I decided to do something new and different for the upcoming GothNoWriMo event in just 3 days. It seems to be common practice to do character interviews of some of the main characters of a story to help flesh out what the characters are all about. I decided to give it a try, and it's certainly helped a lot with my story's character development. Whether I'll do this for NaNoWriMo as well, is uncertain. This was pretty time-consuming just for 3 characters! I have many more planned in my NaNoWriMo story. Regardless, this was a very neat exercise. The interview questions were taken from one of my writing group member's interview exercise. I guess this will be the last of what I will (be allowed to) reveal about my story until GothNoWriMo is over.
Daggax'iylion
1. How would you rate your looks and intelligence?
"My intellect far-precedes my looks. A necromancer's life (and sometimes undeath) is comprised of most things that are considered 'unsavory' by those who do not understand the Art. So many centuries of practicing the Art has taken a physical toll on my Human body as a result. My Draconic form is far more pleasing to my eyes in comparison to my weaker disguise. My own vanity and self-consciousness is far from important at this point, however."
2. What skills set you apart from everyone else?
"Dragons of my type possess many inherent skills that set us apart from the lesser creatures. We are stronger, wiser and live longer than any other creature, just to name a few. Coupled with my mastering of the Art of Necromancy, I am considered a powerful force by many."
3. What is the greatest accomplishment and your greatest failure to date (prior to the beginning of the story)?
"My greatest accomplishment was mastering the Art. I have surpassed many legends and even those of my race who have delved in the Art for centuries. As for failures, I live on perfection, thus I have not failed in my work. There is no room for failure especially when dealing with potent magic, lest you are a careless fool."
4. In what kind of family were you raised? How were you treated by your parents?
"Knowledge of my parents remains cloudy. I do know that I had two parents at some point, however. Upon hatching, a Dragon is immediately taught survival. There is no time for love and affection as most lesser creatures seem to exert to their young. Only a few months after I hatched, my parents were slain by hunters, and I had been forced to survive on my own as a result. Survival is instinct. This is what my parents instilled in me during those brief few months."
5. What is your life ambition?
"I have become old and tired, and yet, there is still more I wish to see and do in the world. I want to extend my life beyond my Twilight years -- perhaps even become an immortal. I have become vain and determined in my work. I do not wish to see it all fade away upon my death. My work will live on -- in some shape or form."
6. What role do you see yourself playing in this group (group of characters in the story)?
"I will be this girl's master and she will serve my every whim until she pays off the blood debt she owes to me. Her blood will be shed in the work that she does for me. She is but a weak creature, but I will dominate her, and perhaps train her in the Art, if she shows the interest and intellect for it. I will also be a worthy adversary to Banin Solanum and his accursed band of hunters."
7. What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?
"I was foolish enough to allow my student to assist me in the creation of a particular potion which consisted of the extraction of blood from a subdued vampire. She, of course did not properly ensure that the creature was secured on the examination table prior to performing the extraction and it jumped out and attacked her, nearly biting her and the chaos that followed made a mess of my precious lab as a result. It took weeks to fix my lab again."
8. What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?
"That would be the day I mastered the Necromantic Art. I had surpassed many century-old legends and masters that preceded my existence. I have now become living proof that such a feat is possible. I have achieved my greatest power."
9. How do you feel about this group (story group)? How do you feel about other members in the group?
"Jasmine is a peculiar girl whom I've begun to grow fond of. She respects my authority and fears my dominance. She has made an ideal test subject for my many experimental spells. It intrigues me just how resilient her body is. Banin Solanum and his accursed dragonslaying band, the Hemlock Hunters have been nothing but a thorn in my side since they took up residence in my territory. They underestimate me to be nothing more than a feeble old Dragon who is on the brink of death; however it is their very ignorance that will weave their own deaths."
Jasmine
1. How would you rate your looks and intelligence?
"I'd like to consider myself modestly attractive. I never had the opportunity to experience the admiration of another man before to ensure these assumptions, however. I am smart, but not nearly as smart as Master Dagg. He seems fond of me enough to teach me his ways, however, and that makes me happy."
2. What skills set you apart from everyone else?
"I love to cook and I can confidently say that I am quite good at it. I have been known to cook the strangest of dishes. I like to be creative when I cook and create my own recipes. Master Dagg is especially amazed at my skill because likes the way I prepare seafood dishes (which is his favorite type of food, by the way)."
3. What is the greatest accomplishment and your greatest failure to date (prior to the beginning of the story)?
"If I had to name just one accomplishment, it would certainly have to be the day I perfected mother's famous Rose Petal Cake recipe. I discovered that the secret ingredient to making it so savory was not using roses at all, but apples! My greatest failure was the one time I accidentally burned dinner for the family because I so wrapped up in my reading that I completely forgot about it."
4. In what kind of family were you raised? How were you treated by your parents?
"I had two, hard-working and loving parents who provided for me and my sister. We all worked peacefully and productively on the family farm everyday. My father tended to be a bit more protective of me because I was the youngest."
5. What is your life ambition?
"I would like to travel the world someday. I have spent most of my life growing up on the family farm; therefore I am very interested in what else the world has to offer."
6. What role do you see yourself playing in this group (group of characters in the story)?
"I will be Master Dagg's loyal apprentice, eager to learn more of the Art."
7. What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?
"When I was younger, I had consumed some wild mushrooms which grew regularly in the fields around the farm, and it caused me to fall deathly ill. I had misunderstood my sister's explanation on which mushrooms were allowed to be eaten and which ones weren't. My unfortunate condition caused quite a scare for everyone that day."
8. What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?
"That has to be my eighth birthday. Daddy got me the cutest little black kitten, which I named Periwinkle."
9. How do you feel about this group (story group)? How do you feel about other members in the group?
"Master Dagg is a very powerful man -- and Dragon -- whom I respect highly. I despise Banin Solanum and the rest of the dragonslayers, as they seek to kill my master in cold blood."
Banin Solanum
1. How would you rate your looks and intelligence?
"I am extremely handsome and not too modest to admit it. My witty charm and charismatic guise defines every woman's fantasy. My physical strength an intellectual prowess defines every man's aspirations. My mind is just as deadly as any sword. I am defined as a true leader."
2. What skills set you apart from everyone else?
"For many years, I have hunted and successfully slain powerful Dragons who have threatened and ravaged our homeland. My deeds are known and feared by Humans and many creatures alike. Having the qualities of a natural leader, I took up that role in the established and well-known company of warriors known as the Hemlock Hunters. I am what every man strives to be and more."
3. What is the greatest accomplishment and your greatest failure to date (prior to the beginning of the story)?
"I do not value my accomplishments more than another. Accomplishment defines success and success is what defines me. I am my own greatest accomplishment. There is no room for failure, else I would not be where I am today."
4. In what kind of family were you raised? How were you treated by your parents?
"I was born and raised in a large noble family. I was the youngest child of seven siblings, and thus I was regularly ignored and underestimated by them. It was stereotypical thinking for the youngest son to be the weakest. My parents were more focused on the success of my elder siblings; however, little did they realize I would be the one to surpass them all."
5. What is your life ambition?
"I seek the greatest ambition above all -- knowledge."
6. What role do you see yourself playing in this group (group of characters in the story)?
"I am the leader of the Hemlock Hunters. I will do as I have always done since I took up this position and seek out and destroy this threatening Draconic menace that resides in our beautiful country."
7. What is the worst thing that has ever happened to you?
"Like all things, the worst thing that usually happens to a hunter is when his prey manages to escape. That translates to failure. Did I not mention before that there is no room for failure?"
8. What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?
"Perhaps it was the day we took down the elder Red, Xarathylane. She was responsible for the death and destruction of an entire province, and the start of this accursed drought."
9. How do you feel about this group (story group)? How do you feel about other members in the group?
"The Hemlock Hunters thrive to this day because of my leadership. Daggax'iylion is an evil Dragon who is also one of the most formidable opponents I've faced in my career as a hunter. I do enjoy a challenge."
