Character Profile: Linvin @Solsticepublish

Linvin is the protagonist of “Quest for the Red Sapphire” and its main character.  At the age of 12 he was sent away by his parents from the Kingdom of Sartan to the Kingdom of Valia in order to be trained by the Master of Warfare, Sedemihcra.  All Linvin was told was that he needed to be trained to do something of great importance and his father would send for him when the time was right.  Linvin ended up spending more than half his life in Valia.   After coming of age, Sedemihcra thought he would benefit from the practical experience of joining the army.  He moved up the ranks at an unprecedented rate and eventually found himself as Commander of all Valian Forces.  The story begins with Linvin leading his small army in a last bloody victory over the Marsh Goblins to Valia’s south.  Linvin is proud and a great warrior but feels ashamed at what he has become.  Then a letter arrives saying his father is missing and he must come home to run the lucrative family trading empire.  Linvin resigns his commission and heads for Sartan.  His mother wants him to settle into an aristocratic life of peace but Linvin has other ideas.  After setting the company right, he moves to the town of Missandor, away from the family mansion and sets up his own home in a tree there.  Soon his Uncle Anvar arrives at his door with news that his mother has been killed by poison and that the killers are probably on their way to visit him next.  It is explained that Linvin was meant to be the next master of the Red Sapphire.  It is a gem of legend that gives its master power unrivaled by any other mortal.  Linvin must flee for his life and find the gem before the assassins catch him or find the gem, themselves.   As a character, Linvin has many strengths.  I wanted him to be someone who could stand up against difficult odds and still have a chance to come out as the winner.  There were just too many protagonists out there in books who were weak and frail.  They always need to be saved.  I wanted Linvin to have all the boxes checked off for a hero.  He even has a fatal flaw.  He is headstrong and sometimes acts without thinking matters through.  If he stops and plans he almost always wins.  When he rushes in he usually has an error in judgment and gets himself and those around him into trouble.  I laughed because one reviewer of “Quest for the Red Sapphire” said that Linvin was too perfect and they actually found themselves rooting against him.  The whole point of Linvin is that he is supposed to be a great man and prove it in order to be worthy of the Red Sapphire.  He is not perfect by any means.  Linvin is simply meant to be that one person who you can save the day.