Feedback The Path of Exile

[Braze]

Braze has always walked a fine line between light and chaos, driven by good intentions but haunted by impulsive choices and unresolved guilt. I'm curious what others think about his arc and where it could lead. I'd rather hear how others see him. If you've written with him before, read his threads, or just have impressions from what's out there, I'd really value your perspective.

I'm also interested in doing some writing exercises this month that push me out of my comfort zone and I'm looking for inspiration from other views. Feel free to pick a question or more, or just share your thoughts.

• What kind of person do you think Braze truly is beneath the surface?
• Is his impulsiveness something that needs to be fixed, or is it what makes him authentic and alive?
• How much of his recklessness feels like bravery, and how much is avoidance?
• What do you think he is most afraid of facing in himself?
• What do you think he wants versus what he needs?
• Does Braze need redemption?
• If so, what kind of redemption would feel genuine or fulfilling to see?
• Does he strike you as someone redeemable, or someone who does not need redemption at all?
• Can a person driven by instinct ever truly find peace?
• What would it mean for him to finally understand what "Light" actually is?
• Where is the line between following your heart and losing control of it?
• Should he double down on his ideals even if they cost him stability, or should he begin questioning the path of the Jedi he has clung to?
• How do you read his relationship with the Light and the Force, faithful, fractured, naive, or defiant?
• What kind of story would challenge him most right now, emotional, moral, or spiritual?
• Would you rather see him ascend toward calm mastery or spiral into something rawer and more uncertain?
• What moments or conflicts would you like to see him face, such as encounters that test his compassion, a confrontation with his past or family, or something that forces him to redefine what "Light" actually means?
• If you wrote him, what conflict or revelation would you want him to face?
• What do you find interesting or frustrating about him as a character?
• How might you challenge or change him if he appeared in one of your stories?

 

[Casaana]

• What kind of person do you think Braze truly is beneath the surface?

I think he's a lonely person trying to show people he's of value, usually by trying to provide for them.

• Is his impulsiveness something that needs to be fixed, or is it what makes him authentic and alive?

I haven't seen him act that impulsive, but spontaneity does help characters have authenticity.

• How much of his recklessness feels like bravery, and how much is avoidance?

Only seen him outside of danger.

• What do you think he is most afraid of facing in himself?

His need for external validation is a wound from childhood he's been ignoring.

• What do you think he wants versus what he needs?

He wants to support others, but needs someone to support him, a hug, and a sandwich.

• Does Braze need redemption?

He needs to forgive himself

• If so, what kind of redemption would feel genuine or fulfilling to see?

Therapy

• Does he strike you as someone redeemable, or someone who does not need redemption at all?

He's my friend, and I'm not friends with bad people.

• Can a person driven by instinct ever truly find peace?

Find a place and lifestyle where the instincts are satisfied.

• What would it mean for him to finally understand what "Light" actually is?

Will of the Force, do more for others.

• Where is the line between following your heart and losing control of it?

Right along the Maw cluster. Otherwise, are you helping others, or yourself? Do you act out of fear or hope, and can you accept what you cannot change?

• Should he double down on his ideals even if they cost him stability, or should he begin questioning the path of the Jedi he has clung to?

Stability is important, but so is self-reflection.

• How do you read his relationship with the Light and the Force, faithful, fractured, naive, or defiant?

Dunno shrugs

• What kind of story would challenge him most right now, emotional, moral, or spiritual?

Therapy and career counseling.

• Would you rather see him ascend toward calm mastery or spiral into something rawer and more uncertain?

Calm mastery, but that's also my path.

• What moments or conflicts would you like to see him face, such as encounters that test his compassion, a confrontation with his past or family, or something that forces him to redefine what "Light" actually means?

Family feud. Maybe also reaffirming his differences from them and that he can be his own person.

• If you wrote him, what conflict or revelation would you want him to face?

Space Waffle eating contest, I'd kick his butt!

• What do you find interesting or frustrating about him as a character?

I don't get to write with him as much as I'd like. But I also don't know what he's bad at.

• How might you challenge or change him if he appeared in one of your stories?

Sit him down and talk to him about his feelings and need to over-prepare.

 

[Rik Perris]

Yes.

But in all seriousness, I haven't been following Braze's activities that closely for a while, now (blame the combo of faction admin, IRL, and ADHD; I used to read heaps of random threads!), nor have I written with him in a while, but I feel I have enough of a sense of him to speak to the questions I'm quoting. That you're asking all the above questions as a whole leads me to believe that you might be thinking a change is warranted, or least that it's a path worth considering. So what I'm going to say here relies on that thought.

Is his impulsiveness something that needs to be fixed, or is it what makes him authentic and alive?

I wouldn't say 'fixed' is the right word or path to take, because not all impulses are bad. Now, authenticity is all well and good, but authenticity to the point of incurring an alienating or deleterious cost should be examined for its worth. Taking those costs to their furthest outcomes, well, I think that's a path to ending up achingly alone.

Nobody wants that ish. Well, almost nobody, but I don't think Braze is one of those people.

Can a person driven by instinct ever truly find peace?

Where is the line between following your heart and losing control of it?

Can a person driven by instinct ever truly find peace? Sure! I feel that question is tied to the next one I've quoted, so I'm going to handle these, together.

So, self-moderation is usually, I think, a large part of the path to avoiding unwanted outcomes and finding a measure of peace. We don't want to be the (rather false) 'Jedi stereotype' of an emotionless drone, but nor do we want to fall into the extreme of being enslaved by impulse, given it incurs great deal of cost in personal relationships, and beyond, right? The heart and the head should be balanced. So the middle ground, moderating himself.

What that moderation looks like is internalising the fact that 'feelings/impulses are information, not instructions', the ability to be aware of himself in the moment to the extent that he can self-interrupt, and self-reflection. The line, the difference, in short, is being able to choose to follow an impulse or a feeling and weigh his own actions against his own moral code, if it it sufficient. If it isn't, well, that leads me to the next thing.

Should he double down on his ideals even if they cost him stability, or should he begin questioning the path of the Jedi he has clung to?

As to the fourth question here.... doubling down with that cost? No! But questioning the path, yes. I'd advocate that kind of interrogation of beliefs and systems, no matter the path; it does not do to be blindly following an ideal, belief, or acquired knowledge, by any measure, even the vaunted Jedi Path. And, of course, deconstruction of it all if it's found wanting.

Would you rather see him ascend toward calm mastery or spiral into something rawer and more uncertain?

I think he could rock the former so well; plainly, it'd probably be hot, lol, but then again, I jive with that vibe myself to varying degrees and enjoy it. I might be biased.

If you wrote him, what conflict or revelation would you want him to face?

Given all I've written above? Internal conflict/tension. Change is uncomfortable, but the character dev is rewarding.

How might you challenge or change him if he appeared in one of your stories?

Eh, It'd depend on which of my characters he was encountering, but that'd be either Rik, Vizion Trozky , or Ilias Nytrau , my old af Jedi Healer (both in his age, and how long I've had the character!)... and I'm leaning more towards Ilias. I've started to stick that old, wise, sometimes unorthodox master into things again, and aside from the perspective he could offer as one who's lived through the past 9 1/2 centuries or so, I also think it'd be fun, with him!

For him, self-mastery and calm are kind of a necessity, because of aspects of the K'paur half of his genetics. Most other people, any relationship to the darkside is a matter of being tempted by it, but that half of his genetic make-up predisposes him to its pull, so he's had to put in the work to remain as he is.

If anyone knows anything about being chill and in control, it's certainly him!

 

[Connel Vanagor]

Going to answer this purely as Caltin and Connel:

• What kind of person do you think Braze truly is beneath the surface? Someone more capable of being an amazing Jedi and person than he thinks. He just needs to get out of his own way.
• Is his impulsiveness something that needs to be fixed, or is it what makes him authentic and alive? Fix it BIG time! There's nothing wrong with impulsiveness. Father was impuslive, I AM impulsive, but that is becoming his identity. He's going to get in even worse over his head if he isn't careful.
• How much of his recklessness feels like bravery, and how much is avoidance?50/50. He looks like he's trying to run away from things he's done rather than own it and grow from it.
• What do you think he is most afraid of facing in himself? Accountability. What happened on Coruscant was his doing, but he was being controlled. Okay, get it. He can't seem to accept that there are justifiable hard feelings. That's a problem.
• What do you think he wants versus what he needs? I think he wants the same thing he needs, but... though he was a bit of a Schutta about it, Connel is right. Until he faces his failures... fully faces them... not proverbially dragged kicking and screaming, he won't get there. MORE than capable... but he won't.
• Does Braze need redemption? No, if he accepts that some aren't ready to move on yet. Nothing wrong with Redemption.
• If so, what kind of redemption would feel genuine or fulfilling to see? Own what he did, acknowledge his environment.
• Does he strike you as someone redeemable, or someone who does not need redemption at all? "Redemption is never out of reach, you just have to reach for it.. Yeah, I think he wants to be looked at as a good guy. He can work through his rep without it, but I think he wants it. No shame in that.
• Can a person driven by instinct ever truly find peace? I did. I'll be straight here. Every response I've given and might give is MY perspective. If he's at peace with who and what he is. Then there you go.
• What would it mean for him to finally understand what "Light" actually is? What is "Light"? Really?, "Light" "Dark" "Bogan" "Ashla"... two side of the same coin. It's our choices that make us who we are.
• Where is the line between following your heart and losing control of it? Being able to look yourself in the mirror.
• Should he double down on his ideals even if they cost him stability, or should he begin questioning the path of the Jedi he has clung to? That's the problem with the life of a Shadow... too easy for people to fall., Then why are YOU one?, To not fall.
• How do you read his relationship with the Light and the Force, faithful, fractured, naive, or defiant? Fractured. He looks like he feels like he's been betrayed, and is blaming the Light for the actions of Jedi. , Yeah, that makes sense.
• What kind of story would challenge him most right now, emotional, moral, or spiritual? He needs a challenge to his morals. Right now he seems to be standing his ground without seeing where he's standing.
• Would you rather see him ascend toward calm mastery or spiral into something rawer and more uncertain? He's spiraling if you ask me, trying to mask it, but he's spiraling. I think he'll rise though.
• What moments or conflicts would you like to see him face, such as encounters that test his compassion, a confrontation with his past or family, or something that forces him to redefine what "Light" actually means? He has to have "that moment" where everything he has done, everything he looked at comes back at him. He has to be able to see things in a new light. No matter the direction it takes him. Right now, I think he is going on emotions, and while there is nothing wrong with that in my opinion, it's going to bite him.
• If you wrote him, what conflict or revelation would you want him to face? Talk to my writer
• What do you find interesting or frustrating about him as a character? He's so close to becoming memorable in the best possible way. He's more than the sum of his parts, that is clear.
• How might you challenge or change him if he appeared in one of your stories? Talk to my writer.

Me? I will admit, I don't read a LOT of what you write, but I find him always an interesting read. If I wrote him, in the stories and situations you have put him in, I don't think I would have done a thing differently. I think he's just getting started, ,