"When you don't have anyone to take care of you, you could go one of two ways. You could do whatever you want, or you could be your own parent."

Identity Status: Secret

Codenames: Jesse James, The Icefire Outlaw, Balance, Ch'iraq Fox, Phantom of Grim

Occupation: outlaw, thief, smuggler, saboteur, minor Chicago crime boss, grey Force user (inactive)

Personality: Unlike her former Icefire identity, Jesse James comes across as an obnoxious young woman, still older than her actually nineteen years, but not as old as before, nor as world-weary. She's clever, sarcastic, but also has a serious side, and doesn't play well after losing.

Jesse blamed herself for her loss on the Day of Grim. By attempting to channel too much power through herself to defend her city, she couldn't be there for the city's final line of defense. Afterwards it was revealed to her that one of her deadliest enemies, Yuki Terumi, was not defeated after all, but at large. Because of this, she fell into a depression, though those around her couldn't tell, except her adopted son, Erik Dokkson, who blames himself in part for draining her of the power that was killing her in her defense of Grim. Between the power drain and her emotional state, many of Jesse's abilities are suppressed indefinitely.

Advisers:

Jesse has several "spirit guides", as she calls them, which vary depending on her situation. The most common voices are the Bandit Queen of Grim, Sith Lord Lucian Darkblood, and grey Jedi Jing-Quinon.

Bandit Queen: Legends surround this mysterious outlaw from Grim. Nobody knows where she came from, or her real identity, for when the mask was removed from the dead Queen, the face revealed wasn't on record anywhere. She is stern and selfish, and is an excellent strategist, but deep down inside has a woman's heart and will be willing to protect the weak if it won't immediately threaten Jesse. She takes charge of Jesse just before battle and in situations resolving mental rather than physical warfare.

Lucian Darkblood: Sith lord whose identity was temporarily erased by the presence of Yuki Terumi, in order to replicate Terumi's personality. Lucian is headstrong and proud. In consulting him, Jesse's personal ego is stoked, leading her to make decisions far more selfishly oriented than usual.

Jing-Quinon: Grey Jedi who accidentally became soulbound to Jesse when she cast the curse on Terumi, the same curse binding her to Darkblood. He is a quiet man, gifted teacher, and believes that balance is the key to victory. He generally leads Jesse when she's in combat or meditating.

Spex: an artificial intelligence housed in Jesse's sunglasses. He's her best friend, parent, counselor, and mental restraint, and she sometimes considers him one of her spirit counselors. It's probable that if it wasn't for Spex, Jesse would have lost her mind or died a long time ago. He is highly intelligent and devoted to Jesse's well being. He has access to almost any database on the planet and perhaps a few beyond. He helped Jesse erase her past as Stella, and works constantly to keep her from having a criminal record, despite her shady activities.

Goddess Form: When the three advisers and Spex align in Jesse's mind as one, bound together through concentration in the Force, Jesse attains a near immortal status. Her form changes to a lavender gown, glowing blue eyes, and a green-and-red feather cloak that doubles as a pair of wings. She has control over ice and heat, can emit electric pulses from her hands, possesses a pair of swords constructed of pure Force energy, and has enhanced speed, durability, and strength. She can't maintain the form for long without intense focus.

Jesse has stopped using her counselors since the Day of Grim.

Abilities:

Force Manipulation: telekinesis, precognition, lightsaber skills, base mind control, etc. Extremely basic, with her only enhancements being extended jumps, slight telekinesis, minor precognition, lesser healing factor, and small durability and stamina boost.

Martial arts: self trained in several forms of martial arts and street fighting that she has come across in her adventures.

Tracking

Negotiation

Survival skills

Navigation

Arsenal:

Spex: an artificial intelligence housed in Jesse's sunglasses. He's her best friend, parent, counselor, and mental restraint, and she sometimes considers him one of her spirit counselors. It's probable that if it wasn't for Spex, Jesse would have lost her mind or died a long time ago. He is highly intelligent and devoted to Jesse's well being. He has access to almost any database on the planet and perhaps a few beyond. He helped Jesse erase her past as Stella, and works constantly to keep her from having a criminal record, despite her shady activities. Jesse's Spex sunglasses were broken during the Final Battle of Grim, leaving her with only her clear-lens version, worn as Astrid Everdeen as a safety precaution. She is in the process of making a contact-lens version, but it will take some time.

Blaze and Frostbit: A pair of batons based on the same technology as her original guns, with similar attributes. She carries Frost in her left and Blaze in her right hand. Her gloves allow her to hold them without harming herself. By touching the tips of the weapons at their respective highest and lowest settings she creates an instantaneous portal, zapping herself out of dangerous situations. The batons require significant cooldown time after each portal creation.

Pain and Peace: the names she has selected for her lightsabers. Peace is lightweight, easily maneuverable, and blue, good for slicing and fancy tricks. Pain, meanwhile, is heavier, stockier, and red. She uses Pain for slashing and stabbing.

Reaper's Shadow: aka Icarus' fall, a pair of black wings forged from a ferric material found on the banks of the River Styx. Jesse uses these for flight, as a shield, and in close-range combat.

Thunder Claws: electricity-producing gloves armed with retractable silver claws.

Denial: A force field creating/disrupting gauntlet, given to her by Kaija. It once had a glove attached but she removed it and made adjustments so that it will fit over her thunder claw on either wrist.

Others: Jesse has a variety of other tools in her arsenal.

History: Under Construction

Another day, another press conference. The media gathered once again to hear Astrid Everdeen speak. Of course, there was confusion from the conspiracy theorists who believed that Ms. Everdeen was one and the same as the Icefire Outlaw. But...the Outlaw was in Grim, fighting for that doomed city. Who, then, was that, and why on earth did Astrid draw the media's attention away from that battle this morning? She looked serious compared to her last few speeches, so serious, in fact, that many questions were stopped mid-sentence as the room fell into abrupt silence.

Chicago, Illinois, 10:00 AM on the Day of Grim

"Good morning, everyone, and thank you all for coming on such short notice. As you all may have guessed, I stand before you today to give one last speech about the City of Grim. You all know where I stand, and where the so-called 'Mega Justice' stands. Today he goes to war and I stay behind. But don't judge us by that. I stay because I have seen that watering that city in blood only salts the earth and saturates the soil to a point where nothing can grow. If we bathe the city in blood today, the land it stands on will not be a sign of victory for anyone. It will be pointless to build on that earth, because that earth will be proven barren. The city will not be able to withstand any more, and whatever we replace it with? It will simply be the beginning of the same vicious cycle. Tell me, everyone, is this justice? Is that truly what we want our heroes fighting for? Turning the remains of a populous city, turning something that has one last hope of growing, into a deserted wasteland? What Mega Justice is fighting for is not true Justice. He fights for an ideal, as all men fight. As everyone who has ever battled for Grim has fought. It is time to end this pointless struggle."

"This War won't stop in Grim. This war will spread to all cities with even the slightest presence of 'injustice'. Chicago, Bludhaven, even the darker sections of New York, Los Angeles, Portland...who can stand against an enemy that destroys lives and cities in the name of Justice? He will not stop in Grim. His wrath will not stop until his idea of Justice is spread throughout the world. No place is safe. To some, this may seem like an excellent idea, a brilliant strategy to end crime once and for all. But might I remind you, men like Hitler and Stalin searched for justice for the entire world, their own, twisted, warped idea of justice that would serve only the few it immediately effected. This is an imbalance, prejudice, and all in all, a lie. Justice should be blind. It should judge from watching and listening to bare facts. Mega Justice took one look at Grim and decided she was the one place on earth who deserved the wrath of Justice. Is this right, do you think? Is this justice?"

"No."

"Justice is when each receives the reward of his actions. Is it the fault of the people of Grim that their city was laid waste, that their earth is polluted, that their buildings tremble and fall? That the only way they know how to live now, is in places like that? Displacing the people of a wasteland will only spread their ways. He calls them criminals, but he seeks to welcome them back into his world without teaching them the right path. Not that they would listen anyway. They've been betrayed by those of us outside their city one too many times. They have to learn for themselves. But that doesn't mean we cannot help them. I myself intend to do just that. If, when Mega Justice leaves Grim, the city still stands, I will go there. I will create a branch of Ravenfox there, and we will help rebuild that city brick by brick with our bare hands if we have to. I am the Rose of Grim. It's time I went home."

There was a ruckus at this, and Astrid waited for the questions to stop before she said another word, her face now full of passion and life.

"That discussion is for another time. Now, friends, countrymen, believers in Freedom, Liberty, and Justice for all, I implore you. Think about the city. Think about what must be done. And consider, at least for a moment. Consider what I've said. Decide for yourselves. This is my plea for True Justice in our world. Thank you. I won't be taking any questions today."

With that, over the sound of a hundred voices trying to change her mind and get her to answer for her words, Astrid left the stage, disappearing from view.

The room went silent as Astrid Everdeen stepped up to the podium. The blue-eyed blonde had cut her hair, keeping it well out of her way while she focused on the crowded conference in front of her. The Rising Star of Chicago--that's what she'd been nicknamed. Everyone seemed to love her, and Astrid knew it. She never needed to look away from the camera; the speeches were almost completely memorized. She knew how to win a heart to her side. She could convince most people of the truth of what she tried to say. She had a casual side, a heartrending side, a businesslike side...she had as many facets as the diamond on her mysterious engagement ring. She didn't have her warm, almost girlish smile on her lips. Today she seemed serious. Nobody knew what she wanted to talk about, which is why you could hear a pin drop when the young woman set her single sheet of notes on the surface before her and began speaking.

"Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for coming on such short notice. As you all know, a few days ago a hero known as Mega Justice announced his idea of tilling the field known as Grim City, and planting something new and fresh there."

She paused as a murmur went through the crowd before her, now understanding why they'd been called here. When the noise subsided, she continued.

"His plan is, I admit, commendable. Grim is a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the epitome of what we fear will happen to our world. The people there, from what we understand, are no more than animals. They kill each other over scraps, they live up to their knees in chemical filth, the very air they breathe is polluted. There is nothing Grim has left to give our world, from the general point of view."

The room held its breath. The "but," common to the second half of Astrid's speeches, was inevitably coming.

"We have to consider the consequences, however."

And here it was.

"What do we know about Grim? What about its people? Only what has been made public by the antics of criminals such as the Icefire Outlaw, and by the understanding of heroes of the people like Mr. Justice. But what do we, the people, know about Grim City? Those of us who lived there could tell you it was a den of crime in its heyday. It's easy for us to believe what we're told how much worse it is now." She hesitated. "What right do we have to judge, though? Who are we, who refused to stay behind and help in order to preserve our own lives, to condemn those who didn't have that option?"

She let her question hang, for effect. The room remained still.

"We have no right, do we. We cannot judge what we do not know. What we do know is fed to us by those who either cannot see the good in the bad, or else wish to manipulate us into leaving them to their own wicked devices. Either way, we cannot understand without having been there ourselves, or by speaking to the surviving citizens, those who know the city better than anyone beyond its borders. Those we condemn as petty criminals, potential terrorists, and savages with no morals. Or."

Another pause, and the nation waited.

"Or we could see for ourselves."

Uproar for a moment, before curiosity forced the reporters to hold their tongues, as the speech went into its final stages.

"Have any of you ever watched a wild rose bush grow? It's quite interesting. One grew in my father's garden back at home when I was little. It was very nice at first, a little green sprout, but as it grew it became woody and ugly. I tried to fix it. I gave it water and put fresh soil around its roots, tearing my hands on the thorns in an attempt to make it beautiful and useful." Her smile grew wistful as she remembered. "I only made it worse. It withered, and it almost died. Only then did I realize that nothing I could do could help it. But I didn't want my dad pulling it out after all that time and effort. So I left it alone and kept an eye on it, I watered and weeded it and left it at that and you know what? It started growing again, still woody and harsh but alive. And after time passed it budded, and a little while after it bloomed." She looked right into the camera. "We have done nothing but try to tame something we've allowed to become wild. Grim is a wild rose bush. Give it time and only necessary attention, and we don't have to uproot it as an ugly weed on our landscape. If we let it go, if we let its systems do their work, thorns and all, it can become beautiful and green again. Of course we could just replace it with a tame flower, but we will be denying the world a self-made city rising from its ashes of its own accord."

Her body relaxed as she glanced at her single piece of paper to make sure she covered everything before she looked around the room.

"I'll take any questions you have now. Thank you for your patience."

It had been three days since Los Angeles. I had spent them trying to comfort my mother and my brother, they seemed to have had trouble ever since battling the beast there. I wish I had been with them, I could have perhaps protected mother while my Alfar brother fought off the monster. By the time I had arrived it was too late for me to do anything useful. There was nothing to be done about it now. They both were safe, but they were ill at ease. I wished I could do something now, and my inability was not from lack of trying. I sat with mother while she worked, tried to bring Erik outdoors to play or to the floor to wrestle as we normally did in the long days in mother's den. But none of it worked.

I didn't sleep, either. The long, restless nights for my family kept me awake, pacing back and forth between Erik's wandering and mother's bedroom, trying to at least be there for them, trying to give them comfort with my presence. They weren't afraid of anything I could combat, or if they were, they didn't need to. I was here, I was made to protect people, and I would protect my family as they needed me. But that didn't seem to be their problem. They were uncomfortable with each other, especially Erik, as if he didn't trust himself. I spent most of my time with him, and when I gave up on trying to wrestle with him, I would follow him around the house in his pacing, and when he sat I put my head on his lap, trying to let him know I understood and that I cared. He seemed too busy with his own thoughts to notice, but every once in a while he'd place his hand on my head to let me know he knew I was there for him.

I had to be worried, I had to be cautious, I had to be there for them and hold us together because if we outcasts didn't stick up for one another, who would stick up for us?

It had been three days since Los Angeles. I had spent them here in Jesse's home, listening to her comings and goings. I paced, I sat, I made myself a glass of blood supplement before pacing again. I didn't tap into my magic or the Force. I didn't leave my godling form. I heard Jesse when she spoke, listened to the scratching of her pen or the click of her fingers over a keyboard, and still I did nothing. My eyes were unfocused, faraway, uneasy. All day long, up and down, same motions with no purpose, same questions I barraged myself with, same answers I didn't have.

I didn't sleep, either. My mind was ill at ease and my heart was restless. Hunter tried to comfort me, but I couldn't be soothed. Was I a monster? Is that what I'd become after all this time? I had practiced forbidden magics. Had the demon been driven to human form I would have been merciless. The darkness had consumed me, and for what? A battle I proved I couldn't win. Perhaps Jesse was better off without me. Perhaps my father and the demonic hunter had been right all along: I was a monster, like them. A beast with no concern for life or rules. I'd destroyed public property in order to do what I thought was best. Was I really an Angel, as Jesse tried to tell me? Or was I a demon, like the Fel creature, like my father, like my old ally Vandal King? How could I live with myself after what I had done? Could I live with myself? These were the plaguing flies that buzzed around my ears every moment. I couldn't answer them now. Perhaps it was better for me if I went back, or took to the road. I didn't know what other answer there could be.

But not now. Jesse needed me one last time. As far as Erik Dokkson was concerned, Astrid Everdeen needed her guardian Angel now more than ever.

It had been three days since Los Angeles. I had spent them answering questions about the demon battle there, like whether my son was involved, why my hotel seemed to be targeted, where I'd gotten the wings. I had an answer to every question. No, that wasn't Erik. It was a stranger, a guardian angel. I'd been targeted by the demon possibly to prevent my testimony in the Night Warden Trial, I wouldn't have made it if the mystery creature, eagerly nicknamed Angel by the press, hadn't become involved. I had spoken to him since and we'd come to an agreement, he would serve as my bodyguard on the condition no questions were asked. No, I wasn't concerned he'd attack me while I wasn't looking. It was all part of the deal. The wings were a prototype that I had been wearing just in case of such an event, and they'd proven useful. Why, yes, they certainly did look like the Icefire Outlaw's. That was actually the inspiration for the design. On and on, back and forth, question and answer.

I hadn't been sleeping well, either. Not since I realized what Erik was truly capable of. He'd drifted away from me since then, keeping to himself, not returning to child form since he'd left my arms in his shadow realm. He looked weary, hungry, and lonely. I didn't know what was wrong, especially considering he refused to talk to me. Hunter didn't leave his side, and so I left them alone, focusing on my work, on the press, and on my answers for the upcoming trial. My meditations were short and scarce, my mind faraway and cloudy. My legal work became central in my life, and my mental capacity was engaged solely in coming up with every possible question and outcome for the rapidly approaching trial. I wouldn't fail at this. I owed it to Warden. I could put my personal problems aside, at least until after Jacob Chase was as free as my answers could get him. I drowned out my advisers' voices, and I didn't touch Spex. No. Icefire had to be dead during this time. Maybe when this was over I'd don the hat again. But no sooner. As far as the world new, the Icefire Outlaw was abroad and hiding. They didn't know they saw her almost every day on a TV screen, in a magazine, in the newspaper. They didn't know that I was right under their noses.

And that was okay. Because as far as Astrid Everdeen was concerned, Jesse James was dead.

Name: Hunter

Species: genetically engineered gryphon

Gender: male

Eyes: blue

Fur: snow leopard

Weight: 150 lbs and growing

Height: 3'5" at shoulder and growing

Length: 4'6" head and body, 4' tail, and growing

Wingspan: about 9', and growing

Age: about 13 months

Affiliation: Jesse James/Astrid Everdeen

Abilities:

Flight

Enhanced senses

Night vision

Enhanced stamina, durability, strength, and speed

Loyalty

Resistance to energy including but not limited to antimatter, magic, Force

Name: Erik Svart

Age: around 60,000 years (looks between 10 and 12 as child, between 25 and 30 as godling)

Alias: Shadow godling, unholy hybrid, Plaguebearer, The New Icefire

Height: 4'9" inches (child)/6'0" (godling, icefire)

Hair: Black

Eyes: Clouded Blue (child)/red (godling, icefire)

Species: Svart (half-Alfar, half-vampire)

Birthplace: Svartalheim

Family: Dokk (father, vampire); Mythika (mother, alfar); Astrid Everdeen (legally adopted mother, master in the Force, human)

Bio:

Erik was born on Svartalheim, the unholy child of a relationship between a Svart Alfar and an undead Svart warrior. The persecution of the vampires on Svartalheim led to the death of Erik's father and the cubsequent flight of his mother to the alternate dimension known as the Dark World. His mother was killed by a pack of werewolves as she defended Erik with her own body. The vampire boy proceeded to wander until he met a group of heroes, including a banshee called Althea and a werewolf who was later found to be Vandal, King of Demons. After their journey, Erik found himself alone in the world. He went to Hell, seeking his father. The vampire boy was released from Hell in an event that was initiated by the girl known as Iridum. Lost and confused in his first hours in Midgard, he found Jesse. She took the boy under her wing--literally and figuratively--and showed him the ropes of human culture, language, and behavior. He's been with her ever since.

Powers:

Even in his child form, Erik can manipulate shadows and has some geomancing skills from his mother's teaching. In godling form his powers increase tenfold. As a child he is able to resist sunlight and his urges to kill, but is much more unpredictable and uncontrollable in his adult, immortal state. In both forms he is able to access the realm of shadows, an in-between world within our reality consisting of the shadow of everything in existence.

Erik's Shadow:

Erik may draw his shadow out of the in-between Realm of Shadows to take his place, to run errands for him, protect Jesse when he's away, and even guard himself while he rests or feeds. Erik's shadow has all his abilities, his appearance, and even some of his emotions.

"Things can happen to you, but they don't have to happen to your soul."

Name: Astrid Maria Everdeen

Identity Status: public

Occupation: businesswoman, owner and CEO of Ravenfox Industries

Clothes: Anything she can afford

Accessories: large purse for holding documents etc., engagement ring

Family: Orphaned, according to official records inherited a large fortune from her father, Joseph Everdeen, and chose to start her business with it.

Nicknames: Chicago's Rising Star, Wild Rose of Grim

Weapons: Keeps a single knife and a pistol in her bag at all times. Is extremely skilled with using them.

Allies: Jacob Chase

Enemies: Mega Justice

Religion: baptized and practicing Roman Catholic

Personality: Warm and friendly, Astrid has a bubbling personality. In this persona, most people warm up to her fairly easily. She has a more serious business and negotiation side, often presenting itself in the office or courtroom.

Philosophy: Astrid has a similar philosophy to Jesse, as they are the same person, but her side is more lenient in terms of survival. She'd rather help people out than live on the run, and her heroic spirit sometimes leaks into her alternate persona.

Companions:

Spex: an artificial intelligence housed in Stella's sunglasses when she's out of doors, or in her simple wire glasses when she is at home.

Hunter: a loyal young gryphon who would give his life for her. Claims to have purchased him from a company to stop them from selling him to someone dangerous.

Erik Svart: Svart-vampire hybrid. Adopted by Astrid, who claims that he was a Svartalheim refugee in need of a Midgardian home.

Bio:

Astrid claims to hail originally from Grim City, which her father chose to leave at the beginning of the war between Grim and the U.S. She founded her business a few months ago and it has spread like a wildfire. Aside from that, not much is known.

"At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. The hard thing is finding the courage to do it."

Name: Jesse James

Identity Status: Secret

Codenames: Bandit Queen, Icefire Outlaw, Angel of Havoc, Raven of Grim, Chi'raq Vixen, Silver Goddess of Balance

Occupation: outlaw, thief, smuggler, saboteur, minor Chicago crime boss, grey Force user

Total bounty worth: $7,500,000, wanted dead

Clothes: generally jeans, a black leather jacket or trench coat, her shades, a wide-brimmed hat, and a red bandanna around her neck or over her mouth if she's working. Either combat or cowboy boots serve as her shoes, usually with knives hidden in the heels. Offen wears a drakeskin chestpiece under her blouse, for protection.

Allies: Kaija, Contingency, Ali Outsider (lowlaville), Night Warden, Roddi Bonaparte, Rey Everdeen, the Dark Spider, Jason Ford, Dr. Halloween.

Enemies: Sal Salvatore, Beyond, Turncoat.

Personality: Stella has been taking care of herself in her Jesse persona for years, detaching from humanity as a whole and burying her emotions to protect herself. She has a cold exterior that even effects her physical appearance. However some people and things bring out a little warmth from under her icy exterior.

Philosophy: Having grown up in warzone Grim, Stella's Jesse personality lives to survive. She believes that the key to survival is to remain on top of the food chain, striking fear into the hearts of her equals, superiors, and inferiors. She insists that a grey area must be maintained in her life, with neither good nor evil outweighing the other. She's determined to die doing something dazzlingly heroic or despicably wicked. She does have a soft spot for kids and despite being an only child has a strong sisterly/maternal instinct.

Skills: Jesse is a philosopher, encyclopedia, artist, jack-of-all-trades, criminal mastermind, brilliant businesswoman, dedicated researcher, martial artist, Force adept, and dabbler in magic. She's sensitive to otherworldly things and ideas, and can tell when reality is changed.

Abilities:

Force Manipulation--telekinesis, precognition, lightsaber skills, base mind control, etc.

Ars Magus-- Boundary magic, with the ability to distort reality and other energies around it. It is highly corrosive and unpredictable. Jesse can only use the Ars Magus when she allows Yuki Terumi to become her sole adviser (see below)

Martial arts--self trained in several forms of martial arts and street fighting that she has come across in her adventures.

Other magics--she can use various magic items (wands, charms, etc), and uses the Force in the place of basic magic for spells. This takes a lot of focus and energy, so she doesn't rely on magic very often.

Tracking

Negotiation

Survival skills

Navigation

Advisers:

Jesse has several "spirit guides", as she calls them, which vary depending on her situation. The most common voices are the Bandit Queen of Grim, Yuki Terumi (the human soul of Susano'o), and grey Jedi Jing-Quinon.

Bandit Queen: Legends surround this mysterious outlaw from Grim. Nobody knows where she came from, or her real identity, for when the mask was removed from the dead Queen, the face revealed wasn't on record anywhere. She is stern and selfish, and is an excellent strategist, but deep down inside has a woman's heart and will be willing to protect the weak if it won't immediately threaten Jesse. She takes charge of Jesse just before battle and in situations resolving mental rather than physical warfare.

Lucian Darkblood: Sith (under construction)

Jing-Quinon: Grey Jedi who accidentally became soulbound to Jesse when she cast the curse on Terumi. He is a quiet man, gifted teacher, and believes that balance is the key to victory. He generally leads Jesse when she's in combat or meditating.

Goddess Form:

When the three advisers and Spex align in Jesse's mind as one, bound together through concentration in the Force, Jesse attains a near immortal status. Her form changes to a lavender gown, glowing blue eyes, and a green-and-red feather cloak that doubles as a pair of wings. She has control over ice and heat, can emit electric pulses from her hands, possesses a pair of swords constructed of pure Force energy, and has enhanced speed, durability, and strength. She can't maintain the form for long without intense focus.

Companions:

Spex: an artificial intelligence housed in Jesse's sunglasses. He's her best friend, parent, counselor, and mental restraint, and she sometimes considers him one of her spirit counselors. It's probable that if it wasn't for Spex, Jesse would have lost her mind or died a long time ago. He is highly intelligent and devoted to Jesse's well being. He has access to almost any database on the planet and perhaps a few beyond. He helped Jesse erase her past as Stella, and works constantly to keep her from having a criminal record, despite her shady activities.

Hunter: a loyal young gryphon who would give his life for Jesse, whom he sees as his mother. He's fast, strong, intelligent, well-trained, and has a gentle side.

Erik Svart: (Under construction) Half-vampire, half-Alfar child from another realm. Adopted by Jesse as her padawan and a companion in future adventures. Red eyes, black hair, deathly pale skin. He thinks of himself as eight but looks around eleven as he lost track of time after his birth mother's death. He entered hell and emerged in the human realm some forty thousand tears later, though again he didn't keep track of time. He can manipulate shadows and is gifted in the Force, as well as geokenisis. He especially likes growing flowers from precious stones and metals, but summons weapons sometimes as well, both of stone and of shadow. Like Jesse he has a god form, a sort of mix of earth and death.

Arsenal:

Inferno and Zero: These are a pair of prototype guns having the power of absolute heat and cold, respectively. Both have a variety of settings, from gentle to destroy. When Inferno's hottest setting is crossed with Zero's coldest, it rips a hole in the space-time continuum and creates a portal that gives Jesse a quick escape from crime scenes. The portal is untraceable and closes right behind her, making her untraceable.

Pain and Peace: the names she has selected for her lightsabers. Peace is lightweight, easily maeuverable, and blue, good for slicing and fancy tricks. Pain, meanwhile, is heavier, stockier, and red. She uses Pain for slashing and stabbing.

Thunder Claws: reddish-orange, electricity-producing gloves armed with retractable silver claws.

Reaper's Shadow: aka Icarus' fall, a pair of black wings forged from a ferric material found on the banks of the River Styx. Jesse uses these for flight, as a shield, and in close-range combat.

Denial: A force field creating/disrupting gauntlet, given to her by Kaija. It once had a glove attached but she removed it and made adjustments so that it will fit over her thunder claw over either wrist.

Others: Jesse has a variety of grenades, knives, and magical artifacts collected as payment for her services. I'll try to mention everything before an RP, but in case I don't, be prepared for anything ranging from a magic wand to nuclear detonator.

History:

Grim: Early life spent here. Parents died in First War; Jesse ran away from her foster parents before the Second, and was thought dead. Met Rey Everdeen. Recruited by Night Warden to take down the Chicago mob, post-war.

Chicago: Faced the mob in the Trump Building. Was double then triple crossed by Night Warden. Betrayed by Dragonfang. Sal Salvatore, a leading mob boss, was taken to prison but escapes with the help of the Delta Squad in "Prison Song".

Amy Earheart: Rescued and instructed runaway experiment known as Eviolite (@amyearheart).

Sanctum of the Force: Faced ancient being known as Susano'o. Learned of her Force sensitivity. Became soul bound to Terumi and Quinon. Met Contingency. Acquired Peace and Pain.

Post-Sanctum: many adventures, acquired Hunter.

Prison Song: Was on the defending side in Sal Salvatore's prison break, expects him to retaliate any day now.

Grey Jedi Order: Training Ali Outsider to become a grey Jedi. Visits Svartalheim to rescue Valken and recruit him to the Order as well. Witnessed the deaths of Viridian Snowspear and Cadmus Knightfall (under construction)

Dreaming: Met Dream the Fake. Began having dreams involving a Banshee, a halfling, and werewolf.

Defending Sovereign: offered the opportunity to become the goddess of balance under Dream the Fake. Fought alongside Contingency and Cydrus Knightfall while Dream's missionary performed the ritual to summon the god.

School of Hell: Visited the school Inner Demon moved to Alcatraz, met Erik Svart.

Wolfpack Company: (in progress) Aided Kaija in decoding encrypted information and learned of the existence of the Wolfpack Company. Acquired Denial. Made a deal with Kaija, Jesse's services in exchange for information on the Wolfpack assassin who would be sent to kill her. Aided Kaija again, met Call of Ruty.

Soulsearching: Bounced between Grim, Chicago, and Bludhaven. Meets Atticus Rolo. Decides to create her Astrid persona, taking months to complete her creation before going public.