Since I’ve recently hit a slump when it comes to blogging ideas, coming across a post that encouraged to share something about one’s MC in a different way seemed like a good idea. So, let’s get to know the MC of my project via 10 questions.

This idea comes from Maya Joelle, and I’ve came across it thanks to Mary of Wild Writing Dreams.

The rules are simple: answer 10 questions about your project’s MC. Optional is linking back to her original post (done above the picture) and pasting her graphic (just above). It was run in January, but I had to take my time, bah.

1 // Introduce your MC. What’s their name? Age? Appearance?

Tyr’eshal Darkwood, the MC of my story, is ~19,5 years by chapter one. He’s based on the high elf archetype – light skin, pointed ears, athletic figure. At two meters, he’s among the tallest of his people, and what sets him apart the most are his aquamarine-colored eyes and dark-green hair.

2 // Explain how your MC fits into the plot of your book (as best you can without spoiling it all…).

Son to a pair of exceptional warriors, who have a prominent position in a faction of heroes, a lot is expected from him. More so when he becomes a paladin, and many (including his father) are willing to believe he may be the tipping element to rid their world of the demon attackers.

3 // What’s the first thing your MC says in the story? The last? A random quote from the middle that you like?

The first: “Why would I fall when no one could see it?” – a reaction to a friend’s tease regarding his training.

The last – well, can’t say that. Spoilers and stuff. Personal favorites include several internal thoughts, of which I’ll share one (at 52%, so fits the middle mark more or less).

“I thought only nobles care for birthright,” Tyr’eshal said. He definitely wished it was so. He always believed that being a warrior leader was about skill, trust, and charisma – and while having a legacy of skilled warriors was great, he would not think it would be a reason enough for someone to become a leader. Kraasian had what people would want to see in a leader and Tyr’eshal wanted to believe he became one through the sheer merit in battle, not because their fathers before them were leaders as well and passed it down their bloodline like a crown.

The middle part, including the paragraph above, is about the difference between the (sometimes idealistic) expectations and the reality of a warrior’s life – one of the major Coming-of-age elements in the first book.

4 // Which other character would die for your MC?

One of the story themes is exploring the parent-son relationship and how it’s affected by a warrior’s approach to life. Thus, Tyr’eshal’s parents are definitely among those (and, in early concepts, they died for him when he was young, Harry Potter style, but I abandoned the orphan trope before the first draft was completed).

Another would be Shianna Featherfoot, his best friend.

5 // Would your MC die for them?

If the need arose, yes, but you can be sure he’d do all in his powers to save anyone who he could, preferably including himself.

6 // Have any major details about your MC changed since you first created them?

Well, all of them, I guess. His personality and the exact role in the story changed a lot during the concept stage, going through most of the tropes/clichés.

7 // What characters (from books/movies not by you) remind you of your MC? Why?

Arthas Menethil (pre-corruption) and Anduin Wrynn from the Warcraft universe. Arthas’ desire to protect his people at all costs was one of the initial inspirations (however, my story isn’t a “fall to darkness” story). Arthas’ relationship with Jaina Proudmoore may be a slight similarity in the meaning that, just like Arthas, Tyr’eshal wishes to find time for his love despite what’s expected from him.

When it comes to similarities to Anduin, Tyr’eshal is hopeful – to the point some may see him naive and way too forgiving – when he’s involved in diplomacy.

Furthermore, I used Optimus Prime from Michael Bay’s movies for bits of combat inspiration (Optimus is taller than most other transformers, just as Tyr’eshal is among the tallest elves) as well as the fact they’re both protector figures.

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8 // Share your MC’s favorites! [color, food, type of clothing, place, type of music, season, smell, etc.]

Not all of these are developed in the story or in my notes, but I can share some: Tyr’eshal’s favorite place is a forest lake not far from his home. His food and drink preference lies in baked fish and nectar (with the added value that sugar-rich nectar helps to recover energy used on his combat abilities). He has no season preference, finding something in each of them (inspired by my real self) and his favorite smell is the earthly scent of dense pine woods.

9 // If your MC wasn’t involved in your story, what would they be doing? (Basically: what’s their dream life? Where do they want to live, what do they want to do?)

Raised on tales of self-sacrifice and valor of his ancestors, he’d likely become a warrior in search of a wothy cause to fight for anyway.

10 // Share a fun extra (another collage, a playlist, a scene from the story, a drawing, etc.).

As my skills with drawing in any form are poor, and it’d be difficult to find a scene that can stand alone and is spoiler-free, this is a tough one. So, just some behind-the-scenes facts.

• Shianna, who is mentioned in question 4, wasn’t at all a part of the story in the concepts. I’ve created her on the spot when I started drafting book one. Despite (or maybe because) of that, she’s one of my favorites.
• The first part I wrote was actually a scene ~60% down the whole story (at this point, chapter 41 in book two – still WIP). By that point, neither the MC nor any other characters involved in the demo snipped had a final name, only nicknames.
• There are several references to metal songs. This includes the Prologue (Lifetimes at War, named after Sabaton song A Lifetime of War), and the chapter Darkened days to come (after same-name song by the band Sirenia), the supporting character Alesia Marshwalker (the band Eluveitie has a song named Alesia), the dwarves Brodan (after the leader of Sabaton, Joakim Brodén) and Velund (after the leader of Sirenia, Morten Veland), and a few not-so-direct mentions.
• A few minor characters are named after my World of Warcraft characters (and vice-versa), as well as characters of fellow other players who encouraged me to keep going in the early days.

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So, that’s it for today. Is there something you’d like to know about my story or the characters? Or throw another such a challenge at me? You’re welcome to do so in the comment sections. If not, have a nice day and see you the next time.