Nice Guys Don't Last (in the Crater)

[Silas Hetherton]

I figure a majority of you already know who I am, but for those who do not, here's my big reveal thread. Feel free to ask questions before you guess. I will answer them.

[Tooley Bostay]

Condolences on the death, Silas. Congratulations for making it this far--I had my issues with Silas, but I very much enjoyed his character and your writing.

A few random questions to start things off:

- Paper or plastic?

- 80's or 90's music?

- What was Silas' favorite and least favorite "mice story" growing up?

- If only one member of his family had survived, how different would Silas' story be?

- What served as your inspiration for the app and character?

[Silas Hetherton]

- Paper or plastic?

Before children, paper, as it is a renewable resource. After children, plastic, for dirty diapers.

- 80's or 90's music?

80's is more fun. 90's more nostalgic. 80's ultimately, I suppose. There is less shame in enjoying "Tainted Love" than "Chumba Wumba."

- What was Silas' favorite and least favorite "mice story" growing up?

He liked the tale of Martin the Warrior, which made him feel like even a small beast on his own could change the world. He was not as fond of the story about Cluny the Scourge, because of the way it painted rats in general. Silas would emphasize the evilness of Cluny himself and how he abused his underlings when he and Artie talked about the stories.

- If only one member of his family had survived, how different would Silas' story be?

Vastly. Silas would never have gone to the Crater, unless said family member were brought there. If even one had made it, he would have been satisfied simply being a dad/husband, even if it was difficult to make ends meet. He was used to working his tail off, after all.

- What served as your inspiration for the app and character?

I wanted to think of a revenge character who was completely sympathetic and justified in feeling vengeful, while still being a moral character, which I knew would clash with Crater life. Perhaps my father-in-law growing up on a farm played a small role in the farming angle. I chose a plain brown rat because I wanted his character to outshine his species. And of course, my own family and children were inspiration.

[Vera Silvertooth]

As authors, we often come up with ideas that we just can't make work in a story. Is there any scene that you really wanted to write for Silas, but couldn't?

[Silas Hetherton]

I kind of wanted to bring about a way for him to be a father again. I don't think he would remarry very easily, but I thought maybe he might adopt one of the orphaned Crater children.

[Laurence Copeland]

What was the hardest scene for you to write? And the follow-up question, what was the most fun scene to write?

[Silas Hetherton]

Hardest would be Silas's death. Though fitting for his character, it was still hard to do. Took me some time to get it down and then I didn't sleep well after either.

Silas vs. Kali was always fun, and I enjoyed writing Silas's first Jubiliee memory/dream.

[Minerva]

Hardest would be Silas's death. Though fitting for his character, it was still hard to do. Took me some time to get it down and then I didn't sleep well after either.

Yeah, sorry about killing you and all that. I don't think I'll be sleeping well either. Got some questions for my ghostly reading tutor though.

What are some scene ideas or concepts that you had but didn't get a chance to?

Was there any character in the top 10 that you wish you could have interacted with more before your death?

If Silas had survived and fulfilled his mission of killing Blasio, what might his Epilogue have looked like?

[Silas Hetherton]

What are some scene ideas or concepts that you had but didn't get a chance to?

As you know, Silas needed reading glasses. I thought that could be a sweet, small moment, if Minerva or someone else who cared found some for him (somehow).

I wanted Silas to sort of adopt Kali gradually, which could have been fun.

I wanted to highlight a little more the conflict Silas had with killing even monsters at times (like the colossal crab - he felt bad about that and especially that it took as long as it did). I was going to do a scene where he fought a nest of (wingless) wasps also, where he just held perfectly still instead of trying to kill them all, and then delicately, quietly, pushed them off the pedestal into the arena sands. Remaining calm seems to be the best defense against a swarm while killing and flailing is the worst, and he would have learned this from Jace. I only had one round to have Silas face ALL his monsters, though, so I had to condense it all into "Monster Marathon."

I did originally want Silas to take on Blasio in the arena - perhaps near the end. I wanted him to get his revenge, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it would solve nothing, and having him "fail" for the right reasons would preserve his "humanity" (so to speak) far better than exacting his revenge.

Was there any character in the top 10 that you wish you could have interacted with more before your death?

Kali maybe could have been fun. I did want to do more with Adeen, but we never seemed to be able to match up our characters quite right after the initial intro. I know Silas would not have been too understanding of her slaying her faithful husband, and I thought that would be an interesting conflict to explore. I also wanted at one point to have Silas rescue/save Adeen, but again, it didn't work out.

If Silas had survived and fulfilled his mission of killing Blasio, what might his Epilogue have looked like?

I would like to think that he would find a way to rebuild his life and try to make the world a better place. Maybe even Northvale. Perhaps, as I suggested in an earlier response, he might have adopted a Crater orphan or two. Fable, if Minerva didn't make it ;)

[Silas Hetherton]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0E6rREVxa0