Libertas OCT: Jennifer Enburg

DEMOGRAPHICS
Name: Jennifer Enburg, a.k.a. “Miss Shadow”
Age: 28
Gender: Female
Species: Human (Earth)
Primary Language: English, but knows a fair amount of French as well


APPEARANCE
Height: 5’5”
Weight: about 135 lbs.
Build: Skinny, a few muscles but nothing too impressive
Skin: Lightly tanned, Caucasian
Hair: Black, tied into a ponytail
Eyes: Blue
Other traits: None
Clothes: Black jacket either worn regularly or tied around waist depending on weather, jeans, white t-shirt, dark sneakers.

PHYSICALITY
Demeanor: Generally moves with confidence. Her actions in a fight are relatively planned out a few steps in advance, based on her surroundings and her opponent(s). Outside of a fight, she normally walks, albeit with a fast pace.
Speech patterns: Has a slight Chicago accent, but it only is apparent if you really REALLY listen for it


PERSONALITY
Overview: Owns a comics store (Fortress Comics Store) alongside her fiancé, James Mason. Received superpowers approximately a year ago that let her manipulate shadows and darkness. She’s also a recovering alcoholic that has fallen off the wagon a few times, but usually does her best to stay clean. She’s also very hard on herself, putting blame on her even for things she had no real control over. When Jennifer’s in a standard state of mind, she is polite, although prone to sarcasm.

Strengths: She’s a real superhero, and has a hero’s attitude. She likes doing the right thing, and fortunately isn’t stupid enough to let that become her sole guiding focus. She listens and remembers things very well. Jennifer looks out for others, and is good at planning. Finally, she knows a LOT about story-telling (having owned and worked in a comic book store for a while) and knows even more about superhero trivia, which she won’t bring up unless the conversation steers that way. Jennifer knows how to use guns, and is mentally prepared enough to use them in self-defense. She’s also above average in physical combat when not in her “Shadow State”, but nothing particularly special.

Weaknesses: Besides her alcoholism (and unfortunately low tolerance for alcohol), Jennifer has a good amount of self-doubt over her abilities as an actual “hero”. When she gets really angry at herself, or sad, she’ll refer to herself as “not a real hero”. She can lash out pretty venomously when she’s in this sort of rut. Bringing up past instances of her failures, particularly the San Francisco incident three months after she got her powers, and the more recent Navy Pier Bombing, could, if pressed hard enough, lead to a total emotional breakdown.

Primary Desire: She’s motivated by a few things. First, there’s her desire to prove to herself that she can be an out-and-out superhero just like the comics she always loves reading. Second, she wants to show her fiancé and her friends, many of whom are in the “Titan Program” along with her, that their trust in her isn’t misplaced.  

Quirks: She hates horror stories. I mean HATES them, particularly Stephen King’s stuff. One thing she loves, though, is dogs of all kinds, specifically really big ones like her Black Russian Terrier, Jimmy. Finally, and most importantly, Jennifer truly believes that she cannot achieve “Shadow State” if she isn’t touching or wearing her jacket. If she doesn’t have the jacket on her, she won’t be able to access it.


HISTORY
Homeworld: Earth, modern day, specifically Chicago.

Family/Friends: James Mason, her fiancé; Jack Garsto “The Element”, best friend and
fellow superhero; Jimmy, her dog; Harry Vincento III “John Doe”, another really good friend and fellow superhero

History: Jennifer Enburg was the co-owner of the Fortress Comics Store, along with James Mason, her boyfriend. A big comics fan all her life, she was initially thrilled when, during the “October Event”, she happened to receive her powers, deciding to become a superhero like the ones she admired. Despite the shock of things not working out exactly the same way they did in comics, she was able to work things out pretty well.

However, three months into her superhero career, she was indirectly responsible for the deaths of three people due to her superpowers after a super villain tried to secede San Francisco, and all of southern California, from the United States. This had a profound effect on her: she truly began to doubt whether or not she was really doing any good with her powers, and lapsed into alcoholism. She has since recovered and has been staying clean for a long time know, but her attitude changed from a cheery individual to a more somber, focused, and withdrawn individual. She did, however, keep her manic and hyper attitude as Miss Shadow, in order to freak out criminals.

When she officially joined the “Titan Program”, a government group of superheroes that are often sent out to combat super villain threats across the United States, she started to break out her shell, bonding most with Jack Garsto, “The Element”. The two of them remained close friends, occasionally helping each other out when they needed it.

SKILLS
Primary Skills: She has the ability to enter a “Shadow State”, which allows her to manipulate and controls shadows and darkness. She has a very high knowledge of pop culture, particularly comic books and superhero-related information, but also extending to sci-fi, fantasy, etc. Jennifer is also good with planning ahead and thinking in multiple ways at the same time, something she developed as she continued to be Miss Shadow. Beyond that, when not in “Shadow State”, she’s a normal human female.
Combat: When not in “Shadow State”, Jennifer is capable of defending herself. She’s taken self-defense classes, as well as knowledge of VERY basic martial arts. She also knows how to shoot a handgun, although she isn’t trained in anything larger, nor is she trained in bladed weaponry of any kind, although she can fumble around with a knife based on pop-cultural osmosis.

In “Shadow State”, however, is a different story. She normally tries to shadow-port around a lot, punching her opponent with shadow tentacles. If she’s able to get up close, she attacks hand-to-hand, since she’s much stronger in her “Shadow State”. If Jennifer wants to freak someone out, her tone and style of speaking shift to a more taunting, high-pitched, almost dementedly child-like voice and persona, although she won’t bother with it if she feels the situation doesn’t call for it.
Weapons/Gear: No weapons or gear apart from a wallet and a cell phone.

Unusual Abilities: “Shadow State”. Essentially, as long as she is wearing her jacket (even though such a restriction is non-existent, Jennifer just deeply believes there is), Jennifer becomes covered in darkness, save for her eyes which remain bright blue. In her “Shadow State”, she is able to teleport through the darkness to another location, although it can be very difficult for her to do so if she is not concentrating very hard and/or has never been to the new location. The closer the new location is, the easier it is for her to “shadow-port” there. She is also able to manipulate shadows and darkness around her while in “Shadow State”, however this requires different amounts of concentration depending on how difficult such manipulations are. Creating three to four tentacles and beating someone up with them? Easy. Forming large, solid blocks of pure darkness to slam into something? Harder, but can be done if she keeps herself focused on it. Forming a large “Shadow Cerberus” (her personal favorite ability)? Extremely hard, and only should be attempted if she’s in a quiet place with zero distractions whatsoever.


EOS SPECIFIC
What was the low point in their life before being pulled to Eos?: During a fight with a group of supervillain terrorists, a bomb went off at Chicago’s Navy Pier, resulting in several casualties. Since Jennifer was in charge of making sure as many civilians as possible were able to get away from the Pier, she feels incredibly responsible for all of the deaths, to the point that she has gone back to drinking.

Does your character miss their homeworld?: Oh yes, incredibly. She desperately wants to get back home.

Team: Currently just herself.

Are you okay with other tournament entrants KILLING your character in their tournament writing?: If she’s going to die, please note me first for permission. And I’d greatly prefer that she die while doing something incredibly badass.

Are you okay with other tournament entrants using your character in their tournament writing?:  Yes, just be sure to have her stay in character.


OVERVIEW
1: She is a comic book and all-around nerd through and through.
2: She doesn’t believe that she can use her “Shadow State” unless she has her jacket on.
3: She is helpful, and will do her best to assist