|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distinct Conversationalist
|
 Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:52 pm
I know that there's probably not a whole bunch of us that think of their works as having a moral, but hear me out. We torment some of the inhabitants of our worlds, and not others. Granted, the others might not be particularly highly visible, but they're there. And we have to choose who gets shat upon and who doesn't. And if our stories were written during the medieval era, we would be doing so in terms of who has personal characteristics that either we find desirable or that help them not screw up. In other words, virtue.
So, what kinds of characteristics keep characters in your works from ending up with a list of torments a mile long? Not necessarily the classical virtues like chastity or kindness- it can be stuff like having the sense not to walk straight into a trap, or not being an annoying little s**t.
Bonus points if you can narrow it down into four cardinal virtues.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:54 pm
Introspection: Know yourself, know what you're thinking, know what you want, and you'll avoid about 90% of possible emotional suffering. You won't sacrifice what you want most of all for what you've convinced yourself is worth it, you won't deny doubting something until all that's left of your belief is a miserable facade, and you'll know when you're in over your head, so you can get out before it's too late. Characters who lack this are: Kita, Feragel, Indio, Aeurdest, Lenore, Sherlock ("Forelock"), Grace, Allemande's rival, Titania. Characters who exemplify this are: Indio (later on), Antimony
Disillusionment: If you think everything is going to absolutely wonderful, it really, really won't. This is partially because starry-eyed naivete probably isn't the best way to approach the world, and partially because it annoys the heck out of me. Characters who lack this are: Amy, Ellen, Allemande, Lumiere, Lenore, Gehsalt ("Expy"), Connor. Characters who exemplify this are: Feragel, Autumn Victoria
Sanity: If you are lack a firm grasp on reality, you will suffer horribly, no matter what. Others will probably suffer along the way, but you... won't get away with it. Bonus points if it's diagnosable, and no, there's nothing you can do about being crazy. Characters who lack this: Katya, Ophelia, Adele, Lumiere, Zaya, Armaranth, Mikah, Silvio. Characters who exemplify this are: pretty much everyone else, with a few exceptions.
Badassery: And then, sometimes, you're just gonna have to buck up and keep going, no matter what. Combat ability (of any kind) is a plus, but... not really the heart of the matter. One part resilience, one part courage, with a sprinkling of practicality and health. Basically, you can't be a wimp. Characters who lack this: Miriam, Kenzie, Adele, Zach, Amy, Chris, Titania, Claire. Characters who exemplify this are: Kita, Feragel, Indio, Autumn Victoria, Moelle
If you have all of these traits, it's not a guarantee that bad things won't happen to you, but it'll mean that you'll probably be able to get over it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Distinct Conversationalist
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:49 pm
Religion: It doesn't matter what you believe in, as long as you believe in something. Pick a religion and run with it. Whether you believe in a thinly-disguised Catholic God, a three-eyed purple alien, or a revamped Greek pantheon--if you've got some kind of faith, you're probably better off. Except for that crazy cultist chick, she's screwed. Characters lacking this virtue: Vitae, Nathan, Kyril, most of the Emanon court, Sculptor
Moral Discernment: Obeying orders is great and all, but there's no merit in blindly following someone's lead. You need to stop and examine not only your own actions, but the orders of your superiors. Question your decisions. Realize that most of the time you will have to take the fall for the things you do. "But he told me to," won't always cut the mustard. Besides, someone who always follows orders is just screaming to be exploited. Characters lacking this virtue: Vitae
Naivete: You don't understand this "real world" you've been thrown into, and that makes you hesitant. Better to stand behind the more world-wise characters and let them take the brunt of it when something bad inevitably happens. Chances are they'd throw themselves between you and the danger one way or another anyway. Of course, where this keeps you from being physically harmed, you'll always have to deal with the guilt and emotional scarring inherent in seeing your friends suffer. Characters lacking this virtue: Jericho, Vitae, Nathan, Kyril, Richard, Adelaide, Sculptor
Ovaries: Boys are more fun to hit. This was proven to be a scientific fact several years ago by the esteemed--LOOK A DISTRACTION. Characters lacking ovaries: Jericho, Vitae, Nathan, Richard, Kyril, Sculptor, Vladimir, Guin, John Elliot, all other male characters ever.
(This was harder than I thought it would be. It's a lot easier for me to determine which of the seven deadly sins is a character's greatest downfall.)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:18 am
Generosity (when it pertains to sex): You get a lot less crap in my stories if you're already a slut. Hang ups of any sort about sex=MUST CORRUPT, apparently.
Dave is the least slutty of all my characters, and has the correspondingly worst ending in the story, being a certain lack of being alive.
Porter's life was fine and dandy until she snubbed Nervy-poos.
And TT had the worst time in the drafts where he was sexually neurotic. (Now he's omnisexual and got promoted to amazing chess master.)
Conversely, the little devils in plain sight, Nerv and Liz lived charmed lives and have sex with everything attractive.
And Hadyn is pretty much not bothered by anyone, and he's probably the lewdest, albeit in the most likable way.
This just confirms my suspicions that my stories are starting to devolve into off-screen porn.
Charisma: Nothing to do with genuine kindness, but charming, outgoing characters (who are also very good liars) tend to be better off than people who say what they mean, are less social and don't hide that they hate people. But, it can be said this is a case of truth in television, where introversion is seen as a "problem." People lacking this quality: Porter, Dave, Liz in the drafts where she was secretly a victim, TT
So, of course, characters with this trait: Nerv, Liz in some drafts, Hadyn
Being Fashionable: If you shop on discount racks/sample sales/knockoffs, wear anything but designer, or don't wear the proper shape and proportion for your body type, you're just more prone to more pain in your life. Men who actually spend more than three minutes on their attire and ladies who don't go out without stilettos and red lips are safe.
People lacking this quality: Bad stuff tends to happen to Porter around the same time she goes from sundresses and french twists to trying to resurrect grunge. Dave.
People who have this quality: Nerv, the devil. Liz. TT, in a sexy scary goth man way. Hadyn.
Can't really think of any more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:31 am
Good Judge of Character: You know what kind of person someone is just by shaking their hand, or just by one little word out of their mouth. And sometimes just by being near them for two second. Characters that exemplify this: Luna, Teri. Characters that Lack this: Pretty much everyone else.
Being a Mother: No seriously, you could have a tortured past but once you have a kid it all stops. Childbirth is torture enough, especially since not everyone lives through it. Characters that (eventually) exemplify this: Sapphire, Jasmin, Teri. Characters that lack this: Everyone else.
Torturing people: How can I torture you if your part of the source of torture? It's not until I find a new source that you'll get hurt. Or until they other realize it's all your fault. Character that exemplifies this: Teri Characters that lack this: Everyone else.
((That's about the only things that save people. Once you can do any of those, you're home free! Some other things people listed make the torture worse. The more badass you are, the more likely I am to throw things at you to just make your steel all the harder.))
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:56 am
Evil Laugh - When you've got the laugh, you're on top. You torture the others. You are badass enough to have come through all the torture you suffered before, and use it to your own advantage. And until you can do that no longer, you're good to go.
Characters who exemplify this: Alora, The 'Doctor', Amber.
Characters who lack this: Nearly everyone else.
Distrusting characters - When you've been hurt, you know it. And because you've played with fire and now have third-degree burns, you'll never do that again. For you, this means your cliche vow not to trust anyone ever again. Unfortunately, that almost never works. You'll need to deal with the worry and fear, when you realize that you trust someone, the instability of some friends, and the anger and more hurt when you realize that you've been hurt again. Usually this'll give ou some free time to explore your little angst-corner and make a stronger vow, which'll then lead to you killing everyone else and living in blind distrust, so you'll never have anymore friends.
Charaters who exemplify this: The 'Doctor', Alora, Nathanial.
Characters who lack this: Natalia, Edge, Aika.
More coming later.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
