The Hero
Ex-musteteer, was forced to leave the musketeers as his overconfidence quite often turns into arrangance which often lands his fellow musketeers and himself into trouble. He decides to leave Europe and travelles the trade routes to the Middle East but becomes a desert nomad. Due to the difference in climate and terrain he trades his horse for a chamel and begins to adopt some qualities of the nomad, wrapped in robes over his musteteer garb. If trouble arises his robes are dramatically flung from him to reveal his heroic nature. He always has the plan to get back to Europe to prove his worth.
Sidekick
A child of legend and prophesy born with ancient markings on his skin if spoken correctly will allow the reader a power yet not known to the child. His family were killed by evil men hunting for the boy for his powers. Too young to exact revenge but the boy is foolishly looking for it. Luckily he has his mentor the musketeer to keep him in check and prefare him for what he must one day face. He fashions out of rags his own musketeer clothing.
Villain
The evil Sultan reigning over the Middle East with a iron hand and as plans to rule the world. He only became Sultan because his Brother, a good man was murdered. It was he who unknown to everyone murdered his Brother. He dispatches his guards to hunt for the boy of the legend, with the marking of the anceint language and is responcible for the death of the boys family. Using the power of sorcery he believes he has unmasked the true nature of the prophesy. In that whoever utters the words when the boys blood if split will have control of an army of Golems that will rise up from the ground. He intends on killing the boy and gain control of his power.
The problem you have here is that your archetypes have become muddled. If a story revolves around one character, then they are the hero, however young or inexperienced they may be. Harry Potter being a great example here. In your story, the young boy would grow to master his powers and become a more typical hero as the story progresses. Your musketeer "hero", really is just a bodyguard, and therefore could be sidekick, if you made him more humourous.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, you have made the maguffin and a character the same thing, which is problematic for a story point of view. If at any point in the series, the young boy is captured, thats the end of that, whereas if the maguffin is, say an item the boy carries, then even if it is stolen, he could still steal it back. It helps create more stories.
Ok, so heres some possible solutions:
The hero could be the musketeer, but , rather than be a bodyguard, he vows to complete a task, such as stopping the villain. The action involves him thwarting the villains attempts to take over the world, with Golems or other magic. Perhaps the sultans power is so strong that everyone else is frightened to act against him. His sidekick could be a magic creature, parrot, or even a talking camel - an interesting character but not intrinsic to the plot.
Alternatively, you can have a young teenage hero,with magic powers from a genie, or possessing a mystic artifact. Rather than murder, possibly his parents are now slaves for the evil sultan, and he vows to rescue them and free his country from the sultans power
The point that i am making here, is too keep the archetypes simple and defined - it helps you design strong characters, without confusing the audience.
It's interesting I have written a camel into the story and did think at one point of using it as the sidekick but thought it might be a little silly. But if you don't think so then maybe that might be an idea.
ReplyDeleteYeah and I think it has to be in the story that he has a mission to stop the evil Sultan otherwise the story wont really go anywhere.