Signs of the paragon and exemplar

The Signs of the Paragon

The Paragons are mortals who have been living embodiments of Virtue and have attained a true spiritual state allowing them to escape the cycle of death-and-rebirth through the Labyrinth of Ages. The recognition of paragons is a challenge that the Synod faces and a number of signs have been identified as a way to know a true paragon from a virtuous exemplar.

There are eight Signs and each recognised Paragon has been recorded to have achieved at least four, and not contradicted the remaining for, which may have gone unrecorded.

The Signs of the Paragon are:

Liberation

True paragons are those who have attained a perfectly enlightened state, beyond mortal comprehension, and have chosen, by dint of their Virtue, to escape the Labyrinth of Ages. Some claim this enlightenment allows them to commune with God, others that they move on to a higher form of existence in the heavens or another world. Evidence for this comes in part from no other mortal having a past life vision from the perspective of a known Paragon.

Benelvolence

An Exemplar may illustrate a Virtue in a pure, yet self-serving, manner. A Paragon’s deeds prosper their whole people, such as Tian bringing fire from the sun, or the First Empress founding the Empire. In the age of the Empire, the sign of benevolence is one that benefits the Empire; in whole or in part.

Inspiration

Paragons are inspiring figures who make an impact on those they meet in life and who often attract students, followers or imitators. Sometimes these followers will found orders, societies, chapters or other groups to retain and pass on the teachings of their mentor, teacher or leader. These groups go on to do great works in the paragon’s name.

Ascension

One of the most contentious signs of the Paragon, with some critics disputing its reality, it is said that some Paragons managed to escape the Labyrinth of Ages whilst still alive; and simply vanishing before their followers.

Miracles

This is another contentious sign of the Paragon, however legend has it that the older Paragons have great and miraculous deeds attributed to them, such as stealing fire from the sun, or their actions spontaneously generating a virtuous aura without use of ceremony. It is said that the ability to perform superhuman feats, namely miracles, without using magic, is proof of a Paragon’s soul.

Pilgrimage

This sign dates back to the origins of The Way in Highguard, when pilgrims came to Bastion in search of past life visions. So it was claimed at the time, all Paragons have, or will, undertake a pilgrimage to the heart of the Imperial Faith, in an effort to ensure their legacy is preserved and passed to future generations.

Salvation

As well as inspiring those already inclined to virtue, a true Paragon will have a significant success in reducing the number of the un-Virtuous in the world. While a mere Exemplar may do this by sending their souls back to the Labyrinth in droves, a Paragon will convert a significant group of people from their unvirtuous ways. In the days of the Empire this can include foreigners, a barbarians group, or even a significant number of Imperial Citizens who have lost their way, such as being lured to into blasphemous or idolatrous cults, or simply those that were previously devoid of Virtue within the Empire itself.

Legacy

Similar to the Sign of Inspiration, this sign also relates to that which a Paragon leaves behind them. Most commonly, this is in the form of some manner of relic. The First Empress left behind the Imperial Throne, and there have been many expeditions that have sought Irontooth, the legendary axe of Kord. These legacies are usually an integral part of the paragon’s legend, and are symbols of inspiration and the truth of the stories told.