Name: Barquijal

Age: Unknown, though she did not exist until after the rise of Islam.

Gender: N/A (This particular breed of demon has no actual gender, though Barquijal refers to itself as a female.)

Species: Demon (Balrog)

Appearance: Barquijal takes two primary forms. That being her true demon form and that of a human avatar. In her human form, she appears as a woman in her mid to late twenties, usually dressed in whatever clothing might be available or provided. Her skin is tanned and her hair is long and black. The feature that stands out the most, however, are her eyes which are gold and glow softly in dark places. She stands around an average height while in this form, and has an average weight and figure as well. In her full demon form, Barquijal’s skin takes on the appearance of molten lava, the color often changing to suit her mood. Flames erupt from her body, though they are magical and cannot burn anything. She has large wings, the span at least twice as wide as she is tall. However, the wings themselves are unable to sustain flight as there is no flesh between the bows of her wings. Black smoke seeps from the cracks in her skin and when she is calm or keeps her emotions under control, the only light emitted from her form are a pair of pinpricks of light that represent her eyes. Her head has a pair of large horns, both of them jutting from her head sideways before curving forward and down, along her jawline. Her face is almost skeletal, with no eyes or nose. Instead, just light seeps out from the empty sockets. Her maw has no teeth, save for a pair of curved fang-like ‘teeth’ formed by the bone of her upper and lower jaw.

Height: 5′7″ (12′0″ in demon form)

Weight: 118 lbs (Weight in this form is unknown. Could very well be a couple of tons.)

Powers: (Human Avatar)

– True Sight: Barquijai can see in a vague heat spectrum at night, allowing her to track difficult targets much easier than a normal human or someone equipped with NVG goggles, as NVGs can be blinded by bright lights. However, a powerful heat source can blot out this vision rendering her blind in the general area of said heat source. This is a genetic evolution and thusly, can’t be turned on or off. It also only works at night, as the name implies.

– Sixth Sense: Being a demon, Barquijal has sharpened senses, including a sixth. This sixth sense does nothing on its own, but when used in conjunction with another sense, multiplies the sensitivity of it. For example, if Barquijal target had a habit of wearing cheap cologne, she could sharpen her sense of smell to the point where she would be able to track him by his scent. If one of her heightened senses is over-stimulated, it usually causes a good deal of pain and might even result in injury. An example would be being exposed to a bright light while using heightened sight.

Powers: (Demon Form)

– Heat: Barquijal’s standing body temperature is enough to boil water and cause most metals to bend. Though there are few manmade materials capable of withstanding this immense force, there are a few things that have a great effect on her. Water is one of her natural enemies, making transport of her across oceans a good deal more difficult if she’s unable to revert to her avatar form. Ice has less of an effect on her, as it usually is burned off into steam almost immediately, where as water can be constantly applied. Any chemicals that are used to put out fires (Halon, etc.) are also effective against her. Also, to prevent her body from setting nearby structures ablaze, this form is better suited to open areas.

– Fear: All demonic beings exude an aura of fear. Whether merely a shaking presence or a powerful aura capable of inciting hysteria and panic, it is a potent ability. However, due to her lack of contact with other beings, this ability has been reduced to the former. Any mortal creature gazing upon Barquijal in her demon form is struck with an immediate sense of foreboding. This only has an effect against humans, as only humans have a concept of mortality.

Personality Profile: Barquijal has been around longer than most vampires, which means she has plenty of knowledge at her disposal. However, with it has come a rather humbled outlook. She knows just how short a human life is and how important it is not to waste them. She does not condone random slaughter as some of her bretheren might, but rather, protecting the sacred gift of life instead. Is is quite possible she is attempting to atone, but whatever her reasons, she speaks little. When she does, her voice is loud and clear, to the point and matter of fact. She rarely concerns herself with the affairs of other demons or undead beings.

Biography: Barquijal is, by definition, a demon of the Islamic faith. However, she is actually an ex-communicated Angel, banished from the Promised Land by Allah for her sins. What these sins were, Barquijal does not divulge. What is known is that, after her banishment, she ventured out into the depths of the Sahara Desert in Northern Africa, remaining there for well over 500 years. She gained the ability to transform herself into a human woman and traveled around the area she lived in, gaining knowledge about the world at large in the process. It was also during this time that she went north and took part in defending the city of Jerusalem against the Crusaders. Afterwards, she was contacted by the Illuminati. Intrigued with their ideals and goals, she joined their ranks before returning to Africa again.

It was not till the Nazis and Italian Fascists began their conquest of Africa did Barquijal make her presence known to the modern world. An entire division of SS Panzers vanished in the Moroccan desert on April 11th, 1943. At least, that’s how the report read on the side of the Allies. The report that landed on Hitler’s desk read differently. Using a sandstorm to cover her movements, Barquijal tore the entire division apart after it had finished laying siege to a string of Muslim mosques a few days earlier. Though she was seriously injured during the fight by repeated hits with tank shells, she managed to find a nearby mosque that hadn’t been destroyed. She reverted to her human form and was cared for till she was well enough to travel. Her travels continued for many more years before she ended up in Jerusalem again. The Illuminati contacted her about a paranormal investigation agency that was being rebuilt, called Spookhouse, offering her a position in their ranks. Barquijal accepted and was transported by an Illuminati elder personally to their headquarters in Chicago.