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@gabbyj yeah, I wish I could say I planned it, but it just sort of happened. 😉 It’s fantasy. Somewhere between high fantasy and heroic fantasy; can never quite decide which. 😛

This thread has really got me combing through my files of ideas. I remembered at least three more major parent presences already. I guess I had more than I realized. ;P

My favorite, because I’m cruel, is one where the son is the villain and the father is working with the hero. But what I like most about it is it’s not some deep dark secret that the father doesn’t want anyone to know— yes, his son is the villain. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t still his son, or that he as the father isn’t obligated to try to knock some sense into his head. See, the father is kind of responsible for the way his son turned out. I guess he’s the fantasy archetype of a missionary— always going different places, never settling down; burning to tell the world the truth and watch it light like a beacon. Without meaning to, he neglected his little boy, who he loved with all his heart, and the little boy grew into a bitter, confused man who both loves and hates his father for being and doing everything he did. ( @daeus-lamb yes, this is Harold. Please don’t kill me.)

I guess it goes to show that parents can fill any archetype they need to. It doesn’t have to be an antagonist. Doesn’t have to be a mentor even, especially not the dry, kill-joy mentors they’re made out to be. They can fill any ‘slot’ that they need to. The character should find their place by their personality, not get their personality from their place.