RpNation

Exactly. You should've just approached me directly without hobbling around the topic. Look, first questions:

What distinguishes your primary character from the mooks?

He is the designated leader of the expedition. He has an unusual personality that is distinct from the rest of the men. He has position and authority in the empire.

That's just bland, Heis. Are there any OTHER reasons?

So how can I make him colorful, Eleph? Any tips?

Well, let me try to be a bit more descriptive.

He was designated the leader of the expedition so the Emperor could get rid of him since few in the Empire liked him. He has a childish personality that annoys other people to no end. As a count, he holds much land and influence in the empire.

As a leader, Mikhail is surprisingly competent, able to be cool under immense pressure and he can act as a rallying point in the middle of battle. This is why people trust him to lead them during times of war, but in times of peace he is seen as a liability since he spends his time pestering anyone unfortunate enough to be in his immediate vicinity.

Still, bland. Does his childish personality come into effect in his familial, personal life? Does he have any regrets, conflicts? Does anybody seek to manipulate his apparent naivete? Has he any prominent enemy? How you plan to infuse this otherwise tact character with the opportunity of the fantasy genre?

Exact descriptions of his pranks include: dyeing the color of his target's clothes pink, stealing their clothes while they are bathing near the river, immobilizing random people with traps he made, stealing things and replacing them with a rock...

I'll name more when I get more creative.

Still one-track. Is making pranks all he's made up of?

He's just new, let me try harder.

His childish personality has gotten him into conflicts with other nobles, many of which ended violently. He has a hard time seeking a suitable wife due to his volatile personality, but he has fathered several bastards with a peasant woman who has an equally mischievous personality.

He's childish to be sure, but he isn't naive or stupid. People who have attempted to manipulate him have found their efforts backfiring on them when he catches on. Mikhail doles out brutal punishments on would-be manipulators by cutting their tongues or hands.

Against powerful people, Mikhail would simply bide his time and wait for his chance to strike back.

And that's set him lower in the nobility pyramid, I presume? Perhaps leading to the death of a loved one, or even extreme humiliation, culminating with his 'expedition' — which in truth is an exile only thinly wrapped with sugar — to the Iluin.

He has enemies everywhere but luckily he has many allies that are protecting him. The most prominent enemies include Count Haldane of Flaherts, Margrave Paris of Sturnrude and Count Travs of Vanbrugh. His most prominent allies are Duke Mahinger of Olbion, Count Imlay of Ashern and Baron Doctorow of Oodgeroo.

Getting set down low in the nobility pyramid? Not so, Eleph, he may be a eccentric but he has his uses. While he may alienate strangers who are not used to his quirks, those who are acquainted with Mikhail can put up with him.

So, you're trying to say that he's an absolutely bland NPC? Introduce some wild elements. Is he secretly a coward? Is he secretly bankrupt? Does he indulge in dark sorcery? Don't make him a boring, by-the-book character, Heis, try to introduce some straight-edge characterization!

You're making him more flat, Heis. Introduce rogue elements, subvert tropes and archetypes — be the cool guy!!?!?!?!??!/!?!?@?@

A coward? No no no. Bankrupt? Yes, he lost lots of money because he spent so much on war. Does he indulge in dark sorcery? No, he would skewer people who practice such heinous witchcraft!

He's an avid gambler and he's even made a small fortune playing cards. He loves horse riding and he's one of the best at it. He also loves women and he rides them as well as he rides his horse. He's good at a fight and he knows it well, which is why he abuses his strengths too much.

He has been known to kill men with a single punch, his fight scenes are usually short and brutal and expect there to be blood on the floor.

In times of war, he succumbs to the cruel aspects of human nature. He loots, he kills by the hundreds, and he burns entire villages to the ground.

So, what's the single most bad thing that happened to him?

Despite his competence, many people find it hard to respect him since he acts like a child. This is why he finds it difficult to make his men follow his orders at first, at least until he whips them up into shape or gains their trust.