Gideon Raveshaw
Actor: Rodger Bumpas
Name: Gideon Raveshaw*Affiliation:* Brotherhood of Nod*Rank:* General*Role:* Founder and first leader of the Black Hand*Former profession:* Mercenary strategist and intelligence specialist*Superior:* Kane*Subordinates / mercenaries:* Carlos Mendoza, Sakura Obata*Project supervised:* ReGenesis*Transformation:* Tiberium-enhanced cybernetic mutant*Main enemy:* Nick "Havoc" Parker*Conflict:* Tiberian Dawn*Appearance:* Command & Conquer: Renegade
Status: Deceased.Gideon Raveshaw was one of Nod’s most senior officers during the First Tiberium War and the founder of the Black Hand. Cold, silent and possessing remarkable strategic talent, he transformed this organisation into a combination of special forces and a fanatical religious order entirely devoted to Kane.
From mercenary to Nod General
Before joining the Brotherhood of Nod, Raveshaw worked as a mercenary strategist in Africa, primarily selling his intelligence skills to warlords able to pay for his services. Kane eventually took notice of his abilities and recruited him to lead Nod’s espionage and sabotage operations in Tunisia.
With limited resources, Raveshaw orchestrated a campaign aimed at overthrowing the local regime. The operation culminates in a revolution and the establishment of a Nod-friendly government, proving his effectiveness to Kane. He is subsequently promoted to the rank of general.
Founder of the Black Hand
At Kane’s request, Raveshaw founded the Black Hand, intended to bring together some of the Brotherhood’s most loyal and fanatical members. Under his command, it became an elite unit, an intelligence service and a sort of internal religious police force.
Raveshaw personally selects his recruits and subjects them to particularly rigorous indoctrination prior to their military training. The Black Hand specialises in assassinations, kidnappings, sabotage and covert operations.
His character contrasts sharply with that of Kane. Whilst the Prophet relies on his charisma and public speeches, Raveshaw remains cold, taciturn and menacing. This attitude nevertheless enables him to command almost absolute loyalty from his men.
Project ReGenesis
During the First Tiberium War, Raveshaw was given responsibility for protecting and overseeing Project ReGenesis, a secret programme designed to exploit the mutagenic properties of Tiberium to create enhanced combatants.
In particular, the Black Hand abducts several GDI specialists, including Ignatio Mobius, Sydney Mobius and Elena Petrova, in order to exploit their knowledge. Raveshaw also employs mercenaries such as Carlos Mendoza and Sakura Obata.
Transformation
Under the influence of Dr Elena Petrova, Raveshaw finally agrees to undergo the ReGenesis process himself.
The experiment transforms him into a gigantic Tiberium-powered cybernetic mutant, endowed with considerably increased strength, stamina and speed. But the result comes at a dramatic cost: the transformation destroys much of the intelligence and charisma that had made him an exceptional Commander. Essentially, all that remains is an extremely powerful and obedient super-soldier.
Death at the hands of Havoc
Nick "Havoc" Parker eventually infiltrates the underground facility where the ReGenesis experiments are being carried out. There he discovers Raveshaw in his new mutant form, whilst Petrova continues her research and several prisoners, including Ignatio Mobius and Sakura, are being held in the complex.
Petrova orders Raveshaw to eliminate Havoc. Despite the transformed General’s considerable physical strength, the GDI Commando manages to defeat and kill him.
Raveshaw’s death thus deprives the Black Hand of its founder and first leader. The organisation will nevertheless survive him and continue to play a major role within Nod during the wars that follow.
