Character Concept- Nim Falstaff
Nim Falstaff was a man to whom everything in life came easily. He was the fourth of five sons and- since his elder brothers assumed both his father's titles and services to respected lords- Nim had no set course in life. He spent his youth exploring and learning, finding at last a task that challenged him- training as a professional swordsman. He learned all that local masters could teach him and quickly outpacing even men a decade his senior. He ventured into the world, learning from the most esteemed masters he could find, surpassing each in time. And, when he felt he had learned all that could be taught to him, he joined a mercenary company to apply his talent.
Nim made everything look easy. He could dismount an opponent without so much as a sweat. He was master of any weapon he picked up. He rode well, he shot well, and his sheer skill made even his worst foe grudgingly respect him. Everything came easily to Nim.
And, after a while, Nim began to grow restless. What was life without a challenge? He began to feel like he was just sailing through his life, like nothing mattered. His skill began to wane as he grew less and less interested. His mercenary company kicked him out, his family would not have him back, and still Nim felt powerless to change the ennui that had rooted him to cynicism.
Years past, as Nim wandered familiar haunts and travelled into the world, looking for some meaning to his life. Yet, every challenge that excited in him the drive to excel, always left him feeling more depressed after he inevitably overcame it. And, as time went on, a resolution that had been brewing in Nim's mind began to take shape. One night, sitting alone in the woods at night, and staring up at the rain-spewing sky, Nim knew what he had to do:
Nim Falstaff had to die. But not by his own hand, or by the hand of some unworthy brigand. Nim needed to meet his end at the hands of someone greater. And so he set out, feeling energized again for the first time in years. Nim's death sentence gave him something to live for.
Nim made everything look easy. He could dismount an opponent without so much as a sweat. He was master of any weapon he picked up. He rode well, he shot well, and his sheer skill made even his worst foe grudgingly respect him. Everything came easily to Nim.
And, after a while, Nim began to grow restless. What was life without a challenge? He began to feel like he was just sailing through his life, like nothing mattered. His skill began to wane as he grew less and less interested. His mercenary company kicked him out, his family would not have him back, and still Nim felt powerless to change the ennui that had rooted him to cynicism.
Years past, as Nim wandered familiar haunts and travelled into the world, looking for some meaning to his life. Yet, every challenge that excited in him the drive to excel, always left him feeling more depressed after he inevitably overcame it. And, as time went on, a resolution that had been brewing in Nim's mind began to take shape. One night, sitting alone in the woods at night, and staring up at the rain-spewing sky, Nim knew what he had to do:
Nim Falstaff had to die. But not by his own hand, or by the hand of some unworthy brigand. Nim needed to meet his end at the hands of someone greater. And so he set out, feeling energized again for the first time in years. Nim's death sentence gave him something to live for.
posted by Jonc0re at
5:54 PM
1 Comments:
Well, to be fair, the more interesting point in his life would be the crossroads where he loses confidence in himself, and begins to question what point his life might have.
I'll agree that the "death-seeking titan" character is cliche, but I think Nim can be somewhat redeemed by the character study that brought him to that point. He's not a profoundly evil man out to commit ever greater acts of villiany, nor is he the tragic hero who lost everything and now seeks only honorable release. Nim is an aimless man- a study in life without challenge or purpose. The ultimate destruction of infinite potential by doubt. In a very pronounced, exaggerated way, his is the story of every man whose dreams got muddled, muddied, and lost in the course of life.
But, of course, these are just character sketches. I have no active plan to use him at the moment, so I can certainly make whatever modifications are necessary to make his life more empathetic.
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Jonc0re, at 10:01 AM
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