Blazion

Your Friendly Neighborhood Government Sanctioned Superheroes

@Prosaic You are on-point for updating that relationship chart as soon as a character's accepted. :P

Year 1 (A Zombie Apocalypse RP)

Well, at least Sam could respect Leo for being upfront about the whole affair. Still pissed at him, though. However, his words sparked a thought and the tattoo artist made a thoughtful hum, tapping a finger against her bottom lip.

”You know, we never even asked Ash if she had a safe house to return to or anything.” She commented aloud, but then after a moment just shrugged. ”Well, at least you know now you can stay here, I guess.” The last part had an overly dramatic lilt to Sam’s words, obviously teasing. However finally she just gestured downstairs.

”Now come on, I worked up an appetite getting those fish and I’m fuckin’ hungry.” With the two following her – presumably at least – the blonde descended the stairs once more, though as her gaze flitted across the room a frown tugged the corners of her lips down. ”I told them not to move my plants,” the woman muttered under her breath, dragging her gaze around the room. Abigail – her budding cucumber plant – was no where to be seen. Finally she shrugged and just moved to the kitchen and leaned against the doorway. It couldn’t have gone far.

”Well hello Mr. And Ms. Cheerful. Making that gumbo? Because I am fucking starving.” Gesturing into the kitchen, Sam called over to Ash. "This is Brooklyn and Jorel by the way. Conrad's run off somewhere - I'm eating his portion if he's not back in time, I don't even care."

Heroes Reborn - A DCAU Roleplay (Always open!)

@pokemad1

Hey there! Sorry about the delayed response! Unfortunately Blackstripe, our resident head dog GM and the only one that can accept players, is a little sick right now so I beg your patience until she can take a look.

From an initial glance he looks pretty well-thought out and interesting, but a concern of mine is that we have a character who uses very similar abilities. Anarkee, played by @Korkoa also has gas bombs that affect emotions as well as emotional control.

In the end it's up to Blackstripe, but just throwing that out there from my intiial look. I'm, after all, just an event co-GM. :P

Heroes Reborn - A DCAU Roleplay (Always open!)

December 25th, 2:45 AM
Conowingdo Dam, Maryland

Like so many things in life, the victory of the motley little crew of vigilante heroes was short lived. This time even quicker than their initial take down of Cronus, to boot, as their greetings to Velocity were barely passed their lips before ... a bud grew a full sized bug-man who started talking to them.

See, this is why Grim didn’t have plants in The Dog House.

Nonetheless the words he spoke were worrying and immediately drew the Gotham hero’s gaze skyward. The lenses of her helmet reflected the flashing lights above of the colossal battle, each strike between the two Goddesses causing a rupture of color to spark against the night sky. The helmet of the Iron Fang prototype zoomed in, following the movements and recording, yet even then their motions were swift and could barely be followed. A battle of Gods, indeed.

Yet it was heartening that immediately those around Grim jumped in, wanting to help. To go up into that fight of men beyond mortals to assist Lady Arcana. The problem of course, lay in how. Emerald Knight was the one that would even be able to get up there, and though Tank might be able to jump or throw the others what then?

No, what they needed was for this fight to be grounded.

”Hold on,” It was barely more than a mutter directed to Tank’s question as Grim’s gaze turned from the sky to the metal armor on her wrist. A few taps, and... yes, yes good. Communicator 1 was back online. It was out of range for awhile, which was no surprise considering where Lady Arcana had gone. Connecting the communicator back to the grid Grim spoke to the congregation of vigilantes, letting her words be heard in the ears of all.

”Lady Arcana, we’re sending reinforcements. We need that fight on the ground. We’ll offer you an opening Try to aim for the dam where Cronus’ body is – there’ll be no one for casualties around here.” Grim had, after all, warned people away long before she had even shown up with King Orin.

Turning the glowing white gaze of the Iron Fang armor to the others she gestured to the three most useful in this situation. ”Speedy’s plan has merit. Tank, throw her as hard as possible then get ready to jump on whoever is up there once they’re down. Green Glow, get ready to catch Sonic – I’ll be ready as well if necessary. Orin, Harris, get ready to lock down the threat as well. Stay out of the water too, if they land there that’s prime time for a repeat performance from Orin’s trident.”

The motors on Grim’s back flared to life as she rose up, and from her shoulders, arms, and the thick plating of the Iron Fang’s chest metal panels slid away to show a variety of weapons, both magical and mundane. Hopefully the fact they were mere beta tests wouldn’t backfire.

”Let’s make this one even a God won’t forget.”

Your Friendly Neighborhood Government Sanctioned Superheroes

Small introductory post since I have to sleep before work tomorrow. Soon.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Government Sanctioned Superheroes

Shift

---

Soft, upbeat music of ‘40’s jazz drifted its fast paced notes through one of the various rooms of The Tower, the volume low but obvious. Even so, the even quieter humming that accompanied it was nearly drowned out – not that the hummer seemed to mind. After all, Valora didn’t exactly have an audience. No, instead the young woman was sitting by herself on one of the maroon couches facing the wall of her living area, legs crossed and holding a book in one hand. Her other hand held a fork, hovering halfway between the salad resting on her lap and her mouth as a particular passage caught her eye.

All in all, it was a nearly picturesque morning. The sun was drifting lazily into her apartment, no one had disturbed her the entire time she’s been awake, and the new book she had picked up was quite good! Really, all Valora could’ve asked for was perhaps a glass of her family’s wine.

Well, that and not being anywhere near here in the first place, or the sprinkling of feathers she could feel on the back of her neck. No, actually, she was pointedly ignoring both of those things. She was not going to lament how things could have been, and she was most certainly not going to quiver in fear knowing that the Tower’s avian presence was particularly active today! Her furniture was positioned in such a way as to create a barrier from anyone entering her apartment, she was hundreds of feet in the air, there was nothing to be afraid of-

Then came the caw. Instantly Valora stilled, tensed with anxiety flooding her every pore. A moment of hesitation passed before her one-eyed gaze slid over to the floor-to-ceiling windows adorning one wall, seeing the little bird that struggled to balance on the very edge. However on seeing the grey eye of Valora locked onto him the crow let out another caw, flapping his wings eagerly.

A heartbeat past.

Then slowly, ever so slowly, Valora rose. Her fork dropped onto her plate before she reached out to grasp onto the cord hanging from the window. With a slow and cautious pull the maroon fabric of the drapes closed shut. Immediately a breath of relief escaped the woman’s lips and she sat back with a slump to her shoulders. After a few moments of calming breaths the woman raised her arms to run her fingers through her hair, only to pause seeing the tips of her fingers. Her hands settled in her lap as she couldn’t help but stare mutely at the absolutely wicked length and curve that had overtaken her fingernails, even before her eye they continued to thicken and become more talon-like. All from the presence of one little bird. It was horrifying.

The silent reflection was cut short by the sudden beeping flooding the room. A surprised gasp slipped from Valora’s lips, and as her heart started to race knowing what the sound meant a small twinge, no more than a pinch, was felt in her bicep. Her gaze quickly slid from the watch on her pale wrist, nestled above the dark onyx bracers that kept her powers in check, to the small device adhered to her arm. As with every mission as soon as the alert went out the Injector did its job, and within seconds the potent mix of chemicals began to calm the blonde. Her heart was still beating abnormally fast, but the rise of a panic attack, knowing that soon she’d be turning into the monsters that haunted her dreams, settled.

The moments Valora took to fully calm herself probably took longer than putting her food away and changing into costume. As such Shift was one of the last to slip into the briefing room from her elevator trip, the patch of downy feathers having grown more prominently around her neck and starting down her arms by the time she did. All the shapeshifter could do was offer a weak smile to the suited man that was quite obviously impatiently waiting for them all.

Almost immediately Shift’s stomach dropped as the briefing went underway, paling as the live feed being broadcast to them showed the jaws of a giant, mechanical lion crushing a car in its jaws like butter.

A flash of teeth, a maw latching around her face-

Another pinch in her arm caused Shift to have a full body shudder, the small pain combined with another injection steadying the hero. As was expected the briefing, was brief. In her ear the communication device – Valora hated calling it the ‘HIVEMIND’ - sparked to life with the words of Omnicron’s leader, Victory. The experienced hero was already issuing orders to the others, but Shift had one pit stop to make first.

After all, can’t have the shapeshifter going out unable to shapeshift. With the Injector working its chemical magic, it was time to have the dampening bracers removed to unleash the beast.

Valora just wanted to be back in the safety of her room.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Government Sanctioned Superheroes

Shift

Name
Valora Beaumont

Alias
Shift

Age
25

Gender
Female

Personality
At the base of her personality Valora would simply be described as a “nervous wreck”. Nearly every action she does has an undercurrent of fear or anxiousness, and while at her core she’s kind-hearted Valora can put people off due to being unable to suppress her nerves naturally. It’s not uncommon to find her fidgeting during conversation, darting her gaze around everywhere but at the other person’s face, or in extreme cases hyperventilating. This is particularly prevalent around animal presences.

This provides a ripe breeding ground for Valora to be easily cajoled as well, provided she’s not more afraid of whatever task is presented to her. She has a deep desire to either be seen as helpful, or at least not useless.

Of course, all of these personality traits can disappear under unplanned use of her abilities.

Powers
As may be determined by her alias, Shift is a shapeshifter. Specifically she specializes in taking on the form of any animal presented to her, particularly if they are physically nearby. While she doesn’t need an animal nearby in order to take on its form, it makes it significantly easier - when touching the animal the transformation is near instantaneous. If it’s in the vicinity the transformation can take a few seconds, while a more exotic animal that wouldn’t be around her can take up to a minute.

However, Shift doesn’t need to fully transform herself either. She’s able to shift or grow only certain body parts, and with effort can be a mix-mash of creatures [up to three]. She is also not limited by the physical restraints of the creature, but rather by her own energy - in one instance of being exposed to a canine after an optimized week of rest and food her subsequent transformation reached four hundred pounds. Her usual shifts at regular health end up with her transformation being slightly bigger than the normal perimeters of the animal. Further, animals appear to be attracted to her presence and respond to her emotions if presented.

The apparent downfall of her powers lays in the fact that Shift, when not transforming on her own, can be influenced by nearby animals. This usually manifests as being unable to help but take on some aspects of their appearance [she has reported often having feathers sprouting while in the Tower], but more dangerously her personality can be influenced by creatures as well. In the Tower she sometimes finds herself collecting shiny objects, as an example. In the most extreme circumstances when her personality is completely overtaken by animalistic urges, usually from predators and her own fear response, she can fall to rages. Peculiarly, staff at the Academy and subsequently handlers from New Horizon often find themselves the targets of these rampages.

Precautions
Dampening Bracelet

Due to Shift’s lack of control at times, she’s fitted with Dampening Bracers to avoid uncontrolled transformations in the Tower. Incomplete shifts are still possible.

Equipment
Injector

Fitted to the inside of Valora’s left bicep is a small device, a little over three inches long in total. During missions a needle at the base of the device inserts into Valora’s bloodstream and injects her with a cocktail of drugs to calm her enough to operate, as her fear of her own powers might usually prevent. Weekly checkups are required to calibrate the Injector for safety, as well as after every mission.

Appearance
Standing at an impressive six feet even, Valora’s height along with a thin frame combines to make her have a somewhat sickly appearance with boney features, compounded further by a rather pale complexion. She has somewhat wavy dirty blonde hair going down to just beneath her shoulder blades, and even when her hair is pulled up she has long bangs that always cover her eyes.

This is particularly true on the left side of her face, using her hair to hide the lack of eyeball, as well as the deep and unattractive scarring that mars the skin on that side. It’s the worst around her eye, cutting thin lines across her brow and eyelid with deeper marks just below, dragging across her cheek to just above her jaw. The drag of teeth left the most noticeable marks, but on closer inspection the puncture scars are visible as well. Because of her lost eye Valora wears a simple cotton adhesive eyepatch, except on missions where her transformations would see her lose it anyway.

Shift’s ‘costume’ appears to just be one of the standard issue New Horizon jumpsuits, with tow stripes of white going down the front. What makes it so unique is the outfit's ability to change with Shift's transformations, allowing her to make use of smaller or larger forms without loss of her uniform. For public appearances she’s been provided with a cloak that hangs off her right arm, made from the pelt of a grizzly bear to further emphasis her abilities.

History
Like so many before her, Valora started out as just a normal girl. The Beaumont family worked the lands of their own vineyard, having a somewhat small but selective collection of wine made and bottled by them. It was on these gently sloping hills and between the twisting vines that Valora often found herself playing as a small child, watched over by her parents or their various workers.

It was during one of these explorations that Valora, barely six years old, found herself at the edge of her parents’ property. It was harvesting season, and as such she was meant to stay out of the way, so off she went to this area at the edge of the overgrown forest nearby. As was usual for the girl she found herself playing with the birds that liked to collect around her, hopping at her feet or perching in her hair. However, it wasn’t just these avians that had taken interest in the girl that day.

The first thing that alerted the young girl that something was wrong was her little feathered friends scattering. Some merely hopped back, while the less brave merely took off to the trees. Following the collective gazes of the birds, Valora found a shaggy and malnourished wolf cautiously approaching, a limp to his front step - he was hurt. And though Valora’s innate gift brought him to this place and soothed his agitated nerves, a hurt predator was a hungry predator.

As such when Valora let out a startled scream it snapped whatever spell had fallen over the starved wolf. When the young girl scrambled to run instincts and desperation took over as the beast lunged after her. The blood curdling screams drew the nearby workers over, and though reluctant at first the wolf ended up dropping his meal and fleeing when struck repeatedly.

The attack couldn’t have lasted more than a minute, but the effects of the starved predator would stay with Valora forever. Even after she recovered the once outgoing girl was far happier huddled up to her mother’s skirts or within the safety of her family’s home, left with the permanent reminder of her attack by the maiming of the left side of her face. The birds that crowded around her window in the morning were terrifying reminders now, not the joyful song to wake up to. The neighbor’s dog was no longer a friendly pet, but a jaw full of sharp teeth and crushing jaws. It was a lonely existence the trauma made; afraid of outside her home, shunned by her younger siblings for her shifted worrying and hovering nature, terrified of what dangers lurked out there.

It didn’t help when Valora’s nightmares started haunting her waking hours. How her nails became almost like claws. Feathers sprouted along her arms. Her teeth, sharp and scraping against a broad tongue.

It culminated in high school. She had been doing so well hiding what was happening, for Valora was no fool. Something was wrong with her, something powerful and terrifying. Then one of her classmate’s parents brought his dog along to pick him up, and the creature got loose. Jumping on people, licking their face. To Valora, frozen in fear, when the dog jumped on her all she saw was the creature’s mouth opening wide and the white of his teeth, looming and sharp and dangerous-

She didn’t remember anything else of that day.

What Valora did remember was waking up in the hospital, with the people she’d find out were from New Horizon Academy. There she was informed of what happened - people injured, a dog killed, and Valora - what was supposed to be Valora anyway - fled into the wilds before being found, human and covered in blood. It was here she was given a choice, one she grabbed onto like a drowning man. The Academy would teach her how to stop this, how to control what was happening so it would never happen again.

Turns out a shifter is too valuable for people to be bothered with simple things like trauma. Valora was trained, yes, but rather than being able to forget she ever had these abilities she was instead thrust into the public eye as Shift, resident of the Tower and reluctant hero.

It’s rather ironic really, being caged up and used like little more than an animal.

Other
Has zoophobia, with a particular fear of canines. Therapy has only somewhat helped.

Relationship Table

Ka'van Soeray
Initially I wasn’t sure how to react around Ka’van. There are so many things that could be starkly different between alien and human. What if offering a handshake could be seen as threatening by reaching out to him? Well, it turns out my fears were unfounded, at least in this case. Ka’van is quite a gentleman, his presence calm and collected. There's times we can both be in the same room with a mutual quiet that I can't often find with others. It's comforting. Though, there’s this air of graveness that tends to hang around him. When I’m canine-shifted, at times it makes my fur bristle. Still, I wish I could do more for him. It’s obvious he doesn’t like it here.

It’s rather telling that on finding an alien presence New Horizon’s first reaction is to cage it. How Ka’van doesn’t resent all of humanity every time he looks to the stars I couldn’t say.

Silas Myers
Personally I blame the Tower birds affecting me, but every time I see Silas I just want to build him a nest of blankets and feed him. He worries over others so much, and I appreciate his concern, but I don’t think he spends nearly enough time worrying over himself. He’s so pale, and the food he eats can barely be called food – oh, don’t tell him I said that. Anyway, I try to bring him food whenever I cook, but that doesn’t help the nesting part. For someone who’s powers involve sleep it seems he doesn’t get nearly enough. Plus he seems so defenceless on the field...Seems we’re destined to mutually worry over each other.

I’ve never mentioned it to anyone, but I think he manipulates my dreams sometimes. More specifically, my nightmares. Before the tower I’d wake up terrified whenever I had them, but lately not so much. I know it’s not me getting over my phobia, but I’m afraid to bring it up in case I’m wrong or it makes things awkward. I’m thankful, if he is.

Ricardo Fenix
Ricardo... Ricardo is... Well, he’s Phoenix Dawn. Both on and off the field. The bright shining light, fiery and with a presence that demands attention. He’s, well... to be honest he’s intimidating to me, and not just because of his legend. That’s – that’s not to say he’s not a nice man! He is! It’s just, sometimes he reminds me of a puppy; all bright eyes and toothy grin, and lurking beneath that friendly exterior the power of a beast in wait. It doesn't help that sometimes when I shift I can see him eyeing me. I suppose the exotic animals could be interesting to someone not terrified of them, but why always my ears? Does he think it weird Victory scratches behind them sometimes? ... Would his scratches be too hard?

Maybe I can muster up the bravery to at least talk to him properly. I still feel really bad about our first meeting.

Alice Jefferson
Some of the others don’t like Alice that much, but I ... actually really admire her. Even before becoming part of New Horizon it was hard not to look up to Victory for all that she represented. Despite becoming disillusioned with the organization myself, I know whenever I’m dispatched on a mission that she’ll do her best to get us all back home safe. That's the type of person she is. Though, I'll admit she can be a bit frightening with the Victory Armor. The shouting puts my shifts on edge sometimes. Still, I enjoy her company in the tower – have you ever heard her tell a story of her days before New Horizon? She’s one of the people I don’t really mind spending time with, she's genuinely a good person and it's not just some act for the public. Oh, and don't tell anyone, but she also gives the best scratches behind my ear when I'm forced to shift.

... I just ... wish she didn’t think so highly of New Horizon...

Sydney Lorraine
Sydney is one of those people that I can’t help but fret over. You tend to pick up bits and pieces of others’ past while in the Tower, and from what I’ve overheard ... Well, on top of that, she’s the youngest of my team, and can’t even touch many things without cover! That's not good for a person's development! Then to add on that she's an open book, plus the nature of her work with the police... Just the thought gets my feathers ruffled. She's only eighteen for goodness' sake, she doesn't need to see those things! I know it helps people, but what about helping her? I try to check up on Sydney but to be honest, sometimes I can’t read her very well despite everything. I do appreciate that I can speak my native tongue with her however. That might be part of why I’m so fond of her admittedly, on top of everything else.

I worry she gets cold when we go on missions, too. I don’t understand her uniform choice, but I suppose she is Canadian. Still doesn't explain the lack of underwear - I kind of want to curl around her protectively when I'm shifted, even if I know it's a bad idea.

Jane Martin
When Jane was first assigned to Omicron I... okay, I admit it, I was a little weirded out. Please don’t say anything! I’ve come to appreciate her more in the three months she’s been here. I wasn’t sure how to act around her at first but she’s just a teenage girl in an odd body. Plus she just genuinely wants to help others, and I can respect that even if she’s taken to mimicking Ricardo in mannerisms (enchanced hearing makes her yelling extra loud). That being said, despite who she’s chosen to emulate I still feel an unfortunately animalistic protectiveness over Jane due to her age and limitations. I’ve been working up the nerve to bring her food ever since she let slip she used to love cooking. Oh, and her base yellow color is so bright – I really like it, and I should tell her that someday.

Despite the numerous, numerous short-comings of New Horizon, I’m glad they gave Jane a place she could be accepted, both by us and the public.

Leolin "Leo" Cwm Annwn
Another alien, another being caged to New Horizon. Leo is another one of us ‘heroes’ who is more often than not withdrawn, and after he was treated on coming to Earth it’s not hard to understand why. Given his responsibility to then be little more than a tool... I feel for him. Things must be so different. I respect him for wanting to help others, but, well, to be honest he’s really intimidating to me. Between his strong and silent demeanour and those eyes of his... They’re beautiful, but I didn’t even need to see him on the battlefield to know he’s deadly.

If things don’t change soon, then when other starcrawlers look upon humanity will we be branded as nothing more than slavers? Will it even be wrong?

Elliot Reider
She is very quiet, a trait I can appreciate greatly. I enjoy her presence from the times we’ve managed to catch each other since her introduction to the tower, and Elliot appears to be quite well-read. I even managed to have a discussion about statistics! I never get to talk numbers with anyone! ... But I’ve heard a bit of her past [seriously, no one thinks about animal-enhanced senses for some reason, it’s not like I mean to overhear]. It worries me from the snippets I’ve found out, not to mention the knowledge she was once part of a terrorist organization... Apparently on the field she does a 180, too. That can be a very major trauma flag. Forcing her from one organization to be caged in another isn't a very healing environment.

Despite that I hope she finds a new home here, I certainly plan to be as welcoming as possible and keep an eye on her. The Tower can be a prison, it’s true, but at least the people can also feel like family. I can very easily see my urge to protectively nest encompassing Elliot.

Joseiah Kimbell
The pun master himself. I admit sometimes they don’t translate so well in my native tongue, but I swear he makes them simpler around me to keep me included – I appreciate it. He’s very ‘chill’ (was that right?), not to mention a jokester. He reminds me of my little brother actually, though I suppose that’s inevitable since he acts like the big brother to so many people in the Tower – Team Omicron especially, I think. Even when I’m feeling overwhelmed he always seems to realize when I just need quiet, a trait well honed by siblings. On the field I know he’d have my back, and I would have his – oh, and his ice sculptures are beautiful! I suppose that’s inevitable as well, considering his powers.

Something about Joseiah bothers me at times. Maybe it’s my own fears, but at times he reminds me of what they say about clowns and comedians – those who enjoy the happiness in others are often the ones most in need of it. I hope I’m wrong, he’s too sweet to be suffering.

Foo Dog
I understand he’s a vigilante and I shouldn’t think much of him, but I envy his freedom... at the same time, he can turn into a lion. Why. Why this?!

Onyx

WHY?!

Your Friendly Neighborhood Government Sanctioned Superheroes

Alright, here's my hat thrown into the ring! Hope it works out, since I think she'd be fun to play. If anything needs tweaking though feel free to let me know!

Valora Beaumont, AKA Shift

Name
Valora Beaumont

Alias
Shift

Age
25

Gender
Female

Personality
At the base of her personality Valora would simply be described as a “nervous wreck”. Nearly every action she does has an undercurrent of fear or anxiousness, and while at her core she’s kind-hearted Valora can put people off due to being unable to suppress her nerves naturally. It’s not uncommon to find her fidgeting during conversation, darting her gaze around everywhere but at the other person’s face, or in extreme cases hyperventilating. This is particularly prevalent around animal presences.

This provides a ripe breeding ground for Valora to be easily cajoled as well, provided she’s not more afraid of whatever task is presented to her. She has a deep desire to either be seen as helpful, or at least not useless.

Of course, all of these personality traits can disappear under unplanned use of her abilities.

Powers
As may be determined by her alias, Shift is a shapeshifter. Specifically she specializes in taking on the form of any animal presented to her, particularly if they are physically nearby. While she doesn’t need an animal nearby in order to take on its form, it makes it significantly easier - when touching the animal the transformation is near instantaneous. If it’s in the vicinity the transformation can take a few seconds, while a more exotic animal that wouldn’t be around her can take up to a minute.

However, Shift doesn’t need to fully transform herself either. She’s able to shift or grow only certain body parts, and with effort can be a mix-mash of creatures [up to three]. She is also not limited by the physical restraints of the creature, but rather by her own energy - in one instance of being exposed to a canine after an optimized week of rest and food her subsequent transformation reached four hundred pounds. Her usual shifts at regular health end up with her transformation being slightly bigger than the normal perimeters of the animal. Further, animals appear to be attracted to her presence and respond to her emotions if presented.

The apparent downfall of her powers lays in the fact that Shift, when not transforming on her own, can be influenced by nearby animals. This usually manifests as being unable to help but take on some aspects of their appearance [she has reported often having feathers sprouting while in the Tower], but more dangerously her personality can be influenced by creatures as well. In the Tower she sometimes finds herself collecting shiny objects, as an example. In the most extreme circumstances when her personality is completely overtaken by animalistic urges, usually from predators and her own fear response, she can fall to rages. Peculiarly, staff at the Academy and subsequently handlers from New Horizon often find themselves the targets of these rampages.

Precautions
Dampening Bracelet

Due to Shift’s lack of control at times, she’s fitted with Dampening Bracers to avoid uncontrolled transformations in the Tower. Incomplete shifts are still possible.

Equipment
Injector

Fitted to the inside of Valora’s left bicep is a small device, a little over three inches long in total. During missions a needle at the base of the device inserts into Valora’s bloodstream and injects her with a cocktail of drugs to calm her enough to operate, as her fear of her own powers might usually prevent. Weekly checkups are required to calibrate the Injector for safety, as well as after every mission.

Appearance
Standing at an impressive six feet even, Valora’s height along with a thin frame combines to make her have a somewhat sickly appearance with boney features, compounded further by a rather pale complexion. She has somewhat wavy dirty blonde hair going down to just beneath her shoulder blades, and even when her hair is pulled up she has long bangs that always cover her eyes.

This is particularly true on the left side of her face, using her hair to hide the lack of eyeball, as well as the deep and unattractive scarring that mars the skin on that side. It’s the worst around her eye, cutting thin lines across her brow and eyelid with deeper marks just below, dragging across her cheek to just above her jaw. The drag of teeth left the most noticeable marks, but on closer inspection the puncture scars are visible as well. Because of her lost eye Valora wears a simple cotton adhesive eyepatch, except on missions where her transformations would see her lose it anyway.

Shift’s ‘costume’ is actually just a well-made dark grey sleeveless top, as well as equally dark-grey loose pants. She doesn’t even wear shoes. Her clothes normally tear with transformations after all. For public appearances she’s been provided with a cloak that hangs off her right arm, made from the pelt of a grizzly bear to further emphasis her abilities.

History
Like so many before her, Valora started out as just a normal girl. The Beaumont family worked the lands of their own vineyard, having a somewhat small but selective collection of wine made and bottled by them. It was on these gently sloping hills and between the twisting vines that Valora often found herself playing as a small child, watched over by her parents or their various workers.

It was during one of these explorations that Valora, barely six years old, found herself at the edge of her parents’ property. It was harvesting season, and as such she was meant to stay out of the way, so off she went to this area at the edge of the overgrown forest nearby. As was usual for the girl she found herself playing with the birds that liked to collect around her, hopping at her feet or perching in her hair. However, it wasn’t just these avians that had taken interest in the girl that day.

The first thing that alerted the young girl that something was wrong was her little feathered friends scattering. Some merely hopped back, while the less brave merely took off to the trees. Following the collective gazes of the birds, Valora found a shaggy and malnourished wolf cautiously approaching, a limp to his front step - he was hurt. And though Valora’s innate gift brought him to this place and soothed his agitated nerves, a hurt predator was a hungry predator.

As such when Valora let out a startled scream it snapped whatever spell had fallen over the starved wolf. When the young girl scrambled to run instincts and desperation took over as the beast lunged after her. The blood curdling screams drew the nearby workers over, and though reluctant at first the wolf ended up dropping his meal and fleeing when struck repeatedly.

The attack couldn’t have lasted more than a minute, but the effects of the starved predator would stay with Valora forever. Even after she recovered the once outgoing girl was far happier huddled up to her mother’s skirts or within the safety of her family’s home, left with the permanent reminder of her attack by the maiming of the left side of her face. The birds that crowded around her window in the morning were terrifying reminders now, not the joyful song to wake up to. The neighbor’s dog was no longer a friendly pet, but a jaw full of sharp teeth and crushing jaws. It was a lonely existence the trauma made; afraid of outside her home, shunned by her younger siblings for her shifted worrying and hovering nature, terrified of what dangers lurked out there.

It didn’t help when Valora’s nightmares started haunting her waking hours. How her nails became almost like claws. Feathers sprouted along her arms. Her teeth, sharp and scraping against a broad tongue.

It culminated in high school. She had been doing so well hiding what was happening, for Valora was no fool. Something was wrong with her, something powerful and terrifying. Then one of her classmate’s parents brought his dog along to pick him up, and the creature got loose. Jumping on people, licking their face. To Valora, frozen in fear, when the dog jumped on her all she saw was the creature’s mouth opening wide and the white of his teeth, looming and sharp and dangerous-

She didn’t remember anything else of that day.

What Valora did remember was waking up in the hospital, with the people she’d find out were from New Horizon Academy. There she was informed of what happened - people injured, a dog killed, and Valora - what was supposed to be Valora anyway - fled into the wilds before being found, human and covered in blood. It was here she was given a choice, one she grabbed onto like a drowning man. The Academy would teach her how to stop this, how to control what was happening so it would never happen again.

Turns out a shifter is too valuable for people to be bothered with simple things like trauma. Valora was trained, yes, but rather than being able to forget she ever had these abilities she was instead thrust into the public eye as Shift, resident of the Tower and reluctant hero.

It’s rather ironic really, being caged up and used like little more than an animal.

Other
Has zoophobia, with a particular fear of canines. Therapy has only somewhat helped.

Year 1 (A Zombie Apocalypse RP)

”Being underestimated is good. It means they never expect you to be dangerous,” Sam gave a little shrug with her words, another lopsided grin adorning her face. ”But I’m sure they realize now that you’re a fighter. Which is good! No one likes a dead weight.” Herself least of all, when it could strain the group. Who knows, what with the gear the little stray was packing she could even be useful if she stayed. Really that’s all Sam could ask for!

Well, that and knowing who the hell was driving off in the Explorer. The sound caused the tattoo artist to frown, tilting her head as she listened to the engine slowly fade away. Leo’s room didn’t have a window, but it was probably Conrad going to cool off. He didn’t seem too happy about the situation, but in these times sometimes the best thing to do was fall in line. Sam didn’t particularly like the thought of wasted gas, but as long as he killed a few corpsewalkers who cared?

And he was fanatical about that, so no worries there.

”Hm?” Once again Sam’s distraction caused her to slide her gaze to the other occupant of the room, quirking a blonde eyebrow at Ash. ”Right,” She stated and got up from the bed, stretching her arms above her head.

”I’ll go grab a change of Brooklyn’s clothes – you’d be swimming in whatever I have, short stuff.” It admittedly make Sam’s skin itch slightly at leaving the girl alone since they hadn’t known each other for even an hour, but it was just a brief trip. Sliding the door open just slightly the blonde slipped out and closed it behind her. A frown briefly pulled at her lips seeing Leo, the image of him with his hand on that little gun of his flashing through her mind, but it was soon smoothed over with a quirk of her lips.

”One minute, soldier, need to grab our stray some clothes.” She slipped by Leo and within minutes of rummaging in Brook’s things – and checking briefly on Beaumont and George, her pair of red robin tomato plants that Sam had stashed by Brook’s window – she had grabbed what looked like the smallest sets of clothing the other woman owned. She was sure despite what happened Brooklyn wouldn’t mind. Sam liked rummaging through her things all the time after all. Sometimes she folded towels into elephants – it was the only animal she knew how to fold though.

Within short order the tattoo artist was once more brushing passed Leo and inside the room, offering the armful of clothing to Ash.

”Here you go. Best you’re going to get unless you want to wear my spare hoodie as a dress. Best apocalypse fashion there is!”

Your Friendly Neighborhood Government Sanctioned Superheroes

Good evening, or whatever time it is for you on reading this! I'm wondering if there's still spaces available? I see the apply tag is still listed but thought it polite to ask first!