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Paragon

"I am nothing but a bio-mechanical mutation. An accident in the pursuit of organic immortality... Yet... I must have purpose. I must have a reason for being... I must."

0 · 384 views · located in Leu Chrysallia

a character in “Evanescent Phantasmagoria”, as played by Bromander Shepard

Description

John Carter aka Paragon
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Theme: Composed by Jack Wall, Sam Hulick, David Kates & Jimmy Hinson

Role: Cyborg
Gender: Male
Nickname(s): Paragon [only goes by Paragon, he does not know his real name]
Age: 24 [Paragon does not know his actual age]
Race: human/cyborg

Appearance: Paragon tends to wear long black trench coats or cloaks. Anything that could potentially hide his appearance allowing him to blend in more effectively.

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Preferred Clothing:

Height: 5"11
Weight: 187 lbs
Hair Color: brown
Eye Color: blue

Personality: Before his transformation John was a kind man. Loyal and brave. He was a virtuous man who was willing to fight for what he believed in and more than anything the woman he loved. John was a loving individual yet was fiercely protective of his loved ones. Beyond that John had a good sense of humor and always tended to find himself defending the defenseless. A natural born guardian John had, since birth shown an inability to allow the strong to bully the weak, the cruel to cheat the kind.

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Once that was all taken from Paragon became a confused being. His latent personality is still noticeable yet Paragon does not seem to realize it nor accept it as truly his own. He has no memory of who he was before and therefore does not trust what latent memories or personality traits come to the surface. He had developed an indomitable spirit and an unrelenting personality. He pushes himself with little regard for his own life to reach his ends. He feels that he must discover not only his purpose in the world but who and what he was before he lost his memory. John Carter and who he was is a mystery to Paragon but the cyborg does not desire to discover who he was in some attempt to rekindle that life yet he desires it in order to better understand his own being. He accepts what he has become yet he does not understand his purpose.

Oddities: Paragon's oddities derive from his hosts life and set of experiences clashing with his now cyborg existence causing him to question the things he says and does.

Likes: Truth and straightforwardness. The sun and the sound of children laughing. he also enjoys solitude in open wilderness areas.
Dislikes: Injustice of any kind and wickedness. He also loathes those who are cruel and savage.
Hobbies: Paragon has no current hobbies but would like to find some in order to fully experience life.

Phobia(s): Paragon has shown only one fear. He appears to have a debilitating fear of fire. It is believed this strives from some experience from his hosts life of John Carter.
Skills: Paragon is a master hand to hand combatant as well as a swordsman to whom he has no rival.

Weapon: Retractable High frequency Katanas located in his forearms. The high-frequency Katana is a sword that resonates at high frequencies, raising its temperature, thereby increasing its cutting ability. It can slice through nearly any known substance and is believed to be unbreakable.

Fighting Style: Melee combat

Abilities: His abilities that derive from his being a cyborg include improved strength and speed as well as an implants that can cover his eyes allowing him sight in nearly every visual range including x-ray, telescopic, infra-red, and microscopic ranges.

Personal History: Paragon's history of his life as John Carter is a mystery he is still trying to solve. [Hope that's cool]

Other:

So begins...

Paragon's Story

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Character Portrait: Paragon
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As the moon illuminated the world below with it's haunting, gleaming light the city of Cellé needed little of its lunar radiance. The city shone brightly in the night from the thousands of candles, torches and lanterns in celebration of the upcoming union of hearts. The revelry and debauchery was all encompassing in the cities streets, a far cry from the restrained and ordered manner of celebration exhibited by the nobles in attendance at the Dukes manor. Standing in a sea of people in the massive town square where the epicenter of the celebrating was taking place there was a single figure who did not take up a cup and drink the night away. The figure did not dance or sing or indulge in pursuits of the flesh. Not even did the figure follow suit of the countless cut-purses this night and work the crowd revealing revelers of their coin purses. No the being merely stood there in utter silence. His gaze scanning those around him curiously. From beneath the shadow of his hooded black trench coat the being that was once human observed everything and everyone around him with utter curiosity.

Marriage was a legal union of two people. To deem themselves husband and wife until one if not both parties die. This entire celebration seemed odd to Paragon. For what purpose did those around him celebrate? Marriage by definition seemed mundane and almost trivial. Yet those around him seemed to rejoice in the very existence of the thing. There was a small girl twirling happily on a table nearby Paragon. She was holding a candied honey nut treat as she sang aloud in utter joy. Paragon figured perhaps she may know the true purpose of the celebration of marriage. It may have seemed odd for the Cyborg to seek the council of a child but in his experience children could be some of the best sources of information. Adults at times could be so jaded Paragon found it difficult to retrieve any information of value from them on abstract issues such as this. Children were by nature unrelentingly blunt and honest for the most part. Paragon made his way to her and stood beside the table, being now at eye level with the little girl. She paused in her twirling to stare somewhat in worry at the hooded man staring at her so closely. Then her mood changed in an instant and she smiled brightly.

"Hiya! I'm Sadie!"

Paragon's head cocked ever so slightly to the side at her innocence. It brought him some measure of comfort to see she was not suspicious in the least of him as so many adults could be.

"Hello Sadie. I have a question for you."

"Yeah?"

"What is marriage?"

Paragon asked flatly. Sadie seemed blatantly confused by the random question.

"Marriage?"

She asked in confusion as she scratched her head, shifting the bright blue bow in her honey colored hair in the process.

"Yes. There are many here who celebrate it yet I do not understand why. Can you explain it to me?"

Sadie giggled sweetly as she nodded happily.

"Sure Mister! See two people get married when a lady and a fella love each other very much and wanna have babies."

Paragon's eyebrows furrowed at her response. He was unsure how this could be the answer.

"Are you certain your conclusion is valid Sadie?"

Sadie looked immediately lost.

"Wha?"

"The legal status, condition, or relationship that results from a contract by which one man and one woman, who have the capacity to enter into such an agreement, mutually promise to live together in the relationship of Husband and Wife in law for life, or until the legal termination of the relationship or untill the date of the deaths of either one if not both members involved in the agreement. Love never factors into it from what I understand..."

Paragon replied matter of factly. Sadie didn't reply she just stared at him in blatant confusion.

"Yeah... I don't know what any of that means. Bye!"

She replied happily with a wave before hopping off the table and skipping off into the crowd. Paragon found himself with more questions than answers now. If marriage was not some legal bond between two people but some form of physical representation of the organic emotion referred to as love then what was the purpose of divorce? If people married to affirm and announce their love why did divorce even exist? Unless organics possessed the ability to fall in and out of love at will. Yet what was love? How could one be sure it even existed? Then there was the other portion of Sadies response. To make babies. Human's had no physical need to engage in the ritualistic union of marriage to reproduce so this was surely the least likely cause of marriage.

Paragon concluded one thing on the matter. Love most certainly had something to do with the matter yet what and the amount of importance it held was still open for further examination. Love was a fact of life that had shown itself again and again since Paragon first began his search for purpose. Love had a part to play in life and marriage, if Sadie was to be believed, was the physical representation of that. The Cyborg would need to learn more about marriage if he was going to understand love and in so doing further understand his own existence. Paragon's eyes scanned the crowd until finally falling on a carriage coming to a stop in front of the manor belonging to Duke Auttenberg, the groom to be. Many of the crowd nearby the carriage turned all attention to the occupants. Paragon hoped that he could observe more from the actual members of the marriage and those closest to them and began to make his way through the crowd. The Cyborg was like a shade moving through the swarm of people all oblivious to the being that silently moved past them.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Astrazonica Bronach Character Portrait: CinĂĄed Rubina de Amore Character Portrait: Paragon Character Portrait: Nadia Saraphine
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"Demon! Demons! The whore summons demons!"

People began shouting in the crowd. The nobles of Celle seemed incredibly irrational to Paragon as he watched in silence from the crowd that paid the hooded stranger no mind as they focused their fear and anger at the young bride to be. If this was the result of the union of marriage what hope could their be for love? Could it even exist in the hearts and minds of these people who so quickly turned on the innocent because it was easy. Paragon stared in interest as the woman stood defensively in front of the young woman and as well the Chevalier who was charged with her arrest. The stomps of heavy booted feet resounded in the chaos of the scene as guards rushed in with shining halberds and quickly surrounded the woman who was wreathed in flame. Something about this entire scene unfolding before Paragons eyes caused his hands to reflexively clench. Was this what anger felt like? The idiocy of the humans around him was baffling. One guard stepped out in front of the line of halberds and glared at the bride to be. A strong looking man, thick with muscle with bright, icy blue eyes. His shaved head seemed to add to the strength of the man in his brilliantly shining armor as he rested his hand casually on his long sword. Alexander Mikael D'Canith was the captain of the cities watch and Astrazonica Bronach's commanding officer as commander of the knighthood in the city though these were names Paragon did not yet know.

"Ms. Bronach... I'm not happy. You should have drawn your blade and stopped these murders yet there you stand. The foolish girl playing at being a Chevalier. You don't deserve the title... Allow me to take over from here. CinĂĄed Rubina de Amore... You are hereby bound by law and ordered to stand down. Have your... people surrender as well or my men will run them all through. I won't ask twice Ms. Amore."

He stated boldly, his ice cold eyes locking on to CinĂĄeds. In the blink of an eye Paragon had made his move and the first bone had broken. Effortlessly Paragon had moved through the crowd and wrapped a hand around the nearest guards wrist. With a quick twist and the proper application of force the wrist shattered in his mechanical grip. Paragon rose his leg and kicked the guard in the chest sending him flying into the crowd before catching the lunging halberd of the next guard and pivoting around to stab another with the first guards halberd before snapping the polearm in two and plunging blade end into the chest of the guards neck. Two more rushed Paragon but were unable to land a single blow. Paragon's speed was uncanny and the two guards were on the ground in seconds, one with a broken leg the other with his own halberd lodged in his gut. The remaining four guards all cast each other worried glances before taking a few steps back behind their captain as Paragon moved to stand between the guards and the three women.

"What's this now... Another assassin CinĂĄed?"

He asked never once looking at Paragon.

"Your investigation protocols are inefficienct."

The captains eyes flicked to Paragons and locked on.

"Excuse me?... I am Captain Alexander Mikael D'Canith. Commander of Celle knight hood. You are just an assassin. A knife for hire. What right do you have to-"

"I am not an assassin. Your assumptions are inaccurate as is your accusation of this woman."

Captain D'Canith's eyebrow arched at Paragons words before his eyes flicked to CinĂĄed then back to Paragon.

"Is that so?... I don't suppose you have proof of her innocence."

"I have no more proof of her innocence than you do of her guilt Captain."

D'Canith chuckled and drew his long sword.

"The proof is my word because I am the law."

Paragon's head cocked to the side ever so slightly as he looked at the sword.

"Sheath your sword Captain D'Canith. In combat I am your superior in every way."

The captain chuckled and rolled his shoulders as he eagerly steeled himself for a fight.

"Arrogant little bastard aren't you?"

"Arrogance has nothing to do with it. It's simply a fact. If you attack me I will kill you."

Paragon shifted his footing ready to fight and kill this guard captain as he stood with the woman whose entire body was still engulfed in flame and stood defiantly to protect CinĂĄed and the Chevalier.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Astrazonica Bronach Character Portrait: CinĂĄed Rubina de Amore Character Portrait: Paragon Character Portrait: Nadia Saraphine
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Who . . . these people? Why? Why were they all. . . ? For her sake? Were they acting as this for merely her own sake? Cináed, she didn’t, she didn’t understand. The Chevalier was risking her place as a guard of the Auttenbergs, and her own freedom to aid her when they had not so much as even exchanged names, and then, the woman who had cloaked herself in fire. . . . And now, this odd man? These people, why would anyone be bothering to do something that would only pull down their lives and worsen the conditions of their existence? Always, always had she been taught that the choices made for her were for her best interest, as well as the betterment of those around her but, now. . . .

Everything she had been taught to believe had been torn down around her in moments with the assassination of her fiancé’s uncle, with the death of Duke Auttenberg’s brother. She was accused of murder, of conspiring to kill a noble, and also ordered to be arrested and tried for this crime when all she had been told to do by her mother was to show up to the banquet and celebration, and let herself be known. That was all she had to do, that was. . . . All. There was nothing else she was meant to do, and with her life, having been taught that the choices made by others were for her best interests. . . . Was the order given for her arrest meant to better her life? CinĂĄed simply didn’t understand—she was confused, scared and uncertain of all of this. All the once-Pierrot understood, was that there were now people around her who were trying to spare her the Fate before her, to keep her free when it would cost them.

A look of fear etched itself upon the young woman’s face, as tears began to prick at her dark eyes, rimming them as she looked up and at the scene around her. Confusion, anxiety and the terror of everything around her becoming completely uncertain, her having to decide things on her own with no way of knowing what could happen—! Something she did not want, no, no, no, no, no. . . . Choices were made for her, not by her when she could so easily mess things up and make everything go so terribly wrong. She wasn’t capable of making decisions, not when the fates of others hung in the balance.

Now, in her hands lay the fates of three strangers who were risking themselves for her, for reasons Cinåed could not at all conceive. Never in her whole life, in all the places she traveled, had she ever heard of this, of people standing their ground against the word of Chevalier and Nobility for the sake of a stranger. Even in her own troupe, when she had been a Pierrot, would anyone have done such a thing for her. . . . Even knowing her well, there was not a soul Cinåed knew that would dare put themselves in peril for her, not against aristocracy. Not when rumors were spreading around the crowd like wildfire still, accusations of her being a child who made pacts with demons in order to bring about the destruction of Cellé.

”Our city was peaceful before she showed up!! She’s not more than a demoness who seeks to pull us into destruction, those around her are naught but her minions!” someone shouted out from the crowd, a noble who was too much a coward to step forward to aid the Chevalier in taking down the ‘demoness and her minions.’

At hearing this, CinĂĄed craned her to gaze into the now gathering crowd of remaining nobles, expressions of anger and fear laced their features as tears began to flow down her own. Why was this happening?

“Captain D’Canith, you would now do well to end the life of this man who threatens us and protects the whore who conspired to kill my dear brother.” The Duke spoke, causing Cináed to look at him, true bewilderment upon her features, as she was held back by the Chevalier who offered to help her to freedom, the girl began to shake her head back and forth in response to the Duke’s order.

“Chevalier! Deal with the three harlots,” Louis called out, Cináed unable to see him. Cheers rang out from the crowds of maids, servants, and nobles. “End them.”

Cináed felt her heart sink into the depths of her stomach at his words, Louis wanted the three strangers killed for attempting to aid her. . . . People would die due to her, the fates of people she didn’t know, on her head. I . . . for the sake of these people I do not know, who would defy the words of a ruler to spare me a fate I am undeserving of, I must speak. she told herself, taking in a shaky breath before she opened her painted lips and her words came out in a manner most hesitant. “P-Please, do—do not bring harm to these three Louis, Lord Auttenberg!!” Cináed pleaded, “The lot of them, the Chevalier, the Mage and the man, before the passing moments, never before have they had contact with me, they are innocent of any crime!!”

Tears welled up in her eyes again, and a sob coursed through her thin form as her face drew up in true desperation, “Though you have chosen to partake of the gossip tainting the minds of the aristocracy before you, please! Do not harm those whom are truly without fault, none of these people are involved with myself, nor have they ever been. Even in the long years I existed as but a simple Pierrot.” Around the scene, the gathered crowd found themselves whispering among themselves.

“BE SILENT!!” the Duke’s voice bellowed forth, causing Cináed to inwardly flinch as the people gathered also went quiet. “Cináed de Amore, your words are nothing more than well practiced lies. You’re nothing more than a deceiving harlot—is is questionable whether or not you really are even ‘Cináed de Amore.’ For all that is known, you could be an imposter, posing as nobility.”

She shook her head back and forth again, “No, I am no deceiver! Even if you choose to believe me guilty of something I do not even understand myself, that is the choice you have made, and no matter how it affects my own fate, I not understand, nor do I care, but M’Lord, I implore you to spare these three. . . !”

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Astrazonica Bronach Character Portrait: CinĂĄed Rubina de Amore Character Portrait: Paragon Character Portrait: Nadia Saraphine
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Paragon turned to CinĂĄed de Amore with a curious expression. Here the woman stood, accused of murder, treason, a slew of other charges and yet instead of pleading for her own life she pled for the lives of those around her. The cyborg was intrigued.

"With pleasure my Lord!"

Captain D'Canith said with a wicked grin in reply to his lords order. He charged in his sword held high with a battlecry tearing from his throat. He leapt at Paragon ready to slice the man in two but Paragon's hand shot out with unfathomable speed and caught the blade. If he had been human his hand would have been cleaved in twain yet as it was no blood spilled. No fingers were severed. There was but the sound of metal contacting metal and the shocked stare given off by D'Canith. Paragon's eyes studied him eerily before his head tilted ever so slightly and he pulled forward and threw a punch into the middle of the blade shattering it. The Captain stumbled backwards and fell looking up at Paragon with eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"W-What are you demon?!"

Paragon slowly took a step towards him and looked down at the man.

"To see that which you do not understand as something religious or mystical instead of considering it rationally is typical of your kind. Odd..."

With that Paragon reached down and grasped the cowardly Captain by the throat and steadily began to increase the pressure cutting off his supply of air.

"The demon is killing the Captain!"

One guard shouted.

"Save him! Quickly!"

Another shouted before they all charged. Paragon hurled the struggling Captain through the air to crash into his advancing men before they could reach the small group. The momentary immobility of the guards granted the group a chance to make a decision.

"We can remain and fight or flee. Probability of success favors the latter."

Paragon said over his shoulder not taking his eyes off the guards who were already scrambling to their feet.

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Astrazonica Bronach Character Portrait: CinĂĄed Rubina de Amore Character Portrait: Paragon Character Portrait: Nadia Saraphine
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In all of the confusion, in all of the ensuing chaos, CinĂĄed heard the offer lain out before her by the Chevalier whom was ordered to bring her under arrest. The cerulean-haired woman was giving her the chance to run—to flee to safety, to save her own head whilst the lives of others were set upon the line for her sake. She had a chance . . . a chance to escape from the Duke and her fiancĂ©, an opportunity to make it to freedom. But, what was freedom worth if it came with the cost of knowing? With such a heavy burden of guilt? Why? Why must the price of freedom be this? CinĂĄed asked herself, her eyelids lowering part way as tears continued to flow from her deeply blue eyes.

The dark-haired girl looked about herself, at the scene before her. At the Chevalier who was willing to defy orders from her reigning noble in order to protect her, to the mage whom she did not know, and to the man who seemed to be invincible against the onslaughts brought forth by Captain D’Canith’s still-loyal soldiers. To the gathered nobles and servants surrounding them as the fight continued and more people were harmed. Because of me, they are harmed because of my protests. . . . she told herself, a vacant expression upon her features.

If she had not gone and protested, if she had just given herself up, proceeded forward and allowed the Chevalier to arrest her for the crimes of aiding in assassination and plotting against nobility, then these people might have been spared this.
In her whole life, she was always taught that she should never make decisions, and never make a single choice. Choices were made for her, for her because others always knew what was best! She didn’t, Cináed didn’t know anything at all. That was something she knew well, but look at what had unfolded before her. While she was suddenly thrust into a situation for which she had no guidance in, no one to make a decision for her, Cináed had gone about and decided upon her own course of action and she just got people hurt. That was all she did, was get people hurt. . . !

As the tears continued down her pallor face, cutting rivers through the makeup worn upon her flesh, Cinåed clasped her thin hands over her chest, intertwining her fingers with one another as she felt her heart sink into her stomach. Her mother, her birth mother had merely instructed her to make a good impression upon these people, upon the Duke and her fiancé, she was just suppose to impress Louis and the whole of Cellé. That meant being as nothing more than a doll, a little obedient doll that moved as told, and spoke only when spoken to. . . . Being polite and courteous, having proper mannerisms. That was all she had to do.

Of course, that was only when things were suppose to go as intended, when someone hadn’t barged into the celebration and taken the life of Duke Auttenberg’s brother. That beast which had slain the man . . . it had looked right at her. And its eyes were more than just another average beast; those eyes were ones of intelligence, sentience.

It had caused this; it was the reason that Cináed had no choice in what to do. No idea. Her life did not matter to her, not at all. What mattered was the wellbeing of the others, the people around her. If she just gave herself up, would that remedy it all? Would that solve the problem, and would these strangers who were risking their lives for her meager one . . . would they be spared? Though the Chevalier who was offer Cináed her hand wished to save her, and though the mage and strange man were defending her against the other Chevalier. . . . Cináed couldn’t do it.

Suddenly . . . blood spattered upon the front of Cináed’s dress, and her face, as one of the guards succumbed to injuries inflicted by the man who was defending her. The sudden rush of warmth, the sodden feeling cause the girl’s heart to skip several beats in her chest as her breath hitched within her throat. Her eyes widened, and she went still. More people were getting hurt, hurt because of her. . . !

A rather loud, and uncertain gasp came from the small girl’s throat as she came to realize what was going on around her, as the full impact of the situation settled upon her. The Duke’s brother was already dead, people were fighting to save her when she did not at all know them, and those being fought against were. . . . They were being harmed. Because of her—because of her choice to protest. If only she had maybe just not said a word, and allowed herself to be taken away this would not have happened.

Moving her hands up to wipe at her tear-stained eyes, CinĂĄed made one final choice as her hands smeared the blood that lay upon her flesh. I vow that this will be my last, never again will I decide upon anything uncertain again. Dropping her hands down to her front, and clasping them together, that vacancy overtook her features again, giving her an eerie sort of look with the red stains upon her skin.

Quietly, the girl allowed gravity to take hold of her and she dropped down to her knees, and raised her arms up above her head, holding her wrists together as she bowed her cranium forward, surrendering herself. “Please! Stop this senselessness—I do not desire anyone harmed because of me!” she announced, bending her spine forward. She doubled over, until her elbows touched the marble flooring before her, “Lord Auttenberg! Louis, I surrender myself to you and your Chevalier! Arrest me, and please let this all end; you three, please! I-I do not want to see anyone else harmed this night. . . .”

Setting

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Astrazonica Bronach Character Portrait: CinĂĄed Rubina de Amore Character Portrait: Paragon Character Portrait: Nadia Saraphine
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All the commotion and violence ceased in that moment. It was as if the tiny voice boomed outward and froze all in earshot. The guards stopped their attack. The Rogue and Cyborg no longer battled. They all simply stopped and looked at CinĂĄed Rubina de Amore. Paragon's head tilted slightly in confusion. Surely the girl would die for the crimes she did not commit yet was surrendering regardless. The young woman was so fixated on sparing those around her from harm she was willing to senselessly throw her life away to do so. She was frozen with indecision and it was blaringly obvious that making judgement calls was not something she was accustomed to doing. Paragon did not often think of things in terms of right or wrong or morality but logic. For the girl to give herself over to the Duke and his men was illogical. The Duke was acting out of fear and ignorance. The guards out of some sense of misplaced loyalty. The young woman however was a different tale all together. Her motives were a little less easy to comprehend. Paragon saw the value in her life and could not rationalize her decision.

"Organics always if nothing else display base motives of self preservation yet you show little care for your own survival... how odd..."

Paragon said aloud as he looked down at the weeping girl. Captain D'Canith rose to his feet, wounded with teeth gritting in pain as blood from a gash on his fore head poured down his brow.

"You see... You see you damned monster! The bitch surrenders because she knows she has no hope. She sees her guilt and the cost on her immortal soul."

Paragon's attention slowly turned to the Captain as he continued speaking.

"You all are nothing but demons in the employ of a whore witch and now your master calls for you to heel like the good dogs you are. Put down your weapons and perhaps I'll put in a recommendation to skip the torture and go right on to the execution."

"Confidence born of ignorance. You falsely believe we gathered here are tools in the employ of the one whom you accuse but this conclusion could not be farther from the truth."

Paragon turned to the rogue at his side.

"We cannot do as the young woman asks or we will all surely be destroyed. Between the two of us I believe we could more than likely kill every guard in this building before reinforcements arrive but that will do nothing but risk an injury or possible death of CinĂĄed unnecessarily. I will need you to cover our retreat if any manage to attempt to follow our escape. Chevalier, grab the girl and carry her if need be but above all else stay close to me."

With that Paragon seemingly dissapeared. To the human eye the man had vanished in the blink of an eye. In reality he had moved so quickly neither could the human eye track his movements any more than the human mind could comprehend them. During the bout with Captain D'Canith and his men Paragon had been carefully surveying their surroundings. The buildings structural weaknesses that could be exploited if need be. The Cyborg deemed it necessary to potentially endanger the nobles to give them a sufficient diversion to execute an escape without causing countless deaths. The high frequency blades extended out of Paragons wrists in a flash while he moved around the room. Swipe after swipe his blades went cleanly through the marble support struts surrounding the room. As quickly as he'd dissapeared he returned standing in front of the others. He rolled his shoulder casually and his blades retracted. The captain's eyes stared in shock at what he'd just seen.

"It's.... It's not possible. How did he..."

Before he could continue the building shook and the pillars began sliding off their moorings. The scene became chaos as people began running for their lives in fear that the building would surely collapse on top of them. The bowing of the building caused the ornate stained glass to shatter raining down on the people below causing greater panic as the loss of support caused fissures to develop in the walls and ceilings. Pieces of rubble and plaster started to fall on the people running for their lives. All the while, lost in the commotion four unique individuals cast together by fate used the crowd to mask their escape into the night.