Paladins Futurepast
This is the story of Paladin's hidden future, from the days before the end of old Arilia to the present in Terminal City. It reveals the path he took to become the villainous anti-hero Knightfall. It is full of mysteries
as he unravels the truths that nobody in the future seems willing to revisit.
Paladin's futureself is Knightfall, a violent vigilante. He is also know for the murder of many meta-criminals, such as Flim-Flam.
Paladin fought his futureself as the villian assaulted the (CD #7), who implied he remembered his time in this future, and it didn't end well.
Kid Courageous grew up to be Triss Salinger, Terminal City Adjutant General (Revealed in the resolution of CD #4. She revealed that Knightfall is known for having badly beaten Captain Courageous, which eventually lead to his execution by the Covenant. She refuses to give many details about Paladin's future past, and has made clear her goal is to send Richie back to his time without him finding out any future secrets.
Triss was concealing the fate of Fireheart, who was almost killed after he undertook a one man war against the Covenant after the Trinity War which lead to the death of a quarter million innocents. Richie saw him (in CD #6) where he is revealed to have been remade into Blast Furnace by the Engineer. Fireheart's brother Hiram St George was also present, a former supervillain, who has reformed and offered Richie some guidance. Paladin is hellbent on restoring Fireheart to his former self.
A rooftop encounter with Knightfall (CD #12) revealed that he had indeed taken Triss Salingers offer to travel back to the past, but things had gone poorly back then. He explained the nature of his murders, including Flim-flam, as he tried to keep peace on the streets as metapowered villain powers expanded exponentially. Paladin refused his methods, but asked for help in fixing things. Knightfall was too stubborn though, and left with some harsh worlds.
The next day Paladin was attacked by the villain Revenant (CD #13), a student of the murdered Flimflam, who had apparently returned from the dead after the attack on his mentor. He brought a multitude of slain super villians with him, whose ghosts were controlling the residents of a local Bitters. Unable to hurt the possessed civlians or protect his team, Paladin took extreme measures to take down Revenant, resulting in the youths death.
Richie was reduced to a catatonic state and was taken back to the Spiderweb. Shadowpack arrived, apparently called by Knightfall who knew of the event, and attempted to comfort Richie with great empathy and kindness. Richie rejected it, and ejected the would be mentor from the base in anger.
While on the Artemis (CD #14), Paladin discovered that both Sidney Strand and Clockwork provided Knightfall with fiscal and technological support.Themes
Time travel, fate, presumed guilt, secrecy, finding one's self.
Components
Goals
The full reason behind Knightfalls turn to the dark side, and his assault on Captain Courageous, is still unknown. The events of the Meta Uprising are largely undocumented and nobody is talking. The fate of Paladin's other teammate, Kitsune, is also unknown.
Relations
Protagonists
Allies
Shadowpack has attempted to guide Richie and help him control his anger and inner darkness.
Triss Salinger has offered to send Richie back to the past via yet unknown time travel technology.
Neutrals/Bystanders
Hiram St George is a former adversary of Paladin's old team The Teen Squad. He has reformed and desires to be Riche's ally in the present.
Competitors
Augur has declared Paladin a danger to society and vowed to send him to the magical prison known as the House of Doors.
Adversaries
Knightfall is the evil future version of Paladin, who uses extreme violence to control the growing metahuman threats against Terminal City.
Plot type
Character Arc
Parent Plot
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