Looking for character ideas

Lakeside

Lakeside

Resident
FCN Regular
Ok,I am being serious this time and on this thread, I have no patience for banality. If you want to post nonsense, there are 1000 other threads for that.

Right, onto the issue. I'm attempting to create a character for the current novel (A sword and sorcery fantasy); a bad guy. Its for the finale, so, he/she has to be the baddest bad-ass imaginable.

This is what I have so far (Not much)

Zsasa-Imrel - Stygian - olive-skinned features of that race and dark inscrutable eyes. Shaven pate, a long goatee, tall and lean with wiry whipcord strength.

Clothing: no ideas yet

Persona ideas: This is the sorta guy who drinks virgin's blood for breakfast.. believes blood aids great sorcery.. heartless, cruel.. the ultimate miscreant.

So, I am looking for ideas for his persona and a few ideas of the type or types of sorcery he possesses. I've been racking my brain for a week, but I guess my imagination lacks the 'darkess' needed to conjour this guy out of thin air.

Thanks in advance

(You can PM if you prefer not to post here)

Ls x
 
I am asking the forum because I know there are many, many creative minds here from my long association with FCN.

I am not asking if the members have no ideas, I am asking if they so do.

Please refrain from replying with negative information.

Thank you everyone.

Ls x
 
Update:

Best idea, go back to basics.

After a couple of conversations.. a bit more data..

Set’s Holy Mountain was what every one called the black basalt massive that stood as the backdrop for the city of Shahilhaq. With its high-domed towers, many embellished with gold, coins or jewels of a combination of all three, wide paved roads and streets, ornate gardens and fountains, it was the crown of Stygia. Guilded palindromes roamed the streets borne along by slaves with whip-scarred backs. Camels bore veiled palanquins and matched stallions pulled carriages that bespoke of wealth few other realms on earth could match.

I figure, grow the culture first then evolve the character to suit what I end up with as his 'roots', so to speak.

Stay tuned.

Ls x
 
Update:

It's growing, slowly.. but starting to get easier.. thx for the ideas..

Set’s Holy Mountain was what every one called the black basalt massive that stood as the backdrop for the city of Shahilhaq. With its high-domed towers, many embellished with gold, coins or jewels of a combination of all three, wide paved roads and streets, ornate gardens and fountains, it was the crown of Stygia. Guilded palindromes roamed the streets borne along by slaves with whip-scarred backs. Camels bore veiled palanquins and matched stallions pulled carriages that bespoke of wealth few other realms on earth could match. Even the citizens on foot displayed regal finery, gold-embossed silks, embroidered brocades and many sporting fine linen cloaks, bejewelled belts with usually a long curved sword or a long slender dagger or both suspended from it. Amongst this arrogant display of wealth moved the ones who contributed to most of it, the slaves; with nothing but a ragged loin cloth as their sole possession in life, they did as they were bid or they were fed to Set in ghastly torturous rituals that further enriched Set’s already formidable power. The further west the Stygian Empire pushed, more diverse peoples were becoming the captives and every nation on Earth would be represented in the list of oppressed.

Flickering braziers hanging from ancient crenelated walls sent wan light and murky shadows dancing along the dark flagstone floor, rug-decorated walls and dimly, touching the high ceiling of the long hall that stretched out from the imposing metal entry doors that opened to the palace.

Ls x
 
Lakeside said:
Ok,I am being serious this time and on this thread, I have no patience for banality. If you want to post nonsense, there are 1000 other threads for that.

Right, onto the issue. I'm attempting to create a character for the current novel (A sword and sorcery fantasy); a bad guy. Its for the finale, so, he/she has to be the baddest bad-ass imaginable.

This is what I have so far (Not much)

Zsasa-Imrel - Stygian - olive-skinned features of that race and dark inscrutable eyes. Shaven pate, a long goatee, tall and lean with wiry whipcord strength.

Clothing: no ideas yet

Persona ideas: This is the sorta guy who drinks virgin's blood for breakfast.. believes blood aids great sorcery.. heartless, cruel.. the ultimate miscreant.

So, I am looking for ideas for his persona and a few ideas of the type or types of sorcery he possesses. I've been racking my brain for a week, but I guess my imagination lacks the 'darkess' needed to conjour this guy out of thin air.

Thanks in advance

(You can PM if you prefer not to post here)

Ls x
Click to expand...

I see this guy with black and grey robes, a tall collar that goes up behind his head or a hood that is way to big but works. No other color since he is a form of evil.
He walks on bare feet perhaps?

A neckless offcourse, he needs a neckless with a green or red emerald or something.

He is very confidend that his ways are the right ways for victory and ultimate power. Deceiving and is very good at it.
He will take no prisinors. It does not matter to him how much you love and care about people or places or things. He'd destroy it all.

Hope this is helpfull.
 
Yes, its good, thank you so much. I'm getting the idea sorted in my head slowly.

Update:

Flickering braziers hanging from ancient crenelated walls sent wan light and murky shadows dancing along the dark flagstone floor, rug-decorated walls and dimly, touching the high ceiling of the long hall that stretched out from the imposing metal entry doors that opened to the palace. Stretching out so far as to almost be lost in the loom of distance, the hall traversed the length of the palace and opened through a wide portal of metal-covered bi-valve doors onto a broad terrace overlooking a semicircular stone-seat amphitheatre. Stone steps, more than one could count climbed steadily from the open side of the amphitheatre up the mountain’s lower slope to another terrace that over-looked this outdoor auditorium. Stygians from the ruling classes would fill the amphitheatre whenever the blood-games were scheduled and howl their delight as slaves, prisoners and foreigners were pitted against each other for the right to live a few more days. Half a dozen openings on the mountain side of the amphitheatre gave access to the arena via tunnels dug deep into the mountain that connected to both the slave pits and animal pens.

Ok, its just a draft at present, but I am thinking, as the Stygians value blood sport, plan it so the heroine ends up involved, so successfully that she wins the approbation of the locals and possibly gains access to the head-honcho thus offering a chance to take his head.

That may change yet, but so far, I'll aim at that idea and see how it transpires.

Ls x
 
Update:

Set in his physical serpent form would occasionally venture out from one of the tunnels to crush to a bloodied paste or devour these feckless souls, returning to its subterranean lair only when the reptile’s appetite was sated or no one living remained. Wild beasts from every corner of their empire would also get their time in the arena; bears, wolves, lions and tigers would be released to fight each other or selected prisoners, all for the pleasure of their Stygian hosts and the glory of Set. Master of all although not wearing the crown of empire was the necromancer and sorcerer, Zsasa-Imrel. Dressed in a long, flowing and shapeless tunic that reached to the man’s ankles was trimmed with a fine grey fur and decorated with curious hieroglyphics and geometrical symbols. Featuring a high stand-up stiff collar lined with dark red silk, if framed his pale gaunt face and highlighted the absolute lack of any displayed emotions. Bearing the expanse of centuries of life on his narrow shoulders, he appeared to be no more than middle-aged and as far back as anyone could remember, this visage had remained unchanged and displayed his success at warding off the ravages of time. No one knew how he did it but his penchant for regular deliveries of beautiful, young virgins was rumoured to aid his powerful sorcery.

Its growing.. :D

Ls x
 
Update:

Fidelma-Izsp wore the crown of Empire but he was no more than a figurehead; the public face of Stygia’s dark ruler, Zsasa-Imrel. Fidelma and his ring of advisors handled all the day-to-day tasks of governing, public works, taxation, administration and the thousand and one other chores that ruling an empire required. Although almost everyone knew that Zsasa-Imrel was Stygia’s direct connection with their God, few realised that he had gradually over generations usurped the real power of the Stygian Empire, the fanatical faith of Set’s followers and altered Stygian culture to suit his desire to rule all. His mastery of dark arts over time has left his people little choice and the belief that they were simply doing Set’s bidding and their unshakable faith had toppled kingdoms and overthrown nations. Set’s destiny was to envelop the world in its oppressive coils, mould it in Set’s image and create a utopia for all true worshippers. Zsasa-Imrel intended that his destiny was to make it happen then reap the rewards as befitting the interpreter of Set’s divine will and the one ruler on earth would be himself.

Zsasa-Imrel, with the olive-skinned features native to Stygia, dark inscrutable eyes, bearing a shaven pate, a long goatee, he was tall and lean with wiry whipcord strength and typical of his race. Totally ruthless and cruel although to the emotionless Stygian, wiping a nation from the map equated to no more than brushing lint off his lapel, it was highly regarded within the inner sanctum of the palace that he derived some pleasure from the terror and suffering of others. The popular rumour was that direct ascension to Set’s utopia was possible through him and on his behalf, his agents scoured the lands, selecting suitable candidates, offering tales of undreamed-of wealth and seducing young daughters away from families and delivering them unto him. Later, they would return with a potion that when a few drops were added to a pan of clean water, an image formed on the surface and a faint voice spoke. The image was of their smiling daughter, clad in the finest gossamer robes now sporting giant golden wings and hovering above a shimmering clear pool of water.

‘I am in paradise so do not fear for me.’ The hushed voice of their daughter said slowly. ‘I want for nothing and feel no pain. I love you my parents.’ The image then shivered a few times and wafted from the water’s surface like pale smoke, quickly dispersed in the air and was gone.

The bearer of good ridings would then hand over the small phial and thank them. “Use the drops wisely to again see your daughter, for there can be no more when the jar is empty.”

The courier knew each image would display differently; it would display their daughter being tutored, or sitting at a banquet table, picking flowers in fields covered in riotous colour or dancing under the stars but the spoken words never varied. The sorcery that people believed was involved was to give an image of what the daughter was doing at that exact moment but was unable to give a direct spoken message. Providing proof of the desired result kept belief of ascension though Zsasa-Imrel highly desirable to the people’s minds and maintained a steady stream of applicants who to wished to ascend to utopia and provide a life of wealth and luxury for their family in doing so. The truth of the illusion-producing liquid was that it was made with the pollen from the yellow lotus, the girls own vaginal fluids, her tears and the last drops of her blood dripping from her severed neck. Set, far below in his subterranean pit was growing fat on their carcasses and nothing remained to prove whether the girl had ever existed at all.

Ok, the nasty factor is climbing now. the roll resumes..

Thank you everyone. :)

Love

Ls x
 
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