RWBY: Briar Rose (Empowered Shade)

"Every light casts a shadow, every rose has its thorn..."

Name: Briar Rose

Aliases: Pawn/Puppet/Doll (Spectre and other sentient Grimm), Ruby (mistaken by humans for "base")

Species: Shade (pseudo human/extension of Grimm)

Gender: Female

Height: 5'3 ft

Age: A few weeks, perhaps months

Accessories: Other than the clothes on her back, the only item Briar has is a Grimm like mask.

History: It is said in this world, that everyone possesses a doppelganger. Someone who looks like you, who sounds like you, as if you were gazing into a mirror. Its a rather eerie concept, to say the least.

For those with watchful eyes in the Kingdom of Vale, they might witness this phenomenon and catch a glimpse of the hooded girl. The one who shares the same face as a young Huntress in training at Beacon. Those familiar with her might notice the other peculiar young girl sheepishly wandering through the city, appearing than disappearing, darting and avoiding the crowds, sticking close to the shadows.

What they fail to realize is that this other girl is not from Vale, nor from any of the surrounding kingdoms. She was sent there by her Master, to go where he and his Brothers could not. To infiltrate this land, to gather intelligence, to pry their secrets apart so that they may be exploited. It was her purpose, the very reason she existed, the very reason she was created.

Briar Rose, whose name and form serve to mock those who bare that wretched name. She stands apart from the mindless swarm of the Shadow Battalion, she possesses the one thing that separates them from the humans...a soul. Previous attempts to bridge the gap between human and Shade have had...mixed results. What the humans refer to as a "soul" is troublesome and tricky thing, at least as a whole.

The results yielded a terrifying weapon in the war against man. A Shade that could blend in with the humans, a Shade that could learn and adapt to its surroundings. A Shade capable of using Aura, of using Dust, a Shade with a Semblance. A tool that wouldn't need to be kept on a short leash, one that doesn't require near constant supervision. 

And yet, the longer Briar dwells amongst the humans, the stronger these strange sensations become in her. Feelings previously unknown begin to surge and swell, making her become more than the tool her Master intended. Soon, the young girl would be plagued by an overpowering question that would burden her...

"Is...is what I'm doing...is it...wrong?" 

Powers/Abilities: Briar's young appearance certainly deceives her enemies. While Shades retain the physical combat prowess of only their respected "base", Briar has knowledge of several fighting styles. She uses that knowledge and experience to counter her opponents movements, make their strengths hers and exploit their weaknesses. With a soul comes the use of Aura, making her far more durable than her frail fellow Shades.

Most curious is her Semblance. One would assume she'd have the same powers as her base, but this is not so. Briar's Semblance allows her to grow and manipulate thorny plants. She typically uses it to grow thick vines out of her body, giving her a serrated whip or lasso like weapon. Other times she grows dense bushes or shrubs to prevent her enemies from approach or escape. Due to this ability, she carries no actual weapon and relies mostly on martial arts and her Semblance.

Personality: Quiet, skittish, terribly shy, quiet the opposite of her base.