Worm Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Tom Moss,[5] known publicly as Acidbath, is a killer of both cops and capes[6] imprisoned in the Birdcage.[1] He acts as a leader of one of the cell blocks.[1]

Personality[]

Acidbath is both sadistic and misogynist, having a personal need for ‘two eyes for an eye’ revenge and disrespecting women, to the point where he can't work with them on a long term basis.[7] Despite his disrespect for them, Taylor notes that he was 'a big player' before his imprisonment,[8] and indeed, he has mutilated a large amount of girlfriends in impulsive acts of retaliation.[2]

Acidbath is poor at long-term planning, acting impulsively,[2] and being caught up in his vices before his imprisonment, while also acting arrogantly.[8] Despite his personality, his ability to threaten others and his street smarts allow him to command some underlings.[9]

In battle, Acidbath is without fear, laughing and jumping around from foot to foot.[8] His fighting style against Scion is a flailing, reckless, hurried scramble.[4]

Appearance[]

Acidbath is a man with blond hair, although he had grass-green hair in his mugshots.[6] Taylor described his stylings as those of 'a rock musician or punk rocker who’d spent a little too much time doing drugs and not enough time playing his instrument'.[8] He has circles under his eyes,[6] and is 'worn around the edges'.[8] He speaks with a coarse accent.[8]

Abilities and powers[]

A formidable Breaker/Changer-class cape, Acidbath is able to turn himself into a form consisting of clear, highly acidic liquid, strong enough to cause Scion to smoke, roughly five times his original mass.[10][3] In this form, Acidbath is able to move as a tidal wave,[3] reaching speeds greater than that of a typical car.[4] He can reactively turn himself to acid before an attack makes contact, negating some or all damage and splashing those nearby.[11] Acidbath is capable of partial transformations, slinging punches with his hands becoming projectiles,[10] and can fire acidic blasts within a hundred feet range.[12]

Acidbath himself is immune to his own acid power and caustic chemicals, even resisting burns in general, although this protection does not extend to his gear.[13]

History[]

Background[]

Acidbath was a dangerous parahuman, a killer of both cops and capes,[6] who used his acid powers to horrifically scar not just opponents,[6] but girlfriends and girls who rejected him.[2] Even his own brother was not safe from Acidbath's impulsive acts of retaliation.[2] He was one of the rare few who was sent to the Birdcage purely by dint of how despicable he was.[14] He managed to become a cell block leader and keep the position for three years.[8]

Gold Morning[]

During Scion's rampage, Acidbath is released from the Birdcage, to the great upset of one member of the audience present.[6] Rather than prepare for a confrontation with Scion, Acidbath decides to enjoy the sun.[15]

Acidbath is next seen during the rise of Khepri, during the last battle with Scion. He laughs at Taylor controlling other capes while Chevalier battles Scion,[8] taking over when Chevalier is defeated.[10] He later coordinates his attacks with Black Kaze.[4] Ironically, he eventually falls under Taylor's control.[16]

Early-Ward[]

Was reportedly dead,[5] there was much rejoicing.

Chapter Appearances[]

Worm Chapter Appearances
Monarch
1. Monarch 16.1 Absent
2. Monarch 16.2 Absent
x. Interlude 16.x Absent
3. Monarch 16.3 Absent
4. Monarch 16.4 Absent
5. Monarch 16.5 Absent
6. Monarch 16.6 Absent
y. Interlude 16.y Absent
7. Monarch 16.7 Absent
8. Monarch 16.8 Absent
9. Monarch 16.9 Absent
10. Monarch 16.10 Absent
z. Interlude 16.z Debut
11. Monarch 16.11 Absent
12. Monarch 16.12 Absent
13. Monarch 16.13 Absent
Extinction
1. Extinction 27.1 Absent
2. Extinction 27.2 Absent
3. Extinction 27.3 Appears
4. Extinction 27.4 Appears
5. Extinction 27.5 Absent
x. Interlude 27.x Absent
y. Interlude 27.y Absent
Speck
1. Speck 30.1 Absent
2. Speck 30.2 Appears
3. Speck 30.3 Absent
4. Speck 30.4 Absent
5. Speck 30.5 Appears
6. Speck 30.6 Absent
7. Speck 30.7 Absent

Trivia[]

  • There are hints that Acidbath is a client of Cauldron, as Doctor Mother describes a sample that gives acid powers, including the ability to turn into a living pool of acid.[17]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 All in all, there were twelve cell blocks with leaders. That meant that there were eleven leaders with eleven lieutenants arriving. Acidbath, Galvanate, Teacher, Lab Rat and Gavel were leaders of the cell blocks on the men’s side of the prison. Lustrum, Black Kaze, Glaistig Uaine, String Theory, Crane and Ingenue were the female leaders. There were other cell blocks, but twelve was generally agreed on as a good number. It left room for discussion without too much chaos, and it left enough cell blocks leaderless that they had elbow room to do business elsewhere. - Excerpt from Interlude 16.z
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 I’d compared myself to some pretty horrible individuals in the past, but Acidbath was something else. He was low, barely above dirt. He’d scalded his own brother with acid, and had gone after girlfriends and girls who had rejected him. The attacks hadn’t been lethal, but had melted flesh and the fat or muscular tissues beneath. I’d seen the pictures of the aftermath when I’d browsed his files, after the scar tissue had formed.

    I couldn’t think of worse ways to hurt someone, and he’d done it in impulsive acts of retaliation.

    If I was going to be a monster, I’d at least try to be smart about it, constructive. To have a plan. - Excerpt from Speck 30.2
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Acidbath Could turn into, sling blasts of, & move as tidal wave of acid Independent Breaker/Changer (Blaster, Striker & Mover Sub powers) - parahumanList, bolded edit by Wildbow.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Black Kaze alternated attacks with Acidbath, very proper, measured in her movements, compared to Acidbath’s flailing, reckless, hurried scramble to keep out of Scion’s line of sight. Acidbath moved with surprising quickness, faster than a typical car might. A peculiarity of his breaker power. - Excerpt from Speck 30.2
  5. 5.0 5.1 Chris snorted. “Whatever. Tom Moss? Dead. They didn’t put much effort into investigating that one. Ricario D’Alleva, imprisoned. Akemi whatshername? Imprisoned.”

    “She seems reasonably free and happy by all reports I’ve seen.”

    “Led around like a dog, watched constantly.” - Excerpt from Interlude 10.y II
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Acidbath. Copkiller and capekiller, he’d used his power to horrifically scar innumerable opponents and girlfriends. His blond hair wasn’t the grass-green of his mugshots anymore, and he had circles under his eyes. He took one step away from the portal, then sat on the ledge in front of the crowd, searching for something, then settling into a stare when he found it.

    I looked, and I saw a man, not in costume but in a suit, standing and staring at Acidbath, with an expression as though he was going to cry at any moment. But he didn’t avert his eyes. - Excerpt from Extinction 27.3
  7. Advantages/Flaws: Sadistic. ‘Two eyes for an eye’ revenge, especially against women who’ve offended him. When slighted or hurt, he must return the favor, with interest, or morale will suffer.

    Personal Code (misogyny) - Is an asshole to the fairer sex, won’t work with women on a long term basis, and the sadistic code counts double vs. them. - Playtest Capes, document by Wildbow.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 Laughter disturbed me from my thoughts.

    “Human shields?” A man asked, almost unintelligible with his coarse accent. “I love it! I was ganna shoot the bloody idjits in the backs, you’re ‘lowed to do that, ‘miright? But some cunt might get the wrong idea.”

    When I turned my head, all but one my minions turned their heads as well. My fault. I’d wanted the extra sensory input, and I’d instinctually tried to take it in with a share of my ‘swarm’.

    It was Acidbath. One of the Birdcage’s cell block leaders. He had the stylings of a rock musician or punk rocker who’d spent a little too much time doing drugs and not enough time playing his instrument. Worn around the edges, a little too full of himself. He’d been a bit player in the real world, caught up in his vices, yet had managed to take over and rule a cell block for three years after being sent to the Birdcage.

    He was still smirking, laughing a little, as he looked between me and Scion’s ongoing fight with Chevalier. He danced a little from foot to foot, tensing just a bit every time Scion moved. Not out of fear.

    This is better,” he said. “They wanna run and leave us assholes to do the fighting, you can say otherwise. Pin ’em up and let Scion knock ’em down.” - Excerpt from Speck 30.2
  9. Skills:
    • 3 Threaten (+1 to frighten or coerce, +1 to rolls against frightened foes, can substitute Dex for social when frightening others)
    • 2 Street Smarts. (+1 to rolls, has underlings equal to social stat) - Playtest Capes, document by Wildbow.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Scion shook off the pair, and then struck Chevalier hard enough to send him crashing into the crowd opposite us.

    Then he wheeled around. His eyes passed over Acidbath.

    Acidbath, still dancing from foot to foot, leaped, and he changed into a living tidal wave of clear liquid, isolated, with roughly five times his mass. He materialized into regular human form when he was a little behind and to one side of Scion, and then lashed out, slinging punches that ended with his hands becoming liquid projectiles. They splashed against Scion, and I could see smoke rise, even though there wasn’t any visible damage. - Excerpt from Speck 30.2
  11. Power: Defensive Break; can reactively turn self to acid before an attack makes contact, negating some or all damage and splashing those nearby with spray, as described above (Wits based). - Playtest Capes, document by Wildbow.
  12. Power: Acid Blast, 100’ range, sprays targets near struck target for less effect.
    • Scars flesh. Coverage of gear more effective than armor, does nigh-permanent damage.
    • Damages and dissolves gear.
    • Can reduce range to cover more area, making dodging harder. - Playtest Capes, document by Wildbow.
  13. Power: Acid Immunity; can’t be hurt by his own acid power or by caustic chemicals. Does not extend protection to gear. Resistant to general burns. - Playtest Capes, document by Wildbow.
  14. Acidbath
    One of the rare few who got sent to the Birdcage purely by dint of how despicable he was, using acid powers to permanently scar the faces of girlfriends and adversaries alike. - Playtest Capes, document by Wildbow.
  15. Acidbath had stayed, rather than leave to go get a costume, and was splayed out on the rock of the cliff face, his shirt off and laid out beneath him. Soaking up the rays, insofar as they was any sun to be had. - Excerpt from Extinction 27.4
  16. Was I going to be moral, or efficient?

    Two capes fell in my awareness. Acidbath was one. Another was a talented shapeshifter who was in bad shape beneath their moldable skin.

    Shapeshifter, I made the call.

    One expendable asset. At my bidding, he strode forward through the portal. The clairvoyant retrieved a tinker device and dropped it through a portal. The shapeshifter caught it. - Excerpt from Speck 30.5
  17. “No sample provides the exact same powers every time. The bullet points note examples of the powers gained when the sample was tried on a human subject or a client. There’s typically a common thread or theme connecting powers from a given sample. One sample might have a tendency to work with the production of acids and a tendency for physical manifestation. This might allow an individual to turn into a living pool of acid, to secrete acid from his pores or to spit streams of corrosive venom.” - Excerpt from Interlude 12.5

Site Navigation[]

Baumann Parahuman Containment Center
Warden Dragon
Cell Block Leaders AcidbathBlack KazeBlood Diamond Crane the HarmoniousGalvanateGavelGlaistig UaineIngenueLab RatLustrumMarquisString TheoryTeacher
Prisoners Bakuda CanaryCinderhandsCrock o’ShitKnotLizard PrinceLungMurderbeamNailbiterPanaceaRamrodSpruceTricksterWhimper
Advertisement