OCCUPATION: Forensic Chemist

BACKGROUND: Dare Jordan had an interest in science from an early age when her parents purchased "Little Scientist Chemistry Set".  The interaction of chemicals was fascinating to her.  More, she seemed to have an inherent understanding of things outside of normal science.  It was as if she were seeing how things truly worked beneath conventional science.

It was not until she found a library book about alchemy and other myths that she began to have an inkling of what she was seeing.  She had a talent for alchemy.  Unfortunately she had no working knowledge and her research proved to be dangerous more than a time or two.  She needed guidance.

And she wound up getting it.

The woman's origins were unknown to Dare, but she soon proved she could teach the young teen all about the mystic arts.  Dare proved to be a quick study and learned from the mysterious woman on the sly.  Often the young woman wondered what her mentor's motives were, and always her mentor would dodge the issue.

Until one day the woman revealed herself as The Alchemist a super villainness.  Only The Alchemist had decided to go straight while she had been under cover in High Justice as Witch's Brew.  It had been The Alchemist's plan to subvert Dare into being her protoge, but over the years Dare's personality as well as her time in High Justice had wound up changing The Alchemist instead.

It was then that Dare decided to become a vigilante.  She had already decided she wanted to be a forensic chemist, working in a crime lab and in the field.  But to use her other talents to nail bad guys, now that was something that sounded exciting!

Skills: Dare is both a skilled alchemist and chemist, specializing in forensic chemistry (the detection and characterization of poisons or toxins exhibiting adverse physiological effects). She also has some knowledge of pharmacology, as well as basic first aid.  She has some basic law enforcement knowledge, namely law enforcement investigative and legal procedures, and has taken basic self defense and anti-rape courses.  She is not a skilled hand-to-hand combatant but she is by no means helpless.

 As an alchemist Dare is able to fashion a wide variety of potions for various effects, although her is not as extensive as a highly trained, older alchemist.   While some alchemists can use potions to perform feats like animating inanimate objects or permanently transmuting elements, Alchemy's talents are a bit more mundane.

APPEARANCE: Alchemy stands five foot seven and has short blonde hair.  She is attractive and has a slender, almost athletic build.  As Alchemy she has a variety of wigs to alter her appearance, from pure white to midnight black and everything in between.  She wears a mask to cover her upper face and employs a potion that masks her voice, making it sound hollow and haunting.

The costume also consists of a functional pair of black boots and gloves, as well as a form fitting black body suit.  Over this she wears a long brown hooded leather vest, cinched at the waist by a black utility belt.  Her equpiment is kept either in the belt or in an "Indiana Jones" style bag slung across her body.  A pair of tinted goggles and a specially treated black scarf held across her face completes the look.

PERSONALITY: Dare is motivated primarily by curiosity.  She has a scientist's need to explore but it is tempered by her knowledge of magic and alchemy (she has some practical knowledge of magic based on what The Alchemist taught her), so she is aware the world is defined as much by intuition and instinct as it is through rationality.  Where magic is concerned, sometimes the world really is what you make it.

For that reason she has a strong sense of optimism.  She sees the world as a million possibilities and longs to experience adventure and even exploration.  For her being a super hero is more than just about fighting crime; it is about giving people a chance to realize their potentials, to make their world what they can of it.

Dare is more prone to practicality, that is illustrated in her costume and choice of weapons.  She prefers to attack from a distance, going toe-to-toe when there is no alternative.  She is no coward, merely prudent.

EQUIPMENT: Alchemy employs a wide variety of potions in her fight against crime.  Some are basic, such as tear, sleep and smoke gas pellets.  For this reason she immersed a scarf in a special solution that makes her immune to her own creations.  This scarf is not proof against conventional chemical attacks.

Other items are more exotic, such as her disguise pellets that allow her to temporarily alter her appearance.  The changes are only minor; a softening of certain features, change in eye, hair and skin color.  The effect is not perfect, however, and sometimes she can come off looking a little bizarre if the mixture wasn't done right. Alchemy has also developed fast-acting potions to facilitate healing, tranquilizers, truth serums, and explosives as well as powerful acids designed to only work on non living materials.

Alchemy's costume is made of teflex, a very durable material that may turn a bullet but would not stop it's kinetic impact.  She has small plates of kevlar sewn into the lininng of her vest, both in front and back.

 Alchemy's potions are delivered either through small pellets or non-aerosol sprayers.  Her primary weapon is a large gun that fires her pellets via a CO2 cartridge, it is most commonly filled with sleep gas, glue pellets and explosives in a tri-sectioned drum that can be rotated to choose the pellets desired.  She also carries a powerful slingshot as well as a modified air pistol that also contains a CO2 cartridge and can hold a maximum of three pellets.  Alchemy often loads tangler pellets in this one.

Alchemy has a black-hilted knife tucked into her right boot.  She is no knife-fighter but a knife with a serrated edge can be a handy tool.  It is also good for intimidation when necessary.