Paros: The Solitary Lighthouse
Appearance and Characteristics
Paros possesses a diminutive stature of about 160cm, his back hunched as if crushed under the weight of accumulated ages. His skin is rough like the ancient parchment perpetually clutched in his hands, and the deep wrinkles etched upon it speak of endless years steeped in solitude.
His hair, which might once have been vibrant, is now faded to stark white, thinly scattered and carelessly swept back. Behind small, circular spectacles, his eyes gleam with a sharp intellect.
His attire is simple yet symbolic. A faint gray robe bears faded embroidery of constellation patterns, and he always carries a heavy leather-bound tome tucked under his arm. A faint aura of dust and ink lingers around him, reminiscent of the scent one might encounter in a dust-laden library.
Despite his aged appearance, Paros exudes a presence akin to a lighthouse unshaken even in the midst of a storm. However, this light does not guide others. It burns solely for himself. Known as the Solitary Beacon or the Enlightened Solipsist, Paros hoards knowledge without sharing it, illuminating only his own path.
His voice is soft, yet the words that spring from the tip of his tongue carry a profound resonance.
In Grand World Online, Paros is a unique NPC, existing as a singular entity like all others in the game. Recruiting him as a companion requires more than mere affinity grinding. Players must offer him documented lore of the game world or rare book items, filling his "knowledge gauge" to a sufficient level before he consents to join. Remarkably, Gravel achieved an 80% affinity, earning Paros's recognition. Currently, Paros resides in the library of Gravel's Skyhold, immersed in an endless pursuit of knowledge.
Personality and Philosophy
Paros is driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Yet, his desires are thoroughly self-centered. He seeks to illuminate the principles of the world, but he has no interest in sharing that light with others. To Paros, knowledge is a personal treasure; to disseminate it is to diminish its value. He is a paradoxical being—a sage who is selfish, a lighthouse that shines not for all, but only for itself.
His demeanor is cool and at times arrogant, laced with a quiet sense of superiority. He chooses his words with deliberation, speaking as if inscribing a sacred scroll like a meticulous scribe. But behind this composed facade lurks a deep fear that his intellect might decay. Paros is acutely aware of his senescence, and he ceaselessly records his thoughts to stave off the terror of losing memories and insights. His innumerable journals and records serve as his sole shield against this anxiety.
To Gravel, Paros is both mentor and enigmatic figure. He parsimoniously doles out wisdom, sharing morsels only when he deems Gravel "worthy." He likens conversations with Gravel to "offering a cup of wisdom's tea to a rare guest visiting his castle of knowledge." His loyalty to Gravel stems not from affection, but from respect for one who has brought him the most precious tomes. Nonetheless, their interactions carry a subtle warmth—a bond that Paros reluctantly acknowledges.
Key Dialogues
"I am content merely to glimpse the principles and rules of all things in the world. I dwell in my small castle of knowledge, and to Lord Gravel, who visits my castle, I offer but a modest cup of wisdom's tea."
"I am old, Lord Gravel. And I continue to age, growing ever feebler. That is why I must record the knowledge and memories in my mind as I do now. It terrifies me so. It is a joy that thoughts still arise and flash within me each day, but if I do not commit them to paper, the anxiety and fear become unbearable."
Class and Abilities: Wordweaver
Paros holds the rare class of Wordweaver in Grand World Online. Wordweavers harness language itself as power, wielding words to alter reality. His abilities revolve around the concept of "the power of words," divided into three principles: Invocation (words are heard), Propagation (they spread), and Manifestation (they manifest and act). These powers render Paros a versatile and formidable companion, where a single utterance from him can overturn the battlefield.
Paros's prowess as a Wordweaver is forged from his voracious consumption of books and knowledge scattered across all continents. He mastered the art of awakening the sacred resonance of words from ancient scriptures and acquired forbidden arts of reconstructing reality through language from proscribed grimoires. As a result, his skill names bear a distinctive form, blending archaic scripts with vocabularies of profound wisdom—a testament to his scholarly journey of amassing the world's knowledge into his own citadel. The words that escape his lips are not mere incantations but crystallizations of enlightenments accumulated over centuries, symbolizing the moment his selfish pursuit of knowledge manifests in existential form.
Major Skills
Invocation: Whisper of the Cosmos
When Paros utters a single resonant word, the sound rides the air, halting all who hear it. It briefly stuns enemies within a 20-meter radius, and with higher proficiency, it can implant subtle suggestions into vulnerable minds.
Propagation: Echoes of Eternity
Paros's words ripple outward like waves, conveying his will across distances. This skill amplifies the range and effects of other abilities or sends messages or illusions to distant allies or foes.
Manifestation: Edict of Creation
Paros's pinnacle ability, where meticulously constructed sentences materialize his words into physical form. He can summon beasts, barriers, or even hundreds of spectral scribes to record his thoughts in real-time. These manifestations are temporary but vary according to Paros's intent.
Tome of Binding Oaths
Paros recites a contractual incantation to bind a target in an enforceable vow. Violating the oath incurs curses proportional to the breach (e.g., stat weakening or periodic damage). Particularly effective against foes who value negotiation or honor.
Lexicon of Negation
Paros utters words of denial to nullify a single magical effect or projectile in his line of sight. With a short cooldown, it's invaluable against mages; at higher levels, it can block multiple effects in a small area.
Syllable of Ruin
Uttering a forbidden word rends the earth and quakes the air in a potent area attack. It inflicts heavy damage on enemies within 15 meters, petrifying those with weak resistance for a moment.
Crumble of Sentiment (落情: Rakjeong)
The gentle whisper of a word from Paros shakes the listener's heart, fracturing their emotions. This skill disrupts the target's psyche, weakening their willpower and causing them to collapse from within amid confusion.
Effect: Inflicts potent mental confusion on a single target within a 25-meter radius, reducing action speed by 50% for 10 seconds and probabilistically causing them to attack allies. With increased proficiency, it affects multiple targets and extends confusion duration. However, effects are diminished against foes with strong willpower (e.g., level 50+) or mental resistance items.
Ripple of Verses (衍詞: Yeonsa)
The verses Paros recites spread like ripples in the air, amplifying his invocations and eroding enemy resistance. "Ripple of Verses" signifies "words spreading and proliferating," portraying how Paros employs his knowledge not merely as a combat tool but as a revelation of cosmic truths. This skill symbolizes how his solitary enlightenments manifest as destructive force upon others.
Effect: Boosts the range and damage of other Wordweaver skills (e.g., Whisper of the Cosmos, Syllable of Ruin) by 30% and reduces enemy magic resistance by 20%. Additionally, it deals ongoing mental damage to enemies within 30 meters, with a low probability of inflicting silence every 5 seconds. Cooldown is relatively long at 30 seconds.
Return to Mirage (歸幻: Gwi-hwan)
A single word from Paros distorts reality, consigning the enemy back to a realm of illusions. "Return to Mirage" means "returning to illusion," embodying Paros's manipulation of perception to shatter foes' will, enforcing that only his knowledge is truth. This skill starkly illustrates his selfish philosophy: others' worlds are meaningless, and only his enlightenment holds value.
Effect: Traps a single target (or up to 3 within 15 meters with increased proficiency) in an illusion for 8 seconds, rendering them invisible and inactive in reality. Within the illusion, the target wanders Paros's constructed labyrinth of knowledge—an endless library—preventing movement or attacks. Upon ending, the target suffers mental damage and has a 50% chance of entering confusion for 5 seconds. Effects are halved against those with strong mental resistance.
Passive: Aura of Erudition
Paros's presence clarifies allies' minds, enhancing resistance to mental effects and slightly boosting efficiency in knowledge-based skills (e.g., lore checks, crafting). However, this aura subtly intimidates weaker NPCs, making them hesitant to approach.
Combat Style
Paros is not a frontline fighter. His aged body and frail physique make him vulnerable in melee, but his Wordweaver abilities position him as a rear-line strategist dominating the battlefield. He disrupts enemies, supports allies, and alters the tide with strategic manifestations. His skills vary in efficacy by situation, demanding precise timing and battlefield awareness. Paros's greatest strength is his adaptability—using words to conform to any circumstance, such as summoning guardians to protect Gravel or dismantling enemy spells to nullify them.
Role as Gravel's Companion
In Grand World Online, Paros was recruited by Gravel after meticulous efforts to satisfy his stringent criteria through offerings of lore and books. With an 80% affinity, Paros regards Gravel as a "worthy visitor" to his intellectual domain but maintains his independence. He dwells in the library of Gravel's Skyhold, surrounded by books and scrolls, delving into the universe's secrets.
Paros serves as Gravel's advisor and lore keeper, interpreting the game's mysteries, deciphering ancient texts, or providing invaluable insights for complex quests. Yet, his selfish nature ensures he shares only what he deems necessary, requiring Gravel to persuade or barter for deeper wisdom. In combat, his Wordweaver skills are a pivotal asset, turning desperate situations in Gravel's favor.
Relationships
Gravel: Paros respects Gravel as the one who unlocked his knowledge, showing rare favor to the bearer of the most precious tomes. Their bond is rooted in mutual benefit rather than warmth. Gravel provides new lore, and Paros reciprocates with intellect and power. He occasionally addresses Gravel as "my lord" or "Lord Gravel," but this is closer to formal courtesy than true subservience. Gravel highly values Paros's wisdom but occasionally feels frustrated by his opaque and parsimonious demeanor.
Other NPCs/Companions: Paros keeps distance from other companions, viewing them as distractions from his pursuit of knowledge. He is polite but indifferent, engaging only in conversations related to his interests or strategy. Some companions find his aloofness off-putting, while others revere his intellect. Paros openly disdains those lacking intellectual curiosity and has no patience for frivolous jests.
Enemies: To Paros, enemies are mere obstacles hindering his enlightenment. He shows interest if they possess knowledge, but otherwise deems them worthless. In battle, he coldly deploys his Wordweaver skills to dismantle them. He derives no pleasure from destruction, yet he feels a quiet elation in the fact that, through their removal, ignorant beings no longer share the same space as him—rationalizing it as the excision of the unenlightened.
[Paros symbolizes the tension between using knowledge as a tool for growth and hoarding it in selfish obsession. His presence in Gravel's party prompts the protagonist to contemplate the balance between pursuing power and bearing its responsibilities. Paros's fear of intellectual decline mirrors Gravel's conflicts in the transient world of Grand World Online, where achievements feel ephemeral. As the story progresses, Paros's role as a solitary lighthouse holds potential for change. In this new world, will he remain a self-absorbed sage, or will Gravel's influence lead him to share his light with others?]