[hider=Eksa Thresh][CENTER][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjE3OC4yMzUyN2MuUld0ellTQlVhSEpsYzJnLjA/blackline.regular.webp[/img][/CENTER]
[i]"We've seen worse."[/i]
[table][row][/row][row][cell]
[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/d2e7e861-6610-4eda-b12e-4329347850d9.jpg[/img]
[sup]_______________________________________________[/sup]
[sub][color=3277b3]Eksa Alden Thresh[/color]
[color=3277b3]She/Her[/color]   [b]|[/b]   [color=3277b3]28[/color]   [b]|[/b]   [color=3277b3]Black-Scot[/color]   [b]|[/b]   [color=3277b3]5'8"[/color]  [b]|[/b]   [color=3277b3]137lbs[/color]      
[sup]_______________________________________________[/sup]
[color=3277b3]Dissociated[/color]
[sup]_______________________________________________[/sup]
[color=3277b3]Skills & Talents[/color][/sub]
[i]"Cultivated meself, I s'pose."[/i]
[sup]___________________________________[/sup][/center][hider=]
[sub][color=3277b3][b][Student of the sciences]  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa is [i]very[/i] well-educated. With multiple degrees in scientific fields such as medicine, chemistry, and biology, she has devoted [i]significant[/i] amounts of time to her own intellectual betterment. As such, she is quite knowledgeable on matters pertaining to the aforementioned topics.[/sub]
[sub][color=3277b3][b][Sharp Mind]  ⫻[/b][/color] Knowledge does not equal wit, but Eksa possesses both in spades. She's sharp - not only is she attentive, adaptive, and open to learning, but she does such things quickly. Her mental acuity is her strongest asset, most would say.[/sub]
[sub][color=3277b3][b][Steel-willed]  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa is not one to fold under pressure. As a technical medical professional, panicking isn't something she can afford, nor something she is prone to do. Aside from an unshakable psyche, Eksa is also one to detest surrender. She won't give up - and that is evident from her past. No matter how hopeless something seems, you can count on Eksa to be one of the last to admit such a thing.[/sub][/hider]

[/cell][cell][sub][b] [color=3277b3]Appearance[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"They always give me that look.."[/i]

[indent]Initially, Eksa doesn't appear too out of the ordinary. She stands a bit taller than average at 5'8" and weighs about 137 pounds. Her hair is a thick, dark brown mane which she [i]infallibly[/i] wears in side-swept twists. Her equally-dark eyes sit behind a pair of thin-framed, circular spectacles that sit lightly over her broad nose and defined cheeks. Her high cheekbones and angular jaw shape, accompanied by the smooth, clear, light-brown tones of her skin lead her to generally be seen as rather attractive, conventionally.

Aside from her face, Eksa is similarly blessed with a womanly figure, though her wardrobe tends to conceal this - with the overcoats she always wears being the main culprits in such an act. Her general attire generally consists of darker shades; black, brown, khaki, etc., and is more often than not business-casual in style, with blazers and turtlenecks being a favorite of hers. Notably, Eksa does possess a bit of a quirk when it comes to her outfits - that being that she [i]always[/i] wears an overcoat. She doesn't usually actually [i]wear[/i] the sleeves, however, and just lets it hang from her shoulders. This article serves one purpose for Eksa, and that is to conceal her left arm - or lack thereof. Being that her arm was amputated a couple inches above the wrist, her partiality for overcoats stems from her self-conscious nature. Though this technique is only successful for preventing stares from passersby, and those who don't interact with her for long, in her experience.

Finally, aside from how she looks, there is one thing to note about Eksa that is inescapable - that being her voice. Due to an accident in her past, Eksa's vocal cords and lungs have been irreparably damaged. This has caused her to develop a croaky, pained vocal structure whenever she speaks. This, alongside her insistent, unpredictable coughing fits has led many-a stranger to ignorantly surmise her a particularly persistent smoker. Unlike her arm, however, this is something which she can't really hide - a fact which causes her much distress.

Overall, despite her pretty appearance, it is the focused nature of her expressions, her off-putting voice, and her broadened silhouette that has led some of her colleagues to dub her [i]intimidating[/i], of all things.[/indent]

[/cell][/row][/table][sub][b] [color=3277b3]Psychology[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"Ahh, I'm nae that kinda doctor, unfortunately."[/i]

[INDENT][color=3277b3][b]MAIN GOAL  ⫻[/b][/color] Immediately, Eksa's goal in life is to help others. Though, in truth, she isn't really the kind to stew [i]too[/i] much on what she should be doing with her life - but being that she has achieved a healthy education that now allows her to operate in pharmaceuticals, this aforementioned goal could be considered well underway. If she were to really think hard on it though, she could suppose her life has other purposes. She has always had an interest in the paranormal world she's involved with, but has had little extra time to explore it to a deeper extent. Acclimating herself further to such a realm could be a worthwhile adventure.

[color=3277b3][b]PHILOSOPHY  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa's philosophy is straightforward, yet compassionate. Oftentimes, things just.. happen. Not particularly because they're supposed to, or because someone or something deemed it so - but because they just [i]do[/i]. And it can be unfair, and often is. But no matter what happens, perseverance is key. There is always a path ahead, no matter how hidden or treacherous. And there is always a second chance. And there is [i]always[/i] someone out there who will stand by your side. Somewhere.

[color=3277b3][b]SECRETS  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa has.. a complicated relationship with who she is. Her personal deformities haunt her, and make her extremely self-conscious. Gazes and glances unnerve her, and talking in front of groups is.. unpleasant, to say the least. She doesn't trust others not to judge her for her distorted self, and as such, tries not to get too attached to people. Additionally, Eksa blames herself, in part, for her mother's passing.. if only she had been more [i]careful[/i], or.. been [i]better[/i], her mother would still be alive.

[color=3277b3][b]SEXUALITY  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa is bisexual, with a lean towards women. Though she could never see somebody liking her back, given her condition.

[color=3277b3][b]FEARS  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa is plighted with a few irrational fears, due to her past disturbances. She's an insomniac - she dreads sleeping, as she once suffered a coma that left her unable to help her mother in her most difficult moments - a fact that has lead to countless sleepless nights. The thought of never waking up terrifies her, as well. She also has a bit of an aversion to open flames -- not as severely as she fears sleeping, but enough to make her want to distance herself physically from such things. Additionally, she also fears that she will never be seen as normal. After her accident she has, in part of her own doing, never really re-acquired any friends. This has altered her perception of herself.

[color=3277b3][b]REPUTATION IN OLD COVEN  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa' reputation with the old coven was pretty amicable. She was a friendly, adventurous sort with a fondness for learning about the other coven members and their paranormal features. She wasn't one to make many enemies.

[color=3277b3][b]ROLE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST THE STYGIAN SNAKE  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa's abilities as a black-lux adept were rather helpful in the battle against the stygian snake. With a penchant for manipulating apparitions, Eksa was quite influential in their skirmishes with the snake's abominables and apparitions.

[color=3277b3][b]FLAWS  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa is, moreso than others, secluded. She has trust issues, is quite self-conscious of what others thing of her, and has made no real bonds with anybody since she was a teen. Her issues and anxieties have warped her since her childhood and have her sheltering her adventurous, fun-loving nature in a shroud of cagey uncertainty. Furthermore, she has been secluded from the paranormal world for a time, in favor of her education and work. She has, however, ensured her own paranormal abilities never get [i]too[/i] dull.[/INDENT]

[sub][b] [color=3277b3]Backstory[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"I'd.. rather nae relive it.."[/i]

[indent]The tale of Eksa's life stems from a simple, if tragic, set of circumstances. The tale of two lovers - Ava Thresh and Mac Grieves - who knew no [i]true[/i] love. In truth, Eksa's conception was unintended, brought on by the aforementioned two while Mac was visiting The States from Scotland. After his departure, it was brought to his and Ava's attention that she was pregnant. But where Mac had no intention of being a father, Ava was excited -- she had always wanted a daughter.

But fate would have it that she was ill-suited for motherhood. Her history of addiction and substance abuse wasn't something that was so easily cleansed by the pure-hearted desire to be a mother - no, in fact, the stresses of pregnancy and impending motherhood were vectors through which she would collapse to her old vices. She would, once again, enter a state in her life where her cares were few and irrational. Which left Eksa, newly-born, effectively motherless.. But she was fortunate enough that Mac, hesitant as he was to be involved in paternity, was not without a heart. He was her biological father, afterall, and he would see to it that she wasn't left to the mercy of [i]the system[/i], or some relative he'd never known.

And so Eksa grew up under his care in Glasgow, Scotland. Into her teens she would be seen-to by Mac Grieves and the company of his estate. Mac was a wealthy man who, although initially reluctant to raise a child, had a big heart, and accepted nothing but the best for his daughter. Their home - a mansion. Her schooling - the best. Her hobbies - droned over by her father, when he had the time. Luckily for her, his time was often consumed by his work as some sort of medical professional, as he said. So, while the circumstances behind her birth were perhaps contemptible, she grew up cared-for better than most. And this peacefulness of sorts lasted well into her teen years -- until she received unexpected correspondence - from her mother.

Over the almost-fifteen years of Eksa's life, she had never met Ava. Mac, in protection of his daughter who had been endangered by Ava's actions, hadn't allowed it. It was something daughter and father had argued over sometimes, but it had never really been a real issue, or something that even [i]mattered[/i] that much, until now. With the correspondence came a request - Ava wanted to see Eksa, and not just for a meet-up. She wanted to be back in the girl's life. After almost an entire year of arguing, bickering, and the arduous convincing of Eksa to Mac, he finally folded. The decision was reluctantly made - the girl could, temporarily, move to The States and spend a semester with her mother.

And so she did - and one semester turned into several, even.

Eksa moved to St. Portwell, Oregon, and she.. liked it. It was weird, living with a woman who she.. never really knew, and was supposed to be her mother, but.. she did like it, nonetheless. The States were an adjustment, sure. But she grew to form a bond with her mom than one might expect of a daughter-mother combo. And while the schooling adjustments were equally, if not moreso, difficult, she found the people of St. Portwell to make good friends.

And even amongst all the acclimations she had to do, there was something more important, still. She had to hide her paranormal status from her mother. Being paranormal was something that she had ascertained only a year or two before moving to the U.S., triggered through a kindling event stemming from an exceedingly heated argument with her father over whether she should really see her mother. Fortunately, Mac himself had a hand in the world of the paranormal, and was there to guide her. [i]Now[/i] was the first time she would have her own independent responsibility over her paranormal side, away from her father. And what better time was it to find similarly-afflicted individuals? It was during this period at St. Portwell that she'd make a number of advancements in her own paranormal abilities, as well as a few friends.

And for a time, her life was pretty happy, if weird. But fate always had its ways to turn the tables.

Towards the end of two years spent in The States, events took place that would quickly spiral Eksa's life into tragedy. The town was plagued by a paranormal enemy the likes of which Eksa could never have imagined - something that would spell the end of all she grew to know, should it not be stopped. But there were those who wouldn't just [i]stand aside[/i] for such a fate- and those few managed to form a group called The Sycamore Tree Coven, which Eksa was recruited into. And for the purpose of stopping this enemy, Eksa made a sacrifice that would scar her for the rest of her life. In the battle against The Stygian Snake, Eksa fought hard.. and fell harder. She, at a point, managed to find herself outmatched by one of the Snake's abominables, and was struck unconscious in the midst of a burning building. She was fortunate that, in the chaos, someone was able to get her out of the danger, but by that time, the damage was done. Smoke inhalation and heat-damage had her hanging onto her life by a thread.

After then, she was rendered unconscious for months. Her father, upon hearing the news, immediately had her seized from wherever she was being treated and took her under the care of one of his own personal facilities - though not before doctors at a St. Portwell hospital deemed that Eksa's circumstances seemed insurmountably grim. Which was simply too much for her mother to handle.

By the time Eksa awoke, months later, her mother had fallen to her vices once again. And this time, they took her life. Eksa was stricken with overwhelming grief at the news, even as she spent the next few months in physical rehabilitation. It took some time for her to recover, both physically and mentally, but she could only imagine that her mother would wish the best for her and would want nothing more than her to live on.

And that she did.

In fact, Eksa was far from one to allow her tragedies to define her. Even before her final steps to recovery, the girl took it upon herself to continue her education - and her education was promising. She had always been a bright girl, but the vigor with which she applied herself after she got back into schooling was.. [i]galvanizing[/i], in a sense. She continued her path from where she left off - seeking virtuosity in the field of medicinal sciences, like her father.

And like her father, she would succeed. She was a quick learner, deft worker, and attentive colleague as she worked her way into the field as she, after many years, graduated from a Scottish university with several degrees - a doctorate among them. And from there she achieved her "dream profession" of becoming a pharmaceutical chemist.

Present day, Eksa enjoys a comfy lifestyle and a flexible job, and lives peacefully in Glasgow, Scotland.

Though, with a recent revelation brought to her attention by Auri Auclair, who managed to track her down, the members of her former coven were being.. [i]murdered[/i]. Why? Who knew. But she doubted that someone so unhinged as to systematically kill a group of people would be hindered by the fact that she no longer lived in the states. No- that was little comfort, and as such, it seemed she'd be revisiting the states once again, to meet up with Auri and whoever else she'd gathered. The idea of getting brutally murdered wasn't one that was on her bucket list, so it was up to them to figure out how to stop it.[/indent]


[sub][b] [color=3277b3]Abstraction[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"It's quite useful, aye."[/i]

[indent][color=3277b3][b]TYPE  ⫻[/b][/color] Adept

[color=3277b3][b]ABSTRACTION ⫻[/b][/color] [i]Black Lux[/i]. Eksa's channeler is her mother's medallion.

[color=3277b3][b]ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa is a Black-Lux Adept with a strong aptitude for manipulating apparitions. She has dabbled very lightly in the black lux's necromantic side, but never developed it much.

[INDENT][color=3277b3][b]Dominion  ⫻[/b][/color] One of Eksa's most practiced spells is one which allows her to physically seize an apparition's body, or whatever sort of form they possess. Doing so engages the two in an ethereal grudge-match of sorts that renders the both of them quite occupied, as they wrestle for control of the target's body. This ability is useful for restraining an apparition or potentially even causing it to attack its allies, depending on how strong-willed it is.

[color=3277b3][b]Amplified Sealing  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa is a rather proficient sealer of apparitions. Sealing rituals that Eksa blesses with this spell are easier to manage, more efficient, and can imprison stronger apparitions. Overall, this spell empowers sealing procedures by a significant deal.

[color=3277b3][b]Seek Apparitions  ⫻[/b][/color] Seek Apparitions is a rather self-explanatory spell. Eksa focuses her mind and reaches out, probing for an apparition through the world around her. Such a search can expand several miles, with time, and can divulge the location of even apparitions who are actively trying to conceal themselves. She must be looking for a specific known apparition, an apparition capable of a specific notable feat, or an apparition with which she or her companions are partially familiar.

[color=3277b3][b]Black Pact  ⫻[/b][/color] Black Pact is an [i]odd[/i] spell with interesting applications. The main crux of the spell is that it allows Eksa to communicate with otherwise unintelligible apparitions, and make pacts with their kin. Said pacts are a form of intellectual contract enforced by the magical powers of both Eksa and the apparition in question - meaning that said contracts are binding regardless of nefarious intent or askant power-disparities between the two participants. Such pacts are capable of performing rather unique feats in order to maintain their soundness; for example, an apparition could form a pact with Eksa to be freed from a sealing for a limited time before it is automatically shunted back into its prison. Another example could see the apparition lending its abstraction or other supernatural abilities to someone else.

[color=3277b3][b]Black Shroud  ⫻[/b][/color] The Black Shroud is a spell made specifically to combat apparitions, and it has two primarily applications. The first is its ability to veil the user from the perception of all apparitions - be it vision, smell, hearing, or some sort of paranormal perception, this effect would render Eksa imperceptible to apparitions. The second application is an enhancing effect that braces Eksa's Emotional-Field against any effects stemming from an apparition. This simply causes her to be more durable and resistant to an apparition's abilities or attacks.[/INDENT]

[color=3277b3][b]LIMITS  ⫻[/b][/color] Eksa's Dominion is a spell which requires most, and sometimes [i]all[/i], of her focus, and engages her in a metaphysical battle with the target. This means that particularly strong-willed apparitions can overcome its effects, in which case her most potent spell is rendered ineffective. Amplified Sealing, due to it simply enhancing a sealing ritual, is obviously useless without the prep time required to set up the process. Seek Apparitions, while wide-sweeping and thorough, requires Eksa to define specific parameters -- she must look for a specific [i]known[/i] apparition, an apparition capable of a specific feat, or an apparition with which she or her companions are partially familiar. The Black Pact is a spell limited only by its application - it serves only to ensure one keeps their word, even if they don't intend to. All participants, of course, must be willing and knowledgeable of all caveats, and are supernaturally informed of such things once a proposal is made. The Black Shroud is limited mostly by its specificity as a tool against apparitions. In any other capacity, it is useless. It is also noticeable that Eksa cannot use Dominion while using the Black Shroud for obscurity. 

[color=3277b3][b]WEAKNESSES  ⫻[/b][/color] (DO NOT FILL THIS OUT, I WILL PROVIDE IT FOR YOU)
[/INDENT]

[sup][b] [color=3277b3]Other[/color][/b][/sup]
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[i]"Hrm."[/i]

[indent]Eksa is accompanied, without fail, by a companion-apparition.
[hider=Apparition Companion][table][row][/row][row][cell][h2][b]Marma[/b][/h2][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/8f48fed1-f264-4eeb-ac7a-baba9ef68849.jpg[/img]

[b]Age unknown | Marma | They/Them [/b][hr][i]"..."[/i][/center]
[/cell][cell]
[b]Description:[/b]
[indent]Marma is a benevolent, if completely reticent, apparition. Despite its refusal to really communicate [i]at all[/i] with Eksa beyond a couple [i]very rare[/i] occasions, it has deemed its place to be at her side. It has, over the years, been a boon to Eksa and a stalwart presence where she was otherwise completely alone. This has led to a bit of a bond forming between the two, despite Marma's unresponsive nature. Eksa has only seen Marma's true form one singular time, as the apparition disguises itself by possessing an article of clothing Eksa wears in the form of a leather [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/3bb2861e-fc9a-4b7a-bd72-6fac08be9f6a.jpg]cuff[/url] on her left bicep.[/indent]

[b]Abstraction:[/B]
Black Bough
[indent]Marma's abstraction is called Black Bough, and this allows it so summon an inky, black limb to aid it in its needs. Said limb is usually rather herculean in strength, and can take many different forms, be they that of a tree branch, a tentacle, a paw, or even a regular hand - though all forms are befouled by a dark, smoky visage that betrays their true paranormal nature. While Marma seems to have no true purpose, this ability is one that it often uses to assist Eksa in her intents. Though, of course, this is usually kinda rare due to their need to shroud paranormal things from most of their surroundings.[/indent]
[/cell][/row][/table][/hider]
[sub]Eksa's banner color: [color=23527C]23527C[/color]
Eksa's signature color: [color=3277b3]3277b3[/color][/sub][/INDENT][/hider]

[hider=Jasper Kim][CENTER][img]https://txt.1001fonts.net/img/txt/b3RmLjk2LjlhN2I0Zi5TbUZ6Y0dWeUlFdHBiUS4w/nautilus-pompilius.regular.webp[/img][/CENTER]
[i]"Awesomeness is next to godliness~"[/i]
[table][row][/row][row][cell]
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[sup]_______________________________________________[/sup]
[sub][color=9A7B4F]Jasper Kim[/color]
[color=9A7B4F]He/Him[/color]   [b]|[/b]   [color=9A7B4F]24[/color]   [b]|[/b]   [color=9A7B4F]Korean-American[/color]   [b]|[/b]   [color=9A7B4F]5'10"[/color]   [b]|[/b]   [color=9A7B4F]180lbs[/color]      
[sup]_______________________________________________[/sup]
[color=9A7B4F]Polarized.[/color]
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[color=9A7B4F]Skills & Talents[/color][/sub]
[i]"I guess I have a couple minor talents."[/i]
[sup]___________________________________[/sup][/center][hider=]
[sub][b][color=9A7B4F][Leadership]  ⫻[/color][/b] Jasper is well-suited to being put in a leadership role. He's attentive, empathetic, and keeps a cool head in almost all circumstances. His tendency to treat everyone and their circumstances with respect, and his odd sense of wisdom almost regardless of the subject at hand, leads many to trust his judgement - at [i]least[/i] in the various congregations he's been part of.[/sub]
[sub][b][color=9A7B4F][Fitness]  ⫻[/color][/b] Jasper is pretty fit across the board. He's pretty strong, light on his feet, and has good stamina. Perhaps surprisingly, considering his line of work, he's more than capable of throwing hands due to his continued interest in mma sports, and even some training mostly from his late-teen years.[/sub]
[sub][b][color=9A7B4F][Multilingual]  ⫻[/color][/b] Jasper is a fluent speaker of English, Korean, and Spanish, and is currently working on adding Mandarin to the list.[/sub][/hider]

[/cell][cell][sub][b] [color=9A7B4F]Appearance[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"I make the cassock work, no?"[/i]

[indent]Jasper is relatively difficult to pick out of a crowd while in plainclothes - standing at 5'10" and weighing about 180lbs, he is pretty average in his dimensions. His medium-short, dark-brown hair is most usually lightly kempt, and kept in no particular style. His eyes - which sit beneath dark, expressive eyebrows - are a warmer, calm caramel color. His face is readily capable of expressing his emotions, and often does so even if he doesn't intend to. Said face possesses fair, smooth skin and soft yet angular features, which leads him to regularly be described as a pretty attractive guy.

When it comes to his frame, he obviously takes care in keeping himself in shape. When not hidden under sleeves or whatnot, it is clear that he works out, with ample definition especially pervading across the muscles of his torso, arms, and shoulders, while still maintaining a light frame. He carries himself with a casual, carefree air - any tenseness in him being a matter of note. He tends to fill his wardrobe, without taking into account his various Cossacks and clergy-attire, with clothing that he thinks looks good on him or just feels nice to wear, without any particular palette.

The oddest thing one can always depend on about his appearance, though, is the presence of some sort of light source he carries with him - most usually a small, electric lantern.[/indent]

[/cell][/row][/table][sub][b] [color=9A7B4F]Psychology[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"Mn, well, I suppose I could be worse.. but I could also be better."[/i]

[INDENT][b][color=9A7B4F]MAIN GOAL  ⫻[/color][/b] As a whole, Jasper's goal in life is to leave the world a better place than he left it. Not every deed he does is good - and God knows that he is far from perfect - [i]and[/i] he's perhaps one of the more unorthodox pastors resting under His gaze - but he does his damned best to offset his sins with acts that will, in the end, leave his neighbors and his faith off for the better. In recent times, his attention has been drawn to the southern district of Cloverfield - a stark contrast from the north side that he was raised in. His sense of empathy has led him to split away from the sense of luxury he's used to, and instead begin a path to try and stem the bleeding, at least socially, of the lower district - as much as he can hope to, no matter how minutely.

[b][color=9A7B4F]PHILOSOPHY  ⫻[/color][/b] Jasper sees good in everyone, and can almost always find the silver lining. He's open-minded, and always sees things as having a purpose - but not always a purpose that one can comprehend. Misfortunes are just a part of how the world is, and fortunes and revelry are to be thoroughly cherished. Being of faith, he is not stranger to adversity in himself or others - people suffer, but he will do what he can to mitigate that, even if he has to shoulder a couple sins to do so.

[b][color=9A7B4F]SECRETS  ⫻[/color][/b] Jasper tries not to reveal the nature of his affliction with The Shadow. He fears people will not trust him as strongly should they know he is not in control of such a dangerous thing. Additionally, while he isn't entirely [i]secretive[/i] about being sinful, he tries to make a good example for others and hide such things when he can.

[b][color=9A7B4F]SEXUALITY  ⫻[/color][/b] Bisexual.

[b][color=9A7B4F]FEARS  ⫻[/color][/b] Jasper has a great fear that The Shadow will hurt someone using his body, and he won't be able to stop it. Were he a more careless person, maybe he could work towards harnessing it - but the thought of what might happen is something that truly scares him.

[b][color=9A7B4F]WHAT DID THEY DO DURING THE CATACLYSM? ⫻[/color][/b]  Before and during the cataclysm, Jasper lived in the northern district of Cloverfield. When hell came to earth, while he wasn't exactly suited to fighting paranormal beings, Jasper did what he could to uphold the psyche of those he could in such trying times. Using the faith, alongside his social skills, as well as what resources he could muster for those whose homes were decimated in the destruction, he did what he could, be the help mundane.

[b][color=9A7B4F]FLAWS  ⫻[/color][/b] One could say that, in some ways, Jasper is held back by his faith - in that there are some things he will not do which others might. Though, he doesn't see it that way, of course. Additionally, he is always loomed over by his fear of The Shadow that resides with him - an apparition which he has seemingly no control over.
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[sub][b] [color=9A7B4F]Backstory[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"Nothing much to note, really."[/i]

[indent]The story of Jasper's life is mostly a mundane one. He was born to a widowed mother who passed when he was born, and as such was raised by his grandparents, who were taken care of by the local church. This made the faith a big part of his life. Every Sunday, and very often more days than even just that, were days fully devoted to the faith for him. He grew up contributing quite a lot to the church, and he grew up thoroughly enjoying the sense of community that this setting gave him. Everyone watched out for one another, and the ugliness of the world was easy to forget in the comfort of faith.

Of course, he was still young - so while he was devoted to his faith even from a young age, he did explore areas outside of it(and still does, [i]tsk tsk[/i]). He found trouble more than a few times in his younger years, and never really grew out of being an adventurous spirit. Starting his own number of fights [i]then[/i], he has since tempered himself quite a deal - and it would be [i]quite[/i] the rarity to witness him starting a fight.

As he grew older, he began to become one of the strongest pillars of his community. And not [i]just[/i] for his community -- soon, his influence began to spread to neighboring churches, which he began to support as well. Whether it be through supporting community fundraisers, aiding in refurbishing downtrodden churches, helping the misfortunates in any particular community, or any other numbers of things, he grew to esteem even amongst people who weren't of faith. This was all, fortunately, aided by the sizable inheritance left to him by his parents - an inheritance that he has known only to use for the benefit of others. He has never needed for comfort, but he has done his best to utilize his means to do the best he can for others.

Despite his blessings, however, everyone has their moments of weakness. Their own crises that warp their perception of the world, for better or worse. Seeing the destruction of the cataclysm was indeed a warping thing for him - he had never seen destruction at such a level.. and it made him question why it was that such tragedy was allowed to burden innocent people. For a time, he questioned his faith, and while he eventually steeled himself and restored the depth of his belief to its full state, it was in these moments of weakness that an apparition dug its claws into him. The Shadow, from that point on, has become a threat that looms in his very own shadow.

He has, however, persisted nonetheless. In the past year especially, he has made it a goal of his to put his means to use in the southern district of Cloverfield more [i]personally[/i]. He has moved into the district and now is more involved with the suffering and aftermath that still hurts the area all this time after the cataclysm.
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[sub][b] [color=9A7B4F]Abstraction[/color][/b][/sub]
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[i]"It's.. maybe better if you don't know.."[/i]

[indent][b][color=9A7B4F]TYPE  ⫻[/color][/b] Aberration (Adjoined)

[b][color=9A7B4F]ABSTRACTION ⫻[/color][/b] The Shadow - "The Shadow", as Jasper calls it, is an apparition that latched onto the priest in his darkest moments. He knows not [i]why[/i] the apparition chose [i]him[/i] as its victim, but it now skulks over Jasper's shoulder, waiting for its opportunity to assume control of his body, for reasons unknown. It is kept at bay only by sources of light, and seeks to engulf its victim in darkness.

[b][color=9A7B4F]ABSTRACTION DESCRIPTION  ⫻[/color][/b] The Shadow is an apparition that resides within Jasper, and seems to express its Abstraction through sheer physical prowesses, and the ability to domineer Jasper's body and shadow. In the few sparing moments that Jasper has faltered in keeping it at bay, The Shadow has displayed power [i]tremendously[/i] surpassing human capabilities. The Shadow, while its intents and character are largely unknown to Jasper, seems to take care in preventing his demise as much as it can while in its dormant state. The Apparition frequently possesses Jasper's shadow in physical form, and manipulates the environment around him at its own whim - and through this method can even stave off danger from him in tiny, fleeting bursts of strength.

Despite the rather adverse nature of The Shadow's occupation, its presence within Jasper [i]does[/i] confer onto him a small measure of the apparition's abstraction - an abstraction which seems to be largely animalistic in nature.

Ever since The Shadow's presence, Jasper has noticed that he possesses sharply enhanced senses. His vision is sharper, more focused. His ability to react to things around him is also heightened, and he feels more.. coordinated in his movements. His sense of smell is also rather good - though he often wishes it wasn't. Furthermore, his hearing is exceptional - surpassing human standards alongside his other senses.

Apart from these small boons, there is another avenue through which Jasper can acquire more strength from The Shadow's abstraction. While the apparition is kept at bay by the light, Jasper can allow himself to enter more dimly lit areas -- the darker his environment, the more access he has to The Shadow's abilities - but also the more he feels control of his own body slipping away. And as such, he [i]never[/i] entertains the idea of utilizing this method. At least.. not yet. 

If he [i]were[/i] to immerse himself completely in pitch-black darkness, he would acquire a level of strength and speed which would [i]monstrously[/i] surpass the capabilities of even most apparitions - warping his body to grow more and more shadowy and beast-like, even if only until he sees light again.


[b][color=9A7B4F]LIMITS  ⫻[/color][/b] The Shadow's abstraction seems to be almost completely repelled by the presence of light of any kind, be it artificial or otherwise - making it almost completely inaccessible during the day. Jasper, additionally, imposes limits upon it himself by refusing to use these powers for fear that The Shadow would take over his body - and nothing short of preventing a massacre would sway him to use even [i]half[/i] of the potential power in his hands.

[b][color=9A7B4F]WEAKNESSES  ⫻[/color][/b] (DO NOT FILL THIS OUT, I WILL PROVIDE IT FOR YOU)
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[sup][b] [color=9A7B4F]Other[/color][/b][/sup]
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[i]"..."[/i]
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[hider=The Shadow][table][row][cell][h2][b]The[color=2e2c2c].[/color]Shadow[/b][/h2][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/87e1d7c5-0ec2-4b51-86ee-5511d9f94194.jpg[/img]

[b]??? | "The Shadow" | ??? [/b][hr][i]"..."[/i][/center][/cell][cell]
[b]Description:[/b]
[indent]The Shadow, as Jasper calls it, has no true name. It is an [i]old[/i] apparition which lurks in the shadows, ever-watching all events that play out before it. An apparition permanently shrouded in darkness, one would be safe to assume that Jasper is the only being to know of the apparition's existence. As such, virtually nothing is known of the creature that now resides within the priest. Over the past year or so, it has remained a silent threat looming over Jasper's head and, as far as he knows, it has no means with which to communicate with its host.

Behaviorally, there [i]have[/i] been [i]some[/i] observations that Jasper has made, even if small. Once, when Jasper put together a plan to test The Shadow's nature, he took himself [i]deep[/i] into the woods at night. He found a place miles away from civilization, and waiting there until sunrise was a mere thirty minutes away. And then he shunted his lantern off.

When Jasper regained his senses, he found himself slathered in blood and gore - of [i]what[/i] he did not yet know. Around him, in a patch of woods unfamiliar to him, trees were gouged and torn from the earth, snapped like twigs and laden with bloodied claw marks. As he looked further into the morning haze, he saw a great number of woodland animals, from those as small as a rat to even a deer, splayed haphazardly across the earth, numbering in multiple dozens.

From this, he at first gleaned that the apparition was a bloodthirsty beast who seemed to kill only for sport and glee. Yet.. there was something he was feeling that he couldn't immediately understand. As he knelt in the field, his body quivering - whether out of fear or exhaustion - there was a sense of.. unhappiness within him. Yes, he felt a spell of sympathy for the poor creatures that he had unwittingly slaughtered, but there was something else.. there was.. remorse. But it wasn't [i]his[/i]. From this, he could only decipher so much - but the only thing he did know was that The Shadow was dangerous.

And from then on, it has been locked away. Aside from a dull pulling sensation that instills in him an unwilful desire to step into the darkness, Jasper hasn't heard or felt anything from The Shadow since - at least not that he can tell - and the apparition has only, oddly enough, protected him or idly prodded at the environment around them.[/indent]

[b]Abstraction:[/B]
[i]Stygian Savagery[/i]
[indent]The Shadow, in its own element, is an immensely powerful being. Its physical strength and speed when engulfed in darkness are, in most likelihood, unmatched by any apparition or abstraction known or unknown. It seems to have complete domain over its environment when it is free to act as it pleases. It seems almost as though nothing escapes the apparition's notice - almost like it has some kind of third eye which allows it to root out what others could never hope to know was there. In its full form, The Shadow doesn't have much of a traditional body to speak of - it appears as a wispy shadow in the form of some sort of canid head, and shapes its body out of the shadows that surround it as it needs. In the absence of light, it can control [i]the environment itself[/i] as if just [i]the area around it[/i] was part of The Shadow's body - allowing it to form attacks or move from any infinite number of angles. Claws, jaws, and crushing weight all loom within the shadows in this apparition's preferred environment. But, of course, once the sun rises.. the apparition must slink back to obscurity.[/indent]
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