Character Interview Sellemar

August 9, 2016

Hey guys! This is an AWESOME interview with Sellemar!! I didn't have any picture of him, so I used the editor's fantastic stick figure masterpiece.

He's not pleased about that.

This is, for the most part, an interview Sellemar did last year with Beyond the Books. I know many of you weren’t Soplings back then, so I’m sharing it with you all today on Character Interview Tuesday and replacing FOUR questions for those older Soplings to enjoy! it is AWESOME! ;D

Character Interview

Name of Character: Sellemar

Book Title: Kings or Pawns (Steps of Power: The Kings Book I)

Age: I believe that is my business.

Profession: Mercenary.

City and State: Ryekarayn today. Sevrigel tomorrow. And in a century or two, wherever Sel’ari beckons me.

	Thank you so for this interview, Sellemar. Now that the book has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?

	I am portrayed exactly how I wish to be portrayed—seen exactly how and when I wish to be seen. Frankly, a male of my skill simply could not have been more present without turning the rest of the events into a throng of children whacking at one another with sticks. Take General Jikun Taemrin, for instance—respected, touted as a military genius by the council, paraded as a hero—yet by comparison to my triumphs, he is no more than a desperate child whose strings are pulled by the council and whose victories are only granted by the careful planning of the enemy. Sel’ari knows he was doomed from the start.

	Unlike Jikun, you seem to believe you have many strong qualities. What do you believe is your strongest trait?

	Intelligence. Piety. Wisdom. Insight. Experience. If I am being entirely honest, I simply cannot limit it to one.

	*And your* worst trait?**

	Well, I suppose at times having too much talent can get me into trouble. I often end up in terribly dangerous situations because of my abilities… and it does not help things when I don’t have magic to ferry me to safety. But it was certainly Sel’ari’s way of balancing my place in the world. …There have been some suggestions by other (jealous) individuals that my worst trait is arrogance—but if honesty is akin to arrogance, only then am I the most guilty of all. ...Also, why in Ramul are you using this ludicrous avatar for me?

	I don't have a real image of you. Sh. Now, tell us about your friend, Itirel. Your experience suggests great age and so I would expect, even in your arrogance, that you have many allies. Why did you choose Itirel to accompany you?

	...No one can take me serious with this picture! ...Still not changing it? Fine. Did you not see what I had to deal with in allowing Erallus to accompany me? If age is experience then there are few others I could possibly have selected before Itirel. Nor, of course, were there any with such skill. Not only is Itirel calm under the worst circumstances, but his ability to heal is second to no elf before and likely no elf after. Ilra has certainly granted Itirel with a great gift.

	I think I did a pretty good job colorizing those qualities about Itirel. Do you feel I did a good job colorizing your personality? If not, how would you like to have been portrayed differently?

	You did a fine job. I simply would have refused an appearance had you not complied with my wishes. …However, I will state that you did make a horrendous mistake by failing to acquire all information before one of my heroics, and that said incident may have given the country its final push over the cliff. I find myself in a terribly dangerous predicament—thanks to your complete lack of experience. This is why I typically demand to do the legwork myself.

	You're still mad about your encounter with Vale, aren't you? Seeing as how Vale was once a soldier in the capital, and you are a friend of the True Bloods who used to rule said capital, had you ever met Vale before?

	Vale has long had close relations with Sairel's brother, Darcarus. I likely saw him before, but had no prior relationship with him. Darcarus has not been known for choosing the best of friends.

	Ah, but of course you are. So, this is going to be a tough question for your perfection: if you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why?

	That is a difficult question as I would not wish to be the females by default, the young who suffer naivety, the old who suffer the pains of age, or any of those who have strayed from Sel’ari’s path. And that leaves me to say that I would really not want to be anyone. As I feel I am forced to answer this question, I would say the one character I have no desire to be is the aforementioned enemy captain, Vale. In my brief encounter, I found his crude, arrogant, cocky, and frankly repulsive personality both offensive and revolting. There is nothing in Emal’drathar you could offer me to spend even a single second in his boots.

	(snickers*) Anyways, I want to go back to before Vale. When you were travelling with Erallus and Itirel, you made a comment that inns are for the "almost homeless." It pulled a bit on the heartstrings because, while you seem to have a firm mind to continue on your course, you seem well... a bit lonely. Did you always want to be a mercenary?

	No. At one point I simply aspired to be a... You pry too much. Suffice to say that Sel'ari had greater plans. I help others, and there is no greater honor in life.

	I think you're hiding stuff. As usual. Ok, how about: do you have a love interest in the book?

	I don’t have the time for such nonsense. And that is all there is to say on the matter.

	...Fine. But, now I have to ask for the fans: you told Erallus you would be truthful for each truly embarressing fact he shared with you. I want to get some answers, so here goes: I once walked out of the bathroom into a busy street with toilet paper stuck to the bottom of my shoe. My blood sugar got so low in church that a stranger had to feed me ancient poptarts and soda from his hunting bag while people fussed about me. I once ran into a screen door and took it with me. Ok, so let's have at you. Is Sellemar your real name? Where are you truly from? Who are the True Bloods to you?

	...Well. That was something. But see here, J.J, I made that agreement with Erallus. You are not Erallus. ...However, out of sheer pity I will tell you that I once got so undeniably wasted that I ended up stark naked, bathing in a water fountain.

	Really?!

	Of course not. I have never done an embarrassing thing in my life.

	...You are such an ass.