Spruce
<infobox> <title source="name"><default>Spruce</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><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> Spruce is a supervillian and a resident of the Birdcage.
Appearance
He is described as being dressed immaculately, more neat than even The Number Man.<ref>For another man, the combination of physical traits and the style of dress might have led to someone mistaking them for a woman. They might have come across as effeminate. - Excerpt from Cockroaches 28.3</ref>
Powers
Spruce has a disintegration power<ref name="30.2">I used Marquis' power to block their paths with spiked barriers of bone. When Lung, Spruce and Cinderhands all tore through the barriers, with claw, some sort of disintegration power and flame, respectively, I used Doormaker's power again. - Excerpt from Speck 30.2</ref> that is described as looking like a 'cabbage made of stone in the palm of his hand. His facility with his power has decreased since his incarceration.<ref name="30.1"/>
He once had much better accuracy and control with his power than he demonstrated. Given that Marquis trusted Spruce to cause a controlled collapse of the cave that was meant to contain Khepri<ref name="30.1"/>
Apparently his power has a perception component, since he was able to do a body search.<ref name="II7.8"/>
History
Background
One does not get sent to the birdcage by being nice.
Story Start
He is one of Marquis' lieutenants in the Birdcage.<ref>Interlude 22.y</ref>
Gold Morning
Was released with the other prisoners at the start.<ref>Cockroaches 28.3</ref>
When he, Marquis, and others confront Khepri, fresh from her apotheosis, Spruce says that he used to have more accuracy and control than he does currently and does not trust himself to use his power.<ref name="30.1">“Spruce? Can you use your power? Not too much. Enough she can break free before too long?”
The tidy man shook his head. He turned his hand over, and a little sphere swirled in it, looking like a cabbage made of stone. He closed his hand, and it winked out of existence. “Ten years ago? Sure. Right now? I don’t trust my accuracy. I’d be worried about the structure of the cave if my power touched anything to either side or behind her.”
Marquis nodded. “Go look after the others, then. Be ready to shut the door the moment I’m through.”
Spruce turned to leave, ushering Doormaker and the clairvoyant out.- Excerpt from Speck 30.1</ref> Thus Marquis has to step in and try to contain the nascent godling, giving her a chance to break out.
Post-Mathers Compound Assault
Appeared in Lord of Loss residence on Earth N, where he posed as herald and security. Regained fine control over his power and provided a very risky pat-down.<ref name="II7.8">Torch 7.8</ref>
Chosen by Lord of Loss as trusted person.<ref>Torch 7.9</ref>
Trivia
- Spruce's name works on multiple levels as a synonym for cleaning up a place, spruce up a place. As well as the spruce tree given the cabbage or pine cone form his power takes.
References
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