OUTDATED - C&C Permissions Post
Power
The Shadow is a telepath, but this doesn't mean he can read minds openly. His stipulation is that he must willingly put effort into reading your mind, which is something he does not practice openly for a number of reasons. He spent years before becoming The Shadow to gain this ability, and now, that training serves as a control over it since the Porter has internalized the skill. When he eventually does discover the extent to which the Porter has given him this power, then things will get interesting. (Amendments to this description will be made, and a notice will be posted on C&C. Basically it will become extend for greater distances, and he'll be able to read and share emotions without initial mental contact, but he has to purposely connect to a mind, so he won't be randomly happening across CharacterX's thoughts.)
The Shadow specializes in emotions and memories.
Memories - particularly: causing the subject to relive them, and retrieving hidden memories, such as those protected by hypnosis (via telepathy), repressed memories, etc, on non-telepathic characters. There are loopholes where non-telepaths can emotionally balk his attempts, but it requires pretty extreme cases.
For telepathic characters, he can focus on emotions.
For Other Telepaths
The Shadow has been practiced in ways to close his mind, however, there are leaks of emotion, most notably a sense of restlessness, the desire for action or a challenge is the default. Anything else I'll add to my posts.
Edits and Clarificasions
1) The issue of forced mindreading is coming into play often in discussion. The Shadow only forces suspects into a telepathic link. He is very mindful of who and when he does this. You will know if he thinks you are a suspect/criminal. Characters in need or who may have important information, yet are not criminals, will be asked or warned IC before he does any telepathic work.
2) The Shadow will not walk by your character and think: "Hmm, I'm bored, I wonder what that person is thinking right now." However, if your character is highly emotionally driven/strung, he will be a little more sensitive to the emotions being given off, and is likely to distance himself.
3) Language barriers are taken into account. If The Shadow does not speak the native language of a character's mind, he will likely find it difficult to read the mind without the character narrating what they see in a way that he can understand.
My promise
I will message you before I consider making any attempts with the mind-reading.
Let me know what I can do with your character if he finds reason to interrogate them...or help them.
The 'Form'
Character:
Can they block his power? (Please explain how, if they can)
What can he see? (emotions, memories)
Anything else?