Shadowy Penumbra
From Unofficial Handbook of the Virtue Universe
(( Character is now Bright Umbra. Keeping this page as it is because I love the style it's in.
| [[Image:|300px|]] | |
| Shadowy Penumbra | |
| Player: @Stormy Weather | |
| Origin: | Science |
|---|---|
| Archetype: | Warshade |
| Threat Level: | 20 |
| Personal Data | |
| Real Name: | Jessica Westwood/ Penumbra |
| Known Aliases: | Shadowy |
| Species: | Human-Kheldian combination, designation: Warshade. |
| Age: | 17/1500 |
| Height: | 6'1" |
| Weight: | 150 |
| Eye Color: | green |
| Hair Color: | blonde |
| Biographical Data | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | High School Student |
| Place of Birth: | Paragon City |
| Base of Operations: | Paragon City |
| Marital Status: | Dating |
| Known Relatives: | Patricia Westwood (Mother), Jesse Westwood (Father), Anita Westwood (Sister) |
| Known Powers | |
| The Umbral Powers inherent in all Warshades. | |
| Known Abilities | |
| ' | |
| Equipment | |
| Youth League Comm, seperate Cell phone. | |
| ' | |
Contents |
Preface
The Kheldians. They seem to epitomize Light and Dark. They come here, and fly or run about our streets looking like what they are. Monsters from Outer Space. Any innocent person is a victim of theirs, they point to what they call the bad guys: "The Nictus". but how true is this, really?
I am digging into the life of one Kheldian, who is registered with the FBSA as Shadowy Penumbra. While critics would point out there are more public Kheldians who tell the public everything about themselves, can what they say truly be trusted? Undertaking this project, I have decided that we can learn more about these Kheldians, and the help...or menace...they stand to offer, by finding a secretive one and digging into their past.
As most of my readers should be aware, the Kheldian race combines with a human, almost parasytically, to survive. Supposedly this can create one of two seperate beings. Either a Peacebringer, if they are a pure Kheldian who did not undergo supposed scientific changes, or a Warshade, if they are one of those Kheldians that did undergo those changes that we are led to believe create Nictus, but wish to redeem themselves.
Shadowy Penumbra is a composite being. Apparently the alien wishes to be called Penumbra, which is one of their ways to use our astral terms to make themselves sound above us. It was difficult for this reporter to get information on it. But my contacts with Freedom Corps, the FBSA and some other organizations were able to provide many details.
But, before we talk about this monstrous being. We shall look at the person who is now hosting it. A 17 year old girl named Jessica Westwood. Yes, isn't that shocking? Our own children can end up as hosts for these things.
Jessica
Jessica Westwood, according to all accounts, seems to be a good kid. She was born to Patricia and Jesse Westwood, and grew up as all kids do. Her grades seem to be a steady B average throughout every year of schooling.
In terms of physical activity, it should be noted she jogs frequently, but seems to have little to no athletic acumen. Sources indicate that although she tried out for cheerleading and track, she did not make the cut.
She did have other talents, however. She was a mildly accomplished artist, as her art had appeared in the Steel Art Gallery every year they host a student exhibition, and she was in the Steel Canyon Choral, the best choir in that high school, though often outranked in state competition by Founders Falls and Crystal Falls.
With her singing and artistic ability, she no doubt had a bright future to get into many local, or national, universities. But that was brought short on October 24th, 2008. A day when the Rikti once again invaded our world due to our heroes lack of ability to contain them.
From what I gather from eyewitnesses, Jessica was walking down the street from her school to her boyfriend's, Adam Rollins, apartment. Her family having not yet given her a car, due to their own financial concerns. Perhaps if she had one, this would have been avoided.
The Rikti appeared overhead, the warwalls once again failing. Ships started to fire beams down at the city, and dropping bombs upon the pavement. One beam lanced into a building and sliced some of it off, and as it fell it crumbled. Jessica ran to get out of the way, to the nearest authorized city shelter she could get to, but she wasn't quick enough. A large piece of rubble fell upon her, crushing her legs, pinning her beneath it.
Only a few yards away from her, however, was a fallen hero. The target of the beams. According to my sources in the FBSA, that hero's name was Bright Penumbra, which apparently was an attempt by the alien being inside to try to 'aspire' up to full redemption. So after killing one host, this alien sees young Jessica and joins with her, healing her legs, and his own injuries, in the process. This sounds altruistic, but the price is a lifetime of being a host for that thing.
Penumbra
The information on Penumbra is rather sketchy, and had to be compiled from various sources. But what we can gather is that it is approximately 1500 years old and has been on earth for many centuries. What was it doing? We cannot say for certain, though sources suggest it was part of a worldwide conspiracy of these alien beings who have brainwashed thousands of human soldiers to do their will.[1]
Apparently after being one of these kings on earth[2] for however many long years it was at the top of the heap, it suddenly wanted to redeem itself from its crimes? It sounds rather far-fetched, does it not dear reader? But that is the story it, and Shadowstar, gave the FBSA. A story of wanting redemption.
Now, personally, I feel those who want redemption should pay their debt to society, or at the very least be deported where they came from. But the FBSA differs, as can be seen from all those 'former' villains running around as 'heroes' now. But I digress.
It bonded to it's first host, a Brian Johnson, 'Bright Penumbra', only back in September. That is right. In less than two months, it got it's first host killed. There is little to note of it's career as a hero, as my sources could find nothing to back up that it did anything significant beyond dying.
Shadowy Penumbra
Mere hours after the two were joined, a new hero registered with the FBSA, Shadowy Penumbra. Wearing an outfit that would make many girls her own age blush, Jessica was now dressed in a fashion she never seemed to care for. All her clothes, bright, cheerful colors? But her outfit, a dark red and purple. Her wardrobe, barely a miniskirt to be found? Now skin tight and, indeed, showing off too much skin.
What is it about these aliens that make them wish to debase our daughters so? Truly I cannot fathom. Apparently one hostage she rescued did indeed have a conversation with her about this very topic. And she told her she felt free wearing that. Since she had a mask on, no one could find out who she was, so she could dress in any way she wished. and no one could yell at her for it. A rather dubious statement, if I do type so myself.
Already in her career, she has joined The Youth League, a youth-oriented supergroup which already hosts Kheldians as members. While funded by Freedom Corps, I personally feel they should be watched carefully, for it is obvious they are being trained to be the next part of this great world-wide hidden alien invasion.
The Breaking Down of a Host's Life
It should come as no surprise that there are others out there who view the Kheldians as a threat. And apparently one of these others is in the Youth League. My sources report that there was a Youth League exercise recently, in which Jessica was kidnapped and those who tried to rescue her soundly thrashed in battle, then a fake bomb went off in their base. Most of this exercise was to teach this group of teenagers, who I believe should be out living like teenagers but that is another issue, about the dangers of leaving their base unguarded and fighting how villains want them to fight. But, there was a side lesson to this. The organizer of this event wished to show Jessica how dangerous life as a 'hero' was, and to try to convince this alien being that has forced its way inside her to leave her.
Unfortunately, this situation has only seemed to strengthen Jessica's resolve. Or perhaps the alien being has already completely infected her and there is no Jessica anymore...There is some evidence as to this.
Jessica and her boyfriend broke up shortly after the two were joined, and reports indicate she suddenly started to show an unnatural attraction to an advisor to the Youth League, a witch who goes by the name Zalyndra. This Zalyndra apparently consorts with dark powers regularly. And whatever the relationship, her own returned interest seemingly got young Jessica put into a hospital. The official records say blast from a Rikti Dropship, but given that this witch visited Jessica in the hospital and terrorized the good decent proper god-fearing folk, I think we can come to our own conclusions.
After this visit, Jessica has seemingly disappeared. Some records state she is often accessing the Youth League base, but where is the sweet young girl who put her family before all else?
OOC notes
It took me a day to decide how I wanted to write this VV page. Crushing Violet's was rather easy, and your standard sort of VV page. As was White Surgeon's. Violet Starlight's was the point of view of a Longbow agent's, and I personally loved that one. So I decided I wanted to do something like that here, but with a different twist. I thought perhaps from doing it from the POV of the Council, as a Warshade is inside their interests. But then came up with an even, I think, better idea.
This is written from the POV of a hatchet-job "reporter". Many of the basic facts in it are true, but they are all slanted to show things from the worst possible viewpoint. This very VV page may become a plot point in the future, but as it stands, it is to be taken OOC as the reporter is deep background.
Fiction
Shadowy Penumbra/The Brief Career Of -- A quick highlights only of her origin and career so far.
Shadowy Penumbra/The Reignition of Power -- Hellions decide to burn down Jess' apartment building. ... Her powers resurface.
