.6 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
7. Venom 29.7 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
8. Venom 29.8 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
9. Venom 29.9 {{#switch:m debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
x. Interlude 29 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
{{#if:Speck|{{#if:Speck|Speck|Speck}}|Speck}}
1. Speck 30.1 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
2. Speck 30.2 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
3. Speck 30.3 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
4. Speck 30.4 {{#switch:debut debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
5. Speck 30.5 {{#switch:m debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
6. Speck 30.6 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}
7. Speck 30.7 {{#switch: debut=Debut yes=Appears pov=Point of View flash=Flashback f=Fantasy c=Clone s=Spirit m=Mentioned sc=Screen d=Death co=Corpse sh=Shadow Absent}}

Trivia[edit]

  • Wildbow has stated that Sleeper was included in Worm as a result of a fan's comment that not every character should be fully explained.<ref name="Interview">"Wildbow: Sleeper was written in as a response to a fan saying that I shouldn't go into detail and explain every character. He featured in a snippet I wrote back in the day (I spent ten years writing bits and pieces of superhero stuff before settling on the story I wanted to write) and seemed like a good one to drop in. He does have a power, but I think it's best left unsaid, perhaps until the sequel." - Interview with Wildbow by t4nky</ref>
  • In the parahumans list, under Sleeper's power, Wildbow had a message with a caesar shift of 5, saying "As if I'd really put something here. For real."
  • Sleeper's name seems to be a reference to "let sleeping dogs lie" proverb, whose equivalent also uses the same sleep-metaphor in Russian language too, except with a specific evil bogeyman in place of dogs. "Не буди лихо пока оно тихо" or if literally translated into English: "Do not wake the Evil while it is quiet"

References[edit]

<references/>

Site Navigation[edit]

S-Class Threats
Endbringers Behemoth {{#switch: deceased deceased= noncanon= former= unknown=* #DEFAULT=

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Titans The Kronos Titan {{#switch: deceased deceased= noncanon= former= unknown=* #DEFAULT=

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Groups The Slaughterhouse Nine {{#switch: former deceased= noncanon= former= unknown=* #DEFAULT=

}} • Three BlasphemiesThe Machine Army

Parahumans Ash Beast {{#switch: deceased deceased= noncanon= former= unknown=* #DEFAULT=

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}} • Scion {{#switch: deceased

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}} • SleeperThe Tower {{#switch: deceased

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