#Tropetember Day 22
No, this isn't a repeat of Day 13, though an Old Master can be a Mentor as well. So, if the topic of the current day isn't a repetition, what is it? Simply put, it's about an old(er) character who displays mastery within the interest of the lead characters. Originating in Antiquity, it's initial message was 'deference to the elders,' however, in more recent times, as age lost its prestige, it became a reminder of not underestimating others, with 'seeing with your soul'
becoming an optional secondary goal. How so? Because even those society ignores/discards have an important lesson to share. That being said, this character won't go out of their way to educate the lead character(s), any lesson imparted is incidental as often as it is deliberate.
When done poorly, the Old Master is an obstruction that the leads have to approach like a puzzle until the path forward is revealed to them. When done well, the wisdom of the Master is unpacked by the narrative and
characters, proving its significance in terms of what those armed with it are capable of achieving.
Heir To The Empire has plenty of older characters, including/primarily those with expertise the MCs are after, and that information also flows into their development.
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Jonathan Taylor