Some Character Sketches

Now...What to call this "template"?

     Okay. This is just a rant I did instead of reviewing. (HELP ME!)

     The appearance of this character is simple. Just an average adult. Nothing special. (BTW, The default is a male. However, you can change it. I'll just use "he" but it can apply to any other pronoun.) He is not that handsome but charismatic enough to be a leader. From a hard past, he persevered to come out on top. We'll call him the "Broken Paragon".

     To understand the name, we need to understand what "Paragon" means.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm_Pi6OpNKU

     The Broken Paragon is not the one who gave up on being good (I call that the Fallen Paragon, NOT sure though); it is the paragon whose legacy is broken. The antagonist/s was/were successful in deleting them in history, or at least messing it up to the point that instead of being the inspiration, they are an example not to follow instead. 

     It should work on fantasy and sci-fi. (I think.) This works best if you have the "EVIL" empire archetype. The "evil" emperor who did questionable things for the greater good. The people they served were happy but...

     ...no one could protect his legacy. 

     I don't believe in the saying "History is written by the Victors". I believe in "History is defined by the Writers". 

     An example of this is Cleopatra (the famous one). Although codified in our minds as a hot sexy lady. There are some evidences that she looked like an average person. Not a lot of people knows how she ruled, just the whole relationships with Caesar and Anthony. Yeah. Ever since people codified her as a woman who slept with the most powerful, not as kind ruler.

     Now, another example is Caesar, who made reforms but broke so many laws while getting it. It was for the greater good. An example of a paragon. Don't believe me? Watch the video. (Key word: SUPERMAN)

     Anyways, tangent over.

     This character doesn't care about falling himself. If the world would be better without him, he'd happily accept it. He's the type to tell his soldiers to not hurt anyone even as the crowds race to the castle gates because of some propaganda. He buries the truth with him when he gets dethroned. Only the ignorant were the ones who throw him away. The fools who believe lies because of no discipline. Criminals hate authority figures, no matter how altruistic the figure may be. 

     He hides his legacy and keeps a small ray of hope as his enemies overtake him and spin him into a villain. 

      Tragic story path (From the antagonist/s' point of view): The Paragon is already dead. Once someone finds out the truth, the winners will fight until the truth is buried once more. This is a great subversion of chosen to bring down a dystopia. A single force who wants to change the whole world viewed as a reemerging dark lord turns out to be a keeper of the truth. Not every thing can be taken at face value. If the force fails, the cycle continues as the people stay ignorant but every paragon after the first broken paragon hopes that every thing gets better and that their falls were not in vain. The only choice you have either to listen and weigh what they mean or reject it like the people you were with throughout the book. Even if you don't make a choice, some one else will continue the legacy.

     Happier? story path (From the paragon's point of view): The Paragon is hiding. A chosen one story line occurs. It is a fight for truth. He faces his adversary together with the people he'd inspired and helped. He will try negotiating but there is a chance that nothing good will come out of it. A war is optional but a big climactic fight is an obvious way to go as the paragon cries while attacking, remembering the fun times he had with the people he's now fighting. Betrayal still lingers in the back of his mind but he can't bring himself to destroy everything but the other side is very much willing to take everything away from him. His idea that people can be good if they try may or may not allow understanding but there is nothing left. 

     Bonus points over here: 

     I plan to put this character in one of my stories. You don't have to be an evil emperor or king but a leadership position is required for this template. I won't say the name/s (If I get eager) of the character/s since the former path could make a cool plot twist if done right.