Well, the topic title makes this pretty self-explanatory... but if you had to choose one person in this world or other fictional tales to describe your characters, who would it be? Tell us who & why.

Elanhil: (Pre-war) Zidane (Post-war) William Wilberforce.
(Pre-war) I chose Zidane mainly because of Elanhil's hot temper. But also during his career as a general during the war he almost rises to a legendary status, with his amazing skill to be able to do what he sets out to. (Post-war) After the war because of how his mother was mistreated Elanhil dedicates his life to the end of slavery in the former Tusholan empire. He still does have a hot temper, however, unlike Wilberforce.

Rinifer: General Sherman. Rinifer is very ruthless, authoritative, and determined. He'll do what he can to get his way, not caring about the effects his actions will have on others.

Herion: ??? I dunno...know anybody who was determined to achieve a goal within their lifetime but must pass the baton off to another person when they grow old because they haven't succeeded yet?

And I'll be back later. I need to think some more about my other MCs...

It's tough to trace the others but Luke is a lot like the blonde dude (not the hippie) from Remember the Titans. He has that smile and that annoying sense of humor that you hate one minute and love the next.

I watch far too much Psych.
Thomas (in Archelon Chronicle) has been pretty strongly influenced by Shawn Spencer up through third season. Happy-go-lucky, careless, carefree, and pretty darned manic, but underneath it all pretty darned smart.

I have one character, Troy Gerwyn, who I actually based off my great grandpa. Great Granddad had dozens of little sayings that he used, and a while ago I found a list of them! And, of course, I had to use them for a character. So I used them, along with some other things about Great Granddad I either remember, or have been told.

That is awesome! The only character I have based off of a real person is 'Betti' based off of Bethany Faith, but she's very minor...