Noted. As I'm plotting it, the dog probably will be clever rather than mischievous, mischievous just won't fit the plot as I have it coming together. Now, I just need to plot it so the dog doesn't die at the end. I'm not a fan of dead dog stories. The major points I had, but I've got to tie them all together and fill in the details.
My daughter has also informed me that Trine is the name of a video game, so I'll have to change that. I still need a name from the Brawling Princess too. The others I've got: Cloud, Smoke, Moon, and Varden.
Give the princess a fluttery, girly name ... to play off her penchant for tavern brawls?
As many parents discover, you don't always get what you expect.
"Her Royal Highness, Princess Lavender Pearl, slugged back another mouthful of raw tavern ale as she smacked the next thug in the back of the head of the remnants of her chair."
Princess Eugenia Alexandrina?
Also, in terms of saving the dog: lots of really evil people are sentimental about animals. Kind of ironic if, after killing many people, your villain chooses to spare the dog.
Could even be a good bit of dialog.
"After all the people you tortured and murdered, you spare a dog?"
"I *like* dogs."
Well, the villain isn't really evil, he has good intentions, but he's determined to be blind to the consequences of his actions. Sort of like someone who wants to produce energy and create jobs, but refuses to believe in climate change because it's, well, inconvenient.
There has to be a sacrifice at the end of the story, but it's just a matter of who and what. I'm hoping to avoid dog and death.
Sacrifice the character the readers love most? Why yes, Joss and Tim have influenced me.
Only if you do it in the most emotionally wrenching way possible.
Whenever there's a cute critter, I'm always certain it's going to die. I've been known to check the last chapter to see if the critter's still there. Killing off the hero's beloved pet seems cheap, anymore.
But I loved the villain going "I *like* dogs." Humanity, not so much.
Villains working with a sense of righteous purpose are the most dangerous. Pure evil can be negotiated with.
