The identity of Rake.

[anthorn]

Wow, I am producing a lot of threads these days. So, I have this character called Rake. No relation to Mazlazan Rake.

Rake's arc is a three book arc and to be resolved it means the end of three other characters lives.

I am just at a loss to decide who.

The options are characters Anthorn-Nikita-Marapeth-Nish.

Anthorn and Nikita are two caravan guards, friends, and perhaps a bit too dense to realise they like each other in that way.

Nish is an alcoholic, self pitying guy, who lost the woman he loved when he was forced to take her back for a trial and execution. He finds Marapeth alive later on, to his surprise.

Rake has primarily appeared in flashbacks to all characters, though at the moment has only interacted with Nikita.

If it is Anthorn then it means that he goes back in time after Nikita dies, in an attempt to save her, but he fails and dies too. A poetic dying in each others arms thing. With the added idea that the only reason he is appearing in everybodies flashbacks is a trip down memory lane.

If Nish and Marapeth then he goes back in time to change things deliberately, because he loses her again.

I don't want to lose either character, but I know I have to. Actually, even if I don't choose them, Nish and Marapeth still die.

[Phoenixthewriter]

Originally Posted by anthorn

If it is Anthorn then it means that he goes back in time after Nikita dies, in an attempt to save her, but he fails and dies too. A poetic dying in each others arms thing. With the added idea that the only reason he (Rake or Anthorn?) is appearing in everybodies flashbacks is a trip down memory lane.

If Nish and Marapeth then he (Nish?) goes back in time to change things deliberately, because he loses her again.

I don't want to lose either character, but I know I have to. Actually, even if I don't choose them, Nish and Marapeth still die.

So Nish and Marapeth die regardless? That takes care of two. After that, we have Anthorn and Nikita? So Anthorn goes back in time and they both die? That sounds like you've killed off all four.

I apologize if I'm not reading this right, but it sounds like only one out of those four people can live, and you have no idea which one.

My first inclination was to leave Nish alive, because he sounds the most interesting, but then I may have also understood this post wrong, and what I'm saying is not contributing in the slightest.

[anthorn]

No, it is.

If Nish dies so does Marapeth. If Anthorn dies so does Nikita. It's all really how it changes with Rake's identity.
Is he Nish? Is he Anthorn.

Who do I kill!?

[Lilmizflashythang]

Flip a coin. Best two out of three. Or you could just write the ending twice, one where each guy dies. Then pick the one you like best.

[Warren_Paul]

I'd go with the one the reader has the potential to form the closed bond with, makes it more emotional when it is the character they love that dies. Steven Erikson and George Martin both do this strategy.