My main villain, Vetis. He's a demon lord, specializing in corruption. That is, manipulating people to accomplish his own ends. I need some help working on him to make him believable.

Vetis: What, I'm not believable?

Not particularly, I don't think.

Vetis: Suit yourself. I believe rather firmly in me.

What's his goal/purpose? And what happens to him if he fails in it?

He is-

Vetis: I am attempting to take control of the entire world, in order to gain power from their emotions so that I may overthrow the Lord of the Underworld. Should I fail, I will either be destroyed by the humans, or destroyed by the Dark Lord.

Yeah, that.

Ah, yes, I will address you directly then, Sir Vetis!

Is manipulating people a necessary sort of evil that is just what you have to do in order to reach your goals? Or do you enjoy the process?

Also, why should you be in control of the world? I'm honestly asking, convince me why you're the man (or demon) for the job.

Vetis: I will admit that I enjoy the emotions I can get out of mortals when I manipulate them, although I try to avoid mixing business with pleasure. As to why I should rule, well, *sinister chuckle* Because I can. Because I can do a better job than the humans who currently rule it. And because, if I do not rule it, then eventually a demon of destruction, or chaos, or anarchy, will eventually take it over, and then everyone will be worse off.

Hmm, I think we have hit a slight snag on your believability, Mr. Vetis, because I find it a bit two dimensional that you are, shall we say all evil. Even Hitler was once a struggling student just trying to get into art school and rather upset he was rejected. And well, if you are completely evil like say the demons in the Screwtape letters, you might argue that a chaotic anarchy in which demons could feed off humans as much as they pleased would better suit all of you.

So, lets explore this bit about a demon of chaos. Since I think I'd find a misguided but sincere desire to take better of the care of the world might give you some dimension. Why is everyone better off with order instead of chaos? Don't demons prefer chaos? And, if humans are just plaything to enjoy, should you make the world better off for them? Or do you mean if the humans are in chaos there will then be more chaos for demons? Will too much chaos make it harder for you to enjoy what you to humans and if so how?

Vetis: I like control. And I like fear. Not the hot, run for your life fear, but the cold terror of knowing that there is nothing you can do to escape your fate. I like making humans trust me, and then destroying them, and their trust. I like an ordered world because it gives me the power to play the emotions of the entire world, pulling the emotions I need when I need them. I bear no animosity to the humans. Some of them are rather enjoyable, and I leave them alone, for the most part. I don't actually want their world. I only need their emotion so I can overthrow the Dark Lord and rule the Underworld. I'll put it back when I'm done. *slight smirk as he says this last with a slightly childlike inflection*

(it's like an interview... I'm so going to write that book about the author who's characters come to life some day...)

Um... I have nothing worthwhile to contribute here. Carry on.

Yeah, if interview is what the character wants, usually the easier way to go about it. You could add a question though if one comes to you. I'm so used to talking to characters (or not talking depending on the character) I just fall into it.

Have you seen Stranger than Fiction? An awesome story about a character coming to life. I love that movie.

*coughs*

Oh, yes, let's not forget our guest of honor here...

Um, so tell me then Mr. Vetis, about your relationship with the Dark Lord. How do you feel about him personally? And how will your rule of the underworld be better than his?

Vetis: *snorts* The Lord of the Underworld is a thug. He only rules because he is the strongest. He has no sense of balance or leadership whatsoever, and, to be blunt, I just don't like him. If he possessed something resembling intelligence, he would be expecting me to make this move, but he isn't, so I can succeed. If I were in charge, the Underworld would be much, much stronger.

Hmm, that's making him sound a bit too easy to defeat... if he's just a mindless thug, why haven't you done this sooner?

Vetis: *small mirthless smile* Because he's a mindless thug with enough power to kill the next ten demons in the line of ascension without too much trouble.

Me: Hmmm. I haven't been on in a loong time, and they went and changed the rules on me. Sounds like in a good way, though.

Vetis: *stretches wings* As long as I get to torture someone.

Me: >.> It's a forum full of writers. I'm sure someone is writing a torture scene or just wants to know how their charrie would react.

And here I was feeling bad for being away, and it turns out no one missed me. *aside* Or at least, you. If I made a lounge with my heroes, it would be full.

Vetis: *ignores me*

Hrm. I don't know if I could keep up with one of the main intro threads. Or anywhere else for that matter. We'll see next week, when I have a five-day weekend and a two-day school week.