Solaris - The Golden Guardian

Current Status: Active Hero – Returning from Exile
After decades of absence, Solaris has returned to the public eye, her powers burning brighter than ever. Long believed lost, she has reemerged to face a world vastly different from the one she left behind. While her name still carries the weight of legend, she must now navigate the complexities of modern heroism, where ideals are no longer as clear-cut as they once were.

Her last confirmed sighting before her return was in 1987, during a crisis event where she vanished into the sky. Since then, reports of golden streaks in the upper atmosphere and unexplained solar flares near New Zealand fueled speculation about her survival. Now, with her return, the world watches closely—some with hope, others with unease—wondering if the Golden Guardian will once again take her place among New Zealand’s greatest heroes.

Alias: Solaris

Other Aliases: The Golden Guardian, Dawnfire, The Sunborn

Real Name: Eleanor “Ellie” Whitmore

Age: 104 years old (Born 1920, but appears in her early 40s due to solar energy prolonging her lifespan)

Home: Auckland, New Zealand

Birthplace: Wellington, New Zealand

Gender: Female

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Weight: 160 lbs (73 kg)

Build: Athletic, statuesque, powerful

Hair: Fiery red-gold, flows like living flame in motion

Hair Style: Long and wavy, glowing when fully charged with solar energy

Eyes: Glowing amber, radiating energy

Ancestry: European New Zealander

Skin: Light golden undertone, subtly radiant under sunlight

Occupation: Hero, Former WWII Aviator, Solar Energy Specialist

Backstory

Eleanor Whitmore was born in 1920, a brilliant mind and fearless aviator in an era when women were often overlooked. Raised by a scientist father and a politically active mother, she grew up fascinated by solar energy and its untapped potential. By the early 1940s, she was one of New Zealand’s first female test pilots, working on cutting-edge aeronautics and experimental energy projects.

During World War II, she volunteered for a high-risk solar energy experiment designed to power aircraft indefinitely. However, an unforeseen cosmic convergence—a rare alignment of solar radiation and an Aetheric phenomenon linked to ancient Māori mythology—transformed her into something more than human. Instead of perishing, her body became a conduit for pure solar energy, her cells absorbing and converting sunlight into immense power.

With the world at war, Eleanor became Solaris, New Zealand’s first true superhero, standing as a beacon of hope, resilience, and heroism. She fought alongside Allied heroes, protecting the Pacific, battling war-time supervillains, and later taking on threats far beyond the battlefield.

By the 1950s-60s, she was a global icon. Over time, she discovered that her powers not only protected her but slowed her aging, leaving her biologically in her early 40s despite being over a century old.

Though she disappeared from public view in the 1980s, rumors persisted—some believed she had perished in space, others that she slumbered in the heart of the sun, waiting for New Zealand’s greatest need. Now, in the modern era, she has returned, her powers burning brighter than ever, ready to stand once more as New Zealand’s Golden Guardian.

Personality

Solaris is the embodiment of unwavering heroism, resilience, and warmth. A living legend from another time, she carries the ideals of the Golden Age, where heroism was clear-cut and justice was something you stood for without hesitation. She is noble, inspiring, and fiercely determined, believing that hope and perseverance can turn the tide of any battle. Yet, despite her immense power, she is not reckless—trained in military strategy and aerial combat, she fights with discipline and precision, never forgetting the responsibility that comes with strength. She is a protector first and foremost, always choosing to shield rather than destroy, no matter how dire the circumstances.

However, in the modern world, Solaris struggles to find her place. The world is no longer black and white, and while she understands strategy and war, she is learning to navigate the complexities of modern morality, politics, and the shifting nature of heroism. Some revere her as a symbol of hope, while others see her as a relic from an era that no longer exists, a godlike figure whose power is both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Even among heroes, she is viewed with both admiration and caution—a beacon of the past stepping into a world that has moved forward without her.

Beneath the legend, Eleanor Whitmore carries a quiet, deeply personal fear—that she no longer knows where she belongs. She has spent over a century as Solaris, the Golden Guardian, but when the battles are over and the crowds fade, she is left wondering: Who is Eleanor if she is not Solaris? She fears burning too brightly, becoming nothing more than a weapon rather than a hero, a force of nature rather than a person. But despite these doubts, she will not stop fighting—not for herself, but for the future she still believes in.

Powers & Abilities

Solar Infusion – Her body absorbs and channels sunlight, converting it into superhuman abilities.

Superhuman Strength & Durability – She can lift tanks, punch through steel, and withstand explosions.

Flight – She soars through the skies like a comet, propelled by radiant solar energy.

Solar Beams – Her hands can unleash controlled blasts of solar energy, burning through enemies or shielding allies.

Solar Aura – When fully charged, she radiates a golden glow, boosting the morale and strength of those around her, inspiring civilians and heroes alike.

Photokinetic Speed – Brief bursts of near-light speed movement, making her a blur in combat.

Regenerative Healing – As long as she has sunlight, her body heals rapidly.

Weaknesses & Limitations

Power Drain in Darkness – Without sunlight, her abilities weaken significantly.
Solar Overload – If she absorbs too much energy too quickly, she risks becoming unstable and unleashing an uncontrollable explosion.
Golden Age Ideals – She believes in heroism, justice, and redemption, sometimes making her too idealistic for modern cynical times.
Ties to the Land – In Māori interpretations, her powers are strongest in New Zealand, as the land and sun empower her.