Cantionis
More Important Than You Know
Paragon Cantionis Mercia Gladius (a.k.a. Merci / Songbird)
DISCLAIMER: This article is under the 'Recycle Bin' category as it displays outdated information, it describes a version of this character that has been discarded, a new article with updated information will be posted but in the meantime this article remains published for others to read on.
Songbird, as the name holds, is a travelling vigilante known for their hits on big companies and exposing corrupted government officials and people in power. Not much is known about Songbird as a person, at least to the public, but those who know the face behind the mask will stop at nothing to keep their secret.
As Mercia; however, is a famous social celebrity, often talking to big names and collaborating on pieces of various mediums, art, music, fundraisers and programs. This side of her is very openly cheerful and supportive of others, even going as far as to give out water and snacks during protects and parades. She uses her title to make an influence on the outside world, and the money she makes goes directly to various non-profit organizations and foundations.
Cantionis is the name given to a mute girl who lived in Veritas, who loved music and who witnessed the terrible tragedy of her family's demise. This is the very core of her being, the reason she does what she does and the mastermind portion of her personality. Cantionis was innocent and wanted to believe that everyone had the potential to repent their misdeeds and save themselves from a life of hatred and negativity. After the aforementioned tragedy however, this part was lost to harsh unforgiving world full of evil minds and greedy hands, this was the tragic hero of all tragic heroes.
To put this character simply, she allows certain people to use certain names in correlating situations. If she was in the middle of being a social elite one would have to address her as Mercia, if she was in the middle of taking down a group of thieves then she would be Songbird, and only the very few remaining people her knew her as a child were allowed to call her Cantionis.
In your typical every day situation she was fine being called Merci by both friends and strangers alike, no one is sure why her names need to be separated and their are, but none of them really want to see how she'd react if you purposely called her by the wrong name at a given time.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Has a general undefined illness that has been dormant for a few years, very active in regards to exercise and training, relatively good hygiene but poor sleep schedule and nutritional needs.
Body Features
Deep hazelnut skin with a few scars and tattoos, a birthmark the shape of a bird silhouette on the back of her neck, wavy hair that will gradually change colors and she matures.
Facial Features
Round face shape overall with medium high cheekbones and dark sleep eyebrows, freckles are scattered across her cheeks along the bridge of her nose and over her forehead
Identifying Characteristics
Golden freckles across cheeks and forehead, small scar extending from the bottom corner of her left eye, permanently bruised spine + linear tattoo
Physical quirks
Holds a straight posture as a result of strict tutoring in childhood
Is ambiguous but naturally writes with left hand
Special abilities
Has a natural passive "stabilizer" ability, which is most helpful when allies or civilians are hurt and can recover slowly while she's nearby, this also gets rid of anxiety and other common mental issues and numbs damaged nerves when near her, another use of the stabilizer ability is for ruined electronics and gadgets to prevent shortages or electric shock.
Has studied and perfected many elemental techniques designed for not only magic fighting but also physical combat; this is prominent in her use of air techniques to get away from crime scenes all throughout various missions.
Most notable ability is potion making and spell casting - which some would argue is more of a skill than an ability - certain potions and spells require unique abilities that can only be inherited, often these are the most powerful and dangerous kinds to use, and luckily she is the daughter of one of the greatest magick entrepreneurs known to history.
Apparel & Accessories
Prefers formal or semi-formal appearing outfits, doesn't wear a dress or skirt often. She likes to wear solid blacks and whites with dashes of colors like lavender and gold, along with this will come geometrical shapes. Bulky "goddess" jewelry like gold flat hoop earrings and large antiqued metal necklaces. Almost always wearing a jacket, if there is no jacket or covering layer than she would be sporting a strapless top.
Specialized Equipment
The Magiviore is the most known and used 'specialized' anything within Cantionis' stock, as it can turn into various weapons and tools (though widely noted for excessive use of the whip and staff forms) it can also be used as a communication device and emp type charges.
Armor changes rapidly through time in correlation to the specific mission type being operated; her casual armor is more like a luxurious biker suit, one piece and thick in layers of the bullet-proof fabric used. Armor also changes colors based on if the mission is stealthy or not, more often than not the armor/suit with be all white.
Typically rides a custom bike dubbed the "Viper" that is also all white and can change based on mission needs, if she's carrying around a few more people or packages then she will be using a holographic convertible style car (note that is purely to stand out on purpose and annoy whoever is riding with her).
Because one of her closest friends builds and designs weapons and gadgets for a living, Cantionis will often be used for field-testing the prototypes of these while on missions. Weapons can go anywhere from a fancy knife to a machine gun and gadgets can be from camoflauge to accelerators so no one can really know what's going to come next.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born as Cantionis Gladius, the third and youngest child of Lady Gladius and Duke Gladstone, apart of a group of triplets. Was mute and weak due to an unknown sickness, even in present day it cannot be figured out. Relied on siblings and friends to help communicate and socialize.
On the fourth birthday of the triplets, however, laid way a the beginning of a traumatizing event for her. Because of yet unannounced reasoning, a group of soldiers from Auferetur broke into the Gladius Estate and arrested all members of the family. Days later it was announced that they were to be executed, the reasons, suspiciously, were still not announced. On the day of executions, right as it was her turn to go, two of her childhood friends broke free her noose and the trio ran off into wilderness.
Flashfoward a few months, the trio makes it to he homeland of Merci's father, Duke, and eagerly stay with him for refuge. After a few... 'choice'... disagreements over the following years; Mercia, now age twelve, makes a run for mainland after trakcing down her friends who were previously closed off with only a handful of cash and a small guitar.
In the streets of a city on mainland Mercia and her friends worked part time jobs and played music for small change. Eventually saving up enough to buy a small house, if you could call it that, they enrolled themselves into a nearby school and that was the beginning of things looking up.
At the age of fifteen Mercia dropouts of school to get a full time job and care for the boys who were both still in school. Over the years, even to present day, she insists on being the one to work and let the others relax, juggling social, political, and personal tasks throughout the days and nights.
Gender Identity
Another thing not outwardly spoken about; seems to lean towards the nonbinary or fluid side of things. Even people who have known her all their life cannot say with complete confidence that they truly get her.
TL;DR obviously just doesn't give a shit.
Sexuality
A grey area for this character as it is never really mentioned, even halfheartedly, it seems she prefers to keep private affairs private.
Has commented on finding various people of whatever identity at least attractive on a physical level.
Education
Formal high end home-school/tutoring up to age 9, basic grade school for 6 years, drops out of school later
Accomplishments & Achievements
Successfully founded an underground organization dedicated to cleaning out corrupted officials; also has made ties with various governments.
Is given an official apology from the new Empress of Auferetur for the wrongful treatment and witch hunt of her family, becomes friends with said Empress and uses those ties to further help her cause.
Failures & Embarrassments
Was literally witnessed crying because a baby bird was "just too cute and small" by the Empress and the head Paragon Yaga.
Has lost multiple bets concerning powers and abilities, of which the consequences was some form of public humiliation... like doing the Macarena in a crowded subway or screaming weird words in a meeting.
Considers the entire East coast operation to be a failure, despite it being the most efficient half of her organization.
Mental Trauma
psychological/emotional abuse survivor, ptsd from torture/extreme interrogations as a child, mild case of paranoia, adhd, severe anxiety
Intellectual Characteristics
Musical genius, which occurred as she couldn't speak and developed an attachment to it.
While lazy, manages to be able to study constantly; keeping up to date in both political and social circles.
Knows a lot about martial arts and other fighting styles as well as magical and philosophical equivalents.
Morality & Philosophy
Believes many people can be good, but knows there are more than enough true evils in the world that cannot be ignored. Strives for positive changes and
Taboos
Include letting emotions dictate choices, using violence first hand instead of a last resort, and insulting other's past/traumas; doing any of these will likely result with her hating you and doing every petty little thing to be a hindrance.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
Wants revenge on corrupted officials who wrongfully convicted her aunt and killed her family; on the journey wants to clean up corrupted people in positions of power everywhere as well.
A thriving need to protect the innocent, in a way of protecting her child self, from the harms and dark alleys of the world.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
Quick to learn new things; knows dozens of languages as well as their dialects, studies how different governments work and ways to get around them.
Likes & Dislikes
Loves sweets and music, would probably cry from a mixture of stress, happiness and love if presented a combination of chocolates and tickets to a performance.
Birds and foxes are her favorite animals, loves astronomy and astronomical knicknacks. Favorite season is summer and favorite element is wind.
HATES, yelling and uneccesarry signs of aggression, she will freak out, it will not be pretty. Bright lights and in general loud noises tend to bother her, unless its her own music or a live perfomance of any kind. Has a no touching rule, will break your fucking arm if you even think about it.
Virtues & Personality perks
Quick thinker, great improvisation; patience in certain situations.
Can find the light in a dark situation, easily brings people out of mental slumps/motivates people to keep their heads up.
Vices & Personality flaws
Hardly sleeps, nor takes care of self as far as nutritional values go. Addicted to sweets man, like, she needs to tone it down but she won't and everyone's too scared to force her to stop.
Will take powernaps anywhere and everywhere due to lack of proper sleep. Terrible sleep schedule. Someone stop giving her coffee at three in the morning.
Personality Quirks
Ears twitch when something gets her excited/overly happy.
Squints eyes when angry, annoyed, or just tired.
Hygiene
Takes personal and environmental hygiene to an extreme, will be bothered if something's out of place. Prefers to clean in small loads unless it's laundry, washes and puts up dishes right after a meal unless busy.
If too busy or stressed up will consider letting things linger for a few days, most prominent thing is lack of washing hair, will keep it up in a messy bun if that's the case.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Affiliated with the Paragons of Presence, a constant trio of powerful people deemed holy by the likes of those around them, who are destined for legends and made to protect the innocent and preserve peace.
Is a little-known funder and member of a variety of underground gangs and groups that consist of equal parts vigilantes and criminals.
Future founding member of the Deuthekam Yeouhin, a school built to teach and train young minds to be heroes.
Member of the Trifecta; the original group of vigilantes who started out in the western hemisphere and whose influence gave way to the birth of many more illegal vigilante groups and organizations.
The godmother of Rose - the daughter of Empress Celene - future ruler of the Auferetur Empire (Nothern half of Tod).
Family Ties
Her Mother was Lady Gladius- a notorious alchemist and magic researcher bent on making and improving tools and weapons that held magical or supernatural elements. Her contributions to various fields is what keeps the island safe from the outside world, with advancements in alchemy and magicks that the outside could not figure out.
Lord Duke Gladstone is her father, the leader of a noble heirarchy of knights often mistaken for angels; due to their pale skin tones, light hair, and all white uniforms. A very rich man who socially secluded himself shortly after his children, the triplets, were conceived by her Lady Gladius. Since then has never been seen or heard of, except by the hands and mouths of his knights with strict and prompt conversations.
The ex-professor simply known by 'M' is her aunt, noted for outlandish achievements involving biology as well as terrifying experiments, was thrown into the dungeons of the Auferetur Empire (Northern Tod). The reasoning behind her inprisonment have not been made public, and speculation is that it's due to inner corruption.
Two remaining family members, not including her siblings, are unkown as to their nature and current wherabouts. Nothing is known about the Gladstone family.
Religious Views
Not really 'religious' as the term is known. Fairly spiritual, something that is an upmost requirement for evening being thought of as a candidate of Paragon. Spent a few years in almost complete solitude in a mountain monastery, regularly spends time alone afterwards to meditation and prayers. Will often seek to help those in spiritual/mental/emotional need with proverbs and advice learned from her fellow Paragons and monastery monks.
Will occasionally visit the ruins, monuments, and temples devoted to old deities as a way to connect to the religious attitudes from what is presumably her father's side of the family. Conflicted between the truths she sees constantly in the world, and the truths she feels towards the deities she's grown up learning about as a young child.
Social Aptitude
Typically quiet in a given situation, the only times this changes is when she's surrounded by people she knows and trusts, or she is about to sing/give a speech.
When giving a speech her voice echoes and booms, something that most people do not expect from her quiet nature; she holds confidence and security along with trust and faith in her words and attitude, thus, this often leaves a positive impact on those listening.
Hobbies & Pets
In childhood Cantionis had a baby fox named Dlago, pronounced Dracoo, who had ombre hair that matched her own, was blind, and star patches in his fur. Helped carry and find objects on daily outings and well as warned her about medication.
Is given a white ravu (think ravens but four eyed and larger) as a gift once let out of the mountain monastery. The bird is able to be used as a medium for Uni to communicate with and, in more subtle situations, guide her to safe passage or needed tools. Has a knack for following her everywhere, even going as far back as a mile or so to keep distance. Can mock languages well and is very sassy in general. (ENJOYS learning back talk)
Speech
Despite being a twenty-something year old during latest events in the story, still struggles keeping accents and certain sound forms on point. Because of this she normally stays quiet about most things, or refrains from talking too much.
Her voice is generally on the lower side as far as pitches go, throaty and commading. When in front of large crowds and audiences her voice booms, echoes, and stays steady no matter the topic.
When she sings, her voice flows like silk, soft and expensive, a luxury to anyone who hears. This is what she was famous for when performing both in music halls and on the streets as a child. When she's older her focus is to entertain her friends and keep their minds off of stress so her singing tone is more relaxed, yearning for freedom and peace of mind.
Relationships
Wealth & Financial state
Coming from family lines that were noble and inventive; as a child she lived in ignorant luxury and decent wealth. She preferred using her allowance on buying sweets, instruments, and going to see live performances such as concerts and musicals.
In adolescence she willfully gave up that lifestyle to move to mainlands. Coming in with only a handful of cash and a worn acoustic guitar, she would spend the money on essentials and play the guitar to save up for a place to stay in the meantime.
As she grew into her mid and late teens she bought out an old house for her and her friends to live in and fix, as well as regularly donated to the school they were going to and even worked late into the nights after school for extra spending cash.
She's always acknowledged the power of investing and in doing so would build a portfolio to, in a crisis, could easily replace any stolen money or items of value. This, along with many accounts across multiple platforms ensured she would never have to worry about being robbed, as there were always multiple back-up systems in place.
Upon entering eaerly adulthood her father, who had previously cut off all contact whatsoever, began to regularly send money and gifts along with detailed letters about its history and importance to the family. She would allow museums and historical personels to study the items while donating the money to various mental illness charities and spokespersons.
Current Location
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Paragon of Protection
Year of Birth
5694 NW
22 Years old
Birthplace
Gladius Estate, Veritas
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Temple of Ruins
Gender
Female
Eyes
Narrow and tilted inwards, violet/lilac, slitted pupils
Hair
Long, naturally wavy, ombre from deep eggplant to silver
Height
5'11" or ~181cm
Weight
183 lbs or 83kg
Quotes & Catchphrases
"There's no stronger force than my distaste for society."
"Never mistake a moment's understanding for forgiveness or friendship."
Aligned Organization
Ruled Locations
Character Prototype
Nyane Lebajoa - An independent fashion designer, fashion blogger, and model.
and
Micah Gianneli - An entrepreneur with social media- a model, influencer, and ambassador.
when thinnking about high brow social situations.
For the nitty gritty parts of life my mind goes to Meagan Good as an actress.
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Comments
Author's Notes
Tweaking this article just a bit with new info and editing previous info to help with the Trifecta article that I'm working on rn~ Featuring a better and newer design for Cantionis' Paragon Outfit.