Black in a Gray World · 5:38pm May 28th, 2021
When it comes to antagonists, I've always had trouble.
In my fanfic 'Howlite Howler,' and even in my other fanfic 'Lone Wolf of Equestria,' I liked the idea of a gray-on-gray conflict; one where no one was really in the right. And in adapting 'Howlite Howler' to 'Of Scales and Fur,' I got to explore that conflict even further.
In 'Of Scales and Fur,' the primary conflict is a fight between dragons and demi-wolves. The demi-wolves are all mutated dogs, their strongest ones being abuse victims of humans who hurt them due what is known as 'the Rights of a Superior Species.
However, the dragons are not in the wrong either; unlike most classical cases, the dragons in 'OSAF' are technically guard dogs, defending humans that they believe are being wrongfully accused of crimes they didn't do. And... they're right. Myst and many of her lieutenants may have been abused by humans, but too often, they themselves fail to see humans as individuals, and so judge all of them for the sins of a very select few.
The thing is, though... those select few aren't just talked about. One in particular, Luco (whom you can see in action during my fanfic 'Wolves of Equestria') has a major role as an antagonist that tries to keep the war going. He takes great delight in watching the dragons and demi-wolves hurt each other, with the dragons defending him due to not knowing he's one of the very humans Myst is actually after. And it's up to main protagonist Shiva to try and expose the truth about him.
The one thing I'm worried about? Can I give Luco a point as well. Or more rather, 'should' I?
As I mentioned, I really like stories where everyone has a sympathetic reason for what they do. Luco, on the other hand, doesn't have that. He drove dogs insane enough to hate all humans, sparked a war that's destroying the land, and explicitly says he did it all because he finds the war entertaining and hysterical. And while such a reason feels in character for him (again, see 'Wolves of Equestria' for an idea on what he's like), I'm really not certain about the idea of a completely black villain in the world of gray that I'm trying to build 'Of Scales and Fur' to be.
Is it even possible to give a complete scumbag like that some kind of sympathetic angle? Or would trying to give him something to sympathize with only hurt his character? I feel like making him funny like Discord or Joker might be a step in the right direction, but I have no faith in myself when it comes to writing humor, especially black humor.
I'd really appreciate your feedback, and hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for your time.
Can I be frank? You perhaps should not make him...say sympathetic? but...interesting see dexter or other dark types...that people love to hate. Or are manifestation of our darker cruel selves.
Which I feel I need to add is just a part of us. He can have inetresting mannerisms. Maybe he has conflict like...he likes chocolate and yogurt and he couldnt get it?
Or even that he is queerily sympathetic to one character because he or she or they remind him of a...say a red ball. Which having red that makes him...eviler and creepier. Well flesh out his...deal...
Or
Give him a story that well does not redeem him because he evil. True evil. But he can made captivating magnificent? No?
I could go on but...I not feeling it.
Ps. It could said for some that...that is a sympathtic others...read me...do not find sparing one life in a sea of suffering much to write home about.
Read...no self reflection and empty sorrys? When and why did it take you this long to apologize? Fyi just spit balling here.
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I actually had an idea for a scene similar to this where he saves someone. I'm still working out the reasoning - for now, it's because he likes how passionate they are and it's a lot of fun fighting them - but I might see if I can build on that.
Thank you again.
Grey on grey makes some really good stories. It also seems to be rather difficult, in my eyes. Good luck to you