1. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    How do I write a blind character in a fantasy without ripping off of Toph or DareDevil?

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by Link the Writer, Feb 19, 2017.

    I've been writing the character of Mishu Jerni in my fantasy for a long time, but it's only now I've finally began to ask myself: 'how does she even navigate in this world when she's blind?' So I gave her an ability called 'Soul Sight', which, after much tutelage, allows the blind to see the souls of living beings. Pretty useful for her as she's a member of the Eternal Watchers (think the FBI/MI-6 if they had magic) and thus will be doing a lot of sneaking around and fighting.

    Then came the big issue: she still uses her cane to navigate the world because while she can 'see' the souls of living things (they appear as inverted shadows to her), it's the inanimate she can't see. So she can see you from across a table, but the actual table itself would be lost on her vision-wise.

    Aaaand she's also a member of an elite fighting force sworn to protect the Empire. Hell, the story opens up with her beginning her 'Great Trial' that tests everything she's ever learned under her master, Mylo Thaari (who is also blind.) She can shoot spells out of her hands and her cane, utilizes a hidden blade built within the handle of her cane...but the gods help her if she's in a room she's unfamiliar without that cane.

    So now I'm stuck. If she is to be a member of this elite force, her being able to navigate a table without that cane would kind of be very crucial especially in a hectic fight with spells and flying debris.

    These are ideas I've brainstormed thus far:

    -> She uses echolocation to determine how near or far inanimate objects are. This is very useful, and indeed a lot of blind people do use this skill. However...that's more using her ears, wouldn't it? Wouldn't that make her technically not blind especially coupled with her 'Soul Sight' ability? This screams too much of DareDevil and one could argue this: If she can visually see the souls of living beings and use her ears to navigate around the aforesaid tables, why is she blind at all? I don't want to have her 'fake' that she's blind. I want her to actually be blind and have to figure out ways of getting around that hindrance.

    -> She can 'sense' inanimate objects with magic...but that's too much like Toph. :/ In that a blind girl uses her special natural abilities to navigate the world.

    At the same time, I still want her to keep that cane. But then I'm back to where I started: if she needs that cane, why would the Eternal Watchers even allow her to join their ranks? Is this just a 'kill your darlings' case where I have to take away something I personally want to keep to make for a better, more cohesive storyline?

    Thoughts? Advice? I honestly have no clue what to do about Mishu regarding her blindness.
     
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  2. making tracks

    making tracks Active Member

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    It sounds like a really interesting idea. Maybe she would learn to navigate objects based on the movements of the people she can see? I think having to have her cane would make for some very high tension scenes of she is at risk of losing it, and sometimes being imperfect during a fight would make her more relatable. As for why they let her join, perhaps one of the members of the group saw her in action (she could have been getting mugged or something) and saw what she was capable of.
     
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  3. S A Lee

    S A Lee Contributor Contributor

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    Often when a person is robbed of their sight smell and sound sharpen to make up for it. One example is in the anime Utawarerumono, where a blind, bedridden girl recognised her visitors by scent. She mixes up the main character, Elulu, for her grandmother because as her grandmother's apprentice Elulu smelled of medicinal herbs like her grandmother. Ramiroir in Apollo Justice could discern people by their footsteps as well as their voices.

    Going to a more fantastic but perhaps less known idea is reading the air. Devin from Tales of Zestiria does this as an air elemental and does so so subtly his friends find out when a Gorgon like enemy can't petrify him. Think of it as parallel to someone seeing shadows.
     
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  4. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    That was my idea for her backstory: Mylo (her master) found out she had the potential for spell combat after she actually attacked him thinking he intended to mug her. After a brief sparring match where he basically deflected all her blows, he talked to the others and they agreed to bring her into the fold.

    A way for her to keep her cane (something I realized just now) would be to not only to conceal her hidden blade...but it can be something that gives her comfort. Kind of like a 'security blankie' in a way, and Mylo saw it as a makeshift staff she could utilize as a weapon. He's certainly not about to be a dick to her about it, what with him being blind also. :p That would make him quite the hypocrite. :D It would be wholly in his character to teach her to use whatever she has at her disposal to get the job done. If she needs the cane, then he'll make damn sure to include it in her training sessions.

    Plus, I see the cane as a very crucial part of her character. Take the cane away, and that aspect of Mishu is just...gone. It's how she fights, it's how she navigates unfamiliar environments. Taking her cane away would be like taking away Link's green hat, or Goku's powers.

    EDIT: I had another thought, should I start the book directly when she's about to start the Great Trial (and thus the entire plot of averting a world war) or should I start it a few years earlier in a prologue where she meets Mylo, fights him, and finds herself joining this elite guild? I mean, the title of the book is literally The Eternal Watchers, so...maybe it'd be more fitting to start Chapter One when she's younger (nine or ten) and we learn a bit about her life before the Eternal Watchers??
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2017
  5. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

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    Have you looked at how Toph and Daredevil are different from each other?
     
  6. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Well, every character should probably have a weakness that enemies could exploit. Hers might well be that she struggles to navigate around inanimate objects. (Does this include living things like trees, by the way?) She could defend herself by having a person with her at all times, to lead her around. Or she could even get herself a dog? Or some other animal that would help her? Or, if her world's technology would permit it, some echo-locating device.

    But don't take away her vulnerability. If these artificial aids are taken away, she can be helpless.
     
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  7. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    She can see the souls of people and animals, but not trees. I guess it just depends on how you define living and soul. To some people, Mishu should be able to see everything that's living from a person, to a tree; from an elk to a small ant.

    I like the idea that she also has a guide dog (I'm imagining she has a dire wolf guide dog :p) that helps her navigate the world and protects her from danger.

    The echo-locating device...that was an idea I once played with -- maybe she wears it on Velcro strap around her head, with two little knobs on either side of her head just above her ears.

    A cane, a guide-dog, and the echo-locating device she wears on her head. :D What do you make of her, Jannert? :p I'm curious.
     
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  8. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    I think the echo locating device should be someplace else on her body. Head is too obvious. She could wear it around her waist or her neck. Maybe something nobody knows she's got ...so they think she can't navigate without her dog/wolf and her cane?

    What if hardly anybody knows she's blind? If her echo device was hidden and she got adept at using it, she might be able to pull the trick off. They would just assume she's VERY good at what she does. She can walk without watching her feet. She can see into people's souls without even looking at them, etc. She'd be pretty scary to the wrong people. And she's got a big fierce wolf/thing that's always at her side? Maybe lose the cane? Or have it look like something else? A staff of power, or some such thing?
     
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  9. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Good idea, head would be way too obvious. Her master would probably disapprove of what's basically a neon sign screaming, "AIM HERE!" :p I think the waist idea would be best. If she had it around her neck, it'd be an easy target for anyone to try and grab and strangle her with. You know what they say, never go into a fight wearing a tie or long hair. Or basically anything your opponent will use against you. ;)

    I think most would know she's blind by simply looking at her eyes (they're clouded over by a dark grey film and roll independent of her control) I think that would be much better, and plus, imagine how epic it'd be if something like this happened:

    Thug: "You?" <laughs> "You're just a little blind girl with a stick and a mutt, what makes you think you can stop me?"

    Mishu: <smirks> "A lot of things, actually." <retracts handle into dog's carry on backpack and unhook her cane handle> "GET 'EM, BOY!" <unsheathes her hidden blade and charges>

    Still, I like your idea -- she's so adept at what she does that independent of the dog and the cane, one could almost forge she was blind if they don't look at her eyes.
     
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  10. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Maybe she could just keep her eyes closed and paint eyeballs on her eyelids? :)
     
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  11. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Um....no. :p That would also be way too obvious.

    I've given her guide dog the name 'Nemo'. :p A grey-furred direwolf named Nemo. I find it adorable and fitting. And I'm not changing it.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2017
  12. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    You could call your story "Finding and Hanging On To Nemo."
     
  13. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Or Don't Fuck with Nemo.

    No seriously, don't. This is a direwolf you don't want to piss off. You hurt Mishu in any way, as one unlucky soul will soon learn, Nemo will LITERALLY rip your damned arm off.

    Now writing Chapter One with the new changes, and I'm loving it. :D Thanks everyone, this has been real helpful. If you'd like, I can post an excerpt of it in the writing area for critique. :3
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2017
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  14. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Part II, I was curious what you all thought would be more interesting:

    • Mishu is already part of the Eternal Watchers, and the story opens to her beginning her Great Trial.

    • Mishu is part of the Eternal Watchers, but the story opens elsewhere (ie, at school, at the orphanage, or at a diner having a meal.)

    • Mishu isn't part of the Eternal Watchers and the story is about her slowly learning how to utilize her skills under her new master who formally inducts her into the ranks.
     
  15. Aaron DC

    Aaron DC Contributor Contributor

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    Chakra sense?

    She extends her chakra and inanimate objects give off a distinctly different aura to living beings?

    Once reason to keep her cane could be to fool opponents into thinking she is functionally blind.

    "Chakra" could be something unique / specific to your universe.
     
  16. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    That's a good idea. Maybe she has a different 'sight' that allows her to sense where inanimate objects are, and sometimes she can blend the two together?
     
  17. Aaron DC

    Aaron DC Contributor Contributor

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    I thought the description of Paul Atreides' "sight" by Frank Herbert in which ever Dune book it was where he was blind but could "see" was interesting. He was blind but had prescience that allowed him to walk around unhindered.
     
  18. JLT

    JLT Contributor Contributor

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    Maybe this a stupid suggestion, but ...

    Have you tried to be blind? Blindfolded yourself for a day, or a week, or whatever? Actually seen for yourself what senses you use instead, how different the senses are when you're not using them as an adjunct to sight?

    It might be worth a try.
     
  19. Cave Troll

    Cave Troll It's Coffee O'clock everywhere. Contributor

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    Since it is Fantasy, why not simply have her eyes replaced with magic ones?
    Granted this would be a lot like Geordy from Star Trek, but it could work
    minus the signature visor.
    Fantasy gives much greater agency over Sci-fi on made up things because
    magic and tech have different rules of logic. Also unless you have some
    ban on magic healing people, then the reader might question why the
    character is forced to be blind as a major character trait when it would
    be just as simple as they don't have to be because magic.
    (So specify how your magic works, and this will keep a good continuity
    to a problem that otherwise should not exist.)
     
  20. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Magic in my book can't heal what's natural; she's born blind so magic can't undo it. Her Soul Aura is the closest thing to sight she has.
     
  21. JE Loddon

    JE Loddon Active Member

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    Maybe she feels as one with the elements. She doesn't walk into that table, because she feels the carbon atoms as if they were a part of her. That sword, flying through the air, is pushing aside the nitrogen, oxygen and argon, and she feels them spreading out. The iron atoms flying towards her carry a lot of mass, and the force and inertia weighs heavily on her.
     
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  22. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Holy Hell...

    That's genius! How can I implement that without making it too confusing to the average reader?
     
  23. JE Loddon

    JE Loddon Active Member

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    'As she walked into the room, she felt the carbon atoms in the table vibrating as though an extension of her own torso. She stepped around it as naturally as she might scratch her nose, or sweep back her hair. The world in front of her started to stiffen; she was approaching a wall.' I think if you find a way to explain it up front, though, you can then just write it for the most part as a natural sense. Just occasionally use language to remind the reader that she feels the objects as a part of her own being.
     
  24. Link the Writer

    Link the Writer Flipping Out For A Good Story. Contributor

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    Thanks, Loddon. I'll see what I can do with it. Using magic to sense the elements around her. Genius! :D
     
  25. JE Loddon

    JE Loddon Active Member

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    You're welcome. They all have different numbers and arrangements of atoms, electrons, etc... so would be easy to tell apart if you had that ability.
     
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