Ridley Paradis: Introduction

Ridley Paradis was born in the Scarlet Griffon base, nearest to Zardossa, to Sir Darius and Missa Paradis. During childbirth, Ridley rotated sideways, and a cesection was necessary to save him. Ridley's mother did not survive the procedure, and Darius was devestated but ready to raise the boy on his own. Darius was always a good and loving father, if a little strict. In Ridley's younger years, he was proud and excited to follow in his father's footsteps of becoming a Scarlet Griffon. Tales of the valiant warriors would make any child desire the role. Ridley's childhood on the base got him accustomed to the feel of military life early, and he often played with toy swords with the other boys. Darius would often spend his free time teaching morality and ethics to Ridley, preparing him for a life of a Griffon.

"Father... I'm sorry.""

 Whatever for, my son?"

 "For killing mother."

 - Ridley, age five, to Darius

When Ridley was sixteen, Darius noticed a shocking amount of competitiveness in his son. Ridley would often take sword practice and games of combat too far in the desparate pursuit of victory. He nearly killed his friend, Aron Latric, in a friendly spar when his blade collided with Aron's neck. The incident was considered an accident, and no punishment was given. Later on, Ridley was denied early entry into the Scarlet Griffons at the age of eighteen for his abrassive attitude. From there things got progressively worse. Darius was concerned his son would never find peace, and two more years passed with father and son in constant argument. Near the end, it seemed that Ridley had finally found calmness within himself. The truth was that he had simply learned patience, and to contain his emotions for when it truly mattered.

"Why do all great countries need leaders?"

 "Because somebody has to hold all the power.""

Ridley... that wasn't the point of the question."

- Sir Cadius to Ridley, age sixteen

By the age of twenty-three Ridley was accepted to the Scarlet Griffons. He was an excellent soldier, though he never earned any promotions in his two years of service despite requesting promotion nearly half a dozen times. Tasks given to Ridley were completed quickly and accurately, though there was the occasional peasant's broken nose acquired "in a fall." Nothing negative was ever pinned on the young Scarlet Griffon, but his ambitious and voracious appetite for advancement hampered his growth and garnered the watch of the higher ups. Sir Darius and his comrades knew that Ridley was aggressive, but they trusted him.

"Rookie, what the HELL happened here?"

"This criminal was attempting to flee the scene of a crime, I took the liber-"

 "Just STOP, owing two copper in tax was not worth breaking that man's leg!"

- Sgt. Marshwell to Ridley, after a short street chase

Sometime after his twenty-fourth birthday Ridley began to grow sick of the rules and regulations put on him. He felt constantly held back and slowed down by all of the forms and courtroom shenanigans he had to put up with. It did not take long for him to make up his mind that he would flee the Griffons at the soonest opportunity. The only guarenteed getaway would be to fake his death, or to do the unthinkable and kill his allies during a mission. Any longer and Ridley would be willing to do anything to earn what he knew he deserved, even murder. Then came the nightmares. Ridley continuously dreamt of Griffon's dying at the hands of a dark figure, surounded by powerful mages. The dreams spoke to Ridley in dark tones. Even he had no idea of the future that now lay before him.