It’s time to reveal those dastardly villains of yours! Drag them out of the dark. Boot them out of their evil lairs. Grant them the spotlight for one moment.
For the longest time, I couldn’t decide which antagonist to highlight for this challenge. Eventually, I settled on the antagonist from my fantasy Song of Leira.
This is Carhartan, second marshal of the Khelari and a servant of the Takhran. He is a deadly warrior and wields his red-stained sword left-handed with horrifying effectiveness.
Note for the Novel Police: If we were going to be completely accurate, Carhartan should be wearing black plate mail and a silver cape. Unfortunately, all I had on hand was silver chainmail and a black cape. But I suppose you get the general idea! ;)
As you’ve no doubt gathered from the pictures, Carhartan is a secretive man. (No amount of cajolery, bribery, or threatening induced him to allow me to take a face shot.) Likewise, Carhartan’s past is somewhat mysterious. His history is hidden, and he likes to keep it that way.
On the outside, Carhartan appears the ever confident, carelessly brutal, efficient warrior and leader of the Khelari. But deep within, he is haunted by his failures. He relishes the sweet taste of victory, all the while knowing the wine will turn to bitter ashes in his mouth at the thought of his defeats.
Oh and as a side note, I do beg you to keep the above in the strictest confidence. I have no doubt that my life would be in grave peril if Carhartan ever discovered that I had revealed such sensitive information. But there are no requisite privacy laws in the author/character relationship as there are in that between doctor and patient.
Though I don’t suppose that excuse would have any effect on Carhartan.
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Be sure to stop by the other participating sites and see their antagonists, villains, and sundry other characters of the nefarious variety. ;)
Next challenge will take place on May 10th.
Cool! He sounds like a really epic villain! I've always enjoyed reading/watching stories where the villain seems so confident and proud, but really they are trying to hide their insecurities. It makes them seem real. Please assure Carhartan that I will not divulge any of his deep, dark secrets! :P
BTW, those pictures are beautiful! I love how vivid the sky looks!
Thanks! They were lots of fun to take.
Ohohoo, I like the design! I like the fact you gave him an element of dignity, too, rather than just putting him out there as the crazy megalomaniac. Villains with ostensible and relatable insecurities are the best – after all, who doesn't get wound up over their failures sometimes? And sometimes it's all the scarier to see what you could become if you let your insecurities win, too!
Pass my thanks onto Cahortan for such wonderful shots! But don't tell him I sympathise. He might decorate the wall with my head if he found out about that ;)
Haha. I will be sure NOT to mention that. Though I've never seen Carhartan's home, so I can't speak to his decorating style. ;)
Hmm . . . let's hope he doesn't have a fondness for severed heads of his enemies . . .
Thank you for including me in the challenge, Gillian! I've got my entry up on my blog now!
Yay! I'll stop by and take a look at it. :)
As always, Gillian, your costume looks great, and thanks again so much for doing this. I have so much fun with these, I look forward to it all month. (I'm such a little kid.)
I'm glad you enjoy it too! I always have way too much fun planning out which character to do and what costume to wear. ;)
Oh, dear! I am so sorry! My villain was not posted in time – I'm so sorry! I'll post it as soon as I can!
Okay, it's posted now! So sorry it is late!
So sorry everyone, but I've been out of town for the past few days so I haven't been able to stop by any of the participating blogs yet! I'm on my way though and can't wait to see everyone's costumes.
Haha… I LOVE your humor! Great villain you have there and beautiful pictures of him. I’m looking forward to reading your tales one day.
I just posted my villain for this challenge. I must apologize for being three days late. I had it down for next Friday. Silly me.
Have a blessed Monday and thank you!
~Ryan