Editing Welcome to Freedom (section)

== Heroes ==
There is a paradox regarding the virtue of collectivity.  Many of the things the Hegemony cares about ("The people", democracy, humaneness) do not have a voice because they are an abstraction.  This is a problem, because a silent ideal is rarely a compelling one.  There is, consequently, a need for individuals that the Hegemony call heroes.  Heroes embody the abstractions the Hegemony holds dear.  The galvanize public opinion and demand attention in a personal way, while the Technocrats do the impersonal policy work.  The Hegemony has learned that despite its idealization of collectivity, it needs its heroes.  At the same time, it constantly worries that its heroes will fall into Amaranthan hubris, and more than one hero has.

“Hero” is a generic term for individuals who, through whatever means, have amassed a great deal of power attached to their person and personality.  Some have powered armor.  Some are wizards.  Some are even genetically modified.  All, however, are spectacular: powerful in a way that demands attention.  Individuals of great and unique power are a solution to specific problems.  In the high media society of the Hegemony, the fame a singular personality can create is an immensely powerful thing.  Additionally, in a world of sufficiently advanced technology and magic, there are situations where a single individual of great power is a better weapon than an army.

===Magistrates===
Magistrates are heroes associated with a particular nation’s government.  For example, the Free City of Ion retains the Maul of Comets to defend their city from whatever demonic monsters come its way.  Sometimes a strand is contracted to maintain or create a Magistrate.  Other times they are purely an embodiment of nationalism to the exclusion of strands.  Additionally, different nations have attempted to balance this tension with various political institutions.  One nation may have a select group of magistrates with life-long terms selected by its parliament.  In another, they are the cream of the military, given a chance to become more than human in the name of the nation.  One nation is even ruled by an aristocracy of genetically enhanced humans who form various political parties which are then elected by the voting normal population.  Magistrates generally have a “built in audience” in their homeland. Simply by representing the nation, they are worthy of adoration.

===Champions===
Champions are a public face of a Strand.  Champions are, if anything, even more diverse than the Magistrates. All champions are defined in part by two questions: what is the thread of their Combine, and how much autonomy they have from the Combine. Some Champions are nothing but agents of the Combine, others are part-time agents, and part-time supporters of the public good (often in the name of good public relations).  The popularity of a Champion varies widely depending on what its Combine’s interests are.  Jessica the Windguilder is attached to the OVDA, the Outer Valley Development Authority, a Combine organized to re-populate and develop a region decimated by the Dark Kingdoms.

===Other Heroes===
Eccentric heroes, are those who embody a personal agenda.  Lord Rail funds his personal vendetta against the Dark through the spoils of war.  Brother Break, on the other hand, primarily makes draws his wealth from his exclusive sponsorship deals and his regular video specials.  There are even a few, like Faithful William, who scrape together enough resources through amassing Hegemonic development grants.

Freelance Heroes are effectively mercenaries.  There are very few truly powerful freelancers, as the Hegemony is eager to ensure the powerful embody something in the eyes of the public.  Nevertheless, there are times when a small group of lesser and expendable heroes are a better option than either a single Champion or a military unit.