Jack Blackburn was the only child of Derek and Samantha Blackburn - former business moguls who were rivals to [[Silas Grayson]] and [[Archeon Incorporated]] in the 1980s. The two moguls faced countless setbacks, as they attempted to compete with Archeon's nuclear fusion generators. After various failures in their attempts to bring competing devices to market - they were ultimately pushed out and forced to cut back on costs. Their company, Daedalus Technologies, soon filed for bankruptcy, as Archeon Incorporated later absorbed the company as a subsidiary.
Jack Blackburn was the only child of Derek and Samantha Blackburn - former business moguls who were rivals to [[Silas Grayson]] and [[Archeon Incorporated]] in the 1980s. The two moguls faced countless setbacks, as they attempted to compete with Archeon's nuclear fusion generators. After various failures in their attempts to bring competing devices to market.[[File:Faust.jpg|thumb|"Faust" - His Previous Form]]
After originally becoming Faust, due to experimentation in prison - he would later fight his arch-enemy, Mosaic on several occasions. Eventually, Faust would be converted into a hero through the magic of the Sorceress Supreme.
Disgraced, and unwilling to work under their greatest rival, the Blackburns soon left Archeon Incorporated, and were struggling under the pressure to pay back their financial obligations. Various investment banks, private equity firms and financial institutions demanded payment for loans that the couple had taken out years prior. Frustrated, and with nowhere else to go, the Blackburns decided to turn to a life of crime - facilitating various heists of precious minerals and resources in order to pay back their debts.
Now known as Paladin - Jack would repent his previous actions, determined to become a hero for those who cannot fight for themselves.
After a decade of criminal activity, the Blackburns had created a criminal enterprise - with a philanthropic organization serving as a front to their activities. It was around this time that they conceived Jack - their one and only son.
Jack grew up with absentee parents and a lack of personal friendships. Most people only saw him as a means of getting close to his parents - for access to their wealth, resources and power. His parents, though caring and protective of him, soon began to make more enemies in the criminal underworld. As he came of age, Jack learned the truth about his parents' illicit activities and chose to help "the family business" grow - in a bid to gain their approval.
Over the years, Jack would then engage in increasingly dubious crimes to sustain his family's fortune and socioeconomic power. He did everything from burglaries to armed robbery, to weapons trafficking and drug smuggling. Eventually once he went to school at Cardigan University, Jack would come across a fellow wealthy teenager named Aiden Grayson. Immediately getting a bad feeling about Jack, Aiden would then become the subject of Jack's vitriol and resentment. Due to Aiden being the son of Silas Grayson, and the one who directly bested him in academics and athletics - Jack began to develop a genuine hatred of Aiden; even going so far as to attempt to frame him for a crime - although he was foiled in his plans by Aiden himself.
Eventually, Aiden began doing investigations into Jack's personal activities after overhearing a conversation between him and his parents - thanks to his superhuman hearing. Immediately, Aiden began to dig deeper - learning the truth about Jack's family and the source of their wealth. Then, Aiden would later expose Jack's crimes as he committed them - serving as an eyewitness testimony in court, and leading to the incarceration of both Jack and his parents.
Given the severity of his crimes and the evidence detailing his years of criminal activity - Jack was sentenced to two decades in prison. With his life ruined, Jack's hatred for Aiden only grew as he reached his 20s. During his time in prison, he was then captured and experimented on by Eukaryon - with the organization deeming him a useful subject due to his lack of sympathy from the public.
After being experimented on by a mutated fragment of the original Metanium metal that landed on Earth decades prior - Jack was transformed into '''Faust''', an incredibly powerful Meta-Human with unstable abilities. Given his new power, Faust immediately killed the Eukaryon scientists and officials who were experimenting on him, before starting down his path of death and destruction. In a manic rage, Faust would also inadvertently kill his parents - with them dying as the result of collateral damage to the prison facility during his escape. Faust would then dedicate the rest of his life to destroying Eukaryota and his old enemy - Aiden Grayson.
Along with various Meta-Human criminals like Nicea, Faust would encounter [[Marek Grayson|Chimera]] and [[Jakob Grayson|Fugue]] at one of Eukaryon's secret bases in Western Europe.<ref name=":0">"Recombinant"</ref> After killing Nicea due to his failure to capture the two Meta-Human vigilantes, Faust would later face both Chimera and Fugue in combat.<ref name=":0" /> However, the two vigilantes would use their newly acquired [[Dimensional Gears]] to fight him - pushing Faust back and forcing his retreat from the facility.<ref name=":0" />
Faust would then later raid another Eukaryon facility to wake [[Centurion]] and his mass produced [[Champion]] clones for his own purposes.<ref name=":1">"Dysfunction" - [Part 1]</ref> Faust would later hire mercenaries to aid the Champion clones in their attacks on Archeon Incorporated buildings across the United States.<ref name=":1" /> He would also later capture Miranda Grayson as a form of bait to lure Mosaic out.<ref name=":1" /> Faust later succeeding in drawing Mosaic out to an Archeon manufacturing facility in the midwest.<ref name=":2">"Dysfunction" - [Part 2]</ref> Faust then appeared before him, watching as Mosaic defeated Centurion.<ref name=":2" /> Faust would later reveal his knowledge of Mosaic's true identity - having stalked him for weeks.<ref name=":2" /> Then, Faust would taunt Mosaic with threats towards his family and friends - before provoking Mosaic to kill him in a burst of inner power.<ref name=":2" /> However, Faust would then be resurrected by the higher dimensional being known as [[Nyrian]] - imbuing him with supernatural abilities.<ref name=":2" /> Faust would use these abilities to amputate Mosaic and nearly kill him - before attempting to absorb him into his dark essence.<ref name=":2" /> However, Faust was then stopped by the sudden arrival of a [[Aiden Grayson (Earth-1)|Sorcerer Supreme]] - intent on punishing him for his transgressions.<ref name=":2" /> Magister would then destroy Faust's physical body entirely, before turning to save Mosaic and heal him - by repairing his body.<ref name=":2" />
Weeks later, Faust would reappear in Sanctuary City - attempting once again to lure Mosaic out and kill him once and for all.<ref name=":3">"Reconciliation" </ref> However, he would instead be met by [[Sun Wukong II]] - who successfully fought him to a stand-still.<ref name=":3" /> Three figures would then appear in the form of Mosaic, [[Isaac Meisner|Doctor]] and [[Stephanie Thompson (Earth-0)|Crepido]].<ref name=":3" /> After provoking the Sorceress Supreme with an obscene comment - she would then decide to end the threat of Faust once and for all.<ref name=":3" /> Recognizing that Faust's soul had not been destroyed, allowing for him to regenerate - Crepido would then disarm him permanently.<ref name=":3" /> The Sorceress Supreme then casted '''Invertere''' - a High Order Magic spell capable of morally, spiritually and conceptually realigning the target.<ref name=":3" />
After being altered by the power of the Invertere spell - Faust's connection to the Dark God Nyrian was replaced with a connection to 10 Gods in the Roman Pantheon.<ref name=":3" /> Furthermore, his entire moral alignment was changed, becoming a highly empathic and remorseful person.<ref name=":3" /> The change in power was also met with a change in appearance and naming - now calling himself '''Paladin''' as a defender of good.<ref name=":3" />
Showing immense remorse for his actions, Paladin asked Mosaic for forgiveness over his actions - which Mosaic, begrudgingly accepted.<ref name=":3" /> After being given a spell of spiritual protection from the Sorcerer Supreme, and verbal guidance from the Sorceress Supreme - Paladin would then begin to make amends.<ref name=":3" /> Using the speed acquired from his connection to the Roman God, Mercury - Paladin would then fly into the air, moving at incredible speeds to cross the universal barrier; now flying to a world where no heroes exist - in order to protect it as a reformed hero.<ref name=":3" />
[[File:Faust.jpg|thumb|"Faust" - His Previous Form]]
Paladin is currently situated on Earth-101, paying his moral penance and becoming an agent of good, in the name of the Gods and in the name of heroism.
== Powers & Abilities ==
== Powers & Abilities ==
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=== Power Manifestation ===
=== Power Manifestation ===
As Faust, Jack had the ability to manifest various Meta-Human powers depending on the situation. This was the result of the sabotaged experiment which infused him with a mutated version of the Metanium metal element.
As Faust, Jack had the ability to manifest various Meta-Human powers depending on the situation. This was the result of the sabotaged experiment which infused him with a mutated version of the Metanium metal element.
Faust's versions of these abilities however, were highly unstable, due to his imperfect experimental changes. As such, Faust could not hold on to any of his powers for longer than a few minutes, before they stopped manifesting.
Faust's abilities also seemingly had a "sixth sense" for his needs. When Chimera blinded him with a chemical agent, his powers immediately reacted to counteract the toxins.<ref name=":0" />
However, this power could be used against him, as it was dependent on his mental state. When Chimera revealed the second chemical agent as a placebo - he explained that Faust's own mind assumed the worst and stopped concentrating; which lead to his powers not working at all.<ref name=":0" />
=== Dark Dimensional Powers [Formerly] ===
=== Dark Dimensional Powers [Formerly] ===
As the conduit of Nyrian's essence, Faust gained additional powers involving supernatural elements and higher dimensions. Similar to the [[Julian Gray|Sovereign]] - Faust had the ability to open dimensional portals, allowing monsters to appear from various other dimensions.
As the conduit of Nyrian's essence, Faust gained additional powers involving supernatural elements and higher dimensions. Similar to the [[Julian Gray|Sovereign]] - Faust had the ability to open dimensional portals, allowing monsters to appear from various other dimensions.
Faust also had the ability to absorb people and beings through a black cosmic substance - which functioned as a cosmic symbiote, maintaining Faust's abilities through his connection to Nyrian and his powers.
His physical characteristics were also greatly amplified by this connection to higher dimensional power, before it was severed by the inversion spell.
These powers were removed once his connection to Nyrian was severed by the Invertere spell.
These powers were removed once his connection to Nyrian was severed by the Invertere spell.
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As Paladin, Jack lost his connection to his previous cosmic master - instead being replaced with a connection to 10 divine Gods; specifically the Roman Gods of antiquity.
As Paladin, Jack lost his connection to his previous cosmic master - instead being replaced with a connection to 10 divine Gods; specifically the Roman Gods of antiquity.
Imbued with the power of 10 Roman Gods, Paladin is now capable of various supernatural feats, involving the abilities of those 10 Gods.
Imbued with the power of 10 Roman Gods, Paladin is now capable of various supernatural feats.
Paladin is imbued with the powers of:
* '''Jupiter''' - The Roman King of the Gods | God of the Sky
* '''Neptune''' - The Roman God of the Sea
* '''Pluto''' - The Roman God of the Dead
* '''Mars''' - The Roman God of War
* '''Minerva''' - The Roman Goddess of War | Knowledge
* '''Venus''' - The Roman Goddess of Beauty | Community
* '''Mercury''' - The Roman God of Speed | Health
* '''Vulcan''' - The Roman God of Fire | Invention
* '''Diana''' - The Roman Goddess of Hunting
* '''Sol''' - The Roman God of the Sun
This connection to the 10 Gods ultimately grants Paladin a variety of abilities - such as control over mystical bolts of lightning which are connected to Jupiter.<ref name=":3" />
Paladin has also demonstrated immense superhuman speed, rivaling that of speedsters thanks to his connection to Mercury - one of the Roman Gods who he draws power from.<ref name=":3">"Reconciliation" </ref>
Paladin has also demonstrated immense superhuman speed - rivaling that of speedsters thanks to his connection to Mercury.<ref name=":3" /> Paladin used the speed of Mercury to fly into the air - breaking through universal barriers and making his way to a different universe, effortlessly.<ref name=":3" />
Paladin used the speed of Mercury to fly into the air - breaking through universal barriers and making his way to a different universe, effortlessly.<ref name=":3" />
== Notes ==
== Notes ==
Revision as of 21:29, 29 March 2023
"….I don't want to be here any longer. The pain of this place and my actions is just….I can't bear it."
Jack Nathaniel Blackburn is a Meta-Human | Para-Human hybrid. He is the current protector of Earth-101, a world without the IsoMatrix Users. His current hero name is Paladin - after being morally purified. Prior to this, he was the Arch-Enemy of Mosaic, and called himself Faust.
Jack Blackburn was the only child of Derek and Samantha Blackburn - former business moguls who were rivals to Silas Grayson and Archeon Incorporated in the 1980s. The two moguls faced countless setbacks, as they attempted to compete with Archeon's nuclear fusion generators. After various failures in their attempts to bring competing devices to market.
"Faust" - His Previous Form
After originally becoming Faust, due to experimentation in prison - he would later fight his arch-enemy, Mosaic on several occasions. Eventually, Faust would be converted into a hero through the magic of the Sorceress Supreme.
Now known as Paladin - Jack would repent his previous actions, determined to become a hero for those who cannot fight for themselves.
Powers & Abilities
Power Manifestation
As Faust, Jack had the ability to manifest various Meta-Human powers depending on the situation. This was the result of the sabotaged experiment which infused him with a mutated version of the Metanium metal element.
Dark Dimensional Powers [Formerly]
As the conduit of Nyrian's essence, Faust gained additional powers involving supernatural elements and higher dimensions. Similar to the Sovereign - Faust had the ability to open dimensional portals, allowing monsters to appear from various other dimensions.
These powers were removed once his connection to Nyrian was severed by the Invertere spell.
Divine Conduit
As Paladin, Jack lost his connection to his previous cosmic master - instead being replaced with a connection to 10 divine Gods; specifically the Roman Gods of antiquity.
Imbued with the power of 10 Roman Gods, Paladin is now capable of various supernatural feats.
Paladin has also demonstrated immense superhuman speed, rivaling that of speedsters thanks to his connection to Mercury - one of the Roman Gods who he draws power from.[1]
Paladin used the speed of Mercury to fly into the air - breaking through universal barriers and making his way to a different universe, effortlessly.[1]
Notes
Faust is the second major enemy that Mosaic has a direct connection to.
Whereas Aiden grew up with a present father, Jack's father and mother were both absent.
Aiden's family built their business on the foundation of legitimate business. Jack's family was forced to resort to crime in order to grow their wealth.
Aiden has genuine empathy for people, even if he is somewhat impulsive and abrasive. Jack harbored no such care of human beings - seeing them as tools.
Jack has an inferiority complex towards Aiden - unable to accept his own failures and lack of personal achievements.
Instead, Jack projects his insecurities and resentments onto Aiden - until his inversion event changed that.
Jack ultimately wishes that he was more like Aiden - a sentiment he kept buried deep down in his heart.
It was the inversion of his moral alignment and personality traits which ultimately forced him to admit that fact to Mosaic and the Sorcerers Supreme who were present at the situation.[1]
Jack is currently on a world with supernatural threats - but no superhumans to defend it - which he sees as the ultimate proving ground for his redemption as a person.
