[Darkk] 淳 - Jun {Darkwatch}

Solar Energy Generation & Manipulation - A power commonly found amongst Amaterasu’s closest followers, though not to the same degree or of the same origin as Jun. Due to a life of education and training amongst monks and sorcerers with similar expertise, as well as a direct spiritual connection to a literal Goddess of the Sun, Jun has the ability to nigh-effortlessly generate and manipulate pure light energy and superheated plasma capable of nearing the surface temperatures of the sun. However, while this power of hers is almost effortless to use, it is not without limitation.

Currently Jun is only capable of generating small constructs, most often taking the form of melee weaponry, a personal cloak, car sized barriers, and throwing small explosive bolts or shooting thin beams of energy. As stated before, the plasma she can generate can currently near the temperature of the Sun’s surface, but this requires both focus and ‘heart’, if her heart is not behind it such dangerous heights cannot be reached. As for her constructs, they currently have the durability of high grade alloys and composites, a few tiers below adamantium or vibranium, and the strength to lift up to 5 tons with strain. While able to generate light Jun is not capable of presenting the full visible spectrum, her range is a spectrum from pure white, pale to golden yellow, pale to rich orange, and pale red to a bright crimson.

Cloak of Dawn - Though technically a costume, and armor, formed with her solar powers, Jun is capable of shrouding her entire body, attire and all, in light energy. She does this both as protection and disguise, masking her true appearance so as to remain anonymous during her less mundane endeavors. The appearance she takes can vary quite a bit, from something ethereal as a woman of pure light to something more physical in appearance and anywhere in between, manifesting light that can look, feel, and flow like real material, save the glow and radiant warmth of the sun. Intricacy doesn’t take much thought, she simply wills an idea and her light handles the rest.

Partial Flight - While not capable of natural flight, and technically a product of her solar powers, Jun has grown quite proficient in the use of magically supported flight. In order to do this she creates small discs of pure light energy beneath her feet, or any other body part as needed, in order to levitate and propel herself in whatever direction she desires. Of course, as a light energy construct, her Dawn form suffices on its own. Currently she is capable of safely maintaining speeds around 100mph/160kph in fairly crowded spaces, though she can max out at nearly quadruple that with much less control.

Psionic & Possession Resistance - An innate ability Jun isn’t fully aware of, as she hasn’t had much experience in dealing with these powers, Jun passively resists most forms of hypnosis, mental illusions, mind probing techniques, possession, and demonic implantation, save from the most powerful sources at least. This is due to her spiritual link to the Goddess Amaterasu essentially acting as a shield for both mind and soul. If necessary Amaterasu herself is capable of intervening, unless of course her connection to Jun is somehow blocked. That said, if ever there were a case for Amaterasu to possess Jun against her will, she would be undeniable.

Solar Battery - Another innate ability of Jun’s thanks to her connection to Amaterasu, Jun is capable of acting as a sort of faux star to those races, mutants, and technologies that absorb solar radiation as fuel. This is most felt while she is using her powers, but a trickle of energy always emanates from within. Currently she has little control over the degree of this ability or who can siphon off of it, meaning both friend and foe alike can do it, but with enough experience she would be able to personally fuel any such individual of her choosing just as Amaterasu could shine her light upon a particular follower.

Light Within - A trait of her partial divine nature that she cannot directly control, Jun’s light bestows more upon those it shines than simply the warmth of the sun. For friends and loved ones, the warmth of love and compassion. For her allies and those she fights to protect, hope and courage. For her enemies, a sense of penitence. And for any who need it, serenity.

Amaterasu’s Eye - While she is not yet aware of the full extent of her connection with the Sun Goddess, Jun is under the surveillance of her matron deity. Any time she pleases Amaterasu can see what Jun sees, hear what Jun hears, and is capable of speaking to Jun if she so wishes, providing there isn’t any sort of magical interference of course. This is technically a two way connection, Jun can contact her just the same had she the time to focus and knowledge to do so. Though, Amaterasu can effortlessly block this communication if she so desires.

Superhuman Strength - While on the lower end of superhuman Jun is capable of physical feats definitely beyond the scope of any normal human, let alone one her size. She can squat nearly 1800lbs(816kg) and bench roughly 1100lbs(499kg) with consistency and without the aid of magic, though it is not easy. Her musculature is also quite dense, akin to that of the Amatsu-Kami, making her a fair bit heavier than she appears.

Superhuman Agility & Reflexes - More so than her strength, Jun’s agility and reflexes would certainly be classified as superhuman, easily processing, maneuvering, and reacting to a complex environment while flying at speeds around 100mph(160kph) on an almost subconscious level. If pressed she could even dodge a low caliber bullet at close range, though it wouldn’t be easy. While she rarely needs to, Jun is also capable of sprinting around 35mph(56kph) and physically leaping upwards of 20 ft at a standstill, but who needs that when you can fly?

Superhuman Durability - While certainly more durable than a normal human Jun is far from as durable as many full ’supers’. A low caliber bullet would likely get stuck at her musculature, cuts won’t be as deep, breaks may only be fractures or bruises, a concussion or black out impact may just be a headache, and so on. She must rely on barriers and armor to truly withstand anything severe. However, being somewhat part Sun Goddess, Jun has significant resistance to forms of solar plasma/radiation based energy, harmful light powers, as well as immunity to her own powers. A semi-truck running her over might kill an unprotected Jun while a fully charged starbolt from a Tamaranean that melts through multiple concrete and steel walls would likely only cause 2nd degree burns to her. She is also quite resistant to dark/shadow energy, though that includes beneficial effects. As one might expect, Jun is highly resilient to extreme temperatures.

Superhuman Vitality - Thanks to her ’demi-divine’ spirit Jun’s endurance when it comes to things physical and magical alike is both extensive and rapidly replenishing, though less so on the physical side. Physically she can exert herself at peak performance for nearly an hour before needing to take a break, but after that short break she’ll be well rested and fully energized to do it all over again. Sleep is hardly an issue for her, a short nap every day or two is all she ever needs, and her immune system is bolstered beyond perfect human health. She also functions perfectly fine in low oxygen environments, frequently traveling cloud height or above to avoid suspicion, and can hold her breath with the best freedivers. On the more mystical side Jun pulls from a deep reservoir of energy, so deep that with her current limited ability to tap into it she has yet to ever run low on juice, outlasting even the most ”energetic” of her Akiran tutors.

Accelerated Healing - Her abnormal physiology also provides some passive regenerative abilities, though nothing on par with the likes of Wolverine or Deadpool. Bruises fade in minutes, cuts close in hours, bones heal in a few days, and so on. In addition to this wounds heal without leaving as bad of a scar, if any at all. However, she can’t naturally regrow lost limbs or organs.

Enhanced Longevity - The true extent her unique physiology has affected her lifespan is unknown but at the very least she is likely to live twice as long and age at half the rate of the normal person. It is theorized that she may be able to live indefinitely if Jun can learn to master her powers, essentially lifting her body to match the potential of her spirit.

Teleportation - Jun is slightly above a novice practitioner of the teleportation arts, currently capable of opening portals to places several hundred miles away with focus, or much further if she’s intimately familiar with them. As of now Jun lacks the knowledge to teleport to other realms or through magically protected regions (Excluding her home).

Sense Divinity - From her inherent connection to the divine, Jun is capable of sensing traces of divine, demonic, and otherworldly essence. However, this sense has not fully developed, currently she is only capable of seeing fragments and glimpses of lingering influence or the general nature of such beings.

Light Magic Affinity - The Sun being the primary element her matron is associated with, light magic comes quite naturally to Jun. That said, her current repertoire is quite limited in scope as her Sun powers provide her with the real thing that her mentors simulate with spellcraft. She has, however, learned to clean impurities, repair simple objects using a spell that leaves them with a gilded kintsugi appearance, to nourish/heal crops, how to recognize and dispel some lesser hexes, exercise/banish common spirits, and how to mend simple wounds (cuts, burns, sprains, etc).

Dark Magic Aversion - She isn’t simply resistant to dark magic by the nature of her being, as stated earlier, Jun is also entirely incapable of utilizing dark, demonic, or shadow magic, period. This aversion and resistance even extends to beneficial magics that heal, shield, or bolster used either by or upon her. Her body and soul simply rejects it.

Astral Projection Aversion - For reasons she is not entirely sure of, Jun’s soul simply refuses to leave her body behind. Every attempt on her own has gone nowhere and every attempt at assisted projection has either been flatly rebuffed or resulted in agonizing cracks of light forming upon her body where her spirit started to emerge. Her mentors have since deigned it unwise to keep trying.

Spiritual Knowledge - While far from all encompassing, Jun has solid knowledge of various spiritual entities typically found throughout the far east, passable knowledge on the common ones found in surrounding regions, and a smattering about the legends/myths of distant lands. She is fairly familiar with the workings of the Amatsu-Kami, at least as far as the records at the Akira sanctum are accurate, and has some limited knowledge of the most influential of the other pantheons. Mostly names and what their realm of divinity is said to entail, but not much else.

Herbal Tinctures - A far cry from a proper chemist or potion-master, Jun does have some knowledge when it comes to making herbal mixes, typically tinctures, teas, or salves, then blessing them with light magic to bring out the innate healing, cleansing, or fortifying nature of the ingredients.

Adept Martial Artist - Thanks to her upbringing Jun is a fairly experienced practitioner of Kukishin-ryu, also known as “Nine Gods Divine School”, an art founded in the early to mid 1300’s that covers combat application of taijutsu (hand to hand), bōjutsu (long staff), naginatajutsu (glaive), kenpō (sword), hanbōjutsu (short staff), sōjutsu (spear), and heiho (military strategy). This translates well into her use of solar energy, which provides her with weaponry beyond the caliber of most man-made material.

Multilingual - While her native language is Japanese Jun is also fairly well versed in Chinese, and Korean. Though, thanks to magic she is capable of real time translation through mystical means, at least for common dialects. Though, this does not apply to cultural contexts, regional slang, and nuances, where she is quite lacking in familiarity.

Old-World Upbringing - Being raised on a magically secluded island with no electricity does have its benefits. As part of their lifestyle Jun was raised to know how to weave, sew, knit, cook, garden, tend livestock, work the field, fish, craft pottery, and make household repairs without magic, among other things. That said, there is also the drawback of having very little knowhow about modern technology. Though she’s been traveling the world for nearly a year now, Jun still finds herself fascinated by something new every trip.

Weaponry/Armor - Jun carries none as she creates her own, though she does have a few antiques she’s collected on her journeys and as gifts from her tutors.

Resources - In all reality, Jun has little to speak of when it comes to physical resources. She has accrued some pocket change from her travels, though not necessarily of the country she’s visiting. Most of the time she labors for her keep or the knick knacks/antiques she collects on her travels, occasionally bartering with/pawning them when the need arises. She also has a small collection of mythology/mysticism related texts, not necessarily accurate ones, and some regional history/tourist guide books she’s acquired on her travels. While she has access to the Akira Sanctum library, their collection is quite niche.

HAIR: Currently resting between the base of her shoulder blades at its longest, Jun’s hair is a rich warm black with an ever so slight wave to it.

SKIN: With skin soft, pale, and radiant, Jun is of far east asian descent and has no scars or birthmarks to speak of. Though, despite all the time she spends in (and wielding) the sun, she notably does not burn or tan.

PHYSIQUE: Jun has a thin lithe frame bordering on petite with little muscle definition, belying the inhumanly dense tissue below. Due to her body slowly adapting to having a part Amatsu-Kami soul she appears to be roughly a third of the weight she actually is and nowhere remotely as strong.

ATTIRE: Apart from some traditional robes, kimono, miko variants, and training gis she almost never wears off island, and some regional souvenirs that are more for collection than use, Jun’s wardrobe is rather sparse. Modest, practical, soft, and in well repair, her travel apparel tends to consist of simple sneakers or hiking boots, form fitting jeans or canvas pants, and light cotton or knit tops. She prefers light muted colors and simple designs, though, due to the gilded appearance her self-made repairs take, they tend to look somewhat designer.

Compassionate, polite, and sincere to a fault. Be it a result of her upbringing, the nature of her being, or, most likely, a combination of the two, Jun radiates a genuine warmth of character wherever her journey takes her. It is truly difficult for her not to offer a helping hand, to not to try to cheer up or comfort someone who seems in need, to not to try and right a wrong even if only in a small way, and even when she knows it would not be welcome.

As a devout follower of the Akiran variant of Shinto three guiding principles are deeply rooted in how Jun lives her life. Harmony, purity, and sincerity. Harmony of man, nature, and divine. To honor the sacred interconnection of the natural order, to respect and appreciate that which sustains us and provides beauty in the world, to show gratitude to the gods and spirits who bless it. To honor and respect family, community, and culture, so long as they do not demand from you what they do not give in turn.

Purity, of heart, of mind, of action. To cleanse oneself of that which separates you from both the divine and the natural. To resist the spirits, thoughts, and ideals that tempt you into polluting your soul, and atone when necessary. To hold oneself to higher standards, be accountable for your actions, your slights, your misdeeds. To forgive what can be forgiven, not force what should not be forced, protect what should be protected, and cherish what should be cherished.

Sincerity, the other two are impossible without it. One must truly want to be pure, want to honor the harmony of the world. Honesty and authenticity, of self and in your interactions. Devotion, to faith, family, community, culture. Without sincerity the rest is hollow. It is the combination of these three concepts that nourish Jun’s compassion, her warmth, her light. But, it is also these three that cause the most friction in her life, within herself and in her relationships abroad.

Though she would never intend it to be, absolute candor can be just as off putting and anger inducing as it can be comforting. While cultural context is key in Shinto, the stark differences between the different world cultures and her own often leads her to try and avoid tricky personal situations altogether, preferring to withdraw rather than risk the conflict that might arise if she were asked her opinion for she would not lie. Internally, this friction manifests as self doubt, a reluctance in following a path that leads her far from home, uncertainty in whether her choices honor whatever purpose for which she was given life.

While by no means hardened by or accustomed to the darkness within the world, Jun is neither ignorant nor ill-prepared. She was raised to be a miko, shrine maiden, which in the Akiran tradition meant training to combat and cleanse dark spirits from their home and, when needed, abroad. She is aware of much of what both man and spirit are capable of, though not necessarily the sheer scale of possibility. That said, familiarity and knowledge only goes so far, witnessing the horrors first hand is another story altogether.

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual, though not on her mind.

To understand the story of Jun one should first know the place she calls home, Akira, an island in the north west of the Izu archipelago magically sequestered from the world around it and home to a colony of devout homo-magi. Here, the denizens of Akira attempt to live a life of relative harmony, forgoing much of the technologies of the world in dedication to the natural and spiritual. Many small shrines to the various Kami (Gods) and spirits dot the island, cared for by the local residents, but there are four major temples spread between the three communities where much of the population lives. One temple for each community, dedicated to the siblings Amaterasu, Susanoo, and Tsukuyomi, and one central temple where much of their records and artifacts are kept.

In each of the three an order of magi dedicated do their respective elements, sun, storm, and night. In each order a Kamunushi, the elder master of the order; several Onshi, assistants of the Kamunushi and temple specialists; and a few Geki/Miko, the men/women who trained specifically to purify spiritual corruption and combat dark spirits. The magi of these orders give up their surnames, a sign of dedication to a greater harmony than their bloodline, though detailed records are kept at the last temple, the Akira Sanctum. There, the eldest of the three orders coordinate the protection of the island and tend to their histories and artifacts accompanied by their Onshi.

It is in the community of Hinata, the largest of the three and home to the Shrine of Amaterasu, where Jun’s story begins. Her father, Shun, a Geki. Her mother, Hanae, an Onshi scribe. Young, in love, the two wed in 1984 and were eager to bless their lives with children. A year past, hopeful, perhaps some tinctures? Three, still hopeful, a pilgrimage to seek fortune. Six, hope waning, seek the aid of the elders. Eleven, hope lost years past, nothing to be done. Fifteen, a blessing, hope springs anew. Long after accepting their plight as the will of the Kami, Hanae had found herself with child. For eight months this hope would build, before crashing down.

Stillness, no heartbeat, pain. Fear, their healer could not help. Bring her to the purifying pools, fetch the elder menders, there must be something they could do. Induce labor, a girl, breathless. A bath, purification, the elders pour themselves into bringing her back. Sorrow, desperation, no progress. Far above the din a glimmer of gold, too faint to call attention. Light, confusion, a drop of liquid sun lands softly over the child’s heart. Body aglow, pool alight, an awestruck silence. Breath, cry. For whatever reason the Kami had seen fit to bless their child with life, but, what would they call this gift? The names they had considered felt unworthy of her. She who was born in the pools of cleansing, washed of death by the light of their Goddess, pure. Jun.

Jun’s early childhood was much like that of other temple children, save for the extra interest of her elders. She played in the gardens, helped with simple chores, learned to read, write, and speak. Perhaps a little quicker and a little stronger than most her age, and oddly heavier, but it would be six years before her true nature would shine through. Elated, she was finally old enough to join her father when he traveled to spar with the Geki and Miko of the other Shrines. He had shown her how he could summon weapons of pure light, how it was his job to protect their community and other shrines from dangerous yokai, but she had to be older so see them in use. It was during a match with a younger Miko, wielding a staff as black as the blackest night, agile and swift enough to bring out the intricacy of his form.

Enthralled in the display, admiration for her father, she had begun to mimic his movements as best she could on the sidelines. Her youthful enthusiasm gave the observing elders something pleasant to smile over, which quickly turned to a gaze of wonder. Shun and the Miko would soon join them as a glimmer of light caught their eye. Little Jun had manifested herself a small staff of her own, pale golden light that filled the heart with comfort, and was swinging it about like an eager novice playing with their first training pole. It took her a moment to realize the fighting had stopped, that everyone was looking in her direction like something truly amazing had happened, and was rather perplexed as to what.

It took years of training to learn how to create a weapon? Her light was something special? What did they mean it gave them comfort? Many questions raised, few answered. Best the elders could surmise, it was simply part of her being. A connection to Amaterasu, residual energy from the events surrounding her birth, perhaps both. Either way something divine resided within her, and it needed to be nurtured with care. And so, with care she was. A balance was struck, she would not begin her lessons ahead of time, nor would she be exempt from the necessities of their way of life, but she would set their pace once the time came.

Eight years old, she could now learn the basics. Form steady, lighter on her feet than her peers, though combat would have to wait. Getting the hang of repairing simple objects, not quite used to herbal magic. Ten, allowed to spar now. Mishap with a broken statue and bruised tailbone, she was stronger than she thought. Took well to curing crops and purifying drinking water. Levitated for the first time on a platform of light. Eleven, made a small sun in her hands, threw it into the air. It burst into a radiant flare startling herself and half the town. Twelve, her studies of yokai kicked off in full, knowledge of deadlier spirits no longer withheld. Helped chase off a particularly aggressive sunekosuri and cleanse her first shrine.

As she blossomed into a young woman Jun found a divide growing between her and her peers. Nothing bitter or resentful, but as most her age began thinking about future romances and children of their own her thoughts drifted ever more towards the circumstance of her being. With confirmation from the attending elders, she could no longer dismiss her parents' recounting of her birth as heartwarmingly romanticized, her powers as merely a gift. The Kami did not interfere in such a way without purpose, least of all Amaterasu. What was hers? She had strength, she had power. Was she needed to fight? Unfortunately, the Kami were not known for effable plans either, but if that was her purpose she would be ready.

Twenty years old, her first experience with the outside world. While she still had much to learn when it came to banishment and purification, Jun had grown to be her temple's best fighter. As such, when news that a rather large Nekomata had surfaced on the trails of Mt. Mitou reached the elders, Jun was chosen as her shrine's representative to hunt the spirit, accompanied by a Geki of the Shrine of Tsukuyomi and led by a senior Miko of the Shrine of Susanoo. This was also her first experience with a truly formidable, and gruesome, spirit. A fiercely intelligent, fireball summoning, panther-like spirit nearly four feet tall on all fours, puppeting the flesh-stripped remains of hikers like marionettes.

Jun was nervous, but she had trained for this, they had all trained for this. Trails eerily empty, shut down for safety. Lair, cave not far down from the peak. Not home, on the prowl… for them. Fire blocked by light, doused by rain, consumed by void. Puppets restrained by shadow, cleaved by blade, scattered by wind. Beast paralyzed by lightning, silenced by night, and purged by sun. A few cuts, a few bruises, a minor burn. A successful cleansing, the mountain trails safe once more, and they could stop to appreciate the beauty of Mt. Fuji in the moonlight accompanied by the warm glow of city lights in the valleys below. It was there that Jun first felt a pull, something deep within tugging her, urging her to press forth into the world.

But, she did not, she returned home with her team. The sensation bated once back on Akira, and she attributed the urge to simple curiosity. It would take three years and two more missions to the mainland for Jun to think of this sensation as something more and mention it to her parents, then the Akira elders at their behest. They were not keen to let her go, but, after much deliberation, they came to believe it the will of Amaterasu calling her out into the world, and they would not deny her. A few days preparation and Jun was ready to set out. Where that call came from? She wasn’t sure, but she had to look. Japan? Korea? China? She seemed to be urged randomly towards new destinations, then it would fade for a bit, replaced by a need to explore, observe, and help when needed.

It was during one such event that the identity of Dawn was born. A closing time protection money shakedown in Fukuoka, interrupted by the sudden appearance of a floating woman of pure light seemingly phasing through the ceiling. The thugs scattered, tripping over themselves and breaking several displays in the process. Though she foiled their extortion she felt terrible about the damage, so she lingered, repairing what she could. Jun had almost forgotten the owner was there when she heard a cautious but grateful voice thanking her, asking if she could speak and what she was called. What she was called? She wasn’t sure it was wise to use her real name, tales of heroes who used aliases to protect their identity flashed through her mind. After a moment of quiet contemplation Jun responded with a lone word and a smile before leaving the way she came. ”Dawn.”


SIBLINGS: N/A

MOTHER: 華恵 - Hanae

FATHER: 俊 - Shun

OTHER: 天照 - Amaterasu - Soul Mother? Life Giver? Whatever you call a deity that gave a piece of herself for you to live.