My Villain Needs Some Help

Here is his moodboard just because. 😜

(He also struggles with grief over the loss of his family)

@euodia-vision

Buuuut as far as the first question goes… you could have his parents killed for seeking peace? But Len doesn’t know that they were seeking peace, just that their “enemy”, whoever that may be didn’t like their motives? (I’m trying to figure out how to explain what I’m picturing XD) But like, all Derek wants is peace throughout the story, but the wrong kind of peace? But in the end, he realizes his parents were killed for wanting the right kind of peace. Hope that made sense. 😂

No, I understand what you’re saying. 🙂 Yeah, so Derek is looking for the wrong peace in all the wrong places. He’s got to grasp the concept that worldwide or nationwide peace can’t be fully achieved because of our sin nature. What he really needs is God’s peace and His love.

And for your second question, I like Dominus. Reminds me of The Chosen, which is the only pushback I have for it since it’s not unique? I’ve never seen anyone use Reprimor so my leaning would this one.

Yeah. I liked Dominus, and then I was like “Wellll… it reminds me too much of The Chosen.” Which is not a bad thing, cuz they really did use that term in history, but I see what you mean.

So there are my messy thoughts. XD

Thank you for them!! 😄

@gwyndalf-the-wise

I’m gonna come back with suggestions later but what happened to Byron???

Hehehe… 😏

He dies. XD That’s really all there is to it. He controlled Aletheia inside the Orb, and a rebel group finally killed him. Obviously there’s the whole thing where he hands Ami the medallion and says his last words. (Which I think you’ve read that part.) So yeah. He dies. XD

@otherwordlyhistorian

Personally for tour first question I think it would be best if the Len’s parents dying was not a specific target but rather the byproduct of violence. I feel like this would benefit him more. Also making him come from a more humble background could be useful. I feel like he doesn’t need an adversary group because it is better if he is fighting the fundamental concept of violence.

Yeah, that’s a good idea! That’s kinda where my thoughts were headed.

Personally I don’t know how much a redemption ark will do as it may be better to leave him trapped in a misguided belief that he can fix things. However I think this really comes down to his level of machevelianism.

Oh ok. I never really thought of it that way before.

As for the second question I would give him a title but not replace his name with it. Just add it on. Like President Lin, Primer Lin, Emperor, Lin, General Lin, [fill in blank] Lin.

Yep. That seems to be how it’s going to end up. (But nothing’s certain)

@felicity

I really like how you’re not afraid to tackle the big questions, like how to deal with violence and how can a loving God allow evil things to happen.

Thanks! Yeah, big questions need to be handled. Especially ones like these, that are always being asked.

Maybe some “bad guys” snuck poison into the parent’s food, and Derek was the one that unknowingly brought it to them? Then he figures out what happened and feels really guilty about it, and super angry at the “bad guys”? Just my random thoughts on how it could be a little more personal.

That’s a good idea!

I like Reprimor Len. It’s creative.

Ok! Thanks!

Keep up the good work, Esther!!

I definitely will!! 😊 Thanks for the help!! 😄

@thearcaneaxiom

Thanks for the trophy! XD

You earned it. 😉 😂

A few questions. Is this earth, or a different planet with a similar history. Did you give the nation the name Aletheia out of irony? Aletheia means truthful and revealing, but it’s a nation that has been trapped by the Orb, closed off, hidden, within a lie. Perhaps for those that come out of the Orb to be true Aletheians, revealing the truth?

I’m not entirely sure if it is earth or not. The genre is dystopian, so it is similar to our world/America. I haven’t quite gotten to a point where it must be identified as earth or another planet, so I’m still deciding on that.

I did name it Aletheia on purpose. 😉 Aletheia was founded on truth and on God’s Word, similar to America. But it became corrupted. They became too comfortable in economic prosperity and military strength and forgot God. (If you want a long summary of its history, I can post it.)

Most of the Aletheians that come out of the Orb are seeking freedom from Bayron Len’s ruling. Outside the Orb is much better economically, but the people don’t care as much about the government and morals. They just conform to Derek Len’s standards so they can live comfortably. There are some Aletheians, though, that see the wrong and desire to change it. They just don’t do anything about it and keep themselves hidden because of their fear. My MCs and their group are the ones who end up slowly bringing them out of hiding.

What are the different ideologies of the two brothers for peace? Do they lean for an extreme justice, extreme mercy, extreme justice in the name of mercy? I’m assuming your thinking of socialist/communist philosophies, which in most cases would be extreme justice systems. I think knowing this might help work out what happened specifically happened to their parents, and who did it, which led the brothers to gain those ideologies specifically, other than just world peace. Also, this may help with your other other question. Does he want to give off the idea that he’s in charge, and no one can change or challenge that, like the LordRuler, or does he want to suggest that he is a friendly peacemaker, like Big Brother, there to help the people follow (his version of) right and wrong?

(I will warn you, my answer hints at spoilers later on)

So, Bayron wants to get peace by avoiding the bad and simply ignoring it. Derek acknowledges it, but he tried to abolish it. And when I say bad, I mean violence and wars. This that disrupt national peace. Derek does all he can to keep peace. For example, when my MCs do something seemingly “against the law”, they don’t get a trial because Derek claims it will only cause more strife and division among people. (Yeah… his worldview is twisted. 😅)

Derek took over the land outside of the Orb very easily, much like Adolf Hitler did. The people were hurting, and he offered a way out. And the way out of their failing economy actually worked. But because the people loved him, he kept the power he had and promised the people peace. Many are not aware of what goes on behind the scenes in the government because Derek is a tyrant. In all honesty, most of his citizens only like him out of fear, while some do like him and think he can fix all their problems. It’s very much humanistic. Some of Derek’s most faithful followers think he is divine. While they don’t worship him by bowing down and making sacrifices and such, they worship him by idolizing him. He just accepts it. He claims he is one of them, and “tries” to show that he is equal to the people, but he really doesn’t believe that. He only says it to get the people to accept him even more.

I honestly think this is his way of feeling loved and important. His parents expected a lot of him, so he tried to reach their standards. When he became a leader of Aletheia outside the Orb, he thought that he had achieved something great. Something that his parents would be proud of. I believe that he loved his parents more than they actually loved him. This is why he can relate to Everton so much. Ev’s father was overly strict and Ev tried so hard to reach his expectations. When he didn’t, he felt like a failure. (Reasons behind Ev’s father’s strictness is a whole other topic. XD)

Anyway…

I think that answered your question. XD

(And it helped me delve deeper into Len’s character and backstory. I actually made some of that up on the spot. 😂)