This is a perceived essence.

Aric Eaglesword
…Body {Eyes…… [Color (Black hole)
…………………………………… (A shadow)]
…………………….... [Depth (Hidden quicksand)
……………………………………. (A pool of blood)
…………………………………… (The centre of a sunflower)]
……………………… [Sparkle (A hastily concealed knife)
……………………………………. (Sunshine reflecting off metal)]}
……… {Smile………………… (A bird flitting from tree to tree)
………………………………..... (Sun hiding behind thunderclouds)]}
...... {Hair...... [Color (Caramel)
............................... (A lion's mane)]
.................... [Texture (Silken thread)
................................ (A killer's knife)]}
.......{Face.................(Scottish crags)
................................(An aged warrior)
……… {Motion... [Grace (A skilled assassin)
…………………………………… (A swallow)
.................... [Strength (A pillar)
……………………………………… (A vise-like grip)]
………………………. [Speed (A cougar descending on its prey)
................................(A hummingbird)]}

…Spirit {………… [Quality (An unknown object)]
……………………… [Mystery (A hooded figure)
..................................(A hidden meaning)
..................................(A concealed weapon)]
……………………… [Loyalty (One who would give his life before betraying his friend)
.................................(A soldier plunging blindly into battle at his superior’s command)]}

…Mind {………………… [Clarity (A harsh slap)
......................................(A summer day)]
…………………………….. [Depth (A carefully cut diamond)
………………………………………... (Angel Falls)]
…………………………….. [Knowledge (An ancient chronicle)
………………………………….............. (A stalker)]}

…Soul {………………… [Depth (A field of wheat)
………………………………………… (Tearful eyes)]
……………………………. [Hidden pain (A useless hope)
…………………………………………....... (Clothing catching on a wound)]}

Are you getting a mixed message with this one? I did that on purpose. What is your impression of Aric from reading the map?

Please don't read until you've read the map, and thought about my question:
Aric Eaglesword is my mystery character. Neither my readers nor my characters know if he is good or evil until the end. Thus, I tried to give both good and bad-sounding metaphors in each category.

When I get it finished, I will post Aric's true essence.

I am getting an impression for which the phrase "Eaglesword" is a perfect encapsulation.

He is swift and skillful in a deadly sort of way, with an unsearchable mind that takes in more information than it reveals. He is mysterious, yet not all together untrustworthy, with rough features that disguise his youthful quickness. Beneath the confidence lies hidden pain, which perhaps reveals itself in his fleeting smiles.

* after reading spoiler text * I'd trust him. He has a confidence and a strength that I'd want to confide in. However, if he was shifty, as he seems he might be, I'd be very cautious and unsure about him... like sensing something shifting in the shadows behind me, only to turn around and see nothing there...

Yes! You got it! That's pretty much exactly what Aric seems like. In fact, your thoughts in the spoiler text are very close to what my MC thinks of him.

Your essence map is effective, then. Hooray! Sounds like an intriguing character.

Thanks!



*looks guiltily at empty document* Yeah, I guess I should work on that.