Daniel Morris-Shade

Basic Info:

Name: Daniel Morris Age: 33 (born July 12, 1990) Sex: Male (transgender) Job: Freelance Graphic Designer & Tattoo Artist / Vigilante Height: 5’8” (172 cm) Weight: 150 lbs (68 kg)

Personality

Personality: Daniel’s grit and determination remain his defining traits, but his sense of justice has deepened after discovering his abilities. His natural cynicism about the world, fueled by a life spent navigating society as a trans man, transitions into a more complex understanding of good and evil. He doesn’t see himself as a hero, just someone trying to right wrongs in a world that often seems indifferent. His once-sarcastic humor becomes darker, but there’s still a protective warmth beneath the surface, particularly toward the people he cares about. However, his deep-rooted distrust of authority now faces new tension as he becomes a vigilante. He constantly struggles with whether his actions make him any different from the corrupt figures he despises. The lines between justice and vengeance blur for him, but through it all, he holds onto his loyalty to the community he protects.

Likes

Likes: Vinyl records & cassette tapes: The analog crackle of music helps him center his thoughts after a long night of fighting crime. He still clings to his punk and grunge roots, with songs like Something in the Way by Nirvana and Closer by Nine Inch Nails echoing his moodier side. Tattoo culture & body modification: His tattoos now have additional meaning, especially after the discovery of his powers. He sees them as marks of identity and resilience, something no one can take from him. He’s even incorporated his power into his designs, which he sometimes uses to leave symbolic marks on the criminals he defeats. Skateboarding at night: Daniel’s need for freedom and movement has only intensified. He still uses his skateboard to get around quickly, and now it serves as a way to patrol the city in the dead of night when he’s off-duty from his vigilante work.

Dislikes

Dislikes: Corporate environments & authority figures: Even more than before, Daniel despises systems of control—police, corporations, corrupt officials—anything that keeps people trapped. His vigilante work is his way of dismantling these systems, at least on a small scale. Superficiality & pretentious people: His vigilante persona allows him to cut through pretenses. Criminals, corrupt officials, and false heroes can’t hide behind their masks when Daniel’s around. Bright, sterile spaces: He now avoids them for more practical reasons. His abilities function best in dim, shadowy environments, where he can manipulate darkness to his advantage.

Regular Appearance

Appearance (Day/Regular): Hair: Still shoulder-length and messy, blonde and brown hair. During the day, Daniel’s unkempt look keeps him blending into the grunge, underground culture. Eyes: His dark hazel eyes, usually lined with smudged eyeliner, seem more intense, hinting at the power he holds within. Build: Lean, wiry, with visible muscles. His body shows more scars from confrontations during his nighttime escapades, but he hides most of them under his casual clothing. Clothing: The grunge aesthetic remains—distressed jeans, combat boots, flannels, and band tees. He still favors his weathered leather jacket, now reinforced with hidden pockets for his gear. His tattoos are as visible as ever, especially his chest piece (the black moth), which has taken on a more symbolic meaning as his vigilante persona emerges. Scars: In addition to his top surgery scars, Daniel now has several scars from encounters with criminals. He’s learned to live with the pain, turning it into fuel for his nighttime crusade.

Vigilante Suit

Appearance (Vigilante Persona - Shade): Outfit: When Daniel becomes Shade, his vigilante alter ego, he dons a different kind of uniform, one that allows him to blend into the shadows. His suit is made from a special material that reacts to darkness, absorbing light and making him nearly invisible in low-light environments. The base is a matte-black tactical suit with padded armor around the chest, legs, and arms. His combat boots are reinforced with steel toes for both protection and delivering heavy blows. He wears a black hooded jacket over his suit, the hood large enough to obscure his face when needed. His hands are protected by fingerless gloves that enhance his tactile sensitivity, perfect for climbing or feeling vibrations in the air. Mask: Shade’s mask is a sleek black half-face mask that covers his mouth and nose, allowing his eyes to remain visible—piercing and glowing faintly with the greenish hue of his powers. The mask muffles his voice, adding a sinister tone to his words when he chooses to speak. Symbol: The black moth tattoo on his chest is mirrored in his vigilante identity. It’s emblazoned on his gear in subtle patches, a reminder of his transformation and rebirth.

Powers 1

Power (Umbral Manipulation): Daniel has the ability to manipulate shadows and darkness, a power he discovered after an encounter in an abandoned warehouse, where he was cornered by a group of thugs. In a moment of desperation, the shadows around him seemed to come to life, wrapping around his attackers and allowing him to escape. Since then, he’s been honing this ability, which he calls Umbral Manipulation. His powers are tied to his emotions—specifically anger and fear—and they’re strongest when he’s in complete darkness. Abilities: Shadow Cloak: Daniel can envelop himself in shadows, rendering himself almost invisible in dark environments. This cloak allows him to sneak up on enemies or escape without a trace.

Powers 2

Dark Constructs: He can form tangible objects out of shadows, such as weapons (blades, tendrils) or barriers. These constructs are strong but ephemeral, dissipating if exposed to too much light. Shadow Step: Daniel can merge with the shadows, effectively teleporting short distances through darkened areas. It’s an exhausting ability, and he can only use it sparingly before needing rest. Nightmare Projection: As his powers have grown, Daniel has discovered that he can manipulate the shadows to play on the fears of others. He can create terrifying illusions, pulling out the darkest thoughts from a person’s mind and projecting them into the shadows around them. These illusions are most potent when the person is already in a state of fear or panic. Umbral Bind: Daniel can control the shadows to bind his enemies in place, pinning them with tendrils of darkness. This allows him to capture or interrogate them without physical confrontation.

Lore 1

Background / Lore: Daniel’s vigilante journey began a year after he moved into the city, following a string of brutal muggings in his neighborhood. He witnessed firsthand the apathy of the local authorities—cases left unsolved, violence unchecked, and people left to fend for themselves. When a close friend of his was attacked, Daniel’s frustration reached its peak, and in a moment of desperation, his powers awakened. The incident changed everything for him. It was the first time in his life that he felt he had control over something—over himself, over the chaos of the world. But it also scared him. For months, Daniel kept his abilities hidden, unsure if they were a blessing or a curse. He spent late nights honing his powers, practicing in abandoned buildings or under the cover of night when the city was asleep. Slowly, he began to use them for good, tracking down petty criminals and getting them off the streets.

Lore 2

Over time, his persona as Shade grew. He became an urban legend, a shadowy figure who haunted the city’s criminal underworld. His tactics weren’t always clean, and his methods often pushed the boundaries of legality. He didn’t see himself as a hero, but the people of his neighborhood began to speak of him in hushed, reverent tones. The police, on the other hand, were not so forgiving. To them, Shade was just another vigilante, no better than the criminals he took down.

Arc

Key Plot Elements / Arc: The Catalyst: The story begins when a wave of crime sweeps through Daniel’s neighborhood. His friend, a fellow tattoo artist, is brutally attacked by a gang linked to a local politician. Daniel is forced to confront the reality that the corruption in the city runs deeper than just petty criminals—there are powerful people pulling the strings, and they don’t take kindly to interference. His quest for justice becomes personal, and Shade’s targets shift from street thugs to those sitting in high-rise offices. Moral Dilemma: As Daniel digs deeper into the corruption, he’s forced to confront his own morality. He begins to question if his methods—using fear and violence—make him just as bad as the people he’s fighting. His growing powers, especially the Nightmare Projection, make him dangerous, and he starts to fear losing control of himself. Can he stay grounded, or will the darkness consume him? The Rival: A rival vigilante, known as Pale Knight, emerges in the city—one who has a different approach to justice. Whereas Shade operates in the shadows, Pale Knight is all about public action and has no qualms about killing.