Now Alaen is hard to do. How does one summarize their MC and most complex character without giving a play by play of the entire novel?
Alaen is the newly-crowned king of Nalycia. As a minor (with less than a year before the age of majority), Alaen is under the regency of his uncle, Volcor. As his father died, he warned Alaen that Volcor would want to either control the throne or kill both Alaen and Atharielle to get it for his own. At his father's insistence, Alaen promises to play the fool so that his uncle thinks he will always be able to control him. He hates this masquerade, especially having to keep it secret from Atharielle and having to hurt her with his "carelessness" to make his charade believable.
Alaen was sent to battleschool at the age of fourteen(?) to learn how to fight and to one day wrest power from his uncle. Everyone else is told that he went to court to learn statesmanship, however. He is a fairly competent fighter. He met Saen there, and they became the best of friends.
After his father's death, Alaen goes to the Athulian court to learn how to live in a foppish manner and fool those in Nalycia into thinking he was at court the whole time he was in Athulia. He meets the rest of the royal siblings there and is drawn into their circle. He finds that Sylve fits neatly into the hole in his heart made by his sister's rejection, and he comes to love her.
Alaen wants nothing more than to take his throne back from his uncle and rule the people as they should be ruled. He is willing to do practically anything to fulfill his father's wish that he should be an independent ruler. Alaen's friends would tell you that he is good-natured and fun to be around, but that he takes life seriously.
Until his masquerade began, Alaen's relationship with his sister was extremely close and loving. He deeply respected his late father, and, with Atharielle, despised his uncle.
Character:
- High standards
- Driven to succeed
- Vulnerable to criticism
- Hard worker
- Susceptible to self-scrutiny and self-doubt
- Attempts to prove himself
- Unruffled, calm
- Flexible, warm, trusting
- Good-hearted
- Prefers not to take risks
- Tries to see the good in people
- Dislikes being alone
- Productive
- Willing and able to take responsibility for own life
- Good sense of humour
- Ethical; high standards
- Uses physical activity to combat stress
- Maintains a strong support network
Strengths:
- Intrinsic motivation
- Willingness to work hard
- Friendly and open
- Accepting
- Responsible/mature
- Ethical
- Willing to sacrifice for others
Weaknesses:
- Easily doubts himself and his actions
- Can become stressed when life requires him to stick out his neck
- Can be taken advantage of
- Reliant on others' company
- Thin-skinned
See also: essence map, picture
Please direct your questions to Alaen himself so I can simultaneously work on his voice.
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