Leprechaun – The Characters
I only wrote about the Leprechaun to show how two bits of legend triggered a story line but it has nagged me since, so I might as well follow up. Once the general story line has popped up, the next stage would be to put the people into it. The type of people will decide the type of incidents and the group’s reaction to them that drive the story along. The names will to some extent reflect each person’s character and needs to be carefully thought over.
For now, let me concentrate on the early part of the tale, the later bits where Noah’s chap, Han, meets the Leprechaun can wait.
What is Han, the protagonist, like? He’s an engineer and metallurgist, not a soldier, so he is cautious about fighting but not afraid of it. He’s just above average height, lean and muscular and above all observant and unlikely to be taken by surprise.
The king who throws Han out of the country needs an unusual name but not (Jumping) Jehosaphat or something complicated like Rehaboam. Looking through Kings, maybe Omri, or Zimri – Zimri.
Now the chap who sent someone to follow Han. Someone thinking ahead. How about Isaac – an old man, wise and perceptive; he doesn’t want to kill Han, he wants to learn from Han’s travels, especially in the lands where they work tin and copper and especially iron.
Now, who follows Han? A soldier, maybe an old colleague, but a no nonsense soldier – how about a name from Jacob’s sons? Joseph? Benjamin? Reuben? Let’s take Reuben, a good solid name. Someone to depend on in a crisis.
Women? Nan’s wife? Someone who can take the rough travelling, not Grace or Irene, but maybe Rachel, Judith, or Leah. Let’s try Judith. A strong woman who won’t fall apart when the sabre toothed tigers are wandering about.
Then Han’s children, a lad, not quite grown, a girl and a younger brother – Benjamin, Tamar and Dan.
Maybe we should have a second woman, Judith’s sister, Leah, she can be the one who understands herbs and healing, the woman Reuben loves but hasn’t been able to commit to because of his military service – tall, slim and wiry, maybe, but not as strong as Judith.
Check! Is there any confusion among the names? James and Jason, for example where the reader has to go back to remember who Jason is again. Han, Zimri, Isaac, Judith, Leah, Reuben, Benjamin, Tamar and Dan. Maybe use Benny for Benjamin after he’s introduced.
The leprechaun won’t be Pat and Mick. Maybe Sean, or Corry, or Liam, or McBeth – the leader, The Leprechaun, has to be McBeth, with his side-kick Druid. The Neanderthals might be Dhu, the dark one, the trouble maker, Um and Og maybe.
Even with that and there is a great deal more needed to make 80,000 to 100,00 words things are starting to have a feel. Reuben will save them from cannibals; Reuben will have a spy in his ranks; Leah will cure someone sick – maybe a leprechaun.